What We’re Doing To Support Your Return And The Recovery Of The Quarter

Helping Businesses And Reassuring Those returning 

We’ve been busy ensuring the Quarter is ready for your return in a number of ways, so that it’s, clean and well managed to reassure those returning to the area.  We have also been working with the Council and others to help with travel options to the Quarter and to support restaurants and cafés as they prepare for their long anticipated re-openings. 

We are producing a summary of all the measures in place for you to include in your return to the workplace information for your colleagues. Please email us  for a copy. 

Enabling Distancing And Cycling 

• We have been working closely with Westminster City Council and TfL to add space for pedestrians and cyclists. The Council has already put extra bike lanes in Portland Place and pavements have been widened on Melcombe Street – the main route from Marylebone Station. Further proposals are being considered for implementation next month as we expect the numbers returning to continue increasing. TfL has also opened up the space outside Baker Street Station to provide extra space
• To find the best route from major transport hubs and cycling resources, please go to TfL’s cycling hub, which includes additional segregated cycle lanes TfL has put in place on key routes including Euston Road and Park Lane  
• TfL, Chiltern Railways and other train operators have all implemented a number of hygiene and distancing measures to support safe travel 

We know from speaking to businesses that as workers return , secure bike parking will be in high demand.  We’ve worked with WCC to identify locations and are delighted that the Council will be installing the first lot of temporary racks at key locations off Baker Street, Manchester Square and Old Quebec Street this week, with more to follow. We’re also progressing other options for further secure bike parking in the area –we will be providing a map of all bike parking within the Quarter on our website.  

And we’ve been working with retailers, too, helping with queue management and providing our queue markers, which are now in place throughout the area to assist with social distancing and to keep trade flowing safely. 

Extra Cleaning 

Thanks Westminster City Council’s cleansing team and key partner, Veolia deep cleaning and anti-bacterial cleansing has been conducted throughout the area. 

Street Management 

It’s business as usual for our Street Environment Manager and our Street Safety Team, with their presence in the area ensuring our streets are clean, tidy, well maintained and safe. 

Supporting Retail And Hospitality 

As local restaurants and cafés plan their reopenings we have worked with them, the Council and Portman Estate to advocate for extra outdoor space for tables and chairs.  This space will provide vital extra capacity ensuring  businesses can trade successfully and safely whilst distancing requirements reduce their indoor capacity.  You may have seen some of these areas identified in the press already. We await the outcome and necessary licensing change from government and look forward to vibrant, continental style outdoor dining in the Quarter this summer. 

We’re keeping you up-to-date with what’s on offer in the area, so that you can still enjoy your favourite shops online from home. Our Shopping Directory gives you more information on the Quarter’s shops, cafés and restaurants that are offering delivery and takeaway options.  And we’re working with our delivery partner, City Pantry, to ensure the Quarter’s many food outlets can deliver straight to your office door. If you sign up to use this service you will receive a special offer of 10% off second and third orders subject to a minimum order of £100 – when ordering please enter code BAKERSTQ10 . As we’re sure you agree, the shops and restaurants are part of what makes the Quarter so special, and we hope that by providing these resources you will join us in supporting them.  

Find out more about our recovery programme here.