Tag: April 2017

Alfie Best – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with self-made businessman and star of ‘My Fat Gypsy Fortune’ Alfie Best

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

For a man to know where he is going, he must remember where he is from.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

Life is a light, it is your job to make it shine brighter.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?

Internet trolls who are brave behind keyboards.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Time.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

More time.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?

If you treat the bank as a bank, they will treat you as a customer but if you treat the banks as a partner within your business and build your relationship with the management of the bank, they will consider you as a partner and offer much more insight and help which it is own way, is free to you as a business.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“We have a problem”; one man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

I do believe charity begins at home but I also believe giving is not as good as teaching. If you give a man a fish, he will feed his family for a night, show the man how to fish and he will feed his family for a lifetime.

We’re actually setting up own charity – Wyldecrest Parks Charity – which hopefully we’ll be able to help vulnerable people in need.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

Connection is unbelievable and the forward bounds it has given us a society is unprecedented but we have to remember not to become disconnected from society.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

I would fill the carriage with my family and friends and invite Tracy Chapman and the musical artist Rodriguez; I would look for them to enjoy the ride and party whilst it lasted.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Pie, mash and liquor at the White House with the President to try and get a reprieve whilst eating my last meal.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

6:30am with a nice cup of lemon tea.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A cup of tea.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

I enjoy my son’s parties because the charisma he brings to the room is like a ray of sunshine on the beach.

Who is the most positive person you know?

Me.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Chocolate.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

If I were to have a tattoo, it would state ‘BEST’ across my back because it would mean the best is behind me and there is even better to come.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

A black Lamborghini.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

After becoming a millionaire at 20, I nearly went bust and slept in my car for 3 months.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

A backward clock – it confuses everyone!

Alfie Best is a successful entrepreneur driven by tenacity. With humble origins, born and raised in a Romany Gypsy family, this self-made man started his professional path totally from scratch. Alongside Wyldecrest Parks, Alfie Best also owns other very successful businesses within the hospitality and leisure, events, trading and finance industries including Vinyl Bar, Kyoto Furniture, Axiom Uno and Wylde Event Management.

Follow him on Twitter at @alfiebest33.

April 20, 2017
A Homely Castle

Britain’s smallest castle is for sale; it comes with 10 acres, a 44 million gallon moat and a narrow boat

Last marketed in 2003 for £1 million (the equivalent of £1.45 million, $1.86 million, €1.73 million or درهم6.83 million today), what is allegedly Britain’s smallest castle is back for sale for the slightly higher sum of £1.75 million ($2.24 million, €2.09 million or درهم8.24 million).

Offered by Belgravia based Henry & James, Starborough Castle is situated on the border of Kent and Surrey and stands in 10 acres of moated gardens and grounds. It is listed Grade II* and also as a scheduled ancient monument.

Dating to around 1754 and constructed on the site of a medieval house built circa 1341, the current dressed stone Neo-Gothic building on the site was restored by a farmer in the 1980s. He sold it to a purveyor of antique maps named Warwick Leadlay (1929 – 2013) in 1995 and in the years since, the grounds were landscaped and outbuildings and a cottage added.

Used by the Leadley family to host a “Glyndebourne of jazz-style” festival and more recently available for both short and long-term lets, Starborough Castle itself currently provides a total of 1,959 square foot of accommodation. There is a mini great hall, minstrel gallery kitchen, two double bedrooms and a bathroom in the main house and a detached one bedroom cottage offers further space for guests.

Of the pint-sized property, James Bailey of Henry & James told the Mail Online:

“It’s an amazing property, a complete one off, and a house of historical importance. The first recorded settlement was there in AD490. The moat was created around the medieval castle that occupied the entire island in the 1300s. That was torn down under Cromwell’s orders in the 1600s”.

“What is there now takes up just a small part of the island, it was built as a summerhouse and you could argue over whether it’s a folly or a castle”.

“It would be a perfect weekend destination place for a professional couple or an individual looking for something unique. The current owners have had it about 20 years and that’s what they have used it for, but they are based in London again now so don’t get to use it much”.

“They also put a barge on the moat to provide extra guest space. It’s a bit of fun, obviously you could only drive it in a circle round the moat, you can’t go anywhere”.

April 20, 2017
Backing Best for Britain

Gina Miller achieves 1,000% of target in less than 24 hours in crowdfunding drive to fund tactical voting initiative against hard Brexit

On Wednesday, businesswoman and philanthropist Gina Miller launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise £10,000 to “support the country’s biggest tactical voting drive ever and stop extreme Brexit”. Within twenty-four hours, that target was smashed and as of 10:30am Thursday morning, the total amount raised stands at £110,000.

Of the initiative, which will fund a group launching next week named ‘Best for Britain’, Mrs Miller told The Guardian:

“We want to build the biggest tactical voting effort in UK history to ensure that candidates across the country that promise to do what’s best for Britain in the Brexit process get the extra support they need to win”.

“If the deal the next government negotiates doesn’t match up to our current terms, MPs should do what’s best for Britain and reject it. We will be asking MPs to pledge to keep an open mind and not be bullied into giving the next government a blank cheque for the final deal”.

“There isn’t time to organise a formal progressive alliance. We have to do what we can in the time available. We need to re-energise people about the importance of voting tactically”.

“We need to have a galvanising moment. We need to have a strategy and a structure… We have to put aside egos. It is about being pragmatic”.

On the page itself, Miller gives further detail of how the money raised will be spent. She remarked:

“We will support candidates who campaign for a real final vote on Brexit, including rejecting any deal that leaves Britain worse off”.

“We will use the money to back candidates who pledge to support a full and free vote on the Brexit deal. We will also work with organisations with the same goals. The money raised will not pay staff salaries”.

Best for Britain has already appointed Eloise Todd, previously executive director of policy for anti-poverty organisation the ONE Campaign, as a campaign director. She added:

“We will support different parties and independents, and organisations working in this space. We are not party political. We stand for democracy in this country and a constitution that respects proper balance of powers and doesn’t railroad the country into an extreme Brexit”.

To support Gina Miller’s fundraising drive, click here. The maximum donation any individual can make is £499.

April 20, 2017
Remembering Michael Bienes

Witty Fort Lauderdale based philanthropist Michael Bienes passes away

Philanthropist Michael Bienes sadly died of cancer on 5^th April according to the Sun Sentinel.

New York born Mr Bienes, a multi-millionaire many times over until falling prey to Bernard Madoff’s crooked Ponzi scheme, was known for hosting lavish parties and supported everything from the Holy Cross Hospital in Broward County to the Royal Opera House in London. He was generous to a tee and known for his dry sense of humour and wit.

The 80-year old, whose accountancy firm, Avellino & Bienes was an early feeder fund of Bernard L. Madoff Securities, leaves a widow, Dianne. She told the Sun Sentinel:

“Michael was never a man who would take advantage of anyone simply because he was always afraid of doing anything wrong. He loved people and valued the relationships he cultivated”.

Michael Bienes will be missed by many in both America and Britain. We offer our condolences to his wife and family.

April 19, 2017
What a Difference a Day Makes

Twenty-four hours ago Arthur Collins was the toast of OK! magazine; he’s now on the run and a wanted man

Twenty-four hours ago, the Mail Online gushed about Ferne McCann and Arthur Collins, a couple most of our readers will never have heard of. Now, that article is gone and instead the press are focusing on the fact that Mr Collins is on the run in the wake of a police raid on his home.

Ferne McCann and Arthur Collins in happier times

A mugshot of Arthur Collins issued by the Metropolitan Police and an image of him captured on CCTV at Mangle, the Dalston Club where he is alleged to have been involved in an acid attack

“Bad boy Arthur”, as The Sun today refer to the 25-year old scaffolder, is alleged to have been involved in an acid attack in a London club on Sunday in which sixteen people were injured. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Collins and when they visited his home, they discovered cannabis plants, cultivation equipment and illegal firearms.

OK! magazine feature an interview with the couple in their current edition. In it, Miss McCann, a “reality television star”, referenced how she and Collins were planning on moving in together and commented:

“We spend every night together anyway. Moving in is definitely the next step. And I know that seems a bit rushed, but when you know, you know”.

“Arthur is moving in the day after I get the keys! I get them on May 5^th, he’ll move in on May 6^th. So I just need 24 hours to settle in and put my stuff down”.

Such an occurrence now seems highly unlikely and here, indeed, is an example that never has the adage “what a difference a day makes” been truer.

April 19, 2017
Mugged by May

Theresa May’s gamble to go to the country will likely pay off, but is it good for Britain?

Theresa May supposedly decided to go call a snap election after a trip to church and a walking holiday with her garden gnome-like husband, Philip, in Wales over Easter. She has taken a gamble but given that Sky News are projecting the Tories are likely to win 44% of the vote against Labour on 23%, it is one that will likely pay off.

Unsurprisingly and in a coward-like fashion, Mrs May has declined to partake in television debates but given her opponent Jeremy Corbyn is so hopeless, it would take only a calamity to unsettle any chances of her winning. Only the left-leaning Mirror is backing Corbyn and in spite of the Liberal Democrats likely to make a number of gains in the south-west, May will certainly hit Labour hardest.

Mrs May, however, is not good for Britain. Since taking office last year, she has performed eight U-turns on policy and as Home Secretary she was a total disgrace. One only has to remember that this is the woman who closed the police stations and this is the woman who closed the fire stations. This, also, is the politician who wastefully funded her friends Gerry and Kate McCann’s search for their missing child to the tune of £11 million and this is the woman whose inquiry into historic abuse has cost £100 million and delivered nothing.

Lady Macbeth-like May is a self-serving woman and she is not a good premier. This power grabbing vicar’s daughter’s about turn on Brexit is bad for Britain and her harshness towards immigrants is bad for business. She must be stopped and we urge our readers to vote for anyone but her on 8^th June.

April 19, 2017
Gone is the Garage

Purpose-built Upper East Side, NYC Beaux Arts garage reduced in price by 41%; it will still cost around £40 million to buy and turn into a vast single family residence

Purpose built in 1906 to house the cars of wealthy (but not quite so wealthy enough to have their own carriage houses) Upper Eastsiders, 177 – 179 East 73^rd Street in New York is a five-storey Beaux Arts structure that is described as “unusually sophisticated”.

Reduced from a completely unrealistic £39.8 million ($50 million, €47 million or درهم183.6 million) when first marketed in 2015 to £23.5 million ($29.5 million, €27.7 million or درهم108.4 million) today, estimates put the cost of converting the building to a single townhouse at upto £15.9 million ($20 million, €18.8 million or درهم73.5 million).

Featuring a granite and limestone façade, 177 – 179 East 73^rd Street has ceiling heights that range from 12’7” to 17’, is 40’ wide and provides 17,232 square foot of internal space. Though plans have been drawn up to turn it into a vast 8-beroom residence complete with a 8-car garage, basketball court and home cinema, rival agent Jed Garfield of Leslie J. Garfield, told The Real Deal: “I think it’s still overpriced. The only surprising thing is that they’re now willing to sell it at [closer to] market price” late last week.

The building – which remains in use as a UES garage – is listed by Carrie Chiang of Corcoran and is described as “just waiting to undergo a metamorphosis in the hands of a discerning buyer”.

Image shows 177 – 179 East 73^rd Street in 1906, 2017 and a rendering as a single family residence (left to right).

April 17, 2017
Checkmate

Former Lancashire farmhouse for sale for £1.69 million complete with giant chessboard

Until recently used as a holiday cottage rental, Low House at Eskrigge in Lancashire is described by selling agents Matthews Benjamin as “a joy to behold”.

Low House, Eskrigge, Gressingham, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 8LX

Fancy a game of chess?

Or a dip in the hot tub?

Dating to the late 17^th century and originally a farmhouse and barn, this 4,490 square foot Grade II listed property stands in 1.5 acres of gardens, 2.5 acres of woodland and 4 acres of paddocks. It has 4 reception rooms, 2 kitchens, 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and comes with a number of follies, a hot tub and a giant chessboard.

Reduced in price from £1.79 million ($2.24 million, €2.11 million or درهم7.78 million) to £1.69 million ($2.12 million, €1.99 million or درهم8.24 million), Low House is just seven miles from Lancaster.

April 17, 2017
High & Low

“Penthouse to rival any other penthouse in the world” in converted brewery next to Tower Bridge for sale for £12.5 million

Described as “a penthouse to rival any other penthouse in the world” despite its somewhat pedestrian decoration, a £12.5 million ($15.7 million, €14.7 million or درهم57.6 million) five floor apartment next to Tower Bridge is currently for sale.

Situated within the former Anchor Brewhouse, a building that formerly housed the Courage Brewery, ‘The High Command’ penthouse includes 4,286 square foot of internal space and 1,203 square foot of terraces. It has a private internal lift and as well as featuring 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, comes with a gazebo, a domed rotunda with a gallery, 6 terraces and 4 private parking spaces.

On the market periodically since February 2015 with Knight Frank and Cluttons, ‘The High Command’ enjoys views across the City of London to the north and Canary Wharf to the east.

‘The High Command’ is described as being “designed to picture frame’ the various aspects of Tower Bridge”

The building at night with ‘The High Command’ highlighted

‘The Riverside’ is situated on the ground and basement levels of the building and is offered for £6 million

Buyers with a slightly more limited budget have the option of purchasing a ground and basement flat in the building. ‘The Riverside’, a 3-bedroom apartment, is offered for £6 million ($7.5 million, €7.1 million or درهم27.6 million) by Knight Frank.

April 17, 2017
Martin Raffa – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with Paris based fashion designer Martin Raffa

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

The search beauty and harmony. From an early age, I understood the importance of both in my entourage.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

“Beauty is interior”.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?

The mediatic terrorism of the Kardashian family.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Palm trees and tropical rainforest vegetation.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

For God to grant me an obedient heart.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?

I don’t understand much about finance, but I think the worst thing of all is that there is a lack of help to help small entrepreneurs since they are the true wealth creators.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“It’s impossible to achieve”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Personally, I work with friends to create an association protect animals. I especially like protecting dogs.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

Being connected is great, but do not be connected for too long.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

I would invite Andy Warhol so we could have great pictures, Truman Capote to enjoy great conversations, Marvin Gaye for the music, Ferran Adrià to have great meals and my French bulldog, Batman.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Soy risotto with oysters and black truffles at Le Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

It depends on the city. In Paris, it would be 6pm with my team at the office at the end of a long, productive day.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A martini, always.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

I enjoy my own pool parties the best.

Who is the most positive person you know?

Milagros Schmoll, my muse. She is an Argentinian artist and international model.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

To stay in bed in the morning playing with my dog Batman when I have a thousand things to do.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A very fine line on my arm that could only be read with a magnifying glass. It would say: “The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” (Oscar Wilde).

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

A black Aston Martin DB4 Zagato.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

When I was young, I spent three years in the navy. I was honoured as a submariner.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Books about the photographer Steichen, a candle by Cire Trudon, lithospheres from Bernardaud and a big bottle of Sycomore by Chanel.

Martin Raffa was born in Argentina of Italian origin. He was the first Argentinian designer to present a collection during the haute couture shows in Paris. He now works for private clients around the world. Contact him at [email protected]

‘Like’ his page on Facebook by clicking here.

April 17, 2017