{
  "id": 3770291,
  "title": "Barts North Wing would be a worthy Toast Award winner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/barts-north-wing-would-be-a-worthy-toast-award-winner",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-27T16:08:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/barts-north-wing-would-be-a-worthy-toast-award-winner/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barts North Wing stands as a worthy contender for the esteemed Toast the City Awards. This venue houses the restored Hogarth Stair and the Great Hall, a cherished City landmark that is up for public voting. The public voting period for the awards has closed, yet the judges have yet to bestow their votes on their favorites, including bars, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, cultural venues, and more. As the head judge, the author has diligently toured various locations in the Square Mile, taking note of their offerings. To their surprise, they had never visited Barts North Wing, which recently reopened after a year-long renovation. The author, feeling a bit ashamed, decided to venture to this City icon, which is up for consideration in both the Best Art or Culture Experience and Best New Opening categories.\n\nBarts North Wing is not an easily overlooked location. Situated near St Bartholomew the Great, London's oldest parish church and home to a remarkable Damian Hirst statue of the saint, the entrance to the St Bart's hospital courtyard can be found alongside the William Wallace Memorial. Before reaching the courtyard, one must pass St Bartholomew the Less, a church whose sound of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor played on the organ was inaudible during the author's visit.\n\nTo enter the North Wing, take a left in the courtyard and find a striking green door that manages to be both grand and unassuming. Upon entering, visitors are greeted with a stunning carved staircase leading up to the Great Hall. Architect James Gibbs, influenced by the Italian Renaissance architect Palladio and Sir Christopher Wren, created this magnificent staircase. The pièce de résistance, however, is the mural of William Hogarth's Good Samaritan. Utilizing the likenesses of real-life hospital patients complete with their medical conditions, Hogarth transplanted them into a biblical scene, creating an astonishing visual spectacle. This incongruous fusion of art and hospital life remains as vibrant as the day the paint first dried, thanks to the painstaking restoration work. The best part? Admission is free!",
  "summary": "Barts North Wing houses the restored Hogarth Stair and Great Hall, a free City landmark up for Toast the City Awards. The public voting for the Toast the City Awards is over but the judges have yet to cast their votes for their favourite bars, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, cultural venues and more. As the [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}