Westminster raises curtain on Cavendish Square cabaret

A 500-person capacity temporary events tent is to be put up in Cavendish Square, W1, this summer, after Westminster planners gave it the green light on 25 May. The so-called Spiegeltent, which will reach nine metres in height, will stand for four months from 14 June. Councillors hope it will help bring tourists back to the West End after Covid-19 lockdowns. It comes as part of the Underbelly Festival, a summer-long series of live cabaret, comedy, music and theatre events, which will be held on the site this year. The Spiegeltent will be accompanied by eight market food stalls and a bar. Councillor Jim Glen, who sits on Westminster’s planning committee, said it would bring “life and vitality to the West End and Oxford Street”. The events space will join the 25-metre high temporary mound which is being erected at Marble Arch, which was announced earlier this year to spearhead Westminster City Council’s plans to bring footfall back to the area. Westminster Council hopes the mound and other short-term improvements this summer, such as extra pedestrian space, new lighting and pop-up spaces such as the Spiegeltent, will help attract domestic tourists. Underbelly co-director Ed Bartlam said: “We are thrilled to bring Underbelly Festival back to London. We’re looking forward to playing our part in bringing central London roaring back to life this summer.” Cavendish Square is also the site of a planned £100m subterranean shopping and leisure venue, being developed by Reef Group. The plans will create 280,000 sq ft of space across four storeys below ground level, and will replace an underground car park at the square. To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews Image © Leon Puplett