www.inSW1.com Issue-1 | June-2010
Working together to create a destination of choice for business
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How the BID will create a sustainable future. See page 4
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highlights
Pope to visit Westminster
ContributorsKate Simon, Travel Editor, The Independent on SundayKate is a top UK travel journalist, with 25 years experience on national newspapers and magazines.
Simone Kane, Freelance travel writerDuring her 20-year career, Simone has worked for many national consumer magazines.
Chris Kilvington, Freelance writer Chris has written on topics from solar panelling to sheds. He has written for the NHS, Energy Saving Trust, universities and councils, among others.
Nina Provençal, Marketing and Events Officer, Victoria BID. Please contact Nina to find out more about the BID at [email protected]
The BoardMike Noakes (Chairman), Victoria BID
Mike has a long association with Victoria, having either worked or travelled through the area for most of his working life. Trained as a Civil Engineer specialising in the planning
and development of major transport infrastructure, he is passionate that major gateways like Victoria should provide positive support and serve the businesses, residents and visitors who use them for commercial, retail and tourist activity.
Ruth Duston (Chief Executive), Victoria BIDGeorge Lynn, Angel TrainsMartin Kelly, Capita LovejoyClaudia Binkert, EDF TradingJamie Simons, ExperianDavid Morgan-Hewitt, The Goring HotelNigel Hughes, GrosvenorRobert Allan, HammersonMichael O’Brien, Hesperia London VictoriaGary Merrick, John LewisColette O’Shea, Land SecuritiesAndrew Halford, Marks & SpencerMatt Foley, Metropolitan PoliceCalum Forbes, MicrosoftJoelle Bailey, Network RailMick Clarke, The PassagePaul Green, Sainsbury’sMurray Rea, Starbucks Andrew Mills, Victoria Palace TheatreRamesh Costa, Victoria Park PlazaNic Harper, Wetherspoons
OBSERVERSMike Fairmaner, Westminster City Council John McNutley, TfL
Editorial © Published by Victoria BID,
8a Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1W 0LJ Telephone 020 3004 0786 Fax 020 7730 0311
Editor-in-Chief: Ruth DustonEditor: Tatiana Withanage [email protected] Design and print: www.sugarfreedesign.co.ukAdvertising: Paul Vater at Sugar Free 020 7619 7430Photography: Richard Lewisohn, Dominick Tyler and Paul Barratt. Cover image: Joanne Greene, Front Office Manager at Park Plaza Victoria Hotel, by Richard Lewisohn
The opinions expressed in magazine are not necessarily those of the Victoria BID. All rights reserved and reproduction without written permission from Victoria BID
is strictly prohibited. Although every care is taken of manuscripts, photographs and artwork submitted, neither Sugarfree nor Victoria BID can be held responsible for any loss or damage, however caused.
Welcome to inSW1
SouthWest FestThe Victoria Business Improvement District is proud to sponsor and participate in this year’s Big Top Circus and Pimlico Proms. The Pimlico Proms is the first scheduled event in the SouthWest Fest programme on 25 June and promises sophistication and sublime musical tones. The Big Top Circus will be a three-day extravaganza of jugglers, tight-rope walkers, clowns and acrobats. Starting on Thursday 8 July. For more details about the SouthWest Fest programme visit:
www.southwestfest.org.ukT Pimlico Resource Centre 020 7931 7999 E [email protected]
Pope Benedict XVI will visit England and Scotland on a four-day Papal visit from 6-19 September 2010. His Holiness will make a speech to British civil society at Westminster Hall, meet with the leaders of other Christian traditions, take part in a service of Evening Prayer with the Archbishop of Canterbury, lead a prayer vigil and beatify the 19th-century theologian and educationalist Cardinal John Henry Newman.
WORLD CUPMany of the pubs and bars around Victoria, Pimlico and Belgravia are making preparations to have screens showing the matches played during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa, being held between 11 June and 11 July 2010. See our list of venues showing matches on page 23.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the first edition of inSW1. I am delighted that so many businesses supported us in the run up to the BID ballot, with a resounding vote of confidence to establish a Business Improvement District in Victoria. I feel a great sense of pride to be working on behalf of so many businesses and I look forward to meeting with you all over the coming months.
We are now well underway with a range of activities, drawing on Victoria’s rich and eclectic cultural mix, delivering services and opportunities to you, helping to make Victoria not only a better place to work and play but to enhance Victoria as a primary destination in the heart of London.
As the collective voice of local businesses, both large and small and across all sectors, we will help shape Victoria’s future development. A monthly e-newsletter will keep you up to speed on regeneration developments, travel updates, our safe and secure initiatives and much more. We have the opportunity to create sustainable change, acting as a catalyst, creating an identity and sense of place for Victoria... London really does start here!
Ruth Duston, Chief Executive of Victoria BID
SERI AL CB P00 05 03 00 41044 5
3www.inSW1.com
The Victoria Business Improvement District will provide the platform for
business to work together to improve and enhance the urban context of Victoria. It will be further complemented by new proposals for regeneration of the area that will help reposition and place Victoria as a central business district over the next decade. This includes Network Rail’s plans to redevelop Victoria Station, TfL’s Victoria Station Upgrade, and Land Securities VTI2 Scheme occupying a 2.5 hectare site close to Victoria Station. New offices, shops and homes will bring enhanced prospects for the entire area, providing the BID with a key role to maximise these opportunities, delivering a
sustainable future for Victoria as a primary destination in the heart of Westminster.
As the Business Improvement District delivers the five strategic themes outlined within the business plan, we are entering into a period of change that encourages and brokers a much stronger relationship between business and our public-service providers. From dealing with congestion and wayfinding through to events and promotional activity, the BID will lead on delivering a number of fundamental projects over the next five years, bringing positive change and creating a sense of place for Victoria.
The Victoria BID will bring significant benefits to the locality and complement
our public-service providers, adding value to services already in place and working in partnership to develop and implement new ways of working. We all know that the public sector faces challenging times ahead with a shrinking public purse. In order to ensure that quality and delivery of services continue and we move forward to become a premier location, the BID will be instrumental in positioning Victoria and encouraging further inward investment. Victoria’s commercial profile is unique, bringing a range of different public sector agencies and government departments together, working alongside business to help keep Victoria a vibrant and successful economic quarter of Westminster.
Victoria’s FutureRUTH DUSTON, Chief Executive of the BID, outlines the work that is planned for the years ahead in making SW1 a destination of choice for business.
NEW BEGINNINGS
OUR 5 STRATEGIC THEMES
• Safe and Secure• Clean and Green• Visitor Destination• Showcase Victoria• Prosperous Economy
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4 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
The successful outcome of this BID will allow us to build on the good work we set out to achieve in Victoria and enable us to deliver a rich mix of projects that will create a sense of place and vibrant destination here in SW1.
Ruth DustonChief [email protected]
Ruth has 25 years of experience in managing and delivering regeneration projects throughout London and the South-East for both the public and private sectors.
Nicki PalmerOffice [email protected]
Nicki has a keen understanding of business with sound communication and organisational skills, event organ-isation and extensive knowledge in time, financial and office management, which will help maximise productivity and effectiveness within the BID team.
Nina ProvençalEvents & Marketing [email protected]
Following a degree in journalism, Nina has worked on a number of regeneration projects with other central London BIDs delivering initiatives designed to support and encourage cohesion within the business community.
Tatiana Withanage Marketing & Press Consultant [email protected] has been creating and managing marketing and PR campaigns for seven years for organisations such as Netaporter, Google, HSBC and Cancer Research. She also holds an MA in public relations from the CIPR.
Scott NixonBID [email protected]
Scott brings a wealth of experience to the BID, having managed a range of innovative and large-scale regeneration schemes. He has ensured their long-term sustainability through effective business planning and management.
meet the teamOur dedicated team is committed to building long-term sustainable partnerships with Victoria’s business community. Our projects will respond to locally defined business needs and be delivered to a high standard.
100 PER CENT VICTORIA
Whilst Victoria has a beautiful collection of parks, open spaces and walkways, there is always potential for improvement. Throughout the lifetime of the BID we will have dedicated significant investment and resources to improving the area, co-ordinated through the BID Management Team. Wider stakeholder commitment and involvement is fundamental to implementing a cohesive strategy that works to improve the area, such as:• Working with our partners to relieve
congestion and improve signage and access into and around Victoria Station – the capital’s busiest transport hub.
• Supporting and encouraging new development to maintain the vitality of Victoria’s central area to accommodate growth and further develop inward investment opportunities.
We are determined to provide the right kind of resources and support to maximise Victoria’s potential to become a destination of choice. We will work on behalf of business, ensuring we communicate priorities, keeping business informed to create an environment and destination that stimulates a satisfying experience that people will want to repeat. By 2015, the BID will have achieved a number of tangible benefits, demonstrating the value of working together for future involvement and a sustainable model for investment.
An Economic Development Officer and a Business Crime Prevention Officer will join our team shortly. Visit for more details
5www.inSW1.com
What makes the BID such a great place to carry out business?Victoria has a great vibrancy, which is partly due to the fact that is a gateway, but now, more than ever, because people are staying here thanks to better shops, restaurants and bars. The two theatres’ successful shows, Billy Elliot and Wicked, are pivotal attractions for nightlife, complemented by more great pubs and bars. There are a lot of small offices here, which tend to change for one reason or another, bringing through a stream of young business people, again adding freshness to the place.
How long have you worked in Victoria and what has been the most significant change in that time? I will have worked in Victoria for 20 years this December. I lived around the corner for 25 years, so I know the area very well. The biggest change Victoria has seen is Cardinal Place. It has transformed Victoria Street, which was quite dowdy and beginning to go downhill. The street now has a better feel and more class. Also, I think the business area in general has become more affluent.
What do you think Victoria BID’s biggest challenges will be?The timing of taking money from businesses in a recession means that we are particularly watching every penny spent and want to actually see where their money has been spent. The BID has to make noticeable changes and be very visual in what it achieves. If other services in the area begin to drop, the BID will need to make sure that it
is not filling these holes, but rather building from flat ground wherever possible. It is not enough to fill holes and keep us where we were – that wouldn’t be perceived as a benefit.
What changes would you like to see achieved by the Victoria BID? Victoria needs to be more of a destination than a gateway – added dwell time will have a positive impact on businesses. How the area looks is also very important; how it’s maintained, and kept clean and orderly. We are a five-star hotel and our guests expect the very best from us. So when they step outside the hotel, we would like them to experience being in an area where they feel that people take pride in their environment and care about the place in which they work.
Who has been your biggest influence in business and why? George Goring, the third generation of the Goring family, I worked with him for 15 years. This year will be the hotel’s 100th anniversary. This business is never about the price, but about value, care and attention and he was good at teaching people how
important interaction is between customer and staff. We spend between £100,000 and £120,000 to decorate one room in absolute luxury. This is just the product, it is the experience that customers receive that we pride ourselves on and that can only be achieved through the staff. The way they welcome the customer, serve and respect the guests. This is a very important part of the stay.
What was the best advice they gave you? George Goring believed that business was about people and building relationships. He had an unusual dedication in this way to his staff and customers. Always treat people with respect.
What is the best business lesson you have ever learnt? To be honourable, it works and it’s real. I think businesses have a moral role to play in the community; morality in business is important, it should not just be about the biggest profits. We have 150 staff here and this business is their livelihood, it is where they spend the majority of their time, and it’s important to provide an environment that instills pride in their work and encourages dedication. We want the staff to enjoy their work environment
What is your motto in life? Well it’s not a motto, really, but life’s about people, treat them well and with respect and you can have a wonderful life – make people smile.
NINA PROVENÇAL meets DAVID MORgAN-HEwITT, Managing Director of The Goring, to find out about his business career and the people who have inspired him. Read on to see what makes him tick and why he supports this new initiative.
My Hopes for the BID
INTERVIEW
Victoria needs to be more of a destination than a gateway; added dwell time will have a positive impact on businesses.
6 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
In recent times, who has been your most treasured guest and why? The Queen. I admire the way she has led the country through such vast changes. I’m certain we will look back on her reign as one of the greatest times of the 20th and 21st centuries. She visits regularly, always low key – she’s funny, gracious, and respectful. We also have other amazing guests. I remember a lady who worked in one of the Government offices. She would come in every weekday for lunch and a glass of whisky, she was one of our most loyal customers and we were her treat – her moment of luxury. I heard from one of our bar staff that she was retiring and I waited in the lobby to meet her and asked if she would join me in the dining room for lunch. We had lobster and champagne, she was so thrilled. She was very important to us. We are a moment of luxury for lots of people. We have guests who could afford to buy the hotel if they wanted to, but they also experience a service with such attention to detail and care that they may not get elsewhere. It is a joy to be able to provide that personal service – instant gratification.
What do you prefer, tie or open-necked shirt? Always tie, always pink-check shirts with white collar and cuffs, I have over 40 shirts the same, you know. Pink tie, occasionally blue or yellow. And pink socks!
What is your favourite dish on The Goring’s current menu? Lobster omelette, absolutely divine with the most delicious texture.
How do you want to be remembered? Well, I have given 20 years of my life to the Goring and really just dipped into the life of the hotel. It will go on for another 00 years. I hope to be remembered as having made a difference. You can only do this as part of a team, with people helping you to create something special.
7www.inSW1.com
BUSINESS MATTERS
For more information about the work of the BID in support of local business please visit
Victoria: Open for BusinessinSW1 approached some of the businesses already involved in supporting the Victoria BID and asked them to sum up the reasons for their enthusiasm.
Nigel HughesGrosvenor Britain & Ireland, Planning & Environment Director
Grosvenor’s 80-hectare Belgravia Estate includes the western edge of the Victoria Business Improvement District. The challenges and opportunities facing Victoria and its relationship with Belgravia are of particular interest to us.
For Grosvenor, a fundamental requirement of running an urban estate is having integrated policies relating to the environment, town planning and the maintenance, management and, where appropriate, the redevelopment of the area, including the Public Realm, helping to ensure that both the buildings and the spaces between them are put to the most beneficial and sustainable uses. Having a Business Improvement District that covers the Victoria area will ensure that local businesses have a key opportunity not only to influence but also to implement initiatives that will benefit them, their businesses, local residents and visitors to Victoria.
Chris Rogers, Head of Facilities at DP World, based in Victoria, sums up the reasons why companies are increasingly seeing Victoria as a great place to base themselves.
DP World has been based in Victoria for more than four years and has found it to be a good, central location in which to operate a busy, international office, easily accessible for overseas clients, visitors and staff alike.
Needless to say, this is a great area for transport links – with a good number of buses, tube and trains. Improvements to the infrastructure to make using these links more pleasureable and straightforward, in Chris’s words, “can only be a good thing”.
Chris also welcomes an extension to the CCTV and security cover in general across the BID area. With the increased patrols by the Victoria Safer Neighbourhoods Business Team, he recognises that this is the way to build a safer and more secure area because it is used both day and night. As Chris points out, the reputation of an area is cemented by good word of mouth – even more so for businesses seeking to relocate because they
look to existing businesses already operating in an area to get honest feedback when considering such a move. The more the BID builds on the improvements happening already, the faster this positive message will permeate.
Chris also says how pleasant and relaxing the area is and that many of his staff remark on how the place never seems overcrowded. Even with the growing number of shops and restaurants pulling visitors to the area, it never seems too difficult to find a local restaurant or bar to enjoy a night out after a day’s work.
Victoria’s proximity to the many visitor attractions in the area makes this a landmark destination and one that national and international business visitors alike really appreciate. Whether it be a trip to one of its iconic destinations such as Westminster Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Horseguards Parade, the Houses of Parliament or Tate Britain, no meeting in the area passes by without a visitor commenting on this remarkable location.
WALKING TOURS Victoria BID runs a series of bespoke walking tours for businesses thinking of relocating to Victoria. Make this part of your induction for existing or new staff. For more details contact Nina Provençal, Victoria BID, 8a Lower Belgrave Street, London SW1W 0LJ.T. 020 3004 0790 F. 020 7730 0311 M. 07535 219630
8 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
Nic HarperManager, Wetherspoons, Victoria Station
Although Wetherspoons is a significant plc company, each pub is run as an independent business at ground level and we take care of all aspects of running the business. There are already many advantages for the Victoria Station site, such as the communication between Network Rail and the local community with regard to signage and the assistance of wayfinding for tourists.
The communication between all the services within the locale, such as the Metropolitan Police, BTP, Pub Watch and Shop Watch, will help stop anti-social behaviour and theft and assist in generally fighting crime within the area, including the real threat of terrorism. The development of the area with a more green approach will not only appeal to local residents but also to international visitors, which will boost business.
I have already sensed a better understanding being formed and seen new partnerships unfold. And where communication improves waste decreases and growth along with profit flourishes. I am excited that there is such a strong focus on a relatively small area and I can only see this as a positive move towards increasing our trade.
Andrew MillsGeneral Manager, Victoria Palace
At the Victoria Palace Theatre, we are great supporters of the Business Improvement District – anything that makes Victoria a smarter and nicer place to work for our staff, and helps to improve facilities and the general area for our customers at the Victoria Palace can only be a great thing. As a business that attracts up to 600,000 to the area each and every year, we are very supportive of everything that the BID stands for.
Emma CornwellFacilities Manager, Ruffer LLP
The BID has initiated a host of Special Interest Groups, which will be highly effective in keeping abreast of local community issues that affect our business and employees.
Colette O’Shea Development Director, London Portfolio, Land Securities
Having been integral to the formation of the BID, we are incredibly enthusiastic about its progression and its future. Victoria businesses have really pulled together and seem to recognise their responsibility to promote an improved Victoria. Land Securities has been involved in the Victoria area for many years and we are really pleased to see the BID up and running. We will definitely be keen participants in the future of the BID because the benefits it can bring to Victoria are considerable.
Gary Merrick Head of Facilities, John Lewis
Being part of the BID gives me an opportunity to be able to both influence the environment we work in and give something back to the Community. The John Lewis Partnership feels very strongly that our presence in a town or district should enhance the quality of that area and this is a way of ensuring that we achieve that in Victoria.
9www.inSW1.com
KENSINGTON ROADKNIGHTS BRIDGE
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Victoria Tower Gardens
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE
GatwickExpress
Sloane Square
VictoriaCoach Station
Pimlico
Vauxhall
Millbank MillenniumPier
Westminster Millennium Pier
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St. James’s Park
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WESTMINSTEWESTMINSTERWESTMINSTER
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Royal Hospital, Chelsea
Chelsea Physic Garden
Wellington Arch
Victoria Memorial
Westminster Cathedral
Central HallWestminster
Westminster Abbey
The Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
St. Saviour Pimlico
Tate Britain
Buckingham Palace
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Strutton GroundCardinal Place (SW1 Gallery)
A B C D E F G H
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Fashion – clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery
Health, leisure, hair and beauty
Household, interior design and antiques
Food, delis, supermarket and wine merchants
Mobile phones/cellphones
Newsagent, tobacconist, music and stationery
Pharmacies
Photography, photobooths
Shoe repairs, key cutting and dry cleaning
Hotels
Post Offices
Tourist InformationVictoria Station ForecourtLondon SW1V 1JT020 7971 0027Mon-Saturday 8am-7pmSunday 8am-6pm
Travel Information0843 222 1234 (24 hours a day)www.tfl.gov.uk.
Belgravia Police Station202-206 Buckingham Palace Rd SW1W 9SX0300 123 1212 (24 hrs)
Remember in an emergency or when there is a danger to life or a crime in progress always call 999
Please Note: The number of shops/services in each area is shown as an approximate figure next to each icon
Post Officeswww.postoffice.co.uk
Victoria Street Ambassadors (Visitors information)
Cafes
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VICTORIA STATION , VICTORIA PLACE SHOPPING CENTRE AND THE COLONNADES
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Victoria Tower Gardens
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Orange Square
Royal Hospital, Chelsea
Chelsea Physic Garden
Wellington Arch
Victoria Memorial
Westminster Cathedral
Central HallWestminster
Westminster Abbey
The Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
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Tate Britain
Buckingham Palace
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Strutton GroundCardinal Place (SW1 Gallery)
A B C D E F G H
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Fashion – clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery
Health, leisure, hair and beauty
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Newsagent, tobacconist, music and stationery
Pharmacies
Photography, photobooths
Shoe repairs, key cutting and dry cleaning
Hotels
Post Offices
Tourist InformationVictoria Station ForecourtLondon SW1V 1JT020 7971 0027Mon-Saturday 8am-7pmSunday 8am-6pm
Travel Information0843 222 1234 (24 hours a day)www.tfl.gov.uk.
Belgravia Police Station202-206 Buckingham Palace Rd SW1W 9SX0300 123 1212 (24 hrs)
Remember in an emergency or when there is a danger to life or a crime in progress always call 999
Please Note: The number of shops/services in each area is shown as an approximate figure next to each icon
Post Officeswww.postoffice.co.uk
Victoria Street Ambassadors (Visitors information)
Cafes
Take-aways
Restaurants
Public Houses/Bars
VICTORIA STATION , VICTORIA PLACE SHOPPING CENTRE AND THE COLONNADES
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Consider the facts. Around 115 million journeys pass through Victoria Station
each year. The Gatwick Express brings an average of five million business and leisure travellers to Victoria’s streets annually. And the UK as a whole attracts 25.5 million tourists to its shores every year (making it the fifth most popular destination in the world), many of whom come specifically to explore Britain’s royal and historic attractions.
The potential for local businesses to benefit from more of these people spending time in Victoria is obvious. And the BID is dedicated to making sure the message goes out that SW1 has great places to stay, eat and drink, fanastic shopping, and world-beating attractions, too.
On the accommodation front, SW1 is bursting with choices to suit all budgets and tastes, from elegant five-star hotels to homely guesthouses. What’s more, visitors find themselves right on the doorstep of some of the country’s top attractions – Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben are all here – as well as world-class restaurants, bars and cafés, shopping, galleries, museums and theatres.
For comfort with high style, The Goring (thegoring.com) is one of London’s most sought after addresses – just a short walk from Buckingham Palace. The five-star hotel, which is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, has an illustrious past that reveals it has been a favourite of royalty and people of note for the past century. It’s also famous for being the first hotel in the world to offer its guests en-suite bathrooms, and the fourth generation of the Goring family continues to keep that innovative spirit alive by complementing the plush traditional decor for which the hotel is favoured with
the very latest 21st-century amenities.Just around the corner, 5 Buckingham
Gate (5-buckinghamgate.com) is also close to the Queen’s official residence, as well as the pretty open spaces of St James’s Park and Green Park. This stylish five-star hotel wows with its smart interiors and cool contemporary design. Plus it has the added attraction of Quilon, the Michelin-starred sister restaurant to the Bombay Brasserie, where diners can enjoy the finest cuisine, inspired by the flavours of southern India. The hotel’s 86 one- to four-bedroom suites, all with butler service, are the luxurious choice for extended stays.
Buzzy SW1 is home to many favourite star-rated hotel brands, too. The Grosvenor Hotel (thistle.com), part of the Guomon Group, is a splendid 357-room railway hotel built in the Victorian heyday. Guests are right next door to two top West End theatres, the Victoria Apollo, currently showing Wicked, and the Victoria Palace, now playing Billy Elliot: The Musical. The Victoria Park Plaza Hotel (parkplaza.com), tucked behind the railway station, with 287 rooms to choose from, keeps its guests within bag-dropping distance of the excellent shopping on Victoria Street. And visitors don’t even have to leave The Rubens (rubenshotel.com), a member of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, to soak up SW1’s truly regal atmosphere – some of the 143 rooms in this hotel, which sits opposite the Palace, have direct views of the Royal Mews. Just a stone’s throw away from the station, the Hesperia London Victoria (hesperia.es) offers business and leisure travellers a high standard of service whilst providing all the benefits of being right at the centre of Victoria and its many attractions.
The Rubens also offers two plush, serviced, one- and two-bedroom apartments
... don’t take another step. Victoria may be a major gateway to London but this vibrant neighbourhood is also an excellent place to base yourself, whether you’re visiting on business or for pleasure. KATE SIMON urges us to take a closer look.
Stop Right There…
IN FOCUS
12 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
at Catherine Place, just around the corner. This alternative to the traditional hotel room is a clever option for visitors wanting hotel comforts with a little more flexibility – especially if they intend to stay a while. Dolphin House Apartments (dolphinsquare.co.uk), set in gardens close to the River Thames in Pimlico, provides a choice of 160 one- to three-bedroom modish spaces with access to a gym and heated indoor pool, and is close to one of the country’s great art galleries, Tate Britain (tate.org.uk/britain). The 24 Lakeview Court Apartments that sit on top of the Thistle Westminster (thistle.com) will put visitors in the centre of SW1, next to its theatres, shops and cultural attractions, while also offering spectacular views across London. The London flagship of City Inn (cityinn.com) is also here, a suitably slick example of this forward-thinking hotel group, with 460 comfortable bedrooms that pamper with the latest technology, including iMacs in every room. And it’s only steps away from Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
There are budget options, too, for those who want to benefit from all that SW1 has to offer at a bargain price. Among the many choices are Easyhotel (easyhotel.com), Comfort Inn (comfortinnvictoria.co.uk),
one of two Best Western Corona hotels in the area (coronahotel.co.uk), and Days Inn (daysinn-westminster.co.uk).
For a more intimate experience, Pimlico offers some family-run options. At the Luna Simone (lunasimonehotel.com) guests get the personal touch from the Desira family, who have run this cosy 36-room establishment since 1970. Visitors can also enjoy the village atmosphere of Pimlico while staying here. Lime Tree Hotel (limetreehotel.co.uk) is another superior family-run B&B, with 25 individually styled rooms set in two Grade II-listed Georgian townhouses. And B&B Belgravia (bb-belgravia.com), with 17 rooms and nine apartments, offers a stylish and affordable welcome in one of the most exclusive parts of town.
At the end of Ebury Street, visitors will find a recent arrival in Belgravia, The Orange Public House and Hotel (theorange.co.uk), which provides quiet, well-designed rooms in a chic neighbourhood. Cosier still, the double bedroom in the Edwardian flat at 12a Evelyn Mansions (020 7834 889) is gaining in popularity for its friendly atmosphere and enviable location just off Victoria Street.
Great atmosphere and great location – now that’s Victoria.
Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are all here – not to mention the many world-class restaurants, bars and cafes, shopping, galleries, museums and theatres – just a few short steps away from your hotel.
Above: A great welcome is always assured at 41 Buckingham Palace Road, a Red Carnation hotel.
Opposite page: Reception at the Lime Tree Hotel, Ebury Street, Belgravia.
Opposite page: One of the rooms of the Orange Hotel and Public House, based on Orange Square, Pimlico Road.
We are unable to cover all the available accommodation for visitors to Victoria in this article. So please visit our website for more information about staying in SW1.
13www.inSW1.com
Tell us a bit about your business?Gastronomica opened on Tachbrook Street about 18 months ago. We import cheese, ham, salami and wine from artisan producers in Italy, which customers can enjoy with a glass of
wine in our café, or buy to take home. We are very informal, so local business people find it a useful place to drop in for a meeting over coffee or a simple lunch. Gastronomica was founded 10 years ago by Marco Vineis, an Italian from Piemonte with a passion for cheese. We trade at Borough Market and other markets around London, so when the chance came to participate in the regeneration of Tachbrook Street Market, we jumped at it – it’s in our blood. It has been helpful to us to have a presence on the street at weekends since December last year, helping to attract new customers to our shop, who might not otherwise realise that we are here.
How have the changes in the area affected your business?We have been trading for more than 18 months on the street market as part of the regeneration programme to upgrade the market. It’s really great that we have a stall and a shop in the area. Phase two of the market upgrade is taking place at the moment and the vision is to provide a consistent good-quality local service to local people. The market had a fantastic reputation for around 20 years but that slowly slipped. We are trying to change its character, particularly on Saturdays when there are more high-quality foods on offer.
What makes Tachbrook Street unique?It’s one of London’s villages, a cosmopolitan mix of visitors, residents and business people. The Italian Consulate office is nearby, so we have quite a lot of Italians visiting, which is great.
What is your favourite shop in the Street?Fox’s hardware shop – you can get everything under one roof.
RE-DISCOVERING SW1
inSw1 spoke to ALISTAIR CAMERON of the delicatessen Gastronomica to get his impression of this Pimlico road and its market as a major makeover nears completion.
A Fresh Start for Tachbrook Street
THE RENEWAL OF TACHBROOK STREET MARKET
As part of Westminter City Council’s “Renewing District Shopping Centres” initiative, work began last year on Tachbrook Street. Once a thriving area, it is seen as a crucial retail hub for local residents. The centre of gravity has shifted from Tachbrook to the Wilton Road area, where Sainsbury’s is located. Regeneration includes new paving and pedestrianised areas, work around the market to improve viability as well as new stalls and public seating.
We are essentially refreshing the public realm, improving the image of the market, creating a more interesting focus for it. We now have 10 regular traders, from Monday to Friday, and we are working closely with them to help expand the market with a better choice of quality foods, as well as a Farmers’ Market on Thursdays and Fridays. Martin Whittles, Head of Public Realm City Planning, Westminster City Council
PH
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14 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
MAP
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Tachbrook Street Market
Tachbrook Street Market runs throughout the day from Monday to Saturday, off busy Warwick Way. It’s a great resource for the local community, selling a wide range of products, including household goods, antiques and bric-a-brac, fish, meat and veg.
5 minutes walk from Victoria or Pimlico Underground Stations
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15www.inSW1.com
More about your Police team working for business in SW1
ADAM ROCHE of the Victoria Business Police Team reports on the changes being made to a local hostel that will benefit the whole community.
A Fine Balance
METROPOLITAN LIFE
On 1 April 2010 the Victoria Business Team took sole responsibility for
a local hostel managed by Look Ahead Housing and Care in Castle Lane. There had been ongoing alcohol-related problems, especially in the summer, involving anti-social behaviour, with some residents becoming loud and aggressive in view of the public as well as residents in the flats opposite. A new layout for the hostel is due to be completed in six months and will include a Mother and Baby Unit as well as an Elderly Persons Unit.
This change in the profile of residents along with a reduction in numbers, will
reduce these problems. Residents are dealt with robustly if they fall foul of the hostel rules, while other security measures including CCTV are in use. In addition, the entrance on Palace Street will be relocated to the other side of the building.
The Victoria Business Team, comprising an inspector, two sergeants, eight officers and six police community support officers, meet regularly with both the hostel staff and local residents. We aim to take action both in the short and longer term to improve communication and create a more positive environment by: • Holding regular meetings with hostel
staff and residents to keep up to date.• Utilising group dispersal powers under
the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. • Having one point of contact for the hostel
staff for improved communication. • Having regular uniform patrols. • Working with the hostel to keep an eye
on those residents causing problems.• Supporting plans for the planned changes.
We are determined to support the hostel in the coming years to ensure that its improvement plans work for all those concerned, and we are prepared to arrest and deter any hostel residents who consistently cause problems for local businesses and residents alike.
We are a dedicated team of police officers and community support officers on patrol in Victoria. Our role is to tackle growing crime trends in the neighbourhood and to respond to your needs within the business and wider community.
You may be surprised to hear that one of the biggest challenges we face is encouraging residents and businesses to report the crimes they experience. Some locals accept certain criminal activities
as inevitable – “they just happen”. This can mean crimes such as anti-social behaviour, low-value shoplifting and fraud go unreported.
As your Safer Neighbour-hood team, we would encourage you to report all your concerns, large or small. Doing this allows us to assess the community’s needs fully and respond to these needs in the most efficient way.
Our aim is to support the whole community, including commuters, tourists, and the
homeless. We back Victoria’s BID and have committed more of our time to businesses. A programme of local initiatives has also been planned in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.
Victoria will always have unique crime challenges that follow seasonal changes and reflect the events hosted here. By following a “volume crime”
strategy, we focus our policing efforts on the offences that most affect the district. A steering group, with representatives from all sections of the business community, has been set up via the BID within a consultation process.
We will work closely with this panel to assess local issues and decide how our police teams should prioritise our work accordingly.
16 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
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17www.inSW1.com
STREETS AHEAD
Shopping is as diverse as it is thought-provoking in SW1. Head for Victoria, Belgravia and Pimlico and you’ll find every kind of retail experience, from high-street ‘A-listers’ to specialist, quirky retailers. Whether you’re after running shoes in Cardinal Place or runner beans at the Pimlico Road Farmers’ Market, CHRIS KILVINgTON leads the way.
Victoria’s Secret
18 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
Opening in 2005, Cardinal Place (cardinalplace.co.uk) is still the
sharp new kid on Victoria’s shopping block. Bursting out of the north side of Victoria Street, this striking £200m metal and glass development is built directly over the Circle and District underground line. Incredibly, 50m of tunnel passes straight through the building’s basement, so the structure rests on rubber shock absorbers to soak up the vibrations.
True, these aren’t the only vibrations that Cardinal Place has made since it opened. The local community has quickly taken to this relaxed shopping and dining-out environment, and the self-styled “new heart and soul” of SW1 is drawing more of the capital’s shoppers into the area, increasing the footfall for neighbouring businesses.
Side by side on Palace Street, at the eastern
end of Cardinal Place, sit favourite sports names including Cycle Surgery (cyclesurgery.com), Runners Need (runnersneed.co.uk), and the outdoor equipment supplier The North Face (uk.thenorthface.com). Like long-standing local shop, Run and Become (runandbecome.com), Runners Need offers customers assessments so that you can match a shoe to your running style, though the Cardinal Place resident is more likely to put you through your paces on a treadmill than down the street.
Swap the outdoors for going out at Accessorize (accessorize.com), Hobbs (hobbs.co.uk), Top Shop (topshop.com), Zara (zara.com) and more traditional clothes retailers such as Jermyn Street’s Hawes & Curtis. Sniff out the natural scents on offer at Molton Brown (moltonbrown.co.uk) and Province-inspired L’Occitane (loccitane.com). Or choose a splendid bouquet of flowers at Edward Goodyear (edwardgoodyear.co.uk) for a different kind of fragrant treat.
Central Victoria is a real mixed bag. It’s an area where you can just as easily buy designer brands and luxury goods as you can practical items, entertainment and your evening meal. “It’s definitely become an all-round shopping destination,” said Josie Hunt of House of Fraser (houseoffraser.co.uk), a store that established itself on Victoria Street more than a century ago. “People now come
In this area, you can just as easily buy designer brands and luxury goods as you can practical items, entertainment and your evening meal.
Opposite page: Phillip Treacy, couture design, 2010.
This page: Cardinal Place where established brands such as Molton Brown, Top Shop and Monsoon rub shoulders with new arrivals Cycle Surgery and Runners Need.
New lines in design for the home at House of Fraser exude glamour and style on Victoria Street.
19www.inSW1.com
STREETS AHEAD
here just for the shopping. We have got a lot to offer.”
From this part of Central Victoria, the shopping trip carries on through Victoria train station, up the escalators into Victoria Place (victoriaplaceshopping.com), then over Eccleston Bridge Road and down The Colonnades. From there, you really should check out Elizabeth Street, a stretch of road that runs straight to the heart of Belgravia.
With its specialist, independent shops, the atmosphere feels far removed from the high street. Along Elizabeth Street’s western side, you’ll find cashmere wool mixed with street style at Lucien Pellat-Finet (lucienpellat-finet.com); hat and bag design from Philip Treacy (philiptreacy.co.uk); perfumes by Les Senteurs (shop.lessenteurs.com); and even an outfitters for well-to-do dogs and cats, Mungo and Maud (mungoandmaud.com). Cross to the other curb for the Chatsworth Farm Shop; a case of 12 at Jeroboams (jeroboams.co.uk); a baker’s dozen from French boulangerie Poilâne (poilane.fr); and jewellery from Erickson Beamon (ericksonbeamon.com).
One name you’ll see on both sides of Elizabeth Street is Tom Tom (tomtom.co.uk). Its cigar shop sits on the west side of the street, and you’ll find its coffee house where
the road turns into Ebury Street. Number 63 is one of the few places where you can still smoke indoors – at least, if you want to taste Tom Tom’s cigars.
South down Ebury Street and into Pimlico Road, look out for Pimlico’s mouth-watering Daylesford Organics (daylesfordorganic.com), where you can buy organic food, eat and learn to cook, too. Pimlico Road Farmers’ Market also pitches up every Saturday morning at Orange Square, on the corner of Pimlico Road and Ebury Street. The London Farmers’ Market website (lfm.org.uk) describes the site as “one of the most leafy and pleasant of all our market locations”. Stalls here include David Jennings’ seafood from the East Anglian coast, organic bakers Flour Power City from Surrey Quays in London, and Alham Wood handmade cheeses from Somerset.
Elsewhere in Pimlico, there are even more specialist food outlets – but then this part of SW1 serves up the biggest variety of shops. Come here for high-street names, local hardware stores, and independents that deal in goods from fine arts and antiques to rare European textiles and upholstery fabrics. For more, check out the Pimlico Road Association’s website, thepimlicoroad. com.
For more information about shopping in the Victoria area, including Pimlico and Belgravia, please visit our website and take a look at some of the offers from local businesses.
This page: Karen and Philip Rippon stock more than 500 varieties of Europe’s finest cheeses at Rippon Cheese and Delicatessen shops on Tachbrook Street, Pimlico.
TMLewin has shops on Victoria Street and inside the mainline station offering a range of menswear as well as a distinctive range of womenswear for the business community.
20 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
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WORKING LIVES
Summer in the city is when lunchtime means getting out of your workplace, picking up a light bite and enjoying it in one of the open-air spaces around SW1.SIMONE KANE reports.
Lunch Box
Central Victoria has a vast choice of superior take-outs. Both inside and
around the mainline station complex there are lots of options, whatever your purse or preferred flavours. The pick of the high-street brands and chains are all here – Ask, Café Nero, Eat, Fresh Pizza, KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Express , Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger, Prezzo, Starbucks and Wasabi.
And check out the most recent addition to the area, the striking glass and steel edifice of Cardinal Place, home to shops and popular cafés and restaurants, including Costa, Eat, Nando’s, La Tasca, Zizzi and Ha!Ha! Bar & Grill. Top choice for many visiting here at lunch time is the Winter Garden, near Wagamama. Local office workers and visitors to Cardinal Place can be found taking the sun at this welcome addition to the many open spaces in and around SW1 where people can enjoy the fresh air. And, if you fancy a bite of culture for afters, there’s an art gallery to browse here, too.
Venture a little further to discover independent cafés, sandwich bars and food retailers. In Pimlico, Churton and Moreton Streets are populated by cafés, gastropubs and wine bars. But the real delight for determined picnickers is Khallouk & Taylor deli on Moreton St, where you can put together your own lunch before seeking out a sunny spot in one of SW1’s many green spaces. Likewise, on
nearby Tachbrook Street, savour the English varieties on offer at Rippon Cheese Stores and cold meats from Gastronomica Italia – where you can also order a sit-down delight from the lunch menu – while on Lower Tachbrook Street, Bonne Bouche sells fine bread and patisserie. Wilton Road and the lower end of Warwick Way are also lively at lunchtime at establishments such as Uno.
And don’t miss the local markets, the perfect foraging ground for food at fair prices. Strutton Ground (Mon-Fri, late morning till mid-afternoon) is an intimate market that has become popular with the lunchtime crowd, while Tachbrook Market (Tachbrook St, Tues-Sat, 9.30am-4.30pm) is small yet charming. On the other hand, Pimlico Farmers’ Market (Orange Sq, Sat, 9am–pm) is becoming one of the biggest of its kind in the capital.
For upmarket supplies, Belgravia’s Elizabeth St is home to French baker Poilane, and Daylesford Organics is in nearby Orange Square. Or, if you’re seeking a sophisticated meal, try Santini, on Ebury Street, where locals and celebrities enjoy top-quality Italian cuisine on a summer terrace in the shade of olive trees. On the same street, La Poule au Pot comes highly recommended by those who work locally for its French brasserie food and reasonable prices.
Fancy a take-out sushi treat? Or perhaps a toasted sandwich with a frothy cappuccino at a pavement café might hit the spot. Whatever your choice, lunch never tasted so good.
For more about places to eat and drink in SW1 visit our website
This page: The Winter Garden is a popular spot at lunch time. Join shoppers and office workers for this al fresco option – just outside SW1 Gallery, Cardinal Place; A display of takeout sushi and nigiri rolls at Wasabi, Victoria Street.
22 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
RESTAURANT REVIEW
SPORTS
All our diners agreed that few restaurants embrace every aspect of the eating experience as creatively as Bbar, where the South African theme inspires everything from the décor to the menu. Donna from Land Securities described the décor as
“light and modern, with a tasteful safari animal theme” in keeping with the South African origins of the bar. “Love it!” she said. “My starter of sweet-chilli dressing definitely had a kick.”
Adam, acting sergeant of the Victoria Business Team, ordered the Springbok haunch steak with sweet-potato puree, spinach, baby carrots and redcurrant sauce for his main. He commented: “Portion sizes and flavours are both
excellent and not overpowering at all.” Sam, from the Apollo Victoria,
added that his meal had been beautifully presented. He was particularly impressed by the “refreshing” way his steak dish favoured taste over size. “That’s a lesson a lot of other restaurants could do well to heed for their own steaks,” he concluded.
Average cost for two including a bottle of wine £40.
Victoria has a diverse mix of restaurants from al fresco, luxurious fine dining to something more quirky. As a regular feature, inSW1 would like to invite readers to take part – whether a restaurateur or potential guest. Our first review is of Bbar, renowned for its authentic South African dishes.
Make yours a double – enjoy a top-class game of football with a drink at the pubs and bars in and around Victoria and SW1 that are showing this summer’s World Cup.
Bbar (www.bbarlondon.com)43 Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1W 0PPTo book: 020 7958 7000
THE DINERS Donna Mackenzie, Land Securities • Adam Roche, acting sergeant, Victoria Business Team • Sam Zdzieblo, Apollo Victoria • Nina Provençal, Victoria BID
A Taste of the Veld in SW1
• Morpeth Arms 58 Millbank, SW1P 4RW
• The Abbey Abbey Orchard St, SW1P 2LU
• Adam & Eve Petty France, SW1H 9EX
• The Barley Mow Horseferry Rd, SW1P 2EE
• The Belgravia Ebury St, SW1W 9JL
• Buckingham Arms Petty France, SW1H 9EU
• The Cask & Glass Palace St, SW1E 5HN
• The Colonies Wilfred St, SW1E 6PRS
• Friars Inn Elizabeth St, SW1W 9RP
• The Gallery Lupus St, SW1V 3AS
• The Gallery Wilton Rd, SW1V 1DW
• The Greencoat Boy Greencoat Place, SW1P 1PJ
• The Grosvenor Grosvenor Rd, SW1V 3LA
• The Iron Duke Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1V 1JU
• The Jugged Hare Vauxhall Bridge Rd, SW1V 1DX
• The Kings Arms Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0QJ
• Loco Mexicano Wilton Rd, SW1V 1DE
• Marquis Of Westminster Warwick Way, SW1V 1RY
• The Old Monk Exchange Victoria Street, SW1H 0HW
• The Orange 85 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE
• Pride of Pimlico Tachbrook Street, SW1V 2QA
• The Prince of Wales Lupus Street, SW1V 3AS
• The Thomas Cubitt Elizabeth St , SW1W 9PA
• Sports Bar & Grill Victoria Station, SW1V 1JU
• The Stage Door Allington St, SW1E 5EB
• Strutton Arms Strutton Ground, SW1P 2HP
• The Victoria Lower Belgrave St, SW1W 0NR
• The White Swan Vauxhall Bridge Rd, SW1V 2SA
• The Willow Walk Wilton Rd, SW1V 1LW
If you would like your restaurant to be reviewed or would like to join us in reviewing a local restaurant, please contact Nina Provencal on 020 3004 0790 or [email protected]
23www.inSW1.com
Victoria really does rule for tourist attractions. And central Victoria can lay
claim to being the home of some of the most famous sights of interest in the world – not just in the UK. Buckingham Palace (royal.gov.uk) is an obvious place to sneak a peek at royal living, with its State Rooms, Royal Collection, Queen’s Gallery, and the chance to watch the marching guards through the palace railings. Horse Guard’s Parade lets you get up close to the cavalry – literally, eye to eye, if you like. Plus there’s Big Ben towering above the Palace of Westminster – better known as the Houses of Parliament (parliament.org) – stunning Westminster Cathedral on Victoria Street (westminstercathedral.org.uk), and Westminster Abbey (westminster-abbey.org) on Parliament Square, which has close connections to the royal family.
But, what about the other cultural gems of SW1? Well, park yourself with the buses in Terminus Place in front of Victoria Station and you will be able to spot the area’s two major playhouses, The Apollo Victoria Theatre (apollovictoria.co.uk) and the Victoria Palace Theatre (victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk). With the
capacity to hold 2,200 people, the Apollo Victoria can seat one of the London’s biggest theatre audiences. The building began life as an art-deco “super-cinema” in 1930, re-emerging as a theatre only at the beginning of the 1980s. It was the 18-year venue for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, which inevitably brought about a major internal refit to cater for the multi-tier roller-skating show. Since turfing out the rollerbooters, it has staged Bombay Dreams, Saturday Night Fever and, since 2006, the Broadway show Wicked.
Across the way, The Victoria Palace Theatre has stood almost a century longer than its showbiz compatriot, in situ well before the arrival of electricity and the railways. The building opened in 1832 as the capital’s first music hall, Moy’s Music Hall. Since then, it has been demolished and rebuilt twice, but it has still managed to retain much of its character. Look up at the dome to see a replica statue of Anna Pavlova, the prima ballerina, which was added 70 years or so after the original was removed for safety reasons during the Blitz – then disappeared. The multi award-winning show Billy Elliot opened at the Palace in 2005.
Away from the stage, Victoria’s major art
ARTS AND MINDS
Victoria Rules!Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament are all right here. But that doesn’t mean SW1 culture is just about monarchs and politicians. CHRIS KILVINgTON delves a little deeper.
This page: Buckingham Palace; Programme seller at Apollo Victoria’s Wicked; The Houses of Parliament and BA London Eye are within easy walking distance of Victoria; One of the mosaics that adorn the Catholic Westminster Cathedral; Tate Britain at Millbank.
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The title of this wonderful exhibition, Art and Love, is well chosen. By exchanging paintings,
sculpture and photographs, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert not only established and reflected artistic trends of the 19th century, they also saw art as a means of commemorating and celebrating the different stages in their family’s development. The 400 individual works in this exhibition are a delightful testament to the obvious affection that each held for the other in their selection of art for each other’s enjoyment.
The royal couple confidently commissioned and collected art that reflected their personal tastes and interest in historic subjects, as well as more romantic or family-orientated themes. The gilded objects, memorabilia and early photographic portraits on display reveal that their collecting habit was an individual affair. Their combined appetite for art transformed the Royal Collection.
The result is a rich mix, at odds with our prevailing preference for order and clean lines. Their simultaneous appreciation of craftsmanship and excessive decoration went hand in hand with outstanding examples of works by great masters, transcending the tastes of the time. The confidence they brought to their selection defines the additions they made. Prince Albert added many masterpieces to the Royal Collection’s representation of both Italian and German art, buying works by Duccio, Bernado Daddi, Dürer, Holbein and Cranach.
Queen Victoria had her own motivations when it came to paintings, preferring examples associated with memories of family and friends. She achieved a high strike rate, buying and commissioning many successful works. William Powell Frith’s Ramsgate Sands, which depicts a contemporary crowd enjoying a moment on the beach at Ramsgate, is a good example. (Victoria stayed at Ramsgate as a child, while recovering from typhoid.) The portrait of a dog, Eos, Prince Albert’s favourite greyhound, by Edwin Landseer, is another important addition. The Royal Collection is a must if you are interested in Britain and the British, and this cleverly realised exhibition, drawn from it, offers a harmonious distillation of the life of the royal family at the time.
Victoria & AlbertArt and Love
galleries, Tate Britain (tate.org.uk/Britain) and the Saatchi Gallery (saatchi-gallery.co.uk). These two spaces have one big thing in common: they champion British art. But other than that, they were hewn from completely different stone.
Overlooking the Thames as the river takes one of its southerly twists, Tate Britain is regarded as a true Pimlico landmark. The gallery serves up a large slice of the Tate’s national collection of British art from 1500 onwards, as well as a selection of international contemporary art beginning in 1900. Even so, this gallery is perhaps most famous for what it holds by the English painter JMW Turner – the Turner Bequest is the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world, with around 300 oil paintings and 30,000 sketches and watercolours.
Just 25 minutes walk away in Belgravia, just off the King’s Road, the Saatchi Gallery is the private collection of the advertising guru Charles Saatchi. This ever-changing collection has been a major influence on the British art scene since it was first displayed in the mid-1980s at a former paint factory in North London. Many of the featured artists have remained unknown, but the art maverick did provide a springboard for the Young British Artists of the 1990s, a ‘movement’ that was led by Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
Howick Street is home to contemporary art galleries and design businesses such as Orel (orelart.com) and Marc Newson. Commenting on locating his business in Victoria, Marc Newson says: “This is so central – I can walk to St James’ Park in 10 minutes. The area has a huge amount of potential and inspiration-wise it is quiet and understated” (Telegraph, August 2009).
SW1 is full of cultural attractions, including drama at (abovethestag.com), music and art at the ICA (ica.org.uk). Visitors can hear classical music at St John’s Smith Square (sjss.org.uk), and public lectures at The Royal Society (royalsociety.org).
What’s more, the locals come together every year to celebrate the district’s cultural and community work at the South West-minster Festival (southwestfest.org.uk), which is being held from 25 June to 11 July in 2010. Apart from a great day out, it’s an excellent excuse to find out what SW1 really has to offer.
THE QUEEN’S GALLERYBUCKINGHAM PALACE
VICTORIA & ALBERT: ART & LOVEThe Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, 19 March-31 October 2010, Open daily 10am-5.30pm. Admission every15 minutes (last admission 4.30pm). www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/vanda
Tickets for the exhibition purchased directly from the gallery can be converted into a free one-year pass for repeat visits.
SPOTLIGHT
For more about visitor attractions visit
PICTURE CREDITS: Artist: F.X. Winterhalter – Prince Albert, 1842 and Queen Victoria, 1843 The Royal Collection © 2010, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Diary of eventsLAST WORDS
JUNE – AUGUST 2010
WALKING TOURS July-September Guided Walking Tours Victoria through the Ages and Victoria’s Hidden Gems start in July 2010, with Lunchtime walks (45 mins) and Weekend walks (90 mins with a refreshment stop).
For more details and to book contact Nicki Palmer on 020 3004 0786 or email [email protected]
Places are limited to 20 people More info www.insw1.com
Our events programme aims to showcase SW1, building on it strong cultural offering by injecting vibrancy and flare to put Victoria firmly on the map, with a diverse mix of street festivals, seasonal markets, walking tours, New Years Day Parade and more.
ENTERTAINMENT
CIRCUS BIG TOPChelsea College of Art & Design Parade Ground, Millbank, SW1P 4JU 8-10 July 2010, all day
£10-£15All the family will enjoy this magical event, brought to you as part of the SouthWest Fest. For three days, clowns, acrobats, tight-rope walkers and jugglers will be on hand to keep everyone entertained. For more details about the whole programme, visit the SouthWest Fest website at www.southwestfest.org.uk.
ENTERTAINMENT
PIMLICO PROMSSt George’s Square, Pimlico, SW1Friday 25 June 2010, 6pm
£5 (£2.50 concessions)Start off your weekend with a delightful evening of music and entertainment held beneath the stars, brought to you as part of the SouthWest Fest by performers including the award-winning Kew Wind Orchestra and Pimlico Academy. And don’t miss the light show in St George’s Square, which promises to beautifully illuminate this historic local space.
JUNE JULY
SouthWest Fest 2010Every year, 9,000 people come together to celebrate all the great cultural and community work that goes on in SW1.This year, Festival Fortnight is set to be the biggest and best yet. The theme of the Carnival Parade is “the circus is coming to town” – and it is, with a Big Top Circus taking place at Chelsea College of Art & Design Parade Ground for the enjoyment of thousands of local people. Other exciting ideas include a Pimlico Proms open-air concert, a cruise down the Thames, the SW1Gallery exhibition, and the return of Pimlico’s Got Talent.
www.southwestfest.org.uk
Victoria BID the launch
The Victoria Business Improvement District officially launched on
Thursday 24 June, 2010 at Central Hall Westminster.
Please visit our website to access the speeches and
see video content from the launch and to discover more
about the BID.
EATING & DRINKING
VICTORIA GOES TO MARKET – A TASTE OF SUMMER14 July 2010, 10 am-6pm
Entry freeEnjoy the taste of summer with fine foods from around the world at the first in a series of seasonal markets. And to mark the fact that it’s also Bastille Day, why not grab a spot of lunch from traders offering authentic French produce.
Please visit our website insw1.com for more details.
For more news and events and to subscribe for any updates please visit our website
JULY
JUNE
GREAT BRITISH SUMMEROpen-air screenings of sports fixtures and films will take place at the Winter Gardens, Cardinal Place. Don’t miss Wimbledon and the Ashes or your favourite movies.
greatbritishsummer10.com
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www.dashingtweeds.co.uk
GHERKIN TWEED IS USED BY VICTORIA BID AS PART OF THE UNIFORM FOR THEIR STREET AMBASSADORS BASED AT VICTORIA STATION.
0844 826 8000WickedTheMusical.co.uk WickedLondon
APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE SW1V 1LG © W
LPL
WINNER! MOST POPULAR SHOWLaurence Olivier Awards 2010
