Christmas kicks off in Hatton Garden with festive light switch-on

Christmas kicked off in Hatton Garden last night (17 November) with the area’s first ever Christmas lights switch-on.

Organised by the Hatton Garden Business Improvement District (BID), the event took place between 5pm and 7pm at the corner of Hatton Garden and 120 Holborn, and featured music, entertainment and VIP guests.

The event kicked off with a short welcome from the evening’s compere, BBC Radio 4’s Zeb Soanes, and was followed by acts such as the St Albans School Choir, Central School of Ballet, Eden Roxx from the Camden Roundhouse and St Etheldreda’s Choir.

The lights were then switched on by renowned jewellery designer Shaun Leane at 6pm, which was followed by more performances from the Rock Choir, West End Kids, and Kaity Rae and Pocketclub both from the Camden Roundhouse.

Some 30,000 LED lights in Hatton Garden and Greville Street were turned on during the event.

There was also a Christmas window competition which saw Ace of Diamonds pick up first prize for their Christmas window display, winning an exclusive wine tasting experience. Davril and Platform came in second place.

Some 31 jewellery retailers took part in the competition.

Speaking after the event, Gary Williams, chair of the BID, said: “A BID would work to support all businesses in this area – all sectors, large, small, jewellers, retailers, restaurants, pubs, digital, media and ad agencies, legal chambers, corporates and developers. Everyone will benefit.

“On our current modelling, it’s estimated that a BID could raise in the in the region of £400,000 each year of its five-year term to invest across the area, helping to work on the priority issues raised by local businesses.”

Williams said making Hatton Garden a destination for visitors, shoppers, local workers and residents is a priority for the BID, and that it is hoping to progress on successful events such as the Christmas lights switch-on.

“We face a significant opportunity as a community – it’s my job to ensure you all appreciate the scale of that opportunity and make the right decision at the ballot next year,” he added.

Part of the aim of the BID is to capitalise on the expected increased opportunities and footfall with the arrival of the Crossrail station in Farringdon, which will link 40 stations from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

It is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, an initiative to erect signposts labelling Hatton Garden as the ‘Jewellery Quarter’ to attract more consumers is also being proposed.