Hedgies high on the hog at Hedge Brunch’s Avenue summer bash

St James's Street played host to a hoard of hedgies last night, as Hedge Brunch threw its summer soirée at Avenue restaurant. 

 

Founder of LNG Capital Louis Gargour was there, chatting to Alcova’s Russell Hart and Tom Pontin. “When Gus [Morison – HedgeBrunch founder] told me he was getting out of the industry to start this, I told him it was a terrible idea, but here he is with 250 people having a good time,” laughed former rival Pontin.

 

Attendees were warned in advance they would not get beyond security if they had not stumped up for their tickets in advance – but it was a relaxed gathering. Networking was rarely so much fun.

 

Compere Dr Stu, the man behind radio sensation The Naked Short Club (and MD of a hedge fund, he doesn’t like to reveal which) brought some tongue-in-cheek banter to the evening.  “We’re delighted to be sponsored by Rolls-Royce, we all have at least one of those,” he said, deadpan, before launching into the charity auction, in aid of Hedge Funds Care. 

 

His final lot of the evening was two “genuine” Madoff deal tickets, signed by the man himself. Turns out of course they were fakes, but they managed to raise £200 quid for a good cause before the group headed off to Mahiki for a nightcap.

 

https://twitter.com/Hedgebrunch/status/492652308925521920

 

■ When the news of Argentina’s default broke yesterday, chatter was focusing on more than the country’s bonds. Its finance minister, who delivered the news to the world, was sparking a lot of interest, too. “I’d like to help him with his fiscal stimulus” tweeted one cheeky admirer, another suggested that he be played by Spanish heartthrob Javier Bardem in a movie version of the economic saga. His name? Axel. Axel Kicillof. Shame his policies aren’t so tasty.

 

■ If we needed any evidence of the good taste fostered by our Bank of England Governor, we need look no further than the watering hole he was spotted at by one of The Capitalist’s spies this week. Carney was seen enjoying a “quiet” drink with a colleague on the terrace of 5 Hertford Street on Wednesday night. The £1,500-a-year members club founded by Robin Birley (of Annabel’s fame) is frequented by the likes of Kate Moss, Kate Middleton and its stakeholders, the billionaire Reuben brothers. The sartorially aware Canadian was with Richard Sharp, member of the Financial Policy Committee and ex-Goldman Sachs-er. Perhaps Carney was catching up on the gossip from the Tory fundraiser.

 

■ It looks like shirt purveyor Thomas Pink can finally relax having had its knickers in a twist over US lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret and its colour scheme. The shirtmaker had complained that Victoria’s Secret’s PINK branded stores, which it introduced into the UK in August 2012, were an infringement of its own trademark – something the judge at the High Court agreed with yesterday. The judge suggested the association with Victoria’s Secret would bring Thomas Pink into disrepute. We can’t help but wonder if it might have just increased its sex appeal.