A happy hour with a difference launches at The Palm in London’s Belgravia
Opened in May 2009, The Palm replaced the legendary restaurant Drones of Pont Street. Amongst the original backers of Drones were David Niven Jr. and Sir Roger Moore. Nicky Kerman, a titan of the restaurant world, was another part owner. A later reincarnation was the brainchild of television chef Antony Worrall Thompson. Of the décor of this era, critic Nick Foulkes described it as: “Daphne’s meets The Magic Roundabout with a touch of Swedish sauna”. Next came a lady named Annie Foster Firth and most recently it opened as Marco Pierre White’s Drones in 2001.
He parties here, he parties there, he parties absolutely everywhere. Some say he looks like Julian Assange and others comment on his champagne loving companion. (more…)
The Steeple Times asks TV presenter and model Hofit Golan: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Know what makes you happy and build your life around that. People will always offer their opinion so know how to take the advice you need without compromising your own ambitions, dreams and drive. Where there is a will, there is a way, and the journey to your destination is the fun part. Finally, learn to be present in the moment.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Mine is: “Actions speak louder than words”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
I don’t think its fair on Kerry to even start the question that way, but what’s unacceptable for me these days is the horrible biotech company Monsanto and the poisonous GMO foods they have given the world. They have a disregard for mother-nature, to livestock and to peoples’ health. Its truly sad they are even allowed to exist. I think everyone has the right to clean organic food and water. We shouldn’t be messing with nature and DNA
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I don’t miss anything. If I feel like something is missing, I do something about it. I find it, work for it, create it or replace it.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
The health and happiness of the people I love and even strangers if it came down to it. If I could keep them safe, it would be priceless to me.
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 banking crisis?
Greed: Corruption and carelessness have influenced the long-term economic effect that this greed has and will cause.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“No. It’s not possible”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Charity starts in your heart, then should grow and spread into everything we do. If you can help your local community you can see your work have an effect. Find small organisations you trust and support them. Kindness and love is the beauty of our human nature. We should try to spread as much of that and help people in need every chance we get.
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?
Appropriate usage of a mobile phone? A camera, a video phone, a mirror, for text, BBM, Whatsapp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Oh and yeah, you can use it to call people.
Hofit Golan
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
An eclectic mix of everyone from every walk of life, every class group. I would be a fly on the wall and just be interested to see how people that normally don’t interact would react to one another. It would be so interesting.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
My last meal? So morbid. I don’t think I would have much of an appetite, maybe a dish from home that my mom made me while growing up. I guess I would eat it in jail.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I am teetotal. I’ve never drunk.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of organic herbal jasmine green tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I can’t really answer that as every event is lovely and every party has someone working hard to please their guests. They all have their charm. The people you know make a party fun, not the party itself.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My brother, Dror Golan. He always makes me laugh
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I’m not that easy to sum up.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
I’m a girl… I don’t even understand this question… For women, make it about shoes!
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I am passionate about the environment, animal rights, organic clean living. I live a very glamourous life but love the most simple basic things like a good walk in the park and a yummy cup of tea.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Which one? … Photos of family and friends, Ralph Lauren candles and magazines.
Hofit Golan is a TV presenter and model. She is a brand ambassador for a number of companies and consults on media and press strategies for luxury goods brands.
Just as Land Rover Jaguar have launched their fourth generation Range Rover L405, South Kensington garage Hexagon Classics are selling a much earlier example, a Range Rover Classic from 1973.
Poissonnerie on Draycott Avenue, popular with the likes of Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore, is for sale through Miles Commercial. The 6,700 square foot property, owned by respected restaurateur Peter Rosignoli, has a price tag of £14,000,000 and the agents state that it “has good redevelopment potential”. Meanwhile, around the corner in Walton Street, the same firm seeks £90,000 per year for the former Baity Kitchen premises.
Living like Lilly
The “Queen of Prep” Lilly Pulitzer’s realtor daughter, Liza, is marketing her late mother’s former home at 710 South County Road in Palm Beach, Florida at a price of £5,500,000. Originally marketed at £7,500,000, the fashion titan told the New York Times recently that the house is “just magnificent, but I’m old and I’m cranky and I can’t keep it up the way it should be”. She now rests in peace but with the “cabana inspired” property being marketed as a “tear-down” or for subdivision into two lots, it looks like the bulldozers will be on the way.
Meyer’s kebabed
Sir Christopher Meyer was recently spotted on the steps of 17 Lincoln Street in Chelsea with a group of men who looked like builders. The same property, for which offers in excess of £2,650,000 were sought, is now “under offer/sold” on the Primelocation.com website. If indeed the former ambassador and his wife, who was described as being “Chanel-clad” by the Daily Telegraph in May 2011, have bought the house, they’ll quickly have to get used to the smell of kebabs. The 4-storey unmodernised end of terrace is right next to the Al Dar restaurant.
Monckton moves on
The house where financier John Monckton was tragically murdered in November 2004 in Upper Cheyne Row, Chelsea has recently come on the market with W. A. Ellis. Monckton’s killer Damien Hanson and his accomplice Elliott White were rightly jailed and now, his widow, Homeyra, is selling the 5-bedroomed house at a guide price of £5,500,000.
If you know of a story about someone newsworthy who is changing jobs, setting up a new business or selling an existing one or moving home, do email us at:[email protected]
The Right Honourable The Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG, OM, PC, FRS; Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013)
She cleared our rat-infested streets and she beat the unions. She taught people that “anything was possible” and redefined the role of the state in our lives. Britain’s first female Prime Minister stood firm in the Falklands and she came of age there. “No surrender” was her guiding force both in that war and in Europe and to this groundbreaking pioneer “rights” were inextricably linked with “responsibilities”.
The Steeple Times asks actor Jules Knight: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Vino, feminae et Carmen.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Ask, believe, receive”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
I find the fact that we make celebrities of people in reality TV shows unspeakably depressing.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I miss my father who died a few years ago.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
If I had a choice between being wealthy and alone or poor and in love, I’d definitely choose the latter. Preferably someone like Mila Kunis if you can arrange it.
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 banking crisis?
I think a lot of people and companies made mistakes driven by greed and no one seemed to learn from historical mistakes. I’m not against big bonuses if they reward success. I believe in a meritocracy.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“We are experiencing high call volumes (today, yesterday and every other day you’ve called). Your call is important to us (so important that we have 2 non English speaking people working to answer 5000 calls a day). Please Hold (whilst you are charged 50p per minute so that when we answer we can tell you that what you want us to do is not possible”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Over the years I’ve performed at a lot of charity events and helped them raise money in all sorts of ways. On a personal level, I think the British Heart Foundation is a great charity and I have a soft spot for WWF. But aside from wrestling, that wildlife charity is good too.
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?
They’re a blessing and a curse. I use mine to run my whole life. It practically brushes my teeth for me. But when I lose it or it breaks I feel completely helpless. Sad really.
BBC1’s “Holby City” actor and former member of vocal group Blake Jules Knight
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Fry, Anthony Hopkins, Christian Bale and Jennifer Aniston. A few drinks, a few laughs and then perhaps make love. Not all together. There isn’t room in that bar.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I have a feeling they’d make me have it in prison but if they were foolish enough to allow me to have it in, let’s say, The Fat Duck, I’d do that and then have a couple of pints in a pub in Bray, chill out for a few hours and then, well, go home and relax. Phew that was close.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I never really drink before 6pm unless there is a plan to start early. In which case, I can be persuaded.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A vodka martini with Grey Goose and a twist. That gets things started nicely.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
There is a yearly polo party that Audi put on for about 200 people that is the best of the year. Talented, interesting guests from the world of sport, acting and music, lots of champagne, cocktails, amazing food. It turns into one big house party in a field.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My old boss, Nigel Evans MP. He’s a lovely chap.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Pickled eggs.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
“Get it Here”.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Range Rover Evoque. A fusion of classic and contemporary, urban and rural.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I wanted to be in the army. Now I prance around treading the boards.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
My Classical Brit is wedged between my two degree certificates: a woeful 2:2 MA in Art History from St Andrews and my MA in Acting for Screen from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Jules Knight is an actor and former member of the Blake, the vocal group widely known for having been formed on Facebook in 2007. He appears in BBC1’s Holby City from 14th May 2013 as Dr Harry Tressler.
The restaurant business is a transient place and it seems no more so than in Chelsea.
Places come and go here and though there are a number of mainstays that have lasted for a considerable length of time, some last barely even two years. Beauchamp Place, commonly known to many as “bankrupt alley” is a prime example and despite rave reviews, venues such as Galoupet lasted less than a year. Equally, Farhad Farman-Farmaian’s Beauchamp Club, lauded as a rival to Annabel’s by Vanity Fair and W Magazine, is now empty and elsewhere on Sydney Street, Frankie Dettori’s Sette has now become Marco Pierre White’s Sydney Street Grill.
