NEW OFFICES IN LONDON

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28313, 26 June 1957, Page 9

NEW OFFICES IN LONDON

Bank Of N.Z. And Meat Board LONDON, June 19. Both the New Zealand Meat Board and the Bank of New Zealand opened new offices in London this week. The Meat Board’s offices occupy 4000 square feet —more than double the size of their old premises in Charing Cross Road —on the second floor of Chancery House, in Chancery lane which also houses the Safe Deposit offices. Large silver vaults are in the basement. The entrance to the office is attractively set out and has a painting of early settlers landing from sailing ships at Wellington. The office of the London manager of the board, the board room and a meeting room are attractively panelled in English sycamore. Only eight to nine minutes walk from the Smithfield meat market, the offices are better situated than the old. Yet they are still, handy to the West End and the business centre in the city.

The Bank of New Zealand’s new branch is in an ideal position for New Zealand visitors to London. Situated on the mezzanine floor of Oddenino’s, for many years a famous hotel and restaurant in the West End, it overlooks Piccadilly Circus and is almost next door to the Cafe Royal in Regent street. Covering 4725 square feet it is very spacious. The emphasis is on providing comfort and every facility a New Zealand visitor' may require.

This includes a television room, a women’s rest room complete with a fashionable dressing table, travel information, New Zealand and English newspapers, visitors’ mail facilities, and telephone booths. • The office is carpeted throughout.

Oddenino’s Imperial restaurant was started by Mr August Oddenino well before the turn of the century and enjoyed the patronage of King Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales. * Between the wars the character of Oddenino’s changed to some extent and it attracted many of London’s literary and artistic set. During the rebuilding of Regent street during the 1920’s Oddenino’s was rebuilt, with a hotel above the restaurant. The restaurant remained in business in friendly rivalry with the Cafe Royal until 1952 when it was closed. It has since been converted into shops and offices. The floor which the bank now occupies once included the banqueting room, the lounge and the Masonic Temple.