Article on newshopp – Bromley Old Town Hall to reopen after refurbishment
Bromley Old Town Hall to reopen after refurbishment
By Amy Clarke@AmyClarke1998
Trainee Multimedia Reporter
The building has been restored “sensitivity” by leading architect Cartwright Pickard, and designers Fusion Interiors Group
Bromley Old Town Hall has gone through “major regeneration” and has been transformed into flexible office spaces after sitting unused for more than a decade.
The flexible working and hospitality site on Tweedy Road will open to the public on September 12.
Flexible workspace provider Clockwise says that it hopes to “to bring further investment into the area and a new lease of life into the much-loved historic local landmark”.
The building will contain dedicated offices, private desks, a podcast room, members’ lounge, café, and terrace. Clockwise says that the nature of work has been changing as a result of the pandemic and there is now an increased demand for offices closer to home.
A restaurant and bar by Dorothy and Marshall is set to open in the Autumn as well as a 24-room boutique hotel by Brama which is expected to open shortly afterwards.
The site spans over 62,000 square feet and will be Clockwise’s largest yet.
The Bromley Old Town Hall was originally built in 1907 and is a grade II listed building which has been empty for more than a decade.
It was recently added to the Heritage at Risk register in 2009 before Castleforge, Clockwise’s parent company, took on the lead tenancy.
The building has been restored “sensitivity” by leading architect Cartwright Pickard, and designers Fusion Interiors Group.
This doesn’t make sense Clockwise says the original details and materials have been retained throughout the building.
Its features include a grand entrance hall housing the reception, with four giant fluted concrete columns clad in green marble, three large stained-glass windows in the former old Council Chambers, and vaulted doors in the former ‘holding cells’ of the old Courthouse.
Other features include original wood panelling in the old Courthouse which will house the restaurant, and records of the former mayors listed at Bromley Old Town Halls’s grand entrance.
Alexandra Brunner, Chief Operating Officer at Clockwise, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be opening our second London home to complement our existing North London offering, and to be custodians of such an important building as Bromley Old Town Hall.
“The location was chosen because of Bromley’s vibrant town centre and community – with an economy which exceeds 13,000 businesses.
“Its high levels of employment, skilled workforce and burgeoning start-up scene with higher-than-average survival rates make it a natural centre for business.
“Bromley is the only London borough with a dedicated business airport within its boundaries – and has the second highest Public Transport Accessibility Level making it a great centre for commerce.
“We’re very much looking forward to joining the local community.”
Michael Kovacs, Founding Partner of Castleforge, said: “We are proud to be opening the doors to Bromley Town Hall and unveiling its transformation into a hub for business, hospitality and socialising, right in the heart of the community.
“After years of disuse, it is fantastic to see this redevelopment breathe new life into the building.
“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors and new Clockwise members to see the refurbished space for themselves.”
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/20714626.bromley-old-town-hall-reopen-refurbishment/