On the 12^th April 2021, we were pleased to see the opening of the new outdoor dining area in Middlesex Street! Complete with tables and chairs, picnic benches, planters, colourful barriers and gazebos for those weather changes. Come and enjoy a range of cusinies from around the world, including:

• Barcelona Tapas Bar & Restaurant – Spanish Cuisine
• BiFe – Argentinian Steakhouse
• Mumbai Square – Indian Cuisine
• Sfoglia Bologna – Italian Cuisine
• So Restaurant – Japanese Cuisine
• 1947 Restaurant, Bar & Pizza Kitchen – Vegetarian & Vegan Indian Cuisine

Check out the below video showcasing how great this area truly is!

The 12^th April 2021 marks the day that hospitality venues with outdoor seating are allowed to reopening under the government guidelines following the roadmap out of lockdown. We are very excited to have collated a list of the available venues in Aldgate for you to go and enjoy some delicious drinks and scrumptious meals!

• 1947 Restaurant, Bar & Pizza Kitchen – Vegetarian & Vegan Indian Cuisine at 38 Middlesex Street, E1 7EX
• 3 Leaf – Sandwich & Salad Café at 12 Harrow Place, E1 7DB
• Amber – Mediterranean Cuisine at 21 Piazza Walk Goodman, E1 8QH
• Barcelona Tapas Bar & Restaurant – Spanish Cuisine at 1 Middlesex Street, E1 7AA
• Benk and Bo – Bakery & Café at 4-6 Gravel Lane, E1 7AW
• BiFe -Argentinian Steakhouse at 40-42 Middlesex Street, E1 7EX
• Cafe Cotto – Classic Café at Mitre House 12-14, EC3A 5BU
• Café Luca – Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cuisine at 16-17 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4SQ
• City Bar & Kitchen (CBK) – Irish owned Pub (fresh food, cold beer & live football) at 9 Stoney Lane, E1 7BH
• Costa Coffee – 126 Whitechapel High Street , E1 7PU
• Crispin E1 – Café & Wine Bar at Pavilion on The Corner, White’s Row, E1 7NF
• Current Café – Coffee, Tea & bakery goods at 6 Harrow Place, E1 7DB
• Duke of Wellington – Pub/Bar at 12 Toynbee Street, E1 7NE
• Dulce Coffee London – Classic Café at 86 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX
• Eat Saigon – Scrumptious Street Eats of Saigon at 6a Toynbee Street, E1 7NE
• Emilia’s Crafted Pasta – Italian Cuisine at 77 Alie Street, E1 8NH
• Exmouth Coffee – Café at 83 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX
• Fazenda – Artisan roast, Italian food & basement art gallery at 9 Harrow Place, E1 7DB
• Grain Kitchen – Globally inspired healthful grain bowls at 13 Harrow Place, E1 7DB
• Jin Bo Law Skybar – Cocktail Bar at 9 Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AH
• Kagura Sushi – Japanese Cuisine at 6 Minories, EC3N 1BJ
• Kastner & Ovens – Café at 13 Frying Pan Alley, E1 7HS
• La Piazzetta – Bistro & Bar at 5 White Kennett Street, E1 7BS
• Lazio – Sandwich Bar upstairs & Italian Cuisine downstairs at 42 Minories, EC3N 1DY
• Leman Street Tavern – Pub at 31 Leman Street, E1 8PT
• Mumbai Square – Indian Cuisine at 7 Middlesex Street, E1 7AA
• Nilly’s Café – Coffee Shop with a touch of Mediterranean Style at 16 Bell Lane, E1 7LA
• Noodle & Beer – Chinese Cuisine with a focus on Noodles at 31 Bell Lane, E1 7LA
• Nora Cafe– Traditional English Café at 9 Wentworth Street, E1 7TB
• Pause – Cafes & Tea Rooms at 13a White’s Row, E1 7NF
• Peter’s Café – British Café at 73 Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1BD
• Pizza Union – ItalianPizza Bar at 29 Leman Street, E1 8PT and 25 Sandy’s Row, E1 7HW
• Rocoto – Authentic Latin American Cuisine at 57 Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AL
• Sfoglia Bologna – Italian Cuisine at 3 Middlesex Street, EC3A 7HH
• Shaman Coffee – Coffee Shop at Leman Locke Hotel, 15 Leman Street, E1 8EN
• Sizzles – British Café at 14 Wentworth Street, E1 7TS
• So Restaurant– Japanese Cuisine at 5 Middlesex Street, E1 7AA
• Sushioen – Japanese Cuisine at 2 White Church Lane, E1 7QR
• The Duke of Somerset – Traditional British Pub at 15 Little Somerset Street, E1 8AH
• The Hungry Donkey – Greek Cuisine at 56 Wentworth Street, E1 7AL
• The Japanese Canteen – Japanese Hot & Cold Cuisine at 16 Creechurch Lane, EC3A 5AY and at 100 Middlesex St, E1 7EZ
• The Pastry Parlour – Classic Bakery & Coffee Shop at 8 Piazza Walk, E1 8FU
• The Running Horse – Modern English Pub at 7 Piazza Walk, E1 8FU
• The Skyline London – Italian Cuisine & Bar at Blue Orchid, 100 Minories, EC3 1AP
• Tifinbox – Indian Street Food at 14 Harrow Place, E1 7DB
• Urban Baristas – Coffee Shop at 95Middlesex Street, E1 7DA
• Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles – Noodles & Classic Chinese meals at 62 Wentworth Street, E1 7AL
• Zia Lucia – Pizzeria at 12 Piazza Walk, E1 8ZH

If you are food & drink business that is opening today for outdoor dining, please let us know and we can add you to the list!

Aldgate Connect BID is going into its second year as a Business Improvement District. We are thrilled to be able to work with the businesses and the community in this way supporting the local economy, businesses and the community as we live with and overcome the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

As the restrictions on the lockdown begin to lift, the BID will play a fundamental role in supporting the area and its recovery for business and mobilizing the workforce.  Therefore, your BID levy will be pivotal in supporting interventions that will support the business community, residential community and domestic market in building consumer confidence, educating/ providing guidance on compliance and social distancing. Public realm provides an opportunity to cater for more enhanced pedestrian space; cleanliness of spaces and monitoring on how people move around the area safely.  This will be further complemented through the promotion of activity to support mental health and wellbeing.

Please see below the legal overview of projects and expenditure. Please be in touch with the BID team if you wish to discuss anything whatsoever.

Brexit related assistance and signposting for businesses.

Following the changes the UK leaving the EU is causing, there are many resources, help and advice for businesses available out there. Please find some useful links below:

• Free 1-2-1 support to help you navigate Brexit
  London Business Hub advisers can offer free bespoke support to help you navigate the challenges around: employng & managing staff, managing data & intellectual property, importing & exporting with the EU, and business travel.
  London businesses can meet with an adviser for free, impartial and confidential advice and support. The advisor will discuss your specific challenges and help you to develop an action roadmap.
  Reserve your appointment today.

• Brexit Workshops
  London Business Hub are hosting a series of interactive workshops with expert advisers to discuss the challenges facing SMEs now the UK has left the EU. These workshops will give you and your business the tools needed to mitigate challenges across areas such as: new HR, Visa and employment regulations, changing regulation on GDPR & data sharing, and how to secure your IP.
  The next workshop, Doing Business in the EU: The New Landscape will take place on 24th February, between 10am-4:30pm.
  Reserve your place on the workshop here.

• Find out how Brexit affects your digital services.
  The UK is now outside the European Union’s ‘single market’. That means the UK is also outside the single market for data transfers and digital services. Almost all businesses now handle data in some form or another. Even if your main business is not in digital services, you can assume that you will be affected.
  This three-minute video will help you understand how to: protect your Intellectual Property (IP), Collect, Store & Transfer Data, and Check your Digital & Technology Services.
  Click here to view the video.

• London Business Hub Brexit Ready Podcast Series
  LBH have launched a podcast series to showcase businesses like yours talking about the challenges and opportunities they are facing. Hear from other businesses about how they prepared for the end of the transition period and how they are managing their business now that we have a deal.

We are always more than happy to answer any questions or queries, please get in touch at info@aldgateconnect.london.

Virtual Wellbeing Series

Join us for the first ever joint Virtual Wellbeing Series, brought to you by the City BIDs & Partnerships: Aldgate Connect BID, Cheapside Business Alliance, EC Partnership and Fleet Street Quarter.

The Virtual Wellbeing Series activities range from mindfulness workshops to creative classes, from food & drink to beauty sessions, from workout classes to tours of the City, and even include an Online Spy Game!

Please use the Eventbrite links below to book your free place and to receive the relevant links to webinars and kits. Please note that spaces may be limited so get booking now!

Week 1 – 15-19^th February 2021

• 15^th Feb at 1:00pm – Mindfulness-based Resilience Workshop with Mindful Globe
• 16^th Feb at 1:00pm – Mini Facial Workshop with Beauty Essence
• 17^th Feb at 6:15pm – Drink & Draw with Leyden Gallery
• 18^th Feb at 12:30pm – Barre Class with Fly

Week 2 – 22-23^rd February 2021

• 23rd Feb at 1:00pm – ‘Go Crazy with Kokadamas’ At Home Gardening Workshop with Jar & Fern (Tickets to be booked by 15^th Feb, to ensure kit delivery)
• 24^th Feb at 1:00pm – ‘How to Look Amazing on Zoom’ Workshop with Beauty Essence
• 24^th Feb at 6:15pm – Drink & Draw with Leyden Gallery
• 26^th Feb at 12:30pm – ‘Room to breathe’ Tour of Open Spaces in the City with City Guides

Week 3 – 1-5^th March 2021

• 2^nd Mar at 12:30pm – ‘Sanctuary in the City’ Public Art by Refugees and Immigrants Tour with City Guides
• 3^rd Mar at 3:15pm – ‘Spring Clean: Positive Habits Season’ Workshop with Charlotte Wiseman
• 3^rd Mar at 6:15pm – Drink & Draw with Leyden Gallery
• 4^th Mar at 5:30pm – Gin Tasting for Two with Workshop with City of London Distillery (Tickets to be booked by 18^th Feb, to ensure Tasting Kit delivery)

Week 4 – 8-12^th March 2021

• 9^th Mar at 12:00pm – Active Recovery Yoga Session with Pure Sports Medicine
• 10^th Mar at 6:15pm – Drink & Draw with Leyden Gallery
• 11^th Mar at 6:00pm – ‘Operation Pegasus’ The Online Spy Game with AIM Escape

Week 5 – 15-19^th March 2021

• 16^th Mar at 12:30pm – Barre Class with Fly
• 15-19^th Mar – ‘Take & Bake’ Pizza Making Kit with Homeslice

Many London SMEs have joined the Heart of the City as new members, ready to start their responsible business journeys. The applications are still open until 28th February 2021, so if you haven’t done so already, sign up your business for free now!

As an introduction to the new members and to give them a bit of new year inspiration, The Heart of the City spoke with Emma Cooke, Head of Citizenship at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. Emma is on their board advisory panel now, but she started out as a member some years ago, when she was doing responsible business alongside another role.

The Heart of the City asked Emma about how she got into responsible business, her work now and importantly, what she learned as a newcomer to responsible business and what tops she’d give new members!

Click here to read The Heart of the City’s Q&A with Emma Cooke.

As a BID, we understand the importance of Health and Wellbeing, especially in the current climate. We are currently in the process of planning future Health and Wellbeing events and activities and would greatly appreciate your feedback on what kind of activates you would like to see and take part in.

All of these initiatives will be hosted and funded by the BID and will be completely FREE to attend, created to support the Aldgate community. These events will also be professionally led by experts in the field.

We would greatly appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete the short questionnaire below to help inform and guide our decisions on Health and Wellbeing in Aldgate.

In October 2020, the Aldgate Connect BID commissioned Steer to undertake an audit of the existing cycling facilities within the BID. The main objective of the audit was to develop a better understanding of what cycling provision currently exists, focusing on cycle routes, cycle parking, Santander docking stations and wayfinding.

Steer engaged heavily with the local community, namely including landowners, businesses and residents, to help formulate the basis of this report.

The research will be used as a guide to the future projects undertaken by the BID in order to improve the cycling experience for residents, workers and visitors.

The audit will assist with securing future improvements that reduce barriers to cycling, increase cycle parking, improve the relationship with the surrounding area and address issues effecting legibility.

Please view the report below:

Please do email the BID on info@aldgateconnect.london with any queries or questions.

New lockdown grants to support businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

The Chancellor has announced grants for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

The one-off top-up grants will be provided on a per property basis to businesses closed as a result of the latest restrictions as follows:

• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000

A further £594 million is also being made available for Local Authorities and the Devolved Administrations to support other businesses not eligible for the grants, that might be affected by the restrictions. Businesses should apply to their Local Authorities.

The new one-off grants are in addition to the existing business support, including grants worth up to £3,000 for closed businesses, and up to £2,100 per month for impacted businesses once they reopen.

Visit the Business Advice Hub for practical guidance to help you operate in a COVID-19 Secure way during the pandemic.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the first part of Aldgate in Winter in December, we hope you enjoyed all the wonderful online events and the amazing light exhibitions!

We will be continuing into Spring with lots of online projects and ways to get involved. Below are some of the exciting projects happening these next few months that we would love for everyone to get involved in:

• Air Quality Superheroes – Calling all creative young minds! Young people across the area are invited to design a superhero with powers to tackle air pollution. 3 of the submissions will be turned into 3D lantern structures, to be included in Aldgate in Winter Spring!
• Sound Project – Get involved in our sound project: a Dawn Chorus for Aldgate! Get involved in community workshops and contribute to the creation of a new piece of music reflecting on the way nature crept back into the City during the first lockdown.
• Film Project – We’re looking for local individuals and groups to take part in a film project, inspired by the annual lantern parade. We’re looking for anyone part of the Aldgate community: residents, workers, community groups and anyone else interested! This film will feature as part of the Spring exhibition.
• And if you missed it… – There are photos and videos on the Aldgate in Winter Facebook group of the exhibition lanterns, choirs singing and the live performance from Drumworks!

Contact the CoL team to take part or find out more here (the webpage will be updated shortly with the Spring programme).

Together, let’s make Aldgate the brightest light in London! #AldgateinWinter