MIPIM | THING OF THE WEEK
HALLUCINATIONS… The London stand is known for its impressive model of the city, which is rumoured to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, but that is not all it has to offer. Beaten down after consecutive long days of meetings, networking events, and a general lack of sleep, one might reasonably have concluded the above scene, featuring a Beefeater, Freddie Mercury, and David Bowie, as some sort of exhaustion-induced hallucination.
MODEL BEHAVIOUR… A model of the impressive-looking vision for New Trafford was shipped into Cannes for one day only and garnered admiration and scepticism in equal measure. The huge, three-peaked canopy that will cloak the stadium and huge fanzone has divided opinion. Affectionate – and some less affectionate – monikers for the stadium – from the meringue to the circus tent – have already been thought up. One eagle-eyed MIPIMer even spotted a similar architectural effort in the heart of Cannes.
The rain was, at times, biblical. Credit: PNW
LOOKING DOWN… Former Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein was remembered and honoured with a toast at Manchester’s MIPIM dinner on the Tuesday night. As the rain bounced down on the plastic canopy of the Carlton Beach Club, delegates raised a glass to Bernstein, who died last year. “He will be looking down laughing at us all in the rain” said Leader Cllr Bev Craig.
Credit; PNW
BROLLY GOOD SHOW… Props to Euan Kellie Property Solutions, whose decision to bring branded umbrellas to MIPIM might have seemed pessimistic a few weeks ago but saved the day for more than a few delegates’ hairdos. The firm’s cautious meteorological outlook paid dividends in the end; those heading back to the UK with a Euan Kellie brolly will always have a memento of one of the wettest MIPIM’s in recent memory. Great forward planning, but then again, you would expect that, wouldn’t you.
SOCKS APPEAL… You never quite know what you’re going to get from accommodation in Cannes. The feeling of holding your breath and hoping for the best as you turn the key in the lock is a familiar one to MIPIM veterans. A bed and somewhere to perch while diving into an overflowing inbox are all you really need, so imagine the delight one local authority representative must have felt when they entered the bedroom to find not only a bed but a gift of Where’s Wally Socks. Some people get all the luck.
Credit: via Tandem PR
SPICY… Not all MIPIM announcements are about huge residential districts or investment unlocking infrastructure projects. The team at Cains Brewery Village used this week to announce the arrival of a new tenant to its Liverpool leisure scheme. Restaurant Picante will open its doors this weekend, bringing a taste of Guadalajara to the Baltic Triangle. I think we could all use a hearty Mexican breakfast burrito after a week of sandwiches snaffled hastily between stand sessions.
