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CARNABY: ’S ICONICSHOPPING AND DINING DESTINATION

Carnaby is in the heart of London’s West End, 2 minutes away from Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, where over 150 brands of quality and distinction and over 50 independent restaurants and bars can be found across 13 streets, including the world famous , creating a unique experiential shopping destination, not to be found anywhere else in the world.

Step under the iconic ‘Welcome to Carnaby Street’ arch to discover an intriguing mix of global brand concept stores as well as the off-streets to find independent boutiques, heritage brands, new designer names on the block, as well as an extensive choice of restaurants, bars, cafés and of course, great English pubs with real ale, and real history.

Carnaby has staked a claim on fashion’s frontier since the 1960s and continues today to be at the forefront of fashion design and youth culture.

Regular shopping events, catwalk shows and launches are held in the area including the famous Carnaby 20% Shopping Party in May and September.

NEW TO THE AREA

Iconic English shoe brand Dr. Martens have launched their UK flagship store on Carnaby Street, showcasing the exclusive ‘Made in England’ collections and collaboration pieces alongside a photo booth for shoppers to upload their photos online. Swedish youth fashion brands Cheap Monday and Monki, both opened their first UK stores on Carnaby Street and offer the full collections in and experiential spaces.

In the Newburgh Quarter, Choccywoccydoodah, an eccentric chocolaterie, launched it’s first London chocolate emporium, complete with chocolate shop offering one off sculptured fantasies, café and decedent secret garden room. Japanese denim heritage brand Evisu has launched a one off concept boutique on Newburgh Street, showcasing an in-store art gallery, alongside premium denim. Also on Newburgh Street, new fashion independents Fourth & Main and Flying Horse Jeans have launched their first and only boutiques, while independent barber Pankhurst London launched in March. Pitt Cue Co, originally known as a food-truck sensation, offers barbeque, beer and bourbon specialist can also be found in the Newburgh Quarter. Main dishes include pulled pork, beef brisket and St. Louis pork. A main and side is under £10.

Concept restaurant Flat Iron has opened its doors on Beak Street offering only one dish on the menu - a little known steak called 'the flat iron' priced at just £10. Beak Street is fast becoming the men’s shopping destination of choice with the launch of Gant Rugger’s first store and a one off men’s casual concept by iconic British designer Paul Smith.

Find independent café Urban Tearooms first venue on the newly pedestrianised Kingly Street, an area that is fast becoming the food quarter to go to in the West End. New bar concept Bitter Sweet offers distinctive signature cocktails in a chic and intimate boudoir bar in Kingly Court.

NEWBURGH QUARTER

The Newburgh Quarter is central London's largest community of independent boutiques and concept stores offering the highest concentration of distinctive fashion and design. Located in the east quarter of the Carnaby area, shoppers can escape from the hustle and bustle of the West End, to the calm of extraordinary boutiques alongside quintessentially English pubs, cafés and restaurants, each with their own individual character and stories.

The Newburgh Quarter is a hive of cutting edge creativity. Whether you are looking at the latest design collaboration at Fred Perry, being measured for a bespoke suit or learning to make the perfect espresso at the barista training in Speakeasy brew bar, you are guaranteed to get a one off experience. Here you can get involved in the living, breathing London design scene by experiencing first hand accounts of craftspeople, stylists and designers at work. The heritage, depth and richness of the area offers a wealth of places to explore, leading to unexpected and special discoveries.

Brands that have chosen this area for their one-off conceptual stores include Levi’s Vintage Clothing, Superga and No 6 by Adidas. It is also a destination for British heritage brands as Fred Perry, Peckham Rye and Barbour. House chose the area for their beauty lifestyle brand Cowshed. Jewellery magpies should check out Joy Everley for unique fine jewellery or The Great Frog for handcrafted pieces made for rock stars. The West End’s first Lash Bar, Lash Perfect offers a wide range of brow and eye treatments alongside creative lash extensions.

KINGLY COURT

A picturesque open air courtyard housing independent boutiques and lifestyle concepts on three floors, shop for one off creations, unique products or unwind with a coffee or lunch in the courtyard or enjoy drinks and dinner at one of the many cafès, restaurants and bars. Swap a book for free at the Carnaby Book Exchange, where a huge selection of books can be found as well as a space to sit and relax.

There are a diverse range of eateries on offer in Kingly Court. Delicious hand blended teas from around the world, homemade afternoon tea can be found at Camellia World Teas. Chef Jay Chef Jay Morjaria offers vegetarian cookery classes, alongside a vegetarian artisan deli at Sutra Kitchen, in addition to one of the best Flat White’s in London at Sacred.

For those seeking one-off vintage treasures, head to Fur Coat No Knickers, who specialise in bridal and offer a bespoke service, learn how to make a hat or hat accessories at milliners Atelier Millinery and cute customised children’s t-shirts can be found at Carry Me Home. After all that shopping unwind and relax with the famous 10 minute back rub at Walk In Back Rub or for something a little more intensive try a yoga session at Triyoga.

CARNABY STREET

One of the most famous shopping streets in the world and the birthplace of British fashion in the 1960s. Today the street is home to one off concepts by global brands and exclusive product.

Iconic British brands Dr. Martens, Ben Sherman, Lambretta and Liam Gallagher’s Pretty Green all have their flagship stores on the street. Fashionista’s favourite The Kooples offers rock inspired French casual tailoring and preppy styled Spanish label El Ganso have launched their first store in the UK on the street. Diesel has the world’s first separate Diesel Male and Diesel Female stores and shoppers will be able to find the only UK standalone Converse store, where they can print their own design and customise their high top Chuck Taylor sneakers.

International denim labels Cheap Monday, Replay, G-Star Raw and Levi’s all offer a unique retail experience and exclusive collections. Innovative concept store WeSC showcase iconic bright coloured headphones, artwork installations and casual street wear while beauty fans can find Swedish make-up brand Make Up Store, along with their beauty school studio.

FOUBERT’S PLACE

The gateway into Carnaby from , and known for independent brands and great concepts. Discover the only London boutique of fashion forward and edgy womenswear brand Aqua, a favourite of Rihanna and Lady Gaga, alongside a unique concept from the original university outfitters Jack Wills and emerging fashion brand Dahlia. Cult American tee brand Johnny Cupcakes have their only store outside of America on the street where they release their limited edition collections and hold in-store gigs. Beauty queens will be in heaven with cult make- up brand Pixi.

BEAK STREET

Beak Street is fast becoming the male fashionista’s destination of choice with the launch of the first store for Gant’s heritage inspired diffusion line Gant Rugger and the launch of a one off men’s concept by Paul Smith in Spring 2013. These are in addition to addition to contemporary working menswear brand Albam and new label Aqua Man. British beauty brand Illamasqua has its first and only UK shop on Beak Street complete with Make Up art studio and school.

CARNABY FOOD & DRINK

Travel round the world with the wide choice of international cuisine from independent concepts in the Carnaby area from contemporary and traditional English, Thai, Venetian, Korean, Chinese, Malaysian, Spanish, French, Italian, and American. There are over 15 cuisines to choose from to suit every budget, alongside traditional London pubs, wine and cocktail bars and clubs to let your hair down in. Ganton Street, Kingly Court and the newly pedestrianised Kingly Street is the area to go to for affordable, unique and alfresco dining.

Cinnamon Soho brings contemporary Indian cuisine to Carnaby. The latest venture from Executive Chef Vivek Singh, of The Cinnamon Club & Cinnamon Kitchen, the all-day menu features ‘modern Indian cuisine-with-a-Brit- twist’ including Bangla Scotch eggs and Punjabi-style Fish and Masala Chips. Acclaimed Oyster House and Champagne bar Wright Brothers opened their first West End establishment in Kingly Street. Russell Norman’s popular Venetian Bacaro restaurant Polpo, can found on Beak Street. Other highlights include The Diner for true 1950’s retro style, complete with rockabilly styled serving staff and soundtrack. For British favourite sausage and mash made to your specification try Mother Mash. Also highly recommended are Dehesa, a charcuterie and tapas bar serving contemporary Spanish and Italian dishes from the team behind restaurant Salt Yard and the fantastic Cha Cha Moon, a pan-Asian noodle bar, with a super-fast service and communal seating.

Independent Espresso Bar and Brew House Speakeasy in the Newburgh Quarter has fast become a favourite with locals for good coffee and delicious quick bites. A coffee school is hosted in the evenings so you can learn how to brew the perfect Flat White, barista style. Sacred, known for its famous Flat White and New Zealand hospitality is on Ganton Street. For something different for lunch, head over to Flat Planet on , offering freshly baked flatbreads with globally inspired toppings.

MUSIC AND DRINK IN CARNABY

New bar Bitter Sweet in Kingly Court offers bespoke and signature cocktails. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, Ain’t Nothin But The Blues is where you can hear live music 7 days a week. Zebrano bar is perfect for catching up with friends or listening to live music. For a relaxed and informal drink try one of Carnaby’s many old London style pubs including The White Horse on Newburgh Street, The Shaston Arms on Ganton Street and The Shakespeare’s Head on Carnaby Street.

CARNABY HISTORY

It’s true to say that from the early 19th Century the creatives and bohemians embraced the Carnaby area with a passion, due to its close proximity to London theatres, galleries, West End shops and Savile Row tailors. But it was in the 1960s when it became the epicentre of what is famously known as ‘Swinging London’. Anyone who was ‘hip’ came to Carnaby to hang out, and get kitted out in a vast array of brilliant boutiques. There was Lord John, Lady Jane, I was Lord Kitchener’s Valet and John Stephen – once known as the ‘King of Carnaby Street’ with his string of super cool shops under different names. As well as making the sharp suits for the 60’s Mods, Stephen’s clientele included the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Kinks, the Small Faces and Jimi Hendrix.

Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s Carnaby continued to be a real destination for youth subcultures from punks – including The Sex Pistols – to rockers and goths. A late 70’s Mod revival, spearheaded by bands such as The Jam, led by Paul Weller who was a regular ‘face’ on Carnaby Street in his teenage years, also got the area humming once again with the sound of a small army of Lambrettas and Vespas. It’s an energy that’s captured in the very fibre of the area. You can sense it’s got a past of distinction, and quality shops, pubs and restaurants are now once again back at its heart.

Throughout 2013, Carnaby will be celebrating its music connections past and present with events, exhibitions and pop-ups. It will look at the last 10 decades from when the first Jazz club – Murray’s opened on Beak Street in 1913 to the Mods of the 1960s through to the Punks and New Romantics of the 1980s to today where Liam Gallagher opened his first fashion store and the Vevo music channel launched with a live gig by Professor Green. carnaby.co.uk Facebook: CarnabyLondon Twitter: @CarnabyLondon

Notes to Editors:The Carnaby village incorporates Carnaby Street, Newburgh Street, Marshall Street, Ganton Street, Kingly Street, Foubert’s Place, Beak Street, Marlborough Court, Lowndes Court, Great Marlborough Street, Silver Place, Lexington Street and open air courtyard Kingly Court.

For further information and images please contact Sarah Mole at Sister. Tel: 020 7287 9601 [email protected].