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Waiting for
Godot is the controversial play by Samuel Beckett in
which Vladimir and Estragon are wait for someone named Godot who
both talk of, but don’t really know. Unlike either Vladimir and
Estragon, Dial-a-Cab driver Natalia Shalom (A34) knows
exactly what she is waiting for – a rank outside Nobu in
Berkeley Street. Problems with Nobu at Berkeley Street have been ongoing for several years In the November 2005 issue of Call Sign, we wrote of it when one of our drivers took down the registration numbers of touts operating outside – and apparently doing so with the backing of bouncers and staff. The driver, John Fisher (C45), told this magazine that the cars even had an unofficial rank and that when he tried to stop outside, the Concierge told him he was causing an obstruction and should move off! John challenged Nobu to call the police and not unsurprisingly, they rejected the offer! We, on the other hand, passed the registration details over to the tout squad and several arrests followed. But it couldn’t stop the cars. In our May 2009 issue, Natalia told Call Sign that little had changed at Nobu. She said she had dropped a passenger outside the restaurant and decided to wait a while in case someone came out looking for a taxi. But there were so many minicabs outside, the only way she could stop was by double-parking. Like John Fisher, Natalia was told by Nobu staff to move on as she was causing an obstruction and that in any case, taxis weren’t needed as they had their own car service! Not one to |
WAITING FOR NOBU! |
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 back down from a confrontation, Natalia asked DaC dispatchers to put out what had happened to her and since then, an unofficial rank has been in operation outside the Berkeley Street premises. And sure enough, diners leaving the restaurant have made full use of that rank leaving the minicabs time to, no doubt, discuss why Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot! In that issue, Natalia also said: "The best way to fight them is by putting a taxi rank outside the door, then passengers would have the choice - and I know who most would choose!" Call Sign closed the article by adding: "Are you reading this at the PCO? We need a rank at Nobu…" Well now that demand is on the verge of becoming reality – although it has become more |
apparent as time goes
by that Nobu do not want it – obviously preferring a car service
where, according to rumour, the drivers pay for the privilege of
being there! The official taxi rank has now been applied for,
but amazingly there have been 47 objections to Westminster, five
of which came from solicitors representing Nobu! In return, the LTDA have employed their own solicitors to counter the objections and are hopeful that by the time of this issue’s publication (November 1) or very soon after, an official rank will be placed outside the Berkeley Street restaurant. Natalia told Call Sign: "If it happens, I will be delighted. My only fear is that when it does appear, it may be busier on the streets and no one will want to cover places like Nobu and Smiths. We have had such a battle to get to this position, I just hope that we all put ourselves out to make sure we don’t let ourselves down and cover the work. If we don’t, then I’m sure that Nobu will try to get the rank cancelled and bring their little friends back to the fold." |
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Views on life as seen through the eyes of David Kupler (Y74) at… KUPKAKE’S KORNER |
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Not all-White on the night… |
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