WHEN a lawn hits two years old it becomes a field. With little touches like these – with a spot of mini-golf – Spinningfields reinvents itself.
The Lawn Club was always a temporary structure, a food and drink pop-up in a posh garden centre annexe. It made a mark because of the excellent small plate nosh curated by itinerant chef David Gale (below). Now all that is no more as it is due to shut at the end of August.
Hardman Square will then host The Field and The Pavilion. TOM would name it the Joe Root Pavilion but roots sound a bit permanent. According to its restless operators The Field will be: “a celebration of green space in the city; a cutting-edge, but inherently sustainable destination, with exciting bars and restaurants, interlinking footpaths and planted areas, complementing the world-class No.1 Spinningfields.”
Erecting that hulk has made us often long for ear-plugs during our Lawn Club visits, but that ordeal is nearly over.
Lawn Club operators Keep Left have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Spinningfields landlords Allied London. They gave KL’s James Wrigley opened In Bloom in 2012, leading to Hibernate, The Lawn Club, The Haig Club and The Club House.
Michael Ingall, Allied London’s Chief Exec tells us: “The Lawn Club has been the perfect prequel to our plans for the next phase of Hardman Square. The overwhelming success this area enjoyed as temporary public realm with The Lawn Club seemed to add more value to the place than any building could ever do. It has ensured the opportunity to keep it free for people to enjoy and continue something exceptional and striking.”