Tag Archives: in the movies

The Market Porter Pub ~ a ‘Harry Potter’ film location

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Pubs of interest, Southwark, Uncategorized

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Most visitors to the heavily touristed Borough Market would not realize they were walking past a location used in many films in recent years - including Harry Potter.  Adjoining Borough Market is the Market Porter Pub - unique for several reasons - first, in additional to ‘normal hours’ it opens at 6 am - 8:30 am Mon-Fri primarily to serve the real working trade from the adjacent Borough Market, and second, it was transformed into the ‘Third Hand Book Emporium’ in ‘Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban’.

In fact, this area - Stoney Street and Park St - has been widely used for filming and should be visited with this in mind.  These streets were not only used in the Harry Potter film (the building next door to the pub was converted into the ‘Leaky Cauldron’) but they were used in the following films:  “The Young Americans” (with Harvey Keitel), “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells” (a Guy Ritchie film), “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (with Renee Zellweger), “Entrapment”, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” and “Howards End” (with Anthony Hopkins).

The Pub is a ‘real ale’ pub, with a constantly changing variety of small crafted ales.  For those frustrated with the ubiquity of certain beers at the large brewery owned pubs around town, this Victorian street corner pub is a pleasant change.  An upstairs restaurant is open for lunch, with wooden floors and traditional pub feel.  Bar food is also available. One unique way to enjoy the Borough Market area without the tourist crowds is to pre-book (required) their breakfast on a weekday (served from 7am -8am). For £19.95 you get a glass of sparkling wine, and either a full English Breakfast or Eggs Benedict.  Follow this with a walk through the market as it prepares for the day, and then along the southbank for a perfect morning escape (for bookings call: 020 7407 2495).

Pub hours: open Mon-Fri 6am - 8:30 am, and then 11-11pm.  Sat 12 - 11pm, Sun 12 - 10:30 pm.

Located at: 9 Stoney Street, Borough Market, SE1 9AA

Closest tube: London Bridge

(note: the picture of the Third Hand Book Emporium is from www.london-se1.co.uk website).

The Coronet Theatre ~ as seen in “Notting Hill” !

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by in Family Activities, Historic Buildings, Kensington & Chelsea

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The Coronet opened in 1898 and was quickly viewed as the best theatre outside of London’s west end.   With visits by King Edward VII and performances by the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt, it seemed destined to succeed.  But given its proximity to the West End it competed, unsuccessfully, to gain a solid customer base.  By 1923 it converted exclusively to a cinema and over the years the seating capacity has been reduced.  As a cinema it is unique in that the theatre’s interior has been mostly preserved which provides a very different feel than a typical cinema.

Its survival was not assured.  The Coronet was almost demolished in the early 1970s when the Rank Organization (the owners at that time) put the building up for sale with a plan to ‘regenerate’ the area by building offices and retail space.  Fortunately, the action of local citizens and the Council led to the building’s preservation.  The Rank Organization then refurbished the theatre and a few years later sold it intact.  In 2004, it was sold again - this time to a church group that despite initial concerns has maintained it as an historic cinema.

It currently has two film screens.  The main auditorium holds 400 people across two levels of seating - Stalls & Circle (the 3rd level Gallery is not currently used for films).  The second auditorium is much smaller and is located on the old theatre stage, behind the main screen, with the ability to be removed should the theatre be restored fully.  The theatre is not fully modernized - the seats are old, the sound not surround, and there’s no 3D films here.  That said, it is very affordable (check website for very cheap screenings typically on Tuesday) and is a step back in time.  With its more recent claim to fame as a location set in the film “Notting Hill” with Hugh Grant & Julia Roberts you’ll find it hard not to enjoy yourself and feel nostalgic when you come here.

Website for information, prices and showtimes: www.coronet.org/

Located at: 103 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3LB

Closest tube: Notting Hill Gate

Trinity Buoy Wharf (art, food, dance, theatre) & London’s only Lighthouse!

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Artistic Venues, Free Activities, Historic Buildings, Tower Hamlets

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Trinity Buoy Wharf is located at the confluence of the River Thames and Bow Creek, in Leamouth.  In 1803 this land became part of the Corporation of Trinity House (Trinity House is focused on the safety of shipping and seafarers - and has been since it was granted a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1514 ).  A seawall was rebuilt in 1822 and the site became the primary maintenance depot and storage facility for Thames navigation aids and for the docking and repair of Lightships.  In 1988, the property passed to the London Docklands Development Corporation, and in 1998 Urban Space Holdings took control of the wharf through a long-term lease.  It is now being developed and managed as a ‘centre for the arts and cultural activities’.  Studio spaces occupy used shipping containers, as does some office space.  The University of East London has a Fine Arts Studio and two dance studios here.   There is always a wide range of activities going on at the Wharf - much of it free to the public.  Go to their website for information on events, including Theatre, Dance and Art events.Go to their website for all details:  www.trinitybuoywharf.com

Of particular note is the Lighthouse located here - London’s only one.  Built in 1864-66 it was originally a testing site - even Michael Faraday conducted experiments here.  The Lighthouse is now home to ‘LongPlayer’, a continuous 1,000 year long piece of music that began as part of the millenium celebrations.  The music ends 31-12-2999.  There is a listening room in the Lighthouse open every weekend from 11am - 5pm.. For more info on the music go to: http://longplayer.org/

Other exhibits include “The Faraday Effect” - a tiny museum documenting the life and times of the famous scientist.  At the time of this posting, one of the more unique exhibits is the ‘gum art trail’, which extends from East India DLR to the Wharf.

Eateries are the ‘Fat Boys Diner’ (seen in the film Sliding Doors) which offers a 1940s American Diner experience (open 10-5 Tue-Sun) and the ‘Driftwood Cafe’ with views of the River Lea from a converted shipping container (open 8-3 Mon-Fri).

Located at: Trinity Buoy Wharf, Orchard Place, London E14 0JW

Closest rail:  East India DLR (follow blue signs from bottom of stairs at south exit) or take the boat service from the O2 QEII Pier / North Greewich (M-F 5am-8pm).

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