Foxtons news

Fraser Turvey, Sales Manager at Islington, explains the reason for the move to the stylish new office: "The office on Camden Walk was an 18th century, Grade II listed building, so we couldn't remodel it easily in the café-style. The site of the new office is perfect for us; it's a real landmark building situated between two old period properties. You see it as soon as you come out of Angel tube."

The dramatic new office, which can accommodate 120 staff, will also enhance the working environment for the Islington team. As Fraser comments, "It'll make a tremendous difference to the way we're able to do business. The old office has served us well, but we have such a huge amount of business to deal with that it really was reaching a point where we physically couldn't fit any more staff in to handle it."

Things will also improve for customers, as Peter Brookes, Lettings Manager at Islington explains, "At the old office I was very aware of our clients being packed into a crowded environment. At weekends we often had people queuing out of the door as there just wasn't enough room for them inside. The new office changes that completely; there's plenty of room to deal with people in a relaxed modern space. It's easier and far more enjoyable for everyone."

Fraser says of the old Islington office, "It's a charming building and it's easy to see why it was chosen as an office when we opened here, ten years ago. But the decision to move on and start using the café-style design really is the right one, and it's great that it's finally come to Islington."

The new office will improve the efficiency of the way Foxtons do business in Islington. As Peter says, "I feel free to ask people if they want to come to the office as I know they'll love it. This means I'll be able to spend more time working in the office and less time on the road, which will benefit everyone."

Fraser agrees. "Foxtons has such a huge presence in the Islington area and now we'll be able to expand that even further without bursting at the seams. It'll make life a lot easier for the entire team. The old office could get pretty hectic at times, but now we've got all the room we need, making it a better environment to work in."

So what is it like to work in Islington? Peter says, "Islington is a really fashionable place. There's a creative ambience here; lots of actors, musicians and artists live around Islington and it's a great place for celebrity spotting. It's a busy area, but there's a relaxed atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoy working here."

Fraser agrees. "Things really started to change in Islington when the Business Design Centre opened on Upper Street. It's like a mini Earls Court and hosts some high-profile conferences and events. After it opened, a lot of bars and restaurants started appearing as well, and it was from there that Upper Street developed into a very trendy area - the place to be in north London."

However, that wasn't always the case, as Fraser goes on to explain. "There was a time when Islington had quite a bad reputation. But about 25 years ago people started to appreciate just what the area might be able to offer. It was in zone 1 and close to the City, but because of its reputation, property was much cheaper than in other areas. People who bought a house for £30,000 in the early 80s can now see it going for close on £1million."

Islington's evolution has been a gradual process but today it's reached fruition. As Peter says, "When I come to work in the morning there are crowds of people walking down Upper Street to catch the tube or a bus into the City. Public transport is really good here, but Islington is so central that a lot of people walk to work. There's absolutely no doubt that the N1 postcode has a lot of cachet."