Seven Dials celebrates Spotlight festival with music, art and comedy

Seven Dials held its third successful Spotlight festival on Saturday 13 August. Attracting over 10,000 visitors, the crowd was a mix of Londoners and international spectators who enjoyed the free one-day event. From 12-7pm the area was transformed into a traffic-free, entertainment hot spot with a series of live performances in addition to exclusive activities and promotions in over 120 brands and restaurants.

An open-air stage showcased an impressive line-up of performances celebrating some of the best of London’s culture and hosted by TV presenter George Lamb. The festival opened with an exclusive show piece from legendary West End show Motown the Musical followed by Treasure Island and impressive illusions from London’s youngest magician Ben Hart. Comedy from Nathan Caton and live music from upcoming musicians included Sample Answer and a 10-piece brass ensemble Old Dirty Brasstards with King Charles closing the stage with an acoustic set.

Deputy mayor for business, Rajesh Agrawal, said: “Tourists flock to the capital in their millions every year to experience the huge array of cultural gems and activities on offer. One of the greatest things about London is that top restaurants, shopping destinations and cultural hotspots are dotted around every corner in the city, and the Spotlight festival demonstrates this perfectly. It is fantastic to see local businesses in Seven Dials getting behind the festival, showing visitors that London is open to all.”

Karen Baines, head of group marketing and communications at Shaftesbury adds “Spotlight is a key event in London’s creative calendar that supports the mayors cultural vision for positioning London on the global stage. Attracting both national and international audiences, Seven Dials appeals to them equally through its events, brands and charming village aesthetic.”