Underwriting firm commits to offices at 20 Fenchurch St

[Published November 2012 and last updated October 2026] The insurance underwriting firm Ascot Ltd has committed to renting office space at the under-construction development at 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. The Lloyd’s of London syndicate company will occupy just short of 30,000 sq ft on the 33^rd floor of one of Europe’s most high-profile ongoing office space builds.

See office space to rent in the EC3 Insurance district of the City of London

Dubbed the Walkie-Talkie by some, 20 Fenchurch Street is being built by a joint venture between Land Securities and the Canary Wharf Group. Two other major insurers, Markel International and Tokyo Marine Kiln, have already signed deals this year that commit them to office space in the tower.

The 525-foot-tall building, one of London’s tallest, is scheduled for completion in 2014. Land Securities has said demand for top-quality office space in the City of London is currently very strong, and the pre-let deals it has secured at the Walkie-Talkie further underline that.

“We’re delighted to welcome Ascot to 20 Fenchurch Street, where they’ll benefit from its first-class design and construction,” said Kaela Fenn-Smith, Land Securities’ head of leasing for its London portfolio.

“The completion of yet another pre-let around 18 months ahead of completion is testament to both how well-timed and well-designed 20 Fenchurch Street is as a development,” commented Richard Archer, head of leasing at the Canary Wharf Group. “Ascot can look forward to world-class flexible office space in what will become one of London’s most distinctive and visually appealing buildings.”

Meanwhile, Ascot’s chief executive, Andrew Brooks, said the iconic under-construction office tower on Fenchurch Street perfectly matches his company’s “dynamic, entrepreneurial approach” to business.

Editor’s notes: In September 2012, it was announced that 20 Fenchurch Street secured its second pre-let deal with The Kiln Group.

As of August 2024, Ascot Underwriting Ltd. was the managing agency for Syndicate 1414 at Lloyd’s of London and was still in occupation at 20 Fenchurch Street.

In 2026, Ascot celebrated its 25th anniversary in operation and, as of October, remained in occupation at 20 Fenchurch Street.

At the time, 20 Fenchurch Street offered a mix of landlord- and tenant-controlled office space available to lease, sublease, or occupy through other arrangements, including high-quality plug-and-play, fitted offices available on flexible licences.