In three days, we have surpassed our initial target of £10,000, raising £11,630 to fund the Judicial Review of the Bethnal Green Mulberry Tree case at the High Court. Thankyou to the more than two hundred readers who have contributed. We believe the hearing may come in March and we will publish a link for readers to watch it live online. The funding page stays open so please spread the word to your family, friends and workmates. CLICK HERE TO SAVE THE BETHNAL GREEN MULBERRY 

Contributing Photographer Phil Maxwell knows that the centre of the universe in Spitalfields is The Golden Heart on the corner of Hanbury St and Commercial St where publican Sandra Esqulant, hula-hoop champion and spiritual mother of our community, has presided for more than forty years.

“I cannot count the number of times I have said over recent weeks, “Wouldn’t it be great to go for a pint at The Golden Heart?” Relaxing with a drink and snatching a few moments with my friend Sandra has always been one of life’s great pleasures. Some of these photographs were taken as I drank a pint of real ale outside the ‘Heart’ in August 2018 with my partner Hazuan Hashim. If you enjoy people watching, then there was nowhere better in Spitalfields than the pavement outside The Golden Heart.”

Phil Maxwell

Photographs copyright © Phil Maxwell

Follow Phil Maxwell’s blog Playground of an East End Photographer

See more of Phil Maxwell’s work here

Phil Maxwell’s Brick Lane

The Cat Lady of Spitalfields

Phil Maxwell’s Kids on the Street

Phil Maxwell, Photographer

Phil Maxwell & Sandra Esqulant, Photographer & Muse

Phil Maxwell’s Old Ladies

More of Phil Maxwell’s Old Ladies

Phil Maxwell’s Old Ladies in Colour

Phil Maxwell on the Tube

Phil Maxwell at the Spitalfields Market

Phil Maxwell on Wentworth St