My Soho Times Winter 2021

WINTER 2020 | FREE

In this issue: SOHO IS OPEN SERIES

REASONS TO LOVE SOHO

BACK TO FITNESS The Nation's Favourite TV Self-love Guru, GOK WAN

Someone Of Soho by Richard Piercy exhibiting on the Flannels building corner of Poland St and Oxford St, London W1 from 3rd-13th December

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Showcasing

emerging

internationally-renowned at

one

of

the

addresses

world's -

artists

most

Oxford

&

iconic

Street

Read more about W1 Curates on page 12 WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

SHARE YOUR PICS WITH US TAG @MYSOHOTIMES #MYSOHOTIMES

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editor's note

the gift of the present This is my final editor's note column for the year and I feel somewhat emotional. Had I have known the vast challenges I'd be facing navigating a print magazine in the abyss of a pandemic, though, I would have spared myself the stress - fact. That said, this experience has essentially cemented what’s at the core of My Soho Times - community. And it's my community which has been my biggest strength, alongside family and friends.

The year also shone a light on another pandemic, one which is so woven into our society it’s yet to have a vaccine: racism. The tragic murder of George Floyd in the USA forced the inequalities black and other marginalised groups face into the public eye. The positive thing is, conversations are happening. Akil Benjamin launched Mentor Black Business, supported by M&C Saatchi, with a mission to match 500+ black entrepreneurs with mentors (more info on the Notice Board p. 47). W1 Curates on Oxford Street doesn’t shy away from exhibiting artists addressing themes on race, gender, sexuality and social class.

We mark our one year print anniversary with the nation's fave TV self-love guru, Gok Wan, as our winter cover star! I chat to him about surviving lockdown, our shared love of calling Soho home, and how DJing from his kitchen on a Saturday night brought joy to millions during the height of the isolation. In this issue we also introduce the 'Soho Is Open' series of interviews, taking you behind the scenes of local independent businesses to meet the owners.

We have gift ideas for the festive season, we help you prepare for Chinese New Year, discover the Sounds of Soho, get back to fitness and lots more!

I don't doubt the challenges we've faced have also led to immense blessings - like surviving to be here in the present. That is a gift in itself. So, let's raise a toast to every win the year ahead brings - we are deserving! Cheers!

Photo: Clancy Gebler Davies

Season's Greeting from the My Soho Times team!

Editor's Picks for Winter

GUILT-FREE This is the good stuff that has got me through a really challenging period.... putting this winter issue together. The '1% sugar, vegan friendly, gluten free and high fibre chocolate (with CBD variety), made in 100% recyclable packaging' was a guilt-free treat to help me keep my chill.

The Soho Girl x

WEAR US We've had to think out of the box if we're to be sustainable and continue showcasing independent and local businesses... not forgetting that we're all of the latter - and self-funded too! So we designed this enamel gold plated pin which can be worn with pride! All proceeds help keep us going!

Kai Lutterodt Editor in Chief IG: @the.soho.girl

BE PRESENT We've put together a downloadable gift guide to inspire the gift of giving, supporting local and independent businesses, and celebrating our joint achievements… to be in the present. And we haven't slacked when it comes to drink options for that celebratory toast! www.mysohotimes.co.uk/gift MY SOHO TIMES

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At the heart of our society is...

My Soho Times is an independent hyper local lifestyle magazine, launched in Winter 2019.

Soho is without doubt the beating heart of London in location and vibe. We aim to curate the very best of Soho businesses for the benefit of both Londoners and visitors. And not just online... We're committed to the power of print, so you can take us anywhere!

We have you covered - in Soho and W1 Our varied distribution in Soho and other parts of the notable W1 postcode (Fitzrovia, Mayfair and Marylebone) will have a massive impact on the responses our partners get.

With your help we hope to grow a loyal readership for both our seasonal and online publications in a very short time.

Join our mailing list for local news and the next issue of My Soho Times!

www.mysohotimes.co.uk/sign-up

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What's inside?

08 THE PERFECT GIFT FINDER

16 MEET CHISTINE YAU As part of our 'Soho is Open' series, we take you into the iconic blue building on Greek Street Soho's oldest Chinese restaurant, to meet it's owner Christine Yau.

We've put together a gift guide to help you find the perfect gift for you, family, or friends from Christmas or Vals Day.

11 VISIT CARNABY THIS WINTER

19 YEAR OF THE OX

Don't miss the opportunity to see the Carnaby Christmas installation titled Choose Love in Carnaby... It'll leave you feeling inspired as you go about your shopping!

Prepare for the year of the Ox this Chinese New Year with blogger, The Chinese Foodie sharing tips on things to do whether you'll be at home or out and about.

21 8 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT SOHO

14 DESIGN A NEW BRAND IDENTITY We call on the expertise of 5 creative professionals to share their tips on business and design.

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32

London Beautiful Life and friends curate a list of things to love in Soho... In case you need convincing!

32 TONY THE SOHO TAILOR Kai aka The Soho Girl interviews Tony Phillips, aka Tony the Soho Tailor, and delves into his 50 year service as a tailor in Soho. Part of the Soho is Open series.

36 SOUNDS LIKE SOHO Contributing editor Gillian Smith explores the various sounds which make up Soho... From record stores to post-production houses.

44 LOVE SPELLS COCKTAILS Check out these cocktails made from spirits you'll find in our gift guide... Spark the love spells with these romance inspire-cocktails.

CONNECT WITH US @MYSOHOTIMES • WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

Contributing Editor: Gillian Smith Contributors: Freya Starr | Lua Cooper | Iram Khawaja| Kesh Wang | Daniel Morgenstern| Marilita Hatzivassiliou | Kiran Selvakumaran | Erica Tang | Ari Gurdon Lindey | Sam Lehane | Ivo Belohoubek | John Ingledew | Yohann Pavy | Dan Brain | Ian Houghton Design: Fast Track Branding Cover photo: Stylist, chef and DJ Gok Wan

For opportunities to contibute or advertise please email info@mysohotimes.co.uk MY SOHO TIMES

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THE HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY Ventine's Day Heart Cake £32.95 www.hummingbirdbakery.com

Il MASSIMO, CARLUCCIO'S hamper £90 www.carluccios.com

MY SOHO TIMES metal pin set £15.99 info@mysohotimes.co.uk

MAMA MZUNGU Social Enterprise artisan soaps made in Uganda. info@mamamzungu.co

OLIVER STEPHENS Gift Voucher www.oliverstephens.com

CHILLI NO.5 The BBQ Set £25 www.chilli-no5.com

THE BLACK EXPLORER £20 www.theblackexplorer.com

SANKOFA by SB Vision £11.99 www.sb-vision.com

HATTINGLEY VALLEY Classic Reserve £35 www.hattingleyvalley.com

LANIQUE Spirit of Rose £27 Available at Waitrose

PINK MARMALADE Gin £38 www.pinkmarmaladegin.co.uk

WAX LONDON Whiting Shirt £120 www.waxlondon.com

THE KING OF SOHO Gin £35.50 www.gerrys.uk.com

TONI X BECCA Nomad Collection £100 www.beccaapparel.com

MAD CITY Botanical Rum £30 www.foxholespirits.com

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DOWNLOAD THE FULL PERFECT GIFT FINDER WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK/GIFT

Gift ideas for loved ones, friends or simply a treat for yourself this winter!

ALOHO65 spirit drink £22.50 www.aloha65.com

GIMBER set €51.95 www.gimber.com BUMBLEZEST pack £48.95 www.bumblezest.co.uk

DIVERSITY MATTERS Gift set £9.99 www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DiversityMatters

THE CHERRY TREE selection box £55 www.cherrytreepreserves.co.uk

AFROCENCHIX festive set £90 www.afrocenchix.com

PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION from £180 www.danielmorgenstern.com

WIZARDS MAGIC CHOCOLATE £2.50 www.thewizardsmagic.com

MOORE HOUSE COCKTAIL COMPANY Bottled cocktails from £9.60, Candles From £22 wwww.moorehousecocktails.co.uk Aṣọ IYOBA IDIA TRACKSUIT TOP £65 www.aso-global.com

SEARCHYS BESPOKE CHAMPAIGNE GIFT BOXES & EXPERIENCE VOUCHERS Searcys cuvées £39, www.searcys.co.uk

OMOLOLA Africa outline ring £18 www.omololajewellery.com SOHO SCARVES The Forks Aviator £32 www.soho-scarves.com MY SOHO TIMES

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Photography: David Parry

Visit Carnaby this winter...

The Carnaby Christmas installation this year is titled Choose Love in Carnaby and is in collaboration with charity Choose Love. A series of pink neon light boxes are suspended the length of Carnaby Street that beam poignant words of hope. The words pay tribute to the strength and courage of Londoners and the whole of the UK. Other words of empowerment include believe, heal, brave, dream, faith, together and family.

This Christmas, stop by the Choose Love charity pop up shop located at 24 Carnaby Street and give a gift that won’t be forgotten. The Choose Love shop is the world's first store that sells real products for refugees where visitors are encouraged to shop their hearts out but leave with nothing. You can purchase all the essentials to help people in refugee camps get through the winter months including blankets, hot food, coats and more.

Can't get to Carnaby Street London?

Then the 360° virtual tour is the next best thing. Enter Carnaby Street and step under the world famous, iconic Welcome to Carnaby Street arch, with the choice of walking down either at street level, or 10ft high in the sky, gliding through the giant pink neon glow Christmas light installation like never before.

That's not all, on your walk through @carnabylondon stop by the neon pink angel wing installation, they can be found on the corner where Broadwick Street meets Carnaby Street.

The immersive 360° experience is available for free on the Carnaby website (carnaby.co.uk) and includes a live function where the user can join up with someone anywhere in the world to take the tour at the same time, sharing the experience.

Discover over 100 amazing brands, restaurants, café's, pubs and independent businesses in the area who all have amazing products, services and experiences in London that you can't find anywhere else. Head into Kingly Court and dine alfresco with heaters and be sure to make use of the colourful communal seating areas located around the 14 streets of Carnaby. www.carnaby.co.uk | @carnabylondon

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Photos courtesy of W1 Curates | @w1curates

If you’re looking for the old West End razzle dazzle to light up the Winter evenings, chances are you’ll head for Oxford Circus and continue on towards Marble Arch. But what of the other half of Oxford Street, traditionally the more neglected end of London’s favourite shopping mile? To be sure there’s been a certain amount of upscaling over the past few years, with one or two fewer slightly scruffy pop-ups and a smattering of respectable High Street names.

September 2019 though, was a game changer. That’s when the jewel in the crown of luxury retail outlets, Flannels, arrived, opening its doors at numbers 161167. A portfolio of designer merchandise was yours for the browsing.

So far, so commercial. But it’s soon apparent it’s not just retail beaming out into winter gloom W1 Curates has transformed the exterior of the store into an extraordinary public exhibition space. Using state-ofthe-art technology, they exhibit the best art with digital prowess and innovation. The aim is to make art available to everyone, all year round, night and day, via state-of-the-art tech. W1 Curates believes art has a purpose, the power to change the world. To drive consumer consciousness away from retail and towards issues that matter. As founder Mark Dale says, “For me, when shoppers rest their bags down and stare at the incredible art , it’s the best feeling in

the world. Giving everyone the opportunity to experience art, to access it right there - amid all the noise of city life, it provides this little oasis. Shoppers and workers are left feeling ignited and inspired. We bring art to the people, we open those doors, and who knows where that could take them?”

Artists who have had their work exhibited in this unique way range from the contemporary to the classic. Julian George’s visual celebration of talented black chefs has had a successful run, along with pencil artist Helen Beard’s The Desire Path (pictured), David Bailey, Michael Craig-Martin, Kelvin Okafor and David LaChapelle have also been represented.

The project has supported the local community and the NHS during COVID, along with education and heritage concerns. Its most recent incarnation is Someone of Soho - 100 portraits of people closely associated with the area, by Richard Piercy.

So it seems the Oxford Street Christmas lights won't be the only reason to head down the 'Soho side' of the world's most famous high street this winter...

Words by Gillian Smith For more information and to find out about upcoming exhibitions visit www.w1curates.com | IG: @w1curates MY SOHO TIMES

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A NEW

BRAND

IDENTITY Writtten by Kai Lutterodt

Whichever way you read it - 'Design A New Brand Identity' or 'A New Brand Design Identity' - we've called upon the expertise of 5 professions who've 'been there, done that' so you can sail by getting your brand up and running!

START SMALL - INVOLVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY Sam Lehane of M.Y.O (myolondon) recalls his humble begins.

A really important thing when launching a new brand is to have a good product or service - it doesn't have to be perfect though - but also to be yourself and be open and honest on the journey. Despite not having a creative background, M.Y.O was launched by my partner Diana and I after we learned how to teach one creative class - a week before our first ever live one - we now do more than 14 and have hosted 10,000s.

We invited a bunch of friends around (I can still picture it vividly!) and we were open with them about winging it. We were clear about why we wanted to do it (we want every adult to explore their creative side) and we were committed to learning and improving what we did as we went along - it's hard to figure out what people actually want without starting from somewhere. We charged from the start, too - no freebies, as it doesn't lend itself to good constructive feedback, in our opinion.

People are people - they appreciate and understand when you are trying to give it a go and try something new. Everyone who attended the first session has been back to the studio many times since the start and they’re like ambassadors. We love them! We also made every single guest for the first 12 months of M.Y.O fill out a feedback form that we read and learned from. Makes it easy for friends to tell their friends, too.

You'll see that word of mouth quickly leads to sales growth. It's magic. So, get started and begin small, involve friends or family and get them to refer you, charge them, always be learning, slowly make things better and grow from there. Whilst always being yourself, being open about why you are doing this and the stage you are at. You got this!

BRAND DESIGN THEN AND NOW John Ingledew is a visiting Professor of Design at The University of West London and the author of HOW TO HAVE GREAT IDEAS and THE A-Z OF VISUAL IDEAS, both published

by Laurence King Publishing. John is also a long time Soho lover and photographer of the area. He shares his thoughts about branding past and present.

Indelibly marking cattle with a red-hot branding iron was for centuries the method used by farmers to identify the livestock they owned from those belonging to others. At a glance anyone could tell one brand from another. Branding today is just the same - clarity and instant recognition are vital. The secret of branding success is ensuring every visual aspect encountered by customers or potential customers embodies the unique personality of the business or company, perhaps also its history and ethos. Be clear about those things and then express them visually. I have always loved the London Underground branding, in particular the logo, the typography is friendly and municipal in a uniquely English way, the red circle echoes both the tunnel through which you travel and the Circle Line enclosing central London, while the blue bar is a train – it’s genius.

Top Tip: A very successful brand feels like one of your old friends, you really look forward to hearing their news, finding out what they’re up to and knowing what’s new. Your mission is to create this unique friendship.

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PITCH IT Ivo Belohoubek (@dogoodfilmsworldwide) is a humanitarian filmmaker working with NGOs, helping them document and promote their work. His company DoGoodFilms is a leader in the field of philanthropic communications - and this is vastly down to getting the pitch right.

Whether it’s creative, sales or a product - it’s a numbers game.

You lose many and win some. I have been pitching work for well over a decade and trust me, the only thing that has got easier is dealing with failure. If there is anything I have learnt from trying to win clients, it’s that it really is about them and not me.

“To me, digital marketing is all about storytelling, copywriting, and social psychology.”

- Yohann Pavy

Image courtesy of Yoann Pavy

DIGITAL MARKETING Yoann Pavy (@yoannpavy) is a marketing leader passionate about disruptive businesses. His focus is on growth, brand awareness and driving business results. Having worked at companies such as Deliveroo and Depop in their earlier days, he knows a thing or two about getting the right audience to pay attention.

1. Define your niche - not many things, just one thing.

Particularly when you have expertise or insider perspective (but a passion works as well). This point relates very well with the notion of finding your 1000 fans, there are enough people on this planet for anyone to talk about anything and find their 1000 fans. You can be niche and specific enough, no need to reach millions of people. Only the ones in your niche will do.

2. Become a student - find, follow, and study to learn what to create.This is always true no matter your level of expertise or age, so be a student, learn from other people, engage and network.

3. Share your ideas in public - think out loud and do your work in public to attract the right people. This gets you in the conversation. Your audience also will be more interested in your journey and development than the outcome of what you are saying. Plus this creates engagement and brings people in on your journey.

4. Create the conversation by starting your own platform (on IGTV, blog, podcast, YouTube channel etc). This lets you switch from participant to creator. Find your medium - if you are good with words, use that. If you are confident in front of the camera, go ahead. But if you are hesitant about video, I would still suggest you do try, as it’s the best way to get your message across on multiple social platforms and get people to discover you and your business. You could still opt for audio-only and go down the podcast route.

A simple tip for anyone who is wondering why the phone is not ringing - despite you being the hottest thing on the market - is, look at your proposal from the client’s perspective. Is my experience relevant to their brief? It doesn’t matter that I can do it. If I can’t show relevant examples, they will ditch my CV straight away. Is my price realistic and good value for money? If you come too cheap, they may not think you are considering it seriously enough and if you are too expensive… well you know the answer to that. Know your weaknesses and address them in your proposal rather than hoping that they won’t notice.

They will. And last but not least, communicate with the client.

Asking the right questions before you even submit your proposal will put you on their radar. Very best of luck.”

‘DISRUPTION’, ‘PIVOT’ AND ‘AGILITY’ Dan Brain and Ian Houghton, co-founders of MAD//Fest London (madfestlondon) - the UK's most disruptive marketing and advertising tech festival, reflect on the 'disruption' of the year.

It’s hard to reflect on what we’ve learned as a business and about individuals without mentioning the experience of 2020, which has been challenging, exciting and certainly the steepest learning curve we’ve ever had. This year, words like ‘disruption’, ‘pivot’ and ‘agility’ stopped being business speak and became the fundamental challenges for businesses large and small.

Never has the turn of phrase “the best laid plans” felt more appropriate! But you can rely on creative businesses for creative thinking. Ideas, developing distinctive products and differentiating from the competition have always been important, but this year they’ve been absolutely fundamental in re-evaluating what our business does and how it functions.

We genuinely think that the new digital experience and fastpaced product development will be huge assets going forward.

On a personal level, the experience of launching and growing a start-up is highly rewarding, but not always a bed of roses.

Getting the balance of hard work, accepting support from people you trust and making the time to switch off and do the things you love right will ultimately make you happier, healthier and better at solving daily challenges.

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SOHO IS OPEN SERIES

Y before Ming: Meet Christine Yau

The Woman Running Yming

Behind the facade of Yming, the iconic blue building on Greek Street and Soho's oldest Chinese restaurant, is its inspiring owner Christine Yau. Voted The Mulan Award winner for Community Woman of the Year, as well as taking on the role of Vice President of the London Chinatown Chinese Association.

Iram Khawaja and Kesh Wang took the opportunity to find out about her 35 year history in this neck of the woods.

“I Started the restaurant by mistake...”

Christine has an adventurous spirit which is evident in how she came to run Yming. She arrived in London 35 years ago and bumped into two friends who convinced her to partner together and buy a restaurant. That was the introduction to Yming in 1986. However, her partners fell out after a few months. “I was quite stubborn being a woman and thought I can’t let this fail within one year. So I stayed on while they left; it was very tough and quite a journey.” Christine took sole ownership, deciding to be brave and carry on despite not knowing anything about Soho or the people there. Though that soon changed.

Christine’s Chinese heritage didn’t automatically put her in the same business circles as her Chinatown peers. “It was a man’s world, they didn’t want to mix too much with women or let them interfere. There was strong resentment towards a woman who tried to be one of them.” she recalls.

But relationships changed and grew stronger over time. This initial division however allowed Christine to meet other people of Soho and get involved with the wider community.

Christine volunteered with The Soho Society, and worked with the metropolitan police to launch a Chinese Victim Support Scheme. Christine also started the Chinatown Renewal partnership with Westminster Council in 2003, where they focussed on repaving Gerrard Street, along with other improvements.

Eventually Christine did join the Chinese association where she was involved in organising the first London public event in Trafalgar Square; the Chinese New year celebrations in 2003 which have become a major annual event for Londoners and tourists. She was also behind the building and designing of the traditional Chinese Gate in Wardour Street when the new leader of China visited England.

Thinking outside the box of Chinese food As well as achieving an enviable work-life balance, running Yming has become an essential part of Christine’s daily routine. When she first started out in the 1980s, Chinese cuisine in Chinatown all looked roughly the same: meat and fish doused in black bean and oyster sauce, with most menus including dishes such as sweet and sour pork, and crispy duck. “It was more Cantonese village food, like home cooking,” Christine explained. Unbeknownst to many at the time, menus in China had always been diverse, with cuisines in stark contrast to each other across many different provinces. Christine devised a menu based on northern Beijing food as she thought it would be the culinary style that would work the best. Devising the menu

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was a long painstaking process - it was sent to a friend in Hong Kong who then sent it to Beijing for the mother of the friend to check, then re-checked by neighbours and local restaurants for authenticity and accuracy. “It came back and I got 75-80% right with [those] suggestions.” And when the menu came out with dishes such as Mongolian lamb, it confused many in the London food scene. “When people first visited, they couldn’t understand. Even food writers at that time couldn’t understand. There was a sense of curiosity by food writers and that’s how I started building my business slowly,” Christine recalls with a fond chuckle as she took us through the photo album of past customers an array of household names - journalists, food writers, actors including Colin Firth, the late John Hurt, Charles Dance, and philosopher AC Grayling. “It hasn’t been updated for a long time!”

Ying and Yang Since Yming was first launched it has enjoyed huge popularity. To Christine, food is not just food, it is vital to the a existence of a person.“It affects your mentality, it affects your health and health affects your outlook in life,” Christine notes with seriousness. “And the Yin and Yang come into this. [In Chinese culture] we believe in Yin and Yang because everybody is built differently. Sometimes you’re stronger with certain elements, so you have to pick the kind of food that will soothe the fire inside you.” Yin being the feminine and Yang being the masculine life forces, it is apparent that the owner of Yming believes in the esoteric healing power of food, and she has brought this passion into running her restaurant.

2021, 'Y' not Ming?”

2021 marks the year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar.

Uncertainty still lingers due to the global pandemic.

However, Christine remains hopeful for the “old glorious days" to come back. Being a Lamb, a zodiac sign just as hardworking as the Ox, she is aware things are never easy in life - “you really have to fight for it,”. At the same time Christine is staying optimistic that things will go back to normal eventually. When asked where she drew the inspiration for the name Yming from, Christine simply answers: “When people ask me why do you call it Yming, I will say ‘Y’ not Ming?” she concludes with a confident smile.

Visit YMING this season Yming re-opens this December for the first time since its temporary closure following the announcement of the first lockdown. Christine and head of house, manager William are looking forward to welcoming regular and new customers to Yming. There's a newly curated All Day set menu which includes options of Cauliflower Y Ming Style (V), Hot and Sour Soup, and Spare Ribs as starters.

Followed by main options of Mr Edward Pork, Empress Beef, Dry Cooked Beans (V) to name a few, served with a glass of wine or procecco for £18.

Visit www.yminglondon.com for the full menu and booking info. Follow Yming on Instagram @yminglondon

Written by Iram Khawajai and Kesh Wang.

Photography by Ari Gurdon Lindey WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

@thechinesefoodie

China Exchange

We asked London-based blogger

provides ample

opportunities to understand China,

and Instagramer Erica Tang aka

Chinese culture and Chinatown. I’ve

The Chinese Foodie, to share her

been to a few events there, including a rare screening of the 1987 film Ping

top tips on celebrating the New

Pong (filmed in Chinatown).They also

Year whether you're out and about

organise exhibitions about Chinese art, the history of Chinatown London etc.

or staying in!

Chinatown’s special festive decorations when the time Keep an eye on

Grab a few buns from

Bun House

- to

me they are the best buns in town.

comes! There’s usually a parade across Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and the West End. Shops and restaurants will also have their own promotions and perhaps special meals to help you celebrate!

The lamb bun is my fav savoury and the custard bun is my fav sweet. Other interesting snacks include Jianbing from

Pleasant Lad y, and Cantonese Chinatown Bakery .

pastry from

Milk tea is my go to drink whenever I'm in the Chinatown / Soho area. So many fine choices to choose from including

Biju, Xinfutang, Kova, Yi Fang, Woo Tea ... And if you love matcha as I do, Tsujiri London is the place for tasty matcha desserts and drinks!

I love

Four Seasons ’

soup and roast duck.

Hog Maw Chicken

Food House

Chinatown has amazing BBQ skewers, grilled fish and hot pot.

Barshu

Jinli , Er Mei

and

all do nice Sichuan food. There are

so many choices for a lovely festive meal in Chinatown, Soho.

Lamb & Coriander Dumpling Filling

Ingredients list : Approx 300g lamb mince Chopped coriander (I used 2 handfuls) Chopped spring onion whites (1 handful) 1.5-2 tbsp spice water (pre-boil with some star anise, sichuan peppercorn, and cumin) 2 tsp soy sauce 1 tsp cooking wine, Some finely chopped ginger

Steps :

1. Mince in oil, add 1-2 tsp spice

water, stir in on direction for 1-2 mins 2. Repeat step 1 a few times until stringy (you can use chopsticks or a fork but I find it easy to just use my hand). 3. Add in the other ingredients and seasoning and mix well.

4. Wrap with store bought wrappers or make your own (for 100g flour use 50-60g water, plus a pinch of salt).

5. Boil or pan fry and serve with some vinegar and chilli oil

Find this and other articles on our blog www.mysohotimes.co.uk/blog

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ST MORITZ

& DINE "The perfect food for date night, is scrumptious food you can indulgently share with your loved one." Self-confessed foodie, @gourmelita, gives us the lowdown on her favourites in Soho to be wined and dined for any special occassion... or not.

AUTHENTIC SWISS One of my favourite restaurants in Soho. In my opinion, it offers the ultimate, sexiest sharing food: fondue! The original Swiss cuisine St Moritz restaurant in Wardour Street is the most cosy, cute and hunger-satisfying spot ever for new and old lovers alike. We usually go for a Swiss red wine, the Raclette and onion soup to start with; then the Rosti and a pot of Neuchateloise - the classic gruyere and emmental cheese fondue, as well as the Bourgouingnonne- beef fillet with various sauces. Daters, be prepared however - it’s highly likely you’ll leave this lovely spot smelling of cheese and with a perfectly round food-baby!

161 Wardour St, Soho, London W1F 8WJ www.stmoritz-restaurant.co.uk

BERNERS TAVERN MICHELIN-STARRED BRITISH Breathtaking ambiance for a romantic date when you feel like dressing up and getting a taste of that high-end London vibe! This imposing venue, located just north of Soho, has one of the most beautiful bars in London. Big bonus: the food is also spectacular. Their lobster mac n cheese, Scottish grass-fed steaks and baked Alaska dessert are a must try, as well as the fab cocktails.

10 Berners St, London W1T 3NP www.bernerstavern.com

FATT PUNDIT Indochinese cuisine that will have you swooning, in a cosy atmosphere with exciting cocktails. The food is phenomenal - for me a must-try is the cauliflower popcorn, along with crispy okra, sticky vegetables, crackling spinach and the luscious sizzling chocolate brownie!

77 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 8TH www.fattpundit.co.uk

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There's so much to love about Soho! x @londonbeautifullife

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Looking fresh x

.

Lunch date..

Delish food and dr ink x

with Get dressed up <3 na on iD D o Nic

at Blacks

treet Regent S

ood!

Looking G treet yS b a rn #Ca

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8 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT SOHO Eros th e Greek god of love, Pic cadilly C ircus x

Green Space

It's beautiful to find so many green spaces in the heart of London. We love Soho Square and Golden Square - perfect for taking a break from the bustle!

Look good

Nico DiDonna is our go to for the perfect outfit for any special occasion; from red carpet to, well first date night - you'll find something from his collection for that 'wow factor'! good hair daze

Oliver Stephens salon on D'arby Street specialise in Organic Colour, Hair Extensions, Women’s and Men’s Cutting. Walk out feeling beautifully confident with hair that speaks volumes!

Get the shot

Without a doubt, Soho is up there amongst the most instagrammable places in London. Get a selfie by the Carnaby Street arches, snap up the street art, window displays, food, and the iconic High Streets bordering Soho; Oxford Street and Regent Street.

BRUNCH in Soho

Brunch at Blacks x Brunch is the latest craze to enter our food capital.

We love the new menu (perfect for herbivores and carnivores alike) at members’ club Blacks - now open to non-members too!

Walk Everywhere

Not only is Soho's square mile walkable, but it's also comfortably walkable to just about any attraction in central London. So hit the daily step target and make Soho your destination for a power walk or stroll!

Sweet treats

Sugar and spice and all things nice... these and more can be found in Soho!

We love The Hummingbird Bakery's selection of seasonal treats for Christmas and Valentine's Day. Their red velvet with cream cheese frosting is simply the best!

The arts

Soho is no stranger to the arts - from theatre and cinemas, to music venues and post-production houses. Many have a long history in the area.

Roll on 2021! photography @Londonbeautifullife models @beccadelaroque | @baxter094 words @thesohogirl behind the scenes Photography @clarityshots MY SOHO TIMES

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Win A Chance to Design My Soho Times Apparel

CALLING ALL EMERGING (AND ESTABLISHED) ARTISTS!

Fancy the opportunity to have your Soho-inspired designs featured on our upcoming apparel collection?

We'll pick four lucky winners who'll also have a double spread spotlight on them in our 2021 print issues!

To enter head over to: www.mysohotimes.co.uk/apparel MY SOHO TIMES

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Is there much more to discover about the renowned multi-award-winning TV presenter, stylist, designer, confidence coach, author, pantomime star and DJ? Kai Lutterodt, aka The Soho Girl, caught up with the nation's favourite self-love guru, Gok Wan, for a chat about surviving lockdown, companionship, a shared love of calling Soho home, and opening up his kitchen for Instagram's biggest house party Isolation Nation.

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WITH 100'S OF 1,000S OF PEOPLE I HAD NEVER EVER MET" Due to COVID-19, my interview with Gok Wan is via a zoom call.

Not that I'm complaining - the very opportunity to interview Gok is a blessing in itself, first and foremost. I was that insecure young girl who watched 'How to Look Good Naked' back in the mid noughties and took on Gok as my guru. I share with Gok that my late mother loved his show. Truth is, if I'm nervous about anything, it's not the interview, but rather making my mum proud. It's not long before the ice is broken, perhaps through us both expressing vulnerability in the early stages of which should be a formal interview. Gok switched on his camera seven minutes in: "Kai, do you know what just happened? We went from our first Tinder date to our fifth!" We both bust into hysterics at the thought of our interview being a date; "All of a sudden we found the confidence to switch on the video... all of a sudden we sent the first picture, all of a sudden you discovered my name was Gok and not Paul…" and with that I made myself comfortable to get to know my date - the real Gok Wan. HOW ARE YOU GOK? AND I KNOW THE AUTOMATIC ANSWER 'WOULD BE I'M FINE', BUT HOW ARE YOU REALLY? How am I? I'm all right. I wouldn't say I was good, I wouldn't say I was bad. I'm all right. I'm sad at how things have turned out in 2020. I feel very sad about the people that have lost family members and lost friends to this terrible pandemic. I'm very sad about the businesses that are struggling, so I feel sad. And I've felt sad for several months now. But I have a natural disposition to try and just get on, doing as much as I possibly can to keep my brain active, to keep work going, to keep my friends motivated, to keep my family well and safe, mentally.

And so I can't let myself slip into a bad space. I've got to try and keep my spirits up because too many people need me. That's a good thing for me... and that’s not me trying to be some kind of weird messiah. It's not selfless; it's a two way action. If I feel that I can look after my people, and my community and the stuff that I'm doing, it gives me a purpose to get through this really, really tough time.

WOW. THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING. AND I THINK SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS VULNERABILITY...

You're right. Everyone has got very, very used this year to turning around and saying, "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm good, I'm good, I'm fine, I'm fine." But, you know, that isn't necessarily a wrong thing to do... we're going to need to be really strong and we're going to need to support each other and businesses. I think optimistically, that we will be stronger. We are, and will have been far more honest about our emotions, about how we feel by the end of this. And I think we're going to be very well versed in reaching out to people around us when we need help, when we're not okay.

WHAT COPING STRATEGIES DID YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO SURVIVE LOCKDOWN? A lot of people think because I've taught self-love for so many

years, that I am this weird anomaly that kind of walks around totally on cloud nine, feeling great about themselves the whole time. I am like every other member of this population on our planet. And you know, I have my up days and my down days.

So I do several different things. Number one, I have to practise gratitude. I've not seen my family for five months now. I'm really missing them. I need to be really grateful that they're still here.

I've got to remind myself about what I have and stop worrying about what I don't have. The other thing is I'm categorically organising my brain, giving myself things to do. I'm setting myself personal challenges. I'm doing as much as I possibly can. So when I dip, when I finish my 15 zoom calls and filming or whatever I'm doing and I suddenly find myself in a very quiet place, I have got something to occupy my brain.

AND SPEAKING OF BEING OCCUPIED, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A WELL-KNOWN COMPANION - DOLLY DISHCLOTH Absolutely. I mean, dogs are great companions, it's been great in lockdown. But actually, some days when I've been at my lowest and I just need to clear my head, then this one needs me. I find sometimes it can get a little bit too much… not that I would ever change the situation. It's only because I massively love her and I want to make sure she's all right.

IT'S NOT A GOK WAN INTERVIEW WITHOUT TAKING IT BACK TO HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED... YOU BROKE INVISIBLE BOUNDARIES...

How To Look Good Naked did bring generations together. I think probably by its peak - series three or series four - we had three, four generations of women watching the show. It was a very powerful position to be in. And a very humbling position to be in knowing that a gospel was being taught to not only a generation that didn't have it, or fought for it, but a generation that then could take it on. I think it's still kind of happening now. So many people I talk to say “Me and my grandma" or "me and my mum" or "I used to watch this with my daughter.” It's a very privileged position to be in. How To Look Good Naked was never about nudity. We never, ever put nudity on screen, we put bodies on the screen. And so I think it's where empowerment for the female form took a stand, as opposed to the female form being put out there to be purely sexual. It was an incredible brand to be part of.

YOU’VE DONE EVERYTHING GOK! WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I have so many it's very difficult to say any one of them is not quite as proud... that only comes from the fact that I still feel very much like the 13 year old fat boy at school, still trying to prove myself. My dad taught me that. My dad came over to this country, had to prove himself as a member of society. Went up against racism, married a white woman and stood against all of that. From a young age, Dad taught me, my brother and sister that actually proving ourselves was our power. And I still feel like that boy now. So to turn around and say, you know, winning an RTS or having a hit TV show or dropping my first clothing collection or DJing at my first festival or writing my first cookbook - these are monumental big moments in my life. The cookbook will never, ever be as big as the fashion show, but the fashion show will never, ever be as big as the moment that I took my mom and dad to Downing Street… I suppose the day that I wake up and I go, “this is my proudest moment!" is the day that I'll probably think, OK, time to close the book down.

And so I hope I don't get to the proudest moment, I guess.

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BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY."

Written by Kai Lutterodt | @the.soho.girl Photography by Chris WR Cox Photography Ltd

WHAT'S YOUR CONNECTION TO SOHO? Well, I've lived in London since I was 20. I've probably been in Soho for twenty two years - physically in Soho because I'm just obsessed with it and I love it; I feel comfortable here, and I feel fresh, and I feel alive. And when I go out of Soho I don't feel like I'm in London anymore. And that might only be Putney or Richmond or the East End, but I just don't feel like I'm in London. I've always said If I move out of Soho, I'll move out of London. I might decide one day I want a house in the country. I might want to move back to Leicester or Manchester, but it won't be another part of London. This is my London.

I’M ALSO A SOHO LOCAL! AND I HAVE TO ADMIT GOK, I USED TO PASS YOU ALL THE TIME WALKING DOLLY BUT WAS TOO SHY TO SAY HELLO.. I DIDN’T WANT TO FANGIRL YOU! Awww, you should have said hello. I'm actually pretty easygoing, you know! The difference is that I’m Northern, so actually, I annoy people. That is what we do up North. I know all of my neighbours around here. I pop in every morning to say hello to all the businesses that are open. And, you know, I buy local and I shop local. Because for me it's really important to have that sense of community. We are seeing businesses closed and shutters going down - these are incredible local businesses. So to me, it's very important that we support those small businesses. And where I can, I will try and shop as local as I possibly can. So that would be going down to Old Compton Street for my coffee or my pasta. Then walking through Bloomsbury to the bookshop that's now selling coffees to keep business afloat. I'm drinking a lot of coffee at the moment! I've got four coffee shops on my road, so I kind of alternate them because I don't want to give all my business to just one (even through I love Gio)... because then I feel guilty!

HOW DID ISOLATION NATION COME ABOUT? It was all by accident. When the lockdown was announced, I was like, f**k. DJing has become 20 percent of my business that's how much I DJ. Financially I rely on it now, but also it’s a huge outlet for me. Filming Monday to Friday on set takes it out of you. I have to let myself go. And I do that through music. And I knew I was going to find myself in quite deep water mentally if I didn't have that outlet. And so I decided that I would just put it online and see what happens. I did the first one on Instagram live and we got like 13,000 people, which was amazing. Within a matter of four or five weeks, it had grown such a huge following, that we were topping the bill in the UK. People in America were talking about us. All of a sudden there was this online party at the weekend with this "crazy”, they called me, guy jumping around his kitchen with pots and pans, pretending to do the percussion to old vocal house and gospel house and Chicago house. A lot of the people that had followed my career had no idea that I'm a DJ. it was just complete serendipity, because when everybody needed that escape, Isolation Nation provided it and when I needed to escape, it provided for me to the point where we built up 1.2 million listening in! Then signing with a music label, and management and a new agency, plus releasing a track… and now I’m doing an album with Defected. It's just taken off. Watching the brand grow and be loved be and a really important service for a lot of people that were shielding or self-isolating or going through break ups or whatever was happening during lockdown when they would usually have an outlet somewhere else. Isolated Nation became the outlet. And so that's amazing.

Gok Wan Present Isolation Nation is available at www.defected.com/gok-wan-presents-isolation-nation.html

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Gok Wan's 4-step Self-love Tips Our favourite self-love guru shares these simple tips you can adapt in your daily routine to help you stay switched on by showing yourself some love...

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1

ile the 30 Second Morning Sm in the ng thi st fir s nd co se Smile for 30 d into morning. It tricks the minod day! go a g thinking you're havin

Reflect on SelF-Acceptance Write all the things you hate about yourself on a post-it note and stick on the right hand side of the mirror. the next day when you go to that mirror, you have to be positive About one of those things and move it to the left. Over time you're going to have Filled it with all the stuff that you will accept.

3

2

self-care hour a week give an hour to yourself a week. You can split that down to five minutes, ten minutes or a solid hour. But make sure that you're investing just a little bit more time and looking after you. whether that is for you to learn calligraphy or to to have a long bath or you're going to light a candle you might want to make a candle! You are going to do something which is just about you.

You're not going to beat yourself up... because life is f**king tough enough! the more we worry about stuff, the worse it becomes every single time.... You are brilliant. You can do it. You can work these things out. We do it every single day.

4

For more inspiration follow Gok Wan on Instagram: @therealgokwan Written by Kai Lutterodt | @the.soho.girl Photography by Sue Lacey Photography Ltd

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#SohoSpeaks takes you behind the scenes with films and interviews celebrating some of the amazing people at the heart of the independent businesses who make our Soho the vibrant area we know and love. Undeniably the heartbeat of London and a hotbed of individualism and creativity, Soho offers unrivalled shopping and dining experiences with its variety of concept stores, one off restaurants and international brands in the mix.

The series includes: iconic Soho bespoke tailor Mark Powell, stylist of cult hair salon and brand BLEACH Freddie Leubner, founder and owner of indie record shop Sister Ray Phil Barton, Great British menu finalist and head chef of Evelyn’s Table Luke Selby, and Filiz Ayan founder of unisex jewellery boutique Seven Mor and Mor London. As well as insights from Polpo’s co-owner Richard Beatty, Space Manager of Copenhagen streetwear brand Wood Wood Farai Jackson, Christian Parisi head chef of much loved tapas restaurant Ember Yard, with many more still to be announced!

Tune into @ThisIsSoho on Instagram for the exclusive videos and Q&A’s landing each week and visit the website for more information www.ThisIsSoho.co.uk

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SOHO IS OPEN SERIES

Written by Kai Lutterodt Photography by Ari Gurdon Lindey WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

Measuring up to

TONY THE SOHO TAILOR To get to Tony Phillips’ studio you have to walk into Borovicks Fabrics, Soho’s oldest fabric store, and up a short flight of stairs to where Tony’s studio is located on the first floor above Berwick Street. I get to wondering about the countless number of people who’ve taken the same steps up to be measured by Tony. I’m now amongst that number (including famous faces and local personalities which Tony name drops casually during our interview). I’m looking forward to it... someone with a 50 year (plus) history tailoring in Soho will surely have one hell of a story to tell.

50 Years a tailor in soho Tony’s story as a tailor in Soho doesn't begin on Berwick Street, despite it feeling as though he’s part of the street’s fabric. He started at Noel Street in 1969, before moving to here four years ago. “I’ll be honest with you, I was in the basement. A lot of people didn't even know me then, you know, and people would come down and say, ‘Hey, have you seen the new shop open?’ I’d say, ‘no, no, no, tell me about it. Menswear?’ because I'll go down there and talk to them and see if I can get some work, you know. But I was tucked away.”

Despite the emotional change when he left his basement studio of 48 years for a new one above street level, life on Berwick Street has thrust him into the limelight and the 'Tony the Soho Tailor' personality. He’s now an intrinsic part of the intimate Berwick Street locals scene. “It’s more lively over here.”

Tony shared. Back in the studio: “I'm doing a second overcoat for a client. He liked the first one we made. He loved it so much, he wants another one.” It doesn’t take long to realise Tony’s secret weapon to longevity - keep the customer happy so they come back again. And with a 50 year service in Soho

(established in 1969/70) Tony is clearly doing something right.

"I've got clients who have been with me since I started," Tony recalls, “Well, in actual fact, I can name one of them. Borovick, who owns this building, his son, when he was nine, used to come. And I still do work for him. Probably one of the oldest.

But there are more.”

"I'm Not a bespoke tailor" Tony’s connection to Men’s Fashion began with selling suits. “I enjoyed it, I was good at it, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to make clothes. I wanted to create styles.” Things took a turn for the better when he met the late John Michael Ingram and spent a few years working at his shop on Savile Row. “That was the year that the Beatles played on the roof. I think it was ‘67, ‘68, something like that.” A quick Google search confirmed it to be close enough: 30 January 1969, the Beatles performed an unannounced concert from the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row. It was around this time that Tony got to mingle with the creme de la creme of bespoke tailoring. “I’ve got a lot of respect for these guys, but I don't actually do bespoke.” Tony confesses, or to set the record straight. “I make suits made to measure, which if you do it properly, in some ways it can be better. But one person would say that, another person would say something different. But I like to make a suit made to measure. And it looks absolutely perfect. That's the way I do it.”

Tony looks the part of a bespoke tailor even if it’s settled that he isn’t. Looking the part seems to be second nature to him.

"I've probably got about a hundred Versaci ties. So you don't see the same one for these two or three years worn again.”

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2020 has been a tough year for small and Independent businesses. Two lockdowns and being classed as ‘non-essential’ must have taken its toll on business. “The first time I had three months off and ok, I enjoyed it because I've never had that long off before, you know, but this time I'm not ready for it. I’d got busy again. Clients were coming in, money was moving again, and now it's gone back to square one. So I've got to start all over once this lockdown's finished. It's been hard, but thank goodness I've got good clients that keep coming back.”

MEASURING UP As Tony explains about the various fabrics in his studio, there’s one in particular which catches my eye. It has the word love written all over… and it’s love at first sight for me. “That’s a Versace, and it's got glitter all the way through it. It's a lovely fabric. You can use both sides, actually.” Tony is no stranger to designer names and turning their fabrics into made-to-measure masterpieces. “I buy from people like Versace, Fendi. If they’ve got the rolls and they don't want to use them anymore, I’ll buy them up and then make jackets.”

I feel comfortable in Tony’s studio, filled with the memorabilia of someone who is sentimental about every aspect of his great career (including his first, and subsequently almost every, pair of scissors he’s ever owned). As he takes the tape measure around various aspects of my torso, I’m taken back to familiar grounds. I grew up in a family of seamstresses - my grandmother was head of Singer in Accra back when Ghana was the colonial Gold Coast. My late Aunty Marian was my personal clothes maker. I got used to having the tape measure

running round my waist and bust, standing in poses to get the measurements right, with expertly placed pins narrowly missing pinching my skin. Despite this, it wasn’t a given that I was gifted at sewing and that still bugs me today. I’m curious to know where Tony’s creativity and talent came from. Family perhaps? "Nobody in my family sews.” Perhaps school? “No, but I was good at school. I worked as hard as I could, you know. But I always wanted to do more. I always think that whatever I've done, I could do better. And I try to do better every time. I'm never satisfied.” Which may come as a surprise to those who see Tony through the mirror of social media, or out on Berwick Street always looking confidently dapper. “My wife would say 'oh, you've done great.' And I say, 'Yeah but I could have done this, could have done that’. But I'm happy now."

PROUD MOMENTS...

For Tony, proud moments are when he gets it right the first time. "That's an achievement." An example of this is in the suits made for his friend, artist George Skeggs, aka Soho George. "He fell down once and broke his neck. So he has a very round back and you have to create the jacket style to fit the shoulders and the back of the neck so it doesn't stick up.

And I hit it first time. I was, well, happy."

Despite turning 70 on the first of December Tony has no plans to slow down. “No, no, no. I'm not slowing down,” he explains, “but I'm not getting any faster. I just want to keep going. I want to do what I love. What I love is fashion."

Follow Tony Phillips on Istagram: @tonythesohotailor WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

Soho rocks. And rolls. And everything else in between.

The Swinging 60s cemented the idea of the area as the centre of cool, but audio-wise its history goes way back.

Whatever sounds were hitting the airwaves, you can bet you heard them first in Soho. Record shops were so plentiful that a map produced in the 1990s detailed more than a 100 of them scattered around the area The Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue enjoyed a brief but spectacular incarnation in the late 60s as the world’s wildest music venue when it was leased by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Everyone from Jimi Hendrix to the the fab four themselves regularly tore up the stage of a Sunday evening.

A quick reverse of the flow of time brings us back to the present. Contributing editor Gillian Smith takes you through a snapshot of Soho’s current auditory delights.

Long may they continue!

SOHO RADIO With all the music production and sales busily whirring and clicking in the area, it was only a matter of time before Soho brought forth its own radio station. Since its inception in 2014, Soho Radio has grown rapidly to encompass both music and culture, uniting the worlds of London, the wider UK and globally. The station broadcasts more than 250 shows a month online covering every musical genre, along with the best of the arts, life and chat and its own podcast production arm. It also play a vital part in local community life. So turn on… and turn in…

33 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 0DG www.sohoradiolondon.com

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SILK SOUND While the music industry tends to capture the public imagination, the more grass roots world of voiceovers, audio booths and track mixing has always had a steady foothold in Soho.

Most post-production facilities boast their own audio studios, but specialist companies are still very much around. One such is Silk Sound, which has been based on Berwick Street since the heady days of 1979. Through its doors have passed the actors, presenters and voiceover artists whose carefully modulated tones have reflected an everchanging world via TV, advertising and drama.

Listen up people.

13 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 0PW www.silk.co.uk

SISTER RAY RECORDS Sister Ray Records, named after The Velvet Underground song, has been a fixture in the Soho Record Shop firmament since it was founded by Neil Brown way back when in 1989.

Still going strong on Berwick Street, where many others have sadly foundered, the label’s dedication to vinyl has paid off handsomely. Whatever you’re looking for, if it’s not immediately available in shop, Sister Ray will get on order double quick.

75 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 8RP www.sisterray.co.uk

SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE Another long-standing staple in the world of Soho Record Shops is Broadwick Street’s Sounds of the Universe. With shipments from the USA, Japan and Europe, the store reckons their selection of Reggae, Dubstep, Funk, Soul, Latin, African and world beats is the largest in the UK. They also have what they promise is a killer selection of books and DVDs. Linked to Soul Jazz Records, the label’s releases can also be bought on the website.

7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London,W1F 0DA www.soundsoftheuniverse.com

DEAN STREET STUDIOS Sound studios have always been a vital component of the entertainment industry and one of the oldest and best known in Soho is Dean Street Studios. If these walls could talk they’d pen a tell-all biography selling millions. Music legends like David Bowie, T-Rex, Thin Lizzy and U2 worked with owner-producer Tony Visconti to create history. Later the likes of Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, The Smiths, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran and Adele took their turn. Today the space is home to a main studio and a number of smaller concerns still creating audio magic across all aspects of media.

59 Dean St, London W1D 6AN www.deanst.com

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SOHO IS OPEN SERIES

WOVEN IN THE FABRIC OF SOHO

BOROVICKS

“My answer to anybody who wonders where fabric is used is this: Wherever you can imagine fabric being used, that's where we supply.” So says Simon Lipman, current owner of Brovick Fabric Store in Berwick Street. And he should know.

No-one understands the ins and outs of his craft as well as he does. The store is the oldest fabric shop in Soho and one of the most famous across London. Established in 1932 by the Borovick Family it operated throughout the Second World War, moving seamlessly through the changes of the Swinging 60s, all the way to the Soho of the heady 2000s to now, where it still stands proudly.

Simon Lipman arrived at the company during the 1980s aged just 17 and has been there ever since, eventually becoming Director for 15 years. He purchased the company from the Borovick family in 2016. “It was a natural progression when the opportunity arose to make the big decision for my family and I. The idea was to just make subtle changes to add some of our own influence, take it on its next steps but really maintain that fundamental Borovicks core.”

A cornucopia of colours and textures, the vivid fabrics that adorn the walls of the small space on Berwick Street - it occupies the same location since its inception over 80 years ago - speak of the variety of individuals and industries the company supplies. Uniquely placed in its ability to evolve with the changing face of the textiles industry (whilst retaining an old school level of service) Borovicks is a Soho staple.

The business has indeed become renowned for the expertise and approachability of its staff over the years and prides itself on the one-to-one advice staff offer. According to Lipman, “It is still in some way quite old fashioned in the way that you deal with your clients. First and foremost and it's a really old adage - is that the customer comes first.

I can vouch for the fact that is the reality here. Any business worth its sauce has to build on a customer relationship.”

Employees of Borovicks are highly schooled in the art of fabrics. “I will say the most junior member of staff has clocked up over 25 years!” Simon laughs. “So the level of expertise, learnt over years, is high.” Such dedication to service and quality has earned the company a global reputation (Borovicks ships worldwide) and a loyal following in film and theatre.

Down the years the company has supplied materials for a host of major theatre, film and TV productions, many of which have gone on to win Tonys, BAFTAs and Oscars. The store remains a favourite of Central Saint Martins fashion students and holds ranges for bridal, evening wear and interior furnishings. Attitude and service however, remain the same for all customers; Simon assures us that “The crux of the business is you still get the same service whether you're spending five pounds or five thousand.”

“The good thing about here is that whilst working, you do develop your own personal style in serving someone.

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COMBAT FOOD WASTE THIS FESTIVE SEASON

REGISTER TO BECOME A FOOD WASTE HERO WITH TESCO AND FOOD SHARING APP OLIO! Learn more about the role & sign up to register as a FWH (Food Waste Hero).

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How you attend to them depends on how much attention you give. It’s important to listen to what they want.”

One of the most interesting developments facing independent businesses today has been the dawn of the digital age. While currently in the process of revamping their website, Simon asserts that for Borovicks, first hand service will always be paramount.

“Our website is going to be a pictorial website, it's not going to be e-commerce. When you want to purchase fabric, it’s very tactile. You need to feel it, see it. It's very sensual. It's very easy to look through a whole lot of pictures. But often if you’re unsure, how will you know it's going to suit the dress? It’ can be difficult to replicate colours and textures with a camera, so we always make sure to send swatches first.”

Another challenge facing so many small businesses has of course been the impact of Coronavirus. Whilst difficulties have been inevitable, as Simon can attest, Borovicks lights still remain on. “The main thing really, is that I have made no redundancies of any of our staff.” Lipman says. “No matter how hard things are, that was so important to me.

Because at the end of the day, we are a family, you know?

That’s what Borovicks is all about." www.borovickfabrics.com | IG: @borovickfabrics

Written by Freya Starr Photography by Ari Gurdon Lindey

Tesco Dean Street Community Champions Tackle Food Waste in Soho & The Westend!

Take part in a short survey and get 25 Clubcard points plus get entered into a draw to win a £1,000 Tesco gift card! www.tescoviews.com and enter code 2377

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Dean Street Community Champions WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

New Year - New Perspectives: 5 resolutions you need to get your business on track for 2021 With a decade’s worth of experience working with SMEs and startups, Lua Cooper - Founder & Principal Consultant at Greengage, shares some advice on simple ways to get you and your business in the productive lane for 2021.

A year ago when the clock struck midnight on January the 1st, and we welcomed in the new year and the new decade - the year we’ve just had isn't quite what we envisioned. Whatever ride 2020 took you on, there is no time like the present to start planning and setting bold goals with a fresh perspective for your business in 2021. While every SME (small or medium-sized enterprise) wants to increase turnover or bring in new clients, it’s worth thinking outside the box when it comes to your targets. Some creative planning will give you a competitive edge in the year ahead. As with any resolution, it’s important that your business goals are ambitious but not unachievable - so we at Greengage have a few tips and suggestions to steer you in the right direction. OUR TOP 5 RESOLUTIONS: 1. BOOST YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE. 2020 was the year of social, did you get involved or did you miss out? 83% of businesses who’ve begun or increased their usage of social media throughout the pandemic intend to continue to use them in 2021.

2. CREATE A NEW YEAR'S MARKETING PLAN. Even if you already have one - make sure you review it.

Take advantage of free mentoring on Digital Boost from Google Mentors, get them to give you some advice - a second pair of eyes, or third never hurts.

3. MAKE BUSINESS PLANNING A WEEKLY GOAL. Don’t just think about this week, always carve out time to think about growth. Don’t make the mistake of failing to strategise. Taking time weekly to sit down and discuss, adjust and debate goals or targets may seem hard to carve out, but it is key ideation and brainstorming time for you and your team.

4. FIND WAYS TO AUTOMATE BASIC TASKS WITH DIGITAL TOOLS. 2.7 million businesses said they would have ceased trading without access to digital technology this year. In 2019, businesses who used cloud based systems, online accounting software and digital training tools turned over on average £262,000 more than businesses who did not.

5. PRIORITISE... then re-look at your to-do list and see if you really have to get that done right now, or can it wait? Avoid procrastinating the tough stuff, add the rest to your backlog. Try a digital tool like Trello - use like a to-do-list & move items around like Post-Its.Challenge yourself with your resolutions.

Whatever 2021 brings, we’ll be digitally resilient - together.

In light of the ongoing crisis - Greengage wants to help.

We are offering SMEs and startups a 45 minute consultation to help them come up with fresh ideas, new perspectives and solutions, plus offer some hands-on support.

Please visit us at www.greengagedigital.com and on instagram @GreengageDigital to schedule a free session.

MY SOHO TIMES

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Back on track to Fitness

WRITTEN BY KAI LUTTERODT | @THE.SOHO.GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIBBY PRODUCTIONS

Turn over a new leaf! Gillian Smith shares some inspiration to help you get match-fit for the much-anticipated New Year, read on...

MARSHALL STREET EVERYONE ACTIVE People and premises come and go, decades pass, but Marshall Street endures! Today it’s a fully restored pool with marble floors dating from the 1930s and a modern gym and day spa.

For a unique wellbeing experience, Marshall Street Leisure Centre & Spa is a spectacular Soho spot, with a full range of activities. It boasts a fully-equipped gym, stunning 30m pool and a space for fitness classes, along with a relaxation suite. And that’s not all… there’s also a Sauna Steam room. The centre covers all bases so you’re sure to find something to suit your needs, you can choose from award-winning swimming lessons, an intense body pump, or for those who like to turn up the heat, a hot yoga session. To cool down, take a soothing lap in that impressive pool. The spa is wheelchair accessible.

MARSHALL ST, SOHO, LONDON W1F 7EL WWW.EVERYONEACTIVE.COM

WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

SOHO FITNESS LAB Founded in 2014, Fitness Lab now consists of two locations in Central London, providing constant refinement of the lifelong journey to better health and fitness. Our four key principles underpin every decision we make. Years of experience and thousands of hours of personal training delivery mean we have a tried and tested formula that works. Our first studio opened in Soho in 2014, providing us with the foundation to refine and develop our formula, Book a free consultation and mention 'My Soho Times'.

9-12 ST ANNE'S CT, SOHO, LONDON W1F 0BB WWW.FITNESSLAB.FIT

SWEATY BETTY

HEARTCORE X NO.1 CARNABY Shop the Sweaty Betty collection… and let London's best workout studios put you through your paces at Heartcore! Enjoy the famous avo toast at the Farm Girl café or create your own salad bowls, washed down with a delicious smoothie or a wholesome superlatte. and then treat your hair to a blow dry at Duck & Dry. You could actually spend a whole day at No 1 Carnaby, it’s all in one venue!

NO. 1 CARNABY ST, SOHO, LONDON W1F 9QF WWW.SWEATYBETTY.COM

THIRD SPACE PSYCLE

In the heart of Soho, on the corner of Brewer Street, dwells a different kind of health club – individual in style and committed to excellence. Leave behind the energetic streets of Piccadilly and immerse yourself in the steam and sauna rooms or if fitness you’re after try the functional rigCycle, combat and Pilates classes and the Mind & Body studios.

67 BREWER STREET, SOHO, LONDON W1F 9US WWW.THIRDSPACE.LONDON/SOHO

Sign on for one of Psycle’s 45-minute cycling classes you’ll grind your way through speed and endurance work while surround-sound systems and flashing neon lights will make you feel more like you’re in a nightclub than a fitness studio! Not into spinning? Not to worry. Psycle isn’t all about sweating it out on a bike — barre, strength training and yoga classes are also available.

76 MORTIMER ST, LONDON W1W 7SA WWW.PSYCLELONDON.COM

HOME WORKOUT & QUICK STRETCHES If you can’t get out to a fitness centre - no sweat! Get fit online with a home workout and simple stretches you can do whilst at work. We love the FitOn app which offers range of exercises.

WWW.FITONAPP.COM

Illustrations: Sketchify MY SOHO TIMES

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Soho times

LOVE SPELLS 4 Cocktails to get the sparks flowing

THE KING OF SOHO

LANIQUE SPIRIT OF ROSE

THE WINDMILL

LANIQUE AND PROSECCO

A classic cocktail based on the gin

Perfect for celebrations. The Lanique

inspired by Paul Raymond - The King

Rose Fizz adds a floral touch to your

of Soho.

palette.

45ml King of Soho Variorum

Champagne or prosecco with a

10ml Lemon Juice

dash of Lanique.

10ml Sugar Syrup

25ml Lanique

30 ml raspberry puree Pinch Black Pepper

Prosecco, Cava or Champagne Pour your choice of fizz into a

Shake and double strain into a chilled

Champagne flute and top with

Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with

Lanique. Cheers!

raspberries. Enjoy!

PINK BEE G&T BUMBLEZEST CBD TONIC & PINK MARMALADE GIN Combining artisan gin award winning CBD tonic for a G&T magical twist.

ALOHA ALOHA MULLUED WINE A tropical twist on this winter classic with warming notes.

Aloha65

Take a large glass (ideally pre

200ml red wine 1 bottle

frozen)

Cinnamon 4 sticks

Add at least three cubes of ice

Orange slices 1

Pour in a healthy measure of Pink

Whole orange sliced

Marmalade Gin

Star anise x 4

Top up with Bumble Zest CBD

Cloves x 6

tonic until the glass is ¾ full

Add all ingredients to the pan and

Watch the colour change!

heat until hot and serve. Perfect to

Add a sprig of rosemary for extra infusion, taste and relaxation...

Now put you feet up!

watch the festive fireworks with.

SOHO HANDED TO YOU ON A PLATE

MY SOHO TIMES

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RD BAKERY THE HUMMINGBI R E-GIFT CARD! CUPCAKE BOX O d up with our me giving, we've tea ya In the spirit og kery to giveawa Ba d bir ing mm r ou to up friends at The Hu n x! Sig e Collection Bo w to win! seasonal Cupcak ho on ls tai de look out for newsletter and n-up imes.co.uk/sig www.mysohot

join Jo in

MY SOHO TIMES INFLUEN CER NETWORK

We're always on the look out for passionate and influentia l content creators to collaborate with.

If you'd like to be part of our Influencers Network for creative opportun ities and brand partnerships sign up at www.mysohotimes.co.uk/ influencers-network

SupporT Triggered by global Black Lives Matter protests after the tragic death of George Floyd in the USA, this programme provides an opportunity to build bridges, invest in communities and develop new relationships by providing 500+ black owned businesses with industry professions for mentorship over a 6 month period. Visit www.blackbusiness.mcsaatchi.com

Please take me, share me, recycle me

Thursdays 12.30 - 1pm Instagram Live @the.soho.girl

The new podcast-style show talking all things Soho life, being a dyslexic creative and general ramblings.

FREELANCE SERVICES FROM COMMUNITY CREATIVES! Whether you're looking to create a flyer, or print a new menu, a local photographer, videographer or illustrator - we have a wide network of community creative freelancers offering the most competitive rates - email us for a quote!

info@mysohotimes.co.uk

To subscribe to our newsletter please visit www.mysohotimes.co.uk/sign-up For our magazine subscription please visit www.mysohotimes.co.uk/subscription To request a partnership pack please email: info@mysohotimes.co.uk

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS MAGAZINE DESIGN BY FAST TRACK BRANDING

Editor's Note

lunch time 'sip The Soho Girl

OUR FUNDRAISER IS NOW LIVE!

Help us continue to support local and independent businesses www.gofundme.com/f/ support-my-soho-times-magazine MY SOHO TIMES

47

Food & Drink AMATHUS

113-117 Wardour St, Soho, W1F 0UN www.amathusdrinks.com

AQUA KYOTO Entrance 30 Argyll St, W1F 7EB www.aquakyoto.co.uk

B BAGEL BAKERY BAR 54 Wardour St, Soho, London W1D 4JF www.bbagel.co.uk

CHOTTO MATTO 11-13 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 4RB www.chotto-matte.com

CROSSTOWN DOUGHNUTS 4 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F 0DA www.crosstowndoughnuts.com

EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB 13a Gerrard St, West End, London W1D 5PS www.chinatownecc.com

MY PLACE SOHO 21 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0PZ www.myplacesoho.com

PASTAIO 19 Ganton St, Soho, London W1F 9BN www.pastaio.co.uk

PIZZA PILGRIMS

Fashion & Retail

BOROVICKS FABRICS

16 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0HP www.borovickfabrics.com

MARK POWELL BESPOKE 2 Marshall Street, Soho, London, W1F 9BA www.markpowellbespoke.co.uk

MISAN TEXTILES 4 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0DR www.misan.co.uk

POAN 37 Soho Square, Soho, London W1D 3QZ www.poan.com

TONY THE SOHO TAILOR 16 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0HP www.borovickfabrics.com

11 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3RP www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk

ROBATA 56 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4UE www.robata.co.uk

ZEBRANO 18 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4DS www.zebranolondon.com

ZIMA 45 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4SD www.zima.restaurant

YMING 35-36 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 5DL www.yming.co.uk

Freelance

FAST TRACK BRANDING

www.fast-track-branding.com

GREENGAGE DIGITAL www.greengagedigital.com

THE SOHO GIRL www.thesohogirl.com WWW.MYSOHOTIMES.CO.UK

Beauty & Wellness LONDON CLINIC OF HYPNOTHERAPY

www.londonclinicofhypnotherapy.com

MARSHALL STREET LEISURE CENTRE 15 Marshall St, Soho, London W1F 7EL www.everyoneactive.com

OLIVER STEPHENS 2 D'Arblay St, Soho, London W1F 8DQ www.oliverstephens.com

SOHO FITNESS LAB 9-12 St Anne's Ct, Soho, London W1F 0BB www.fitnesslab.fit

THE LONDON SALON, SOHO 5 Carlisle St, Soho, London W1D 3BJ www.thesohosalon.com

THE WACKY BARBER 9-12 St Anne's Ct, Soho, London W1F 0B www.wackysoho.co.uk

WE ARE CUTS

Entertainment

41 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 5LW www.wearecuts.com

CURZON SOHO

99 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, W1D 5DY www.curzoncinemas.com

RONNIE SCOTT’S 47 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 4HT www.ronniescotts.co.uk

SOHO RADIO 33 Broadwick Street, Soho, London,W1D 0DQ www.sohoradiolondon.com

SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3NE www.sohotheatre.com

THE PIANO BAR SOHO 16 Carlisle St, Soho, London W1D 3BT www.pianobarsoho.com

100 CLUB 100 Oxford St, London W1D 1LL www.the100club.co.uk

Community

THE SOHO SOCIETY

www.thesohosociety.org.uk

MUSEUM OF SOHO www.mosoho.org.uk

MY SOHO TIMES www.mysohotimes.co.uk

WESTMINSTER RECYCLING www.westminster.gov.uk/recycling-and-rubbish

WESTEND COMMUNTY TRUST www.sohocaf.org.uk MY SOHO TIMES

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