Courting the boss
Diary enjoyed a recent trip around Derwent’s 4-10 Pentonville Road, N1, building, which has been let to online events company Ticketmaster. Derwent is used to attracting trendy tenants, but the landlord hopes for an added bonus from the latest deal. Head of leasing Celine Thompson confessed she has her fingers crossed for a big-name gig to celebrate the company’s move to Pentonville Road, with Bruce Springsteen topping her wish list. It made Diary wonder: what’s the best tenant treat you’ve ever received?
Not a lot of interest
Auction bidders are a mysterious bunch, especially when it comes to deciphering their motivation to buy. Now it seems the very mention of this magazine might be one of the reasons, as Allsop residential auctioneer Gary Murphy found out at his November sale. Murphy was selling Lot 21 – a strip of land in West Sussex – when he found the room initially silent. “Oh, the embarrassment of not selling a lot with a declared nil reserve,” he complained from the rostrum. “Let’s hope Estates Gazette isn’t here to see this.” Diary was. The lot eventually sold for £4,000.
Contradiction in terms
The chief reason to feel sympathy for the MWB Group is that its shares were suspended last week. The group, which owns the rather smart Hotel du Vin boutique hotels, among other things, was forced to suspend shares after it failed to file accounts on time. But there may be another reason to feel some sympathy. One of the significant MWB shareholder groups named itself after Pyrrho, the 4th century BC Greek philosopher of that name. Pyrrho, the first of the sceptics, is remembered chiefly for his belief that any statement can be contradicted, with equal worth and relevance. Just imagine trying to have a chat with a shareholder group that named itself after a man who essentially held that it is not possible to be sure about anything.
Star of the catwalks
Macquarie Bank has caused British Land some problems if reports that the REIT was forced to take out insurance on its lease before selling its Ropemaker Place offices are to be believed. But the Australian bank might finally have redeemed itself in the eyes of its landlord, just days before a sale of the building was expected. Macquarie’s offices – with bright red steel staircase and upper-level steel catwalks – have featured on a list of the 10 coolest fit-outs, compiled by job search site Aduza. But even Macquarie’s efforts were put in the shade by other entrants on the list. Mother London’s giant concrete desk around which the entire company sits and Red Bull’s adult slides were Diary’s highlights.
BPF finds a new darling
After John Prescott’s near legendary speech to the IPF Midlands dinner two weeks ago, all eyes were on one of his ex-government colleagues this week. Would former chancellor Alistair Darling crash as spectacularly at the BPF’s annual dinner in London? Of course not: Darling was insightful, full of sound advice for his successor and amusing. “I’m often asked what was your worst moment as chancellor,” began the man who spent many of his days in office battling global financial meltdown. “I’ll say it before you do: I’ve got rather a lot to choose from.” Mind you, bankers didn’t escape unscathed. At one point, Darling said, he was taken aside by a senior banker and told: “I want to reassure you: from now on, we’ll only take on risks we understand.”
Moore discipline has Portman staff talking
Bill Moore, chief executive of the Portman Estate, is keen to shake up routines at the 40 Portman Square office, W1, and is asking staff to embrace his “no phone Monday” idea. Employees are being encouraged to deviate from the normal office culture of e-mailing and phoning colleagues rather than getting up from one’s desk to talk to people individually. Moore’s 30-year army career prior to joining the firm should come in useful for keeping staff in line.
