Tishman Speyer, one of the world’s leading developers, owners, operators and asset managers of first-class real estate, today announced the signing of a lease agreement with Locket’s at Smithson Plaza, the refurbished and repositioned estate at 23-27 St James’s Street, previously known as ‘The Economist Plaza’.
The new 1300 SF of beautifully designed café and wine bar space set at the plaza level of the Smithson Tower is Wiltons Holdings’ latest addition to their already impressive collection of restaurants, which includes Wiltons and Franco’s, two of the most well-known family restaurants in London. In addition to this space, Locket’s will also have use over part of the remodeled reception space within Smithson Tower and the external area of the plaza.
Set to open its doors in Autumn of 2019, Locket’s will be open all day serving breakfast, coffee, light lunch and afternoon tea. In the evening, it will transform into a candle-lit wine bar with ambient music.
A refreshingly new destination for London’s St James’s community, Locket’s will offer extensive outdoor seating on the plaza, where a dynamic public arts program organised by Tishman Speyer is returning the plaza space to its original purpose of serving the public and the city as a cultural gathering place.
Designed by renowned architects Peter and Alison Smithson and completed in 1964, Smithson Plaza comprises three mixed-use buildings (Smithson Tower, Bank Building and Denham Building) totalling approx. 81,000 SF arranged around an elegant central plaza.
Following the acquisition of the estate in 2016, Tishman Speyer rejuvenated the complex and appointed London-based architects DSDHA with the strategic brief to safeguard the future of the estate, enhancing their historic significance and longevity, while delivering best-in-class accommodation.
The refurbishment has included completely new lobbies to all three buildings on the estate and works on eight office floors to create over 29,000 SF of new Grade A work spaces and 2,450 SF of ‘plug and play’ space. Other works have included new double-glazed windows, brand-new air conditioning and lifts, as well as state-of-the-art amenities for tenants. Smithson Tower offers 360-degree, unobstructed panoramic views of London and is the only refurbished office tower in St James’s.
Dan Nicholson, Head of UK for Tishman Speyer, said “This venture speaks volumes about the rejuvenation of Smithson Plaza and its emergence as a premier destination for the St James’s community. Locket’s will be an excellent addition to the building, offering residents a great dining experience from morning to night, and we are delighted to welcome them to this iconic building, as we continue to add new, exciting amenities at this property.”
“We’re excited to be working with Tishman Speyer on Locket’s debut in St James’s. With this new café and wine bar, the Wiltons Group is expanding to bring once again impeccable service and hospitality to the area, while also introducing a new destination for younger people at this famous London landmark” said Jamie Hambro, Chairman of Wiltons Holdings.
Smithson Plaza is one of three major property acquisitions or developments for Tishman Speyer in London. Their portfolio includes The Point in Paddington and 33 Holborn.