Matthew Steeples suggests though Zac Goldsmith MP proved himself a man of his word in standing down over the Heathrow decision, modern Britain actually needs yet more infrastructure improvements
As a Conservative Member of Parliament, Mr Goldsmith was one of the few to stick his neck out over historic VIP abuse in general and what went on at the Elm Guest House in particular. Unlike many of his lily-livered colleagues, he did what he could but whilst I salute him for that, he is wrong about the need to expand Heathrow.
If – especially if Brexit actually does proceed – Britain needs to have the very best facilities and communication links possible to help maintain our attractiveness to the outside world. We cannot stand still and, quite frankly, there should be additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted and HS2 and Crossrail should proceed apace too. Bring them all on!
Matthew Steeples suggests though Zac Goldsmith MP proved himself a man of his word in standing down over the Heathrow decision, modern Britain actually needs yet more infrastructure improvements
As a Conservative Member of Parliament, Mr Goldsmith was one of the few to stick his neck out over historic VIP abuse in general and what went on at the Elm Guest House in particular. Unlike many of his lily-livered colleagues, he did what he could but whilst I salute him for that, he is wrong about the need to expand Heathrow.
If – especially if Brexit actually does proceed – Britain needs to have the very best facilities and communication links possible to help maintain our attractiveness to the outside world. We cannot stand still and, quite frankly, there should be additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted and HS2 and Crossrail should proceed apace too. Bring them all on!
The world according to Donald Trump (and where to watch the US elections in London)
According to the Bulgarian artist Yanko Tsvetkov, Donald Trump is an example of “a modern Icarus, Trump thinks he’s a butterfly that can cause a hurricane. The problem is he can’t fly”.
In the latest map in his Atlas of Prejudice, Tsvetkov replaces country names with “the world according to Donald Trump”. Iceland is simply a place that supplies “cocktail ice”, South America is a “Miss Universe Farm” and Mexico is just full of “rapists”.
A detailed commentary on Trump follows and at the end, Tsvetkov concludes:
“If you’re a bit more sentimental and forgiving, you can picture him as that racist uncle you still care about because deep in his heart he’s a ‘good person’. Being an idiot excuses you from idiotic actions. Being a clever person acting like an idiot, doesn’t. Whatever the case, Trump is not someone who should spend even a single night at the White House. Not even if he had too much wine after Hillary Clinton’s inauguration party”.
Millionaire music promoter Mervyn Conn thought he could get away with whatever he wanted but was jailed in October 2016 for 15 years for two rapes and an indecent assault. This Wimbledon based monster, who variously represented Marlene Dietrich, Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash, was previously jailed for two months in 1989 for yet another sexual assault. He will now rightly be forever disgraced.
Sir Christopher Meyer pompously sticks his oar in (yet again)
Sir Christopher Meyer, a pompous man who rather enjoys the sound of his own dulcet tones a little too much, penned a column for this week’s Mail on Sunday in which he endorsed Hillary Clinton’s campaign to become President of the United States of America.
Naturally, Meyer mentioned his “Chanel-clad” wife and bragged that the pair of them had declined Donald Trump’s hospitality. A man happy to jump on any bandwagon and one half of a beady eyed duo who rather like freebies from Ralph Lauren and elsewhere, Meyer remarked:
“We never met Trump. But we had a narrow escape. We once attended a charity dinner in Florida, where he was one of the sponsors. A number of other ambassadors were also there. At Trump’s invitation, they had hitched a ride from Washington on his private jet. We, thank goodness, were travelling under our own steam”.
“On the journey back, Trump suddenly changed course and flew to a tiny airport in New Jersey, where the ambassadors were unceremoniously dumped. That tells you a lot about Trump the man and Trump the politician, none of it complimentary”.
A new addition to the South Kensington neighbourhood in October 2016, the Pret Prayer likes to get his mat out in front of all and sundry in Pret A Manager in Old Brompton Road, SW7. He also likes to paint and listen to his radio – on full volume, of course. He then joins the Pret Sleeper and dozes off.
A private view of the works of Lincoln Townley at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea
Described as “the new Andy Warhol” by the actor Michael Caine, acclaimed artist Lincoln Townley’s works were displayed at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea on Wednesday 19th October. To welcome the exhibition, a party was held to mark the occasion and it was a rare thing – a truly genuine happening.
One of Lincoln Townley’s paintings
A select group of readers of The Steeple Times were kindly invited by Laurenzo Mefsut of Trace ART and amongst them were fashion gurus Rocky Mazzilli and his mother Louise Michielsens, art curator Chrissy Cant, financiers Michael Clark and James Moon and newly engaged PR gurus Stuart Leach and Marianne van Pelt.
Others present included Townley’s actress wife, Denise Welch, as well as the Britain’s Got Talent contestant Nick Celino, the former WAG Lizzie Cundy and the socialite and event organiser Philip Sallon.
Of the works, Mr Mefsut commented:
“Townley’s style in oil, acrylic, and gilding is bold and modern, inspired by the psychedelia and grotesquerie of Francis Bacon and the street life of Soho. His satirical canvases send up the misplaced seriousness with which modern life sees itself, exposing the dark underbelly of finance, sex, and the concept of luxury itself”.
Works offered are priced from £50,000 for limited edition prints and quickly rise to £250,000 for original paintings.
The exhibition was held on the ground floor of the Saatchi GalleryWriter, art critic, and a former personal assistant to John Lennon and Yoko Ono Anthony Fawcett with Trace ART’s Laurenzo MefsutActress Denise Welch smiles proudly next to her former strip club promoter turned artist husband Lincoln TownleyMichael Caine was undoubtedly the most famous man in the roomPhilip Sallon plainly said something that shocked this ladyRocky Mazzilli and Louise Michielsens were on especially good formMichael Clark and Ekaterina Fields with a work by Lincoln TownleyAlexandra Naylor, Ailsa Moon and James Moon next to a work by Lincoln TownleyMichael Clark, Denise Welch, Rocky Mazzilli and Baldassare La RizzaFormer WAG Lizzie CundyRocky Mazzilli, Michael Clark, Alexandra Naylor, Louise Michielsens and Eve FerretFormer “Coronation Street” actress Sally Lindsay and her drummer husband Steve WhitePR gurus Stuart Leach and Marianne van Pelt‘Britain’s Got Talent’ contestant Nick Celino enthusiastically talked about his new record, “Out Of My Mind”This guest chose to indulge in taking selfiesWhilst Philip Salloon kept himself busy on his mobile deviceThough interior decorator Baldassare La Rizza was a late arrival, he found time to be photographed with Rocky Mazzilli and Matthew SteeplesThis guest was keen to show off her glistening teethPhotographer Axel Bernstorff remarked that he’d “enjoyed meeting many new people”Marianne van Pelt, Rocky Mazzilli, Stuart Leach, Louise Michielsens and Philip Sallon
Sales of super-prime properties in the UK fall by 86%
Yesterday, the property group London Central Portfolio released data that showed that sales of £10 million-plus properties in the UK had fallen 86% over the past year.
Blaming hefty Stamp Duty increases and Brexit uncertainty, the firm reported that just 5 “super-prime” properties had changed hands between June and August compared to a recorded 35 a year earlier. All of the sales in the period this year were in Central London whilst such properties accounted for just 30% of the figure in the year previous.
Top-end developers, whose sales accounted for 23% of the figure in 2015, were especially affected. They made zero sales in this price bracket in the period and now, according to Naomi Heaton, CEO of LCP, they are reworking their developments to create smaller, cheaper units.
Citygrove Securities PLC and McClaren Properties’ The Clearings development in Chelsea’s Milner Street is being reworked to include fewer super-prime properties
Of this, Ms Heaton commented:
“Many [developers are] looking to divide large, high-priced property into smaller flats to increase their attractiveness”.
Examples given by LCP include Clivedale’s Hanover Square development – where the scheme is being reworked to create four times as many units – and Citygrove Securities PLC and McClaren Properties’ The Clearings development in Chelsea’s Milner Street – where seven townhouses will be replaced with smaller properties.
Speaking more generally, Ms Heaton – who predicts the consequences of this development will be a £45 million fall in Stamp Duty receipts to the government – added:
“This slowdown in the luxury property market—a big contributor for the Exchequer and UK economy—is very concerning. As the government faces the daunting task of negotiating Brexit together with a potential slowdown in the UK economy, it should consider its strategy on residential-property taxation carefully to ensure it meets its objectives of increasing revenues”.
Stamp Duty on a £6 million property was £420,000 under the old system; it is now £633,750. On a £2 million property it was £100,000; it’s now £153,750 whilst in addition buyers of second homes and investment properties now have to pay an additional 3% surcharge also.
Spotted early in the mornings in Pret A Manager in South Kensington, the Pret Sleeper wears loafers and an entirely black outfit. He usually purchases nothing and sits and sleeps. Occasionally he takes out a notebook and biro but only once has he been heard to speak; he choose to ring his bank manager about a transfer of the sum of £50,000. A sleeping millionaire?
Brut and Brut Rosé Champagne for sale for just £25 per bottle (normally £58 and £65 respectively)
Readers of The Steeple Times are invited to purchase surplus champagne from La Brasserie in Chelsea.
Offered for just £25 per bottle, with no minimum order, to take home, one hundred bottles Champagne Vielle France Brut (normally £58) and Champagne Vielle France Brut Rosé (normally £65) can be purchased directly from La Brasserie, 272 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2AW.
Of the brut, Andreas Larsson – described boldly as the “best sommelier of the world” – as “a harmonious and well made blend”. He adds: “It has a spring in its step and is a perfectly drinkable champagne”.
Payment can be made by cash or card and there is no minimum order. For larger orders, delivery can be made in the locality.
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Millionaire music promoter 
