Harvest London is bringing vertical farming into the public eye, quite literally. Their latest project, a public-facing vertical farm inside Corner Corner, a food and live entertainment venue in Canada Water, marks a major shift from the traditional warehouse-style approach to indoor farming.
Unlike conventional vertical farms, often tucked away in industrial estates, this farm is on full display, surrounded by glass, allowing diners, visitors, and passersby to watch fresh produce being grown, harvested, and delivered straight to their plates.
"We've been in control of our own outward perception for years," said Matt Chlebek, co-founder of Harvest London. "Now, we're opening that up. It's a little terrifying to think that one day there might be 600 TikTokers filming in front of the farm, but it also means more people will see what we do, ask questions, and engage with vertical farming in a way they never have before."
© Sophie HarbinsonExterior view of Corner Corner in Canada Water, London.
A vertical farm at the heart of an urban hub
The farm is a collaboration between Harvest London, Broadwick, and British Land, two companies known for redeveloping urban spaces into thriving cultural and business districts.
"This isn't just a farm tucked into a food hall," said Chlebek. "It's part of a larger reimagining of what cities can look like. The fact that this farm is in the middle of a venue where people are eating, drinking, and socializing, changes the whole conversation around food."
© Sophie HarbinsonThe seating area directly overlooks the active grow room.
Corner Corner, a revitalized shopping center turned cultural hub, is a key piece of British Land's long-term regeneration project in Canada Water. Broadwick, best known for large-scale venues like Printworks and Drumsheds, is steering Corner Corner towards a mix of live music, food, and sustainability-driven experiences.
"They wanted the space to be visually arresting and immersive," said Chlebek. "As soon as you walk into the venue, you'll see the farm—it's right there, in your face. That was important to them."
© Sophie HarbinsonLounge seating at Corner Corner offers guests a relaxed view of the vertical farm through glass walls.
Closing the distance between grower and consumer
Beyond its striking visual presence, the Corner Corner farm is designed to shorten the food supply chain and reduce food miles.
"Our current farm is three times smaller than this one, and we've already hit max capacity," Chlebek explained. "We've had to turn customers away. With this expansion, we can supply not only the restaurants inside Corner Corner but also reach more businesses across London."
Harvest London already supplies produce to some of the city's top restaurants, from independent chefs to corporate dining facilities at Google, HSBC, and JP Morgan. This new farm will expand their ability to serve hyper-local clients, ensuring that greens go from harvest to plate in hours, not days.
© Sophie HarbinsonInside the grow room
"This farm won't just be about selling to high-end restaurants," Chlebek added. "We're talking about direct-to-consumer opportunities, school tours, and public engagement. It's a farm that people can actually visit."
In fact, British Land's involvement means that local schools will have the chance to tour the farm, learn about sustainable food systems, and see urban agriculture in action. "One of the biggest gaps in our current operation is education and visibility," Chlebek said. "Most of the time, people don't even realize where their food comes from. This project changes that."
© Sophie HarbinsonMatt Chlebek inspects trays of microgreens inside the public-facing vertical farm.
The future of hyperlocal farming
Harvest London is already thinking beyond Corner Corner.
"We're actively looking at ways to replicate this model in other urban spaces," Chlebek revealed. "When developers are working on large regeneration projects, they want sustainable elements integrated from the start. Vertical farms aren't just a novelty anymore, they're part of the future of urban planning."
With an eye on scalability, sustainability, and consumer engagement, the Corner Corner farm could be a prototype for more publicly integrated farms across London and beyond. "We know vertical farming works. Now it's about showing the world what's possible when you bring it out into the open," Chlebek said. "And if that means a few viral TikToks along the way, so be it."
For more information:
Harvest London
Matt Chlebek
matt@harvest.london
www.harvest.london