Millennium Egg for the man who loves art and business
Mohamed Bakhaty was the 2008 recipient of the Millennium Egg at Friday night’s Winchester Business Excellence Awards. The Egg is designed to celebrate local people and institutions that who have made an outstanding contribution to Winchester’s economy, and its presentation is one of the high points of the ceremony at Winchester Guildhall.
Mr Bakhaty has worked in Winchester for 33 years as a commercial property developer. His restoration and improvement of buildings has helped to retain and attract high quality businesses who want a high quality environment in which to work.
Examples of Mr Bakhaty’s work can be seen at both 32 and 33 Southgate Street and Barclays Bank on Jewry Street. More recently, the redevelopment of the old antiques shop on Jewry Street into a fine-dining restaurant, has also brought in top chef Raymond Blanc.
Cllr George Beckett, Leader of Winchester City Council, was at the awards ceremony; “Mohamed has made a big impact on the local economy. His work redeveloping buildings for the business community has retained important local business such as Rathbones in Southgate Street, and brought in outside investment from others. Brasserie Blanc has been the icing on the cake!”
The ornate egg was crafted by Jeremy France Jewellers in 2000, who then donated it to Winchester as an annual award. Previous award winners have included the late Graham Jamieson of Wykeham Arms fame, Barbara Bryant who headed up the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry for many years, Hampshire Farmers’ Market, the Hat Fair and, last year, Winchester Cathedral.