Farrell fills up
Central London is set to get its first new petrol station in more than 10 years, at Almacantar’s £540m Edgware Road scheme, W1. There isn’t usually much anticipation over the design of a place to get fuel and emergency pints of milk, but when the architect involved is none other than Sir Terry Farrell, it’s a different story. Diary understands that the masterplanner offered his services when he heard the station was to open in view of his home. No details yet, but we can apparently expect an art deco-inspired design.
Preparing the next generation
Speaking to an inquisitive gathering of property apprentices last week, Hammerson boss David Atkins passed down some advice he received in his formative years in the industry: “Remember, landlord has the word lord in it, and tenant has the word ant.” Cue incredulous looks all round. “But of course that has all turned on its head now.” Phew.
Surveying the Bard
In February, RICS member Anthony Ratcliffe wrote to RICS president Martin Brühl, asking him to award William Shakespeare the title of Honorary Chartered Surveyor on the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. Ratcliffe’s reasoning was that Scottish poet Robert Burns had been so named. Brühl wrote back, pointing out that Burns had in fact been a surveyor, “ensuring enclosures were recorded measure for measure; by all accounts a veritable labour of love during both the brightest summers day and barren winter”. He continued: “Were it to be established that Shakespeare had too walked upon the surveyor’s stage, methinks it would be foolish folly not to recognise him as one of us. But until such time, I fear we risk speaking an infinite deal of nothing.” That’s a nay, then.
Model munchies
A pop-up Vogue cafe is set to open at Westfield London, W12, this month, to celebrate 100 years of British Vogue. But Diary wonders what might be on the menu for the fashion-forward foodie crowd that it is aimed at. Steaming bowls of the finest quality hot air, perhaps?
Newsom bows out in style
Savills’ senior director of valuations and bank lending guru William Newsom is set to retire next month. The fount of all knowledge was due to bow out with a do in the company’s illustrious café at its flash headquarters on Margaret Street, W1. However, due to capacity and acoustics it has been moved to a room at Café Royal, W1, which Diary is told is akin to one plucked from the Palace of Versailles. A much more appropriate venue, it must be said, for a man entwined with the world of banking.
Robinson makes a connection
Mark Robinson, founding partner of Ellandi and one of the industry’s rare left-leaning figures, will soon get to meet one of his political idols, Lord Ashdown. Not usually the shy and retiring type, Robinson is understood to be rather nervous about meeting the former Liberal Democrat leader, who is speaking at the company’s #RetailRocks conference on 10 June. Perhaps he can put him at ease by nattering over the nostalgic theme of the summit, Britpop, which was at its height when it might be said both Ashdown and Robinson were also at their peaks.
Bye bye Boris!
After eight years causing storms at the GLA, former mayor of London Boris Johnson’s leaving do was never going to be a quiet affair. In his speech, he reportedly made reference to the mass disruption and great uncertainty being caused by “Lexit”– as in Boris no longer being Mayor of London. His leaving gift? Bespoke number plates from the New Routemaster buses.
