Christmas Day Fire at the Athenaeum

A fire broke out at a Mayfair hotel on the morning of Christmas Day.

The blaze at the Athenaeum on Piccadilly started at around 7.30 on Christmas Day, and six appliances were sent by Fire fighters. 150 guests were evacuated from the 10-storey hotel and one person needed treatment for smoke inhalation.

The Daily Telegraph quotes a London Fire Brigade spokesman as saying: “Around 150 people were evacuated and the Fire Brigade was called at 7.21am.

“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”

Smythson of Bond St Sold to Italian Firm

A MAYFAIR based luxury stationery shop has been sold to an Italian company for a reported £18million.

Smythson of Bond Street, which stocks a range of up market stationery and leather accessories, was started in 1887 by Frank Smythson and has held several Royal warrants. More recently, with Samantha Cameron as Creative Director, it has become some of a fashion icon with its Nancy bag being seen swinging from the arms of many female celebrities.

According to reports, Smythson has been purchased by Greenwill SA, the holding company for Tivoli Group – an Italian leather goods manufacturer.