Boris Bikes open to casual users

The Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme, known simply to many as ‘Boris Bikes’, have opened to casual users.

Until now, only members who had signed up in advance to receive their release key could hire the bikes but now the scheme is open to non-members who wish to just pay the terminals.

The cycle hire scheme went live in July but plans to allow casual users to try them have been delayed until now to allow the operator, Serco, to deal with ‘teething problems‘.

There are cycle hire docking stations in the following Mayfair locations:

• Curzon Street
• Sackville Street
• Grafton Street
• Bruton Street
• St George Street
• South Audley Street
• Millennium Hotel
• Grosvenor Square
• North Audley Street
• Green Street
• Woodstock Street

“Unlawful killing” verdict in Martine Vik Magnussen case

A coroner has returned a verdict of “unlawful killing” in the case of Norwigian student, Martine Vik Magnussen.

Magnussen, aged 23, was killed after a night out at a nightclub in Mayfair.

She had met prime suspect, Farouk Abdulhak, at the Maddox Club in Mill Street in March 2008. Her semi naked body was found in the basement of his apartment the next morning.

Abdulhak fled to Yemen, a country with no extradition treaty with the United Kingdom.

The victim’s father, Petter Magnussen, commented outside Westminster Coroner’s Court:

“This really shows the absurd situation that surrounds this case. We have a suspect that has fled to a country where he is untouchable.”

Playboy announces Mayfair return

The Playboy Club looks set to return to Mayfair in London after a 30 year absence.

Playboy Enterprises announced today that it will be partnering with London Clubs International to bring the Playboy brand back to Mayfair.

The new club, to be designed by London-based architects Jestico + Whiles, will combine a restaurant, lounge, members club, table games and high-limit salon privé gaming rooms.

The original Playboy club was in Park Lane, but today’s announcement from Playboy doesn’t specify whereabouts in Mayfair the new venue will be.

“When we first opened the Playboy Club in London it was one of my favorite times for the brand,” said Hugh Hefner, Playboy Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer. “With Playboy now more popular than ever, I look forward to our return to London and again sharing the notions that are celebrated in the magazine, the concept of good food and drink, pretty girls, and exciting entertainment.”

The new Playboy Club should be open in the Spring of 2011.

Sheep graze in Savile Row for Wool Week

One of Mayfair’s most famous streets has been turfed over and become home to flocks of grazing sheep this week.

Tourists and shoppers stopped and stared at the extraordinary sight of dozens of sheep all the way up Savile Row.

The eye catching initiative is part of the first ever National Wool Week which has been organised by the British Wool Marketing Board.

Mark Henderson from the Savile Row Bespoke Association commented (in the video below):

“We are big users of wool. In fact, I guess it’s our staple product and we have been fighting a campaign over the five years about keeping people working, making high quality craft in the middle of London, and I guess part of our campaign involves the quality of wool and why people should pay what they do”

Robert Plant’s ‘secret gig’ in Mayfair

Rock legend, Robert Plant, was in Mayfair last week to play a ‘secret gig’ at a former church.

One Mayfair, formerly St Mark’s Church, in North Audley Street was the venue for the Led Zeppelin legend and his new Band of Joy.

Plant performed a number of tracks from his new album, also called ‘Band of Joy’.

The Daily Express said that the deconsecrated church was “still a fittingly spiritual setting for a set peppered with Gospel influenced tracks”.

The Independent’s reviewer commented that the Grade-I listed building makes the perfect venue for a secret gig by one of today’s rock aristocracy

Uncut Magazine said it was “interesting how comfortable Plant seems playing to a 200-strong crowd”, mostly made up of competition winners.

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