Chor Bizarre Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Popular Indian restaurant, Chor Bizarre, is celebrating its 10th year of trading. To mark this achievement, the Albemarle St based establishment is unveiling a new interior design, new chef, new a la carte menu and a new wine list.

Find out more about how Chor Bizarre is marking it's 10th birthday...

Coffee Shops In Mayfair

Found this interesting list of coffee shops in Mayfair, put together by Paul Fisher from a blog called, funnily enough, Coffee Shops of Mayfair although the blog itself is rather more about entrepreneuralism, media and business startups. I don't think it's in any way exhaustive but it's a useful list and has the ability to read, or indeed add, reviews.

Matthew Williamson: 10 Years In Fashion

Mayfair based designer Matthew Williamson is celebrating ten years in fashion with an exhibition at the Design Museum in Shad Thames. It will showcase some of his iconic works from the last decade, and is on between 17th October 2007 and 31st January 2008.

The designer's collections have gained prominence thanks to celebrity fans such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sienna Miller.

Williamson's flagship store is in Hertford Street, Mayfair, and he is also the Creative Director at Pucci.

Tiffany & Co Embarks on Sale-Leaseback Agreement

Diamond Intelligence Briefs has reported that luxury retailer has sold its Mayfair flagship store at 25 Old Bond Street for £73 million, and then immediately leased it back for 15 years with the option to further renew.

Following a store redesign, the world famous shop is now accessible from entrances at 25 Bond Street and 15 Albemarle Street.

CEO Michael J. Kowalski is quoted as saying "Combining the Old Bond Street and Albermarle Street properties into a spacious new store has generated sales growth beyond our expectations, and we had always planned to pursue a sale-leaseback transaction following the completion of construction.".

Tony Blair Sets Up Office in Grosvenor Square

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is setting up his new base in rented office space in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. It will be home to his work as Middle East Envoy for the Quartet, according to a report in Property Week.

Mr Blair has taken a ten year lease on 9 Grosvenor Square, which was once home to the 2nd US President, John Adams (between 1785 and 1788)

Throughout his time in office, Blair was accused of being too close to the US administration so it is perhaps ironic that his new office is in Grosvenor Square- famed for its links to to the US - and just over the road from the US Embassy.

Are you looking for office space in Grosvenor Square? Visit Mayfair Serviced Offices for a searchable database.

Mayfair Residents' Association Attacks Crossrail Proposals

The Residents Society of Mayfair and St James’s has come out against the Government's proposed Crossrail scheme. Using the comments section on this blog, the Association attacks the plans and questions why UK tax payers will subsidise a project that will primarily benefit Canary Wharf and the City of London - areas which are already hugely affluent and which are making only a small contribution to the overall costs.

The statement from the Residents Society of Mafair and St James's is reproduced in full below:

The Residents Society of Mayfair and St James's believes that London deserves much better than Crossrail. The Society is supportive of public transport schemes provided they are lawful, provide value for taxpayers’ money and do not cause unnecessary harm. The present Crossrail scheme fails on all these counts.
Many journalists are now beginning to question the funding of the Crossrail scheme as the Olympics has shown that taxpayers’ require proper scrutiny of schemes seeking public funding in advance of being given the go ahead not afterwards. Indeed, the Society share the view of some in Whitehall as stated in the FT previously that: “the project’s backers are likely to keep cost projections as low as possible to secure approval”.

The backers of Crossrail want two-thirds of Londoners and tube passengers to pay for a Crossrail scheme that will alleviate congestion for passengers on the central line and benefit the UK’s richest community, namely the City and Canary Wharf. MPs will vote on the Crossrail Bill at the Third Reading soon without knowing the true cost to taxpayers or tube passengers but the finances simply do not add up. Crossrail is presently estimated at £17 billion + and yet BAA, Canary Wharf and the City Corporation are offering to contribute less than a billion. Oddly, the Government claims the rest of the money will come from fares, a levy on London business rates but provide no details and make no mention of the burden of taxpayers. However, Crossrail fares will only raise £200 million p.a. and the proposed business contribution is ring fenced and time sensitive. So where does the rest of the money come from to pay for Crossrail and who will be left to pay for servicing the debt and the operational costs? It is clear that taxpayers will not be safeguarded from having to underwrite any additional costs unless Mr Brown offers the same protections afforded to the businesses set to benefit most from Crossrail.

As it stands, the Government has nominated UK taxpayers to subsidise and underwrite the present Crossrail scheme, which primarily benefits the City and Canary Wharf. Londoners will not benefit from the property uplift at Canary Wharf and the Corporation of London in Central London. Yet oddly taxpayers are being asked to subsidise the scheme.

Furthermore, independent analysts express doubts about the cost and economic viability of the Crossrail project. To this end, we asked the Treasury numerous questions about Crossrail on the aforementioned areas under the Freedom of Information Act on April 25, 2007 so that they could be analysed independently. We have received no response so it would seem the Government are reluctant to answer these questions. Crossrail appear to be short on facts. Indeed, the Parliamentary petition hearings have shown that when we ask for evidence or substantiation of claims of benefits and harm arising from the project - it is absent.

The Society also asked the Government about the financial structuring of Crossrail and why taxpayers, Londoners and tube passengers have not been consulted. No protection is afforded from from having to pay higher fares and taxes for a Crossrail scheme, which is flawed, unlawful and destroys historic parts of residential London unnecessarily while simultaneously protecting development sites. No response has been received in relation to these specific questions. But the Government should take note that Londoners and UK taxpayers have not been consulted about whether they wish to subsidise a £17 billion + Crossrail scheme, which some say could cost as much as £30 billion.

The railway planner, who helped plan and deliver the successful Jubilee Line and the lauded high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link Michael Schabas, is sceptical about the benefits of the present Crossrail scheme. Mr Schabas should know as the Crossrail team retained him. In evidence, Mr Schabas says about the Crossrail scheme: “The analysis is so inadequate for a scheme of this size. Maybe if you are doing a garden shed, yes, but you are not supposed to do it this way.” In evidence at the Crossrail petition hearings, Mr Schabas who is a witness-in-fact also revealed Crossrail had refused to consider alternative routes on the central section despite a legal requirement to limit harm and having spent £400 million of taxpayers’ money. Mr Schabas has been denied the right to give evidence in public by the chair of the Crossrail Select Committee Labour MP Alan Meale. Mr Meale has given a variety of different reasons for preventing Michael Schabas from giving evidence in public. We understand Mr Meale’s last reason was he wanted to protect Mr Schabas as he was giving evidence on oath. Mr Schabas has said he has not asked or requested protection but he does want the right to give evidence on oath in public on Crossrail’s refusal to consider alternative routes and not in private as Mr Meale desires. Mr Schabas went on to say that Crossrail claim to “systematically and carefully look at all these alternatives, and that to me is exactly what has not been done in going through these points, and when I read this, not only has it not been done, but it is laughable.” Unfortunately, Mr Schabas has been denied the opportunity to give full evidence on Crossrail’s refusal to consider alternative routes in public by the Crossrail Committee chair Labour MP Alan Meale on no less than two occasions, one of which disclosed Crossrail's own documents showing that a less harmful alternative route had been dismissed without justification. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.com/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmcross/uc235-vi/uc23502.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmcross/uc235-xvi/uc23502.htm
A residents group in Spitalfields, the Woodseer and Hanbury Residents Association has disclosed a legal opinion, which says the Crossrail Bill is unlawful in its present form.

Soon MPs will be asked to vote on Crossrail at the Third Reading without having information on what Crossrail will cost, if it is lawful, the taxpayers’ burden and the environmental harm it will cause. Oddly former transport secretary Douglas Alexander quotes shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling as saying: "Privately: it is the wrong project (bad route, too expensive) and we wouldn't want to be associated with it." In contrast, the Prime Minister seems keen to back Crossrail.

Got a story about Mayfair?

We're on the look out for stories about people, events and businesses in London's Mayfair. If you have a news item or press release concerning Mayfair, please email it to us: mayfair@uretopia.com

The Nancy Bag from Smythson of Bond Street

Unless you have been living under a fashion rock for the past few months, you will have heard of the Nancy Bag from Smythson of Bond Street. There's actually a Nancy Collection, with three bags: Small Nancy Bag, Large Nancy Bag and the Nancy Clutch Bag. Each of these is available in black, brown and taupe.



The calf skin bags have been the talk of the fashion pages, having been seen on the arm of celebrities such as Cat Deeley, Madonna and of course, the creative director of Smythson, Samantha Cameron - wife of the Conservative party leader, David Cameron.

As you might expect, these must-have bags do not come cheap - the small Nancy bag is £750.00, the large Nancy bag is £950.00 and the Nancy Clutch bag costs £495.00. If you want to treat yourself, or maybe you're looking for very special Christmas present, click the link below to buy the Nancy bag online.

Smythson of Bond Street > "Nancy" Collection

Claridge's To Launch Mineral Water Menu

Legendary Mayfair hotel Claridge's will soon be launching a new "water list", with 30 different varieties of bottled water from around according to a report in the Evening Standard.

The exotic varieties come from places as far afield as India, Newfoundland and New Zealand, with the most expensive one costing the equivalent of £50 per litre.

Read the full report...

BOOK A ROOM AT CLARIDGE'S

Old Bond Street Most Expensive Shopping Street in World

The Guardian has reported on a survey by Colliers International that has shown Old Bond Street is the most expensive shopping street in the world, pipping Manhattan's Fifth Avenue to the prize, if that's the right word.

McLaggan Smith Monopoly Mayfair Mugs

McLaggan Smith Mugs is a family run business based in Scotland, that specialise in attractive mugs that will become a talking point in your kitchen. They recently created a range of mugs inspired by the Monopoly board game, and of course we were particularly taken with the Mayfair mug (pictured above).

Other mugs in the range include Park Lane, Go To Jail, Trafalgar Square and the Water Works, and the cost £7.25 direct from McLaggan Smith.

Crossrail project approved, Bond Street to get new station

With the scent of a possible General Election in the air, the Government has approved a £16 billion package to make the long talked of Crossrail project a reality. The 73 mile route will connect Maidenhead in Berkshire, with Shenfield in Essex - travelling through Central London and stopping at Mayfair's Bond Street station about slap bang in the middle.

There'll be a new Bond Street station to meet the capacity expected, and planning consent has already been sought to demolish 18-19 Hanover Square to build a new ticket office and entrance.

Find out more at the Crossrail website.