Seven Dials partners with Zandra Rhodes to colourfully welcome back visitors post-lockdown

Shaftesbury has today announced that its West End village, Seven Dials, has joined forces with globally renowned artist and fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes to bring a splash of colour in her signature style to the area's iconic streets.

The vibrant installations celebrate the community and safe return of visitors to the area as COVID- 19 lockdown lifts, encouraging shoppers and restaurant-goers to revisit the area under new social- distancing measures.

Visitors to Seven Dials will be able spot Dame Zandra Rhodes’ designs for themselves as they walk the streets of Seven Dials. Rhodes has incorporated her signature pink into psychedelic designs, alongside fun pop-art drawings of flowers, arrows, swirls and thunderbolts in vivid colourways. Each unique piece of wall art includes a quote from Seven Dials’ fans, calling out their favourite memories or experiences and what they are looking forward to doing upon their return.

Zandra Rhodes' first studio with Sylvia Ayton in 1965 was situated on the corner of Neal Street in Seven Dials. With this in mind, the vibrant designs created for Seven Dials are synonymous with the swinging 60’s aesthetic, giving a proud nod to Seven Dials culture and the surrounding areas - a place that inspired Zandra in the early stages of her career, in particular her garment design.

This iconic art installation follows the implementation, in partnership with Camden Council, of timed road closures throughout Seven Dials which are in operation from 10am - 6pm to ensure safe social distancing for pedestrians. World-famous Neal’s Yard has also adopted a one-way foot traffic system, and additional cyclist parking spaces will also be available for the public.

Dame Zandra Rhodes, commented: “I am really excited to have had the opportunity to create some of my artwork for Seven Dials to celebrate everything the area has to offer. I myself had my very first studio on the corner of Neal Street in Seven Dials and there are so many good memories from my time there. In fact, I’d regularly see actor Quentin Crisp frequent a cafe directly opposite my studio whilst I worked! The artwork I’ve created incorporates my signature pink colourways, a nod to the swinging 60s which reflects my time in the area, and some fantastic quotes from the Seven Dials community. I can’t wait for it to be unveiled and for everyone to see it!”

Karen Baines, Head of Group Marketing & Communication at Shaftesbury, added: “We are excited to be working with the talented Dame Zandra Rhodes to create vibrant and colourful artwork for our iconic streets. Given Zandra’s history with Seven Dials, she was the perfect fit for this project that celebrates the community and craftsmanship the area is known for. With the atmospheric open-air streets, and new road closure measures allowing for wider streets, this installation adds even more reason for people to safely and enjoyable return to Seven Dials.”

The installation launch follows the announcement that, throughout summer and autumn, visitors to Seven Dials will also be treated to impromptu live music performances every Saturday for seven weeks. The ‘Seven Dials Unplugged’ program of acoustic performances has been launched to support a number of UK performers who’ve been heavily affected by COVID-19, whilst giving Londoners a taste of live music. Every Saturday between 1pm – 5pm from 29 August to 3 October, seven performances will take place simultaneously covering an eclectic mix of genres, sound and live music.

www.sevendials.co.uk

ENDS

For further information, please contact: Amy Cassidy or Nick Thornton at Aver via

amycassidy@averpr.com or nickthornton@averpr.com

Notes to EditorsDetails of the road closures

• Monmouth Street will be permanently closed to traffic from St Martin’s Lane

• Monmouth Street north will be closed to traffic at Princess Circus during the timed period

• Residents only will have access to Seven Dials roundabout from Mercer Street

• Neal Street north will be closed from Shorts Gardens during the timed period

• The direction of traffic will be reversed for Shorts Gardens from Seven Dials roundabout to

  Endell Street and Monmouth Street south from Tower Street

• Pedestrian access to Neals Yard will be from an existing entry point at the northern end of

  Monmouth Street, with visitors leaving via either a separate exit onto Monmouth Street or onto Shorts Gardens

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury owns and manages a 15-acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London's West End. Focused on restaurants, leisure and retail in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, it also includes substantial ownerships in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.

The portfolio comprises nearly 600 shops, restaurants, cafés and pubs, extending to 1.1 million sq. ft., 593 apartments and 0.5 million sq. ft. of offices. All our properties are close to the main West End underground stations, which currently handle c 228m passenger’s p.a., and are within ten minutes’ walk of the two West End transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line, at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street, which projections indicate could be handling 200 million passengers annually by the mid-2020s.

Seven Dials

Seven Dials is home to 95 shops, including international flagships and concept stores, renowned beauty and grooming salons, as well as over 50 vibrant cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The area comprises of Monmouth Street, Earlham Street, Neal Street, Shorts Gardens, Neal’s Yard, Endell Street, Shelton Street, Mercer Street and the Seven Dials monument. Combined with two luxury hotels, five theatres, two private members clubs, a large number of apartments and offices, Seven Dials is a unique retail and leisure destination in the heart of London.

Sevendials.co.uk @7DialsLondon