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interiors-the-portrait-restaurant

<h2 class='intro_basic'>No matter how long you’ve been here, Central London still holds hidden gems and culinary treasures just waiting for you to explore. If you want London culture at its finest, we’ve got the restaurant recommendation for you.
<p>Our destination is nestled amongst London’s most iconic landmarks. It offers fine dining at its finest – masterful chefs transform the freshest ingredients into extraordinary dishes for you to enjoy with unreal views out over the city. For gourmet food in Central London, you’ll be surprised how reasonably priced the menu is, and truly, they earn every penny of it. 
</h2>


<figure>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/big-ben-elizabeth-tower/720.jpg' alt='Big ben in Elizabeth Tower'>
<figcaption>Our restaurant recommendation is just a quick stroll past Elizabeth Tower.</figcaption>
</figure>



<h3>Take the scenic route</h3>

<p>For the full London experience, we recommend you take the Tube to Westminster Station. Stroll past Big Ben and Parliament, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, and finally around to the National Portrait Gallery.
<p>Plan for a couple hours wandering the gallery before your reservation, so you can take in the world's largest portrait collection, where painters and photographers spin tales of national heroes and cultural giants.
<p>See? You’re getting a taste of British culture already.





<h3>A culinary masterpiece awaits</h3>
<p>All finished at the gallery? Great, head upstairs.
<p>On the fourth floor, you’ll find <a href='https://theportraitrestaurant.com/' target='_blank'>The Portrait restaurant</a>, with the breathtaking London skyline unfurling before you. It is such a unique perspective, looking out across London landmarks from just above Trafalgar Square. Compared to peering down from a crowded observation deck, you really feel a part of it all here with your red wine and lamb chops guarded by the square's iconic lions.

<figure>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/london-skyline-national-portrait-gallery/720.jpg' alt='London skyline view'>
<figcaption>Drink in the view: what better end out across the city as you dine. </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>The all-important menu</h3>
<p>You can always tell a good restaurant by the way the waiters introduce the menu. So, grab your seat, check out the view and prepare to be dazzled. Everyone we talked to spoke passionately about their favourite dishes. They understood the whole menu thoroughly, down to which farm reared this lamb and where that wild garlic was foraged.

<blockquote class='pullquote_left'>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/interiors-the-portrait-restaurant/480.jpg' alt='London restaurant The Portrait'>
</blockquote>

<p>The Portrait’s menu sways with the seasons, designed around whichever ingredients are at the pinnacle of freshness. One day it might be buttery English asparagus, the next, a burst of fresh blackberries. It takes real skill to perfect these recipes so quickly.
<p>We recommend you start with a crisp, light fizz as you look out over St Martin in the Fields, the London Eye, Nelson’s Column, Canada House and let the fresh flavours and iconic sites whisk you away.
<P>The menu when you visit will be different to the one we tried. But here’s a sample to whet your appetite:



<div id='news_list_holder'><div id='news_slider' class='news_list rsDefault' style='margin:5px 50px'>

<div class="news_list_item">
<center><a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/smoked-salmon-and-pomegranate-/480.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="Smoked salmon and pomegranate" /></a></center>
<div>
<p>The Secret Smokehouse salmon was a triumph of London's curing craft. Its smoky depth was a masterful counterpoint to the vibrant burst of pomegranate and the satisfying crunch of the ciabatta. A dish that celebrated the city's artisanal spirit.</p></div>
</div>

<div class="news_list_item">
<center><a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/scotch-egg/480.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="Deep fried egg, hollandaise and English asparagus" /></a></center>
<div>
<p>The deep-fried hens egg was the best example of a modern twist on a classic. A crisp, golden exterior gave way to a molten yolk – the ideal balance of textures. <br>The morels and English asparagus brought an earthy elegance, while the hollandaise was a beautiful light touch. The accompanying garlic, broccoli, and spinach sauce was a bold, unexpected and absolutely delicious companion.
<br>The most impressive part was to have a deep-fried egg and hollandaise at the start of a meal that lifted you up instead of weighing you down.</p></div>
</div>

<div class="news_list_item">
<center><a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/welsh-spring-lamb-/480.png" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="Spring lamb and couscous" /></a></center>
<div>
<p>The spring lamb was a testament to the finest Welsh family-run farms. Cooked to perfection, it was tender and succulent. The couscous surprised us, doing much more than just adding colour and texture to the plate. This flavourful pilaf played a beautiful accompaniment to the lamb with its sweet and rich undertones.</p></div>
</div>

<div class="news_list_item">
<center><a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/dover-sole-butter-and-mushrooms/480.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="Dover Sole and butter sauce" /></a></center>
<div>
<p>The Dover sole was an elegant example of a classic dish. Its delicate flesh was cooked with real precision, its buttery sauce a rich and indulgent companion. The salty samphire added depth of flavour in this timeless dish.</p></div>
</div>

<div class="news_list_item">
<center><a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/cherry-and-vanilla/480.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="Vanilla custard and cherry compote" /></a></center>
<div>
<p>The best way to finish up to a delectable meal? Vanilla custard with cherry compote and shortbread rounds with a delicate balance of sweet, tart and creamy flavours. A classic combination, executed with finesse.</p></div>
</div>

</div></div>

<h3>Corrigan's philosophy</h3>

<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/richard-corrigan/480.png' alt='Chef Richard Corrigan'>
</blockquote>

<p>Spearheaded by Michelin-recognised chef Richard Corrigan, The Portrait embraces his philosophy: <i>‘source the best, treat it with respect, and the flavour will follow.’</i>
<p>If you’re a foodie, you’ve probably heard of Richard Corrigan before, or watched him on Great British Menu, cooked from his recipe books or even dined at one of his eight unique restaurants across London and Ireland.
<p>Corrigan grew up on a farm in Ireland and learned his respect of quality ingredients from his father’s salad garden. He is an ardent supporter of small, family-run independent British and Irish suppliers. In the expert hands The Portrait’s chefs, this milk, butter, duck, fish, wild garlic and spring lamb become ambassadors of our home.

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/beer-battered-cod-fish-and-chips/720.jpg' alt='Beer battered fish and chips'></a></p>


<p>The Portrait’s speciality is in championing British classics. We have all had more fish and chips and Scotch eggs than we can count, but when you pair that with the finest British produce and flawless cooking technique, you get to see our cuisine at its very best.


<figure>
<a href='https://theportraitrestaurant.com/whats-on/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/six-lives-cocktails/720.jpg' alt='Spritz cocktails'></a>
<figcaption>The Portrait's Six Lives cocktails - six twists on the classic spritz</figcaption>
</figure>



<h3>Finding London’s summer soul</h3>
<p>There couldn’t be a better time to visit, as this July marks The Portrait's first anniversary.
<p>For a short while, you can order <a href='https://theportraitrestaurant.com/whats-on/' target='_blank'>Six Lives cocktails</a>. They're perfect for mulling over your visit to the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition, <a href='https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/six-lives' target='_blank'>Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens</a>, or as a pre-theatre pitstop before watching <a href='https://sixthemusical.com/' target='_blank'>SIX the musical</a>.
<p>There's another big reason to indulge...

<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2024/07/salt-and-vinegar-martini/480.jpg' alt='Salt and Vinegar Signature Martini'>
</blockquote>

<p>Londoners cherish the summertime. We are all out and about, shaking off the drizzly grey days and donning our brightest colours. So in this peculiar summer, lacking the usual hot sunshine, don’t you kind of crave that quintessential London Summer magic?
<p>The Portrait has it. They've captured London's likeness in a lovely experience. British dishes at their best, art from the gallery adorning the walls, and breathtaking views of a city we love.
<br>
<br><hr><br>
<p><i>Foxtons Marketing team were invited to dine at The Portrait and share our experience with you. We hope you find it useful, and give them a visit soon!</i>


wallis-house

<p><small><small>Headline photo: <a href='https://flickr.com/photos/lodekka/5646486001/in/photolist-7gfAoJ-7gbEQR-7gfEds-8vpWUZ-7gbHAB-8vpVRz-6uVXew-9AXJdT-8vpWk4-7gbJ9V-8vpXeX-9AXHyV-9AXHXV-9B1AKw-7gfBfS-9AXJmH-8vsZJU-6uVXEW-7UGyzK-9B1BdW-7ULgvo-7A6kEd-7UymBU-8s4St7-7gfBDL-7gfDDw-7UKRfS-7gfD8u-7UKUdZ-7UPav7-7UKQDL-7UGwCT-7UGz14-7gfCbY-7UPbdw-7gfzty-7UGxXr-7UH1yP-7ULe9h-8vpVCe-7ULWDA-7UGw5x-6uVWYJ-7UGxhk-7UGvu4-7UPa8E-7A6BcU-7UGuQ2-6uRLnH-7ULfk3' target='_blank'>Wallis House</a> by <a href='https://flickr.com/photos/lodekka/' target='_blank'>Chris Sampson</a> | <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC-BY SA</a> | Flickr</small></small>
<h2 class='intro_basic'>Just north of Kew Gardens and Syon Park, there's a stretch of road beloved by London's architecture aficionados.</h2>


<p>The Great West Road opened in 1925, bypassing Brentford High Street and creating a new hive of industry in the area. Through the 1930s, global companies built their headquarters and factories here, attracted by easy transport and room to build.</p>
<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/08/golden-mile-2/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Photo: <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/lodekka/5647072642/in/photolist-RoZRti-9B1HJA-9B1HXq-9AXQdp-XCQaTN' target='_blank'>160411-019 CPS</a></u> by <u><a href='https://flickr.com/people/lodekka/' target='_blank'>Chris Sampson</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY-SA</a></u> | Flickr</figcaption>
</figure>


<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/08/golden-mile-ggm/480.jpg' alt=''></a><P><small><small>We've put a gold star the Golden Mile on our interactive Friday Fun Fact map: <a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a>.</small></small>
</blockquote><p>There are (and have been) many iconic Art Deco buildings along the Great West Road, such as the Grade II-listed Gillette Factory with its 150ft clock tower and the Firestone Tyre factory (now demolished, but the gates remain as listed and protected architecture). These buildings were designed to impress, and they created a new sense of glamour and excitement in the area. 

</figure><p>The Golden Mile lost a bit of its lustre in the 1970s and 1980s, as global businesses moved on to other parts of the country. However, the spotlight is swinging back onto the Great West Road, as it becomes home to a new mix of big businesses such as GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sky and JCDecaux.


<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/08/golden-mile/720.png' alt=''></a>
<figcaption><p>Left photo: <u><a href='https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3084197' target='_blank'>Gillette Building, Brentford</a></u> by <u><a href='https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/3216' target='_blank'>Alexander P Kapp</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en' target='_blank'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a></u> | Geograph

<p>Right photo: <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/lodekka/5646573689/in/photolist-5pYdgE-9AYaJF-9AYbfa-9AYave-9AYbaV-9AYb4R-9AYaPF-9AYaCM-9B23Y5-9B24oQ-9B242q/' target='_blank'>Pyrene (fire extinguisher) Building</a></u> by <u><a href='https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/3216' target='_blank'>Chris Sampson</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY-SA</a></u> | Flickr</figcaption>
</figure>


 

<p>The future looks bright for the Golden Mile. With its excellent transport links and its rich history, it is well-positioned to attract new businesses and residents. If you want to make your home or invest in London property in an area that’s on the rise, Brentford is a good choice. </p>

<p>In fact, <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/newhomes/west-london-property-for-sale' target='_blank'>new-build developments</a> are moving in making the most of the exceptional resources around Brentford. Besides the job opportunities on the Golden Mile, Chiswick Business Park is just one quick bus ride away. This business park hosts the European or UK offices of some big names like CBS, QVC, Singapore Airlines, Pernod Richard, Pokémon and London’s number one estate agency brand, Foxtons.*</p>  
<p>The area is well connected through the Piccadilly line, District line, South Western Railway and Overground. It is also quite beautiful with Syon Park and Kew Gardens nearby, and picturesque views of the river Thames right through it.


<p>Looking for a new home? Browse <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/brentford' target='_blank'>property in Brentford</a>.</p>
<p>Explore more of <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/news/local-stories' target='_blank'>London's local stories</a>.
<br><hr>
<br><p><small><small>*Source: TwentyCI data, H1 2023 v H1 2022 market share and market growth of New Instructions at a brand level</small></small></p>

Lifestyle

wide-view

<h2 class='intro_basic'>Part two of our Ocean Basket story moves to a brand-new restaurant in Kingston, where the waterfront location locks in the ocean-front atmosphere. </h2>

<p>Our <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2023/02/local-stories-the-beach-is-callingafrom-bromley' target='_blank'>previous Ocean Basket story</a>, which was a special request from the foodies in our Bromley team, toured a new South African favourite in the area that fit right into the market town of Bromley. Next, I’m headed to another market town, Kingston-upon-Thames, to see Ocean Basket’s brand-new riverfront retreat.</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/market-2/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<blockquote class='pullquote_left'>
<p><small><b><p style="margin: 0; padding-top:0;">
    Family friendly?</b> Yes.
</p>
<p style="margin: 0; padding-top:0;">
    <b>Foodie culture?</b> Absolutely.
</p> <p style="margin: 0; padding-top:0;"><b>Love of international flavours?</b> 100%.</b>
</p></small>
</blockquote>

<p><br>There are a lot of parallels to draw between Bromley and Kingston. Both have been market towns for over 800 years, so both have an exceptional range to choose from in retail and restaurants. Both have large swaths of gorgeous green space, friendly communities, international cuisine and are hugely popular with families both for renting and buying property. </p><br>
<p><p><img alt="Kingston waterfront" src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/kingston-river-unsplash/480.jpg" style="float:right; margin-left:15px" />Kingston, however, has one thing Grace Harding, CEO of Ocean Basket, was especially keento make the most of in Ocean Basket’s second UK location: unbelievably picturesque views of the Thames, “Kingston was one of the areas on our initial list when we conducted research on the locations that will be most relevant for our offering.  Our Kingston site is magic.  A beautiful deck on the Thames with a spacious interior which still feels close to the water, even during those freezing days.”</p>

<p>When I visit the Kingston restaurant, the atmosphere is undeniable. There’s a tantalising aroma of fresh-cooked, salted and buttery seafood when you step in the door. The restaurant is full of lively groups you could easily confuse for holidaymakers laughing over large, decadent platters. I recommend you sit on the deck, with sail boats and paddle boarders floating by and the merry sounds of happy families behind you, to enjoy a crisp white wine and your platter of prawns, calamari, and muscles in the famous Ocean Basket creamy lemon garlic sauce. It’s all the ambience of a beach holiday without the airfare.</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/kingston-outdoor-seating/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>

<p>When Ocean Basket arrived on English shores, Grace explained, South African fans travelled from near and far to get that taste of home. As they came, they brought friends from all across the UK. Now the locals have gotten well and truly involved. Grace said, “we are thrilled by the reviews we are receiving – especially commenting on our warm and hospitable service.  We work really hard at that.”</p>

<p>She added, “We need to learn in communities where we can be close to those around us, embrace the locals…Our positioning is a ‘Mediterranean home’ – that means we love being that happy place in your community that is there when you need a spoil for a special occasion or a quick break from cooking. We thrive in environments where our guests become our friends.”</p>


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/wide-view/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<p><h3>A new home, a global heart</h3></p>
<p>Ocean Basket is settling into the Kingston landscape nicely. As Grace said, “The foundations of our brand has evolved over the last 27 years and is now serving quality seafood meals in an environment filled with positivity and love in 18 countries…Our entry into the UK was planned for years.  We are aware of the competitive nature of the market and are confident that if we stick to our knitting we will grow a relevant and much loved brand in the UK.”</p>
<p>An international brand might seem like an odd choice for a local story, but this is the kind of local story you’d only find in London. It’s something I treasure about this city, as a transplant to the country myself. We live in a global city with room for everyone’s hometown fare. London’s powerful local appetite for diverse flavours empowers restaurateurs from across the globe to set up shop here.</p>
<p>We said, in our <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2021/12/holidays-from-home-advice-from-foxtons-expats' target='_blank'>Holidays from Home: Advice from Foxtons Expats</a> article, “if you are a little homesick, London is the perfect place for it. …People from all over the world love life in London, bringing in the incredible abundance of cultures, customs and communities that make the Capital so unique and so exciting. Discovering where to find the perfect Boerewors, Nihari or pumpkin pie in London echoes the magic of celebrating holidays with our loved ones, bringing home a little closer when we need it.” </p>
<p>Kingston, in particular, is a fantastic destination for international renters and buyers. You’ll be in good company, as it has a strong international student population from Kingston University. There is loads to do locally, international supermarkets for a taste of home, as well as convenient train service to Waterloo Station which provides an easy base explore the most iconic sites of the Capital. Ocean Basket, which holds a special place in the hearts of London’s large and growing South African population, fits beautifully into Kingston’s tableau.</p>


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/ob-main-spread/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>



<p>Grace says, “We want to be relevant to those we serve.  There’s a deep realness to our culture.  We spend more time arguing about food, service and the correct treatment of our in-store crew than debating numbers. The obsession is to fill the theatre, not to sell tickets.  Very different focus.”</p>



<p>A beach holiday in the midst of cold and cloudy London pretty much sells itself. However, there was a surprise, for me, in this story. I found something kind of electric about the energy around Ocean Basket. Maybe it’s Grace, with her passion for bringing good food and the community-feel of Mediterranean-style dining to Kingston. Maybe it’s the excitement of so many South Africans driving miles and miles for this taste of home, or the Foxtons team who’ve requested this topic so many times, or the rave reviews from locals-turned-regulars in Kingston and Bromley. It seems to me to be so much proof that <i>good food moves people</i> – but don’t just take my word for it.</p>

<p>If you're looking for some more local London personality, see our series of <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/news/local-stories' target='_blank'>Local Stories</a>.</p>


ob-mains

<h2 class='intro_basic'>If you’ve never heard of Ocean Basket, you’re probably not from South Africa. This is one of the most popular seafood restaurant chains in South Africa, not to mention its reach over 18 countries globally and growing. So, what makes this international treasure a local story? </h2>

<p>Ocean Basket has only recently appeared in the UK, with its first home kitty-corner to our Bromley local office. Our team instantly fell in love with the food, and I received the suggestion to do this blog multiple times. Straight away, they put me in contact with the great Grace Harding, CEO of Ocean Basket, and invited me down to the Bromley office to take a look around. This was my first clue to the level of excitement around Ocean Basket.</p>

<p><h3>Escape to Bromley</h3></p>
<p>I’ve never been to Bromley before coming to collect this story. I am walking down a remarkably wide high street with huge stores. There are tons of brand names you’d never expect to feature in-store nail salons and third-floor cafes. Bromley is, after all, an old market town that has worn its market status proudly for the last 800 years. </p>


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/bromley/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>



<p>As our Bromley team have boasted, Ocean Basket is just across from the Foxtons office, on a corner where you can watch the passers-by. I step through the door and the smell of fried seafood, with a burst of fresh lemon and splash of rich butter, instantly transports me to a beach. The host sets me up at a table with blue-and-white checked cloth facing Bromley’s high street.</p> 

<p>There is a group being seated at the opposite end of the restaurant – I’m thinking maybe a family lunch? There are hugs all around, and a few laughs over a haircut that looked better online…it’ll take him a while to live that one down. Two friends sit closer to my table, giggling quietly over a platter they’ve picked clean. In the background, there’s a soft <i>shhh</i> of frying fish in the kitchen, and it’s making my mouth water.</p>

<p>Ocean Basket was started, as Grace tells me, by a pair of brothers whose family fled Russia to Greece and finally made their home in South Africa in 1960.</p> 

<p>“Their mother is the soul of our brand,” Grace says, “Liza Lazarides is an 88-year-old dynamo. She still bakes baklava with a small staff from her home and supplies over 80 restaurants in South Africa.”</p> 

<p>Their incredible mother introduced them to the benefits of a Mediterranean style meal, and Grace painted me a picture of a big table laden with plates of vibrant seafood and bursting with conversation, “There is always too much food, a messy table and loads of laughter.  People feel positive and do not need to watch their p’s and q’s.  This is Ocean Basket.  Put all the food in the middle of the table and enjoy. And for those who really want to enjoy their own pan of seafood – they are welcome too.”</p>


<p><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/bromley-sign/720.jpg' alt=''></p>



<p><h3>Pick the platter</h3></p>
<p>I came to Ocean Basket hungry, because Grace tells me that the top-selling dish is the platter, “I love platters. It gives you a bit of everything. Sharing without picking off your husband’s plate.”</p> 

<p>Claudine, Locality Marketing & Customer Experience specialist, pops by to say hello. She strongly suggests I try the prawns, because as a South African who grew up with Ocean Basket, they’re her favourite. So, I get myself a platter for one with prawns.</p>
 
<p>Ocean Basket opened in Bromley, an suburban town populated by happy families (as Kent as you can get while still in Greater London), last year. Grace tells me they opened on Valentine’s Day and initially, South African customers drove hours to eat here, “We could not hold back the SAFFAS who had been waiting for us to open.  The first few weeks after the opening were wild.”</p>
 

<p><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/brom-interior/720.jpg' alt=''></p>



<p>Claudine adds, “it is a dream for me to work with Ocean Basket, it has always been a favourite of mine. As a SAFFA, it is home. London can be so fast paced. There’s no time to sit down, to connect, to communicate. People used to be so busy, but since Covid, priorities shifted and it seems people have realised, you know, life is short. People want to know on a Wednesday night they can come out, it doesn’t have to be for a special occasion, we all just want to break bread together, we want a laugh, we want to eat together.”</p>

<p>Outside, the sun keeps peeking from behind clouds to dress the streets in golden light, which gives Bromley a picture-perfect suburban feel. In the restaurant, it’s turning into a spirited afternoon as more people stop in. The food is really sizzling now under the increasing din of chairs pulled up and friends greeting each other. The family in the corner is raising toasts and clinking drinks.</p>
 
<p>A platter is set in front of me, fried calamari, prawns, muscles, creamy sauces and a lemon wedge. I start with the fried calamari. Crisp, lightly salted batter gives way to perfectly tender meat and the sauce…<i>the sauce</i>. Ocean Basket is renowned for their creamy lemon garlic sauce, and honestly? I know from the first bite there will not be any trace of it on my platter when I’ve finished. </p>


<p><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/ob-mains/720.jpg' alt=''></p>



<p><h3>A perfect fit</h3></p>
<p>The Foxtons Bromley team told me the train put Bromley on the map in the 1800s as an idyllic market stop between the bustle of London and the charm of the greenbelt. Bromley has since developed as a place to stop and stay awhile. Big homes feed into the house-proud culture, tons of shopping, cosy pubs and a remarkably international selection of restaurants cater to big, extended families. Ocean Basket seems to be the perfect addition, “There is nothing like us in Bromley.  Both from a seafood perspective and from an environment too.  We love being with our neighbours – Franco Manca, Zizzis, GBK, Nando’s and the pubs and other specialist restaurants,” Grace says, to “give the community of Bromley great options.”</p>

<p>For the atmosphere, the space to gather or even purely for the incredible food, I highly recommend a trip to Bromley’s Ocean Basket. I’m actually here at the perfect moment, as Valentine’s Day is the first OB in the UK’s first anniversary. As well, a second Ocean Basket has just opened to cater to Kingston’s matching family and foodie culture. Sample a new Kingston favourite in <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2023/02/local-stories-kingstonupontide' target='_blank'>part 2</a>.</p> 

<p>Want to explore more of Local London? Head over to our series of <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/news/local-stories' target='_blank'>Local Stories</a>.

treasure-chest

<h2 class='intro_basic'>Move aside Treasure Island, London’s Cheapside Hoard is a real and immensely valuable collection that has all the makings of a classic treasure hunting story – intrigue, deception, cool nicknames, a mysterious society, historic significance and a surprising find of glittering jewels…</h2>


<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/map-fff/480.jpg' alt=''></a>
<p><small><small>We've starred One New Change, where the Cheapside Hoard was found, on our interactive Friday Fun Fact map: <u><a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a></u>.</small></small></p>
</blockquote><p>On a busy street off Cheapside, you’ll find One New Change, a fantastic shopping centre right across from St Paul’s Cathedral. There have been quite a few commercial buildings put up and torn down on this plot. Our story begins with a 17th century building that once stood here, which belonged to the Worshipful Society of Goldsmiths (formally titled The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London). Okay, maybe this society is not so enigmatic – it is the royally chartered society that hallmarks gold and silver pieces to protect legitimacy in the trade – but it <i>sounds</i> mysterious.</p>
<p>In 1912, workers were demolishing the building to make way for the next commercial enterprise. The building stood atop a brick cellar that was much older. They were steadily chipping away with pickaxes when a glittering ball of mud and decaying wood caught their attention. Pulling apart the mass, they found glittering jewels, toadstones and tongue-stones (assumed to be a tongue of a dragon, which nobility wore to harness the power of a dragon), pendants and amulets, Byzantine cameos, gold necklaces, broaches and an astonishing range of precious stones. There were over 500 pieces were found.


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/treasure-chest-in-alley/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>

 

<p>It’s believed that a jeweller buried a wood chest full of inventory to protect it at the start of the civil war, around the 1640s. After the London Fire in 1666, a new building was erected, which covered up the hoard. The Cheapside Hoard the greatest collection of Elizabethan, Tudor and Jacobian jewellery in the world, the largest of its kind and in the best condition.  The <a href='https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/cheapside-hoard-collection-focus' target='_blank'>Museum of London</a> is working up a new exhibition for this collection, which should be unveiled in 2024. 

<p><h3>The ballad of Stoney Jack</h3></p>
<p>Stoney Jack was a trader with vision. In a time where a leather Roman sandal or medieval pottery wasn’t protected or preserved, he found a way to make archaeology important in London – one of the most important places to care about archaeological finds. You see, London’s clay is an incredible preserver, and with the city’s ancient history, there is a lot we can learn about the past here. 

<p>Stoney Jack made friends with labourers in the area, taught rudimentary archaeology in alehouses and built his reputation on trading the artefacts they found on worksites to the Museum of London with at the very least a pint of beer for every find that was brought to him. He is said to be responsible for over 15 thousand artefacts in museums, and everything museums didn’t want, he sold in the most fascinating little pawnshop in London.  



<figure>
<img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/cheapside-jewelery-public-domain/720.jpg' alt=''>
<figcaption>Photograph: Lovers Knots gold necklace from the Cheapside Hoard <small><small>(<a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria_and_Albert_Museum_Jewellery_11042019_Necklace_Enamelled_gold_Lovers_knots_Cheapside_Hoard_3037.jpg' target='_blank'>COO 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication</a>)</small></small></figcaption>
</figure>





<p><h3>Just another example of London’s international prowess</h3></p> 
<p>This is the best kind of treasure trove. Not only is the Cheapside Hoard worth a fortune, but its historical significance is immeasurable. It is the greatest find for understanding London’s place in international trade prior to the Great Fire. Elizabethan gems and jewellery of exceptional value from all over the world – Indian diamonds, Bahraini pearls, ancient artefacts from Egypt, Peruvian gemstones, Chinese jade, a swiss watch set in a Colombian emerald the size of a small apple that demonstrated a skill in watchmaking that still baffles experts... 


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/other-treasure/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<p><h3>What’s buried treasure without a bit of intrigue?</h3></p>
<p>The collection itself is absolutely true, and through decades of expert scrutiny, most of the pieces have been proven genuine. However, there’s also a bit of theory, which may not be true, but it makes for an exciting tale.
<p>Gerard Polman/Gerrard Pullman was an incredibly wealthy Dutch trader travelling back from Persia on the ship Discovery. He was supposedly poisoned by the ship’s doctor and the crew divided his wares. The Dutch East India Company sued the ship’s carpenter, who was found living high after the journey and selling off remarkable gems in taverns across London. They continued to try and retrieve Pullman’s wares which were steadily changing hands across the city (read more from the <a href='bit of theory' target='_blank'>collection's curator</a>). 
<p>The theory goes that the Cheapside Hoard is just a fraction of the Pullman Hoard, which the Worshipful Society of Goldsmiths may have been seeking out and collecting. When the employees of the society got caught up in the civil war, they might have stashed it in the basement to hide it from the Dutch East India Company until they could claim the whole collection properly. 
 

<P>Learn more from the podcast: Omnibus Episode 402: Cheapside Hoard (entry 210.MT0620) or the book Lost Britain by David Long, <a href='https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-commoner-who-salvaged-a-kings-ransom-153162/' target='_blank'>The Smithsonian</a>, <a href='https://archaeology-travel.com/reviews/the-cheapside-hoard-londons-lost-jewels/' target='_blank'>Archaeology Travel</a> and <a href='https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-cheapside-hoard-weldon' target='_blank'>GIA</a>.








st-pancras

<h2 class='intro_basic'>
    Did you know the very first urban underground railway in the entire world is London’s Metropolitan Line? Still transporting Londoners daily, 2023 is the Met's 160th anniversary.</h2>
    
    
    <figure>
    <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/met-railway-construction-public-domain/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
    <figcaption>Photograph: Cut and cover construction of the Metropolitan Railway (Public Domain)</figcaption>
    </figure>
    
    
    
    
    <blockquote class='pullquote_left'>
    <a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/fff-met-map/480.jpg' alt=''></a>
    <p><small><small>We've starred Paddington as the first station on the first Metropolitan line trip, on our interactive Friday Fun Fact map: <u><a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.515926%2C-0.17558579999999546&z=18' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a></u>.</small></small></p>
    </blockquote><p>
    <b><font color=#017163>The journey that changed everything</font color></b><p>160 years ago, the fist Metropolitan line train connected seven stations from Paddington to Farringdon. Over the years this historic railway had a huge impact on the development of suburbs in the north west, such as areas of Middlesex that have since become part of Greater London, like Wembley Park. In the following years, the design for major city underground railways, like Paris' Metro, followed the Metropolitan Railway's lead.</p>
    <p>Learn more about London’s expansion through transportation in <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2022/12/berkshireas-new-look-the-royal-commute' target='_blank'>Berkshire's new look: the royal commute</a>.</p>
    <p>
    <b><font color=#017163>The first trip; the worst commute</font color></b>
    <p>On its first day 160 years ago, the Metropolitan Railway ferreid 38,000 passengers around London, from Paddington to Farringdon. 
    <p>The first train at 6am carried labourers from Paddington into the city. Around 8am, curious Londoners joined the fray and by 9am the stations were completely overwhelmed. King's Cross, which was hailed in a paper at the time as "certainly the finest station on the line throwing even the termini into shade" (<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/world/1863/jan/11/transport.uk' target='_blank'>1863, The Guardian</a>), was jam-packed. For a while, tickets weren't issued in the direction from Paddington to Farringdon, as the trains were overrrun, while passengers going the opposite way had little issue. 
    <p>Then came the afternoon rush, "the tide set in the other way, and the approaches to the trains at Victoria-street can be compared to no other than the crush at the doors of a theatre on the first night of a pantomine" (<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/world/1863/jan/11/transport.uk' target='_blank'>1863, The Guardian</a>).
    
    <p><b><font color=#017163>The Metro Line stays strong</font color></b></p>
    
    <p>The Metropolitan line is still running today, and property near these stations are forever in high demand. Did you know you can structure your property search by your commute? With our search features you can factor in travel time or search homes <a  Did you know the very first urban underground railway in the entire world is London’s Metropolitan Line? Still transporting Londoners daily, 2023 is the Met's 160th anniversary.' target='_blank'>for sale</a> and <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/tube' target='_blank'>to rent</a> by train stations from the Underground Map. <p><b>See what homes we have on the market near the six remaining original Metropolitan line stations:</b> 
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    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/paddington/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
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    <h3>Paddington</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/paddington-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near Paddington Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/paddington-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near Paddington Station</a></p></div>
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    <div class="news_list_item">
    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/baker-street/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
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    <h3>Baker Street</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/baker-street-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near Baker Street Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/baker-street-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near Baker Street Station</a></div>
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    <div class="news_list_item">
    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/great-portland-street/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
    <div>
    <P><small><small>Photo: <a href='https://flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3103896164/in/photolist-5Jhhc7-Eggoje-2o2vfji-2o1pXYd-2nZVKRc-gSoSRb-w9Fa4u-gSpYEF-ij895V-gSpzw6-h9Z1YZ-pYA5y5-h9Zd8o-gSoU3E-21asifg-gSp6Z3-gSpHH6-JG97s1-q352x1-dLBSfD-duJ4yS-dLHqKo-6iNW6a-4aWBsw-fnuBkt-gSoZ8E-suxbmu-oG7a6C-h9ZxgT-h9ZoGP-ha1v9T-EnZCq9-q2DRk4-qYVHXe-qFZztn-6u9NnQ-gSp7Re-qTnRzN-q1MeJA-qVw6tr-qFZtvv-qXMoW4-qFZdVZ-NxQi92-h9YU2n-gTUFeN-ha1t3i-nfvMEx-5fsJrZ-LEn62H' target='_blank'>Great Portland Street Station</a> by <a href='https://flickr.com/people/55935853@N00/' target='_blank'>Ewan Munro</a> | <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY-SA</a> | Flickr</small></small></p>
    <h3>Great Portland Street</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/great-portland-street-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near Great Portland Street Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/great-portland-street-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near Great Portland Street Station</a></p></div>
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    <div class="news_list_item">
    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/euston-square/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
    <div>
    <h3>Euston Square (originally Gower Street)</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/euston-square-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near Euston Square Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/euston-square-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near Euston Square Station</a></p></div>
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    <div class="news_list_item">
    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/st-pancras/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
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    <h3>King's Cross St Pancras</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/king_s-cross-st.-pancras-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near King's Cross Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/king_s-cross-st.-pancras-station?transport_line=Metropolitan&order_by=price_desc&radius=0.5&sold=1&tube_selector=Metropolitan%20line' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near King's Cross Station</a></p></div>
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    <div class="news_list_item">
    <a href="#" target="_blank"><img src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/02/farringdon/720.jpg" class="rsImg" data-rsTmb="" data-rsw="707" data-rsh="397" alt="" /></a>
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    <h3>Farringdon</h3>
    <p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/farringdon-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to rent near Farringdon Station</a></p><p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/farringdon-station?order_by=price_desc&sold=1' target='_blank'>Homes to buy near Farringdon Station</a></p></div>
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kew-area

<h2 class='intro_basic'>Did you know January is <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'>National Walk Your Dog Month</a>? One of many fantastic London walks is from Kew Bridge Station to Hammersmith, along a picturesque stretch of the Thames. On your way, you'll see a leafy little island in the river by Kew Bridge, Oliver's Island, which is the subject of local lore.</h2>


<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/01/dutch-house/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Photograph: <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/mualphachi/5793862045/in/photolist-9PZ4kc-ewBkJr-8mPQT7-8cPB4e-UpTef2-7wBFfp-8sTph3-M4Zfsq-as11Qe-arLyrt-9mbpuh-sjtkj2-733Jq-HXLjTk-89ih6c-89mwDE-Lqeqft-8cLgXP-dC9Fq1-NunGPG-8x2FAH-dnZPtk-8L99V9-9jLxiW-v5nHNj-dC9Geu-3RSKdP-84HsX8-dfbhZH-HRnu3a-dor4dC-2jDwLPC-HP29vC-dor4ef-ygXnJY-7jcb1P-73ML2C-HUGLpC-7jcboT-a2NYCW-sHeJp-h2C8n-658bfe-orRLU1-cuv3x-g7Dewz-aTeTiM-9DSqzH-apVLpj-87aLES' target='_blank'>The Dutch House at Strand on the Green</a></u> by <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/mualphachi/' target='_blank'>Maxwell Hamilton</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY</a></u> | Flickr</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>Kew to Hammersmith is a lovely walk for a sunny afternoon. There are a lot of historic pubs and notable architecture to explore, because Chiswick was once renowned for growing barley and the nearby Royal Palace at Kew inspired a lot of 18th and 19th century mansions along the river. And then there is, of course, Oliver's Island.
<p>

<blockquote class='pullquote_left'>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.485248187752944%2C-0.2808043067153454&z=18' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/01/fff-oliver-map/480.jpg' alt=''></a>
<p><small><small>We've starred Oliver's Island, as well as our other Friday Fun Fact locations, on an interactive map: <u><a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.485248187752944%2C-0.2808043067153454&z=18' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a></u>.</small></small></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Oliver’s Island is a small strip of tree-topped land where, according to myth, Oliver Cromwell took refuge from the Cavaliers during the English Civil War. They say, Cromwell had a secret tunnel built from the island to nearby Bull’s Head Pub, where he supposedly established a headquarters, so that he could escape to the island if necessary. It's an interesting local tale, but no evidence of a tunnel has been found.</p>


<p>

<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/01/bulls-head-geoff/480.jpg' alt=''>
<p><small><small>Photo: <a href='https://flickr.com/photos/croydonclicker/52469375856/in/photolist-2nWxgrj-75V39L-75V2RE-8wYEqt-89ihuM-8x1vqA-8cPwsv-8cPA4v-8wYFvv-8cPx7X-8cSTEW-89igPk-89igbv-8cPACX-8cSV8U-8cPzqr-8x2GnN-75Rcyp-8L66mp-8cPy92-8cPxL8-8cPyYn-75R7iH-bsDrro-75V3CQ-8cSSoy-75V7eG-75R8bD-8cPwHX-75V4dL-75V2cU-75R7B4-75R8TH-75V8wG-75RdW6-75V4zs-HRnxx6-nRP6vo-nFUBdD-kUX968-vfeHK1-75Rc2t-75Rem6-7LcqTo-h2C9C-73HQ9B-aURejD-angJgR-2h9xHeh-8mXvye' target='_blank'>Bull's Head</a> by <a href='https://flickr.com/photos/croydonclicker/' target='_blank'>Geoff Henson</a> | <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY ND</a> | Flickr </small></small></p>
</blockquote>


<p>The Bull’s Head Pub from the story is a gorgeous Grade II listed pub along the river. Records can confirm it has at least been in business as a licensed pub since at least 1722, and there has been an inn on site for over 400 years. While it’s been lovingly renovated, it still contains that ancient charm. It’s in one of Chiswick’s historic villages, Strand-on-the-Green, which is now a conservation area.</p>

<figure>
<target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/01/olivers-island/720.jpg' alt=''>
<figcaption>Photograph: <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/mualphachi/5015635678/in/photolist-65coRJ-2fQkzmP-2ernobZ-ThZUx8-8DdrKd-LgLuc7-2hHXUg2-x75Ena-wpMEAT-65cooW-wjFYRU-Pm9XGf-Pm9XAy-9St1f3-oxDpUk-SUskiq-9DSqzH-8n1CdN-tjbHW9-a2NYCW-fPAGyo-MFACV4-g7Dewz-29brS63-ovVhj9-XZSf53-XDXnHh-XDXtBS-qsZW4T-8n1Cu5-2hjThKU-ssSNix-6sskq5-nRPive-2h9vX5V' target='_blank'>Oliver's Island from Strand on the Green</a></u> by <u><a href='https://flickr.com/photos/mualphachi/' target='_blank'>Maxwell Hamilton</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY</a></u> | Flickr </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The story of Oliver’s Island also has a happy ending. It once held a tollbooth, once had a smithy to service barges and once was used as a depot for derelict vessels, but now it’s blanketed end-to-end in verdant trees. The National Wildlife Trust and Port of London Authority maintain the island as an oasis for birds, rare molluscs, bats and native trees.</p>


christmas-cracker

<p>Christmas isn’t complete without paper crowns and silly jokes from beloved Christmas crackers. But did you know, we wouldn’t have this tradition without the help of a local baker on Goswell Road in Clerkenwell? 

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/holding-christmas-cracker/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<P>Tom Smith ran a bakery on Goswell Road in Clerkenwell. He made a trip to Paris, where he was inspired by French Bonbons wrapped in a pretty twist of paper to create his own wrapped treat with a slip of good tidings inside. His inspiration for that satisfying pop you hear when you pull a cracker was the sound of a log fire - very festive! His son came up with the idea for the paper hats and tiny toys, and Smith patented the first cracker in 1847 (more information at the <a href='https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-christmas-cracker' target='_blank'>V&A museum</a>).</p>
<figure>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/map-for-fff/720.png' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>We've starred <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'>Goswell Road</a>, as well as our other Friday Fun Fact locations, on an interactive map: <u><a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a></u>.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It makes sense that the Christmas cracker was invented in here - it fits nicely into Clerkenwell's creative and historic personality.
<p>Clerkenwell's history: Around the same time Smith was perfecting the cracker, Charles Dickens, who lived nearby, was writing some of his best-known books; he published a Christmas Carol in 1843. 
<p>Clerkenwell's creativity: The area is well known as a centre for interior designers and architects, attracting many independent showrooms and hosting Design Week each year. In fact, Clerkenwell shines in January as homeowners find new motivation to start <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2022/01/the-most-worthwhile-and-beautiful-home-renovations' target='_blank'>home renovation projects</a>.

<p>Not to mention, Clerkenwell has a thrilling social scene, all the delicious restaurants a foodie could hope for, lovely pubs, great transport links, tons of art and beautiful Edwardian homes. <i>What’s not to love?</i></p>

<p>Browse our Clerkenwell property on the market now to <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/clerkenwell' target='_blank'>buy</a> or <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/clerkenwell' target='_blank'>rent</a>.</p>

toyshop-christmas

<h2 class='intro_basic'>This season, London goes through a dazzling transformation. String lights make breath-taking scenes over our busy streets, and Christmas markets deliver that dreamy scent of mulling spices to warm up winter's breezes. There is a kind of magic in the air, and you can follow it through Covent Garden Market to Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop for our next Local Story. </h2>
<p>
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<article>
  <blockquote class="center">
<center><i>‘If you love art, folly or the bright eyes of children, speed to Pollock’s’</center></i></p>
<p style= "text-align: right; margin-right: 10px;">~Robert Louis Stevenson, on his first visit to 
Benjamin Pollock’s 
</blockquote></article>


<p>Louise, the local personality I'm interviewing today, works in the heart of Covent Garden, and I’m right in time to witness the West End’s festive makeover. Amid the usual morning commuter traffic, I get to watch store windows frosted, tinsel unravelled and evergreens unwrapped, spritzing the walkways with their fresh pine perfume.</p> 
<p>Walking past overflowing stalls and busy store fronts in the Market, stairs lead down on my left, where a soprano is serenading lunchtime diners in the courtyard. On my right, I spot the hand-painted door I’m looking for.</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/outdoor-ls-toy-shop/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


 
<p>I climb the stairs and enter a treasure trove of beautiful toys. Louise’s team have finished decorating the store for the holiday rush, and it looks like Christmas morning.</p>

<figure><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/toyshop-christmas/720.jpg' alt=''></a><figcaption>Photograph: Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop Christmas by Samuel Ryde </figcaption>
</figure>





<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/louise-heard/480.jpg' alt=''></a>
<p>“Covent Garden Market has a constant stream of new, interesting people. I've moved around in my life, but I always end up coming back.”<p>~ Louise</p></p>
</blockquote>


<p>Louise Heard is as creative and cheerful a person as you’d expect to be living out their dream job in a toy shop. She began working at Benjamin Pollock’s as a teenager in 1985, and she's now the Director with a passion for art, storytelling and an encyclopedic knowledge of London theatre. 

<p>Covent Garden Market, Louise says, is frequently part of the first day in London for international visitors. Her day is filled with the excitement of people seeing London for the first time, “It’s a very trendy area, and so many shops are filtering in and out. Not us. For a lot of visitors, they might come once every 10 years, and we're a constant. We’ve got something special to remind them of London.” 

<p>This “something special” is at the heart of Benjamin Pollock’s story, and hugely representative of the West End, its history dating back hundreds of years. Louise works with illustrators, artists and set designers to create the shop’s signature product, the Toy Theatre.</p>
<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/theatre-boxes/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Photograph: Toy Theatres at Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop by Samuel Ryde</figcaption>
</figure>

 
<p>Louise leads me to, possibly, the best seat in the house. The shelves around us are lined with beautiful Toy Theatres. As an introduction, she says, “A lot of London’s ‘theatre royalty’ had these as children, like Ian McKellen and Ralph Fiennes. Also, a lot of people behind the scenes, the quieter kids who become stage designers or script writers… A Toy Theatre kind of starts them on this path.”</p>
<p>There are designs for London’s most iconic stages and for upcoming musicals, “We did a collaboration with Disney…specifically for <i>Frozen</i>, the musical, which is on over at Drury Lane.” There are sets for children to tell their own stories, and ones for adults who enjoy building models or collecting art.</p>

<p><h3>The art of toys</h3>

<p>Louise walks me through some of their recent collaborations, like a line of fairy tales designed by renowned illustrators. I also see this year’s limited-edition Toy Theatre for collectors, by internationally acclaimed theatre designer John MacFarlane, with scenes from his beloved stage interpretation of <i>The Nutcracker</i>. </p>
<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/theatre-boxes-3/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>
<p>It’s a complex process to create these theatres, “it’s a mix between print, illustration, animation and 3D design,” and Louise explains how artists approach this unique challenge differently. Illustrators, for instance, “think in kind of a pictorial way. [Toy Theatres are] like building an animation. You've got a backdrop and lay scenes on top, working in flat layers.” </p>
<p>Louise points to John McFarlane’s design, “as a theatre designer, he specialises in a trompe-l’oeil style (highly realistic art that seems 3D in a 2D medium). You see his three-dimensions <i>in</i> the painting. His job is to make something really big, so an audience can see. Then we take his designs, shrink them down, and work out how to make it flat, so you get the experience of building a 3D piece.”</p>
<p><h3>Past meets future</h3></p>
<p>Benjamin Pollock’s plays multiple parts in the West End’s history. Covent Garden was a fruit, flowers and vegetable market until the 70s, when it became too difficult to organise deliveries in these narrow streets. Louise says, “this particular room would have been an office for an accountant for the market,” and I imagine the shelves of ink-stained ledgers that would be replaced by these whimsical toys. Benjamin Pollock’s opened its Covent Garden store when the flower market first re-opened as a shopping centre, and it’s the last original shop from the time. </p>
<p>It's also one of the last bastions of Theatre shops in the area. Louise says, “From Victorian times through the 30s, this area would have been all about the theatre. You’d have the seamstresses, scene painters, theatrical chandlers who make the machinery. I mean, that's why warehouses around here have really big entrances, they would have had to take in giant scenery.” </p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/toy-theatre-cu/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<p>While Benjamin Pollock’s has these deep historical roots, it is situated in Covent Garden, constantly surrounded by the newest trends to hit London, new businesses and new visitors on their first day in the country. Toy Theatres mark the opening of new West End shows, and up-and-coming artists perform right outside. Benjamin Pollocks has one foot in each of the two most fascinating stories of Covent Garden.</p>
<p><h3>The best part of her day</h3></p>
<p>Louise and I are nudged out of our corner by tourists squeezing in for a better look. Near our new location, a child is entranced by a music box, and when I listen through my recording after the interview, I’ll hear that twinkling melody as a charming soundtrack to our words.</p>
<p>“What is the best part of your day?” I ask.</p>
<p>After a beat, she says, “It changed a lot here with the pandemic. London was so empty. So yeah, the best part of my day is meeting lots of international customers, or people from around the country. Here, everyone who walks through the door is interesting.”</p>

<blockquote class='pullquote_left'>
</a>
<p>“I feel like, you know, we were all going so <b>fast</b> before. Covent Garden saw something like 44 million people per year. If you think you went from millions of people to nobody…”</p>
</blockquote>


<p>Over the years, Louise has seen Covent Garden transform into a tourist destination. Living in the West End puts you in among London’s immeasurable culture capital. You have globally recognised landmarks, renowned museums and theatres, your pick of food and drink, and important history around every corner. Foxtons fast-paced West End office handles some remarkable properties for sale, to let and for short let, and they’ll be the first to tell you, West End property is exceedingly rare and incredibly desirable. When you buy or rent here, you’re here for the unrivalled amenities. </p>
<p>So, when tourists couldn’t come and businesses couldn’t open, the West End was unbelievably quiet. “It was really an interesting time to stop and think about your customer. When we reopened in 2021, a lot of Londoners came, especially with children, because they needed to get out. Before then, Londoners tended to think Covent Garden was for tourists. They rediscovered us, and we rediscovered them.”</p>
<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<a href='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/bp-languages/480.jpg' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/bp-languages/480.jpg' alt=''></a>
<p>“In summer, it used to be based around what country was having their school holiday. I used to know like clockwork, 'Okay, now it's Sweden,' but we're rediscovering our local family customer.”</p>
</blockquote><p>“We couldn't have everybody touching things, which, in a toy shop, is kind of a nightmare. So, we did a pick and mix. Some kids hadn’t really been in a shop, what with internet shopping, so it became educational. A lot of families quite enjoyed that aspect of it. Kids would have to come up and ask for something and do the maths.”</p>
<p>As London re-opened, Louise and her team continued meeting lockdown friends from around the country and the globe, “We’ve been so busy this year. People are rediscovering the big cities, and storytelling is a big part of London.”</p>





<p><h3>Speed to Pollock’s…</h3></p>
<p>Finally, I ask about Covent Garden Market at Christmas, and Louise beams, “I’m biased, but it’s the best place to be. We just spent the week putting it all up, and the team, very sweetly, opened the doors for each other, and turned the Christmas lights on, so they could share the magic of that moment.”</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/christmas-bp/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>



<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<p>“At the end of the day, we’re all about the silliness, the inspiration for the art, the folly – it’s all about Christmas morning for them, that’s when you see the bright eyes of children.”</p>
</blockquote>


<p> “We think we are <i>the</i> Christmas shop,” she laughs. “This year, we’re doing a collaboration with Strand Palace, they’re doing a <a href='https://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/strand-palace/christmas-afternoon-tea.html' target='_blank'>Pollock’s High Tea</a>. That's the West End community; everyone who works here, we’re all excited, we all want to show off the magic of the West End.” </p>
<p>The Foxtons West End office agrees with the sentiment, “Like anyone who works in the West End, we’re absolutely proud of what it has to offer. There’s entertainment in Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square; shopping in Oxford Street and Regents Street; dining in Chinatown and drinking in Soho. If you want to live with easy access to the West End, whether by investing in Prime Central London or living a bit further out along the transport lines, <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/contact/foxtons_west_end_estate_agents.html' target='_blank'>get in touch</a>. If you’re selling or renting your property in the West End, we have the local and international resources to make the right deal for you.”</p>

<p>Every area in London has a unique personality and charms. Learn about more of London's best spots from the locals who know it best in our new <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/news/local-stories' target='_blank'>Local Stories</a> series.

battersea-power-station

<h2 class='intro_basic'>The <a href='https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/' target='_blank'>Battersea Power Station</a>, the upside-down table to some, the cover of Pink Floyd’s album (Animals) to others, and the “Temple of Power” to tabloids in the 1930s, is re-opening today. Here’s some history on this London monument.</h2>


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2023/03/battersea-power-station/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>



<p><h3>The literal powerhouse behind London</h3></p>

<blockquote class='pullquote_right'>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/10/ff-map-battersea/720.png' alt=''></a><p><small>We've starred the Battersea Power Station on our <a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a> map of Friday Fun Facts.
</blockquote>

<p>Battersea Power Station was revolutionary – the first of its kind, and the largest power station in the UK with a 42 acre site (over 8 million sq ft or roughly 29 football pitches). It’s also one of the largest brick buildings in the world. The station’s towering chimneys were so high that RAF pilots in WWII were able to use the plumes of white vapour to guide them home. When operational, the Battersea Power Station supplied a fifth of London’s electricity.</p>


<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/power-station-christmas/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Battersea Power Station at Christmas | Foxtons Specialist Photography</figcaption>
</figure>




<p>The glamorous Art Deco interiors were designed by Sir Giles Scott, famed architect of the Waterloo Bridge, the Tate Modern and London’s iconic red telephone boxes. The renovation design is by Rafael Viñoly, known by Londoners for his work on 20 Fenchurch Street (or the “Walkie-Talkie” to some).</p>
<p><h3>Energising the neighbourhood</h3></p>
<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/12/battersea-power-residential/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Battersea Power Station Residential | Foxtons Specialist Photography</figcaption>
</figure>


<p>Work began in 2012 to redevelop the whole Battersea Power Station site, creating an entire neighbourhood with homes, shopping, cafes and restaurants, cinemas and even a venue.</p>
<p>Nam Nguyen, the Sales Manager at Battersea, said, "We’re excited to see the grand opening of the power station and see such an iconic Grade II listed London building get put to great use once again. Battersea has been rising in popularity over recent years, as projects like this make it such an exciting place for young families and young professionals to live in. If you haven’t seen the area around the Battersea Power Station, you should come check it out."</p>
<p>See <a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-for-sale/battersea-power-station' target='_blank'>property for sale around Battersea Power Station</a> – including a few homes <i>at</i> the station!


london-stone

<h2 class='intro_basic'>Have you heard the legend around the London Stone? It's said to make one Lord of the City if you strike it with your sword...or cause London's downfall if destroyed.</h2>


<figure>
<a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/london-stone/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>Photograph: London Stone's new home 
 by <u><a href='https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/' target='_blank'>Matt Brown</a></u> | <u><a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/' target='_blank'>CC BY</a></u> | Flickr</figcaption>
</figure>


<p>It is not obviously magical, no angels singing, no glowing aura, nor is it impressively large and mighty. Set behind glass in a wall on Cannon Street, is a little block of oolitic limestone that is the subject of grand London mythology.</p> <p>What we do know is that it has been treasured by Londoners for a <i>very</i> long time. This stone was included in one of the earliest maps of the City of London, and much of its (at one point considerable) bulk wasn't even known about until architects were re-building around it after the Great Fire (<a href='https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190805-the-baffling-origin-of-london-stone' target='_blank'>BBC</a>).</p>
<figure>
<a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/maplondonfacts/720.jpg' alt=''></a>
<figcaption>We've starred the London Stone's Cannon Street location. Source: <u><a href='https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1cgAWO6XkZWUfERXF4-incqiKW41uNXs&ll=51.51192581609993%2C-0.0872506035340348&z=16' target='_blank'>Google My Maps</a></u></figcaption>
</figure>

<p>There is an "ancient saying" around the stone, which is traced all the way back to 1862 (so not quite ancient), "So long as the Stone of Brutus is safe, so long will London flourish." Legends also posit that Medieval Kings and Queens would touch the stone to take control of the city - which can be traced back to 1450 when Cade, a Kentish rebellion leader, entered London, struck the stone and proclaimed himself Lord of London. Some say it's an ancient alter for Druidic sacrifices, that the head of the villiage that would become London would make sacrifices to it, and that it is the magical Heart of London - that's a lot of mythology to put on a little rock. (<a href='https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/london-stone-seven-strange-myths' target='_blank'>Museum of London</a>)</p>
<p>The stone has been thoroughly researched by premier archaeologists at the Museum of London, however we're no closer to solving the many questions around the stone - like its place and time origin, or its initial purpose. So it remains, capturing Londoners' imaginations, becoming that much more grand and magical through local legend.</p>
<p><a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wonderful_London_(1927)_09_%E2%80%93_St_Swithin_London_Stone.jpg' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/wonderfullondon/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


Home inspiration

bedford-banner

<h2 class='intro_basic'>The Bedford was one of the first suggestions I received for local stories. This series is about exploring what makes each piece of London unique through stories of its people. So much more than a local pub, The Bedford is a hub of history, new ideas and culture, and a lovely reflection of why Balham’s community is beloved.</h2>
<p>When I visit The Bedford, it is <i>hot</i> in London. I show up dishevelled, with my blazer hanging limp over a sweaty arm. Stepping out of the sun and into a huge brick building, I find a refreshing, beautifully composed interior. An impressive horseshoe bar juts out before me, with a pyramid of gleaming bottles behind it and polished beer taps standing ready for an evening rush. Cool 70's pop art hangs on the walls, which somehow fits perfectly with the traditional pub features – the grand wood detailing and leather booths. I’ve heard this place has undergone a multimillion-pound renovation, and it does not disappoint.</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/main-bar-bedford/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>

<p>I push down my fly-a-ways, trying to mimic the cool of my surroundings. General Manager of The Bedford, Ethan Glackin-McColgan greets me with a big smile and a clipboard of notes, setting off at a quick pace. He starts in on why The Bedford is special right away, his eyes alight, and I find his excitement infectious. I quickly forget myself in the incredible story of The Bedford’s transformation. </p>

<p>Starting with a tour, he points as we go, “We didn’t plan to find the parquet floor, that was buried, and that’s why parts of it then blend into concrete or tile… there’s this cornicing that was boxed up. People say ‘wow, you installed beautiful cornicing,’ and we’re like ‘no, we’ve just recovered Grade II features.’”</p>

<p><img alt="Saloon bar" src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/saloon-bar-bedford/480.jpg" style="float:left; margin-right:15px" />To the left of the main bar, there’s a cosier section that was once completely closed off – the Saloon Bar. This is Ethan’s favourite spot because, “In the evening, there can be such a nice hustle and bustle atmosphere, people eating, people drinking…Especially in the winter when the fire’s on, it’s just such a beautiful room.” The Saloon Bar is my first glimpse of The Bedford’s penchant for reimagined space.</p>


<p>The Bedford has the kind of layout you’d expect from a building with its longstanding history – it’s complex. We wind our way through lovingly renovated spaces with restored features and creative décor.</p> 

<p>Up on the first floor, Ethan and I wander into the Ballroom, “so before the refurb, these were all a series of odd rooms.” The beautiful lighting, the panelled walls and the gold accents bring a touch of Regency elegance. When paired with the simple wood dance floor, the room feels Old World romantic.</p>


<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/the-ballroom-weddings/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>

<p>“This is primarily used for dance classes and larger birthday parties,” he says. “We’re also licenced to do weddings.” He opens a door to a parlour room set up with tables – Bridge Club meets in here later today. Then, through the next door, there’s a beautiful cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes. “All three rooms can interconnect, which is generally what weddings do. You can have reception drinks [in the cocktail bar] and dancing in the ballroom.” </p>
<p>“Good year to get into it,” I guess, “with all the COVID-delayed weddings.” 
Ethan nods, “We’ve hosted weddings for just six people – rule of six, and now we’ve gone from that to weddings of 400!”</p>

<p><img alt="boutique hotel room" src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/boutique-bedford/220.jpg" style="float:right; margin-left:15px" /><img alt="boutique hotel room" src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/hotel-room/220.jpg" style="float:right; margin-left:15px" />Another collection of disused store rooms was knocked through and turned into 15 gorgeous boutique hotel rooms – where you can enjoy easy access to central London for sight-seeing, plus delicious food and access to a full schedule of exciting events just downstairs.</p>

<p><h3>Into the spotlight</h3></p>
<p>Finally, we wind our way back down to The Club Room for the interview. This venue space was once called The Globe for its layout, but The Club Room suits its glamorous 1920's atmosphere.</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/the-club-room/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<p>Ethan brings a table to the middle of the floor, so we can talk surrounded in all the magic of a historic theatre. Plush booths are tucked under a balcony, awaiting martini-sipping revellers. Up above, tables for two are set against the rail. Regal red curtains frame the domed windows. It is odd to be here in the afternoon, sat in the centre of this incredible room with a comedy stage behind us, and the chairs that’ll fill this floor stacked high around the edges. I feel an unexpected excitement for 2pm; pre-show jitters instead of my typical post-lunch lull. </p>

<p>“I was told this was a pub,” I laugh, astonished, “This is not a pub!”</p>
<p>“No,” Ethan agrees, “The Bedford, for me, is a venue first and foremost.”</p>
<p>“Two years ago,” he recalls, “I was really excited to put my name forward…because [the Bedford] has so much on offer. First off, you’ve got the hotel, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got a big, busy bar. Okay, then you do live music, then comedy, wrestling, you’ve got drag shows and quizzes, then all the daytime classes – bridge, yoga, first aid, Pilates…I thought [my previous pub] was the heart of the community, but this is times <i>ten!</i>”</p> 
<p>Ethan says wrestling, and he really does mean professional wrestling in a ring, built right where we’re seated. On the tour, we ran into the busy Events Manager, Becky, who mentioned that the next events up would be previews for Edinburgh Fringe, experimental classical music, “and wrestling,” she grinned, “I’m proud of the wrestling because there are so few venues in London that can actually do it. I’m kind of up for anything. Robo Zooma is an ITV children’s programme that’s got wrestling robots. They did a PR stunt for the new season… so we had a giant robot with guys wrestling in shiny spandex, whilst we were all around with giant foam thumbs, eating popcorn. It was utterly bizarre!”</p>

<p><h3>The making of The Bedford</h3></p>
<p><img alt="The Three Cheers directors" src="https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/directors-tc/480.jpg" style="float:left; margin-right:15px" />Three childhood friends from South London, Tom, Mark and Nick, set out to create a company to celebrate the position local pubs hold in London communities. They built a collection – buying, renovating and running long-running establishments cherished as much more than just a place to drink – and named it Three Cheers.</p> 
<p>From the beginning, these three locals had their eye on The Bedford, with dreams of restoring this historic venue to its former glory.</p>
<p>To achieve that goal, as Ethan describes, they focussed on the “heritage of outstanding contribution it’s made to the arts.” The Bedford hosts Banana Cabaret, one of London’s longest running comedy venues in one place. On one wall, you’ll see framed head shots from past performers including Catherine Tate, Eddie Izzard and Michael McIntyre, among others. The Bedford has also seen some major musicians in their early days: Ed Sheeran, Jorja Smith and George Ezra, to name a few. They balance new and local artists and comedians with returning big names, for one of the most exciting free venues South London has to offer.</p>
<p>The Club Room was a focal point in the refurbishment, to give talent the best stage possible, “It’s the biggest refurb we’ve done at the group, and at the heart of it was the live music and comedy. In the refurb, we got the same sound system as the Ministry of Sound.”</p> 
<p><h3>An Introduction to Balham</h3></p> 
<p>Before the interview, I’d asked the Foxtons Balham Lettings Managers, Sophie and Victoria, about the area. They said Balham is beloved by residents for its culture and community. It’s well-linked to big London hotspots through the Northern and Overground lines, but far enough out to enjoy a more connected lifestyle. Ethan adds, “The community here in Balham…is such a diverse, artsy people. [In The Club Room], there’s comedians who’ve had hard nights, there’s artists who’ve had songs not go the way they want, but we’re still able to celebrate.”</p> 
<p>Ethan also describes Balham residents as hugely engaged, “when we came here, the flag poles were broken. We restored them, and it’s just amazing to see how the community responds…we get tags in all these posts. Whether it’s putting up pride flags or Wandsworth Fringe, or the NHS, or sports flags.”</p> 
<p>With such active neighbours, it’s easy for The Bedford to connect. The staff support local charities, like cleaning litter and watering planters for Beautify Balham, and Balham locals get involved, “our yoga is taught by Nel, who lives in the area, our bridge club is done by Kit who lives in the area… I’d say quite confidently 80% of our staff live within a 20-minute walk or 40-minute bus.”</p> 
<p>Ethan talks a lot about community, I notice. He grew up in a village in Ireland with “that village ethos of helping each other. The pub was the heart of the community...” Ethan had been working in engineering, but eventually came back to pub work at The Rosendale, another Three Cheers pub, because “it kept bringing me back, that community,” he says. “It sustains me in the work I do…You have that connection to the events happening around us. It’s the mix of running a business and being part of the community that I think’s so important.”</p>

<p><a href='https://www.foxtons.co.uk/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/fireplace/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>


<p><h3>The heart of a one-of-a-kind community</h3></p>
<p>Ethan and I are drinking coffee under a soft purple spotlight, where comedians will crack jokes and crowds will gather to dance the night away. He describes a recent Friday, starting with Baby Jam, “beautiful jazz music, children are playing away and the mums are having a soft drink or a glass of wine. It’s interesting to see the room going from 12 babies here enjoying themselves, then 100 people watching comedy, and then 500 people, dancing to 2am.”</p>
<p>I’m trying to picture everything he’s described happening in here – a 10-piece band jamming, a trapeze artist performing in an art festival, all the filming from Masked Singer to Kiss Radio’s Haunted House Party. I picture 250 fans filling out the venue to watch the big match, “The sport here is second to none because you’ve got a 5-metre projector up here…I love the atmosphere. Everyone’s happy, celebrating, commiserating, and now just looking forward to the World Cup coming in winter.”</p>
<p>It seems to me, this unexpected, incredibly versatile room at the heart of what I’d thought was just a pub, does a good job of describing Balham. Sophie, one of Balham’s Lettings Managers, had told me, “People generally don’t move [to Balham] directly. A lot of people…probably lived in Central previously.” Foxtons Managers said Balham is where people go when they get to know London’s areas a bit better, and start to look for those hidden-gem communities with a surprising amount to offer. That’s Balham, and that’s The Bedford. </p>


<p><a href='https://thebedford.com/' target='_blank'><img src='https://page-assets.foxtons.co.uk/news-images/2022/09/exterior-bedord/720.jpg' alt=''></a></p>

<p>I'd strongly suggest a visit to <a href='https://thebedford.com/' target='_blank'>The Bedford</a> when you're next in the area. You'll find them at: 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12 9HD (T: 020 3976 8007). You can find them on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/thebedfordpub' target='_blank'>Facebook</a> or <a href='https://www.instagram.com/thebedfordpub/' target='_blank'>Instagram</a>: @thebedfordpub.

<p><b>Next up for local stories...</b></p>
<p>A beloved South African restaurant is opening, and no, it’s not Nandos. See why Ocean Basket has singled out Bromley and Kingston as its first UK locations, bringing us the comfort and community of a meal shared with loved ones – and the best lemon butter sauce I’ve ever tasted.</p>



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