FLEET STREET QUARTER 2024 ROUNDUP

January saw the launch of the Business Breakfast Club with Mott MacDonald, giving individuals working within the Fleet Street Quarter and beyond access to information and stimulating ideas on emerging priorities for businesses, as well as a platform for networking opportunities.

The Dr Johnson’s House lecture series continued in February and throughout 2024. Bringing fascinating historical lectures exploring everything from Dr Johnson to Dickens and beyond, all attendees could explore the house before and after the lecture for free!

The Great Fleet Street Quarter Cook Off 2024 was in March – the inaugural edition of the cooking competition at Cord Restaurant. Contestants from companies across the Quarter baked, flambéd, and simmered their way to glory, with Mott MacDonald’s Kin Lo winning first place.

Also that month, the Women’s Personal Safety class was an opportunity for local FSQ workers and residents to enhance their personal safety, identify common threats, and learn how to recognize them quickly.

April saw the first of three cycling tours of the FSQ area with Fat Tire Tours. Not only was this a great opportunity to see the sights in and around the Quarter, but it also allowed participants to gain more confidence cycling in the City – one of the ways FSQ is trying to boost cycling to work.

In May, a second full market day was launched with KERB Food. The Fleet Street Quarter’s very own street food market, KERB+ Fleet Place, is now open Tuesdays and Thursdays with a rotating lineup of amazing traders on offer to FSQ locals.

In June, the Fleet Street Quarter Climate Festival arrived in the area. Over the two-day festival, more than 20 senior leaders in the sustainability, property, finance, media, and legal sectors shared insights on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing business and the climate.

A busy June also saw FSQ launch The Fleot, a first-of-its-kind 360-degree green and digital construction skills hub and creative studio for local artists. Featuring the Green Skills Hub providing free learning and Fleet Studios bringing emerging arts and studio space to FSQ.

Throughout July, FSQ hosted plenty of cultural programming at Assembly, the pop-up amphitheatre at the Maughan Library. As part of the London Festival of Architecture 2024, events included performances by the YAMATO Drummers, Shakespearian plays by Troubadour Stageworks, and film screenings, listening parties, and talks organized by Urban Radicals – Assembly’s design team.

The Fusion Games took the Quarter by storm in August! Pop-up games, including table tennis and chess, arrived in the area, providing free sports for FSQ locals to enjoy. A particular highlight was the City’s first community Wallball court in New Street Square.

In September, FSQ launched a partnership with Love to Ride, bringing a fun, free biking challenge to Fleet Street Quarter. Love to Ride is a platform dedicated to promoting cycling, both to work and for leisure – continuing FSQ’s commitment to green transport.

FSQ also launched a partnership with Neighbourly in September. Neighbourly is a volunteering platform pairing FSQ workers with local charities in and around the Fleet Street Quarter.

Sign-ups for the newly launched FSQ Choir also began in September. The choir, organized by the team at Mio, meets weekly for lunchtime practice in the Quarter. The FSQ Choir recently performed at the Ludgate Luminations festive lights switch-on!

In October, Discover Fleet Street Quarter returned for its third year. The three-day program aimed to welcome new starters to the Quarter, with fun events and activities helping recent grads get to know FSQ, their colleagues, and others working nearby.

The 2024 Annual General Meeting was also held in October. Members of the local business community celebrated the past year’s success and shared future plans for the area.

In November, Festive Fleet Street Quarter 2024 was launched with two magical festive light switch-ons. Olaf Falafel joined FSQ to light up Chancery Lane, and actor and writer Alex Macqueen illuminated Ludgate Circus.

November also saw the launch of the Urban Farmer Project, a dynamic marketplace, educational hub, and event space dedicated to tackling food poverty and widening access to sustainable farm produce, featuring a cultural space and exhibition area.

In December, FSQ supported the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, bringing it to the Quarter and working with partners to empower, educate, and upskill local workers, managers, and business owners.

Finally, we saw the Fleet Street Quarter Penguin Parade arrive in the Quarter. We welcomed workers, visitors and residents alike to embark on a fabulous festive adventure to discover 12 adorable penguin sculptures dotted across the area.