Published Date:
23 December 2008
By MATT WILLIAMS
TRINKETS and furniture from a former haunt of Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Winston Churchill went on display yesterday ahead of an auction.
Humidors, brandy caskets and a boxing ring where the likes of Henry Cooper, Barry McGuigan and Frank Bruno fought in front of a black-tie audience are among the items being sold as part of a collection from the 140- year-old Café Royal in London. The meeting place – once frequented by the likes of Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor and Muhammad Ali – is closing to make way for a new hotel on the premises.
Established in 1865, the Café Royal became a playground for the rich and famous. Among its regular clientele was Oscar Wilde, who would entertain guests including his lover Bosie – Lord Alfred Douglas – at the venue.
The Piccadilly café is to be converted into a hotel by Israeli developer the de Alrov Group.
The sale of items will take place on 20 January, at Bonhams in Knightsbridge, London.
The full article contains 171 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
22 December 2008 9:47 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
