Exploring London, eating out and West End theatre are thethings I love to do most out of office hours. It is therefore nosurprise that my career in property has followed a path thatencapsulates London and leisure. My inspirational place isCovent Garden. As someone who loves eating out and theatre, it has alwaysbeen a special place for me. When I joined DCL in 2006, myvery first instruction was working with Shaftesbury PLC on theOpera Quarter (a relationship that continues to endure) CoventGarden’s historic food quarter, famous for its café culture andset in the heart of theatreland; and even after all these years Istill find myself totally exhilarated by that pre-theatre buzz,wandering its charming streets, people watching on the Piazzaand dining out in the fabulous restaurants, bars and cafes thatnow populate Wellington Street, Henrietta Street, The MarketBuilding and Seven Dials.

Over the years my remit has extended tothe Covent Garden Estate, St Martin’sCourtyard, Seven Dials and St Martin’sLane where I have had the privilege to seethe area evolve to a highly desirable placeto go for Londoners and visitors alike, whilstworking on some of my favouriterestaurants, bars and clubs; and advising ona theatre or two. As with Covent Garden, a general passionfor London and the leisure sector, forensicmarket and technical knowledge, a deep-seated appreciation of property and itssurroundings and thoughtful considerationof the interplay between variousstakeholders allows me to work acrossLondon on some of its most excitingbuildings, estates and locations.

MY INSPIRATIONAL PLACE MARGARET WALSH

COVENT GARDEN

Margaret is Executive Director of the Lease Advisory team at DCL. She is active in all major leisure circuits across London.