I was delighted to join members of our community for the annual Christmas tree lights switch-on at Bishopsgate Plaza tonight.
The event is organised and sponsored as a joint partnership project between the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Eastern City Business Improvement District.
The event is designed to help our economic hub in the heart of the City, which is packed full of world-class hospitality and retail outlets, to thrive over the busy festive season.
Following in the footsteps of Dame Joan Collins, who switched on the lights last year, Dermot O’Leary kindly did the honours this year. He explained that it was his first ever request to switch on Christmas lights and he accepted because Bishopsgate hold special memories for him. It was where his father used to work in construction and how he would often come up and visit his Dad from his home in Colchester, frequenting the local pubs and churches in the square mile.
In addition to to the fantastic Christmas tree, which will offer daily festive light show performances, the Pan Pacific team unveiled the UK’s largest Christmas wreath!
On behalf of the Bishopsgate Ward Councillors, my thanks to all those who have worked hard to bring this vision to life. It’s so important we continue to build a sense of community, particularly around the many different religious festivals at this time of year. People need to feel that sense of belonging and hope, as one year draws to a close and another begins.
