Hello Soho! My name’s Kitty Hennessy. Nice to see you again.

Starting at Launch this week has felt like coming home – in more ways than one. I started my professional and PR life in the mighty Soho Square, just around the corner from Launch Towers in Archer Street W1. It got me thinking as to why so many creative industries choose to set up shop on King Henry VIII’s former hunting field.

It’s certainly not glamorous or picturesque to the naked eye – but perhaps that’s the point: all life is here. And always has been. The colourful locals on our corner come from a long tradition in Soho, when loitering wasn’t loitering but each corner was in fact an unofficial labour exchange. Archer Street was the musician’s quarter with nearby Compton and Frith Street for waiters, literally waiting for work.

Perhaps Soho’s creative notoriety stems from the entrepreneurship that was left behind when the employers had been and gone; survival of the fittest (or most imaginative). Artists, musicians, actors, poets  and everybody else besides gathered in the many great watering holes to devise ways of making their fame and fortune and more than a few succeeded – past residents of the area include: Karl Marx, Casanova, William Blake and Mozart.

I think that is the key to the lure of Soho – inspiration is everywhere you look, and that, combined with vision and creativity, do a successful mixture make. No wonder the Launch lot are so invigorated – you live by your wits round here!

Hi, I’m Holly, a new Account Manager at Launch Group. I’ve just come to the end of my first week and thought I’d share what I’ve been up to as the newest ‘Launcher’…

Monday

Surprisingly, no first day nerves, just a sense of excitement at joining a PR Week ‘Best Place to Work’ accredited agency. The team is very welcoming and I have a day of inductions planned to get me up to speed. It’s nice to be back in Soho too!

Tea Received: 2

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: Telegraph

Tuesday

Getting to know Launch processes and relieved to find everyone is as media savvy as campaign results show! The Butlins team secures a great hit for their ‘Fine but Fun Wine List’ from top drinks writer Anthony Rose. 

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: Guardian

Wednesday

Briefed on an upcoming launch event for premium Vodka brand Black Moth. I also get to taste the delicious cocktails which is a bonus! Keep an eye out for Black Moth from July; it is a must have for any Vodka connoisseur.

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 0

Paper Read: The Sun

Thursday

Briefed on two more interesting campaigns – The Discovery Channel premiere of James Cracknell’s ‘Toughest Race on Earth’ and Yell.com’s ShopView programme which is revolutionising the way SME businesses promote themselves.

Tea Received: 1

Tea Made: 1 (for me)

Paper Read: Daily Mail

Friday

Talk through the Butlins 75^th birthday project (particularly excited as my childhood ambition was to be a Red Coat!). I fill in my timesheet then it’s off to the Friday afternoon ritual of end of week catch up over some beers and wine. My first week has flown by and I had loved every minute!

Tea Received: 0

Tea Made: 2 (1 x me 1 x Account Director)

Wine: 2

Paper Read: Daily Star

I recently discovered that London is the most expensive place to have a beer in the country, and from my experiences of late night drinking in Soho, I can vouch for the detrimental impact that any alcoholic consumption has on my credit card.

So I thought I would combat the financial mess we all seem to be in and befriend my savings account again (long has this friend been ignored).  Due to my new found frugality my social life has taken an unhappy downturn – but I’m determined for this not to be the case, so I have compiled a list of cheap treats in sexy Soho:

1.      Tea and Cake at Maison Bertaux, Greek Street

Established in 1871, I don’t think this patisserie has been decorated since, and that’s the charm!  Serving decadent cakes (strawberry and vanilla tart with clotted cream is amazing) and a good old cup of English tea – china cup and all!  And, if you’re lucky, there will be strange art exhibitions adorning the walls to keep you entertained.

Average Price £6

2.      Hangover Cure at The Breakfast Club, D’Arblay Street

It’s not a tribute to the Molly Ringwold / Emilio Estevez 80’s cult film, but the best hangover cure in Soho.  A brilliant selection of breakfasts, including porridge with oodles of dried fruit and runny honey to go with the enormous Latte’s they serve – great for a bleary eyed mid-week morning.

Breakfast for under a fiver

3.      Taxidermy and a pint The Endurance, Berwick Street

You need to get here early to make sure you get a good table as this pub on uber trendy Berwick Street (famed for where What’s the story morning glory? Album cover was shot).  Don’t be alarmed by the taxidermy adorning the walls – it’s all part of the attraction!

Pints aren’t cheap but the ambience makes it worthwhile

4.    One cocktail evening at The Player, Broadwick Street

If you want to feel like you’re heading to a New York speakeasy, then this is the place to go. They’ve brought back their retro cocktail range and you can even get a sparkler in your Pina Colada.  It’ll cheer you up after the worst day at work (not that we have any of those…!).

If you only have one it won’t make you ill the next day – from £6

5.      Beef in a bun at The Nosh Bar, Great Windmill Street

You can’t work on Archer Street and not love the Nosh Bar – the relatively new addition to the area has already created a loyal following. Try the Salt Beef with Cream Cheese and Mustard on Rye – it could give you the same result as Meg Ryan.

Lunch for £5

6.      Communal dining and squid at Busaba Ethai, Wardour Street

The best way to eat here is to eat everything. The communal table arrangement encourages random conversations, and you’re always sure to make new friends or discover bizarre connections which you leave thinking, “it’s a small world”.  And the salt and pepper squid is the best in Soho – just beware of queues in the evening.

Dinner for £15 – conversation is free

I spent two weeks ‘experiencing work’ at Launch Group, and I wish I didn’t have to leave….. :( Here’s a list of the things I’ll miss most:

1. The water cooler – simple but I found myself using it most of the time…
2. The fact that I have a phone on my desk;  so what if no one called me, it was nice to know it was there!
3. The special key that beeped me into the building – endless fun
4. Newspaper reviews – which were always funny
5. The location – Soho has a very nice noodle place…
6. Everyone was always in a happy mood J
7. Launch Group’s ‘Launch Lander’ game on the website – incredibly addictive even though I never managed to get to the top of the leader board
8. Sorting out the ‘magazine library’ upstairs meant that I got to read A LOT of Hello magazine
9. Everyone was VERY nice all of the time

I don’t want to leeeeaaaave!!!