Observations on Jermyn St & surroundings.

[Bishop of Briggs]

It wouldn't be Bates without Binks!

Very true! I hope Binks enjoys his new home at H&K in the New Year.

[ThreadCount]

I strolled down the Piccadilly Arcade shortly after Christmas and thought it looked pretty healthy - I don't recall any empty units.

The Arcade which perplexes me is the Royal Opera Arcade: it's like a wasteland - which is not to say it's empty, just that it's surprisingly downmarket, and the shops almost never seem to be open. I would have thought the location was pretty desirable? -obviously not.

[AndyM]

I found this memory of Jermyn Street that I thought members might find interesting.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/02 ... ondon.html

[storeynicholas]

I found this memory of Jermyn Street that I thought members might find interesting.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/02 ... ondon.html

Delightful reflections. The development seems a mistake for the street but, no doubt, someone's pockets will be nicely lined. The work of Satan.
NJS.

[radicaldog]

An article in today's Guardian decrying the demolition of Bates' block of Jermyn Street:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/f ... rmyn-hotel

[culverwood]

Great article. Thanks for posting it radicaldog

[storeynicholas]

Anyone interested in probing this redevelopment by the Crown Estates' Commissioners (ie trustees of state-owned, rather than the sovereign's private land), let me know here or by pm or e-mail to storeynicholas at yahoo dot co dot uk
NJS

[shredder]

Here is another article on Jermyn St and Bates in the Independent today: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 18791.html.

[storeynicholas]

I have been sent a copy of English Heritage's comments to Westminster City Council on the proposed demolition. It is a total cop-out, althgough EH is careful to make all the obvious points about the loss that will result from the demolition, it fails to grasp the nettle. I don't seem to be able to copy the doicument onto here but if anyone wants to see it, please pm me and I'll find some wayt to share it.
NJS

[alden]

My response to the article:

"Michael, well done. The members of a club called The London Lounge engaged themselves in a letter writing campaign on the net to Save Bates to no avail. I suppose the next thing to happen will be for the west end to be covered and made into a mall....The St, James Mall...it's catchy. We pleaded with UNESCO to place these streets on its list to be protected for humanity's sake, well, at least for masculinity's sake. Our pleas fell on deaf ears.

Le chic anglais did exist: the look Brummel embodied when he defined English style sent shock waves around the globe whose tremors have only lately have dissipated. In Italy, America, Japan and most of the civilized world, British style has been envied and copied by artisans and designers, and worn by the most brilliant of men for generations.

English men were actually once the "champions" of the world in something, and it was not and will never be football, it was STYLE! "

Cheers

M Alden

[storeynicholas]

Protests against this kind of state-sponsored vandalism seldom change anything. The reason is very simple: huge, financial interests - for developers, freeholders and middle landlords, all curiously unopposed by the timid custodians of our architectural heritage (they bow-out, limply suggesting the retention of facades (how very modern British!)). It's a tough life - and it gets even tougher if you happen to be one of the goons supporting English football - the greatest over-paid 'has been' of recent years...Not that one cares, of course; after all, there's still the 1966 win to celebrate and live off well into 2100, at the current rate; meanwhile 'Becks' and his bint are 'charging' idiots $100,000 a head to spend an evening with them. One very rich chap paid up and blew them out - presumably, he went and got himself a dinner in Spaghetti House, instead. Even if he spoke to no one, he could have done worse for conversation...or song

[couch]

Dear Nicholas, things have indeed reached a sorry pass. Perhaps the time has once again come take a more philosophical approach to football . . . .

[storeynicholas]

Not previously a great fan of Monty Python, this sketch could change my mind...
NJS

[Costi]

Haha!
Interesting that it's the Greeks that score after all...

[storeynicholas]

Don't knock the Greek football team - they give England a chance.
NJS