Model behaviour at JLL bash
JLL’s annual private viewing of the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy was as resplendent as ever, with the great and the good of the industry casting their eye over fine art and quaffing crisp champagne. What’s more, invitees had the chance to take part in a life drawing session beforehand. But Diary hears that JLL’s enigmatic UK chief executive Guy Grainger was somewhat overshadowed while, in the midst of his introduction to the session, the very naked female model strode in behind him. “It was about the only time I’ve not seen him be the centre of attention,” a source jested.
Au naturel at King’s cross
Speaking of nudity, Hammerson’s move from the formal heartland of the property industry in Mayfair to the far trendier King’s Cross means the vibe has changed – less haute cuisine, fewer suits, and more skinny jeans, pop-up food trucks and Fixie bikes. But one thing the company hadn’t accounted for was the local community’s use of Regent’s Canal, which its new office overlooks. Attendees at a recent meeting with a prime view of the river were somewhat distracted when a nude gentleman waded into the canal for a freshen-up.
Technical difficulty
Never knowingly lost for words, TH Real Estate managing director for Europe Mike Sales was characteristically unfazed by a microphone malfunction at last week’s London Real Estate Forum. Halfway through an elegant pitch for why London remained the capital of the property world at Estates Gazette’s Global Real Estate Debate, a technician arrived on stage to make an adjustment. It turned out that the still-working mic had merely fallen into Sales’, ahem, lap. “I hope everyone caught that coming from the wrong place. I shouldn’t say that, should I? I’ve lost my train of thought completely,” said the now-blushing Sales.
Courtauld does a sidestep
Another tale from LREF, this time of some light panellist goading. Following a discussion at the conference on Oxford Street, Edgware Road and Church Street, questions were invited from the floor. One question was directed at Toby Courtauld, chief executive of Great Portland Estates, about his thoughts on the fast-changing Fitzrovia area otherwise known as “Van Gelder Village” – named after the Exemplar boss’s Fitzroy Place scheme. Courtauld responded expertly with a wry smile and quickly launched into a roll call of all of the GPE schemes in the vicinity.
Red Ken goes blue
Although Ken Livingstone is officially sticking to party lines and backing Sadiq Khan for the London mayoralty, he told Estates Gazette at the BPF’s annual conference last week that he would be interested in seeing Zac Goldsmith in the position. Why? Because the former mayor reckons Goldsmith wouldn’t mind rattling a few political cages – his extreme wealth means he is less bothered about staying within their inner circle. What a good idea. Rich people squabbling in parliament is something we don’t see enough of these days.
Shuttleworth gets his ducks in a row
Diary always enjoys a little insight into the private lives of the industry’s great and good, architect Ken Shuttleworth being no exception. And if this tweet of his from Saturday is anything to go by, it looks as though his weekend was pretty full-on: “Woke up to new family of ducklings born in our mews… Walked them to Regent’s Park across busy roads… Stressful!!!”
