Soho Christmas lights designed by children from Soho Parish Primary Schoo

The Soho Christmas lights have a unique theme this year involving the community. The installations have been designed by children from Soho Parish School and will light up throughout Soho’s vibrant streets this Christmas from 8 November.

Hannah Peaty, art lead at Soho Parish School, worked alongside architect, Antonio Capelao and local Soho florist, Joao Rocha of Storm Flowers London, to create 21 lighting panels for this project. The designs for the lights were created by children from Soho Parish School and turned into state of the art lighting panels by Blachere Illumination UK. The panels will be fitted to lamp posts across Soho, illuminating the famous streets over the Christmas period.

Soho Parish School held a competition to choose the Christmas designs with winners by year group selected in May. The judging panel included The Royal Institute of British Architects – RIBA, The National Gallery, Shaftesbury, St Anne’s Church, Storm Flowers London and Soho Ward Councillors alongside ex pupils from the school.

Westminster City Council, Shaftesbury, Soho Estates and Broadwick Soho have generously awarded funding towards the project to create the 21 Christmas panels across Soho including Archer Street, Rupert Street, Berwick Street, Brewer Street, Old Compton Street, Dean Street, Wardour Street and Frith Street.

Visitors can download a walking tour of the lights on www.ThisIsSoho.co.uk, and the long term plan is for the light panels to be added to every year. Each light panel will feature a QR code that links to information about the project and how to donate to the school.

Louise Ritchie, Headteacher, Soho Parish Primary says: “We’re delighted to be taking part in this innovative project. The children are so excited to see their art in lights, and we hope their contributions will illuminate the school’s place at the heart of the community.”

Simon Quayle, Shaftesbury Director says: "We are delighted to be a sponsor of the Soho Parish Christmas lights. The concept behind the scheme being designed by children from the school is truly special and brings a real sense of community and magic. The installations are completely unique to Soho and add to the area's creative spirit".

Hannah Peaty, Senior Leader and Art Lead, Soho Parish Primary says: “We’re so excited to be taking part in this project, as an Artsmark Platinum school we highly value opportunities for children to engage in creative projects that will inspire and motivate them as well as serve the community. Seeing their artwork lit up around the streets of Soho will be such a Christmas gift and something to be proud of for many years to come.”

David Monson, General Manager, Broadwick Soho says: “We are all delighted to be able to support the Soho Parish Christmas light project and will always play an active and supporting part in the local Soho community. Christmas is such a special and magical time of the year for children and to see their artwork up in lights throughout Soho will be a wonderful and memorable gift.”

VENUE: Soho Streets including Archer Street, Rupert Street, Brewer Street, Berwick Street and Old Compton Street

DATE: 8 November 2021

ENTRY: FREE

This Is Soho: https://www.thisissoho.co.uk

Soho Parish School https://www.sohoparish.co.uk/

Storm Flowers London https://stormflowerslondon.com/

Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram: @ThisIsSoho

Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram: @stormflowerslondon

For more information please contact Sister London: meghan.ryan@sisterlondon.com / 020 7287 9601

Notes to Editors:

Soho

Soho is the creative hub of London’s West End with a vibrant mix of independent and concept fashion stores, restaurants and bars.

Shaftesbury’s Soho portfolio includes 39 shops and 31 restaurants, bars and cafes across several Soho streets including Berwick St, Broadwick St, Denman Street and Brewer Street.

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury owns and manages a 16 acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London's West End. The portfolio comprises of restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, extending to apartments and offices in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, it also includes substantial ownerships in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.

We focus on the sustainable re-use of existing buildings and aim to minimise the environmental impact of our operations across the business.

We are committed to engaging and working with the community in which we operate and therefore our Community Investment Programme’s aim is to support young people and our communities in Westminster and Camden. We align our activities and support with organisations which are active in the West End, including those which support the arts, community groups, schools and charities, and those which focus on local social issues and environmental challenges.

@shaftesburyplc shaftesbury.co.uk

About Broadwick Soho

Opening in Summer 2022, Broadwick Soho is an independent 57 key luxury boutique hotel, conceived by a group of friends who dreamed of creating a luxurious sanctuary in the capital’s most vibrant location, this glorious hotel on the corner of Broadwick Street and Berwick Street draws inspiration from the community, essence and spirit of Soho. This intimate hotel, designed with the feel of a classic townhouse, embraces the spirit of the dreamers, visionaries and charmingly louche characters who have given Soho its distinctive personality over the years, while offering exquisite quality and immaculate service in cosy yet opulent surroundings.

www.broadwicksoho.com

About Soho Estates

Soho Estates is a family-owned business and covers large parts of Soho. Our tenants reflect the vibrant mix found in London’s creative heart, including restaurants, bars and clubs, hotels, cinemas and theatres, independent retailers, homes and offices.

We are pleased to support the Parish School and see the children’s Christmas Artworks' up in lights.

Soho Parish School

Soho Parish School is a great survivor. During the past 320 years there have been at least 16 schools in Soho, but this is the only one left.

The primary School, located in the heart of Soho across Windmill Street and Archer Street, has 180 pupils aged 5 – 11. 3000 people live in Soho and the school, 3 churches, nursery school and surgery, are an integral part of the neighbourhood.

https://www.sohoparish.co.uk