The croutons of prosperity
If there was any doubt that the good times were back, a brioche crouton put an end to speculation at this year’s MIPIM property conference. From helicopter airport transfers to lobster dinners, the mood in Cannes this week was positively jubilant. But is wasn’t until the dessert at the Westminster Property Association and Levy Real Estate lunch arrived on Tuesday that former EG editor Peter Bill called it. “Gold leaf and brioche croutons?!” he exclaimed, peering down at his crème brûlée and looking dapper with a hat fashioned out of a menu. “That’s it. We’ve hit the top. Let’s just sell everything.” You heard it here first.
New title fits the Bill?
Talking of the esteemed Mr Bill, he gallantly endured some light ribbing at the same WPA lunch by architectural journalist Peter Murray over the title of his book, Planet Property. “I wouldn’t have called it that,” said Murray. “I think a more appropriate name would be either Travels with Gerald or Lunches I have had.” Anyone not sure whether this is a fair analysis should have a read and make up his or her own mind. Alternative titles on a postcard.
Lister misses his prompt
JLL pulled off its usual coup of kicking off the MIPIM parties on Monday night when the lack of competition ensures a good gathering of big wigs, a fact that boss Guy Grainger was clearly pleased about. Less pleasing for the trendy chief executive was the fact one of the big wigs with whom he was sharing a stage had clearly not read his briefing notes. Cue embarrassed silence when deputy mayor Sir Edward Lister thanked “Gary” for hosting.
Garbled in translation
Diary doubts this can be classed as the first-ever MIPIM pairing, but perhaps it is one of the most inaccurate. CapCo’s Sarah Jane Curtis and Robert Davis from Westminster city council were collected from Nice airport by a transfer looking to pick up a Robert and Sarah-Jane Davis.
Overheard at MIPIM
• “The foie gras runs through the whole piece of beef, does it? That’s a good sign. Business is booming.”
• “So I had to get a motorbike taxi from Gare Du Nord and I was entirely unsure what to do with my arms. Are you meant to hug the drivers? That seems overly intimate. It’s not like I was on holiday with him.”
Dirges on the croissette
As we are here, why not go the whole hog and have an entirely MIPIM-dedicated diary page? Speaking at the BPF breakfast at the Carlton on Wednesday, GVA chief executive Rob Bould revealed what he had most missed in MIPIM’s first 25 years. “Locals call MIPIM the undertakers’ convention because it’s the only time they see so many suits on the Croisette.” Nothing like ending on a light note, hey?
