The news that West End veteran Steven Medway is being appointed to the newly created role of Trading Environment Managing Director on the management team at the New West End Company is a further indication of the area‘s intentions. This announcement came in the middle of the celebration of the West End Design Quarter, a collaboration of leading design destinations and fashion stores. Running throughout the month of September, the Quarter aims to celebrate design and fashion in London‘s iconic West End.
For the whole month you can shop from a wide-range of stores with incredible offers if you pay by Visa, the event‘s sponsors. The Visa Shopping Promotion, which includes more than 35 of the finest design and fashion stores in the West End, offers discounts to all Visa card holders for the duration of September.
Medway is outgoing Chairman of the Oxford Street Management Group, so already has intimate knowledge of the area, having provided guidance and feedback to New West End Company on operational initiatives. Enhancing the West End‘s shopper services is one of Medway‘s first briefs. He will implement new measures that will ensure the West End remains customer focussed and oversee an extensive review to ensure that West End visitors find a welcoming environment.
Medway had this to say: “I‘m joining New West End Company at a critical and exciting time as several major capital investment projects will mean an enhanced West End for all to enjoy. I am looking forward to developing the West End‘s long term viability by overseeing projects that will have a material effect on the trading environment.“
The West End has been the main commercial centre of the City since the early 19th century, when the term was first used to describe fashionable and affluent areas to the west of the Old City, or Square Mile. It was originally built as a series of palaces, expensive town houses, fashionable shops and places of entertainment, preferred by the rich elite as a place of residence because it was usually upwind of the smoke drifting from the crowded City.
The West End Design Quarter has set up an exciting trade route to help enthusiasts explore the rich history of the area, a tour tailored for design and retail enthusiasts, whether they‘re in the industry itself of just in the know. Leading showrooms in the West End, including Republic of Fritz Hansen, Domus (pictured), Sé, Ideaworks and Material Lab have opened their doors for visitors to see original in-store installations, take part in exclusive competitions and explore cutting edge-design in the heart of Central London. The trade route also includes RIBA‘s Regent Street Windows Project, now in its fifth year, which runs until 21 September. For the full West End Design Quarter map browse Dezeen‘s digital version, download our printable edition or pick up a copy of The London Magazine, Elle Decoration, Blueprint or Sleeper to get your free copy of the map
