Latest news with #HollandPark
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Surrey Fusion Festival celebrates diversity in arts, culture and community
One of B.C.'s largest free multicultural festivals is taking place at Surrey's Holland Park this weekend. As Sohrab Sandhu reports, the two-day event is a celebration of unity and diversity with more than 50 cultural pavilions
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Surrey Fusion Festival takes guests around the globe
Vancouver Watch A fusion of foods, music and cultures from countries around the globe was found at Holland Park in Surrey for the annual Fusion Festival.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Non-doms are abandoning London's wealthiest postcodes – and it matters more than you think
The round robin emails come in weekly. 'Dear friends,' it begins. 'Our devoted housekeeper of 15 years is looking for new opportunities, as sadly, we cannot take her with us to Dubai. Thank you, Rachel Reeves, sad emoji.' Where the residents of Notting Hill and Holland Park once stole each other's staff, now the same crew of cleaners, gardeners, tutors and chefs drop handwritten notes under my door offering their services at half the previous rates. According to recent payroll figures, the number of people employed in hospitality – and this includes our favourite local Italian trattoria on Holland Park – fell by 58,000 between January 2024 and January 2025. Some of this is because of the hikes in national insurance, but having called three local restaurants, it's also about the absence of regular European customers. Cadogan Tate moving trucks are a daily feature on my street, as are goodbye parties. Here's just one of many examples from my WhatsApp. 'Hallo, as life moves on and taxes increase, we are celebrating ___'s birthday at home and our departure. Are you free?' At a recent dinner, I reckoned around three-quarters of the guests – all of them European – were leaving the UK against their will (practically at gunpoint is how they described it) because their (to be honest, very cushy) deal of the past 200 years was coming to an end. George Osborne laid the foundations. Rachel Reeves poured the quick cement, particularly when she announced that non-doms would now be subject to the same inheritance tax as the British, which currently stands at 40 per cent, and that this would now apply to the global assets of wealthy foreigners who have lived in the UK for more than 10 years. This, more than anything else, is what's driving the rich out. Britain lost more billionaires than any country in the world over the past two years, raising fears that more will flee abroad if the government introduces a wealth tax. Non-doms, as they are known, or non-domiciles, describe a class of wealthy people born outside of the UK who previously were allowed to live full-time in the UK while declaring their permanent home overseas. This allowed them to avoid paying taxes on any foreign income or gains. The influential group of millionaires and billionaires to whom this status applied included Lakshmi Mittal and Rishi Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty. The vast majority of non-doms who kept central London restaurants, shops and hair salons in employment were Europeans. Many worked in the same international banks as my husband, their children occupying the desk next to my own two sons. Seamus Wylie of the Belgravia estate agent Ayrton Wylie tells me that anything that is top ticket – wine, art or luxury cars – is badly down. Non-doms may not have paid tax on their family's investment funds, but boy did they spend in London (also Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where many bought second homes). Which doesn't matter, until it does and you realise London is the country's investment hub. Many top-end London houses now sit unsold (20 luxury properties in Belgravia are on the market currently). 'Some houses on the £10-15m mark have been mothballed because this is just one of many properties owned,' he says. 'The inhabitants have moved to Dubai, Monaco or Switzerland for a few years.' The cost to the local economy, he says, cannot be underestimated. 'My clients went to restaurants and stayed in country hotels on the weekend. They kept the local shops, butchers, dry cleaners and car dealerships going.' A buying agent for the very wealthy who would like to remain nameless says kicking out the non-doms has been an incredible act of self-harm. 'When you had non-doms, they employed people because that's what homeowners do. They employ builders and decorators, they hire staff, creating a massive trickle-down economy. The ultra-rich are the most mobile people in society and there is the Labour government trying to chip away at them. There is no trickle-down effect. There's just the politics of envy.' And if plans for a further UK wealth tax are implemented, as some have suggested, while it could generate billions annually, the revenue leakage – via capital flight, evasion, and offshore concealment – could be significant. Some are even predicting that it could wipe out 10-20 per cent of the tax base (potentially more than £200 bn), which would reduce what the Treasury actually nets. The TaxPayers' Alliance regularly points to OECD data that shows countries like Sweden, Ireland, and the Netherlands all scrapped wealth taxes, citing capital flight and administrative costs. Those that kept them (Spain, France, Norway, Switzerland) generate only 0.2-0.4 per cent of GDP, according to their cited data. Of my group of international friends (this includes Brits who are also leaving because of the new tax regime), I would say almost 30 per cent have already left. At one recent dinner, we were the only couple without plans to relocate to some hybrid of Dubai/Milan/Cyprus. The man seated next to me, a scion of a European banking family, boasted that by moving to Cyprus, he was saving vast amounts on tax, even though his wife later told me she hates travelling every weekend from Oxfordshire to see him. Noteworthy was the fact that his two children had moved to America, which allows no tax exemptions and therefore he would not be joining them. Where once we heard comments such as 'if Labour gets in, we're going', we're now getting emails which include four changes of address. Wealth advisers Henley & Partners who help the rich obtain those ever more elusive 'golden visas' (which I suspect are rapidly turning into a thing of the past) estimate that more than 10,000 millionaires left the UK last year, with all the consequences of turning off the tap of wealth trickling into the local economy that comes with that. While their numbers are challenged by other wealth advisers and even the government, I don't need a graph. My hairdresser was on the verge of tears last week as we sat in an almost empty salon in central Notting Hill. 'My European clients used to leave for July and August. Now I see them once or twice a year on their allotted 14 or 19 days,' he says. The ability to return to the UK is based on individual (tax) situations, meaning that some of my friends can only come to the UK for two weeks (even if their children live here). Others are allotted 90 days. This exodus is also affecting gyms and private clubs – 5 Hertford Street and The Walbrook Club in the City of London among them. '[HMRC] have cited membership as evidence of ties to this country, and so they've had to resign from us,' says Walbrook managing director Philip Palumbo. But there is a price to leaving, too. A European friend, whose children live here and whose closest friends are British, chose to stay. He tells me: 'My wife and I have talked about this endlessly and we decided we didn't want to live in Dublin. Dubai is a hellhole, and Switzerland is about to put in an inheritance tax. There is growing resentment, if not hostility, across Europe towards wealthy tax exiles and their golden visas. In an uncertain world, Britain feels safer than most.' The non-doms exodus has already scared Rachel Reeves into offering a new package called FIG (foreign income and gains), which allows former non-tax residents to bring in money at a lower tax rate for four years. Word is she could be reconsidering inheritance tax as well. Everyone I spoke to for the purposes of this article said they would return to the UK if new decisions were made, meaning London is still the city they most want to live in. There is sympathy for how these taxes are affecting the wealth creators, versus the wealth protectors. Like the young British entrepreneur who moved to New York or Hong Kong for business purposes and opportunities (then came back and bought properties). That is different from the tax-exiles choosing simple wealth protection, those living in some sad Maltese development in order to fulfil their 'obligatory' tax residency days. To many, they have made a Faustian pact. Ole Lehmann, a German tax exile who moved to Cyprus and eventually returned to the UK, described his sad life. 'Building real, lasting in-person relationships became nearly impossible,' he writes. 'I've watched friends disappear for months at a time, returning only to maintain residency [then] only to vanish again.' In the end, he says, 'I traded one prison (high taxes) for another (day counting).' 'Day counting' means you get an email from European friends saying, 'we're back next week for Wimbledon and would love to see you', to which many of us now shrug our shoulders. Those of us left behind, paying our dues, contributing to society however unhappily, have closed ranks. A member of my book club who has relocated to Ireland now misses half the meetings – do we kick her out? We have a grandchild now – do we really want to see her twice a year or whatever HMRC allows? Our adult children pop in weekly, a great luxury for me as the daughter of a diplomat whose parents lived on the other side of the ocean for most of my life. Do my husband and I really want to move to Italy or Lisbon, where the residents not only ignore you but actually dislike you for hiking up property prices and not bothering to learn the language? A friend sums it up. 'The trouble with the non-dom thing is that it puts a price on what is essentially above price and invites a discussion on what is wealth. True wealth, it seems to me, is about love and friendship and belonging and making a difference. Unfortunately for many non-doms, it looks like wealth is defined by dollars.' It's about core values. 'Friendship is about consistency and time spent: it's an investment. When a non-dom says 'we're coming next week', I don't respond anymore. They made their choice.' It's just a shame that their choice is having a miserable effect on so many of the people who loved having them here, and those whose businesses depended on them being here. Rachel Reeves, take note.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The watershed moment in the explosive Beckham feud: Dark cloud hangs over Harper's 14th birthday amid uncertainty over whether Brooklyn will send his best wishes amid family tensions
It's the day that has always brought joy to the Beckham family. But when Harper celebrates her birthday tomorrow there will be dark cloud hanging over it because her parents David and Victoria have no idea whether her beloved eldest brother Brooklyn will be in touch to send his best wishes on her big day as she turns 14 amid the rift that has torn the family apart. Sources close to the family have told MailOnline of their fears that Brooklyn, 26, and his wife Nicola, 30, have also distanced themselves from Harper after they failed to visit her when they flew into London in May to film an advert for French-Italian clothing brand Moncler just over a mile from the family home in Holland Park. David and Victoria have no idea whether Brooklyn, who Harper has idolised since she was a little girl, will message her privately or publicly on Instagram because they have no communication with him. It comes as tensions have continued to bubble in the past few weeks with a series of digs and jibes from camp Nicola and Brooklyn. On Wednesday aspiring chef Brooklyn shared a cooking video accompanied by a song which referred to not feeling like he has the confidence to speak up and finally feeling empowered - in a seemingly subtle but defiant message. And on the same day Nicola made a bizarre nod to father-in-law David Beckham as she sported a replica pair of the iconic football shorts he wore for his England debut in the 90s while out on her family's superyacht. She was also keen to flaunt her close family bonds during the holiday to St Tropez as she shared gushing Instagram posts about her brothers on Monday. Nicola continued to publicly praise and share admiration for her billionaire family on social media amid her husband's family feud. The actress took to Instagram to share a series of photographs in which she gushed over her billionaire father Nelson Peltz and joked that her Labubu dolls were her family. That came after she and Brooklyn shared photographs of themselves on social media attending Nelson's family birthday celebrations - painfully echoing the very similar celebrations they chose to snub for David's own recent birthday. And amid the escalating feud last week Romeo stepped in as he shared a very pointed statement about 'appreciating people that love you' and insisted 'life was too short' to not tell people you care about them. While Nicola revels in her happy life with her family, Brooklyn risks ruining his 'close bond' with sister Harper by overshadowing her birthday. Should Brooklyn not message, friends of the Beckhams predict that it will be a 'huge moment' in the feud, which escalated when the couple didn't attend any of David's 50th celebrations which took place between the end of March and the beginning of May. One source said: 'Brooklyn and Harper used to be inseparable. He adored her, he hopefully still does, but the problem is that Brooklyn has a track record for ignoring family birthdays now. 'It would be devastating for Harper not to hear from him. She hasn't done anything and she's only 13-years-old, she is the innocent party here. 'Harper's birthday has always been such a happy day, she's the adored little daughter so it's always so joyous but this is a tough situation. 'Brooklyn was 12 when Harper was born, he was so important in her life and it must be terribly sad that she isn't seeing him since the fall out with David and Victoria happened. 'David and Victoria very much blame Nicola for all of this but hopefully Brooklyn will see sense. 'While Harper doesn't have her own Instagram yet, the family thing is to tag her in on their posts as #harperseven.' At the start of her relationship with Brooklyn, Nicola seemed to forge a strong bond with Harper. The actress soon positioned herself as a 'big sister' figure to the little girl, who is aid to have 'adored' her. But now the couple, who married in April 2022 at her family's £76million Florida mansion, no longer speak to Sir David and Lady Beckham, with the couple believing that she controls Brooklyn. Posh and Becks were furious when the couple didn't contact Harper when they visited London just weeks after David's birthday. At the time they were also cross that they didn't get in touch with Cruz, 19, either because at that point he and Brooklyn had never had a crossed word. Since then the singer has very much come out on his parents' side amid the rift. Despite ignoring his father's birthday and his mum Victoria's two weeks before in April, Brooklyn did take to Instagram to wish the footballer's mum Sandra a happy birthday two weeks ago. However, Victoria was devastated when he didn't do the same for her father Tony back in May. Last week, Nicola addressed speculation that she was 'controlling' Brooklyn after posting snaps with her family and Brooklyn celebrating her father Nelson's 83rd birthday on the European getaway. The celebratory photos were the latest blow for David and Victoria, after Brooklyn snubbed his own dad's 50th birthday - with many flooding the comment section to accuse Nicola of being to blame. Yet she hit back by 'liking' a fan's comment that suggested Brooklyn had made his own decision. The comment read: 'The fact people are in this comment section talking bs about someone controlling a GROWN man is absurd. The guy is an adult and can make his own decisions, leave them be and stop blaming women for everything.' Amid his escalating feud with his family, the pair failed to publicly acknowledge David's milestone 50th birthday on May 8. David and Victoria's 26th wedding anniversary also passed without mention, despite the former Manchester United and England footballer referencing Brooklyn in his own post. David previously thanked wife Victoria for their 'beautiful children' as the couple both acknowledged estranged son Brooklyn while celebrating their anniversary on July 4. The former footballer who also shares sons Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 22 with the ex Spice Girl shared a series of throwback snaps of the family in happier times. Declaring his love for Victoria, who he referred to as Lady Beckham following his Knighthood, he wrote: '26 years today you said YES to me Happy Anniversary and thank you for giving me our beautiful children and building the life that we have together.' He went on to tag his children including estranged son Brooklyn. Victoria, 51, also tagged her eldest son, captioning her post: 'Another year, another chapter in our love story. 'I'm so proud of the beautiful family and life we've built together. You and our four incredible children complete me. I love you so much @davidbeckham. Here's to 26 years!!' Despite the apparent olive branch, insiders believe Brooklyn will not be in attendance when Harper turns 14. Rumours of a rift between the eldest son and his parents began when Brooklyn was noticeably silent on his former Spice Girl mother's birthday, a far cry from his usual sweet posts about her. Neither the former photographer nor his wife wished Victoria a happy 51st, while David, Romeo and Cruz posted gushing messages. And as well as snubbing dad David's birthday online, he also was notably absent from all of his 50th birthday celebrations - including a boys' fishing trip. Despite flying to London at the time, Brooklyn and Nicola also didn't attend the big family party at the Beckhams' Cotswolds home or an idyllic trip to France or a meal at Notting Hill restaurant, Core. Brooklyn reportedly 'told his famous family that he wants no contact' with them last month in the latest devastating turn of their ongoing feud. According to reports, the eldest Beckham boy has had no communication with his family following father David's knighthood being announced last month and only learned of the news in the media alongside the rest of the world. Denying he'd asked for no contact, a source close to Brooklyn told the publication: 'Everyone's focus should be David Beckham 's great honour'. Meanwhile a source close to Brooklyn also denied the claims as they told MailOnline, 'this seems to be another deliberate attempt to misrepresent the truth, and it only serves to distract from this honor being bestowed on Brooklyn's father.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The photos that will break David and Victoria Beckham's hearts: Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz pose in Moncler ad that they secretly flew to UK to shoot amid family feud
They're the photographs that will break David and Victoria Beckham 's hearts. Not because they aren't happy for their beloved son Brooklyn taking part in such a high-profile advertising campaign, friends say they will always be proud of him, but because it will bring back horrid memories for the couple. For it is the photoshoot for Moncler clothing - described as a 'love letter to London' - that the couple secretly flew into the UK to do without telling his parents or younger siblings despite the location being only two miles from the family home in Holland Park, West London. They were also just around a mile from the Chelsea Flower show where David was a guest. It was made all the more painful for Posh and Becks because the shoot took place less than two weeks after Brooklyn and wife Nicola snubbed David's 50th birthday celebrations. What will be more galling is that while the couple, their sons Romeo and Cruz, as well as daughter Harper were devastated by the snub, it was business as usual for Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, as they posed for the upmarket French brand. It was yet another sign that the rift between the couple and David and Victoria was deep. The pair posed in his 'n' hers matching quilted jackets - one black and another cream a which sell for more than £1000. One source close to the Beckhams reveals how they distraught David and Victoria were that they didn't tell them they were coming from LA to London for the job. 'Brooklyn and Nicola didn't have the courtesy to tell any of the family they were coming back to London. 'While by that point they knew that the rift was irreparable, what about Cruz, what about Harper? 'There were no issues between those to and Brooklyn yet he travelled 5000 miles and didn't arrange to see anyone.' The decision, I'm told, was regarded as 'disgracefully rude' by many in the Beckham circles. And it gets worse for the Beckhams in the press release which accompanies the pictures. Brooklyn and Nicola undoubtedly rub salt into their parents very open wounds with their words. 'London holds so many memories for both of us,' they said in a joint statement. What will be more galling is that while the couple, their sons Romeo and Cruz, as well as daughter Harper were devastated by the snub, it was business as usual for Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, as they posed for the upmarket French brand One source close to the Beckhams reveals how they distraught David and Victoria were that they didn't tell them they were coming from LA to London for the job And then in a further sting, Brooklyn gushes over Nicola, who he married in April 2022 in a lavish £3million ceremony at her parents £76million Florida mansion 'We first said 'I love you' here, so coming back always takes us back to that moment. When Moncler first brought up shooting this special campaign here, we were excited about the opportunity to bring the London vibe to life.' There was, of course, no mention of David and Victoria, or Brooklyn's childhood in the capital. And then in a further sting, Brooklyn gushes over Nicola, who he married in April 2022 in a lavish £3million ceremony at her parents £76million Florida mansion. 'Nicola and I move in sync,' said Brooklyn. 'That's what this campaign is all about, being in tune with each other and with the city around us — London, a city we love. 'Sharing moments in places that are special to us both. This shoot felt like a snapshot into our life — walking through the city, laughing between takes, wearing pieces that we would wear in our everyday lives.' The family are seen all together for Victoria's 50th birthday party in 2024 before the feud erupted For the Beckhams, there is also the issue Nicola's connection to Brooklyn which is undeniably fortuitous when it comes to getting brand deals such as Moncler. While Nicola's billionaire father, the ruthless businessman Nelson, is far more wealthy than the Beckhams, Brooklyn's parents have the globally known surname which is also very lucrative. 'The view is that Nicola wouldn't be getting quite so much influencer type work if she wasn't with a Beckham,' says one family source. 'When was the last time Brooklyn did anything on his own? It's now always with her.'
