If you are looking for something to do on a Saturday between now and the end of the month, I can recommend a visit to Sands Films Studio in Rotherhithe. Go along for tea and cake at 4.0 pm, followed by a tour of the premises and a screening of the film, Anonymous, for which Sands Films made the Oscar nominated costumes.
Whichever part of the country you’re coming from, you are likely to get some great views of the Shard on the way. And if you’re not up to splashing out your life savings, or lottery winnings, on a f**k off apartment overlooking the whole of London, then a much more affordable (and generously tax deductible) investment may be of interest…
It’s not only philanthropic types who are rushing to snap up shares in the EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) set up by Sands’ managing director, Olivier Stockman, to purchase the home of the film production studios, set making, theatrical costumiers and dress hire facility.
Investors with as little as £500 to spare are invited to share in the ownership of a jewel in our British film industry’s heritage. The 19th century warehouses, (solid brick-fashioned buildings with venerable old beams), which the company has occupied since 1975, also house a wealth of educational resources known as the Rotherhithe Picture Research Library, in addition to a cosy arthouse cinema club.
Other delights just a stone’s throw away include the Brunel Museum and the Mayflower pub, with a terrace that offers stunning views over one of the widest City stretches of the River Thames (especially formidable at high tide). There’s also the award winning Simplicity restaurant – romantically candlelit at night.
Incidentally, this just happens to look out onto a piece de resistance of historical architecture – St Mary the Virgin Church, built in 1716 by an associate of Sir Christopher Wren.
The church’s website explains that, “memorials inside and outside the building tell of the vision and philanthropy of former worshippers, of sacrifice, and of faith in times of suffering and adversity.” Something worth considering at this time, when so much of our history is being lost to shortsighted materialism.
The Sands Films Studio share offer is open until 2nd April, 2012.
One of my favourite parts of London, and an area that is definitely on the up and up! I would love to have access to loads of great fancy dress costumes. In fact a perfect evening would be a dinner party at a long table in Sands Studios with lots of friends where we could spend the whole night putting on lots of crazy outfits
I’m sure it could be arranged, Worm. Something to consider for the next Dabbler Summit, perhaps?
Sounds, at the very least, like a great day out.
It’s well worth a visit on any day – whether or not you’re thinking of investing.