Reclaim your lunch hour: visit the Spitalfields fish

If you work in or around Spitalfields, you might have noticed recently that our much-loved water feature underwent some maintenance while the fish were temporarily rehomed. We are pleased to say that the little beauties are now back where they belong, safe and sound in their aquatic Spitalfields home, for you to once again enjoy.

Fish are known for their ability to lift moods, reduce anxiety and lower blood pressure. These qualities are transferable to help soothe everyday feelings of stress and worry that you may feel at work. If you’re having ‘one of those days’ that we all have from time to time, then our water feature, filled with fascinating fish, is the perfect solution to help you sit back, unwind and escape from the chaos of whatever is being thrown your way. Even if just for a little while… don’t sit at your desk. Head on over and grab some lunch at one of our many offers, such as Leon or Itsu, and be sure to look in on the fish.
Everyone is talking about mental health and our very own Royals have taken an exemplary lead on building awareness for everyone that it’s okay to act on our feelings and find better ways of coping with daily pressure. According to Mind (www.mind.org.uk), Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and in England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week. Although it is sometimes unavoidable, we are all guilty of eating at our desks and working right through our lunch hour – which if left unchecked, could be damaging your mental health.

We all need a break to disconnect from what we’re doing and reset our sometimes-overloaded mind. Studies have shown that keeping fish provides many benefits to your health and wellbeing. HSE (www.hse.gov.uk) reports that there were 526,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2016/17, so we are challenging you to reclaim your lunch hour and spend it taking some deep breaths of fresh air alongside our tranquil water feature and fish. Spring is on its way and summer will be here before we know it, so no excuse to stay inside.

We know it’s hard to make a change when time is so precious. Even when you’ve lost your appetite for one reason or another, goldfish can help you find it again. Studies suggest that exposing yourself to an aquarium can increase your food consumption by up to 17%. Once you’ve worked up your appetite, maybe check out some of our delicious street food residents. The Duck Truck, Smokoloko and Ebby’s Kitchen (to name a few) are serving up hot, hearty meals just around the corner, so go ahead and treat yourself to a tasty lunch and relax in the company of our fish.