Hackney top for culture vultures

Percentage of respondents who have attended at least one cultural/live entertainment event in the last year. Image: aka

We always thought our borough was an erudite, refined sort of place, but now we have proof.

Hackney’s chin stroking gadflies’ alpha status in the world of the arts has been confirmed thanks to a national survey aimed at pinpointing the most cultured areas in the country.

The borough, a hotbed for theatre and live music, was ranked in first place by researchers as the area thirstiest for stage shows, an accolade it shared with other areas of London including Islington and Southwark.

The research looked at how often residents visit the theatre, opera and ballet or attend concerts.

Nearly 90 per cent of Hackney residents surveyed said they had enjoyed a cultural experience in the last year, compared with just 46 per cent in other London boroughs including Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham.

The survey was carried out by aka, an entertainment marketing agency.