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A 'Very East London Christmas' celebrates the charm and history of the hotel's neighbourhood, and was designed by creative agency, Manifesto Studios.
On display until the end of January 2017, the installation recreates the legendary Bow Bells of London in floating neon perspex. Seven bells are suspended across the hotel lobby, the Lounge. Each one embodies an element of East End personality and are etched with drawings of the history and the icons that have shaped the area’s identity, so guests can truly experience East London from inside the hotel.
Every bell charts the history of the area, from cockney antiquity to the modern day, paying homage to the architecture, markets, fashions and art scene of the district as well as its people, including cockneys, the Krays and the East End suffragettes.
The installation brings to life the #SoEastLondon hashtag, a creative digital campaign launched by Andaz London Liverpool Street to celebrate the unique and distinctive character of its East London locale. Vistors can also enjoy an interactive experience; by tweeting @AndazLondon with #soeastlondon, real bell chimes will be triggered, no matter whether the post is made in the hotel, East London or anywhere across the globe.
The largest bell on site, spanning two meters wide, showcases London’s well-known architecture and skyline, featuring iconic buildings, including the magnificent St Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin.
The legacy of gangster twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray, who ruled the East End and the London crime scene with their game, The Firm, which rocked the 1950s and 60s, is encapsulated on one of the bells, with the design including guns, Ronnie’s spectacles and boxing gloves. A further bell celebrates the inspirational determination of Sylvia Pankhurst, who famously protested for the right for women to vote and founded the East London Federation of Suffragettes in 1914, with 198 Bow Road its first headquarters. Last but not least, the seventh bell plays homage to the Cockney, most famously known for their rhyming slang.
The bell is etched with visual references to some of these most famous sayings, like "dog and bone" meaning "telephone" or "apples and pears" meaning "stairs", adding an essence of heart-warming humour to this installation. Sitting alongside the large-scale installation in the Lobby will be neon wrapped green Christmas presents, with each East London themed gift having been inspired by the stories told on each of the seven bells.
The hotel's general manger Otto Steenbeek said: "At the Andaz London Liverpool Street, we want every guest to be able to experience the incredible vibrant culture of East London from within the hotel. This interactive installation achieves this by bringing the area’s unique history and personality into the heart of the Andaz as well as spreading Christmas cheer."
Last year, Andaz London Liverpool Street unveiled a festive installation i. Earlier this year, Macmillan Cancer Support unveiled a .
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