Loria in Barnet is 41-50 and is Cat Hotel Owner.
Loria works in a luxury hotel for cats. She has loved pets since she can remember and always knew she would work with them eventually in her life. She’s now happy to look after the many cats, or guests, that come through Longcroft’s doors in East Barnet.
Film Maker: George Hayward
Questions & Answers
- What's your first memory of London? Born in North London and have many fond early memories. One of my first memories is going on a old red bus to the cinema with my father to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! My first memory of central London is going to the ballet at The Royal Festival Hall with my mother. It was amazing, especially when we watched the fireworks over The Thames during the interval. Also my first school day trip to London Zoo where I fell in love with Chi Chi the Giant Panda.
- What do you miss when you're away from London? I miss the choice of shops and restaurants, diversity, theatre, my family, friends and cats!!
- What's your favourite neighbourhood? Love Covent Garden, Camden and Highgate village.
- What's your favourite building? The Royal Albert Hall as I performed there as a child in a school concert and as an adult in a L’Oréal Hair competition!
- What's your ideal day out in London? That’s changed over the years with age! Now it would be a walk around Covent Garden, watching the street artist and having some lunch, shopping, followed by a walk to Leicester Square to see if there is anything happening as often there are red carpet events at the cinemas/theatres. In the 90s it was a picnic in Hyde Park with my family and watching a concert hosted by Capital Radio/The Prince's Trust. We saw so many talented artists and some legends e.g. Tom Jones!
- What's your ideal night out in London? A lovely meal followed by a West End musical. In my 20s it was going to nightclubs and cocktail bars. The Hippodrome, Stringfellows, Peppermint Park and others. In my 30s Bar Salsa on Charing Cross Road and other salsa clubs.
- What's your most hated building? Don’t hate any buildings, but some could do with a good clean.
- What's the best view in London? The London Eye on a clear day.
- What's your favourite open space? Hyde Park and also Coram's Fields, a children’s park in Russell Square where I worked in the community nursery when it first opened in 1986!
- What's your favourite bar, pub or restaurant? Dishoom
- What's the most interesting shop? There are so many interesting shops in Camden, selling vintage goods, clothing and furniture. Great for finding unusual gifts.
- What's your favourite place to hang out? Coffee shops &=and restaurants in Whetstone, Muswell Hill and Crouch End.
- What's been your most memorable night out in London? Oh I have many but a fairly recent happy memory is when I watched the Olympic opening ceremony from the Gherkin. It was a private screening for staff and guests. The view from the height we were at was amazing and the atmosphere was brilliant! But a very sad night out was when Princess Diana passed away, we went to central London and there were people everywhere holding candles, crying and walking around in disbelief ?
- How would you like to spend your ideal day off in London? Again this has changed over the years, as a young adult it would have been shopping in Oxford Street, a dance class at the Pineapple studios and a bite to eat in Covent Garden. Now it would be visiting an art gallery or exhibition, afternoon tea/lunch, a walk around the shops/Harrods or a theatre trip.
- Where would you take someone visiting from out of town? London Eye, Covent Garden, Southbank, Camden Lock and Market.
- What's the worst journey you've had to make in London? The day of The Great Storm 1987... I travelled to Coram's Fields Nursery, Russell Square from Palmers Green North London. The tubes were not running so I bussed and walked, took me ages! When I arrived the Park and Nursery were closed! A huge old Oak tree had fallen in the park! I hadn’t realised how bad the Storm had been overnight and what chaos it had caused! I then had the nightmare journey of getting home again!
- What's your personal London landmark? Alexandra Palace
- Who's your favourite fictional Londoner? Mr. Bean
- What's your favourite London film, book or documentary? Mary Poppins
- If you could travel to any time period in London, past or future, where would you go? 1960s
- For you, who is the ultimate Londoner? George Michael ...was ?