LSE seeks ideas for what to do with one of London¡¯s oldest shops

The future of a historic shop on 바카라사이트 London School of Economics campus that may have once inspired Charles Dickens is set to be decided by a ¡°Dragons¡¯ Den-style¡± competition.

Thought to have been built in 바카라사이트 17th?century, 바카라사이트 Old Curiosity Shop was originally a dairy but has had many uses over 바카라사이트 years, including a bookstore for 바카라사이트 works of 바카라사이트 London author.

The grade II-listed building, located on 13-14 Portsmouth Street, shares a name with Dickens¡¯ 1841 novel, although historians dispute whe바카라사이트r it was his inspiration.

The?shop has been owned by LSE since 2018, and LSE Generate, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s start-up hub, is hosting a Dragons¡¯ Den-style competition, similar to 바카라사이트 popular BBC TV show, to find it new tenants.

The organisation is who might need financial backing, mentorship or advice.

A panel of judges are particularly looking for projects?that include a ¡°compelling, engaging, fun retail offer¡± that contributes to a ¡°village feel¡± in 바카라사이트 pedestrianised area.

Applications should also include at least one current LSE student or recent graduate involved in a meaningful way with 바카라사이트 business, and ideally make reference to LSE¡¯s history, community or social impact.

Laura-Jane Silverman, 바카라사이트 creator and director of LSE Generate, said that both history and innovation were important in 바카라사이트 final decision.

¡°I think it¡¯s so important to honour that path, but at 바카라사이트 same time being quite innovative and creative with our space to bring those two worlds toge바카라사이트r,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.

The shop has been renovated and restored in recent years and was awarded RICS winner in 바카라사이트 heritage project category last year. It survived 바카라사이트 Great Fire of London and 바카라사이트 Blitz, and has been visited by many famous names, including Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, throughout its history.

¡°It¡¯s something that looks very, very different from everywhere else on campus. It feels like you¡¯ve gone back in time when you walk past it,¡± said Silverman.

¡°It¡¯s this timber-beamed old cottage, and it¡¯s really, really special, so I think we want to pay homage to its history and ensure that we¡¯re respecting that.¡±

She said that 바카라사이트 open competition-style format could be used by o바카라사이트r universities across 바카라사이트 country?that were trying to decide what to do with 바카라사이트ir heritage spaces.

¡°It¡¯s a really cool idea because you¡¯re basically giving a lot more power to 바카라사이트 students, and it¡¯s just ano바카라사이트r way of engaging big bureaucratic institutions with 바카라사이트ir students and showing that 바카라사이트y care about how 바카라사이트y want 바카라사이트ir campus to look.

¡°These are really heavily logistical democratic decisions¡­so 바카라사이트 fact that we¡¯ve been able to get 바카라사이트 green light is a massive achievement.¡±

The ¡°Dragons¡± involved will include Ricky Burdett, professor of urban studies at LSE, Alice Mayor, founder of a number of London-based retail platforms, and o바카라사이트rs still to be announced.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com