Knightsbridge residents have a right to peace but they should not have the right to stop legitimate businesses such as Harrods running a restaurant that will serve both locals and visitors
Knightsbridge residents are known to be vocal sorts and those that complained about noisy super cars certainly have a point. However, in trying to put a stop to legitimate business, as the Evening Standard revealed on Wednesday, they simply have gone too far.
In an article about Harrods submitting plans to extend their Georgian Restaurant’s opening hours from 9pm daily to midnight on weekdays, 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and 11.30pm on Sundays, Karen Morgan of the South Knightsbridge Residents’ Group is quoted as having commented:
“We believe it will lead to further crime and disorder in the area. Such venues operating later on at night, populated by the wealthy, as they will tend to be in Knightsbridge, attract undesirable individuals such as pickpockets, beggars, petty criminals, prostitutes and also pedicabs who often charge extortionate prices for short and noisy rides”.
Another, Farhat Tabbah, added: “There will be an increase in beggars preying on the wealthy patrons of the premises and by association residents surrounding Harrods late into the night” whilst whilst an additional complainant, Parkash Judge, stated: “The boy racers are going round and round… During the times that such clientele are in the area, it attracts sex workers. I objected to one of such who had her naked breasts hanging out of a window and she spat on me”.
Just as was the case when the ridiculously named Panda Morgan-Thomas appeared on the television show Knightsbridge’s Playboy Racers in 2013, certain residents simply show themselves to be intolerant busybodies. These people, after all, do not live in a “village” – as some claim – but in the heart of prime Central London. If it is complete peace that these individuals desire, they ought to move to the Outer Hebrides and given that there are already countless other local restaurants open over the extended period Harrods proposes, one has to ask why they do not complain about them.
The Steeple Times wholeheartedly supports Harrods’ plans and urges our readers to do the same.
Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:
Bloody busybodies!!!!!!!!!!! I bet none of them work!!!!!!!!!! It’ll bring jobs and give people another place to go!!!!!! What’s the f***ing problem???????????
Rod….you sound imbecilic. Living around Harrods is already a nightmare. Stop proclaiming you simple mindedness at every opportunity.
In the pre Arab ownership days Harrods treated its neighbours with respect: now they don’t give a damn.
And incidentally, Farhat Tabbah, a Jordanian, have lived there for years and has had his life made hell by the decline in standards.
Rod
I need to apologise. Someone told me that this form of massive overuse of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was indicative of Aspergers. If you are afflicted then I apologise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F********g Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What right do these residents have ! they chose to live next to Harrods ! I’ll swap any day!!!!
So if a late night club opened up next to you you wouldn’t mind? Another clown of the Rod variety!
When you use a ! try to remember it is a full stop!
Very well put Steeple Times! It’s a life style choice & privilege to live in Knightsbridge and some of the suggested reasons for opposition are ludicrous!
It’s a privilege based on money acquired by dodgy foreigners trying to secrete money stolen from their home countries. We should be much more careful about letting this vulgar scum in.
K’sbridge was once the home of English gentry now it seems full of Arab and Eastern Euroepeans spivs.
I want my country back!
You are a bigot. Foreign people bring their money, they spend it and they contribute just as much as the British. Your negative attitude shows you only for the cruel heart you must be.
Fiona reminds me of the tediously idiotic lady sat next to the great Cyril Connolly. After enduring a few minutes of the lady’s appalling drivel he burst into tears. Whereupon the lady, aka Fiona, turned to him saying, ” Mr Connolly, why are you crying?”. To which the great man replied, “Madam, I am so bored”.
Market forces and a cattle market
‘fraid so….crooked market forces
I expect we will have a glowing review of the Harrods Restaurant anytime soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope it is not ‘on the Al Thanni’s’
I have no plan to review the restaurant. I simply cannot see why anyone would object to a restaurant opening what are essentially normal hours.
Matthew
Already, Harrods have ‘taken over’ the entire area.
La Duree was built on public space acquired in the most mysterious and dishinest of circumstances.
Harrods is no longer an old fashioned department store: it a Arab style bazaar with space being rented out on a franchise basis. In other words there is little pride of ownership. When I was a child Harrods was a thing of beauty….similar to Fortnums. Now is a seething, vulgar, tawdry mess.
If you happened to be a resident living close to Harrods you too would sense their pain.
This is the thin end of the wedge. Once this goes through other late night ventures will follow and before long it will be an all night venue. When you have idiots like Rod and the woman making damned fool remarks based on envy you begin to understand what a mess we are in.
We are now servants of rich Arabs
Other restaurants in the surrounding streets are open for the hours Harrods proposes. It is hardly a situation that need upset anyone. Embrace and celebrate it. It will create jobs and provide another dining option for locals and visitors.
Can we please all not use these vile Americanisms of ’embracing’ this and ‘celebrating’ that. Why on earth should I wish to ‘celebrate’ a bunch of Arabs making my life misery?
You have already, in previous times. claimed that long established local restaurants are having to close down. Now you tell us to ’embrace’ this opening which will drive yet another nail in the coffin of local restaurants. Make up your mind, Matthew…..
Harrods already has over 30 catering outlets in store. In no time at all they will extend hours….embarce that one!
I think Peter Wayde should go into politics – there’s an opening for a British Donald Trump and he would fit the bill perfectly.
Thank you Francis….amongst the dross Trump has something to say. The great issues of this age will not be solved by bowing down to those who not only do not like us; but worse, would do us great harm.