Camden Council has started to build the first set of projects under the transformational Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood working in partnership with Transport for London This major project invests in the Holborn area to make it safer to get about we have long wanted to give Holborn the investment it deserves We have brought in a number of permanent transport safety improvements over the last few years we announced plans for further enhancements and launched the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood scheme Excitingly, we have already started delivering “STARter” projects in the area, including at Keeley Street and Red Lion Street. We want to transform Holborn into a place for people with attractive with cleaner air and more plants and trees businesses and community groups to better understand how they would like to see the Holborn area the council has engaged with over 1,050 people and received over 3,000 useful insights through a combination of focus groups Feedback included a request for well-maintained new public spaces that are inclusive and accessible but also creative and unique to the area Respondents also asked that we provide information and evidence that any plans will not negatively impact on traffic in the wider area “We are continuing to undertake further targeted engagement with a range of local groups Everyone with an interest in this scheme can share their comments online “Recently we talked directly to a range of people we didn’t hear much from in our engagement last summer “We also had a range of focused conversations with people with vision impairments It is vital to us that we hear from as many voices with different experiences as possible so that our proposals reflect improvements for the whole Holborn community.  “We will be sharing our draft designs for the wider scheme as part of a full public consultation, expected to be next year. In the meantime, we have produced this video which summarises our plans and the engagement feedback received.” Director of Urban Symbiotics our engagement consultant said: “Last year’s engagement for Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood was a great opportunity to bring together residents and visitors to shape a more inclusive and people-friendly Holborn We’re excited to continue working with Camden on more targeted engagement making sure local voices help drive the area’s transformation.” The scheme is in the heart of London and was approved by Transport for London (TfL) in 2019 under their Liveable Neighbourhood Programme The project is expected to cost around £40m and will be funded from a range of sources including TfL funding Welcome to building.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy A festival focused on the future of digital construction By 2025-02-03T06:00:00+00:00 A disused railway station below half of a central London site meant conventional piling was out of the question The team that built a five-storey basement under Claridge’s hotel while keeping it open were drafted in to come up with a radical solution Situated on the junction of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill the proposed 12-storey building will comprise 669 bedrooms and include community facilities at ground-floor level Half of the site sits over an abandoned railway station Ground engineering is not usually a candidate for TV drama but two years ago the extraordinary story of how Claridge’s hotel built the ultimate iceberg basement under its 100-year-old building while remaining open for guests made it onto the small screen A BBC TV crew spent six years filming the construction of a five-storey basement for a swimming pool To build the basement without disturbing the hotel was essentially a mining job Small tunnels and shafts up to 30m deep were hand-dug under the building’s raft foundation and 62 existing columns New concrete piles were built in the shafts to support the building above then the rest of the basement could be excavated for fitting out Now the former Claridge’s team of specialist contractor McGee and geotechnical engineer RKD Consultant have come together to pioneer a radical new piling technique in a bid to extract as much value out of a particularly difficult development site in central London Located on the junction of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill Half the site sits over the abandoned Snow Hill station between City Thameslink and Farringdon stations on the Thameslink line running through central London The previous building on the site was constructed in the 1960s at a time when the railway line was not operational so piling the foundations through the station was relatively straightforward. This option was not open to Dominus as the line reopened in 1988 making the work disruptive and potentially damaging to the railway. And the precast plank roof of the tunnel which was installed as part of the construction of the 1960s building “It was quite complicated and constrained and almost impossible to build this building using traditional construction methods,” explains Anupriya Rajpal the development director at Dominus responsible for the project The site is heavily constrained by underground infrastructure including the Central line Post Office tunnel and viaducts (marked in pink) retaining the pavement around the site The biggest challenge was the redundant Snow Hill station under the western half of the site The original plan had been to build a hotel on the site but the pandemic devastated the hospitality market and a severe local shortage of student accommodation prompted a change of use Rajpal says the initial idea was to support the part of the hotel over the railway with a huge but the railway is just one of multiple underground infrastructure elements constraining the site Two workers excavate the pile using shovels The Central line runs under Holborn Viaduct just metres from the site on the south side and there is a redundant Post Office railway tunnel to the north The site is also ringed by City of London service subways housing electrical and data cabling And old viaducts retaining the pavement ring the part of the site away from the railway line “A cantilever that long has never been done in the UK which would have been a concern for the stakeholders with assets surrounding the project,” Rajpal explains “Because of the viaducts and city subway tunnels there is a restriction on the loads that can be brought to site “A cantilever would have meant mega-trusses being brought down to the site almost every other week for connection on site but that would have been difficult because of the tunnels and the viaducts We would have had to come up with a solution using smaller pieces of steel This would have made the trusses problematic because of stakeholder engagement and approvals.” The solution to the railway line issue is hand dug caisson piles (marked in blue) under the former station platform A raft foundation was used for the eastern half of the site The pandemic imposed a pause on the project which gave the team time to think again Borrowing from their experience at Claridge’s who was a senior project manager at McGee but has since moved over to Dominus in the same role came up with a novel solution that would have minimal impact on Network Rail’s assets and could be done while the trains were running so called because of their size and function will be installed in a line some 5m apart along the railway platform closest to the west boundary of the site Steel trusses will bridge over the railway line to the conventional foundation on the east side of the site and support the building above Each pile is approximately 20m deep and 1.8m in diameter at platform level This bells out to 2.7m halfway down and out again to 4m diameter towards the base The last 1.2m section expands out to 5.5m at the base of the pile “The whole game is to get a nice big area on the base,” explains Pellew really.” Each pile can take a load of 15 to 17 mega newtons An enclosure is built at platform level to enable work to continue while trains are running Two workers excavate the pile using shovels with the spoil hauled out in a bucket 4m near the base and finally to 5.5m at the foot The pile is filled with concrete with reinforcement used for the top section A precast column is craned in between the pile cap and the new building above mass concrete is used for the bottom half and reinforcement for the top section with reinforcement used for the top section Diagrammatic sequence showing the theory behind the caisson piles construction Please note that the diagrams are indicative only The excavation technique could not be more basic Two workers armed with shovels dig out the London clay into a bucket which is then hauled out of the hole using a rope and pulley The spoil is deposited onto a conveyor and the bucket lowered ready for the next load A fixed ladder provides access into the pile and fresh air is blown down a pipe to the base fireproof enclosure is built between the station platform and tunnel roof during engineering hours so the work can continue during the day when trains are running A hole is cut in the tunnel roof for access to the enclosure and ground below steel segments are inserted into the pile every 2.5m to retain the sides These segments feature studs on the back which engage with the grout that is pumped into the gap between the segment and clay behind This stops the segments dropping down where the pile bells out Concrete segments are used where the pile extends to 2.7m diameter and below mass concrete is pumped into the pile until approximately the halfway point with steel reinforcement for the upper half A precast column is used for the section in the tunnel – once this has been installed the enclosure can be removed one major consideration was vibration from the trains affecting the residents in the building above This is taken care of by large rubber bearings between the concrete columns and steel structure above on both sides of the building A piled raft was selected for the east side of the building because this would settle at the same rate as the caisson piles “I was trying to keep the movements reasonably similar so that both sets of bearings were operating within their loading windows,” Pellew explains “That was a key element of the foundation design philosophy that we grappled with.” Getting to the point where work could start on the caisson piles took years of planning and negotiation with Network Rail and other stakeholders with assets near the project A rectangular enclosure is erected at platform level so work can take place while trains are running The clay is dug out by two workers using shovels The buckets of clay are hauled out of the pile Once the pile has been dug mass concrete is used for the bottom half and reinforcement for the top section Sequence showing the caisson piles under construction Berihun says the biggest challenge was mapping out the locations of the caisson piles and columns to support the superstructure above with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure The challenge was the historical accretion of old structures and Network Rail infrastructure between the superstructure and the pile There were three main elements to negotiate around: the primary beams supporting the tunnel roof Network Rail signal cabling on the platforms and the piles and pile caps of the building that formerly occupied the site Pellew says the cabling laid over the platforms was problematic as there was so much of it “There was no need for Network Rail to take out redundant services when these were upgraded So our challenge was figuring out what was redundant And it is the nature of Network Rail that there were no as-built drawings available Locating the old piles and pile caps was even more challenging as these were hidden below ground These had to be carried out at night outside railway operating hours “We had to dig down about three metres from platform level to find the existing piles,” Berihun says “We only had a window of time to do that before the railway opened again in the morning and we had to leave a few hours before that so Network Rail could certify the area as safe every time.” He adds that the excavations had to be filled in before the lines reopened regardless of whether the survey had been completed “It took a long time to get all the information that we needed for the five different locations.” McAleer & Rushe have been contracted to deliver the above-ground building with work due to start in the summer It took two and a half years to find the best fit for the piles and obtain all the necessary permits All the caissons were dug from ground level thanks to Network Rail moving some of the cabling and getting permission to cut through some of the structure supporting the tunnel Given the challenges presented by the maze of underground tunnels in London could this technique be used to unlock other sites Rajpal says the redundant platforms at Snow Hill meant there was plenty of room to accommodate the work and new structure which would not be the case for London Underground or other similar-sized tunnels But piles can be installed reasonably close to these and the width from one side to the other is easily bridged The technique is more likely to be useful for building over large underground facilities like Snow Hill Rajpal concludes: “As long as the stakeholders and asset owners are comfortable with this methodology this could be quite groundbreaking in terms of how we utilise those tunnels underneath by collaborating with those asset owners to develop their space.” Structural and civil engineering Meinhardt Network Rail tunnel monitoring Plowman Craven Main contractor for superstructure McAleer & Rushe Source: Ella Wheatley The building is located in a courtyard at Manchester Metropolitan University Source: Ella Wheatley The multifunctional laboratory can be used as a small workshop an exhibition space or as a venue for lectures Source: Ella Wheatley The laboratory is .. The first test event to demonstrate that the stadium meets safety standards was held in February A second one was held in March with the third and final event will take place later this year before the season starts .. The first phase of British Land’s 53 acre mixed use development in south-east London is almost finished The crumbling Elephant and Castle shopping centre built in the 1960s is being reinvented as a mixed-use destination as part of Southwark council’s strategy to regenerate the area Thomas Lane visits to see how it is coming along When the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh moved to a new site on the edge of the city the old hospital was left to rot because of its uncompromising layout Two decades later it has been reinvented as the Edinburgh Futures Institute an educational initative which seeks to help solve the .. Site powered by Webvision Cloud Camden has adopted the Holborn Vision, the sixth and final supplementary planning document to be adopted for Camden’s Growth Areas The purpose of these documents is to work with our communities so that they help to shape development in the areas of the Borough that we know are going to undergo change No other Council in the country has produced this number of area-based guidance documents in-house and this is one of the reasons we are delivering some of the best new development in the country.  we’ve listened to thousands of residents as we developed visions for neighbourhoods where we expect change to take place and now it’s Holborn’s turn The Holborn Vision is central to guiding development to ensure this vibrant part of central London retains its character but encourages new development to provide jobs and much needed homes including affordable homes As well as providing guidance in determining planning applications within the area it covers, the Vision promotes the Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood public realm scheme that will transform the vehicle dominated streets and spaces into climate resilient places for people “The Holborn Vision has six overall objectives including developing a genuinely mixed-use neighbourhood that brings together workers a place where the existing residential communities are strengthened and enhanced so that residents can stay and thrive and also a place where the distinctive character areas of Holborn are celebrated and enriched “These are applied to seven “character areas” This is because we believe that through the Supplementary Planning Document we can guide development that responds to local character and ensure high quality buildings and spaces to make Holborn a better place for people to live As an adopted Supplementary Planning Document it is a material consideration when determining planning applications to deliver successful buildings As the second student scheme Dominus and McAleer & Rushe have undertaken together the development at 65 Holborn Viaduct will provide essential homes for London-based students Urban renewal developer Dominus has appointed design and build contractor McAleer & Rushe to construct 65 Holborn Viaduct – a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Central London Located at the junction of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill 65 Holborn Viaduct will deliver 669 bedrooms across 14-storeys and is ideally located for students attending the London School of Economics Designed by Stiff + Trevillion Architects and Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects the scheme will provide a mix of bedroom types including studios with 35% allocated as affordable accommodation and 64 rooms proposed as wheelchair accessible Students will benefit from a central location excellent public transport connections and 494 long-term and 32 short stay cycle parking spaces of which 5% will be designed for adapted cycles “We are delighted to be entrusted as Construction Partner to deliver this landmark PBSA scheme by our long-standing client Designed to seamlessly blend into the community and provide a high-quality student living experience the project is an excellent example of our shared commitment to leaving a lasting positive impact which has been showcased throughout our decade-long partnership with Dominus “With a proven track record in delivering PBSA schemes across the UK our experienced team are well placed to deliver Holborn Viaduct for the 2027 academic year We look forward to working closely with all partners to bring this scheme to life efficiently and sustainably.” The 65 Holborn Viaduct project will also make public realm improvements for the local community with a new route connecting Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill and a gateway to the new Museum of London at Smithfield Market while there will be free public access to a roof terrace offering views across the east of the city towards St Paul’s Cathedral the scheme has been designed to be sustainable in both construction and operation utilising urban greening and water saving measures with the aim of reducing operational carbon emissions Off-site manufacturing will also be utilised including a Unitised Façade and bathroom pods “This appointment is an exciting milestone in the development of 65 Holborn Viaduct paving the way for much-needed student accommodation in the City of London “This development is a prime example of our commitment to enriching both people and place providing a new residence for students that is sustainably designed with the provision of public realm improvements and adds to our portfolio of student accommodation under development in Central London and 713 beds at Talgarth Road in Hammersmith.” the new building will also provide a mix of cultural and affordable workspaces free of charge for creative businesses in the local area in partnership with the Creative Land Trust (CLT).  65 Holborn Viaduct is the 11th project that Dominus and McAleer & Rushe have undertaken together and the second PBSA scheme, with works currently on site at the 782-bedroom PBSA development at 65 Crutched Friars From some of the most historic pubs in London to world-class museums here are some happenin' things to do in Holborn for your next venture into central As a former suburb of the medieval City of London nestled in between our iconic square mile and the bustling streets of Soho Holborn is a beloved neighbourhood in the heart of the capital with fabulous things to do throughout The area is famed for its legendary pubs that are steeped in history as well as its incredible museums and drool-worthy dining scene whether you’re a local looking to expand your horizons or a visiting tourist staying in its vicinity here are some of the best things to do in Holborn for the next time you’re exploring this iconic part of London Discover the art and science behind surgery at the weird and wonderful Hunterian Museum This lesser-known gem is a great option if you’re into science featuring an astounding collection of fascinating artefacts including anatomical specimens surgical instruments that belonged to influential surgeons and scientists as well as the skeleton of the “Irish giant” Charles Byrne The next time you find yourself in Holborn take a leisurely stroll down Sicilian Avenue a charming pedestrian street that whisks you off to the Mediterranean without stepping outside of London with its elegant colonnates and quaint shops is a little slice of Italy in the heart of London between Southampton Row and Bloomsbury Way Existing facade of 350,000 sq ft site linked to significant energy loss and higher operational costs Green Street’s global news publications are not provided as an investment advisor nor in the capacity of a fiduciary  Our global organization maintains information barriers to ensure the independence of and distinction between our non-regulated and regulated businesses is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 482269) and a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 06471304 Posted in News on 20 February one of Ascott’s seven properties in London offering guests a refreshed and enhanced experience in the heart of London inspired by the architectural landmarks of High Holborn and Covent Garden brings a new level of comfort and style to the property The design of Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden draws inspiration from the iconic architectural landmarks of the area The Victorian brickwork of the Holborn Bars has influenced the terracotta tones in the Studio apartments while the bright blue-green steelwork of the Covent Garden Market contrasts with the beige brickwork inspiring the tones of the one-bedroom apartments The arches and ribbed glasswork from the Cuban Embassy are also reflected in the architectural detailing and FFE design throughout the property The studio classic offers a cosy space with a fully equipped kitchen The studio executive provides a similar space but comes with a Nespresso coffee machine The one-bedroom apartment executive provides additional space offering ample space for families or those who prefer more room to relax and access to the apart ‘hotel’s facilities such as laundry services and fitness centre Some of the upgrades and new experiences at Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden include: Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden is committed to providing guests with a unique and enriching experience through Citadines’ brand signatures One of the key brand signatures is activ∞ (“activate”) This initiative is designed to promote a well-balanced lifestyle by offering a curated selection of amenities and programmes that encourage guests to live work and play seamlessly within the property and the surrounding area Another Citadines’ brand signature offered at Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden is For the Love of Coffee which celebrates the universal love for coffee and aims to deliver unique coffee-related experiences to guests This programme includes in-house coffee offerings and collaborations with local cafés to showcase central London’s unique coffee culture Billy Hughes the UK and Ireland area general manager said “We are thrilled to unveil the newly renovated Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden where we have tried hard to reflect the rich architectural heritage of High Holborn and Covent Garden Our refurbished property offers guests an enhanced experience with thoughtfully designed rooms and enhanced amenities as well as upgraded central areas including a renovated fitness centre and meeting rooms Sustainability and energy efficiency has also been an important consideration with our new room energy management system guests at Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden can expect a modern and comfortable stay with enhanced amenities and a design that reflects the rich history and vibrant culture of the surrounding area Since pioneering Asia Pacific’s first international class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984 Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with over 950 properties globally Ascott’s presence extends across more than 230 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific Ascott’s diversified accommodation offerings span serviced residences as well as student accommodation and rental housing Its award-winning hospitality brands include Ascott members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties A wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited Ascott is a leading vertically integrated lodging operator Harnessing its extensive network of third-party owners and in-market expertise Ascott grows fee-related earnings through its hospitality management and investment management capabilities Ascott also expands its funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds the acclaimed design studio behind iconic interiors such as the Burj Al Arab will further grow Ennismore’s network in North America... Singaporean developer Hoi Hup Realty have submitted a planning application to the City of London for a new best-in-class office development on High Holborn The new development occupies a prominent 1.4 acre island site located directly adjacent to Chancery Lane Underground Station and within a five minute walk of Farringdon Station Hoi Hup have assembled the site over the last five years acquiring 322 High Holborn and 44 Southampton Buildings in July 2018 subsequently acquiring Holborn Gate in an off-market transaction in July 2022 Savills as development advisor and leasing agent Gleeds as project managers and Gerald Eve as planning consultants have submitted a planning application proposing the demolition of the existing properties and construction of a landmark office-led development The new development will provide about 370,000 sq (NIA) of best-in-class office workspace with extensive terraces overlooking Central London and new retail offering providing a vibrant setting and transforming this part of High Holborn The scheme will replace the existing Grade B accommodation with the new development targeting exceptional ESG credentials including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ The development will offer improved public realm with a new public park at Southampton Buildings It will also greatly improve ground level activation with the creation of a new street accessed multi-use auditorium and cultural spaces says: “This development will reinvigorate this part of High Holborn and set a new standard for office spaces in Central London It is expected to attract global occupiers looking for a prestigious headquarters while undoubtedly making a valuable contribution to the local area.” adds: “We are very excited to embark on this project We see the potential of this strategic site in Midtown London and believe that our best-in-class landmark development will greatly reinvigorate the community and the neighbourhood.” The official launch of a new Standard for building safety has been held today at the.. Read More >> A ceremony marked a key milestone at a new diagnostics centre in Thurrock Read More >> BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES AKW Bathroom Catalog...By AKW Download Now >> Baths Collection Bro...By AKW Download Now >> Your high performanc...By James Hardie Download Now >> James Hardie brings...By James Hardie Download Now >> fermacell® The Speci...By James Hardie Download Now >> BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS Membrane composed of elastomer modified bitumen and a non woven polyester reinforcement.The upper.. Read More >> Membrane composed of flexible PVC and a polyester reinforcement Read More >> Available in different RAL Colours.Used for detailing work Read More >> Watch Now >> Watch Now >> Watch Now >> Lets Talk Specification will be hosting a number of Workshops at Futurebuild on Tuesday 5th March A bit of good news for hungry workers in the Holborn area comes today You're about to get a weekly Kerb market to enhance your lunch options The latest opening from the street food company will be just off High Holborn at Hand Court we're told that opening week will feature the following traders: So if you're in the neighbourhood and looking for something new to try at lunchtime hitting up the latest Kerb sounds like a good decision When does it open? Every Wednesday from 7 August 2024 Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @kerbfood Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here Lawyers and other city folk working in and around Holborn are about to have an interesting new place landing on their doorstep Hotori is a slick-looking yakitori restaurant on New Fetter Lane that's going to be all about the 'beak to tail' experience Owners Mike Zheng and Kuangyi Wei have loved their trips to yakitori spots in Japan but couldn't understand why there weren't more options here in London particularly given how good our chicken can be They're going to be taking that amazing chicken - sourced free range from Fosse Meadows - to serve it up in 17 different types of yakitori - engawa (belly); soriresu (chicken oyster); bonjiri (tail meat); kashiwa (thigh); tebamoto (wing); tsukune (chicken meatball); nankotsu (cartilage); sunagimo (gizzard); and hatsu (heart) there's also going to be Japanese wagyu and miso black cod and shiitake mushroom along with tempura and chicken karaage If you've time to linger over lunch or dinner then a seat up at the kitchen counter is the place to be with a view over chefs using the hibachi grill those pressed for time can grab a bento box to go As you might have guessed sake and whisky will play a prominent role on the drinks list but the wine list also sounds more interesting than most pairing a pet nat rose with the chicken belly or a skin contact white with a chicken oyster Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @hotori_london View on Google maps 18 Feb 2025 By Already registered? please Log in to continue Try Property Week For Free to finish this article To access this article TRY FOR FREE NOW Don't want full access? REGISTER NOW for limited access and to subscribe to our newsletters Already registered or subscribed? SIGN IN here to continue Property Week’s 2025 Power of Proptech survey seeks to explore the robustness of this digital infrastructure and how prepared businesses are to meet the technological challenges facing the property sector Digital TV ReporterPublished: Invalid Date GEORDIE Shore star Abbie Holborn's secret boyfriend has been revealed - and he is a familiar reality TV face The MTV reality star is in the throes of a new romance with a former The Only Way Is Essex star after being introduced by their closest pals Abbie has been romancing Jack Rigden who appeared on the ITVBe reality show for 23 episodes back in 2017 Whilst the pair have kept the romance under wraps in recent weeks sources have told The Sun that Abbie is happier than ever after a string of failed flings The insider revealed: "Abbie and Jack have been seeing each other for a little while now after first starting off as friends "Things have been going really well between them and Abbie has been unable to wipe the smile off her face when talking to her pals about him Abbie can really see a future with someone and she knows she can rely on Jack "It helps that Jack is the best mate of her closest pal Sophie Kasaei's boyfriend Jordan and so everyone around her is over the moon at the new romance. "Abbie is feeling happier than ever and finally feels settled in her love life after years of holiday flings and failed situationships." Abbie met 32-year-old Jack through Sophie and Jordan and is understood to be besotted with him. The Sun has contacted a spokesperson for Abbie Holborn for comment The reveal of her mystery man comes one month after she opened up to The Sun about her secret romance but refused to reveal his famous identity Abbie told us in January: “I am seeing someone Brunette beauty Abbie then confessed she was close to a "nervous breakdown" over her struggling love life She revealed: “Every series [of Geordie Shore] I have a bit of a nervous break down because I am still single “Last series I was like I am just going to be single forever By Jake Penkethman Unluckly in love Abbie has enjoyed countless flings and dalliances with her famous co-stars but it seems that she has finally settled down with TOWIE star boyfriend Here is a look back at some of her most famous romances Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 31st July 2024 by ianVisits in London Ticket Alert If you think you know Holborn tube station Even the most experienced tube history fans will be surprised if they go on a Hidden London tour of the private areas away from passengers Holborn tube station can be said to have had a very complicated history It was originally opened for just the Piccadilly line a legacy of the legal powers that created the Piccadilly line the station was substantially rebuilt in the 1930s to add the Central line platforms and replace the lifts with escalators but it’s the disused Aldwych spur that complicates the history considerably and means that about a third of the station is now disused and sealed off from the public It’s that third that the Hidden London tours will let you see with a staff door that lets you step right back in time The old emergency staircase is still in the original tiles from the first 1900s tube station It’s also a very long way down—a very long way indeed—until you finally reach old corridors now used A detour back into the bright world of the passengers before an almost invisible door is opened and down a warren of narrow passages. Suddenly opening up, you’re now standing on the original platform that closed in 1914. Used during WWII as offices for London Transport staff, and, if it goes ahead, could be used again as offices for the Holborn station upgrade project It’s also here that you get a chance to walk along the old railway tunnel – used during WWII as the kitchen and stand where few have stood before and many would want to — right next to the railway tracks leading to Aldwych Dotted around the route are Hidden London signs telling the station’s history or showing off the exceptionally complicated layout of the tracks and platforms Do look for the watertight doors—not a legacy of WWII where bulkheads were installed in tunnels next to the Thames for reasons that the tour guides will elaborate on Thanks to the disused platform having had the tracks filled in (fairly recently, in fact), there’s space down here for a small movie theatre and to learn more about the history of the station and how the passenger areas were used for films and music videos — including the awful Superman 4 movie a stop to admire the remains of an early Piccadilly line map from the 1930s which closed in 1994 and is now used by TfL to test platform upgrade ideas in a secure and realistic location you step through a small anonymous door back into the noise and fuss of a busy tube station and onto the escalators to get back out of the station that you’ve just spent 90 minutes exploring It’s one of the larger of the Hidden London tours offered by the LT Museum and it takes in a wider variety of spaces to explore in a station that seems complicated in the public areas It’s also the only one of their tours that can let you get so very close to the old railway tracks for that perfect selfie moment Tickets are on sale now for tours in August and September and more dates will be released on Wed 7th August for tours from October onwards This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here I got a single ticket for Thursday 22 August Isn’t the new moving logo rather good Anyonecare to open a book on which comes first I went on the Holborn tour and can recommend it great content and knowledgeable guides made it all very worthwhile You’ll never see these places any other way usually Never realised Howard Jones’s ‘New Song’ video was recorded there and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits No, it’s not Roman Hackett, who Abbie had 'a kiss and a fumble' with back in September 2023 – he’s loved up with Love Island’s Matilda Draper Abbie is actually dating Jack Rigden Jordan’s best friend who appeared alongside him on series 20 and 21 of the ITVBe show back in 2017 The reality star confirmed she and Jack were an item on Valentine’s Day when she shared a series of romantic clips of them together on TikTok with the caption She’s now spoken out about their relationship and teased that they could be taking a HUGE step together in the not-too-distant future Speaking about the start of their ‘unexpected’ love story when Sophie and Jordan got together because he's Jordan's best friend So we've actually known each other for about two years.’ And then it kind of at the back end of last year I think I really like the fact that we're friends first as well ‘He's always said he's had a bit of a soft spot for me and he would always compliment me, but I always just thought like, you know, he's just being nice,’ Abbie told The Sun The pair are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend and Abbie admitted that she could follow in bestie Sophie’s footsteps and move down to Essex ‘I would definitely consider [a move] in the future It's funny because even though I travel so much and I am always away from home I've never actually left the nest or left my family home so it would be a big deal to eventually move ‘But I've got all my friends down there and work's down there so I think it probably Nathan Katnoria is Closer's Senior Digital Writer and resident TOWIE expert. He's seen all 34 (thirty four!) series of the ITVBe show and regularly reminisces about forgotten TOWIE romances from years gone by. Although he's never been to Brentwood, Nathan has interviewed loads of TOWIE faves past and present including Sam Faiers, Chloe Brockett, Diags and Georgia Kousoulou. Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales. VAT no 918 5617 01 H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Daily news, insight and opinion from the world of restaurants 29-Oct-2024 Last updated on 29-Oct-2024 at 15:28 GMT Hotori will be led by founders Mike Zheng and Kuangyi Wei and offer a ‘classic yakitori experience’ of grilled chicken skewers and tempura alongside premium sake, Japanese whisky, and wines. “We’ve been lucky enough to eat some incredible yakitori in Japan and many other countries around the world,” says the founders. “But having lived and worked in London for many years we were always surprised that this kind of beak-to-tail concept wasn’t more readily available here given how great British chickens are. So, we decided to do it ourselves.” Hotori will use free range, slow-reared chickens from Fosse Meadows. Utilising every part of the bird, the menu will feature 17 different types of yakitori, all cooked on the restaurant’s custom 1.4 metre hibachi grill. Skewers will include engawa (belly); soriresu (chicken oyster); bonjiri (tail meat); kashiwa (thigh); tebamoto (wing); tsukune (chicken meatball); nankotsu (cartilage); sunagimo (gizzard); and hatsu (heart). The menu will also feature meat and fish skewers such as Japanese wagyu and miso black cod, as well as vegetables like Japanese yam, peppers, and shiitake mushroom. Fried dishes include prawn and vegetable tempura, and chicken karaage. All the yakitori will be available as individual skewers, but there are also a range of set menus on offer including a full ‘beak to tail’ menu featuring all 17 chicken yakitori alongside five vegetable skewers. Additionally, a selection of bento boxes will be available to eat in or takeaway at lunchtimes to help cater for local office workers with limited dining time. The restaurant’s ground floor dining room will include an open kitchen counter. An open a gallery space for local artists and private dining rooms will open on its lower ground floor level in due course. Whet your appetite with beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union Lost Revenue from Downtime: How It Cripples Your Delivery App Visibility and SalesPaid for and content provided by Deliverect Staffing costs rising — how smart hiring solutions are helping UK restaurantsPaid for and content provided by YoungOnes Orms has been granted planning permission to renovate a 1950s office building in central London The project for Theobald Investment will transform Mercury House a Stanley Gordon Jeeves-designed office building at 124 Theobalds Road in Holborn The office was built in 1955 as the headquarters for Cable & Wireless and refurbished in the 1990s Orms’ ‘re-use led’ renovation of the building, designed in collaboration with Stockholm-based Note (design studio) will strip away what the practice describes as ‘low-quality’ alterations made in the 1990s restoring the building’s original Neoclassical Modern appearance Non-original extensions will be removed to the front and a new roof extension with terrace added A front extension will create additional floor space while the existing atrium will be infilled from levels six to eight to achieve more efficient floorplates Camden Council’s planning committee approved the scheme last Thursday (12 December) it will provide 12,535m² new workspace (an uplift of 598m²) and landscaping including a communal rooftop terrace Orms says its design will retain 90 per cent of the structural frame and 80 per cent of the Portland Stone façade while repurposing the rest of the building said the practice was aiming for a ‘sensitive refurbishment’ of the ‘extraordinary’ mid-century building Camden planning officers described the designs of the extensions and overall alterations to the building as ‘very positive and high-quality’ they added: ‘The overall approach is not too expressive smaller design details like reusing the existing stone in an alternative finish provide interest while retaining the existing building’s essential character rear landscaping and entrance to the building are all considered positive.’ Officers also praised the scheme's energy and thermal improvements including the addition of air source heat pumps biodiverse roofs and building upgrades to meet BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard another Orms project in Holborn involving the refurbishment and extension of a prominent Grade II*-listed building was granted a two-year extension on its start date by Camden Council refurbishment and extension of the office building by Leather Lane market The application was given a resolution to grant conditional planning permission in February subject to completion of a Section 106 agreement which is yet to be signed An amendment approved at Thursday’s committee proposed extending the commencement date for the permission from three years to five years The extension is to give Orms time to gather more information about the future occupiers of the building – which it expects ‘closer to 2027’ – in order to undertake ‘relevant design work’ so that it can provide an energy efficient heating facility for the entire scheme Tags Squire & Partners has finally won planning Skyscraper expert SimpsonHaugh has submitted plans for a 50-storey and a 25-storey… Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA chatted to the… MVRDV and Mecanoo are among five finalists vying to design… Published on 2nd October 2024 by ianVisits in London Art News and photos of lost London have been mixed to form a temporary public work of art in Holborn The art lines a building site, where a new office development is going up, and an artist, Harold Offeh was commissioned to create this long walkway covered in history Offeh developed the main design through photography He also invited 12 people to contribute to the design through a series of print workshops There were also walking trips around the local area where people took rubbings from the stones and photographs of the buildings The resulting artwork shows off a combination of history and cultural landmarks It’s a pleasing way of covering up a building site and it’s one that many more building sites should adopt The display will be on the Holborn Viaduct in central London until the construction work is completed 05 Feb 2025 By Premier Inn owner buys freehold of 35 Red Lion Square SearchPolice treating death of man found in Holborn vehicle as ‘unexpected’ but not suspiciousPerry RichardsonFeb 191 min readUpdated: Feb 20 A man was found dead in a vehicle on Doughty Street, WC1, on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a police response. According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called by London Ambulance Service at around 1.25pm after reports of a man discovered unresponsive in a vehicle. but the man was pronounced dead at the scene The death is being treated as unexpected and unexplained though police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances Eyewitness reports say a licensed London taxi remained sealed off for several hours at the scene as officers carried out enquiries According to Met Police sources: “Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 13:25hrs on Wednesday 19 February to reports of a man found deceased in a vehicle in Doughty Street “The death is being treated as unexpected/unexplained but is not being treated as suspicious.” Receive all the latest newsEmail JoinThanks for subscribing Home About Us Contact Us Advertise with us TaxiPoint T&C's Privacy Policy The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers All written and image rights are reserved by authors displayed Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited All written content Copyright of TaxiPoint 2025 the most interesting things I could have told you about Holborn Tube station was that it’s the 23rd busiest on the network (thanks Google) and that Aqua’s 1998 hit Turn Back Time was filmed at the station (just me?) It’s also a helpful way to weed out the out-of-towners who call it Hole-born (the correct pronunciation is Ho-burn) All of that was before I descended 40m into its guts as part of a new Hidden London tour looking at the history and secret platforms of this most ordinary station in central London — less thrillingly the only interchange between the Central and Piccadilly lines Hidden London is part of the London Transport Museum and puts on 11 similar tours of secret spaces in London where Winston Churchill sheltered in the Second World War; heritage train rides; and tours of the deep-level shelter at Clapham South a transport nerd who themed her wedding on the London Underground and once threw a very successful Tube-themed party getting the keys to a Tube station was the euphoria equivalent of a teenager at Alton Towers Tickets for Holborn: the Secret Platforms will be released next Wednesday for October-March 2025 with tickets for £45ppThe 85-minute tour starts through a door on the street-level concourse where we’re led down the emergency staircase The London Transport Museum’s director of content Chris Nix hazards it’s about 180 steps down — past Holborn’s distinctive teal and oxblood tiles (“I love this station’s colour scheme,” he says sighing) — into an airless hideaway in the belly of Holborn It’s disorientating: the usual station announcement babble echoes around us and we can hear the roar of trains along the eastbound track It was originally opened in 1906 as a Piccadilly line station by the Great Northern financed by a Chicago investor during the turn-of-the-century London boom (As with so many cities and neighbourhoods you can thank the infrastructure for the area’s build-it-and-they-will-come development.) However Holborn wouldn’t be hooked up to the Central line for almost another 30 years ran instead to the British Museum (now 133 High Holborn a nondescript co-working space 250ft away) and they were eventually wodged together in 1933 when the station started to look like it does today Holborn station was first designed by Tube architect Leslie Green in his signature style of half-moon windows and a band of oxblood tiles at the top is slightly different: rather than the red tiling the exterior was rendered in Portland stone and dyed so as to match the elegant buildings on Kingsway at the time a swaggering European-style boulevard The original platforms are still standingWe inch through another door and are suddenly stepping onto the eastbound Piccadilly line platform We listen to the Arnos Grove-bound service squeal its way round a particularly curved piece of track — “from Covent Garden down Long Acre and a sharp turn from Great Queen Street; Tube lines usually follow roads,” Nix says — before we go through another boring-looking silver door to the best bit: Holborn’s secret platforms Holborn was linked by a spur to Aldwych station (also a popular Hidden London tour which I did about 15 years ago and is still running) The two original platforms are still standing One was used as a wartime storage facility housing the Elgin marbles and other items from the British Museum and the V&A We walk through a tunnel to stand beside what is technically a live rail line to squint southbound towards the Thames to see the Aldwych platforms through the blackness • This Tube tour is your chance to see hidden London • The secret to finding affordable hotels in London Looping across more live platforms up Leslie Green-tiled dusty staircases — if they were given a polish the teal and oxblood wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury hotel bathroom — we find disused platform six Piccadilly line trains rush by to our left on their journey to Covent Garden as it has been since it closed on September 30 almost three decades ago just 236 people were travelling in the three-carriage train down the line from Holborn to Aldwych each day — by the end it would have been cheaper for TfL to buy every passenger a Ford Fiesta rather than keep the station open Platform six is now used as a sort of staging area for various Tube advertising and signage systems which makes me feel as if I’m in a live Where’s Wally tableau a Queen’s Gate illustration (which belongs not in Bloomsbury but South Kensington) and eagle-eyed passengers will notice the map on the wall that shows us in Chancery Lane “Tube nerds like the Easter eggs,” Nix says One of the old platforms was used as a wartime storage facility housing the Elgin marblesFilming takes place down here too but I’m more taken with the genteel No Exit cartouches and the original “Holborn (Kingsway)” sign The grand plan is to turn this disused space — which is 30 per cent of Holborn’s entire capacity — into a slick interchange concourse for passengers rather than what is at present the infernally busy space at the bottom of the escalator bank Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners Sign up for our Times Travel newsletter and follow us on Instagram and X GEORDIE Shore star Abbie Holborn has confirmed that she has a 'secret boyfriend' after years of being single The popular MTV reality star told The Sun she is finally "seeing someone" after a period of holiday flings and steamy snogs with her co-stars Abbie, 27, first joined the show in 2017 and has been single in virtually every series since it seems that her fortunes have finally turned after meeting someone brand new Ahead of the launch of the 25th series of the show, Abbie and best pal co-star Sophie Kasaei dished all to The Sun about her current new romance She revealed: “Every series I have a bit of a nervous break down because I am still single Scotty later confirmed they revisited their romance after previously enjoying a dalliance back in 2017 The ladies man made a long-awaited return to the reality TV series after taking time off from the show that turned him into a star Away from Geordie Shore Abbie has been working on her side hustle of being a DJ The glam TV personality has seen her diary littered with bookings for gigs up and down the country with the star ever seen DJing on the new series Geordie Shore series 25 is streaming now on Paramount+ and airs Tuesdays on MTV The narration baton is handed to Holborn for Get Millie Black’s third installment* in what is now clearly a pattern Holborn tells us he grew up with nothing and remarks how that upbringing makes you hungry for everything you don’t have he is accomplished professionally and personally: respected at work In the same breath as mentioning the prestige of taking the Somerville case he speaks almost reverently about meeting Millie Each installment has been named after its narrator Millie reports to Barracat about the photos of Romeo on Leddick Somerville’s phone Holborn suggests he and Millie partner up to seek out Freddie who offered evidence on his family’s money laundering for the Sanguis Meridian crime syndicate Millie’s former partner gets back to her and reports there’s no dirt on Holborn Hit Girl takes Freddie and Janet to a rundown hotel to hide She agrees to arrange a boat to Cuba if Freddie signs over the deed to the Hot Pinky Club They race to his office only to find it ablaze The building is thick with smoke and flames but Millie enters Heywood’s office to seek evidence before it burns She succumbs to the smoke before she can even grab the hard drive on his desk Millie wakes on a gurney wearing an oxygen mask and learns Holborn pulled her out just in time and Holborn asks a woozy Millie if she needs the hospital She ignores the suggestion; so they go for lunch instead Holborn thinks he and Millie would have been friends “in another life.” Curtis asks an irritated Daniel to retrieve Heywood’s hard drive as a favor to Millie Daniel’s researching Canada as a potential relocation for them: he’s tired of hiding and wants to live in the open Curtis notes he doesn’t need to wave a rainbow flag and Daniel says that’s because he can pass for “normal.”  Millie arrives home looking smoky and exhausted Hibiscus must return to the Gully: Deltreece’s memorial send-off is that evening Millie drops her sister off with some food for the gathering When Hibiscus is welcomed back by her Gully sisters Millie looks sad; she also wants that relationship with her sister Barracat is angry that she entered the building and broke protocol in front of Holborn Millie says Curtis came through and found evidence of flights and shell companies on the hard drive this only upsets Barracat further: Curtis should be resting and not working on evidence stolen from salvage Millie and Holborn find evidence of flights to London purchased through companies associated with the Somervilles An employee provides passport printouts of the people who took those flights or Freddie but instead finds a passport for Romeo under a new name: Anthony Mantel They report back to Barracat: Romeo was flown to London ten days ago under the new name.  Millie lays out info about each person in the stack of passports they were given a girl who went missing from the same parish as Romeo told her arresting officers she was held against her will with her passport stolen; without hard evidence whose father reported him missing every day for six months They thought they were just tracking dirty money but instead uncovered human trafficking Lawrence angrily insists she fly to London immediately; Mrs Holborn comes clean with Millie: He read the report about Victor before working with her He’s sorry that happened and insists she did everything right Millie tells him she thinks about Victor every day and is determined not to lose Romeo Millie informs him that the Somervilles are trafficking people just as Hit Girl calls to tell Millie that Janet and Freddie are heading to the harbor but Holborn says no – if they go in guns blazing they’ll lose both Freddie and their chance of finding Romeo Curtis impatiently waits for chatter on the police radio but discovers HQ knows nothing about the “find Freddie” operation warning Curtis never to return if he follows her so she holsters hers to defuse the tension and Janet insists they don’t know where he is Stennet arrives at the harbor with a giant assault rifle and joins Holborn and Stennet aims his rifle from yards away who again says she just wants to know where Romeo is She offers to call Holborn since Freddie’s deal with him still stands claiming Holborn’s a part of Sanguis Meridian “Who the f*ck do you think I’m running from?” The tension builds as Holborn pressures Stennet to fire but he doesn’t have a clear shot of Freddie Holborn pushes harder – if Millie gets hurt he’ll tell the force Stennet had a shot and didn’t take it and Janet once again demands that Freddie just shoot her already The episode suddenly flashes back to the Somerville massacre He calls himself “a shadow Millie never saw coming” as he searches for Mr Somerville’s phone when the patriarch suddenly fights back Holborn chokes Somerville to death with his bare hands Get Millie Black continues with weekly episodes on Mondays at 9 p.m A writer since her childhood introduction to Shel Silverstein She studied screenwriting at UARTS and has written movie You can usually catch her watching Hot Fuzz for the thousandth time Find her very sparse social media presence on Instagram: @cerise.marni Atmospheric and instantly engaging, HBO’s Get Millie Black kicks off its premiere with a compelling crime story Get Millie Black's second episode shifts the perspective from the titular Millie to her sister Hibiscus whose thoughts on the situation are worth hearing The BBC prison drama Time drew critical acclaim for its first season set in a women's prison and starring Jodie Whittaker Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want 703-998-2600 tellyvisions@weta.org GEORDIE Shore star Abbie Holborn has broken her silence for the first time on her secret romance with a former TOWIE star Abbie, 27, has been secretly romancing Jack Rigden since the end of last year and has so far kept coy on the relationship Jack appeared on the ITVBe reality show for two series in 2017 but has since stepped out of the spotlight whilst Abbie has become a reality TV success story after joining the cast of MTV show Geordie Shore in 2017 where she still remains to this day In her first interview about her new-found love with The Sun, Abbie has confessed she is happier than ever with Jack and has even suggested she is likely to upsticks and leave the North East for good to move in with Jack in his native Essex Abbie told The Sun: "Things are going really good and I'm finally really happy." The pair first met years ago and initially started off as friends but it eventually grew into something more with Abbie admitting Jack had always "had a thing" for her when Sophie [Kaseai] and Jordan [Brook] got together because he's Jordan's best friend So we've actually known each other for about two years "I think I really like the fact that we're friends first as well "He's always said he's had a bit of a soft spot for me and he would always compliment me Although the pair are officially boyfriend and girlfriend Abbie revealed there was no grand over-the-top gesture with Jack opting to keep asking the question more simple and low-key she admitted that their connection came at the perfect time after years of bad dates as she opened up on why Jack was "the one" The reality TV stunner confessed: "It's such a complex feeling I think people say when you know that it's the one it's like you just feel safe.You feel at peace "I think when you're kind of dating "Like I've always kind of hated dating and never really gone on dates "I think I went through a whole process of being a bit of a man hater and just thinking that all men are the same and I just did not want to go on dates and I just wasn't bothered "Everyone used to always say to me because I think I did want to have a boyfriend and everyone would say it'll happen when you least expect it "I used to say if one more person tells me it's going to happen when I least expect it then I'm going to punch them clean in the face it becomes all you hear and I was like I can't bear it But whilst it is still early days for the couple Abbie admitted that a move to live with Jack in Essex looked likely in the future Much of Abbie's work is based in London and hers and Jack's best pals Sophie and Jordan live there - making a potential relocation a no brainer Abbie told The Sun: "I would definitely consider [a move] in the future "It's funny because even though I travel so much and I am always away from home "But I've got all my friends down there and work's down there so I think it probably Chloe Ferry  Nathan Henry  Sophie Kasaei and her Towie star boyfriend Jordan Brook  Abbie Holborn James Tindale Jay Gardener  Ricci Guarnaccio  Marnie Simpson and husband Casey Johnson  Holly Hagan Scotty T Chantelle Connelly Charlotte Crosby  The 34-year-old quit the show “forever” after a huge bust-up with Marnie during the last series Gaz Beadle  We revealed how Gaz was finally in talks to return to the show for this series but he later revealed he’d pulled out again and is focusing on his two children