Nights on Broadway

Slicing diagonally through Manhattan, Broadway is known the world over, for its bright lights, theatres, Times Square, and ticker tape parades. And like all Manhattan streets, it just seems to go on forever. But what of London's Broadway? If you knew about it at all, you might be hard pressed to place it on a map. Considerably shorter than its American namesake, it runs through the heart of Westminster between Victoria Street and St James's Park. It actually appears to be two linked streets, meeting at the impressive landmark building at No.55, that is the headquarters of London Underground, designed by architect, Charles Holden in the 1920s. Rather than bright lights and fun, this Broadway is in the centre of political and administrative London, dominated by government offices and New Scotland Yard. However the street just got a whole lot more interesting with the opening of a glamorous new Hotel Intercontinental, with interiors by renowned hotel designers, RPW. 

Emmeline's Bar

Blue Boar Bar

Blue Boar Restaurant

Upstairs

The Penthouse Suite

With a nod to the hotel's location, there is a political theme running throughout, from the names of the conference rooms: Whitehall, Chequers & Chevening, to Emmeline's Bar, named of course after Mrs Pankhurst, and from the bronze sculpture in the lobby to the wonderful cartoons, by the likes of Gerald Scarfe and others, lining the walls of the Blue Boar Bar. Perhaps the item that most captures the imagination however, is the fantastical "Parliament", a sculpture by Evil Robot Designs made from plastic figures of well known film and comic characters in a House of Commons like setting. 

Raising the Bar

David Collins, United Designers, Martin Brudnizki, 3 of the biggest names in the commercial interiors sector, who, between them have designed some of the smartest bars and restaurants in London. You will almost certainly have been to at least one of them. Designer, Ian Haigh worked for them all before setting up his own business, Central Design Studio. With pedigree like that, it comes as no surprise, that he is winning the attentions of high profile clients such as Hilton Hotels & Jamie Oliver Restaurants. I met Ian on the 28th floor of the Hilton, Park Lane, where he has just completed the redesign of the bar at Galvin at Windows. Beautifully detailed in a palette of green, silver and gold, this elegant space will surely become  a hugely popular destination in its own right, with the added attraction of panoramic views across the city. Sadly there was no time for me to point my camera out of the window, so you'll just have to go and see it for yourself.

EastEnders

How do you define the East End? While the West End is a pretty clear entity, geographically encompassing Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Oxford and Regent Streets, and all points in between, can the same be said of the East End? Where does it start exactly? Old Street Roundabout? Aldgate? And can Stratford, or even Barking, claim to lie within its borders? And the definition clearly isn't only geographical either. The West End has long stood for Theatreland and Shopping, Chinatown and Clubland. While the East End equates to Cockneys, Pie and Mash and the Bow Bells. However, particularly with regard to the East, those cliches no longer ring true. Spitalfields, and Shoreditch now more resemble Soho, Camden or Notting Hill. As far as Hackney, Bethnal Green and Bow, the city is changing at a frenetic pace, with bars, clubs, shops, markets and salons opening daily to cater for the trendy influx of new inhabitants, living and working on this side of town. One of the new inhabitants is Designer, Lee Broom, whose office is just off Shoreditch High Street, As I mentioned last week, I was shooting Lee for the new issue of Heart Home Magazine. Here he is, along with some of the places we visited.

Hostem

Redchurch Street seems destined to be the Bond Street of the East, but in many ways it couldn't be more different. Halfway down, on a corner, you'll find menswear store, Hostem. The understated interior by JamesPlumb epitomizes the 'Rough Luxe' style which is the antithesis of West End glitz.

Maison Trois Garcons

Just across the road is the latest offering from the team that brought you Les Trois Garcons restaurant, and Loungelover bar. It's a treasure trove of the most glamourous vintage furniture and knick knacks.

Nightjar

If we assume the East End begins at Old Street Roundabout, then this bar is on the frontline. The interior designed by Lee, is jazz era speakeasy.

Old East End

Pockets of it do still exist of course. On Brick Lane, we visited the famous Beigel Bake, along with a wonderful old fabric emporium, Epra. Though how much longer they will be around is open to question.

The Exhibition Rooms

The latest stop on my tour of the Triangle. http://thetrianglese19.blogspot.com/2011/06/exhibition-rooms.html

Skulls Update

If you've ever been into a Davy's wine bar, you'll know that they are a company with a long and proud tradition. Premises are stuffed with vast antique barrels, old signage and other booze related paraphanalia. Although the company was established 140 years ago as a wine merchant, most of bars, such as the one I recently shot in Canary Wharf, are however comparatively new.

While its tradition is the strength and focus of the brand, updates and refurbishment are going to be necessary at some point. Here, Nelson Design have successfully trod the fine line between maintaining tradition, and injecting a shot of modernity and humour. I particularly liked the somewhat subversive wallpaper. Look closely!

If you still haven't got it, look at the extraordinary effect of the light creating a negative image here.