Fines of Fury

How the congestion charge has KO'ed Chinatown

Like most Londoners, I am a firm supporter of the congestion charge for the simple reason that I never drive anywhere. All London journeys are quicker by tube. Anyway, not driving saves me money, it’s good for the environment and it allows me a quiet feeling of superiority whenever drivers have those strange conversations about their journeys: “Ooh, you should’ve got off the M25 at junction 8 and taken the A666 past Worthing Throckmorton. You could have saved three miles”.

So it was a painful moment when I discovered that my blasé assumptions were proved wrong. The C-Charge is damaging one of my favourite places in the world. The restaurants of Chinatown – still the best budget food in central London – are struggling and the clattering kitchens, misspelt menus and brisk, cheerful staff could soon be a thing of the past. John Man, manager of Gerrard Street’s SoChina, told me that many families he knew, families who had been running restaurants for decades, were seriously considering getting out of the trade for good.

“People used to come down in their cars, see a show, have a meal and drive back when the roads were empty. Nobody wants to get on the tube in the middle of the night, so now they go straight home. Gerrard Street used to be a riot at ten-thirty, now it’s a ghost-town”. He’s exaggerating, of course. Chinatown still heaves with people at all hours of the evening, but there are definitely fewer than there used to be. With so many restaurants and such low prices, a small fall in customer numbers could destroy the area.

Does it matter if a few giant restaurants close? The answer is an emphatic “Yes”. When my parents first took me into London as a child, it was Chinatown that left me open-mouthed with awe. An area that looked, sounded and even smelled thrillingly different from anything I had previously experienced. In an era when identikit restaurant, bar and pub franchises have taken over so much of the West End, the wind-dried ducks and neon dragons of Chinatown are more important than ever. These massive eateries provide employment to thousands, bringing London’s dispersed Chinese community together and ensuring that the unique character of the area survives.

Without Chinatown, central London would lose a great deal of its charm. It would also lose some fantastic food. In this city of a thousand cuisines, there is no pleasure that quite matches biting into a pancake-full of Peking duck. And a trip to the theatre becomes a far more complicated business when you cannot guarantee a fast, cheap, delicious meal without booking.

Mayor Ken’s solution is typically eccentric. He wants to build a new Chinatown in East London, as if a 150-year-old set of traditions can simply be transported across a city. My solution is both simpler and more enjoyable: get out there and stuff your faces. Fill those restaurants every hour of the day. Eat as much delicious Chinese food as you can. Those of you who work in central London can eat two meals a day in Chinatown. I’ve always wanted to and now I have the perfect excuse.

Dreyfuss quits the Producers

Richard Dreyfuss has been forced to withdraw from the West End run of the smash hit musical The Producers, based on the Mel Brooks film. Apparently the role calls for a lot of physical movement and his decision has been prompted by a recurrence of an old shoulder injury.

While the production is no doubt saddened to lose the star power of Mr Dreyfuss, beloved of audiences worldwide since his appearance in Jaws, an insider at the show tells me that his replacement Nathan Lane is probably more suitable for the role. Mr Lane won a Tony award for his performances during the Broadway run.

Casino Gamble on Wembley

An American gambling chain has disclosed plans to build a £320 million casino in Wembley. Caesars Entertainment, who own five casinos in Las Vegas are in talks with a developer over launching “Ceasars Wembley”. The resort will be 75,000 square feet and will sit just 300 yards from the spectacular newly-built Wembley Stadium. This comes at a time when Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has been pushing for UK gambling laws to be relaxed. The proposed casino includes 1250 “one-armed bandit”, 135 gaming tables and will boast the country’s first £1m jackpot slot machines.

Lights, Camera, Action at London’s Film Festival

Movie stars descended on London for the city’s 48th Film Festival marking one of the most glamorous events in London’s cultural calendar. The event has showcased more than 180 films during its two-week run opening to a mixed reception with director Mike Leigh’s award-winning film ‘Vera Drake’. The controversial film about a female abortionist working in the 1950s picked up the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. The Festival will close on 4 November with a gala screening of ‘I Heart Huckabees’, an existential comedy starring Jude Law. As well as a number of blockbusters, the festival has also screened many art house movies from around the world including China, Angola and Uruguay.

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