Hackney sometimes suffers from an image problem, its name having once been synonymous with urban crime. "Unfair", says the Council, as, in fact, Hackney has in recent times seen London's biggest drop in crime plus massive amounts of money invested in regeneration including a huge restoration project on the legendary Hackney Empire music hall. The area is culturally diverse and remains full of contrasts with 60s urban tower blocks standing next to expensive gated communities...
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Hackney sometimes suffers from an image problem, its name having once been synonymous with urban crime. "Unfair", says the Council, as, in fact, Hackney has in recent times seen London's biggest drop in crime plus massive amounts of money invested in regeneration including a huge restoration project on the legendary Hackney Empire music hall. The area is culturally diverse and remains full of contrasts with 60s urban tower blocks standing next to expensive gated communities. This kind of inner-city edginess has no doubt been partly responsible for the massive arts scene which has stormed the Hoxton and Shoreditch parts of the Borough inspired by residents such as Gilbert and George, and Tracey Emin. As one would expect, the bars and clubs are plentiful and diverse, from the more residential family orientated restaurants towards Stoke Newington Road, the achingly hip late night bars of Hoxton, to the strip and table dancing bars of Shoreditch.