A Portuguese Love Affair

A Portuguese Love Affair
TypePrivate
IndustryCoffehouse
Music venue
Founded2013
FounderDina Martins
Olga Cruchinho
Headquarters
Hackney, London
,
United Kingdom
Area served
East London
Websitehttps://www.aportugueseloveaffair.co.uk/
https://www.loveaffairbasement.co.uk/

A Portuguese Love Affair is a shop and delicatessen, located in Hackney, East London,[1] founded by Portuguese entrepreneurs Dina Martins and Olga Cruchinho.[2][3][4][5]

History

Founders Martins and Cruchinho, with professional backgrounds in journalism, education, and design,[5] opened the shop as a means of representing Portuguese culture in the United Kingdom.[6][7] According to them, the business's name and concept are centred on the Portuguese cultural concept of saudade.[5][6]

Cruchinho and Martins previously operated a business in Portugal before relocating to London.[2] Their first London location opened on Columbia Road in 2013,[6][8][9][10][11] followed by a subsequent expansion[6] to 324 Hackney Road.[4][6][8][12]

The shop and café stock a range of Portuguese goods,[11][13] including beauty products, wine, preserves, clothing, books, and ceramics.[5][6][9][14][15] They source products from nearly 30 Portuguese suppliers, including items such as Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics.[2][5] According to Cruchinho, initial public reception to the shop's curated concept was mixed, with some visitors expressing unfamiliarity with the specialized product range.[1][6] It also hosts community events, including wine tastings, poetry readings, and book launches.[7] Other past programming has included art exhibitions and events centred on traditional Portuguese culture.[6]

Queer allyship

The owners announced plans to develop the "Love Affair Basement" (L.A.B),[3] a dedicated community space within the premises.[12] To fund the project and the renovation of the Hackney Road location, the business carried a crowdfunding campaign.[12] The project launched the crowdfunding campaign with a £60,000 target, with the budget being allocated for facility renovations, purchase of equipment, and operating costs.[12] The basement space is designed for multifunctional use, including workshops, conferences, corporate events, drag performances and comedy nights,[4][7][16] and sessions for transgender youth.[12] The space opened in March 2025.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Lott-Lavigna, Ruby (2018-02-01). "From Gizzards to Custard Tarts: Exploring London's Portuguese Food Scene". VICE. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  2. 1 2 3 "A Portuguese Love Affair". Expresso (in European Portuguese). 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  3. 1 2 "Licensing Sub-Committee" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 3 Houghton, Amy. "Beloved east London venue A Portuguese Love Affair is crowdfunding to open a new queer space in Hackney". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "O novo cantinho português em Londres". Expresso (in European Portuguese). 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Meet the Traders: Portuguese friends showcase their love affair with London – Eastlondonlines". www.eastlondonlines.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  7. 1 2 3 "A Portuguese Love Affair Deli Cafe in Hackney, London – Authentic Portuguese Cuisine & Best Pastel de Nata". Nova Circle. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  8. 1 2 "Shop – A Portuguese Love Affair". The Shopkeepers. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  9. 1 2 French, Alice. "16 lovely things to do on Columbia Road". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  10. ↑ Manning, James. "Natas, football and vinho verde: it's the best of Portuguese London". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 2025-05-01. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  11. 1 2 Lacerda, Alexandra Pedruco. "A Portuguese Love Affair, em Londres". PÚBLICO (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "A Portuguese Love Affair spreading rainbows in London". www.theportugalnews.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  13. ↑ "London's Standout LGBTQIA+-Owned Restaurants & Bars". Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  14. ↑ "How Locals Explore London's Columbia Road". Forbes Travel Guide Stories. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  15. ↑ "Neighbourhood gems according to London locals | olivemagazine". www.olivemagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  16. ↑ "Rebetiko Lounge Jam Session 22-4-26". Rebetiko Carnival. 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  17. ↑ "Love Affair Basement - Opening Night". Queer Brewing. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
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