Absolutely not, as far as Diary is concerned – just as long as they don’t all try to make broth. This fine collection of chefs has been cooking up a storm as diners return to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City. “With over 4.2m visitors in the first month since reopening, Westfield London and Stratford City are delighted to welcome back consumers to our indoor hospitality, leisure and entertainment venues from 17 May,” Westfield told Diary. To celebrate, it assembled culinary professionals from more than 50 restaurants for this special photo. But, Diary asked ourselves, what is the collective noun for chefs? Then we asked Google which was more effective. Turns out that if we accept cooks as an alternative then what we have here is either a temperance or a hastiness. And that’s fitting, as – after a long period of forced abstention from fine dining indoors – there will doubtless be quite a rush.
This drools
The pandemic puppy boom is not only bringing joy to new pet owners across the country, it may just be the saviour of the high street – like some heroic combination of Lassie, the Littlest Hobo and one of those Saint Bernards with a whisky barrel round its neck. Last month it was pet lifestyle brand and grooming parlour Love My Human with its King’s Road townhouse concept. Now it’s the Bobby & Co department store in Bournemouth, with a plan guaranteed to make your newly-adopted pooch drool. It has announced that, as part of its grand re-opening, from mid-July it will play host to the world’s first foodhall for dogs. And that guarantee is so cast-iron, they’re even calling it Drool. The project is the brainchild of Emma Thomas – who, under the nom de plume of the infamous Miss Cakehead, has created curious cake-based goodies for everyone from Google to Fortnum and Mason. Drool will naturally feature a cake shop, as well as a “Lick ‘n’ Mix station”, a doggy tuck shop, and a dog ball recycling centre – something, we are promised, “to get every tail wagging”. All the treats have been taste-tested by a range of lucky pooches, with delicacies on offer including fish and chip flavour dog treats, seaside-themed biscuits, “cherry barkwells”, dog doughnuts, liver cakes and, for the puerile among you, even doggy-doo-doo cupcakes (shaped from icing, we are relieved to hear). It is all created with canine health and happiness front and centre, “designed to give pups a cool respite from the summer heat, and endless napping options”. But humans aren’t left out – the hall will offer “people-appropriate refreshments”, including the “now iconic puppicino”, sold from a dog-shaped 2CV truck. All great news for puppers, doggos and their owners… but, as a cat person, Diary just wants to know when kitties can has cheezburger?
Fly it, you might like it
Diary is not sure how it got on a mailing list advertising a $36m investment opportunity. And even if we had that kind of bank and were looking to spend it, would we even open a message titled “Flights to the Dominican Republic are booming!”? Who knows, maybe high net worth hotel investors make all their decisions based on such e-mail clickbait. Gerald Eve and Guildprop certainly seem to think so, as they double down on their tourism-focused approach in their preamble: “Flights to the Dominican Republic are booming with Avianca and JetBlue increasing operations. The country already has over 50% of hotels open and US tourism expects 300,000 visitors this month alone. Welcome news for those looking for development opportunities in the region.” And, indeed, we are offered just such an opportunity: Tranquility Resort, a fully permitted prime freehold hotel development site on the San Rafael beachfront in Barahona, with offers invited in the region of $36m. Tell you what, since business is booming, we will definitely think about it.
Marvel Arch?
“Marvel at the magic as Marble Arch Mound emerges”, reads the subject title in our inbox. And, if you know Diary at all, you know we are picturing the Avengers battling Thanos atop the developing hillock. Alas, despite the obvious marketing potential of a Marvel Arch rebrand just sitting there waiting for Disney and Westminster City Council to exploit, the press release remains disappointingly superhero-free. Instead, we are told, to mark the start of construction of the much-heralded Marble Arch Mound set to open to the public on 5 July, Marble Arch London BID has teamed up with Multivista to launch a live stream, “allowing the public to follow every step of the exciting installation process, as the 25m high, grass-covered pop-up platform comes to life”. Thanks for the offer, but Diary will probably just watch Avengers: Endgame again instead.
