O2 Centre: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
==Development== |
==Development== |
||
{{Sectstub|date=May 2008}} |
{{Sectstub|date=May 2008}} |
||
The opening of the centre in 1998 came after many years of the site remaining derelict. In the early 1990s the buildings along [[Finchley Road]] were demolished in preparation for the centre, but problems with planning permission, with concerns over traffic in particular, led to construction being delayed by many years. A great deal of consultation took place with local residents, including asking them to vote from a choice of 3 designs for the exterior of the building, relating to different kinds of periodic elements - and asking them to suggest a name. |
The opening of the centre in 1998 came after many years of the site remaining derelict. In the early 1990s the buildings along [[Finchley Road]] were demolished in preparation for the centre, but problems with planning permission, with concerns over traffic in particular, led to construction being delayed by many years. A great deal of consultation took place with local residents, including asking them to vote from a choice of 3 designs for the exterior of the building, relating to different kinds of periodic elements - and asking them to suggest a name. |
||
Original plans included having a bowling alley in the location eventually occupied by Esporta, Sainsbury's being in the warehouse-style building occupied by Homebase, and the lower ground level (now Sainsburys) being home to several non-food retailers. There were plans to include a clay pigeon shooting section through an opening in the roof although this idea was scrapped due to the price involved in procuring a large number of shotguns for a reasonable price. |
|||
The original £15m budget for the build was exceeded in early 1997, causing a temporary delay in the build until additional capital investors could be found. There was some criticism at the time concerning the import of over 100 kg of [[Dead Sea]] [[salt]], for a sum of £350,000 in order to give the aquariums the correct tropical environment to sustain the wide range of fish originally intended. The plan to import Australian [[coral]] was cancelled for this reason. |
The original £15m budget for the build was exceeded in early 1997, causing a temporary delay in the build until additional capital investors could be found. There was some criticism at the time concerning the import of over 100 kg of [[Dead Sea]] [[salt]], for a sum of £350,000 in order to give the aquariums the correct tropical environment to sustain the wide range of fish originally intended. The plan to import Australian [[coral]] was cancelled for this reason. |
||
Revision as of 18:08, 8 February 2009
 |
The O2 Centre is an indoor shopping and leisure centre on Finchley Road, London, near Finchley Road tube station. It is located in between Hampstead, West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage.
Owned by the X-Leisure group, and opened in 1998. Despite the same name and very similar logo, it is no relation to the O2 telecommunications brand, which was launched 4 years later. The name was chosen as reference to the spacious feel of the building, as O2 is the chemical formula for Oxygen.
Despite the name of the centre there was a running water theme until May 2008, with a massive 10,000 litre aquarium containing turtles, tropical fish, eels, starfish, halibut, several cod and crabs.
The centre is currently undergoing a complete refit due to finish in early 2009. This has seen the removal of the water based theme, the large 10,000 litre tank and all sealife. Unfortunately this has been removed to better use the available floor space of the site, and decrease maintenance and cleaning costs. The original design for the site included a fish mascot called Curtis, but this was later scrapped in favour of a turtle called Trevor, although this was also not actioned due to a clash with Pixar over the use of turtles following their hit film Finding Nemo. The case was dropped after it came to light that during the film all turtles had been licensed for use exclusively by the film and would not be allowed in any kind of media, printed, online, or film - until 2009.
Development
![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2008) |
The opening of the centre in 1998 came after many years of the site remaining derelict. In the early 1990s the buildings along Finchley Road were demolished in preparation for the centre, but problems with planning permission, with concerns over traffic in particular, led to construction being delayed by many years. A great deal of consultation took place with local residents, including asking them to vote from a choice of 3 designs for the exterior of the building, relating to different kinds of periodic elements - and asking them to suggest a name.
Original plans included having a bowling alley in the location eventually occupied by Esporta, Sainsbury's being in the warehouse-style building occupied by Homebase, and the lower ground level (now Sainsburys) being home to several non-food retailers. There were plans to include a clay pigeon shooting section through an opening in the roof although this idea was scrapped due to the price involved in procuring a large number of shotguns for a reasonable price.
The original £15m budget for the build was exceeded in early 1997, causing a temporary delay in the build until additional capital investors could be found. There was some criticism at the time concerning the import of over 100 kg of Dead Sea salt, for a sum of £350,000 in order to give the aquariums the correct tropical environment to sustain the wide range of fish originally intended. The plan to import Australian coral was cancelled for this reason.
Current Occupants
Shopping
Shopping facilities include a 24 hour Sainsbury's, Waterstones, Optique 20/20, Habitat, and several small stalls selling jewellery, snacks and nuts. Sainsbury's finished their refit in August 2008 which saw the 4500sq/m store increase to over 9000sq/m partly thanks to a removal of many checkouts in favour of self checkouts.
External Retailers
Bars and restaurants
Eating facilities include Nando's, Wetherspoon's, Starbucks, The Walkabout, Yo! Sushi, Cumin, Fine Burger Company and Zuccato.
Other facilities
Other facilities include the Vue cinema, Esporta health club, Gymboree, and the London International Gallery of Children's Art. There is one of the largest dance studios in London on the top floor of the centre.
Previous Occupants
Restaurants and bars which previously had spaces in the O2 Centre include the Capital Radio Cafe, Pizza Hut, Old Orleans, Ed's Easy Diner, Smollensky's, Babe Ruth's sports bar, Bar Circa, China Red and others. China Red closed in 2006 after concerns over a member of the public who nearly choked on a noodle.
Transport
The closest tube station is Finchley Road with the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines.
Finchley Road and Frognal station with the North London Line is a short walk away and West Hampstead railway stations are also in close proximity.
There are several bus and coach routes that stop right outside the O2 centre including 13, 82, 113, 187 and 268. Also close by are C11, 31, 46, 139, 328 and 603 bus stops. Local night buses are N13, N28, N31 and 139.