Ed Sheeran's love-hate relationship with London: from homelessness to £8.25m office block purchase

Ed Sheeran has had a whirlwind week, with an quality connected Sky Sports, addressing questions astir his non-involvement successful Band Aid, and making waves successful the spot market.

The singer, 33, has reportedly expanded his spot portfolio by purchasing a luxury bureau artifact successful London’s bustling Soho for £8.25 million. This premier portion of existent property is acceptable to bolster his increasing concern business.

The Sun reported that the prima acquired the exquisitely refurbished building. It features open-plan bureau abstraction for up to 50 desks, a fitted kitchenette, a meal bar, bespoke solid telephone booths, and Crittall-style gathering rooms.

The Suffolk vocalist said helium would person “respectfully” declined to look successful the caller mentation of the foundation song, and referenced different station criticising overseas assistance successful Africa.

The vocalist rushed to greet pundit Jamie Redknapp and quipped: "I don't deliberation [Amorim] wants to talk to me" earlier heading retired of the shot.

Sheeran has since apologised, penning connected Instagram: "Apologies if I offended Amorim yesterday, didn't really realise helium was being interviewed astatine the time, was popping to accidental hullo and bye to Jamie. Obvz consciousness a spot of a bellend but beingness goes on. Great crippled though, congrats connected each progressive x."

This latest spot acquisition joins Sheeran's extended portfolio, which already includes 27 properties crossed London, specified arsenic a £20m location successful Notting Hill and homes successful sought-after areas similar Holland Park and Covent Garden.

However, the vocalist has antecedently expressed mixed feelings astir the capital, hinting astatine a analyzable narration with the city.

Here’s a deeper look astatine Sheeran’s love-hate narration with London.

Sheeran is present a planetary superstar, but his travel to fame was acold from easy. In his 2014 autobiography, Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey, the singer-songwriter opened up astir his hardships portion chasing his dreams, including skipping schoolhouse and enduring periods of homelessness successful London.

Sheeran admitted that schoolhouse “did thing for him,” truthful arsenic soon arsenic helium could, helium moved to London successful hunt of gigs, performing wherever helium could unafraid a spot. However, the determination came with important struggles. He recounted being homeless, astatine times sleeping connected the streets adjacent Buckingham Palace, wherever helium huddled adjacent to heating ducts to enactment warm.

“I started sofa surfing,” helium wrote. “There were immoderate hairy periods. I spent astir a week catching up connected slumber connected Circle Line trains: I’d play a gig, hold till 5am erstwhile the Underground opened, slumber connected the Circle Line until 12, spell to a league — and past repeat.”

Sheeran's determination and resilience during these challenging times laid the instauration for the occurrence helium enjoys today.

In 2015, Sheeran became the archetypal creator to execute solo astatine London's legendary Wembley Stadium.

Over 3 consecutive nights, helium captivated a full assemblage of 240,000 radical equipped with thing much than his guitar and his signature sound.

The show was a milestone for solo acts, showcasing Sheeran's earthy endowment and quality to bid 1 of the world’s astir renowned venues without a set oregon elaborate production.

It cemented his spot successful euphony past and acceptable a caller benchmark for solo performers astatine the prestigious stadium.

In 2019, Sheeran returned to his philharmonic roots, collaborating with a chap Londoner for an unforgettable project.

For the euphony video for his deed way Take Me Back to London, helium teamed up with grime superstar Stormzy. The duo cruise done the superior successful a luxurious Rolls Royce, capturing the song’s homage to British culture.

The video besides features scenes of them exploring the English countryside and being fitted for bespoke suits by a tailor, blending municipality grit with classical sophistication.

However, Sheeran’s narration with London hasn't ever been positive. In July, the vocalist described the metropolis arsenic "sketchy" and "dangerous," peculiarly informing against visiting if you're trying to debar getting robbed.

In a speech with US podcaster Theo Von, Sheeran was asked astir the astir unsafe areas successful London. He responded by saying: "Every country of London is sketchy. I deliberation you cannot beryllium anywhere. It's not a segregated city.

“The bully areas are sketchy, the atrocious areas are sketchy — but you conscionable person to debar doing anserine things."

He added that if you flaunt costly items specified arsenic a Louis Vuitton duffel container oregon a luxury watch, you’re much apt to go a target. "But conscionable don’t bash that," helium said.