SPITALFIELDS MARKET: SEEKING OZ CLARKE OF THE REAL ALE SCENE
REMEMBER that cushy job as a caretaker of a desert island that caused such a stir when it was advertised a year or so back? Well, The Capitalist might just have discovered an even more covetable role – at least for the beer-loving socialites of the City.
Old Spitalfields Market is looking for someone to become its official “ale taster”, a position last held in the early 19th century, when the incumbent would wander the inns of the town on market day ensuring that all the ale on sale was of perfect quality.
The modern taster – unfortunately a voluntary position, though there’s clearly a ton of free booze attached – will be an “ambassador for local ales”, tasked with reviewing different beers and promoting the region’s ales in the community and beyond. (There may also be a local food element involved, which will come as a welcome surprise to more corpulent candidates for the job.)
“We do ask that applicants know their beer – we’re looking for someone who can really taste the difference between the hops and malts used in brewing, sort of the Oz Clarke or Jilly Goolden of the beer world…”
Interested? Applicants need to submit a short written application of no more than one A4 page, explaining why they would be the best person for the job, to info@londonaletaster.co.uk before the 23 May deadline.
FOOTBALL FEVER
Those jovial chaps over at UBS have been at it again, predicting the winners and losers to come in this summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Just a few short weeks ago, UBS Wealth Management put out a comprehensive document analysing the chances of all the teams, where Brazil came out top, closely followed by Germany and Italy. (The firm admitted that its model won plaudits in 2006 for correctly predicting 81 per cent of the final 16, 75 per cent of the final eight and half of the semi-finalists, though that all collapsed at the 2008 Euro championships, when the forecast winner – the Czech Republic – didn’t make it to the second round.)
Their colleagues over at UBS investment bank have now had their own stab at some football-inspired predictions, in their words “just for kicks”.
They’ve put together a squad of top investment picks ahead of the World Cup, having arranged the 23 stocks into a starting line-up (in the classic 4-4-2 formation) and a bench full of substitutes. Engineering firm Smiths Group is the “safe pair of hands” in goal; then they’ve got the drinks groups (SAB Miller, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Coca-Cola) in defence, for obvious reasons.
Tournament sponsor McDonalds, drinks can maker Rexam, Nike and branded sportswear firm Yue Yuen are midfielders, while Samsung and Electronic Arts, the entertainment software group, complete the starting line-up as strikers.
BODY WORK
Spotted at the quarterly Inflation Report briefing at the Bank of England yesterday: a busy-looking lady sat at the back, scribbling notes about chief economist Spencer Dale which didn’t appear to have anything to do with inflation.
Her observations – about Dale fiddling with his pen, failing to achieve enough foghorn-like projection with his voice, and so on – may be quite innocent. But the Bank does have a well-documented desire for self-improvement among its employees (who could forget that seminar it hosted for female staffers, where they were advised to wear high heels and lipstick?) Could there be a body language expert lurking about to give senior figures some tips?
CHUKKA CHUKKA
If you haven’t already got plans to head down to Hurlingham Park in the first weekend of June, it’s time to clear some space in the diary.
Mint Polo in the Park – the polo extravaganza founded by Daniel Fox-Davies, chief executive of the broker of the same name – will see thousands of finance workers hot-footing it down to the park for the networking event of the summer. Friday 4 June, the official “City” day, will feature a Veuve Clicquot champagne garden, stunt riders and so on, all in addition to the polo action.
Televised for the first time in the sport’s history, the games feature eight professional teams from around the world, including a New York team sponsored by City A.M. itself. The Capitalist will see you all there…
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Much excitement down at Broadgate Circle yesterday as nearly 200 eager City workers from the likes of Nomura, Deutsche Bank, UBS and Icap jostled to take their turn at a penalty shoot-out organised by accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The event – in aid of businesses backing the England 2018 bid, which is sponsored by PwC – was hosted by ex-England star John Barnes, who went head to head in a sudden-death shootout against those who managed to score three out of three goals against two semi-professional keepers.
Hats off to all those who were game enough to have a go – particularly the few who attempted to score in their high heels, clearly ladies after the diminutive Capitalist’s own heart.