"Save Bates!"

[andreyb]

Jermyn Street is feeling effects of the economic downturn already. Crombie is closing its store and Dunhill left a few months ago.

Crombie closing their Jermyn Street shop?! That's interesting... I thought this spot is (was?) their flagship location...

Andrey

[chelsea]

I agree with Bishop of Briggs re the respective pricing of Bates and Lock & Co.

Last week, which was a particularly cold one in London, I purchased a black Homburg from Bates for a price of £142.50, whilst a similar hat (quite likely to have been made in the same factory) would cost over £190 at Lock & Co.

In these times one has to count the pennies...

[culverwood]

Jermyn Street is feeling effects of the economic downturn already. Crombie is closing its store and Dunhill left a few months ago.

Dunhill have re-opended their Jermyn St shop with half the space they used to have.

[Tone Loki]

Jermyn Street is feeling effects of the economic downturn already. Crombie is closing its store and Dunhill left a few months ago.

Dunhill have re-opended their Jermyn St shop with half the space they used to have.

Indeed they have, but if you visit the new Dunhill flagship townhouse(!) on Davies Street, you'll see why - it's rather swank!

Very bad news about Bates - I'll be in there this week to sign the petition and give 'em a bit of support...

[alden]

Very bad news about Bates - I'll be in there this week to sign the petition and give 'em a bit of support...

That is much appreciated. At least they will know the LL and its members support them.

Maybe we should all buy black Homburgs and stage a demonstration, probably could get the Chaps to go in on that one!

Cheers and solidarity!

Michael

[JRLT]

I visited Bates on Saturday, bought a couple of hats, signed the petition and enquired about the redevelopment.

Apparently planning permission has been stalled. The Hawes & Curtis shop next door has also temporarily re-opened as the builders had had some disaster with concrete (the curse of Binks?) which has meant a halt to work. I guess planning permission being stalled and builders being on site are rather incompatible but I didn't enquire further. At any rate the owners seemed in good mood and Bates is in no immediate danger of shutting. There's no shortage of commercial property in the West End so let's hope that the wind of recession will blow some good and that Bates may outlast us.

[rjman]

Apparently planning permission has been stalled. The Hawes & Curtis shop next door has also temporarily re-opened as the builders had had some disaster with concrete (the curse of Binks?) which has meant a halt to work.

Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed!

Good news, anyway.

[Costi]

Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed!

Whether those spells are "for real" or it's just legend, it is suspicious how many representations of Macbeth ended in disaster (for the theatre or for the actors). Apparently it works for those unlucky constructors, too!



(that is a Cheshire cat grin)

[storeynicholas]

There are seven cats in this house and they have all been instructed as necessary in this matter.
NJS

[Bishop of Briggs]

I agree with Bishop of Briggs re the respective pricing of Bates and Lock & Co.

Last week, which was a particularly cold one in London, I purchased a black Homburg from Bates for a price of £142.50, whilst a similar hat (quite likely to have been made in the same factory) would cost over £190 at Lock & Co.

In these times one has to count the pennies...

The 25% premium for Lock appears to be the average. At any time, the savings are welcome. £50 will buy a decent bottle of malt whisky to drown one's sorrows on reading the valuation of one's portfolio. [reaches for the claret beside the computer!]

Times are hard for many of our valued stores - even the cigar shop on St James's Street (name escapes me) is having a sale! Those who are paid in Euros will find lots of bargains in London as the discounts approach 70%.

[Manself]

I don't want to be distracted from the important task of saving Bates - my name is already on the petition - but I have to ask NJS to tell us more about his run in with English Heritage. I suspect there's a good story in this!

[storeynicholas]

I don't want to be distracted from the important task of saving Bates - my name is already on the petition - but I have to ask NJS to tell us more about his run in with English Heritage. I suspect there's a good story in this!

There is a story but it is not much fun. However, as you ask about it, I will gladly condense the tale and post it up - there may even be points relevant to the Bates and similar places.
NJS

[culverwood]

ITimes are hard for many of our valued stores - even the cigar shop on St James's Street (name escapes me) is having a sale! Those who are paid in Euros will find lots of bargains in London as the discounts approach 70%.

JJ Fox or Davidoff? Both are on St James's Street.

[storeynicholas]

My run-in with English Heritage centred around the old Odeon cinema in St Austell, Cornwall. The ancients had had places of entertainment called the Odeon, so it is likely that the advertisement:

Oscar
Deutsch
Entertains
Our
Nation

was a publicity stunt. But even so, Oscar Deutsch knew about publicity. He also knew about providing entertainment and value for money. He was born in England, of Jewish Hungarian descent in 1893. By the 1930s many towns right across England boasted an Odeon cinema, thanks to the vision and enthusiasm of this small, dynamic man.Often long, low, white and self-standing art deco edifices, the buildings sometimes resembled anchored ocean liners. St Austell's Odeon was built in 1936 and never closed, even during the war (indeed, owing to the strength of its construction, it even served as an air-raid shelter). Solidly built by a local firm, it celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2006 and a plaque was erected. But it stood in the way of 'redevelopment' of the town centre and so they decided to demolish it. An application had been made to list the building. This was supported by a reasoned and substantial report by a local architectural historian, who mustered considerable other support. The developers commissioned a report from an architect for several thousands of pounds (for which he did actually briefly visit the place) and he concluded that the division of the screen into several screens and the loss of some interior detail meant that the building did not merit listing, although he conceded that underneath the late 20th century metal cladding on the outside there may have lurked a well-preserved art deco example of the Odeon cinema type. Listing refused, also citing that buildings post 1914 merit less consideration (!). I then tried to get it listed but the material in support was much the same as before and so, without even looking at the building themselves, English Heritage let it be torn down: the developers even had a local competition with the prize being a nomination to be the person to send in the first wrecking ball. Let us just say that English Heritage know my views on the manner in which they exercise their functions. But that is not all - they even once sent a photographer to photograph the still intact and listed original railway station booking hall, bridge and waiting rooms but the photographer was found taking photographs elsewhere in the town since English Heritage had forgotten that they had de-listed the booking hall to enable a giant kiosk to be built on the site. So I have little faith in them. However, they do have powers to prevent destruction and even alteration of the interior and exterior of buildings which they can be persuaded have merit and I would therefore encourage someone to make an application in relation to Bates' shop. Anyone can apply - and I have already posted a link to the EH site.
NJS

[Bishop of Briggs]

ITimes are hard for many of our valued stores - even the cigar shop on St James's Street (name escapes me) is having a sale! Those who are paid in Euros will find lots of bargains in London as the discounts approach 70%.

JJ Fox or Davidoff? Both are on St James's Street.

It was Fox that had the sale banner.