An array of A-List celebs turned up in London’s East End last night to hear pop idol Tom Odell perform his Christmas TV ad hit at the launch of ‘Manhattan island city’ development on the banks of the River Lea.
He sang ‘Real Love’ at the piano which features in the John Lewis Christmas ad with Monty the penguin and his little penguin pals— destined to be a Christmas chart-topper.
The ‘City Island by Ballymore’ development on a loop in the river where it flows into the Thames opens in 2016, two years ahead of Crossrail’s Canary Wharf station nearby.
The reception was held at Ballymore’s marketing suite on the 12-acre ‘mini Manhattan’ site, between Blackwall one side of the Lea and Canning Town on the other.
“This island is more than just bricks and mortar,” Ballymore’s UK managing director John Mulryan said. “We make places, districts – even communities. This is a new island neighbourhood for London.”
Model of the moment Daisy Lowe led a legion of glam faces ashore for the exclusive party to celebrate the imminent arrival of the new island neighbourhood.
They included TV presenter Zara Martin, Singer Diana Vickers, make-up artist Millie McIntosh and Channel 4 Made In Chelsea former star Kimberley Garner.
Island-inspired canapés and cocktails were served up, such as Orkney scallops on a cauliflower puree with Sevruga caviar, seafood ‘black pudding’ of lobster bisque-infused polenta cup, coloured with squid ink, and ‘naked’ Wagyu beefburgers with comté cheese, followed by salted caramel peanut butter lollypops and warm seasonal cocktails of mulled gin with apple, plum and cinnamon or vodka espresso.
The development is set to become London’s ‘mini Manhattan’ with 10 skyscrapers, 1,700 apartments as well as restaurants, bars, open spaces, boutiques and waterside parks.
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[Photos: David Benett/Getty Images for Ballymore]
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