A much-loved historic backstreet in the heart of Mayfair has been offered a new lease on life thanks to a new walkway that has been reinstated after 300 years.
The passageway creates a new pedestrian route linking Piccadilly to the once-scandalous Shepherd Market for the first time in three centuries.
It is part of the £1 billion development of the area by Motcomb Estates, owned by the billionaire Reuben brothers who also own Burlington Arcade, Millbank Tower and Cambridge House (aka Naval and Military Club). The family ranked second on the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, with a net worth of £26.9 billion.
Over the past several years the brothers have spent millions buying up sites in Mayfair to redevelop, including a half-acre site, formerly Mayfair’s oldest carpark on Carrington Street for £70 million in 2016.
Here they have built a block of flats, One Carrington, and a private members’ club run by Robin Birley called The Carrington, which are separated by the new walkway.
Motcomb Estates said: “We are delighted to be re-establishing this important public route after more than three centuries. The new Carrington Street walkway not only reconnects Piccadilly with Shepherd Market but also forms part of our wider vision to enhance the quality and vibrancy of the public realm in Mayfair.
“By combining sensitive redevelopment with thoughtful design, we are ensuring Shepherd Market remains a distinctive and thriving part of London for generations to come.”
Developed between 1735 and 1746 by its namesake, the architect Edward Shepherd, Shepherd Market was set up on ground then used for the annual May fair from which Mayfair got its name.
By the 1920s, it was known to host leading artists and writers such as Anthony Powell, Michael Arlen and Sophie Fedorovitch. Arlen rented rooms opposite The Grapes pub and used it as the setting for his best-selling 1924 novel The Green Hat, which later became a film starring Greta Garbo.
Many Brits might have more salacious associations with Shepherd Market. The square of streets was known to be associated with sex work up until around the 1980s.
Despite this notorious history, the market is now home to some high-end restaurants and boutiques, with local businesses saying they are pleased with the extra access being provided since the route opened earlier this month.
Stephen Proffer, long-time owner of the French restaurant L’Artiste Muscle, says “the new walkway is of course very welcome. I hope there will be some signage to say it leads to Shepherd Market because even now people don't know us.
“More important to us in particular is the pedestrianisation of the Market, especially the main square where L'Artiste is situated.”
Proffer is in the process of negotiating with the council to have outdoor tables on the newly widened pavements in the square.
Denisa Jones, part-owner of the Chill House Coffee, says she has already seen an uptick in business even in the short time the walkway has been open. She says the shortcut is great for local office workers on a quick break that might now have more time to spend at the businesses.
“We’ve started having some customers coming over that used to walk around, by White Horse Street.”
Combined with the effects of construction coming to an end, she says she’s “thrilled” with the change. “Even if it's week, it actually already [has made] a small difference.”
