Property, law and rock and roll
The value of a good property lawyer isn’t wasted on the rich and famous. This extract from Creation Stories, the autobiography of music industry legend Alan McGee – the founder of Creation Records, which signed Oasis, Primal Scream and the Libertines – details the power of one Howard Granville. Diary has discovered that the Granville in question is a partner in niche West End law firm Freeman Box – the Freeman being Jeremy, husband of Mischon de Reya’s queen of networking Susan Freeman.
Proof perhaps that her vast contacts book likely goes beyond that of the standard real estate and legal sets.
Breakfast of champions
When it comes to making an early start a little less painful, personalised treats work a charm. At this week’s annual PROPS breakfast, which saw Berkeley Group’s Tony Pidgley and L&G’s Bill Hughes battle it out in the residential vs commercial debate on stage, guests sat down to a Dorchester Hotel Full English. EG’s two representatives, however, arrived to find their placemats already set out with their very own breakfast favourites – three jars of marmite and three bottles of Diet Coke respectively. We will save the blushes of the pair – particularly the sweetened soda guzzler. Unhealthy though it may be, staying fully caffeinated at all times is crucial for us journalists.
Nice one Cyril
To Bonhams, W1, to join the celebrations for Cyril Leonard’s 80th birthday. Some 300 guests were treated to an entertaining speech from managing partner Douglas Blausten, who paid homage to our political leaders. He also expressed his gratitude that UKIP were not around 80 years ago or else the firm’s founders, Cyril and Leonard Blausten – the sons of “an unskilled, penniless immigrant” – would perhaps not have had the opportunity to create the legacy for which they have since become famous.
Hello L&O – boss does his bit
Developer London & Oriental is enjoying a run of development success at the moment but Diary was pleased to see it hasn’t gone to the head of boss Mark Cannell. EG interviewed Cannell at the firm’s recently completed refurbishment of 36 Queen Street, EC4, where the plush offices are so new that a full complement of receptionists has yet to be hired. When the receptionist got called away, Cannell wasn’t afraid to do his duty as landlord and direct arriving guests to the appropriate floor. Diary was less sure about Cannell’s decision to leave EG in charge of reception when he too was called away briefly.
Up the Stepladder with a rocking chair
More tales from the PROPS breakfast as one of the committee members came across as more than a little eccentric in his event brochure biog.
“It makes me sounds like a crazy person,” said Ben Richardson, founding partner at property branding firm Stepladder. A quick glance and Diary can confirm that his entry started, somewhat bizarrely, with the words:
“I sit (mainly in rocking chairs)…”. All became clear when Richardson explained that the line was intended to make fun of the headshot photo he had originally submitted of him sitting, inexplicably, in a rocking chair. Since the photo had been replaced but the words kept the same, the poor chap was left looking a bit off his rocker…
