The Steeple Times

Tag: London

  • A £10m Doer-Upper

    A £10m Doer-Upper

    Oxfordshire country house that has appeared in many films for sale for £10 million in spite of needing some renovation

     

    Launched to the market in June for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) in June 2016 as a while or £7.75 million ($9.9 million or €9.2 million or درهم‎‎36.2 million) for the main house alone, Harpsden Court to the south of Henley-on-Thames at Harpsden is a house that many will recognize from its appearances in films and television series.

     

    An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard
    The main elevation of Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX
    An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard
    Daniel Radcliffe was filmed at the house for for the chilling movie adaptation of the horror story “The Woman in Black” in 2012
    An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard
    Harpsden features interiors that are truly jaw-dropping

     

    Rented out for around £2,500 ($3,200 or €3,000 or درهم‎‎11,700) per day regularly by the present owners, Laurie and Barbara Gerrard, the 16,098 square foot Grade II* listed country house dates to 1204 but was primarily developed in the 16th century. Featuring architectural styles including Elizabethan, Medieval, Strawberry Hill Gothic Revival, Venetian, Palladian, Tudor Revival, Regency and Victorian, selling agents Savills describe it as having an interior that is “particularly atmospheric, with a rich sequence of well-preserved interiors representing the long history of the house, notable for the oak panelling and exquisite plasterwork”.

     

    The attic is said to have been used as a studio by Humphrey Gainsborough (the brother of the better known painter Thomas) whilst the main bedroom is known as ‘Queen Mary’s Room’ – Queen Mary I supposedly slept there. During the First World War, Harpsden Court was converted to a hospital for British sick and wounded military personnel and since the 1980s, the house has been used as both a family home and film set. Amongst the programmes and films it has appeared in are The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black.

     

    An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard
    The house in Victorian times

     

    Featuring 7 reception rooms and 13 bedrooms, as well as numerous kitchens, offices and stores, the main house is complemented by a recently refurbished 3 bedroomed detached house named ‘Guildfords’ and two cottages adjoining a stable block and coach house. Gardens and grounds extend to 22 acres and include woodland, a boating lake, an orchard and a walled kitchen garden.

     

    Of the house, which requires “some updating”, Barbara Gerrard told the Henley Standard about how she and her husband acquired it:

     

    “It was the glorious summer of 1976 and the house needed lots of attention. We were lucky enough to be able to give it just that. I still remember that long, hot summer so clearly. The lake had dried up so we could walk straight across it. Twenty years later, I remember it was so cold that we could walk across the lake again — this time it was frozen”.

     

    Stephen Christie-Miller of Savills added:

     

    “It’s well looked after and perfectly liveable but needs to be brought into the 21st century. However, I can’t state enough the importance of this property — it is one of the most outstanding and important properties to come to the local market for some time, and it will appeal greatly to those who want a discreet country retreat, without being too far removed from the convenience of modern-day amenities and transportation links. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring this landmark property into 2016, while respecting its antiquity”.

     

    Savills have recently changed the price to “Price on Application” and now offer Harpsden Court as a whole or in four lots.

    An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard An Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara GerrardAn Eclectic Manor – Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX – For sale through Savills for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) – Film location for The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black – Laurie and Barbara Gerrard

  • Crook Bankrupt

    Crook Bankrupt

    PR man of fat Australian Clive Palmer who wanted to rebuild RMS Titanic goes broke; appropriately his surname is ‘Crook’

     

    In 2013, a larger-than-life Aussie gave a press conference at The Ritz, London after hanging out with a now deceased jailbird Astor scion in New York. He tastelessly announced he was rebuilding the RMS Titanic and when I asked him: “Will it sink it the same place?” he furiously had me banned from his party later that evening at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

     

    In late November, this somewhat now reduced tycoon’s very own PR, a man named Andrew Crook went bankrupt and frankly, given his project to recreate that disastrous voyage in 1912 has come to nothing, one has to ask: “Was it all one big crook?”

     

    That the fat man and failed politician Palmer got nowhere with his boat is one thing but that his sorry old henchman filed for bankruptcy is another. Crook, 50, of Brisbane, is said to have debts of AU$800,000 (£472,000 or $594,000 or €557,000 or درهم‎‎2.2 million). Who’s got that sinking feeling?

     

  • Boxing Above Its Weight?

    Boxing Above Its Weight?

    Will a Ferrari once owned by Sir Henry Cooper achieve 126% more than it did a year ago?

     

    Last November, Silverstone Auctions sold a 1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 that was at one time owned by the legendary boxer Sir Henry Cooper OBE. After featuring in The Steeple Times, it fetched just £30,938 ($39,125 or €36,746 or درهم‎‎143,684) on an estimate of £40,000 to £45,000 ($50,600 to $56,900 or €47,500 to €53,500 or درهم‎‎185,800 to درهم‎‎209,000) but, now, just a year later, its purchaser is trying to sell it on again for a figure – if its top estimate is achieved – that is 126% higher.

     

    Offered this time by Coys at their ‘True Greats’ auction on Monday 5th December in London, the Rosso Corsa with complementing biscuit hide car comes with new carpets, 60,000 miles on the clock, a cherished plate ‘CCZ 365’ and a set of boxing gloves signed by the heavyweight.

     

    Will it box above its weight and achieve £55,000 to £70,000 ($69,500 to $88,500 or €65,300 to €83,100 or درهم‎‎255,400 to درهم‎‎325,100)? We’d be surprised but stranger things have happened.

     

    Boxing above its weight? Ex Sir Henry Cooper OBE 1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 for sale for 126% more than it sold for in 2015 – Coys ‘True Greats’ sale, London, Monday 5th December 2016 – £55,000 to £70,000 ($69,500 to $88,500 or €65,300 to €83,100 or درهم‎‎255,400 to درهم‎‎325,100)Boxing above its weight? Ex Sir Henry Cooper OBE 1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 for sale for 126% more than it sold for in 2015 – Coys ‘True Greats’ sale, London, Monday 5th December 2016 – £55,000 to £70,000 ($69,500 to $88,500 or €65,300 to €83,100 or درهم‎‎255,400 to درهم‎‎325,100)Boxing above its weight? Ex Sir Henry Cooper OBE 1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 for sale for 126% more than it sold for in 2015 – Coys ‘True Greats’ sale, London, Monday 5th December 2016 – £55,000 to £70,000 ($69,500 to $88,500 or €65,300 to €83,100 or درهم‎‎255,400 to درهم‎‎325,100)

  • Returning to Romulo

    Returning to Romulo

    More pictures from Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo’s party at Romulo Café

     

    Today, we share a further selection of images from the party Matthew Steeples of The Steeple Times co-hosted with Rowena Romulo at Romulo Café in Kensington High Street.

     

    Guests on the night numbered the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali as well as Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Hannah Norman, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.

     

    Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390

     

    Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.

  • Raising the Roof to Romulo

    Raising the Roof to Romulo

    An evening of cocktails and fine Filipino food at Romulo Café

     

    On 23rd November in London, Matthew Steeples of The Steeple Times co-hosted a party with financier turned restaurateur Rowena Romulo at her recently opened Café Romulo – the fourth outpost of a family owned and managed group of restaurants and the first outside of the Philippines.

     

    Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.

     

    Supported by the deliciously smooth Italian gin Sabatini, the party celebrated a taste of the Philippines in Kensington and showcased Romulo Café’s deliciously decadent menu. Guests were served canapés, bowl food and desserts that numbered tuna ceviche, barbecued pork, lamb stew and Filipino rice cakes whilst cocktails, much to the delight of the assembled ladies, included the especially decadent (and served in a shoe) ‘Imelda’s High Heels’.

     

    The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Mark Agate, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Hannah Norman, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.

     

    As one happy attendee left, they they told Romulo Café’s delightful marketing director Gina McAdam: “What a wonderful evening. Rowena is a truly remarkable and gracious hostess. We’ll definitely be returning for lunch soon; this is just the kind of new restaurant London truly needs”.

     

     

    Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390

     

    Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley. Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.Raising the Roof to Romulo – Romulo Café, 343 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NW. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3141 6390 – Party hosted by Matthew Steeples and Rowena Romulo, 23rd November 2016 – The Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom H.E. Evan P. Garcia and the country’s Commercial Attaché and Director A. M. Kristine Umali put in an appearance and other distinguished guests included Anthony Abrahams, Leke Adebayo, Stephen Annett, Lucas Bitencourt, Brian Blick, Basia and Richard Briggs, Julian Byzantine, Mark Captain, Michael Clark, Jacina Coyne, Millie Dean, Heimir Helgason, David Hencke, Saint Hill, Iqbal Latif, Mr and Mrs Alan Millinder, Alexandra Naylor, Angelique Neumann, Oliver Newton, Simon Ogilvie-Harris, Su-Lin Ong, Alexis Parr, Tarik Remila, Claire Rubinstein, Alyssa Sherman, Alexandra and Mark Sykes, Roger Townsend and Lady Jane Duncombe Townsend, John Wellington, Mr and Mrs Bill Wiggins and Paul Wooley.

  • Degenerates and Dr Nastro

    Degenerates and Dr Nastro

    Matthew Steeples alerts event hosts in London to Dr Nastro, Ian Thomas and their merry gang of party crashing cohorts

     

    Last Wednesday, in London, around twenty gatecrashers arrived at a party I was co-hosting.

     

    ‘Invited’ by someone named Ian Thomas and a character who goes by the plainly invented moniker of ‘Dr Nastro’ (operating from [email protected]), these degenerates appeared mostly brandishing a doctored invite that came without anything other than timings and an address. It came with a note above it from ‘Dr Nastro’ reading “Embassy of X, invites you to taste of X” and instructions to “please come early, no RSVP required”.

     

    Amongst those to arrive and be turned away were usual suspects such as David Pun – no surprises there – and several badly dressed women with the scruffiest shoes known to man. Told at the door that they couldn’t come in (with Pun being urged to “get back to Harvey Nick’s”), these people resorted to yelling abuse at the staff and one went as far as to tell me I was “a racist” and claimed I’d “be prosecuted”. He ranted at a distinguished lady and described her as “a dirty woman” and, as he left, yelled: “Elitist, comprehensive school educated bigots”.

     

    Others in the ‘party’ numbered two ‘Housewives’ from Fulham. I nearly caved in and let them in given how ‘Desperate’ (not in the Eva Longoria sense) they looked, but rightly the doorman sent them on their merry way. The IDS-lookalike muttered and moaned for a moment before heading off into the cold night whilst Mr Frizzy and the chap that pretends to be a jockey complained: “You’ve made us feel uncomfortable”.

     

    The next morning, a missive was sent to my co-host by a man named Phil P. Kelly of a never-heard-of before Twitter account @HowToEnjoyLDN. He moaned: “When we made a choice and went all the way, to what turned out to be a gin tasting event, a member of your staff rejected us because we had not RSVPed! This surprised us, as no RSVP was specified in the original invite, copied below. Or was it? Can you enlighten us further?”

     

    After reading the accompanying forwarded message, I contacted the source, Dr Nastro. He answered with various excuses and claimed: “This has nothing to do with me”. He added: “I’ve been told it was someone called Ian Thomas who creates a party list weekly and my name has been used to forward to his friends”.

     

    In a further missive, without even yet even the hint of an apology, the not-so-good doctor added:

     

    “I got a lots [sic] of emails sent to me. I don’t remember that one. Maybe I could have sent it on. I did not know this was your event. I don’t really go to these type of events. I mainly see Pun at art gallaries [sic] making a nuisance of himself”.

     

    Told by return “’maybe’ is a very convenient word” by me, he then bizarrely responded with an invite to a preview event at an art gallery named ‘Unit London’ that very evening. He explained: “If you would like to meet here, we could talk about it”.

     

    I responded with the comment: “I am astounded. You now invite me to someone else’s event. Is that even appropriate given what you did to my event by inviting people who shouldn’t ever have been invited?” and contacted ‘Unit London’ and alerted them of his plan to crash their event.

     

    Dr Nastro’s last email followed minutes later: “I will not send anyone to your events again, you need to find who leaked your invite… I’ve just been banned from The Unit. Can we leave it at that?” We can now.

     

  • Wally of the Week – Joe Corré

    Wally of the Week – Joe Corré

    Vivienne Westwood’s son pathetically burns £5 million of memorabilia as a protest; he should have given it to charity

     

    Fans rightly reacted angrily when Dame Vivienne Westwood’s publicity loving son Joe Corré set fire to £5 million worth of memorabilia given to him by his mother and late father Malcolm McLaren on the River Thames at Albert Bridge in Chelsea on Saturday.

     

    Before setting light to the items, Corré, who founded the lingerie company Agent Provocateur, remarked: “Punk was never, never meant to be nostalgic – and you can’t learn how to be one at a Museum of London workshop”.

     

    “Punk has become another marketing tool to sell you something you don’t need. The illusion of an alternative choice. Conformity in another uniform”.

     

    Dame Vivienne, bizarrely positioned in a green double decker bus on the river bank, then added:

     

    “This is the first step towards a free world. It’s the most important thing you could ever do in your life”.

     

    “I never knew what to say before … ever since punk … we never had a strategy then, that’s why we never got anywhere. This is so ridiculously easy. Let’s all have a laugh and stay alive”.

     

    Effigies of Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Theresa May and George Osborne were also burnt as part of the protest but what is telling is that the real idiot is Corré for orchestrating this pointless exercise. Shame on him.

     

    Wally of the Week – Joe Corré burns £5 million of memorabilia at Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London on 26th November 2016Wally of the Week – Joe Corré burns £5 million of memorabilia at Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London on 26th November 2016 Wally of the Week – Joe Corré burns £5 million of memorabilia at Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London on 26th November 2016 Wally of the Week – Joe Corré burns £5 million of memorabilia at Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London on 26th November 2016Wally of the Week – Joe Corré burns £5 million of memorabilia at Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London on 26th November 2016

  • Picture of the Week – Where there’s a Will…

    Picture of the Week – Where there’s a Will…

    Exclusive – Will Young has changed careers

     

    It seems we’ve gotten to the bottom of the reason Will Young pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing.

     

    Though the singer – who is allegedly worth £13.5 million – cited “personal reasons” and The Sun claimed he’d “thrown a massive tantrum”, it seems he’s actually ended up taking on a new job.

     

    Someone named Will Young is, we can now reveal, a detective chief inspector at Kensington Police Station in Earl’s Court Road “working together for a better London”.

     

  • A Soho Secret

    A Soho Secret

    Matthew Steeples meets Christopher Flourentzou, a little-known tailor but one well worth knowing

     

    There are tailors and then there’s Christopher Flourentzou. Described as a “master of copying a pattern” by the well-known hairstylist Luke Hersheson and originally from Liopetri, Cyprus, this talented Soho craftsman has made suits for many a Savile Row firm.

     

    Charging around half the price of the Mayfair institutions he’s worked for (at an average of around £2,500 for a suit compared to say Huntsman’s £7,500 average), Flourentzou operates from a tiny space in Berwick Street, W1 and claims to have “never been a single day without work”.

     

    His most enjoyable time, he remarks, was working with Morris Angel of the world’s longest established costume suppliers Angels Costumes: “I love making period clothing and working with this 176-year old firm taught me so much”.

     

    Flourentzou’s client list numbers royalty, business titans, diplomats, politicians and pop stars and though he’s naturally discreet about their names, this talented gent’s focus is creating garments that “fit like a glove and are proportionately balanced to complement the client”. He concludes: “My style is all about the individual” and with that, he is straight back to work at his cutting table.

     

    Christopher Flourentzou, 1st Floor, 72 Berwick Street, London, W1F 8TD. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7439 1633.

     

  • Sculpting a Residence

    Sculpting a Residence

    Former residence of sculptor with Liz Hurley as a neighbour for sale in Chelsea

     

    The self-described ‘actress’ and diva Liz Hurley is probably the most famous ‘name’ living in cherry tree lined Redcliffe Road, SW10 but a slightly more talented former resident was a sculptor named Alice Lindley-Millican (married in 1917, died November 1930). Her former home, one of just four houses built as artist’s studios in the street, is now for sale.

     

    Sculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-Millican
    Liz Hurley in the street with her then partner Shane Warne

     

    Presented today as a family home and completely reconfigured, the 3,322 square foot freehold residence became home to Mrs Albert Millican – as she was widely referred to – circa 1915. It has accommodation over four floors complete with a dramatic curved staircase between the ground and lower ground floors and 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms – including one with a vast window that would also make it suited to be used as an artist’s studio still –and 3 bathrooms. A conservatory breakfast room leads onto a cleverly designed landscaped garden whilst the selling agents, Strutt & Parker, remark that “this [is a] much loved family home offering exceptional entertaining space”.

     

    Given the house is priced at £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) it is most certainly out of the realms of most artists.

     

    Sculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-MillicanSculpting a Residence – Redcliffe Road, London, SW10 9NQ – £5.45 million ($6.6 million or €6.1 million) – Strutt & Parker – Former home and studio of sculptor Alice Lindley-Millican