A visit from the fire brigade spoils lunch at Côte Sloane Square
Côte on Sloane Square offers a more affordable offering than many of its neighbours. Today, Saturday 22nd March, though, diners got more than they bargained for when the restaurant had a visit from the fire brigade. (more…)
World’s richest man Bill Gates pledges not to spoil his children
Bill Gates is a man who found it hard to fit in. The geeks he grew up with came to resent him for betraying them but as he was elevated to the position of topping any list of ultra high net worths, he was not accepted by the waspish elite of America. (more…)
This outspoken bon vivant was Rector of the University of Aberdeen from 1998 to 2004. One half of the “Two Fat Ladies”, Dickson Wright was known as “Krakatoa” because of her fiery temper and became the country’s youngest barrister at 21. She once had sex with an MP behind the Speaker’s chair in the house of Commons, offended the animal rights lobby by suggesting that Britons should eat badgers and was bankrupted thrice. Her full name was Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright.
A round up of the moves of the newsworthy in the world of hospitality
Too expensive to run?
Financier Adrian Burford once told a court: “I make no apology for being quite expensive to run”. He invested some £1.1 million buying shares in the Sushinho Japanese-Mexican restaurant on the Kings Road. The company’s website now states: “We are sorry to inform you that our restaurants have closed” and their former premises are up for rent for £185,000 per annum through Miles Commercial. Plainly Burford’s mantra wasn’t that appealing.
An institution that should have been
The Brompton Bar & Grill should have become a Knightsbridge institution but sadly it closes on Friday, 21st March. Owner Francois O’Neill and his personable team ran this consistently excellent bistro for six years and announced its demise in an email to customers. O’Neill stated: “We are currently working on a new project that we aim to launch in the Spring of 2015”.
Hawking Frankie
Round the corner, the former Frankie’s site in Yeoman’s Row is being transformed into a fifth site for the popular Hawksmoor restaurant group. A press statement from the company tells diners to expect: “A bit of old school glamour and atmosphere and another menu that revolves around what we do best – amazing steaks from ethically reared British cattle and a few surprise dishes and cocktails which we’re currently perfecting”. The restaurant is expected to open in June.
Firing a 50th
Daphne’s in Draycott Avenue remains closed after its extraction system went up in flames on the 25th February. The Richard Caring owned Italian plainly now requires significant renovation. For at least a week after the fire, the smell of smoke was apparent to anyone passing by. Given that 2014 is the 50th anniversary of Daphne Rye opening this popular Chelsea haunt, the timing of the fire was certainly most unfortunate. Where will the ladies of SW3 lunch in the meantime?
In Toto
Toto’s on Lennox Garden Mews looks set to reopen shortly. Though the building workers wouldn’t tell us exactly what will be on the site, we could spot a substantial granite bar in the entrance. The firm who own the premises are named Walton Hospitality.
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A redrawn map of Scotland sums up the perils of independence
It’s always been our belief that the sum parts of the Union are worth more together than apart. Great Britain is great because of the diversity brought together in uniting England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth and with their attempt to become independent, the Scots lobbying for it just show themselves to be fools. (more…)
Shamed baroness spotted shopping in Waitrose Belgravia
Our editor expected it unlikely to cross paths with the shamed criminal Baroness Marie-Claire von Alvensleben after her conviction on Wednesday. He was, therefore, more than surprised to encounter her in Waitrose Belgravia on Thursday evening (more…)
Lord Brocket scores a success with his sausages
Lord Brocket is a man best known for having buried his Ferraris in his garden. They were far from bangers but the insurance fraud that followed resulted in him being jailed for fraud for five years. Now, Lord Brocket is involved with another kind of banger: the humble British sausage. (more…)
1964 Bentley S3 Continental coupé to be auctioned by Bonhams
The late Alan Whicker numbered amongst those to have owned a Bentley S3 Continental coupé and now a fine example is to be auctioned by Bonhams (more…)
A Land Rover formerly owned by the Queen comes to auction
The Queen is a well-known lover of Land Rovers and is often seen driving them on her various estates. Now, with the forthcoming auction of 2002 Defender 110 TDS County that was previously used on her Sandringham estate at the Historics at Brooklands auction on 8th March, any ardent royalist has the opportunity to acquire one of her vehicles. (more…)
50,000 square foot Utah mansion that would suit an exiled dictator or lottery lout
Money and taste don’t necessarily go together and no more is this rule proven than in a $30 million (£18 million) Utah mansion (more…)