Second, please also note that the Chinese restaurant Poon's, by Amy Poon, scion of the Poon's restaurant dynasty, recently rooted itself in the New Wing. Ice-skating itself I have nothing against, but we can all agree that these slippery yuletide stampedes on temporary rinks are the polar opposite of festive, so surely it would be far better to be hiding indoors in the warmth with a round of prawn wontons, a bowl of nourishing magic soup, or some wind-dried meat claypot rice.
A row of semi-derelict houses on Strand is to be restored as part of an expansion of the neighbouring Courtauld Institute and art gallery. The Courtauld recently completed a refurbishment of its art gallery spaces and is now turning to the other side of the estate - its teaching and research centres. As part of the refurbishment, their centre facing into Somerset House will be newly connected to a suite of neighbouring townhouses that face out onto Strand.