Artworks from an eatery which was a favourite of the Queen Mother and stars including Sean Connery and Ronnie Corbett are set to fetch £25,000 at auction.
Simon Parker Bowles (brother of Andrew), was responsible for Green’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar located on Duke Street in London’s St James.
The Crown Estate opened the property in 1982. It was loved by celebrities and Royal Family members until 2016 when it had to be closed.
The Queen Mother was seen smiling when she left the venue, and it was discreetly visited also by Princess Diana, Prince William, and Harry.
Parker Bowles stated that Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of Great Britain was also a regular visitor.
Images of other stars include Connery (James Bond) and Corbett (comedian, beloved), who are both seen at the venue.
Carolyn was the one who commissioned the cartoons and paintings that used to grace the walls.
There is also a ‘Wine Tasting,’ by Sue Macartney Snape (Tanzania-born). The scene depicts a colorful bar scene, which Mr Parker Bowles stated was’remarkably similar’ to Green’s. It is expected to fetch up to £5,000.
Artworks from an eatery which was a favourite of the Queen Mother and stars including Sean Connery and Ronnie Corbett are set to fetch £25,000 at auction. Simon Parker Bowles was the husband of Andrew, and owned Green’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar on Duke Street, London’s St James. Above: Sue Macartney Snape, a Tanzanian-born artist. It is expected to fetch up to £5,000
The venue opened in 1982. It was loved by celebrities and Royal Family members until 2016 when it was closed down by the Crown Estate landlords. The Queen Mother was seen smiling leaving the venue (above, Simon Parker Bowles), but it was also visited discreetly by Princess Diana and Prince William.
Another image of James Bond actor Sean Connery with Michael Medwin is another. Mr Parker Bowles said there was always ‘a lot of noise and a lot of singing’ when Connery visited
Raymond Jackson’s cartoons, also up for grabs, are available. He was better known by his initials JAK. After a long career that saw him working at titles such as the Evening Standard or Mail on Sunday, he became one of Britain’s most well-known cartoonists. The estimates for the cartoons range from £100 to £500.
Works by British artist Lincoln Seligman, who was commissioned by Mrs Parker Bowles to draw pictures of customers entering Green’s, are expected to fetch up to £100 each.
Anthony Bream’s painting, “Lady At the Bar”, is the second most valued lot. It is expected to sell for up to £2,500.
When asked about the star visitors, Parker Bowles stated that Ronnie Corbett was his favourite. He was an old friend and a dear friend.
Ronnie said that Ronnie was shy and used to sneak in my kitchen hoping nobody would notice him.
Connery said that there was always “a lot noise and lots of singing” when Connery visited. The Royals were, however, “fun to be around”.
Carolyn Bream, Carolyn’s wife and restaurateur ordered the cartoons and paintings that used to grace the walls. Anthony Bream’s painting “Lady at The Bar” is second in value. It is expected to sell for up to £2,500
Raymond Jackson cartoons (also available for purchase) are also being offered. JAK was a British cartoonist who became a household name.
Jackson had a long career that saw him working at titles such as the Evening Standard or Mail on Sunday. The estimates for the cartoons range from £100 to £500. Above: Above is the cartoon that appeared in the Mail Sunday, before being hung up at Green’s. It is expected to fetch up to £100
Parker Bowles stated that he created the restaurant as many London venues had become too fussy. He said that he called the restaurant a champagne bar and an oyster bar. However, he can’t eat oysters or champagne. Above: This throwback photo shows the place in its glory days.
Andrew Bowles, Mr Parker Bowles’s younger brother (right in 2009 with his sibling) was married from 1973 to 1995 to the Duchess Of Cornwall. Ten years later she wed Prince Charles.
“Margaret Thatcher” was a regular. She was always able to recall Manuel, even when she claimed that the plot had been lost. Manuel was always there for her. [the waiter]. He said, “Once you meet, you will never forget it.”
“The Queen Mother was the star. This lunch was given to her by me, and Ronnie Corbett asked me about Anne Corbett. I also had a Canadian couple who came all the way from Canada, as they are huge fans of both Ronnies.
“Imagine their joy to see Ronnie and Ronnie sitting together, then the Queen Mother as well.
Parker Bowles explained that the restaurant was opened because London had too many restaurants.
“I called this a champagne-oyster bar but in truth, I cannot eat oysters or I don’t really enjoy champagne,” he stated.
“The primary reason I was able to time my arrival at this particular moment in the 80s and 70s was because the new cuisine trend at restaurants at that point had exploded and people were getting more fussy.
“I was seriously thinking there were not many places left I wanted to go.
Cartoonist Raymond Jackson’s portrait of restaurateur Peter Langan – who opened Piccadilly eatery Langan’s Brasserie with actor Michael Caine – during a visit to Green’s in 1985. Jackson implied that Langan and he had both been drinking at the time he sketched them. He wrote the words ‘Drunkenly’ (both) in the corner. It is expected to fetch up to £500
These two depictions of Green’s, sketched by artist Michael Stiff, are among a set which are expected to fetch up to £300
This depiction of the dining room at Green’s, again by Michael Stiff, is among a set which are expected to fetch up to £300
Stiff’s depiction of the exterior of Green’s also once hung on the wall at the famous venue and is among those which are up for sale
It turned out that a lot more people feel the same as I did. Green’s had everything I loved: it is simple and straight-forward with great ingredients. It also offers good customer service.
The pictures were “the most important thing.” When you are sitting having a boring lunch… you do tend to gravitate to look at what is on the walls.
“We ordered our Sue Macartney – Snake Wine tasting. This is hilarious and delicious, and it’s remarkably similar to a lot other characters who visited Green’s.
Mister Parker Bowles spoke out about the star visitors. He said that Ronnie Corbett was his favorite visitor. Ronnie Corbett was very shy. He used to sneak up on my table, hoping no one saw him. Corbett is pictured centre with Mr Parker Bowles (left) and Lord King of Wartnaby
According to Mr Parker Bowles, he started the restaurant after London venues became’very fussy’.
Parker Bowles said that Green’s is exactly what he liked. It was simple, straightforward, delicious, and full of good food. Above: Green’s waiting staff.
As they remove an oyster from the shell, Mr Parker Bowles and a Green’s employee are seen together. Dreweatts, an auctioneer, is going to sell the restaurateur’s artworks.
In 2016, when the restaurant was forced to close, Parker Bowles stated to Sebastian Shakespeare that he had been forced to close Duke Street because of an insatiable desire by the Crown Estate to rebuild. Above: Waiter at Green’s Bar
The artwork, which was once displayed at Green’s from December 15 to 15, is now available for online bidding. Above: Mr Parker Bowles in front of the bar at his restaurant
According to him, the paintings contributed to the clubbie and foodie atmospheres he tried to cultivate at the venue.
In 2016, when the restaurant was forced to close, Parker Bowles stated to Sebastian Shakespeare that he had been forced to close Duke Street because of an insatiable desire by the Crown Estate to rebuild.
The estate, which belongs to the Queen but is run independently, was redeveloping the premises as part of its £500million ‘investment strategy’ for the area.
Dreweatts auction house is selling these artworks. Dreweatts has its headquarters in St James’s. The lots are open for online bidding until December 15.