Knight Frank take an unusual tack to promote a property
Knight Frank is known as the estate agent to the rich and famous. Like other realty firms, of course, they pepper their brochures with superlatives such as “exemplary”, “spacious” and “glorious” but in the marketing of 33 Portland Place, they truly take the biscuit. (more…)
John Bercow shames himself again in claiming £1,200 to attend a funeral
John Bercow and his blabbermouth wife are known for their grasping ways but in charging £1,215.60 to attend the funeral of the late Paul Goggins MP, the House of Commons Speaker has gone too far. (more…)
This busybody Baroness served as co-chair of the Conservative Party and then as Foreign Office minister until resigning in August 2014 over her differences with HM Government’s policy over the Israel-Gaza conflict. The first Muslim to attend Cabinet, Warsi had to admit she was “on the wrong side of history” on gay rights in 2013, declared that people who back the British National Party “have some legitimate views” and considers the French ban on burkas offensive. Baroness Warsi describes herself as a “Northern working-class mum” but many colleagues criticise her as “bitchy”. She is in fact little more than a true example of a media mouthpiece.
Confused.com founder puts castle on market for £1.5 million less than she spent on it
“Wild haired” Kate Armstrong, the Australian founder of Confused.com, bought the medieval Scottish castle Cassillis House in Ayrshire from the Kennedy clan in 2009 for £3 million. She spent four years and £3.5 million updating and improving it but is now selling it at a loss for just £5 million. (more…)
Former residence of Leona Helmsley comes to the market
Leona Helmsley didn’t do “little”. She lived by the belief that “only the little people pay taxes” and housed herself in a vast mansion on a 40-acre plot in Connecticut. Helmsley died at the house in 2007 and it is now once again for sale (more…)
The eccentric owner of Old Brompton Road’s Nam Long Le Shaker was famed for creating the legendary Flaming Ferrari cocktail. A favourite of the likes of Lord Archer’s son, James, this lethal concoction consists of 100% proof rum, Chartreuse, Grand Marnier and Blue Curaçao. Of them Dang Cao commented: “If you drink three of them you kiss the ground like the Pope”. He occupied a throne-like seat in his establishment yet truly did good through philanthropically funding a school and clinic in Vietnam and of this nightlife legend’s passing, one customer concluded: “He was not a man of many words, but a creator some of my worst life hangovers”. Whilst Nam Long Le Shaker – established in 1987 – has been described as being “a place like no other”; Thai Dang Cao was most certainly “a man like no other”. The longest ever lock-in in the sky has commenced with his arrival.
“More than impertinent” barrister Ian West slammed for his behaviour
Courtrooms, despite being places where justice ought to be taken seriously, are often the scenes of comical farce. Whilst Rolf Harris unconvincingly sought to win over the jury in his case by singing Jake the Peg and imitating his wobble-board, the case of a barrister named Ian West revolves around whether his “impertinence” towards a judge ought to lead to disciplinary action. (more…)
Not so ‘Dozy Josie’ is a controversial scrounger who landed herself a £4,800 boob job on the NHS. This wannabe glamour model and escort from Leeds has 30,000 followers on Twitter and sold tickets to watch her give birth to her third child in 2014 for a total of £30,000. Makeup caked Cunningham – who is well known for her wonky cleavage – attracted further controversy after stating she’d abort her baby to go on Big Brother and when it was revealed the taxpayer had footed £6,000 in taxi fees per year, she stated “needed them” for the school run. Her reasoning? “If the council think I’m getting a bus, they can think again”. Josie Cunningham’s view on life is simple: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but taxpayers will always fund me”. It’s no wonder The Mirror proclaimed her: “The most hated woman in Britain”.
Lady Meyer takes a pay cheque from the City Bridge Trust
Featured in The Telegraph in 2011 due to the curious way it allocated its income, the charity founded by the “Chanel-clad” wife of the former British ambassador to Washington, Lady Meyer, is back in the news after receiving a grant of £60,000 from the City Bridge Trust. Naturally, she, herself, is set to receive 10% of this personally. (more…)
