Why the former IYLO building is a great place to live for diners

It's staggering to think just what a turnaround the one-time IYLO building in Croydon - now rechristened ISLAND - has enjoyed. Once, the 20-storey apartment was far from the sleek beacon of aspiration that it had long promised to be. Abandoned by builders due to two administrations - firstly that of the project's funding source, and then of the construction company - the structure forlornly gathered graffiti and tutting shakes of the head by those walking past.

To say that matters have changed somewhat since those dark days would be a drastic understatement. Having since found new ownership and even more importantly, a genuinely secure source of funding, the former IYLO building in Croydon has said hello once again to the construction cranes, with work continuing apace for the grand opening of the luxuriously-appointed apartments and penthouses in late November 2014.

However, this impressive structure was never merely about aesthetic appeal or even a generous internal specification, encompassing the likes of engineered wooden flooring, balcony or terrace spot light fittings and a marvellous double-height entrance lobby with floor to ceiling windows, marble flooring and stone-finish walls. That's because an immense part of its appeal was also its highly advantageous location, bringing close proximity to an assortment of exciting amenities.

Certainly, enthusiastic diners will be delighted by the choice that life as an ISLAND resident affords them. For one thing, they are only a walk or modest car drive away from such well-regarded gastronomic establishments as Preto and Khyber Restaurant on Croydon High Street, or Fish & Grill, Albert's Table or Aqua in the vibrant South End area - the latter officially dubbed Croydon's Restaurant Quarter.

But life at the erstwhile IYLO building in Croydon also means never being too far away from the pick of the restaurants across the rest of South London. Those who have ever wanted to head to Knightsbridge for a rich British meal at Dinner by Heston, in the stunning setting of the Mandarin Oriental, or for that matter the Blueprint Cafe offering a panoramic view of the Thames from its position above the Design Museum, are equally well catered-for.

That's without touching on such other star restaurants across South London as Tom's Kitchen, Soif, Manicomio, Baltic and Old Brewery. Quite simply, for cuisine lovers, the former IYLO building in Croydon really does represent an exceptional living quarters - with the available penthouses and apartments going fast.

Editor’s Note: ISLAND (http://www.islandcroydon.com/) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.