London Improvements (hotel, house, cinema)

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Recent announced improvements include -

So goodbye to possible the ugliest and most unwanted Burger King in the World.

I just hope something decent replaces this eyesore.

Leicester Square’s Burger King corner to undergo £100m revamp - The Independent

Partial pedestrianisation of Oxford Circus -

Oxford Circus to be turned into pedestrian piazzas this year - The Guardian

Awful Angus Steak House look like they are finally on the way out, with closure of their flagship west end branch.

Famous Red Neon Tourist Lure Angus Steakhouse Is Closing Flagship Restaurant - Eater

Back to Leicester Square and the opening of the new super boutique hotel 'The Londoner'.

Inside The Londoner: the world’s first ‘super-boutique hotel’ -Evening Standard

Whilst Marco Pierre White is opening a new restaurant in Leicester Square.

Marco Pierre White restaurant to open on Leicester Square - Big Hospitality

Camden High line is also now progressing.

Manhattan makeover for London with floating green walkway plan - The Guardian

[ScoPro]

There is a Burger King in London? Really?
How could that happen?

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

There is a Burger King in London? Really?
How could that happen?

I have nothing against Burger King, although I wouldn't personally choose to eat there.

As for the Burger King in Leicester Square it's an eyesore and dropping to bits, and could do with a much needed refurbishment, as could the surrounding units which include Pizza Hut and the Mexican chain Chiquito. So I am pleased this is happening.

A large part of the square is currently sealed off until November 2022, due to new electricity generators being installed under part of the square, whilst the new Londoner Hotel is one of the deepest in the world, with an underground swimming pool, cinema and ballroom.

Hopefully the area can start to move more upmarket and away from fast food and M&M shops.

It is of course, sad when some more iconic nearby venues close down, such as the nearby Cafe De Paris club, which opened in 1924 and its heyday hosted a glittering array of A-list stars including Dorothy Dandridge, Marlene Dietrich, Harry Gold, Harry Roy, Ken Snakehips Johnson, Maxine Cooper Gomberg, Noël Coward, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Josephine Baker, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, James Mason, David O. Selznick, Jennifer Jones, Grace Kelly, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Tina Turner etc etc.

It's also where a young Louise Brooks who worked there in December 1924, introducing the Charleston to London. In more recent years it featured in numerous books films and music videos including David Bowie's Absolute Beginners. In recent years, it had hosted lively cabaret nights, featuring fire-breathers and trapeze artists.

Thankfully the clu is to reopen as Lío, a cabaret and restaurant concept from Ibiza’s Pacha group. Pacha, thave stated those coming to Lío can “expect a unique and surprising display where dinner, cabaret and club come together.”

The area is also home to numerous other iconic venues such as the the London Hippodrome Casino, where all kinds of famous acts played when it was The Talk of the Town and then the Hippodrome, and was where Judy Garland was performing during her last days in London and untimely death.

So the area is rich in history, and hopefully the latest plans will help improve the square, which along with nearby Piccadilly Circus is the equivalent of the Time Square area of NYC .

[Brave New World]

Not usually a fan of modern skyscraper architecture however Ensign House in London's Canary Wharf district is inspired by 1920’s Art Deco style architecture, with references taken from American architect, Wiliam Van Alen, famous for designing New York’s Chrysler Building skyscraper.

56-storey Canary Wharf resi tower approved - Construction Enquirer

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The redevelopment of Whitley's Department Store in Bayswater in London, is also quite visually stimulating.

Ardmore scoops £111m London Whiteleys resi fitout - Construction Enquirer News UK

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In terms of modern schemes, architects such as Haworth Tompkins in London, design some interesting and visually creative buildings.

Haworth Tompkins - Work

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios are another good British Architecture firm, with some visually stimulating and interesting architecture.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios - Work

It should be noted however that not all new buildings need to be modern, with some architectural practices such as Quinlan Terry in the UK designing new classical architecture.

Quinlan Terry Architects

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Madison Square Garden Arena in Stratford is given the go-ahead.

The decision now has to approved by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

London’s new MSG Sphere venue given green light despite objections from The O2 - NME

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Another large music and entertainment venue for London.

Plans for giant, lit-up dome approved for Olympics site - BBC News

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Madison Square Gardens Sphere - Stratford - Elizabeth Olympic Park - East End of London

MSG London - music and entertainment venue, Stratford, London

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The new 1,800 seat Frank Gehry (pictured below) designed Concert hall in Wimbledon is now progressing.

Frank Gehry's previous concert halls include LAs Walt Disney Hall is very excited about the project, which will see the Philharmonia become the resident orchestra.

The Philharmonia currently have to share the London Philharmonic Orchestras site at the South Bank.

The London Symphony Orchestra will also see an improved venue in terms of the Barbican, with a number of renowned architects now short listed for the project.

Whilst the BBC Symphony Orchestra are leaving there now listed Maida Vale premises, for a new state of the art BBC Music Studies at Stratford East Bank.

As for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra they remain at the beautiful Cadogan Hall.

Other major London classical music, ballet and opera venues such as Wigmore Hall (Recital) and the Royal Albert Hall (Proms), Royal Opera House, London Coliseum, Sadler's Wells etc are also back up at running following there long pandemic lock down.

New £200 million concert hall planned for Wimbledon and would rip up car park - My London

Tim Davie visits site of new BBC music studios - BBC News