Hay’s Galleria

Hay’s Galleria, located on the south bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Southwark, is a vibrant mixed-use building featuring offices, restaurants, shops, and flats. Originally known as Hay’s Wharf, it served as a bustling warehouse and wharf for the Port of London before its redevelopment in the 1980s. Today, it stands as a Grade II listed structure.

The Galleria takes its name from its original owner, merchant Alexander Hay, who acquired the property in 1651 when it was a brewhouse. Around 1840, John Humphrey Jr. leased the property and enlisted his father-in-law, William Cubitt, to transform it into an enclosed dock. Renamed Hay’s Wharf in 1856, it became a key delivery point for ships bringing tea to the Pool of London. At its peak, 80% of the dry produce imported to London passed through Hay’s Wharf, earning it the nickname “the Larder of London.”

After a devastating fire in Southwark in June 1861, the wharf was largely rebuilt and continued to operate until it was heavily bombed during World War II in September 1940. In 1920, the wharf’s owners expanded their operations by purchasing shares of Pickfords, integrating it into their Hay’s Wharf Cartage Company subsidiary. This subsidiary was sold to the Big Four railways in 1933.

The shift to containerization in the 1960s led to the decline of traditional shipping practices, resulting in the closure of Hay’s Wharf in 1970. During the 1980s, the area underwent significant urban regeneration as part of the Thames Corridor and London Docklands revitalization efforts. The St Martin’s Property Corporation, owned by the State of Kuwait, acquired most of the site and integrated it into the development of London Bridge City.

The decision to preserve the dock and restore its surrounding tea and produce warehouses for office and retail use was a key element of the redevelopment plan. The dock was covered with a floor and enclosed with a glass roof, designed by architect Arthur Timothy. Twigg Brown Architects implemented this design as part of their master plan for the area’s renewal. At the centre of the Galleria stands “The Navigators,” a 60-foot moving bronze sculpture of a ship by David Kemp, unveiled in 1987 to celebrate the Galleria’s maritime heritage.

Supported by the London Docklands Development Corporation, Hay’s Galleria opened in 1987 as the first new visitor attraction of its era on the south bank of the Thames. Over the years, it has housed office tenants such as the General Social Care Council and the Social Care Institute for Excellence. The riverside pub, “The Horniman at Hay’s,” pays tribute to one of the prominent tea-producing companies associated with the site.

Hay’s Galleria, situated along the southern Thames Path, offers panoramic views of the City of London and is strategically positioned between London City Hall and Southwark Cathedral. This prime location attracts numerous tourists and local workers. For two decades, it hosted a year-round market, Hay’s Galleria Market, featuring independent traders selling souvenirs, apparel, and jewellery from traditional barrows. Although the market was briefly removed in 2010, it was reinstated and continues to operate, adding to the Galleria’s lively atmosphere.