Coffee in Covent Garden

There's a series of books that I've read multiple times: the PC Peter Grant Novels. In the second book, 'Moon Over Soho', Grant says 'Every Londoner has their manor - a collection of bits of the city where they feel comfortable.' <1> For me, Covent Garden is one of the 'bits' of the where I feel most comfortable. Maybe because, whenever I came to visit London it was one of the places I would always head for, either as a tourist to see a show, or for auditions. And now I work and study in the area, so it's definitely the part of London I know best.

Covent Garden in London was originally designated as a working garden for Westminster Abbey in the thirteenth century, with a small fruit market operating alongside. Despite later reconstruction into a residential development, the flower, fruit, and vegetable market continued to operate, eventually becoming a prime visitor attraction even as the area fell into disrepute. 

Covent Garden reclaimed a measure of prestige when redeveloped as a shopping centre in the 1980’s, and the area became known for independent shops and small retail outlets. Performance has been a part of the streets of Covent Garden since at least the seventeenth century, with the first recorded Punch and Judy Puppet Show taking place on the site in 1662.<2>

At the end of the first semester of my Masters', when considering our module assignments, I drew on elements of Street Performance when looking at performative sites and spaces. When I interviewed the performer Mat Ricardo, as research for the essay, he claimed that, for him, Covent Garden piazza is ‘the greatest street pitch in the world’ due to the architecture of the site; he compared the multiple pavement levels, and the balcony of the adjoining public house to theatre seating structures. Ricardo also points out that, with the backdrop of St. Pauls Covent Garden church, the space itself ‘is a theatre: it’s got a proscenium arch, and it’s the only street pitch in the world with wings!’<3> He even told me that the piazza has a theatre license: that this particular square of land is designated as a theatre!<4>

One of the main reasons that I love Covent Garden so much is because all of London Cultural life can be found here: from 'high' arts (represented by the Royal Opera House), to 'low' (buskers and street performers), and everything in between (fringe theatres, pubs that offer live performance, museums, etc.). There are high street chains, boutique stores, and independent retailers; craft stalls and antique sellers. Tourists and locals fight for space, but, on a quiet Sunday morning, on my way to work, I love walking through the area unencumbered by crowds.

This picture, for me, represents so much about Covent Garden culture: the tourists taking pictures next to the iconic red telephone boxes (which themselves are next to the first police station!); the little ballerina statue; the Royal Opera House; locals taking a break from work with a coffee.

I urge everyone to spend time in Covent Garden: in the main plaza there are multiple pitches for street performers, so there's always something happening; the markets are fascinating, and the restaurants are lovely. And, if you cross Long Acre and head towards Seven Dials, there are dozens of tiny, winding streets to explore!

<1> Ben Aaronovich, 'Moon Over Soho', (London: Gollancz, 2011) Amazon Kindle e-book, (Chapter 2, Paragraph 6, Location 463).

<2> Covent Garden, ‘Street Performers’, <https://www.coventgarden.london/street-performers>.

<3> Ricardo, Interview with Essay Author, (London, December 2017).

<4> Unfortunately I couldn’t find any legal documentation to support this, but it’s a lovely anecdote!