It’s not quite clear what the letters stand for, but LCB Coffee Shop is a great cafe for a chilled out coffee whilst surfing the internet, and you can actually buy a surfboard if you like.

The Venue
Black and ominous from the outside, LCB is a skate/surf shop and a cafe in one. As you enter, there’s the shop on the left of the room whilst the cafe is tucked in a little niche. A few tables dotted with laptops are waiting to be used with stools and sofas to get comfy on. The best thing about the decor is that it looks like a basic student living room with a few extra laptops that happen to be there – not rows and rows of machinery that usually make internet cafes seem cold and generic. This is a shop first, then a cafe, then an internet cafe. The surf skate culture has filtered into the cafe only slightly, with a few colourful surfboards on the wall to add a hint of surf cool.

The Atmosphere
The crowd is laid back and relaxed, as you’d expect from surf skate enthusiasts. The cool kids that populate East London clearly appreciate the free internet as it leaves more money to spend on yet more vintage clothes and Converse sneakers. It’s a great place to quietly sip a coffee whilst you check out who’s dating who on Facebook but as most have their eyes fixed to their screens, its not much fun to be just be a regular customer as the atmosphere falls flat after ten minutes of staring into space.

The Food
Sandwiches, soups and pastries are also served in case you get peckish, but it’s really all about the coffee.

The Drink
Going with an E2 politically conscious vibe, all the coffee is organic and free trade so you’ll get your caffeine fix without the guilt. The coffees are good quality and have the variety you’d expect in a chain coffee shop without any of the high prices. You can get a generous mug of a cappuccino for only £1.70. The large is only 30p extra but requires a hardcore coffee addict to appreciate its sized. If coffees aren’t your thing, there are also frappes, milkshakes and smoothies to get a cool, refreshing zing to your internet break.

The Last Word
Cheap and cheerful, this is a down to earth internet cafe that actually feels cosy and comfortable.

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