Both women told The Portugal News that they want to improve the space by creating the Love Affair Basement (L.A.B), to spread love, and create a space where everybody can feel secure, happy, and, above all, loved.


Dina and Olga are also asking for people to help them raise the money to finish the work for a project that will bring a new life to Hackney Road in London

The Portugal News (TPN): When and how did you decide to create A Portuguese Love Affair?

Olga Cruchinho (OC): Portuguese Love Affair was created 11 years ago, under various circumstances. We had a business in Portugal, then we came to London aiming to work for ourselves, in this case. Then, we raised money and wanted to go back to Portugal, but London ended up ‘swallowing’ us a little bit and we decided to open a business in London.

It started with a little store on Columbia Road, then there was an expansion and now we are in the third phase of the business, which is a more playful and fun part.

TPN: Do you want to explain further about this new phase?

Dina Martins (DN): The new project is also something that we've been thinking about for some time, but sometimes you don't have the energy. And the world is kind of confusing, making it feel like it's more difficult to believe that things can happen.

Despite that, we realised that we had a fantastic group of people around us.


From artists to lawyers, to people who do workshops, to people with some skills. Many queer people! And with many places, especially here in East London, which made us think that it was maybe a good opportunity now. Since we had a group of people.

In other words, our idea is to have the space to have two moments. During the day, we're thinking about a place for workshops or conferences, and maybe some company lunches.


And then, at night our idea is to have a very diversified programme. Trying to support as many people as possible.

The main idea is to bring, for example, a movie night, a theatre night, stand-up comedy, live music and even some cabaret nights. All aiming to create a community place of sharing, knowledge, while supporting people.

For example, we found therapists who agreed to do group therapy sessions for transexual kids, for example, promoting inclusion and safety for minorities who need a little more support.

TPN: By creating a space where it can be safer for these people to be, does it mean that there is not so much security for these minorities to express themselves freely in that area?

OC: Yes, but in the world in general. We are in a moment in which we were a little better than we are now. In the world in general, just look at the case of the United States, even here in England and Portugal as well. A setback one definitely felt around the globe, and no one can deny it.

Here, it is still a very open area, but the truth is that many venues aimed at queers have been closing. And some other sites that we know of are no longer as inclusive, as we would like to think they should be. And we have noticed that.

DN: In this place, we will try to include as many people as possible. Not only queer people, but also for disabled people, for example. One of the things we want to do is to create a distance list, from the nearest bus stop, giving people more accessibility information.

TPN: What are the expectations for this new project?

DN: The feedback has been very positive, and people seem very excited about the project. People want to do things, and several people have already come forward. And I think we are confident, as it is a new project however it is part of an 11-year-old business.

TPN: What about the crowdfunding you created? Is there something you would like to share with the TPN readers?

OC: People can simply make a donation. But there is also a way that may appeal to more people. We only ask people, for those who do not want to donate to buy things, just for us to have the money to be able to assemble everything.

Most of the people want to have their name on the wall. They know us and like us and want to be part of the project. So, they ask to include their name on the wall, just like sponsors. That has been what has been sold the most. Even though it is not the cheapest purchase people may contribute at A Portuguese Love Affair.

DN: What we are trying to say is that the person who only buys a beer is already helping us as we need that money now to be able to pay for the works. We are now spending money on works without making any money, at the moment.

The works are aimed to be finished in two or three weeks, and the crowdfunding will be open until September 13, with the possibility of being extended for more time. At this point, Olga and Dina need, as seen on her crowdfunding, £60,000 to pay for everything they need to do. People may help through https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/crowdfunding-for-love-affair-basement.

Author

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos