Fears over casino plan at famed society house
AS ONE of the early 20th century’s most renowned and flamboyant society hostesses, Dame Margaret Greville loved nothing more than entertaining the great and good at her Georgian home in Mayfair.
Following her death in 1942, her townhouse became first a gentlemen’s club, the headquarters of Debrett’s then offices, but now plans are afoot to restore it to being a place for partying – if they can overcome the objections of the area’s well-heeled residents.
Instead of glimpsing royalty, they fear they will see an influx of “prostitutes, conmen and moneylenders” if the building is turned into a 24-hour casino. Numerous objections have been filed to Westminster council about the Charles Street proposals lodged by finance company Continuity Capital.
The plans say that the casino would occupy five of the six storeys and hold a maximum of 140 members, with no more than 240 visitors in a single day, and close only on Christmas Day.
In his letter opposing the application, Alexander Hauschildt, from the Residents’ Society of Mayfair and St James’s, said it could “damage the atmosphere” in a street made up of predominantly homes and offices.
The applicants, however, insist noise would be kept to a minimum and any music would be restricted.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were regular visitors to Mrs Greville and husband Reggie’s Surrey estate, Polesden Lacey.
After her death she bequeathed the Queen Mother a diamond necklace, a pair of diamond earrings and tiaras.
The Greville Emerald and her diamond Kokohsnik tiara was worn by Princess Eugenie at her wedding this month to Jack Brooksbank.