Mental health awareness has been on the rise over the last few years. We are seeing mental health being spoken about more and more. Celebrities are speaking out and we are beginning to take away the stigma of mental health by being encouraged to talk about it more.

Arguably mental wellness is more important than ever. Covid 19 has had a detrimental effect on so many people’s mental health largely due to the change in routine and lack of social contact. We were incredibly lucky at BGP, being such a family like company we were all in contact three times a week, for a sociable catch up via teams which helped to keep some sort of normality. Since being back at the office we were all acutely aware of how the routine and face to face human interaction is so important. However we are fortunate to be in such a position, so many have struggled with the shift to the more insular and digital life which seemingly will continue until next year at least.

Last year I began working with mental well-being specialist The Soke (pictured) to help them acquire their first site. I am so proud to have secured them the former David Fielden in Chelsea. They have completely transformed this building and the incredible fit out and attention to detail completely transforms your pre conceptions of how you think a mental wellness clinic looks. It’s welcoming, stylish and approachable; which is exactly what all of our approach to mental wellness should be. We spend so much on our physical well-being why shouldn’t we take as much care of our mental well-being?

The Soke opened their doors earlier this week to clients. Psychotherapy, psychiatry, counselling and coaching “in an environment created for your emotional comfort”

Thea Rowe is The Soke’s sole retained agent.

Whilst our neighbourhood and national sites seem to be buzzing and operator demand growing, our central London streets remain quiet. Without office workers and tourists, parts of Central London remain half open. This creates the latest decision facing operators; to open or not ? As they ask themselves is there enough footfall to justify opening and if not when will there be? It is like the age old conundrum, what came first the Chicken or the egg?

It’s a catch22.  Limited shops open, means there is less reason for shoppers to visit and spend. Less shoppers means people don’t want to open. If consumers are looking to physically shop they are more likely to visit prime central locations such as Regent St or Oxford St or a regional shopping centre like Brent Cross or Westfield London, which due to their size are likely to  provide more choice.

We chose our office location in Covent Garden due to the vibrant environment and the range of facilities available to our staff. Over the last few weeks, it’s the complete opposite, we have only 2 options nearby which are open to grab lunch and many of the shops remain closed. If this continues does it impact office lettings in the immediate area as well as landlords retail holdings?

Furthermore, if shops which are now allowed to open decide not to, Landlords may feel less inclined to help with any flexibility regarding rents.  So, this might add even more pressure to our operators. Without any changes to our social distancing rules and guidance from the government  regarding going back to our offices, it feels our central London shopping sites will remain in this strange limbo.

Design Vintage was founded in 2012 by interior designer, Lisa Brass who established the brand after having difficulty sourcing vintage and Scandinavian products for her clients. Originally from Brighton the brand now trades from a permanent store in Chichester and has had a number of pop-up stores in London. The brand sells a variety of sourced vintage pieces from across Europe paired with classic Scandinavian homewares.

The new store will occupy 4,000 sq ft on the first floor of the scheme which is directly accessible from Tunsgate. Design Vintage will join a line-up of aspirational homeware brands within Tunsgate Quarter including OKA, Loaf and The White Company.

Victoria Broadhead, Director at Bruce Gillingham Pollard, comments:

“Design Vintage are an established, independent brand with great product line, who know their customers well. They will be a superb addition to the quality retail and leisure occupiers currently trading within Tunsgate Quarter.”

Bruce Gillingham Pollard and Cushman & Wakefield jointly advise the landlord. For more information, please contact Victoria Broadhead.

I had a great first trip to Budapest in Hungary this summer and the city really surpassed my expectations. Whilst renown as a historical city and stunning old architecture to boot, the city also has its fair share of fun, vibrant youth culture and nowhere better illustrates this than outdoor food court ‘Karavan’.

Karavan is located on Kazinczy Street next to the famous Szimpla and is a small food court offering a wide range of International street food options. From local delicacies offering a taste of the Hungarian countryside, to an authentic Pad Thai giving a taste of Thailand you’re left questioning where you are as each separate trailer offers different international traditional dishes.

Not only attracting tourists and passersby, the Hungarian locals also love the food and the lively vibe. With outdoor seating, lantern lights and colourful campervans, the atmosphere fits perfectly to the already buzzing neighbourhood. The secluded collection of food trucks gets very busy during lunch hours due to both tourists and workers coming to experience various tastes and flavours. Although affordable, I would not just recommend to those travelling on a budget as really this is an essential local experience as much as a place to grab a bite!

When Mercado de San Miguel first opened its doors 100 years ago, it was as a wholesale food market.  Today, this beautiful old building has become one of the world’s main gastronomic markets and one of Madrid’s treasures.  If you want to get a flavour of every type of food Spain has to offer, then this is the place to come – just make sure you don’t eat first!

Comprising more than 20 different stands the attention to detail and commitment to really fine, high quality food is exceptional.  From the finest Iberian ham and freshest fish and shellfish brought in daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes and the most exquisite cheeses from Castile, Asturias and the Basque Country, the whole of Spain is right here, just waiting to be tasted.

The market is open every day until midnight and until 1am at weekends – perfect for a proper dose of Spain’s night culture and they also have a brilliant array of activities to choose from;  from masterclasses in specific types of food, to talks on nutrition, cheese and wine tasting and cocktail making – it really is a fantastic destination for a delicious night out.

Former Bob Bob Ricard and Gordon Ramsey chef Anna Haugh has opened her first restaurant, Myrtle. Her comforting, yet modern European approach with an Irish twist uses only the finest Irish produce.

Anna started her passion for cooking in her Dublin based home alongside her mother. Here she developed the basis of what was to become a highly successful and bright flair for food. She started cooking professionally for Derry Clarke at the Michelin starred L’Ecrivain and later adding both, two starred Pied a Terre and Philip Howard to her repertoire. Recently Anna has featured heavily on our TV screens, filming three series of Royal Recipes on BBC 1 and is a regular on the very popular Saturday Kitchen.

Now Anna is finally opening her own restaurant. Her menu offers classic Modern European cooking but with an Irish influence, as well as many fantastic British suppliers and ingredients sourced from the emerald isle.

Myrtle promises to provide cheeses from passionate family-lead mongers like St Tola and Mileens and fish from small fisheries that will be delivered every day. This as a result will make perfectly executed, yet warm and familiar dishes like Beef Wellington and Whole Roasted Sole.

At Myrtle, it’s a one team service. You may be lucky enough to have the kitchen come to the table for an explanation of the dish, or expert Sommelier Marianna Toro pour your wine. The 40-cover site is split across two floors, with a downstairs bar and upstairs mezzanine. The mezzanine is truly outstanding and even on a rainy day the light floods in.

We acted on behalf of Anna to help her acquire her sought after first site. Thea Rowe commented:

“It has been a delight to work alongside Anna to help with her long awaited first restaurant location. Anna’s character is truly enchanting and I know this comes across in her restaurant and food!”

For more information, please contact Thea Rowe.

“You are 24 years old and you have never been to IKEA?!”, exclaimed my co-workers in disbelief as I pondered over visiting the new Greenwich store.  The embarrassment was reason enough to explore the latest outpost from the Scandinavian homeware stalwart, so it was a bonus to discover the incredibly sustainable foundations which the store has been created on.

Arriving on the Jubillee line, unavoidable signage ushered me towards the new store, and as I rounded the corner, I was to be greeted by a behemoth 344,445sq ft structure.  The Greenwich IKEA is the brand’s 22nd big box format store in the UK and is their most sustainable incarnation yet.  Inside, it is awash with natural light, greatly reducing the dependence on artificial lighting, however the glowing green credentials don’t end there.

The store also has a BREEAM Excellent accreditation, photovoltaic solar panels, rainwater harvesting and grey water treatment to reduce water consumption by 50 per cent; and as well as aiming to be powered by 100% renewable energy.

Snaking through the wonderful conveyor belt of sleek interior design, each room is beautifully put together and is instantly followed by a whirlwind of creative ideas for home, office, restaurant and retail premises. Spearheaded by Generation Z, interest in homeware has mushroomed in the UK, with traditional clothing stores such as H&M and Zara jumping on the trend, and providing stylish yet affordable solutions for the home. Gen Z are fuelled by social media and are attracted by the fast-fashion nature of the homeware ranges, with a strong desire to buy into the latest look.

IKEA’s responsible efforts transcend beyond their building and into the lives of their customers and employees as they seek to integrate in to the community with products, workshops and advice to help them lead healthier and more responsible lives.

The Swedish mantra, “Lagom är bast” means “the right amount is best”, and they believe it to be the key to sustainable living.

The community focus within the new store includes a multitude of opportunities for people to use the area as a somewhere relax, unwind and socialise. The grand shop also features ‘IKEA’s Learning Lab’, which is an in store creative hub where upcycling workshops and demonstrations take place, creating opportunities to reuse more and waste less.  There is also a serene rooftop pavilion and garden with panoramic views over London, which can be used as a workstation and to be rented out for functions.

When mainstream stores and landlords begin to realise the importance of sustainability in the design and construction of their units, we should begin to see rapid and major changes in the retail and property landscape.

Until we do see more trailblazing efforts to set a new sustainable standard in retail, you may see me in IKEA more often.