Member Article

Food and leisure lineup takes shape at former Olympic broadcasting site

The new Canalside retail destination at Here East is taking shape as the first five retailers have been revealed ahead of its opening in May.

Situated on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London, Canalside is housed in the former Olympic 19,100 sq ft press and broadcasting centre and, once complete, will be home to 12 retail outlets.

Focusing on local, independent retailers, it will provide the Here East development with a range of cafes, restaurants and bars, all sitting next to Lee Canal.

The first five retailers confirmed by Here East include:

• The Breakfast Club: Hackney restaurant that specialises in brunches, lunches and evening meals.
• The Bicycle Man: workshop providing bike accessories, parts and repairs.
• Gotto: Italian rustic cuisine specialists featuring homemade breads, pastas and ice-creams.
• Randy’s Wing Bar: chicken wing and burger bar which has formerly found success with pop-up restaurants around the capital.
• Shane’s on Canalside: ethical restaurant focusing on game, line caught fish and wild foraged seasonal produce.

A further selection of retailers are due to be announced in the summer.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said: “We are delighted to welcome our first phase of independent retailers to Canalside. As well as providing excellent facilities for the 5,000 innovators and makers who will be based at Here East, it will also create a fantastic new retail destination for Londoners and visitors alike.”

David Edmonds, Chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation, added: “Supporting independent businesses and providing jobs for local people is a key ambition of the London 2012 Games legacy so we are incredibly excited to welcome the first retailers to Here East’s Canalside. It signals another new chapter for what is quickly becoming a colourful, bustling area of the Park.”