Written on 6 December 2021 by Courtney Manton in London
After 10 years as a construction site, the hoardings have been removed from Hanover Square in Mayfair, revealing a glamorous new destination, set to rival nearby Berkeley and Grosvenor Squares.
London’s oldest garden square, Hanover Square was built between 1716 and 1720. It was named after King George I, the Elector of Hanover.
Since 2011, building work on Bond Street Crossrail station and nearby office and retail blocks meant most commuters were completely unaware of the square’s existence – it was obscured by hoardings and construction noise made it somewhere to avoid. Now, most of the hoardings have been removed and the gardens have reopened.
When complete, the reborn square will include the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair – a 50-room hotel and high-end apartments. Along with Bond Street’s new Crossrail station, the development will also feature three office buildings, luxury homes and public space in the form of a Parisian-style courtyard. The square’s occupants will include a fashion academy from acclaimed shoe designer Jimmy Choo.
A £10 million New England-style brasserie, The Maine, opened in the square last month after hosting a reception for Vogue magazine attended by Alesha Dixon, Liam Payne and Lila Moss. The restaurant can seat 350 diners over three floors and an outside terrace.
The Canadian restaurateur behind The Maine, Joey Ghazal, welcomed the impact the square’s revamp will have. He said: “I love Hanover Square. It’s Mayfair but at the same time it’s a bridge into Soho. Bond Street station is going to change the area, it’s going to be huge. It will be much more Soho than Berkeley Square.”
Read more about this story in the Evening Standard.
