New Build

These new ‘innovative’ offices on Shaftesbury Avenue have gone up faster than you can say Duplo.

Known as Central Saint Giles (the name of the nearby church) the development is planned to include a piazza, living roof gardens, sustainable water and heat recycling and some housing.

We shall see. Cynic moi?

Odd shops

Need a porthole, floating keyring, Breton top, length of rope? Here’s the shop for you - Arthur Beale’s Yacht Chandlers on the Covent Garden end of Shaftesbury Avenue. Intriguing non? Apparently it’s been there 110 years.

Lovely sign.

It is next door to Freud equally worth a visit for those quirky tea-towel, coffee pot, electric fan needs.