Latest news with #Bayswater
Times
42 minutes ago
- Business
- Times
Developers hope Queensway will be the next Marylebone. Will it?
On paper it shouldn't be like this. Hyde Park is a stone's throw away; it's well-connected on the Tube; and it had something of a head start. But this street in the heart of Bayswater has not been reaping the fortunes from its surroundings. Queensway had been dismissed for decades as an incongruously down-at-heel enclave of what estate agents call 'prime London'. Largely populated by souvenir and luggage shops, it does not share the elegance or desirability of its neighbours Notting Hill, Maida Vale and Kensington. Until, perhaps, now, thanks to £3 billion of investment into Queensway over the past three years. Anchored by the £1.5 billion redevelopment of the famous Whiteleys shopping centre, a consortium of landowners has swiftly been mobilised with ambitious plans to bring the street up to scratch. With the passion, vested interests and financial firepower of eight developers who collectively own up to 80 per cent of the street, this half-mile strip of formerly unremarkable retail is undergoing a radical transformation. It's a shift that the Queensway Steering Group hopes will see it join the ranks of Marylebone High Street and Elizabeth Street in Belgravia as one of London's most upscale boutique shopping and lifestyle destinations. They aren't wasting any time. A wander down Queensway already reveals their plans. From the northern tip of the street down to the leafy border of Hyde Park in the south, upgrades and public realm alterations are fast emerging. They go far beyond the landowners' multimillion-pound contributions of high-end residences, hotels and restaurants. Widened, landscaped pavements on both sides of the road take traffic down to a single lane, creating a boulevard experience. The souvenir and luggage shops are slowly being replaced by independent high-end retailers, artisan bakeries, delis and restaurants including the Park, a grand café from Jeremy King, the restaurateur behind Le Caprice, the Ivy and the Wolseley. The two Tube stations serving the street, Queensway and Bayswater, are gearing up for their £150,000 upgrade, all paid for by the consortium. • Your guide to life in London: what's new in culture, food and property 'We all pay our share for these wider improvements and works,' says Alex Michelin, founder and chief executive of Valouran, the development manager behind the new Whiteley. Designed by Foster + Partners, the former shopping centre has been redeveloped by two other key consortium members MARK and CC Land. 'I always knew that whoever got their hands on Queensway would be delivering London's next up and coming area,' Michelin says. 'But we couldn't do it alone. That's why we wanted all of the other landowners to get involved. It wasn't easy. A lot of blood, sweat, tears and many, many meetings. But eventually they all started to understand the vision and now no one wants to miss out.' The Whiteley — which can claim to be the country's first department store — is the cornerstone of that vision and unequivocal catalyst behind the street's change in fortune. A one million sq ft icon which loomed over the north end of Queensway now has 139 high-end apartments and the 109-key Six Senses hotel behind its painstakingly restored 120-year-old façade. • Desperate for buyers, London's luxury residences ramp up amenities 'Queensway is an anomaly in the context of the super-prime villages which surround Hyde Park,' says Adam Goldin of CC Land. 'It has suffered from lack of investment and cohesion from owners for years. We saw the redevelopment of the Whiteley as an opportunity to instigate the revival of the area. The retention of the Whiteley's name and iconic façade have proved successful both in preserving the aesthetic of the street but also providing a heart and pivot point for this revitalised area.' Indeed, fresh development and restoration includes two residential schemes from the design-led housebuilder and consortium member Vabel — one of which will sit opposite the Whiteley. 'We are extremely lucky we get the view of that beautiful old façade from our building,' Daniel Baliti, the founder and managing director, says. 'The chance to do a development across the street and benefit from the great work that has been done there is the opportunity of a lifetime. 'As for the street itself, it's amazing that it has been left behind for so long. It's only because of the scale of development now happening on one road that the opportunity to create something new and fresh has come along. Although I see it becoming like more of Fitzrovia than an extension of Kensington or Notting Hill.' • Who's buying London's most expensive new flats? 'Our goal is to create a distinct identity for Queensway without it feeling forced,' says Marcus Meijer, chief executive of MARK, one of the developers behind the Whiteley and a founding member of the Queensway Steering Group. An identity, he adds, that is reflected in the tenants at the Whiteley, all of which have been 'handpicked to elevate the wider area' and err firmly on the side of boutique. They include Everyman Cinema, Third Space, Guillam Coffee House and 3812 Gallery. The lesson has been learnt from successful redevelopments across the rest of London, most of which have a single landlord, such as Battersea Power Station and King's Cross. Those that weren't as successful tended to have multiple ownership. While the former wasn't possible on Queensway, the consortium offers the next best thing. Queensway has something else going for it. Beyond it being a stone's throw from London's largest royal park in the super prime centre of the city. Queensway has history. 'More than almost anywhere I know, people we meet have a Queensway story,' says James Van Den Heule, the founder of Fenton Williams, the developer of Park Modern, a 57-home residential scheme at the southern end of Queensway overlooking Hyde Park. 'Whether they have at some point lived there, stayed there during summer, socialised there or visited the famous ice rink and bowling, so many people have a memory.' Memories of a scrappy London street will live on to help Queensway meet — not defy — the good fortunes of its surroundings.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Admissions jump at Everyman cinema chain despite ‘challenging' backdrop
Cinema chain Everyman has revealed that sales surged by more than a fifth over the past year following a jump in admissions and higher ticket prices. Boss Alex Scrimgeour hailed the performance over the first half of 2025, saying it reflected the 'successful execution' of Everyman's growth strategy. Shares in the company rose in early trading on Monday morning as a result. The company said it is trading in line with its forecasts for the full year, despite a 'challenging economic environment'. It told shareholders on Monday that group revenues rose by 21% to £56.5 million for the half-year to July 3, compared with a year earlier. This was supported by a 15% jump in admissions to 2.2 million for the half-year. It was among cinema groups to have been boosted by major new releases over the period including Thunderbolts, A Minecraft Movie and Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning. The chain said the average price paid for a ticket rose 6% to £12.46, while there was also a 5.9% increase on the amount spent by customers on food and drinks. Everyman currently runs 48 cinemas across the UK, after growing further with the opening of its latest venue in Brentford in March. It plans one further opening this year at The Whiteley in Bayswater next month. The UK's fourth biggest cinema operator said it will open two more venues next year and highlighted a 'strong pipeline' of future developments as it continues with expansion efforts. Mr Scrimgeour, the former Cote restaurant boss, said: 'Our performance in the first half reflects the successful execution of our strategy, with growth across all key metrics and ongoing delivery of our measured expansion programme. 'This is driven by Everyman's unique brand of high-quality, experience-led cinema. 'We look forward to building on this momentum in the second half of the year.' Shares in the company were 6.6% higher in early trading.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lily Allen appears in high spirits as she's seen for the first time since she admitted she 'can't remember' how many abortions she has had'
Lily Allen appeared in high spirits as she was seen for the first time since her bombshell abortion admission on Thursday. The singer, 40, who recently revealed she 'used to get pregnant all the time' in a candid confession, grabbed some food at Park restaurant in Bayswater, London. She showed off her quirky sense of style in a long grey dress that featured ruched detailing. Lily teamed it with a sporty cropped jacket and a pair of flat shoes before styling her hair into an updo. Earlier this week, Lily admitted that she 'can't remember' how many abortions she has had as she opened up about birth control in a chat with best friend Miquita Oliver. Speaking on the pair's podcast, Miss Me?, the singer described her reproductive system as a 'complete disaster area', confessing she would 'get pregnant all the time'. While on the topic of contraception, Lily mused: 'I just remember I have an IUD [contraceptive coil] now. 'I think I'm on my third maybe fourth and I just remember before that it was a complete disaster area. Yeah I'd get pregnant all the time all the time.' As Miquita, 41, confessed she didn't know if Lily had ever terminated a pregnancy, Lily began singing to the tune of Frank Sinatra's My Way: 'Abortions I've had a few... but then again... I can't remember exactly how many'. Giggling, she continued: 'I can't remember. I think maybe like, I want to say four or five.' Miquita responded: 'I've had about five too! Lily I've never I'm so happy I can say that and you can say it and no one came to shoot us down, no judgment. We've had about the same amount of abortions.' Lily then recalled one of her experiences with an ex, musing: 'I remember once getting pregnant and the man paying for my abortion, and me thinking it was so romantic!' Miquita interjected: 'I actually think that is romantic! Do you not think that's romantic?' to which Lily responded: 'Am I an idiot? What? Getting rid of the problem?' The former Popworld host then argued: 'No but if you're both like "let's not do this. I don't want it no neither do I, I don't have any money well I can sort that out..."' Earlier this week, Lily admitted that she 'can't remember' how many abortions she has had as she opened up about birth control in a chat with best friend Miquita Oliver Yet Lily insisted she wasn't on board, continuing: 'No I don't think it's generous or romantic. Think about that investment, like that's how much is it 500 quid? Kids are a lot more expensive.' She then revealed that she didn't hear from him again after terminating the pregnancy but reasoned: 'I mean fair tbh. I was a f***ing crazy b**** - still am!' TV presenter Miquita - who does not have any children - later added that she used to feel 'embarrassed' to say that she'd had more than one abortion. 'I felt really embarrassed to even say that I had more than one abortion, why the f*** should I be ashamed? I have had a few,' she shared. Lily - who shares daughters, Ethel, 13, and Marnie, 11, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper - went on to express her annoyance at having to justify terminating a pregnancy. She explained: 'It actually irritates me, and I've said it before on the record. 'I've seen memes going around sometimes, on Instagram from pro-abortion accounts or whatever, whenever this conversation comes up, and suddenly you start seeing people posting things about extraordinary reasons for having an abortion. 'Like: "My aunt had a kid that had this disability," or whatever, "if she went full term it was going to kill her, so we have to." It's like, shut up! 'Just: "I don't want a f***ing baby right now." Literally: "Don't want a baby" is enough reason.' She previously shared her views on a woman's right to choice in the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022. Lily appeared on stage during Olivia Rodrigo's Glastonbury performance to sing her 2009 hit F*** You as they discussed the ruling. American singer Olivia took to The Other Stage at Worthy Farm where she said she was 'devastated and terrified' by the ruling which ended the constitutional right to abortion in the US, meaning individual states could decide whether abortion can be made illegal. She said: 'I'm devastated and terrified [by the ruling] and so many women and girls are going to die because of this and I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who showed us at the end of the day they truly don't give a s*** about freedom.' After her words prompted huge applause from the audience, Olivia went on to address the Supreme Court justices individually, saying: 'This song goes out to the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh.' Lily then gave the middle finger as she stood on stage, before saying: 'We hate you guys!' as the pair launched into the expletive-filled song. After her performance, Lily took to Instagram to reveal she had an abortion in the past and called on women to stop feeling as though they needed to 'justify' their decisions to terminate a pregnancy. She wrote: 'I wish people would stop posting examples of exceptional reasons for having abortions. 'Most people I know, myself included, just didn't want to have a f***ing baby and that is reason enough. We don't have to justify it. 'It shouldn't have to be said, and I think all these examples just play into the hands of the baddies.' In 2008, Lily suffered a miscarriage with then partner Ed Simmons from the Chemical Brothers. Two years later Lily tried for a baby with then husband Sam but lost her baby at six months pregnant and was left fighting for her life due to blood poisoning. Speaking about the ordeal she said: 'I nearly died. But I was so numb and I didn't care. I'd just lost my baby and that is how numb I was.' Lily who was rushed to hospital with septicemia admitted: 'It's something that I still haven't dealt with. I will never get over it. I have dealt with it, you know as being at one with it. But it's not something you get over. 'I held my child and it was really horrific and painful – one of the hardest things that can happen to a person.' Following her operation Lily was able to physically recover and went on to have her two daughters. Last month, British MPs voted in favour of measures to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancies in the biggest change to the law on reproductive rights for half a century. Women will no longer face prosecution for aborting their own baby for any reason and at any stage up to birth under the proposed legislation, which was backed by 379 votes to 137. It will alter the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act - which outlawed abortion - meaning it would no longer apply to women aborting their own babies. MPs and pro-choice activists welcomed the abortion vote and said it will finally put an end to the prosecution of vulnerable women for ending their own pregnancies. Under the amendment, women will no longer be prosecuted for an abortion when it relates to their own pregnancy, even if they abort their own baby without medical approval or after the current 24-week legal limit. However it maintains criminal punishments for doctors who carry out abortions beyond the legal limit and abusive partners who end a woman's pregnancy without her consent. For help and support with pregnancy options in the UK please call the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 03457 30 40 30.
West Australian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GSSA 2025: Love's hat-trick helps high-scoring Caledonian see off Bayswater as Polonia pile on the pressure
GSSA 2025: Love's hat-trick helps high-scoring Caledonian see off Bayswater as Polonia pile on the pressure
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Awkward moment mother of Princess Beatrice's stepson Dara Huang dodges question about the royal family on new TV show in £60m London penthouse
A real estate agent awkwardly mentioned the Royal Family while showing Princess Beatrice 's stepson's mother around a new £60million London penthouse. Constance Cunningham took Dara Huang - previously engaged to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi before he married the King's niece - onto the balcony to show her the views. Huang, who is an interior designer like Mozzi, pointed out three visible landmarks from the Bayswater property - the Shard, London Eye and Royal Albert Hall. But Cunningham then drew her attention to Kensington Palace Gardens in front of her, which led Huang to say 'Kensington Palace'. Cunningham said 'the Royal Family', before Huang added 'right' - and Cunningham gently said: 'Who we love so much…' The exchange happened during a tour of the property in an upcoming episode of Britain's Most Expensive Houses which airs on Channel 4 this Wednesday at 9pm. The two women were looking at The Penthouse at the Park Modern development on Bayswater Road, which is one of London's most expensive new properties. Cunningham is given the chance to sell the home which boasts impressive views of Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park and would be her biggest deal yet. She believes the property would particularly appeal to US buyers keen on investing in London, and therefore turns to American interior designer Huang for advice on how to sell to Americans and how to convince a Miami-based agent contact to take a look. Inside, the property is effectively a 6,800 sq ft shell with pillars and no walls - but does have one of London's largest wraparound terraces, spanning the top floor. The clip begins with Cunningham explaining to Huang: 'Any buyer at this level would want to put their personal stamp on it. 'So they would completely design it to their own needs. You have 360 views around London and you're on the ninth floor.' Moving outside Huang says: 'Wow, look at that. It is insane. You can literally see every London landmark. You've got the Shard, the London Eye, Royal Albert Hall.' Cunningham adds: 'You've got Kensington Palace Gardens.' Then Huang says: 'You've got Kensington Palace.' Cunningham continues: 'The Royal Family...' And Huang says: 'Right...' - before Cunningham says: 'Who we love so much...' Huang is the mother of Beatrice's nine-year-old stepson Christopher 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi who was born in March 2016. Huang and Wolfie's father separated two years later in 2018, before he then married Beatrice in July 2020. Beatrice and Mozzi have two daughters together – Sienna, who was born in September 2021, and Athena, who was born in January this year. Wolfie has since made appearances at royal engagements, including at the Together At Christmas carol services at Westminster Abbey. Harvard-educated Huang was born and grew up in the US, to where her maternal grandfather had emigrated from Taiwan. She was granted British citizenship in 2022 and now lives in London. Speaking to Tatler in January, Huang referred to Wolfie as her 'little man' and revealed he likes to paint and that she once sold one of his paintings for £40,000. Huang added that she wants Wolfie to be educated in the US in future, saying: 'England is known for its education because it's strict and regimented. But I love the American spirit and that's something they don't really teach you here.' She shares joint custody of Wolfie with Mozzi, but said: 'If I had all the money in the world, I would probably build a commune for single parents, because it's so nice to be able to put children together. 'I feel like I spend most of my life looking for single mums to hang out with'. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar in March 2024, Huang also said: 'Wolfie has had two sets of parents trying to help him on both sides, and I just think the more, the merrier. 'I feel lucky to have such positive people around him, who really embrace him. It didn't have to be so easy. 'It's all about your point of view. I don't understand people who are divorced and then hold their children as collateral; that doesn't make any sense. It's about creating a happy home and lifestyle.' Britain's Most Expensive Houses airs on Channel 4 this Wednesday at 9pm
