"London has a blissfully loose interpretation of what a beach is. Forget waves or white sand—we’ll accept a glorified sand pit, a polluted strip of water, or the presence of a single loud-mouthed seagull to get our ocean living fix, especially at Leyton Calling. It’s a heaving outdoor bar situation where, lulled by the sun-soaked classics playlist and striped beach chairs, Londoners enter en masse city denial to embrace pints under straw parasols. Are you in a car park? Yes. Do the free-flowing frozen cocktails being poured at the outdoor beach bar make you forget all about the Ford Transit van lurking behind you? Also yes. Stop by during a balmy golden hour to fight it out for a sun lounger, or should the “ocean spray” (torrential rain) become too troublesome, head inside for a similar tropicana aesthetic and strong rum cocktails. photo credit: Leyton Calling video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley photo credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Pause Unmute" - Heidi Lauth Beasley