Hirst’s opening could be a bitter pill for Lambeth

DAMIEN Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery will open in October, bringing an inevitable wave of bohemians and hipsters down to Lambeth. But is the prolific artist intent on making the area the new Notting Hill?

The Londoner was taking a walk in the sun this weekend and passed the site, a row of renovated warehouses with space to exhibit 3,000 of his works. Hanging on an exterior wall, however, was a hint of what’s to come: a sign reading “Pharmacy 2”.

In 1998 Hirst got the yummy mummies of west London clutching their pearls by opening Pharmacy, a restaurant on Notting Hill Gate on the site of the former Cleopatra’s Tavern. The windows were lined with medicine bottles, guests sat on stools in the shape of pills and the waiters delivered the food wearing surgical gowns designed by Prada. David Bowie, Damon Albarn, Kate Moss and Madonna all had reservations, and there was talk of franchising across the country.

The novelty, however, wore off for the locals and medical professionals (the Royal Pharmaceutical Societ y claimed that the decor could confuse neighbours seeking genuine health

THE Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday that at a meeting with George Osborne, Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock got distracted by a mouse. He managed to contain the beast in a sandwich bag but whose fault was it? The paper blamed Larry, the PM’s cat. However, the Chancellor’s office is at No 11, which is Osborne’s cat Freya’s dominion. Freya wasn’t there, though — she’s been banished for scaring Lola, the Osbornes’ pooch.