Diary got very excited when stories surfaced of a Greggs megastore in London’s Leicester Square. So excited, in fact, that we were ready to round up the troops and set off on a team outing to the new destination.
We didn’t though – and thank goodness. Not because we don’t love a Greggs – cost of living tip here, the coffee is actually quite good and much cheaper than some of those other chains (or artisanal concepts) you might frequent – but because we would have been sorely disappointed.
“It’s less megastore and more mega location,” Greggs’ head of property Tony Rowson tells us in this week’s EG Interview. Some journalist, one clearly not fluent in the complex language that is real estate, added a zero to the square footage of the site, turning it from a 1,250 sq ft store to a 12,500 sq ft sausage roll emporium. “That may have confused some people who went there,” says Rowson. Quite possibly including this Greggs superfan who raced past Diary on the way there…
Ross Freedman’s seven days off
Regular followers will know that Diary loves an unusual out-of-office message, but if we receive one that stands out from the crowd and is also both entertaining and informative, that really does put the O-O-O into “Oooh!” So, full credit to Lonic founder Ross Freedman, who has been unavailable recently due to the Jewish holidays, and seized the opportunity to educate his correspondents on what they involve.
In his auto-reply, Freedman took us through the dates he would not be contactable, beginning with 26 and 27 September, explaining: “Rosh Hashona – Jewish New Year. Starts in the 7th month of the Hebrew Calendar – no we can’t work it out either :-). Apple and honey is eaten for a sweet new year. Is a custom to have as many guests as possible for food, more food and alcohol. One holiday down :-)”
Then there is 5 October: “Yom Kippur. The biggy. The FA Cup Final, Thrilla in Manila, War on the Shore. Repenting and fasting for 25 hours. The fast is ended by a meal that puts back on all the weight you’ve lost. On both these festivals a ram’s horn is blown (shofar) which is a cry from the heart.”
Next up, 10 and 11 October: “Sukkot. Start of a seven-day festival commemorating the time when, leaving Egypt, Jews had to live in huts (sukkot). These temporary dwellings could add value to your home – or not – just don’t tell the planners. During the seven days, guests are invited over for food, more food, alcohol and frozen vodka (which is alcohol but hits the bloodstream faster). All in the sukkah. If it rains – depends on custom. Some people eat a full meal during a full storm, others think that is a bit crazy. Each to their own.”
And there’s more! 17 and 18 October brings Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah: “More family time – Shemini Atzeret is the day to ask for rain so that the seasons all function accordingly. We invite more guests over, we eat, eat a bit more and have more alcohol. There is a theme here. Simchat Torah is the day when the Old Testament is finished reading and then… start again from the beginning. To celebrate, there is – yep – food, and there are guests. Alcohol soon takes over. It’s like a football match without the fighting – more like negotiation.”
Phew, we feel stuffed just reading it. “If it sounds a lot (it is),” Freedman adds. “It is ultimately only seven days out of a year depending on the lunar calendar (another one to work out – fascinating). In 2022 when work/life balance is so hard the family time is special – and that’s if you all haven’t killed each other by the end.”
The (Master of) Art of War
What is it about major property players and a love of military history? Former British Land chief executive Chris Grigg is known as an enthusiastic student of the field, and now Alex Price, vice chairman at Fiera Real Estate, has announced that he has begun a part-time MA in war studies at King’s College, London.
“It’s a topic that has fascinated me since childhood,” Price told his followers on LinkedIn. “Thanks to Fiera Real Estate UK for giving me the flexibility to balance my work commitment alongside time to go back to university. You’re never too old to learn…”
Cue many congratulations in the comment section, although Price’s fully suited-and-booted selfie outside the campus drew some good-natured ribbing to the effect that he hasn’t fully embraced student life just yet. Fresher’s week should take care of that, hopefully. And, as consultant Philip Cropper pointed out, the course “might also come in handy in some deal negotiations”. Actually, that probably answers Diary’s initial question pretty well…
Share your tales from the quirky side of the property industry by e-mailing diary@eg.co.uk
