Ronson rallies property industry

The annual lunch held by property entrepreneur Gerald Ronson at the Dorchester attracted a record turnout of 400 people, including many senior figures from a beleaguered property industry eager to hear the verdict on the year ahead from the seasoned investor.

Before the starters, Mr Ronson gave a typically forceful speech, warning that there would be no short-term recovery and saying investors were as much to blame as the bankers, although he managed to end on an upbeat note, saying there would be opportunities along with the pain.

After dessert, Lloyds Banking Group's chairman Sir Victor Blank , in response, defended the role of the retail banking sector in the meltdown of the UK financial sector.

The eclectic guest list included Sir Trevor Chinn , senior adviser to CVC Capital Partners, Sir David Clementi , chairman of the Kings Cross Partnership, and former Prudential's chairman Stuart Roden , senior partner at Lansdowne Partners. Hammerson's chief John Richards was there, as was Helical Bar's Mike Slade and many of the better- known private investors, including Nick Leslau , Mark Pears and Leo Noe. From outside the industry, Lord Myners , City minister, attended, as well as Marks and Spencer's Sir Stuart Rose.



FT.com