A billionaire London property tycoon has won his bid to turn part of the West End's landmark Trocadero complex into a mosque and community centre.
Muslims have struggled to find prayer facilities in the heart of the capital, with nearby mosques filled to capacity.
Asif Aziz plans to transform the former cinema inside the Trocadero, between Piccadilly Circus and Soho, into a prayer and community facility to be called the Piccadilly Community Centre.
Westminster City Council has granted permission to create a three-storey community facility, with a prayer capacity for 390 worshippers.
The application was submitted on behalf of the Aziz Foundation, which provides educational grants to Muslims.
Mr Aziz, the chief executive of Criterion Capital, which manages a £2 billon property portfolio across London and the South-East, bought the Trocadero for more than £220 million in 2005.
“Situated in vacant space in the basement of the Trocadero, the centre will provide an indispensable place for the Muslims who work, visit and live in the area and for whom prayer forms a cornerstone of their life,” the Aziz Foundation said.
“While the centre will provide an area for prayer, it is also anticipated that this development will nurture much-needed interfaith dialogue and in turn bring faith communities and community groups together utilising available space.
“As a foundation, we are proud to support the Piccadilly Community Centre, its prayer space, local community initiatives and interfaith work. British Muslims are part of the fabric of our society and contribute in the most essential and remarkable ways.”
The application involves a basement and sub-basement unit within the Trocadero complex, which is on the western side of Rupert Street.
The site was last used as a small two-screen cinema, called The Metro, which opened in the mid-1980s and had seating for 279 people.
“The unit has been vacant since 2006 and planning permission is sought for the use of this space as a place of worship and community centre, with a main community hall and prayer space at lower basement level for 250 worshippers and a mezzanine floor at upper basement level which will allow for up to 140 worshippers (a total capacity of 390),” the application states.
“Surveys of the three closest mosques to the site, Soho Mosque, Mayfair Mosque and Goodge Street Mosque have been provided which show that all three operate at full capacity and the applicant therefore argues that the proposal would provide an additional place of prayer to address the shortfall that currently exists within London’s West End.
“Despite concerns raised on noise grounds, given that queuing is unlikely to occur, and that the main hall is located at basement level, any noise associated with the use of the site as a prayer and community centre is expected to be well contained within the building itself and noise breakout is not anticipated. Subject to appropriate conditions, the proposal is considered to comply with relevant adopted City Plan 2019-2040 policies and is therefore recommended for approval.”
The plan's approval has been welcomed by many international visitors who made some of the 119 comments backing the application. Many said they had struggled to find places to pray.
When the cinema closed in 2006, the unit's lower ground floors were stripped-out and reverted to a shell.
The lobby area has been used for a variety of retail uses, including for the sales of theatre tickets.
Previous planning applications to turn it into a restaurant and minicab office had been rejected because they were not for cultural use.
The latest approval is on the grounds that it is not used solely as a mosque.
“The application, submitted by the Aziz Foundation, seeks planning permission for the use of the vacant former Metro cinema as a place of worship as a mosque and community centre,” the council planning application states.
“The main community hall and prayer space at lower basement level will allow for approximately 250 worshippers when used for Friday prayers.
“This space will not only be used for prayer, but also interfaith events, classes and other community uses. It is understood that bi-fold doors will be utilised to the rear of the community hall to allow for separation when more than one community use is taking place at the same time.
“A mezzanine space is provided at upper basement floor level together with toilets and ablution areas. The mezzanine space will allow for up to 140 worshippers.
“The opening times of the premises as proposed will be between 10am to 7pm Monday to Fridays. The applicant has also confirmed that the centre does not propose to hold special events for Ramadan, Eid or funerals.”
Four full-time staff would be employed at the premises, including a centre manager and an imam.
An application submitted in 2020 for a place of worship and community use for 1,000 worshippers was withdrawn over concerns about the impact of customers queuing on the highway.
The Trocadero opened as a music hall in 1882, it was later turned into a restaurant in 1896 and in 1965 became a dance hall.
Today, the entertainment complex consists of a hotel and restaurants.
Only the former cinema section relates to the planning application.
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Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
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MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m, Winner SS Lamea, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m, Winner AF Makerah, Sean Kirrane, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m, Winner Maaly Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,600m, Winner AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m, Winner Morjanah Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,200m, Winner Mudarrab, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
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Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
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Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
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Sukuk
An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.
