WHAT IS IT about June, as a time of closure? We ask because Bank of Ireland will close its Berkeley Square, London, branch, on June 26th.
Two years ago, also in June, BOI closed its Shepherds Bush branch, a long-time facility for many small and medium-sized Irish building contractors whose offices and storage yards were in West London. Berkeley Square, on the other hand, was the strategic location for the bigger money, a one-stop shop for wealthy developers during the heydays of The Boom, shifting profits into UK property. The many business accounts at this prestigious branch will now be moved to Croydon.
Croydon? On the Brighton Line? Yes, afraid so, auntie. That and other literary allusions abound from the lofty trees of Berkeley Square where the descendants of Noel Cowards’ nightingales are no doubt warbling, Gooobye-ee, goodbye-ee ... we wish you all a fond goodbyee ...
Hundreds of millions of profits from The Tiger passed through BOI, Berkeley Square, initially invested in UK property, including such prime developments as Canary Wharf, Wandsworth and Chelsea Harbour. Many other major UK business deals were transacted here, which had the benefit of being close to the West End’s best watering holes for after-signing celebrations.
Doubtless, some of those later profits moved off-shore or to Orlando or Dubai. But for BOI, leaving Berkeley Square is definitely the end of an era.
