Tag: backinLondonBridge

Welcome Back: Shangri-La at The Shard

Published on 20th August 2020

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As the London Bridge business community springs back to life, we check in with some of our favourite neighbourhood gems to see what’s in store for visitors looking forward to rediscovering the area post-lockdown.  This week we speak to the Shangri-La at The Shard’s General Manager, Kurt Macher. The Shangri-La at The Shard’s Lockdown Experience The hotel’s closure provided the opportunity for us to dedicate resources to give back to the community during a time of great need. In addition to delivering care packages to our friends at St Thomas’ Hospital, we donated unused towels to the London Ambulance Service and will be donating complimentary stays each month to the ‘Night on Us’ movement which offers NHS ICU workers a complimentary two-night-break once lockdown eases. We also took part in a wonderful group-wide initiative, the ‘Heroes Campaign’ which rewards five hardworking NHS staff with a luxurious two-night stay at our hotel. We welcomed our first NHS Hero to the hotel over our opening weekend – her first weekend off since May! Shangri-La London welcomes NHS worker Megan as part of their Heroes Campaign We’ve also taken the time to adapt our hotel to the ‘new normal’. We have always placed a strong emphasis on health and safety and follow stringent policies and procedures on cleanliness, and during lockdown we were able to further elevate our rigorous hygiene and safety standards. We have place additional tried-and-tested measures to ensure we closely follow and meet the latest guidance from the governments and WHO and these measures will be constantly reviewed and updated based on the evolving situation and customer needs. What can visitors look forward to?   We’re anticipating a high level of interest in staycations during our reopening phase and have designed several unique experiences for discerning UK travellers to look forward to.  One example is our ‘Escapism Inspiration’ experiences, which have been curated in collaboration with London’s premier proposal and wedding planners ‘The Proposers’. This package allows guests to ‘dream now and travel later’, as we transform their suite or guest room to recreate a destination-inspired getaway. Guests can choose to be teleported to the tropics, dine under the Eiffel Tower or spot the big five in our safari extravaganza setup, but the sky is the limit and The Proposers are able to make any dream setup a reality. We also have a wonderful ‘Staycation in the Sky’ offer which includes a private shopping experience at  Harvey Nichols’ flagship Knightsbridge store with a dedicated shopping consultant, luxurious bath amenity courtesy of Neal’s Yard Remedies and more. We have also created a number of opportunities for day visitors to make the most of our wonderful location at the heart of London Bridge. Our local bar Bar31 will be offering picnic baskets and bicycle hire so that visitors may explore our wonderful neighbourhood, or if the weather turns guests can enjoy a new a private dining experience, ‘Dining in the Sky’ from the comfort of a transformed guest room. Businesses can also take advantage of this private dining experience like no other, with ‘Meeting in the Sky’ package options designed for up to six delegates which can be booked through our events team at  Events.London@shangri-la.com. Which place in London Bridge are you most looking forward to visiting again?  I’m really looking forward to visiting the Bridge Theatre once it reopens later this month. The Shangri-La London all all facilities, bars and lounges including Bar 31, GONG, and TiNG are now open and taking bookings. London Bridge DealCard holders can enjoy a 15% discount at all of the above restaurants and bars. To learn more about the precautionary measures Shangri-La at The Shard are taking to ensure your health and safety, please click here.  Share your London Bridge adventures with the hashtags  #atLondonBridge #backinLondonBridge

Welcome Back: BOB’s Lobster

Published on 27th July 2020

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As the London Bridge business community springs back to life, we check in with some of our favourite neighbourhood gems to see what’s in store for visitors looking forward to rediscovering the area post-lockdown.  This week we speak to Rob Dann, owner of BOB’s Lobster Wine Bar and Kitchen restaurant. BOB’s Lobster’s Lockdown Experience The past few months have been a real rollercoaster – we’re extremely grateful for the outpour of support and we’re delighted to be welcoming our customers back. We’ve taken this time to pause and reflect on our business model and industry as a whole, which has led to some exciting new developments. Wine is an integral part of BOB’s roots and our selection is something we’ve always taken great care in curating, so during lockdown we took the chance to make our entire wine cellar available online for guests to order at home. We also launched a series of virtual wine tastings over Zoom, which has set cogs in motion for our upcoming online cooking tutorials and some other experimentations… watch this space! Lots of things have and will have to change in the restaurant industry, but now is not the time to bury your head in the sand. We feel strongly that people’s appetite for a restaurant experience: quality service, food and wine wrapped in passion and love, isn’t going anywhere. What can visitors look forward to?   Customers can look forward to all of the favourites, including our signature Lobster Roll, Lobster Mac’n’Cheese and Ahi Tuna Tacos, There’s also some new summer specials on the menu, such as Crayfish Croquettes; 1/2 Grilled Lobster with smoked seaweed butter; Scallops with roast cauliflower and fregola… and not to forget our glorious and glutenous Ice-Cream Sundae to finish on. Which place in London Bridge are you looking forward to visiting again the most? Santo Remedio – one of our favourite restaurants in London Bridge. Tables are available to book now Check out BOB’s Lobster’s new online- wine shop and tasting series here:  https://wineshop.bedaleswines.com Opening Hours: Thursday & Friday 4pm -10:30pm Saturday 12pm to 10:30pm with oyster happy hour (£1 oysters with any glass of wine or cocktail) running 4pm- 5pm. Hopefully we will be able to expand our hours soon. BOB’s Lobster is encouraging booking and are checking all guests in at the door for tracing. Government guidance and best practices for social distancing have been adopted. The number of inside covers has been cut by 50% for social distancing, however outside terrace capacity has been increased. The weekly changing menu is available to view online https://www.bobslobster.com/all-day and via the QR code on the table.  

Welcome Back: The Old Operating Theatre

Published on 20th July 2020

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As the London Bridge business community springs back to life, we check in with some of our favourite neighbourhood gems to see what’s in store for visitors looking forward to rediscovering the area post-lockdown.  This week we speak to Monica and Sarah at The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret ahead of their opening on July 25th.   The Old Operating Theatre’s Lockdown Experience Although the past 3 months have been challenging for the museum, we’ve had the opportunity to make lots of new friends in the digital world who we’re looking forward to working with in person and welcoming to the museum when we reopen. The support from our community has been brilliant; we’ve received lots of great feedback from those who have been participating in our weekly social activities, like the #MondayChallenge jigsaw puzzle, of getting active with our Victorian Parlour Games. Earlier in July, we also found out our shop had been shortlisted for a Museums + Heritage Award, which we’re really excited about! Shortly after this we launched our online shop, thanks to many individuals who generously donated towards the cost.  The shop has a great selection of bespoke products and gifts, and all sales go towards supporting the upkeep of the museum. In April we also took part in the first National Oddity Championships on Twitter which was great fun and a great way to keep the spirit of the museum alive while our doors have been closed.  The competition saw 17 museums and heritage sites across the country put forward a quirky item from their collection to compete for the title and brought together thousands of people who voted and supported our entry, including many well known authors, bloggers and other ambassadors. What can visitors look forward to?   Visitors can look forward to the full Old Operating Theatre experience! The 45 minute tour gives a unique insight into the history of medicine and surgery, complete with free wifi and a brand new QR code trail.  Each group will also receive a free local history map of the local area for visitors to explore London Bridge. We are also planning to offer a longer local history staff-led tour, and a live evening Victorian Surgery demonstration. Stay tuned! Which place in London Bridge are you looking forward to visiting again the most? The Old Op team are very proud of the local area, its community, history, neighbourhood and vibrancy. We can’t wait be out and about again, visiting the Science Gallery London, grabbing a coffee down Bermondsey Street, lunch from Borough Market, admiring the view of Southwark Cathedral, and of course, supporting the many public houses in the area! Tickets are available to book now for July 25th onwards. Opening Hours:  Saturday 10.30am – 5pm Sunday 10.30am – 5pm The Old Operating Theatre have taken care to ensure the way we reopen is in line with Government Guidance and sector specific advice to make it a safe and enjoyable visit for you, as well as a positive environment for our team. You can read more about our Covid-19 Safe Opening here.

Welcome Back: Santo Remedio

Published on 13th July 2020

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As the London Bridge business community springs back to life, we check in with some of our favourite neighbourhood gems to see what’s in store for visitors looking forward to rediscovering the area post-lockdown.  This week we speak to Edson and Natalie, owners of Santo Remedio restaurant. Santo Remedio’s Lockdown Experience The last three months have been spent working out how we can adapt as a business, whilst navigating the highs and lows of lockdown. Our son lost his two front teeth, our daughter learned to walk, and we had a bit of shock back in April, when Edson lost his sense of taste and smell, which meant that for the first time Natalie was in charge of the cooking! But of course, we know this pales in comparison to the immense global and personal challenges in dealing with the devastating impact this virus has had. Above all, we are thankful that our family is healthy and happy, and that we are able to finally start looking forward again. What can visitors look forward to?   Customers can look forward to all of the classics, including our Pork Belly Tacos and Tuna Tostadas, as well as a range of larger dishes, including a Bone-In Short-Rib with Mole Negro and our Red & Green Fish A La Talla, butterflied and served with parsley and guajillo adobo. We have also reopened our Mezcaleria, home to one of London’s most diverse range of mezcals and the perfect spot for an extended nightcap, as it’s open ‘til 1AM! We’ve just launched an exciting new range of retail products, including an incredibly moreish Salsa Macha and fresh tortillas for you to cook with at home. Soon to be joining these are our Remedy Kits, a meal kit for the whole family to gather around. These are based of some of the most popular dishes in the restaurant, with options including: Bone-In Short Rib with Mole Negro, Duck Carnitas with Gooseberry Salsa or Barbacoa Lamb Shank. The products are currently available to purchase/collect in-store. Which place in London Bridge are you looking forward to visiting again the most? It’s just been brilliant to watch London Bridge come back to life again and see everyone returning to a new normal. We’ve loved being able to visit our favourite bars and restaurants, and browse Borough Market. Tables are available to book now in both the restaurant and mezcaleria.   Opening Hours: Wednesday 6pm – 9pm Thursday 6pm – 1am Friday 6pm – 1am Saturday 12pm – 1am Sunday 12pm – 9pm Santo Remedio have implemented a number of measures to make the restaurant covid secure, including physical distancing, hand sanitising stations, face coverings worn by the team involved in food or drink preparation, and keeping all of our windows open to allow fresh air to circulate. You can view a guide to these steps here.

Welcome Back: Tower Bridge

Published on 06th July 2020

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Following the reopening of London’s defining landmark this weekend, we speak to Tower Bridge Marketing Manager Amy O’Rourke about bouncing back post-lockdown, bringing the magic of the Bridge into people’s homes, and how locals can enjoy a visit for just £1.   Tower Bridge’s Lockdown Experience Although our doors to visitors were closed, there were key workers at the Bridge maintaining our critical functions for safety and security. Lockdown proved to be an exceptionally busy time for the team as we worked hard to bring the magic of Tower Bridge to people via the “At home” section of the website and through virtual initiatives like our “History of Tower Bridge podcasts”, “’Yoga NOT in the Walkways’, and live streamed talks. Our front of house staff have been brilliant – this experience has verified just how much the team really know about Tower Bridge and what a great resource they are to help tell our stories both onsite and online. What can visitors look forward to?   Visitors will experience a one-way carefully managed visitor route inside Tower Bridge. Visitors can stand on the famous Glass Floors and watch London life from above the River Thames. As well as getting amazing views of the capital, visitors will see the Victorian Engine Rooms that once powered London’s defining landmark. They will see our new measures that we have put in place including protective screens, sanitiser stations, floor markers and signage. You can also look forward to meeting our staff who are excited to return to the Bridge. Which place in London Bridge are you most looking forward to visiting again?  Prosecco House is one of my personal favourite hidden gems and just a stone’s throw away from the Bridge. And if you’re looking for a bite to eat there are some fantastic restaurants along the One Tower Bridge stretch too Tower Bridge’s community ticket is just £1 for residents of Southwark Tower Bridge is now open daily from 10:30-16:00 with last entry at 15:00. Please note these hours will extend from Monday 20 July. Tickets are available to purchase at the Ticket Office from 4-19 July with online tickets available from the 20th July. Share your London Bridge adventures with the hashtags  #atLondonBridge #backinLondonBridge