Licence to thrill
Central London developer CORE invited property’s finest to admire a collection of James Bond’s cars at the London Film Museum last week. The company’s offer of a Bond-esque photo opportunity was all too eagerly accepted by some of the guests. Here are some of the finer shots with CORE’s own comments on each of their Bonds and Bondesses…
The riot, the roof and the wardrobe
More party fodder. This time of the Christmas variety. And Capital Properties has set the bar high. As high as the rooftop at Birmingham’s Fort Dunlop, where it hosted a Narnia-inspired winter wonderland. Property professionals were whisked atop the building via a wardrobe (a well-decorated, fur-clad, lift to be precise) to enjoy an igloo-themed nightclub and a cosy tepee with log fires and mulled wine. There was also a bucking bronco for those who hadn’t had enough rum-laced hot chocolate. A live band got feet tapping in the tepee before the resident igloo DJ inspired inappropriate office dancing well into the night. Best moves of the evening go to Mr Tumnus.
Industrial agents in the shed with MC Banter
On attending the Industrial Agents Society Awards this week, Diary was not expecting to
hear what must be the first ever rap musical conceived on the topic of warehouse leasing. Nor would the unsuspecting agents from BNP Paribas Real Estate and Coke Gearing have been expecting to be dragged on stage and made the subject of this small but significant chapter in musical history. So impressively tailored were the stylings of Irish comedy duo Abandoman that even the notoriously raucous IAS audience was silenced (though that may have had something to do with the shots of port being freely circulated). Somewhat less impressed was the agent cajoled into putting up his home address on stage as a venue for the after-party…
Chippies fried in Croydon
Business rates always take a bit of a battering, but in Croydon the chips are well and truly down. Look at question four on its retail business rating relief request form. The south-east London borough is trying to block any takeaway from getting the £1,000 kick-back unless it can prove that less than half of its menu is deep fried. Ratings experts say the idea is half-baked, but the council is deadly serious and says all forms must be returned with a copy of the menu and warns a follow-up visit from a council officer may be required. Just don’t offer him the deep-fried coffee on a stick.
Festivities on the hoof
And finally… more Christmas cheer. Forget a gingerbread man. Why not a whole cow? Or bull, to be exact. The iconic beast at Hammerson’s Bullring Shopping Centre has been decked out in a gingery coat for the festive season. Is anyone else craving spicy
Szechuan beef? No? OK – forget we said anything.
emily.wright@estatesgazette.com
