List of buildings in EastEnders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of buildings in the fictional London borough of Walford, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For a list of the houses in the programme, see list of residences in EastEnders.
| Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z • See also • External links |
[edit] A
[edit] The Arches
- Address: 2 Turpin Way
Mitchell's Autos, better known as The Arches (because it is under the arch way of the railway bridge) is the location for Phil Mitchell's car mechanics business. It was known as Beale's Wheels for a while, when Sam was forced to sell the Arches to Ian Beale.
Garry Hobbs and Minty Peterson are the current mechanics. Past mechanics have included Grant Mitchell, Jamie Mitchell, Conor Flaherty, Ricky Butcher and Carly Wicks.
Minty was recently fired from the Arches for talking back to Phil and not servicing a car properly, leading to Ian Beale having a car crash. Minty was given his job back after he apologised to Phil. Carly was sacked in February 2007 after smashing the windscreen of a customer's car with a monkey wrench.
The Arches is best known for the "Sharongate" storyline involving Grant and Phil's argument over Grant's wife Sharon, when Grant put Phil in a coma by pushing him into the car pit and rupturing his spleen.
[edit] Argee Bhajee
- Address: 88-90 George Street
The Argee Bhajee is Walford's Indian restaurant. It was first known as Giuseppe's, an Italian restaurant, run by the di Marco family.
It has not been seen much, but scenes here have included Lynne Hobbs' hen night.
Before becoming a restaurant, number 90 was a pet shop, and was later Kool for Kutz hair salon, owned by Steve Elliot and Della Alexander. It was later owned by Felix Kawalski and used as a barber shop. In 1997 Annie Palmer turned it into a print shop called By The Letter. Number 88 was Hills' Hardware owned by Ted Hills.
[edit] B
[edit] Barrat's Bargain Corner
Barrat's Bargain Corner is a bric-a-brac shop on Turpin Road. It is situated near Scarlet. Its name incorporates the initials of the BBC.
[edit] Beale's Plaice
- Address: 15 Turpin Road
Beale's Plaice is the fish and chip shop, owned by Ian Beale. It was originally a Chinese takeaway called The Green Lantern. The Beales lived in the flat above the shop for a while. Ian, Cindy Beale, Bianca Jackson, Sam Mitchell, Laura Beale, Jane Collins and Spencer Moon have all worked here.
[edit] Booty
- Address: 10 Turpin Road
10 Turpin Road was originally Walford's other pub named The Dagmar, owned by Gladstones Brewery. James Willmott-Brown was given tenancy in 1987, he converted the pub into a wine bar and opened it in direct competition to The Queen Vic. Angie Watts became the chief barmaid of the Dagmar in 1987 to spite Den, the landlord of the rival Queen Vic, which was floundering without her behind the bar. By the end of the year, she had quit and returned to the Vic as partner. Other employees have included, Mary Smith as a cleaner, and bar staff Simon "Wicksy" Wicks, Barry Clark, Lofty Holloway and Kathy Beale, who was attacked and raped by Willmott-Brown in 1988. A shocked Kathy was discovered by Den, who vowed revenge. Den stuck by his word and the bar was firebombed by Brad Williams, an employee of The Firm, at the request of Den. Willmott-Brown left the burnt bar and made a getaway to Nottingham.
In 1991 Ian Beale leased the site for his new catering business The Meal Machine, which he ran with his PA Hattie Tavernier and chefs Steve Elliot and Joe Wallace, who was sacked when Ian discovered he had HIV. Ian's cousin Mark Fowler would also do the delivery for the business in Ian's van. The Meal Machine was closed in 1993 after Richard Cole reported Ian to environmental health.
Ian reopened another business on the site in 1998 called Beale's Market, a bric a brack store. Staff included Melanie Healy, Jamie Mitchell, Louise Raymond and Jeff Healy. Ian was declared bankrupt in 2000 and the building was turned into a bargain shop. In 2001, Melanie Owen returned to the Square a tough businesswoman and relaunched Ian's failed business, The Meal Machine, with him as a partner. The property was signed over to Laura Beale as protection when Melanie was falsely arrested for drugs trafficking.
In 2003, Phil Mitchell bought the building as a business for his wife Kate who opened Sophisti-Kate's as a nail bar. With Kate's agreement, Chrissie Watts set up a hair salon upstairs in the building until their friendship was ruined following Chrissie's discovery of Kate and Den's affair. When Kate left the Square in 2005 to rejoin the police force, the nail bar was closed. In 2006 it was bought by Max and Tanya Branning, who opened it as a beauty parlour and renamed it Booty. Tanya's employees are beauticians Chelsea Fox and Preeti Choraria and receptionist Honey Mitchell.
[edit] Bridge Street Café
- Address: 2 Bridge Street
Bridge Street Café (usually referred to as the caff; also known as Kathy's) was first named Al's café and was leased by Sue and Ali Osman. Ali also ran a taxicab firm, Ozcabs, from the café with his brother Mehmet Osman, and Dot Cotton and Barry Clark helped on the switchboard. Later on Mehmet and his wife Guizin Osman became partners in the café.
The lease was taken over by Ian Beale in 1989, who went on to buy the premises later that year and became the outright owner. Ian ran it for a while to make money to invest into his catering business then sold it to his mother, Kathy who became partners with Frank Butcher and Pauline Fowler in 1991. She named it Kathy's. For a while Kathy and Pauline ran it with Frank as a silent partner, until Kathy bought Pauline out in 1992. In 1993 Kathy changed the café's look and turned it into The Bistro, which opened in the evenings and offered cooking from Christine Hewitt. In 1994 Phil Mitchell bought Frank out. The Bistro was a little too upmarket for Walford and Kathy eventually abandoned the idea, but in 1995 Steve Elliot began renting the café from her in order to open the Night Café, which was later ran by Alan Jackson and Mick McFarlane.
Eventually Ian took over his mother's share again when she left Walford in 1998. When Ian was made bankrupt in 2000, Phil took over his share and became sole owner.
Phil appointed a manager in 2003, Ian's ex-wife Laura Beale. The name of the café was also changed, to Laura's. Phil left the business in the hands of his sister Sam when he went on the run from the police. Sam then sold the café back to Ian in 2004. He sacked Laura and changed its name back to Kathy's.
Ian now runs the café with his girlfriend, Jane Collins.
Past employees at the Café have included Guizin Osman, Natalie Evans, Janine Evans, Lynne Hobbs, Mick McFarlane, Mandy Salter, Carol Jackson, Robbie Jackson, Huw Edwards, Steve Elliot, Mary Smith, Michelle Fowler, Sharon Watts, Blossom Jackson, April Branning, Christine Hewitt, Sylvia Weng-Chung, Pat Evans, Chelsea Fox and Juley Smith.
[edit] C
[edit] Community Centre
- Address: Turpin Way
Walford's Community Centre. Originally the custodian of the centre was Tom Clements until his death in 1988. The Banned entered a musicians competition and performed on stage here in 1986. Darren Roberts held a cultural evening here in 1987, which was really a screening for a pornographic movie. Ian Beale and Barry Clark also ran their mobile disco here in 1988. Duncan Boyd held youth help groups here with help from Lofty Holloway. Private parties, jumble sales, fetes and toddler groups were also held here during this time. After Tom's death the running of the centre was taken over by Carmel Jackson and Arthur Fowler, however in 1989 it began to get neglected and Mo Butcher then appointed herself as the new custodian. Mo had numerous run-ins with the council official in charge of the centre, Mr Rhodes, who was also a paraplegic. In 1989 a Brownie group was run from the centre, with Marge Green as Brown Owl. When Marge proved incapable, Mo took over, but was sacked later in the year for lying about her age.
The centre was burnt down in 1992, but was renovated into a day care centre in 1994. Ruth Fowler was employed here during this time. In 1999 it was converted into a health club called Walford Workout by Annie Palmer and the Mitchell brothers, with Steve Owen providing funding. Melanie Owen ran an aerobics class here, and Grant Mitchell became a fitness manager. Jim Branning once signed up for fitness classes here, and met the obsessive Doris Moisey who tried to ruin his marriage to Dot.
It has since returned to being a community centre. Derek Harkinson became the manager in 2001. During this time it has held a youth club, which Paul Trueman assisted in, and a pantomime was also put on during Christmas 2001. The community centre has also hosted Gamblers Anonymous meetings, attended by Ash Ferreira.
[edit] D
[edit] Doctor's surgery
- Address: 1a Albert Square
The basement flat of 1 Albert Square is the doctor's surgery, which has been run by all of Walford's local GPs. It was originally run by Dr. Harold Legg and his partner Dr. Jaggat Singh. Dr Singh moved on in December 1987, and so Dr. Legg's nephew, Dr. David Samuels, became the new partner. After Dr. Legg retired, Dr. Fred Fonseca took over, followed by Dr. Anthony Trueman, Dr. Johnathon Leroy, and Dr. Oliver Cousins (who moved on in March 2006). As of November 2006, the current GP is Dr. May Wright. Past receptionists have included Michelle Fowler and Josie McFarlane.
[edit] E
[edit] Eric's Electrics
- Address: 55 Turpin Road
Eric's Electrics is an electrical shop on Turpin Road.
[edit] F
[edit] Fargo's
Fargo's is a new classy restaurant in Walford. Rosie Miller used to be the cleaner there until she left the square. Fargo's is usually the setting for scenes when characters are on a date, or go out for a meal.
Elaine Jarvis, the manageress of the restaurant, recently appeared in the show when Chelsea Fox started working here. Chelsea wasn't very good at her job, and got her mother Denise to go there for a meal so she could praise Chelsea to Elaine. Denise invited Kevin Wicks as he was the only person in the Square that she knew.
[edit] The Feathers
In the early days of the programme, The Queen Vic's main rival was The Feathers, which was often mentioned but never seen. Den Watts would frequently — and sneeringly — refer to its landlord, who was always referred to as Fat Harry. ("Fat Harry don't worry me, he ain't no competition... he couldn't run a tap, let alone a pub. Sort o' geezer who'd order 500 pork pies for a Bar Mitzvah.")
[edit] G
[edit] Getaway Motors
- Address: 6 Albert Square
The car lot was formerly a discount tyre shop, which apparently closed in 1981. During the early years of the show the site was used as a parking place for Chris Smith's (father to Mary Smith) lorry and he later opened a haulage company from the site with Harry Jameson, which was called Smith & Jameson Haulage. It was Chris who introduced the portacabin in 1988, that is still there today. Charlie Cotton worked as one of his drivers and Rod Norman did his books. Mary was initially employed as his secretary. The business went bankrupt and was taken over by Walford Investments, which was the money lending business of the gangster organisation known as The Firm. Gregory Mantel used the premises as a base in Walford until 1989.
Following the departure of Mantel the site was sold to Frank Butcher, who converted it into a second hand car dealers in 1989, which was named Frank's Autos, with the slogan "Come and have a Butcher's!" Ali Osman worked as a salesman for the company in 1989 and Trevor Short was also employed here for a brief period. In 1992-1993 Frank ran a cab firm from the premises with his wife, Pat, which was called Pat Cabs and was later renamed F & P Cabs. After Frank arranged to set fire to the car lot in an insurance scam, he did a runner, and in his absence Pat, David Wicks and Ricky Butcher took over ownership and renamed it Deals On Wheels. Roy Evans later became a third partner in the business.
Following David's departure, Roy Evans took over the business with his son Barry Evans, naming it Evans and Son. Frank also became a silent partner again in 1998. They also ran a mini-cab service. Robbie Jackson, Nathan Williams, Beppe di Marco and Mick McFarlane worked here at different times, as well as Janine Butcher. Kim McFarlane washed cars for a while too. After both Barry and Roy's deaths, Barry's wife Janine Evans took over in 2004, until she was arrested for Laura Beale's murder later that year. The Ferreiras later ran a cab firm there called Toucan Cars with Sasha Perkins, until Johnny Allen ran them out of town.
Patrick Trueman was next to try his hand at running the car lot in November 2005, renting the premises from Peggy Mitchell. He renamed it Trueman's Motors and Pat did his books for him. After his wife Yolande discovered his affair with Pat, Patrick offered the lot to Kevin Wicks, who planned to run it as a family business, called Wicks and Son, but after his son Deano refused to work there, he renamed it Getaway Motors.
[edit] H
[edit] Harrison & Fitch Estate Agents
- Address: High Street
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[edit] Hungry Hank
- Address: George Street
Hungry Hank is a pie shop on George Street, opposite Walford East tube station.
[edit] L
[edit] La Jolie Madame
- Address: High Street
La Jolie Madame is a beauty parlour where Preeti Choraria previously worked, before being poached by Max and Tanya Branning to work at Booty.
[edit] Launderette
- Address: 3 Bridge Street
The launderette is owned by Mr Papadopolous. The regular employee of the launderette is Dot Branning, who has worked there since the start of the show, although she was absent from 1993-1997 and she had a shortlived retirement in 2003. Pauline Fowler worked here from the beginning of the show in February 1985 right up until her death in December 2006. Carol Jackson, Marge Green, Mary Smith and Lynne Hobbs have also worked there. A recurring joke in the series is that Papadopolous (whose name Dot Branning can never pronounce) is never seen, only mentioned in ominous tones ("Oooh, Mr Opodopowotsit won't be happy!"). This was rather spoiled somewhat when he appeared on EastEnders tenth anniversary episode.
The launderette has seen many important events since the start of the show in 1985. Ashley Cotton crashed Mark Fowler's bike into the launderette and later died, and Dot also revealed to Den Watts that she had cancer while they had an argument in the launderette.
The launderette also once saw Kelvin Carpenter strip to his underwear to wash the clothes he was wearing, in a spoof of the famous Levi's commercial.
[edit] Lock Fast
- Address: George Street
Lock Fast is a key cutting shop on George Street, opposite Walford East.
[edit] M
[edit] Mamas Pizza
- Address: Turpin Road
A pizzeria on Turpin Road. The shop name is spelt incorrectly, without an apostrophe in "Mamas", and the first "z" is missing from the shop sign. Charlie Slater worked there temporarily as a delivery boy in 2001, after having his cabbing license suspended after taking the rap for his daughter Lynne's boyfriend Garry Hobbs. Charlie subsequently quit after much mocking from local residents.
[edit] Minute Mart
- Address: 1 Bridge Street
Walford's local shop was originally an open fronted grocery store run by Saeed and Naima Jeffery and was little more than a large market stall. After their divorce, Naima converted it into a shop and called it First Til Last. Having over-stretched herself borrowing the money for the conversion, Naima was forced to go into an awkward partnership with Debbie Wilkins, and despite the fact that they became victims of a local protection racket, the business did well. Naima's family sent a cousin, called Rezaul Gabir, over to help run the shop. Rezaul made Naima's working life difficult. After both Debbie and Naima departed to get married in 1987, the business was run by Rezaul until it was sold to Ashraf and Sufia Karim at the end of the year. The business suffered, however, due to Ashraf's extra-marital affairs.
Following the Karims' departure, the shop was bought by the rarely seen Mrs Andreos who employed Carol Jackson to run the shop during her absence. In 1997, Mrs Andreos sold her business to Sanjay's mother Neelam Kapoor. Neelam sold the shop in 1998 before moving back to India.
Terry and Irene Raymond took over the shop in 1998, then sold it to a Mr. Hendry, who changed the name to Minute Mart. He employed Barry Evans, but he found this a humiliating experience as Hendry treated him as little more than a glorified errand boy.
Nita Mistry managed the shop for Mr. Hendry until she left Walford. Martin and Vicki Fowler robbed the shop in 2003, but Gus Smith was arrested when he attempted to stop them.
Mr. Hendry decided to sell the shop when his wife was injured in a second robbery. Patrick and Yolande Trueman bought the shop.
When Stacey Slater worked in the shop, she used footage of Keith Miller on CCTV lifting heavy boxes, in order to report him for benefit fraud.
Other former employees include Janine Butcher, Gus Smith, Pat Evans, Robbie Jackson, Tony Hills, Lilly Mattock, Tina Hopkins, Kelvin Carpenter, Arthur Fowler, Donna Ludlow, Mandy Salter and Aidan Brosnan.
[edit] P
[edit] Post Office
- Address: 7 Turpin Road
Walford's Post Office is rarely seen. Denise Fox currently works here. With the introduction of Denise, the Post Office has been seen more regularly. In one scene, Kevin Wicks had a parcel to collect but had no identification – when he returned to the Post Office later, it was closed. Another had Kevin buying stamps and other items from Denise just so he could speak to her and ask her out on a date.
[edit] Q
[edit] The Queen Victoria
- Address: 46 Albert Square
[edit] S
[edit] Scarlet
- Address: 4 Turpin Road
[edit] Snooker World
- Address: 2 Turpin Road.
This building is housed in one of the arches of the railway viaduct, next to Scarlet's nightclub.
The building was first referred to in 1986, as Henry's Wine Bar, a rival to The Queen Victoria. When Den Watts gave up tenancy at The Vic, he was set up by The Firm as the new manager of the wine bar, now renamed Strokes, which he ran with other members of The Firm, Joanne Francis and Brad Williams. The basement of this establishment was used for illegal gambling.
After the demise of this enterprise, Mr Papadopolous (the owner of the launderette) took a lease on the wine bar for conversion to an amusement arcade and Julie Cooper leased the basement for use as a hair salon. But before the conversions began, their leases were bought out and the building was converted to a pizza bar, named Pizza Marguerita, ran by Steve Elliot. In 1994, Ian Beale used the offices for his new loan shark business called Ian Beale Finances. Ricky Butcher worked for him as a heavy, but wasn't very good at the job.
In the late 1990s, Phil and Grant Mitchell bought the building and converted it into a snooker hall and sports equipment suppliers, with Annie Palmer as a partner. Billy Mitchell managed it. When Grant left, Steve Owen bought into the business.
In 2004, it was burnt down by Billy along with the neighbouring club Angie's Den, on the instruction of the acting owner, Sam Mitchell.
[edit] T
[edit] Turf Accountants
- Address: 13 Turpin Road
Walford's betting shop's first known owner was Stan Dougan, who hired Debbie Bates as the cashier and proceeded to sexually harass her. Debbie's husband Nigel Bates found out about the harassment and punched Stan in the office of the bookies.
Debbie died in 1995 and the next known employee was Irene Raymond; then a few years later, Shirley Benson worked here.
Andy Hunter bought the bookies in 2003, fired Shirley, and hired Pat Evans. He used the premises as a meeting point to liaise with his criminal contacts. When Andy was murdered in 2005 by Johnny Allen, he left the betting shop to Dennis Rickman in his will. Dennis thought about selling it to Pat, but later decided to hang onto it. Dennis was murdered at the end of 2005 by Danny Moon on Johnny Allen's orders, and so ownership then passed to his wife Sharon Rickman. Sharon currently resides in America so the running has been left to Pat, who gave Jake Moon a job there. He has since left to run Johnny's club, Scarlet.
[edit] W
[edit] Walford East tube station
[edit] Walford General Hospital
Walford General Hospital is the local hospital. Employees have included Dr. Harold Legg, Judith Legg, Dr. Mike Phillips, Dr. Roger Lewis, Andy O'Brien, Sonia Fowler, Naomi Julien, Dr. Briony Campbell, Malma Chaudury, Bryan Nolan, Annie Grey and Graham Stone.
[edit] Walford High School
Walford High School is Walford's combined high school, teaching 11 to 16 year olds. Many young characters have attended the school. Students are distinguishable by the Walford High school uniform; black trousers, a white shirt, and a grey jumper.
The current students include Peter Beale, Lucy Beale, Darren Miller, Libby Fox,Lauren Branning and Jay Brown. Previous students include Martin and Sonia Fowler, Steven Beale, Janine Evans, Asif Malik, Clare Tyler, Nicky di Marco, Joe di Marco and Demi Miller.
[edit] Walford police station
- Address: Victoria Square
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[edit] Walford Primary School
Walford Primary School is Walford's combined primary school, teaching 4 to 11 year olds. Many young characters have attended the school. Students are distinguishable by the Walford Primary school uniform; black trousers, a white shirt, and a blue jumper emblazoned with the name of the school. The current reception class teacher is Susan Gilbride. Previous teachers include Etta Tavernier, who worked here as acting head between 1990 and 1992 and Kay Bradshaw, who taught at the school in 2001.
The current students include Ben Mitchell and Abi Branning. Previous students include Steven, Lucy and Peter Beale, Martin, Vicki and Sonia Fowler, Asif Malik, Susie Gilbride, Clare Tyler, Billy Jackson, Joe di Marco, Anish Mistry, Courtney Mitchell, Liam Butcher, Charlotte Banks, Sharmilla Kapoor and Rebecca Miller.
[edit] Walford Videos
- Address: 11 Turpin Road
The video shop was originally a fish and chip shop called Vincent's Fish Bar. In 1989, the premises were bought by Julie Cooper and it was turned into a hair salon and beauty parlour called Julie's. In 1990 it was converted into a video store called Walford Videos. Natalie Evans ran her dating agency Romantic Relations from a sub-let inside the shop in 1999.
Walford Video has been managed by Nigel Bates and Robbie Jackson. Barry Evans and Gavin Sharp have also worked here.
Billy Mitchell worked there for a while, and lived in the flat above. The newest employee is Mickey Miller. Prior to Mickey, Chelsea Fox worked there before Billy sacked her when he took over the video shop again. After Billy found the video shop was up for sale, Phil took the chance to use this as an investment for Ben and save Billy and Honey from moving out. He is currently still buying it.
Mickey has recently bought DVDs from Li Chong to sell in the shop, but he discovered they were all in Chinese.
