Grade II-listed London Bridge railway arch refurbed for F&B
A Grade II-listed railway arch at London Bridge Station has been transformed into a space for food and beverage and leisure businesses following a refurbishment.
Stephen George + Partners has worked with The Arch Company to redevelop the arch, which is situated amongst landmarks such as The Shard, City Hall, and Tower Bridge.
Constructed between 1864 and 1866 and designed by Victorian architect Charles Henry Driver, the arch forms part of the final bay of the viaduct supporting the elevated London Bridge railway track. In more recent times, the arch housed part of the famous Jacks nightclub, which hosted the Chemical Brothers’ first ever London gig in 1994. The club was closed in 2015 to facilitate the expansion of London Bridge Station and the arches have remained dormant since.
The redevelopment on Crucifix Lane forms part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. The project is one of several on which SGP is working with The Arch Company, with a number now already on-site or completed.
Alan Soper, studio director at SGP, said: “The architecturally distinct arches at this section of Crucifix Lane have played a significant part in the commerce and culture of the city since Victorian times. We are delighted to be working with The Arch Company to bring these particular arches back to life so that they can once again take their place in the commercial activity of this vibrant part of the capital and, through sympathetic restoration, ensure a long-term future for this important piece of railway heritage.”
Tom Coleman, head of development at The Arch Company, added “When we took over the portfolio in 2019, we sought to invest in bringing 1,000 spaces just like this arch into use, as part of our £200m plan Project 1000. As a restoration project, Crucifix Lane is a particularly exciting as it is such a striking space, set in an excellent location. We look forward to welcoming a new business into the local area.”