London Changing.

Bollards line Westminster Bridge to protect Parliament from attack and for pedestrians and cyclists to dominate. The Hansom Cab, horse and cart , London bus and black cab rarely traverse. The Mayor whose father drove buses wants rid of all motor vehicles. It’s not the only thing that’s changing as London surrenders it’s heritage , culture and history.

Today I happened to be in two hotels. The first still looked like the days of old outside when it was The Hyde Park Hotel under that master hotelier family Forte. Marco Pierre White graced the ground floor with his Michelin Stars shining brightly. Today it’s owned and run as the Mandarin Oriental run by Merchants from the east with matching clientele far and Middle Eastern. The prices are phenomenally high and the service in the restaurant ridiculous. At dinner I was asked at least 12 times if everything was all right. It may well have been if I was given half a chance to eat it.

The worst experience was at an afternoon meeting where in the lounge we asked for two still waters and two black coffees. The problem was we were asked 4 times and nothing appeared. On the 5th time a waitress asked again and we responded two still waters and two black coffees. She then asked if we had any allergies and I asked her if there was anything in the water. She did not see the London humour for I found she spoke no English. Eventually the drinks appeared but by then we had finished our meeting. I left the hotel celebrating to get out.

Later I wandered into the Berkeley Hotel which had kept its name following a humongous extension underground and on top. I couldn’t find reception and the main bar was so dark I thought there had been a power cut. The main restaurant was empty but lots of people rushed towards me with menus enquiring if I had any allergies. What’s happened to the world with all these allergies. Is it safe to go out ?. I spoke to the doorman on the way out who had been there 24 years and he bemoaned that no one ever looked at him these days ( tipped him ) as they climbed out of their cars and taxis with their face it the phone. The last remaining cockney doorman bid me farewell saying ‘ London ain’t what it was guvnor ‘ . How right he is . Where’s it gone all in a few years ? Harrods has been turned from a store into a shopping mall with all the same shop fronts, Harvey Nicholls looks very sad with its owners far away in Hong Kong and Selfridges recently changed hands with its Austrian owner now in trouble.