Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Reflections on Covent Garden
Arriving in Covent Garden as a Jubilee Market trader in 1976, I marvelled at the 'people power' that had saved 266 buildings of historic interest.
By 1981, with the rescue of the Jubilee Hall from demolition and the opening of the Central Market Building in June 1980, Covent Garden entered a short phase in its history of interesting specialist shopping, careful planning with local consultation, and general economic and environmental satisfaction.
With the winding up of the GLC and the 'selling off' by the London Residuary Body of the GLC's Covent Garden assets, market forces took over by the close of the 1980's. Since then, institutions have purchased many of the major sites in the area. The Royal Opera House has been refurbished and redeveloped and many small and large companies have been forced out of the area by high rents. Developers have found it more lucrative to convert or build private housing (in the form of flats) than to create new offices and, of course, all this has caused a great character change.
The 266 saved facades now contain a retail mix that is reminiscent of almost any local high street. We still have the market stalls and entertainers and, maybe soon, a police museum, but the pleasure that existed for me to wander the streets of Covent Garden to enjoy interesting shops is gone. I would think there are more restaurants, wine bars and clubs per square foot than anywhere in the world.
God Bless the Covent Garden Community Association and the Covent Garden Area Trust, they have not got a chance.
Ray Green, Chief Executive, Jubilee Market
Covent Garden Community Association Annual Report 2000-2001
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