Victoria community newsletter summer 14 by Show Media Ltd

communit y Newsletter summer 2014

summer 2014

editor’s letter

welcome to victoria

elcome to the summer edition of the Victoria Community Newsletter. At Land Securities, we are engaged in the task of making Victoria one of London’s most dynamic and inviting areas. But in order to move forward, we must consider the history of our community, and there’s no more poignant a time than now – the centenary of World War I. As you’ll read in Nick Smith’s piece on the Home Front, central London was fairly unscathed by the Great War, but Victoria was a travel hub and the railway stations were crucial for troop movements. Despite the turmoil, the residents and workers of Victoria came together to show their support for the Tommies, and that feeling of unity is something we strive for today. The further effects of the war are illustrated at the Guard’s Museum on Birdcage Walk. So, in this issue, the My Victoria interview is with Andrew Wallis, the museum’s curator, who has recently been overseeing the creation of a memorial garden that will feature soil from Flanders Fields, a place where soldiers from all five of the household regiments fought. A stone’s throw from the museum is Nova, Victoria, the culmination of our vision for the area. The completed development will comprise five buildings within a pedestrianised, landscaped, 897,000sq ft collection of retail outlets,

residential, offices and dining establishments. The project is on schedule, excavation is almost complete and the first rooms in the basement are taking shape; Kings Gate and The Zig Zag Building have also recently celebrated reaching a series of milestones. As Victoria flourishes, so does the portfolio of opportunities and experiences on offer, so we’ve put together a list of the best classes available – from bookbinding to bee-keeping, baking to bartending, you’re sure to find something of interest. Finally, on page 10 you can read about the work we’re doing to reduce homelessness, offer educational and training opportunities, and devise initiatives that employ local people. At Land Securities, we don’t just create great spaces; we endeavour to build strong communities that benefit everyone. As always, if you want to find out more about the work we’re doing, see how our projects are progressing, or simply give us some feedback, have a look at the contact information on the back cover. We always look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan Alabaster communityliaisonvictoria@landsecurities.com @CreateVictoria

summer 2014

news

A l l Ba r O ne come s t o V ic t or ia

Nova , V ic t or ia Excavation on the Nova site is almost complete, so the number of lorries will soon decrease. The first basement rooms are taking shape and the lift-pit structures have begun to be installed. The slip forms for the residential building are now complete to their full height, the slipforming of Building 6A has started and Building 7A continues to rise. All site traffic now travels through the north-south route and soon temporary hoists for moving materials and operatives up into the structures will be delivered.

Under g r ou nd up dat e Works to transform Victoria Station are progressing well. Construction of the shell of the south ticket hall is now complete, to be followed by the north ticket hall at the end of the year. C omp et it ion t i me Tunnelling works to connect the two are at t he Pho en i x on schedule. The new north ticket hall Although there is already a great and entrance from Bressenden Place will selection of pubs, bars and restaurants open in winter 2016, and the enlarged in Victoria to choose from, the number south ticket hall in spring 2018. For is still rising. The Phoenix at 14 Palace further information, call 0800 028 4778 Street has been a firm favourite for some or email vs@tube.tfl.gov.uk. time now, thanks to the great food, hearty ales and delicious wines on its menu. Recently, the pub has launched a competition to win lunch for two with a bottle of wine. To enter, simply tweet a picture of yourself enjoying summer at the Phoenix. Tag your post with @PhoenixVicSW1, and be sure to get your entry in by September 19.

Victoria’s status as one of London’s most exciting new destinations continues with the recent opening of All Bar One at 62 Buckingham Gate. With 40 venues across the UK, the group of bars serves fabulous food and drink to millions of people every year, and now Victoria’s residents and visitors can enjoy the enticing array of beers, wines, cocktails and food. Over the summer, the gastro pub has served a growing number of customers with breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, and the popularity looks set to continue, thanks to a fantastic collection of food-and-drink deals that includes three sharing plates and a bottle of wine for £20, a set lunchtime menu for £7.50 per person and special cocktails for just £4.95.

summer 2014

news

A br a nd new Bi l l y

I n side O ut V ic t or ia

T he Gr e at Br it i sh Su m mer As part of Land Securities’ ‘Great British Summer 2014’, the roof garden of Cardinal Place was visited by tennis fans at the start of July to enjoy deckchairs, sunshine and big-screen coverage of the Wimbledon championships. As in 2013, admission was free, so visitors spent their extra change on snacks from the selection of restaurants and stores in the building, including Zizzi, Wagamama, Nando’s and Marks & Spencer. And when it was all over, they headed downstairs for a little retail therapy at stores such as Topshop, Space NK and Zara.

In May this year, Billy Elliot the Musical celebrated its ninth birthday, firmly establishing it as one of London’s most popular productions. To help mark the occasion, the show took on some new cast members, including 11-year-old Matteo Zecca – the 37th boy to play the lead role. Other new faces include Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall as Mrs Wilkinson, Chris Grahamson as Billy’s older brother and Barnaby Meredith, who returns to play the older Billy. On 28 September, a performance will be broadcast live to cinemas across the country so, if you haven’t seen it before, this is the perfect opportunity.

With every new opening in Victoria, the area is getting more and more dynamic – and there are plans to keep the exciting changes coming. In early October, we’ll be celebrating this transformation with Inside Out Victoria, a series of soon-tobe announced events showcasing the range of things to see and do in the area. From 2 to 5 October, a range of venues, including the new Curzon Victoria, St. James Theatre and The Vincent Rooms, will host one-off events, while selected shops and restaurants will be running special offers over the four days. Sign up to our newsletter via createvictoria.com to be first to hear about them and to reserve tickets, or get in touch via Twitter @CreateVictoria

C u l i na r y del ig ht s ever y T hu r s day

A l l V ic t or ia’s a s t a ge K i n g s G at e a nd T he Z i g Z a g Bu i ld i n g The Zig Zag Building and Kings Gate developments continue to progress as planned and a number of milestones have been reached. On 12 June, 100 people attended a ceremony at Kings Gate to mark the project’s ‘topping out’ (completion of the last concrete slab), and the fit-out of the residential apartments on floors two to 12 has begun, as has the stonework on the façade. At The Zig Zag Building, the concrete superstructure has reached level five, the blockwork to the basement is complete and installation of electrical and mechanical equipment will start soon.

This summer has seen Victoria’s reputation for live theatre boosted substantially with a series of events and productions. Foremost of these was the West End LIVE Preview, performed free on a stage at the roof garden at Cardinal Place and featuring stars of productions such as Billy Elliot the Musical, The Pajama Game and Wicked. As cast members performed songs from their respective shows (the event was a preview of the full production, which took place in Trafalgar Square a few days later), a bucket collection raised money for Mencap. This is the ninth year that Land Securities has been involved with the local initiative and plans are afoot for further collaboration in 2015.

Pe da l p ower In July, London played host to another of the world’s major sporting events as the Tour de France blasted through on its way to Paris. Fans crowded the streets to get a glimpse of the action. As the popularity of the sport continues to rise, so does the number of cyclists on our roads – that means local businesses need to accommodate staff who now cycle to work. However, few know about TfL’s Cycling Workplaces scheme. This offers employers with five or more staff a series of free services, including seminars, taster courses, safety checks and even bike-parking equipment. For information, email cyclingworkplaces@tfl.gov.uk.

G et t i n g a sl ic e of t he ac t ion Joining Victoria’s burgeoning community of restaurants, food stores and bars, and bringing fresh competition to local favourites Oliveto and Da Scalzo, Maverick Pizza & Cocktail Bar opened at 14a-16 Buckingham Palace Road earlier in the summer. The chef is from Naples, where pizza was invented, so the dough and topping recipes are as authentic as they come, while the cocktail menu is updated every fortnight. There are three bar and dining spaces, so Maverick can cater for all manner of events, and the daily lunch deal means you can enjoy a pizza and a drink for just £10.

One of Victoria’s most popular weekly events, the Cardinal Place food market has been supplying residents and workers with artisan-crafted lunches throughout the summer. Every Thursday, the various vendors offer up a sumptuous menu of international dishes – from empanadas and paella to fish and chips. Also on hand are a number of producers of fine meats, cheeses, pastries, preserves and much more to provide you with a few choice morsels that will guarantee your week-night supper, Saturday dinner or Sunday lunch goes off without a hitch.

summer 2014

learning

s tay c l a s sy, v i c to r i a Whether you’re looking to lear n a new skill or develop an existing talent, Victoria is home to a diverse collection of courses and workshops that will both educate and inspire you w o r d s J A N E F U LC H E R i l l u s t r a t i o n G e o r ge M y e r s

its third-floor wildflower s Victoria develops and terrace and the workshop comes alive, there are includes a visit to the hotel’s more and more distractions purple hives and the chance and divertissements on every to handle the insects. Led corner. Sometimes, however, by the hotel’s beekeeper and the finest entertainment can be found in taking part in an activity. We take a look at SW1’s apiary expert, Camilla Goddard, this is fun and enlightening most useful, enlightening and instructive courses and lessons. and includes a honey cocktail in the hotel bar afterwards. Classes are £25 for 2.5 hours, advance booking essential. St Ermin’s Hotel, Caxton Street, SW1H 0QW; sterminshotel.co.uk Bookbinding At Shepherds Bookbinders you can learn the craft of assembling a book from its constituent parts into a beautiful Learn the ukulele tome. Using fine Japanese paper and materials, pupils are Learning an instrument can be a fantastic way to meet guided through the meticulous measuring, cutting and people and find a new creative outlet. Learn To Uke group sewing processes in the elegant surrounds of the store. beginners classes take place regularly at The Plumbers Suited to both beginners and those with more experience, Arms, combining constructive teaching with a relaxed the fascinating lessons draw a surprisingly eclectic bunch of atmosphere. Small groups will learn three new songs to play students. The store also runs lessons in pop-up paper craft, on their ukulele during each week’s two-hour lesson and all the course instructors ask is that pupils practise for 10 book restoration, screen-printing and paper-cutting. Classes range from £60 for a single class to £250 for a minutes a day – a small price to pay for starting on the path five-week City & Guilds course. Shepherds Bookbinders, 30 to becoming the next Elvis Presley. A four-week beginners course is £79.99. Classes take place at Gillingham Street, SW1V 1HU; bookbinding.co.uk The Plumbers Arms, 14 Lower Belgrave Street, SW1W 0LN; learntouke.co.uk Beekeeping The ‘Bees in the Burbs’ workshop at St Ermin’s Hotel gives pupils a fascinating insight into the essentials of MAke dim sum managing successful hives and the importance of a healthy A. Wong is one of Victoria’s most celebrated restaurants, bee population. St Ermin’s keeps around 300,000 bees on recently receiving a double AA rosette for culinary

(sohotbikramyoga.co.uk). excellence. Fans of dim sum And The Dolphin Square who want to do more than Fitness Club on Chichester just taste the little parcels of Street also offers a wide deliciousness can learn to variety of exercise classes, make them as well. Follow the restaurant on Twitter – @awongsw1 – for updates on including Buggy Fit for new mums and Aqua Cycling, which individual classes, or reserve a corporate cooking challenge is held in the club’s pool (dolphinsquare.co.uk). for you and your workmates through its website. Learn to bake A. Wong, 70 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DE; awong.co.uk Peggy Porschen is one of the country’s best-known bakers, producing beautiful bespoke cakes for a roster of private Food and drink classes Tozi restaurant has made a name for itself with its beautifully clients and to sell at her gorgeous Victoria bakery, the prepared Venetian cuisine and warm welcome. What you Peggy Porschen Parlour. The Peggy Porschen Academy might not realise is that the restaurant offers a programme teaches all manner of bake-off skills, including making and of fun, interactive lessons, including introductory cooking decorating wedding cakes, cookies and cupcakes, taught as classes for children and sessions on mixing and enjoying both fun one-day courses or as professional qualifications. the perfect Aperol Spritz. Visit the restaurant’s website for One-day courses start at £275 per person. Peggy Porschen Academy, 30 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RB; details of upcoming classes. Classes are around £25 for 1.5 hours. Tozi, 8 Gillingham peggyporschenacademy.com Street, SW1V 1HJ; tozirestaurant.co.uk Learn a language For all those Scandiphiles looking to immerse Exercise Classes in Victoria Victoria has a really good range of fitness options on offer, themselves in the culture, Victoria is happily home to including some great classes such as Pilates, boxing and the Swedish Language Centre, which offers all kinds of zumba at Fitness First in Cardinal Place (fitnessfirst.co.uk). qualifications at all levels, in individual and group classes. Sohot’s Yoga Studio on Vandon Passage offers a full timetable Classes are £226 for a 10-week course. Swedish Language of expertly led Bikram yoga classes and workshops, held Centre, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0RH; in carefully controlled and comfortable surroundings swedishlanguagetraining.co.uk

summer 2014

HISTORY

T H E FRO N T L I N E Although central London was relatively safe from the carnage of Wor ld War I , V ic tor i a’s railway s t at ion s p l aye d a v it a l ro le in t ran spor ting soldiers to and f rom the We ster n Front w o r d s ni c k s m ith

imperial war museums

This page: ‘ Victoria Station, District R ailway’ by

Ber nard Meninsky, 1918. Opposite: Soldiers ar riving at Lambeth’s Imperial War century ago, during Victoria railway station on leave from the Front Museum, where the archive the four years of what houses countless images of became known as the Great Victoria during World War I, War, Victoria Station would one of the most compelling have been a seething mass being a painting by Bernard of humanity, highly charged with elation and despair. In one direction, weary, blood- Meninsky. Produced in 1918, the artwork was commissioned stained soldiers were coming home, caked in the mud of by the Ministry of Information, which stipulated that the the trenches. Outward-bound troops boarded trains that artist ‘should paint important pictures representing typical would take them to Southampton to be ferried across to the London scenes during and after the arrival of a Leave Train slaughter of the Western Front. As the men said goodbye to from the Front’. Meninsky took to the commission with their weeping mothers and sweethearts, for many of them vigour and his painting of uniformed soldiers carrying their kit and mingling with civilians propels us back to the Victoria Station was the start of their war. For the first time, the roles of station staff such as ticket Victoria of a century ago. Today, commuters exiting Victoria Station are greeted collectors and guards were filled by women – the men were required in France and Belgium. On the concourse, where by one of London’s most impressive statues, of French we can now see memorials to those who fell in the war, there military leader and war hero Ferdinand Foch, who sternly were endless stalls, organised by charitable committees, faces the station that saw the return of the symbolic martyr, serving tea to the servicemen. Among the chaos of countless executed British nurse Edith Cavell. It was also a port of trains, well-wishers handed out cigarettes to be given to ‘our call for the remains of the ‘Unknown Warrior’ en route to Westminster Abbey at the eastern end of Victoria Street. boys’ in the trenches of Ypres, Arras and Picardy. Local resident and distinguished author Clive Aslet Victoria was the Home Front. But to understand what it must have been like, we must cross the Thames and visit has just published a novel about World War I called The

its enormous endowment on Birdcage. Aslet, who lives ‘A s t h e m e n s a i d g o o d b y e t o t h e i r caring for them. in Pimlico, says that the weeping mothers and sweethearts, For the people of thing that struck him most for many of them Victoria Station Victoria, the most obvious while researching his book was the start of their war’ effect the war had on their was simply how young the lives was the disruption of men who marched away were. ‘My son is at the end of his first year at university. trains. Suddenly, the train timetable and residents’ everyday He’s at exactly the age when so many lads signed up. They routines were commandeered by the military. They were couldn’t wait to go.’ For many, though, it was a one-way trip also severely affected by food shortages caused by German to France, and those who got a ‘Blighty’ – a wound severe submarines (‘U-boats’) blockading crucial supplies coming enough to require a soldier to be sent home to convalesce into the UK from places such as the United States. During the shortages, it was to be another resident of – were considered ‘lucky.’ As stretcher-bearers carried the wounded through the station, their destination was rarely Victoria, King George V, who was to show that he remained in touch with the common people by setting rigid standards a conventional London hospital. Some of the most unlikely buildings were turned into of moderation at Buckingham Palace. Not for him the makeshift hospitals. A stone’s throw from the railway station, pheasant and grouse of the aristocracy. The King and his in Eaton Square, is the church of St Peter’s, which was to wife, Queen Mary, made conspicuous efforts to be frugal, play a vital role in the war. Aslet recalls hearing an account with their staff ’s diaries revealing that they made do with from a former vicar in which he described the church as ‘egg or tomato sandwiches’. It was an example not closely ‘being very rich in the Victorian period. But later, the then followed by other members of the Royal entourage, who vicar felt it right to turn the chapel in Wilton Road into a quietly rebelled against their monarch by having luxury hospital.’ Thousands of wounded soldiers were treated at foodstuffs brought in from their country estates. St Peter’s and, by the end of the war, the parish had spent Clive Aslet’s The Birdcage is published by Cumulus, £18.95

summer 2014

opportunities

f u t u r e pro m i s e As part of its commitment to the wider community of Victoria, Land Securities’ Employment Strategy is just one way the company is offering opportunity to local people w o r d s D A V I D J O N ES

with relevant skills. Land aturally, the emphaSecurities’ sector-based sis of a property work academy for construcdeveloper investing £2.2bn tion opens up employment in the regeneration of an and training opportunities important area of the city is for Londoners. largely on the exciting new At the 2013 Land buildings, the dining and Securities Employment entertainment options that Awards, Peter Newman, are arriving, and the interL and S e cur it ie s s t af f, G e orge T he Po et and w inners of t he one of the Employment esting mix of businesses L and S e cur it ie s Emp loy ment Award s Strategy’s first young growing the wealth of the area. But Land Securities also puts huge effort and energy recruits, had this to say: ‘The programme helped me learn into trying to strengthen the entire community of Victoria, the basic skills I needed to get on site and find work. Two years later, I’m more motivated than ever.’ providing support and, crucially, opportunity. The employment of young people has to go hand-inThe borough of Westminster accounts for 25 per cent of the nation’s homeless, so Land Securities works with local hand with training and education. In partnership with the partners, including The Passage and Cardinal Hume Centre, Construction Youth Trust, Land Securities has launched a to alleviate the problem. The Passage day centre sees up bespoke Property Development course. ‘This was incredibly to 200 men and women each day. Land Securities project beneficial for the students,’ said Guv Sehmbi, ICT teacher managers have dedicated over 200 hours to a refurbish- and sixth-form tutor at Westminster City School. ‘We had ment project, while Chief Executive Robert Noel has used students who had never thought of a career in the field serihis influence to help redirect £14m from planning obliga- ously considering becoming project managers!’ Saif Bhatti, tions towards it. The Land Securities Employment Strategy a student at Pimlico Academy, said, ‘This experience was targets the long- and short-term unemployed, ex-offenders invaluable in terms of broadening our horizons, underand NEETs (young people ‘not in education, employment standing the daily operations of a FTSE 100 company.’ As part of an Employer Alliance, Land Securities is or training’) as well as homeless people. Patricia Marron, fundraising officer at the Cardinal Hume Centre, says, supporting the Sir Simon Milton Foundation University ‘Land Securities’ recent support of our employment team has Technical College, with a specialism in construction and already led to three formerly homeless people finding work.’ engineering – a new facility will be built in Victoria, due to With the growth in construction, the industry has rec- open in September 2015. ognised a need for 184,000 construction workers by 2018 For further information on the Employment Strategy, visit to meet the rising demand. It is imperative to train people landsecuritieslondon.com/corporate-responsibility

summer 2014

my Victoria

T H E G u a r d s M u s e u m C u r at o r

A N D R E w Wa l l is The royalist and former banker hopes that a new memorial garden will bring more visitors to the museum that celebrates regimental heritage i n t e r v i e w T A M S I N C R I M M E N S p h o t o g r a p h y trent mcminn

’ve been curator of The Guards Museum since 2005. Previously, I was a director at Deutsche Bank and needed a change. I’ve loved the museum since I was six years old, so I came to see David Horn, my old Regimental Sergeant Major, who was the curator here, and asked if I could make a documentary about it. I spent a lot of my own money making The Guards Museum: A Private Tour and in doing so got to know the board of trustees. So when David retired, I put my name in the hat and, pardon the pun, the rest is history. The museum houses the ephemera of the five regiments of Foot Guards – Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards – and educates young Guardsmen in their heritage. Along with the Household Cavalry they make up the Household Division, which is tasked with the honour, duty and privilege of guarding the Sovereign and Royal Palaces, and it’s been that way since 1660. Lately, I’ve been busy organising our memorial garden, which commemorates the centenary of World War I. We wanted to bring soil over from Flanders Fields, where soldiers of the seven regiments fought and died. It’s groundbreaking because soil has never been allowed to leave the battlefield

before. The whole project is costing £700,000 and we’ve got another £180,000 still to raise before November, when we’re hopeful HM The Queen will come to open the garden. American tourists ask me who the ‘cast’ are who perform the infamous Changing the Guard ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace – they think it’s like Disneyland and are shocked to discover that the men performing this great piece of street theatre are in fact the same guys, carrying the same weapons, as those who are currently fighting in Helmand Province. Because the museum is part of an operational barracks, people can be frightened to come in so we’re trying to be more welcoming. The museum is for hire and we provide something quintessentially British in the world of corporate hospitality; where else can you have a full regimental marching band as guests arrive? In Victoria, I like the Cask & Glass for a pint. It’s an oasis of peace and quiet in a busy part of London. As someone who joined the army at 16 and still gets a kick out of serving the Sovereign, being in the centre of Royal London is thrilling. To support the Flanders Fields 1914-2014 Memorial Garden, visit memorial2014.com

summer 2014

community

Victoria comes together Let us know what you think about the changes in Victoria Email us at communityliaisonvictoria@landsecurities.com

you ca n Get i n volv ed Our community liaison meetings are a forum for discussing applications. The next meeting is on 22 September 2014. changes in the Victoria area and include updates of our live For more information, email us or write to: Community developments as well as information on future planning Liaison, Land Securities, 16 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JD

V ictor i a is ch a ngi ng terms of construction projects and the management and place-making by Land Securities. It’s the chance to have a behindthe-scenes visit that really swings it! Sarah

At Land Securities, we are investing more than £2bn over the next four years to create a Victoria for the future, providing spectacular residential space, the best contemporary office locations and an exciting new restaurant quarter. We’d be delighted to share with you our vision for Victoria, as well as its hidden history, on one of our monthly walking tours, which start at the Victoria Pavilion on the rooftop of Cardinal Place. Here’s some of the great feedback so far… ‘Thanks for the walk today – it’s really impressive to see what is happening in Victoria and understand how the area is changing, both in

‘Thank you for the most recent Land Securities Walk around the area with the well-informed Blue Guide, and the chance to see the new skyscape from the roof of 123 Victoria Street. It was very illuminating to get a bird’s-eye view and see the works in progress.’ Annie Above: This statue of a Blewcoat scholar is one of the hidden gems to see on a Victoria walking tour

To reserve a space on the next tour, email communityliaisonvictoria@landsecurities.com

C yc li ng i n V ictor i a Land Securities continues to work with the Metropolitan Police Cycle Task Force’s Exchanging Places programme in conjunction with the Victoria BID and TfL. We also support safety-awareness events for pedestrians and cyclists around Victoria – look out for the pop-up event next to the

John Lewis Headquarters on Victoria Street on 10 September. Land Securities endorses the Mayor of London’s cycle-safety campaign and the new TfL Cycling Workplaces scheme and commuter skills training. For more information on the vision for London cycling, safety and free training, visit tfl.gov.uk

To find out more about the new Victoria, go to createvictoria.com @CreateVictoria