Londoner's Diary: The Ned gets the nod for Sarah Sands' Exit

In today's Diary: Sarah Sands after party | Beekeepers sting UKIP | Mick Jagger gets the goodies the Jazz FM awards | GQ Food & Drink awards | Amorist mag launch
Dave Benett/Getty Images for The
26 April 2017

The Ned, the new hotel and members’ club in the City, hasn’t even officially opened yet, but last night it had a test run with so many events that The Londoner didn’t even need to leave the building to party-hop.

On the ground floor, which houses eight restaurants, artist Tracey Emin held court at Zobler’s delicatessen, where art historian Kate Bryan hosted a pre-launch dinner.

Across the room, in Cecconi’s, Roland Mouret marked 20 years in the fashion business with a feast for disciples such as actresses Eleanor Tomlinson and Dakota Blue Richards.

But the real party was on the roof, where Sarah Sands, departing editor of the Evening Standard, threw a goodbye party with the backdrop of the city’s skyline. And who better to see off a London editor than a London Mayor?

Sadiq Khan thanked Sands for giving him an evening away from election chat. “Theresa May has taken time off to give some advice to Sarah on her departure: her pearls of wisdom are ‘Sexit means Sexit’,” Khan told the crowd.

Loyal to the boss, Khan said Jeremy Corbyn was looking forward to being Prime Minister, although officials at No 10 are less keen. “Can I scotch a rumour that he is planning on turning the rose garden into an allotment?”

Guests at the bash included the entire Johnson clan — Boris, Jo, Leo and Rachel — along with Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, Longleat lioness Emma McQuiston, the Arts Council’s Nicholas Serota and ITV’s Robert Peston.

With the blistering tequila cocktails on offer, and the dancing continuing until dawn, The Londoner begs your forgiveness for any resulting typos.

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Apiarists’ stinging rebuke for Ukip

Getty Images

UKIP announced a proposal to ban face coverings in public this week, but had to clarify that it wouldn’t apply to beekeepers. Richard Glassborow, chair of the London Beekeepers Association, is pleased to hear it.

“We strongly advise wearing a veil when going about our business,” he told us. “It would be unwise of anybody to try to tamper with our right to protect ourselves.”

Glassborow explained that London bees would upset Ukip — the native black bee has mixed with bees from Europe for generations. “The London bee is characteristically successful,” he said. “Being resilient, hard-working and generally nice to get along with.”

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AFP/Getty Images

Quotes of the day: It’s time that tourism is given the importance it deserves’

David Cameron speaking at the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Bangkok today. But over in Wales...

AFP/Getty Images

'We want to lead the world in preventing tourism’

...Theresa May, out campaigning yesterday, made a slip of the tongue — she meant terrorism.

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Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

At the Jazz FM awards at Shoreditch Town Hall last night, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts received the Gold Award. He got on the stage, said, “I don’t know what this is about,” and went off. But he had a reprieve: the Stones won Blues Act of the Year and Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Watts took to the stage. “Before we go,” Jagger said, “Charlie is going to say a word in recognition of his award.” Watts grabbed the mic. “Thanks,” he said, gruffly.

He’s not in Jagger’s bad books though: The Londoner overheard the singer asking for a second goody bag, saying it was “for Charlie, because he might forget”.

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Dave Benett/Getty Images

A feast of foodies at GQ’s Food & Drink Awards last night, hosted by Claudia Winkleman at new hotel The Curtain. Mark Hix attended after getting his MBE. “I’ve just been at the palace,” said Hix. French charmer Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, who voted for Right-winger Fillon, said he wasn’t worried about his country’s election. “I think Marine Le Pen is exactly like Donald Trump,” he said. “They speak very loud in the election but then they come in line.” Such confidence.

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AFP/Getty Images

Tweet of the day: “This is not good enough from Farron. We need a list of different sex acts and his approval rating for each.”

Journalist Euan McColm demands more from Lib-Dem leader Tim Farron.

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(Iona Wolff)

Rowan Pelling launched new erotic magazine The Amorist last night at Covent Garden gastropub The Ape & Bird. Pelling, pictured with the magazine’s publisher James Pembroke, described the first few days in the office, where a perplexed Pembroke was forced to help with lost property. “Has anyone seen the giant ceramic dildo?” he was overheard exclaiming.

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Green fingers of the day: Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website Goop proposes a selection of gardening equipment, including a £56 pair of gold-plated floral scissors. Hardly a snip.

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