City View, Spring 2011
Market Research
Welcome the return of spring and summer to the City by exploring the best markets in the local area.
The capital's vibrant markets are a draw for tourists and Londoners alike, but luckily for residents of the square mile, the best of these unique destinations are right on their doorstep. As the weather improves, what could be better than forgoing the tube and taking a stroll through some of these historical markets?
Featuring over 50 colourful flower and plant stalls, plus fashion and art shops and delicatessens, the Columbia Road Market is a treat for the senses and the perfect start to a lazy Sunday. Located in trendy Shoreditch, just a short walk from the City, visitors are advised to arrive early to stock up on fragrant flowers and enjoy a coffee before the hordes flock in.
The pedestrianised haven of Exmouth Market lies in the northern part of the City in the heart of fashionable Clerkenwell. The most eclectic market in the square mile, it boasts a lively mix of traditional shops, independent boutiques, bars, cafes and restaurants. The mouth watering weekly food market is held every Friday and Saturday.
Talking of mouth watering food, Finsbury Square now hosts a farmers' market, held between 10am and 5pm on the third Friday of each month. A great source of fresh, organic produce, the market has proved incredibly popular and may soon become a weekly fixture.
The bustling Leather Lane Market is a well kept City secret. From vegetables to panama hats, you can find almost anything piled high on the stalls during the week. The lane also has a wide range of foodie destinations, from smart coffee shops ideal for Sunday brunch, to Italian delis and Lebanese restaurants.
Finally, an article on City markets would not be complete without mentioning Leadenhall Market, which remains one of the City's most popular and attractive leisure spots. As well as a selection of shops, restaurants and bars, visitors to this covered market are likely to find a special event taking place, from English Wine Week to a comedy festival. On Monday to Friday between 11am and 3pm, the market's cobbled streets are filled with stalls selling delicacies from around the world.
Leadenhall market is a City favourite and frequently hosts special events. Image by Danny Jones
Colourful Columbia Road market is
a perfect start to a spring Sunday.
Restaurant focus
Tucked away in the hip Zetter hotel in Clerkenwell, this newcomer to the City restaurant scene has already won an impressive array of awards.
Bruno Loubet, the former head chef of the Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, returned to London following eight years in Australia. After a short spell helping Pierre Koffmann run his near legendary pop-up restaurant on the roof of Selfridges, he opened Bistrot Bruno Loubet at The Zetter Hotel in February 2010. Since then, his Hare Royale was named Jay Rayner's dish of the year, Dencanters declared the restaurant Newcomer of the Year, while Fay Maschler, Square Meal and Hot Dinners all named Bistrot Bruno Loubet in their 2010 highlights. The Bistrot has also been voted Third Best Restaurant in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards, just behind The Ledbury and The Fat Duck.
Bruno uses classical techniques to produce an exciting combination of hearty regional food, contemporary dishes and classics. A delicate use of spice and Asian and North African ingredients help create his unique take on modern bistro fare.
With an enviable setting on St John's Square and nestling in the surroundings of the beautifully designed Zetter Hotel, this restaurant is the perfect destination for any discerning City dweller this season.
Bistrot Bruno Loubet is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a House Menu that is available throughout the day and 'after hours' for Zetter guests.
Bistrot Bruno Loubet
St John's Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Road,London, EC1M 5RJ020 7324 4455 eat@bistrotbrunoloubet.com
Image by Jefferson Smith
The Hard Hat Prom
The foundations of The Heron were witness to an
extraordinary eventon 3 March 2011.
City workers, musicians and culture seekers gathered around the Barbican and The Heron site to experience a one-off ‘hard hat' prom. Clad in high visibility gear and the requisite yellow hard hats, over 40 Guildhall brass and percussion musicians gave an exclusive performance in the new space for the Guildhall; providing an exciting glimpse into the cultural future of the City.
The Heron will provide the Guildhall with amazing new facilities across its lower floors. The space will include a 600 seat concert hall, a 225 seat theatre
and a 128 seat studio theatre, in addition to high quality drama teaching spaces. At long last the Guildhall's facilities will match the outstanding quality of its training and the success of its graduates.
The Guildhall Batucada Samba Band and Guildhall Brass Band performed a variety of classics directed by conductor Paul Cosh, ranging from Sousa's Liberty Bell to John Williams's rousing Olympic Fanfare.
In the news
The Heron has featured in a number of articles over the past few months. Here are just some of the things people have been saying about the development.
"Right from the start, The Heron has focused on the highest standards of architecture, aesthetics, interior design, eco-awareness and service. Quite simply, it aims to redefine luxury."
- GQ
"Something magical is happening in the City"
- Vogue
"Sleek skyscraper with 285 luxurious apartments"
- London Evening Standard
"Suddenly, EC2 is one of the capital's most desirable postcodes"
- Tatler
Purchasers are not the only ones to recognise the quality of the development: The Heron was recently named 'Best High Rise Development' at the UK Property Awards in association with Bloomberg Television.
Sales update
Almost 60% of the apartments have now been sold.
Unsurprisingly given their unique location and impressive quality, interest in The Heron has been very strong. Almost 60% of the apartments have now been sold and further apartments have been released, with properties up to the 30th floor now available to purchase with prices from £490,000.
There is now an iPad app for The Heron. As well as providing apartment details and prices, there is an interactive presentation featuring sophisticated graphics, stunning illustrations and impressive movies.
The marketing suite, The Heron Pavilion, is open seven days a week offering models, videos, images and examples of fittings, fixtures and materials. You can find out more at www.theheron.co.uk, by calling 0845 533 8000 or e-mailing sales@theheron.co.uk
Construction update
The main tower core continues to rise intothe skyline.
Sir Robert McAlpine has constructed the main tower core on the east side of the development to level 18 and is on programme to continue this up to level 35 by early summer 2011, providing a prominent visual signature for the site. The floor plates to the tower will be constructed progressively ‘level by level' over the next 18-months.
The basement, mezzanine and ground floor concrete works have been completed as programmed and the Guildhall School is beginning to take shape above ground floor level, particularly on the eastern half of the site where the theatre structure is now clearly visible. The large temporary structures that were providing restraint to the surrounding roads during the basement excavation works have been removed now that the permanent support structures are in place. The structural steelwork which forms the framework of the various performance spaces within the School will commence in April 2011.
Care continues to be taken to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses and the site has been praised by the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Measures implemented to reduce the impact of The Heron's construction on the local environment include a full time Neighbourhood Liaison Manager, continuous noise monitoring and a one-way traffic system introduced to avoid congestion.
You can now view the progress online at http://www.theheron.co.uk/city-view/webcam where a webcam takes a still image of the construction site every 15 minutes. It will record the progress of the build until The Heron is completed in 2013.
Diary
What not to miss in and around the City this spring.
- Cory Arcangel: Beat the Champ, The Curve
10 February 2011 - 22 May 2011 - Brooklyn-based Cory Arcangel is one of the leading media artists of his generation. He often appropriates, manipulates and subverts new media, including video games, computer software and the Internet.
- Arcangel's project for The Curve, a co-commission with Whitney Museum of American Art, is an installation featuring 14 bowling video games and consoles, from the retro computers of the 1970s to the latest models. The flickering images and collage of disconnected sounds make for a fascinating speculation on the relationship between art and technology.
- Guildhall Jazz Festival, GuildhallSchool of Music and Drama
21 March - 26 March
www.gsmd.ac.uk
- Offering six days of free lunchtime, early evening and evening concerts featuring leading artists and new talent, this year's annual Jazz Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. The exciting programme includes: an improvised performance and round-table with Eddie Prevost; a cross-departmental collaboration directed by Michael Garrick and Scott Stroman; a concert of close harmony jazz favourites, originals and spontaneous improvisation; and a debut performance from the junior Guildhall jazz musicians.
- London Marathon, across London
17 April
www.london-marathon.co.uk
- Now in its 30th year, the London Marathon brings a carnival atmosphere to the City each April as crowds line the streets to cheer on the runners. The City holds host to the most iconic moment of the race, in which the throngs of runners head to Canary Wharf and come back through the square mile, across Byward Street, Upper Thames Street and Lower Thames Street. Broadcast in over 150 countries, with the world's best athletes and crazy costumes (at least one deep sea diver usually turns up), this is one incredible sight not to miss.
- The East End Film Festival
27 April - 2 May
www.eastendfilmfestival.com
- Informing and inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and audiences from across London and beyond, The East End Film Festival showcases hot new talent and home-grown films alongside larger independent releases and special events. The engaging festival hones in on the best the East End of London, neighbour to the City, has to offer.
Image by Eliot Wyman
Image by Nina Large
Did you know?
Five things you never
knew about The City
- The City of London has its own police force which is made up of around 850 officers and around 400 civilian support staff
- Over four million people visit the City each year
- The City is believed to have been established in around AD50
- The City is home to the UK's largest cluster of jewellery retailers: Hatton Garden has over 55 shops selling everything from watches to rings to suit a broad range of tastes
- Many of the City's street names are derived from the companies that set up business on them back in the 16th century: Milk Street, Bread Street, Ironmonger Lane and Poultry would all have been home to very different businesses from the ones that reside on them now.