WestField

Westfield is due to open at the end of this month. Up til now I've only really felt a bit of anger and annoyance at it, but as the grand launch is approaching I guess I am starting to feel a bit excited about it.

For those of you who don't know what Westfield is, here is a brief explanation. Westfield is supposedly going to be Europe's largest shopping and entertainment complex within a city (i.e. not an out of town one). There will be over 250 retail shops, nearly 50 eateries, people who will park your car and carry your shopping, a big cinema, places that'll look after your kids while you shop. It sounds insane. Like the spaceship in Wall-E that all the humans live on. The transport links to it are to die for. About 4 tube stops are within spitting distance, there's a brand new overground station which spills directly into the complex, a new bus station in the same place and 4,500 car parking spaces.

It's going to be bloody massive.

But Shepherd's Bush is one of the most culturally diverse areas of London with a lot of independent businesses that may suffer deeply from the huge competition that Westfield poses. On the other hand, it may bring a lot more people to Shepherd's Bush and the local businesses may benefit from additional custom. However, I don't really see that happening as the entire place is designed to be self-sustaining - like once you go there you need never go anywhere else. For the rest of your life.

I am quite excited about it now though. We'll have an Eat. and a Yo! Sushi!