Look Mum No Hands!

Ever wanted to eat in a bike repair shop? Well consider that life goal complete! ‘Look mum no hands’ combines bike maintenance with delicious food. The café/workshop/bar is kitted out to mimic a bike shop; parts and accessories line every wall. A small bookshelf holds all sorts of books about bikes; bikes even stand for sale on the bar-like tables in the window. Canvases mounted on the walls depict the effort and triumph of competitive cyclists. And they actually fix bikes…while you eat!

The credit for finding this bizarre little café goes to my partner’s work colleague, another food fanatic. Located on Old Street (nearest tube station Barbican), ‘Look mum no hands’ sits among many stylish eateries and galleries. It even has its own bike park outside the front door, and loans bike locks to customers. Once a month, they run basic bike maintenance courses – something I should probably look into as when my parents last visited, my dad ended up giving my bike some serious TLC (somehow my suspension had come detached from my bike!). The workshop is open 7.30am to 7.30pm during the week, nine to five on Saturdays and ten till four on Sundays.

The café’s speciality is pie and salad. I was less than impressed when I heard this at first, thinking I would get a Holland’s pie, a lettuce leaf and a couple of slices of cucumber (not that there is anything wrong with Holland’s pies). However, I had a pleasant surprise in store. Pies were homemade and heavenly. The salad was unlike I have ever had. A mixture of shredded carrot and beetroot coleslaw (usually something I avoid, but this was very tasty), Greek salad, roast potato and tomato salad, and some other things which I could not guess at but were undoubtedly yummy. At £8.50, you definitely get a plateful. I didn’t manage to finish it but my partner eagerly hoovered my leftovers; that boy has a bottomless stomach I swear!

Opening between 7.30am and 10pm on weekdays, 9am-10pm on Saturdays and 9.30am-10pm on Sundays, ‘Look mum no hands’ offers good food and a good vibe. Whether you’re a bike lover or a food lover, I would highly recommend this place to anyone, anywhere.