Jasper Conran’s London: The River Café, Jeremy King and Winston Churchill
Home is…
I live in Bayswater, right next to Hyde Park. I live with my husband, Oisin, and my dog, Minnow. I’ve lived there for 24 years. There was one weekend when I couldn’t get into my flat so I stayed at Claridge’s.
What was your first job in London?
My first job was working for the Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden as a waiter. Actually I started in the kitchen, which was pretty miserable — then I worked myself up to being a waiter and that was much more fun.
What shops do you rely on?
Well, I wouldn’t say rely on, but I do my food shopping at Bayley & Sage. I buy my clothes mainly at a shop called Connolly. I buy my socks from Turnbull & Asser. I buy rose geranium bath oil from Floris — it makes the whole house smell lovely. And I buy my cheese from Paxton & Whitfield on Jermyn Street.
What’s the best meal you’ve had?
Can I say three? The River Café, Bocca di Lupo and Scott’s. I call them the holy trinity.
If you could buy any building in London, which would it be?
I suppose Buckingham Palace would make a very good hotel. I look through those eyes these days. Ideal location I’d say.
What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?
I would ban all cars, buses and white vans for the day and I would get on a bicycle and ride around without fear of being run down by a red bus. There’s nothing I’d like more than to ride around London on a bicycle, but I’m really scared of it.
Who is the most iconic Londoner?
Winston Churchill.
What’s the best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?
‘What are you doing later?’ — that really did happen. I wasn’t expecting it.
What do you collect?
Twentieth-century British art. It’s getting a bit pricey these days though. My favourite is William Nicholson, and my modern favourite is Richard Smith.
Who is your hero?
I’ve got a pair of them because they used to work together. [Restaurateurs] Jeremy King and Chris Corbin. I think they are amazing. I think what they did was amaz- ing. I’ve seen them working my whole adult life. They were always there and they’ve just built magnificent things. I really admire them.
Ever had a run-in with a police officer?
Yes. For driving the wrong way down a one- way street.
Where do you go to let your hair down?
Home.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
I have a friend called Anne Lampton, or Daisy Goodwin, or my friend Will Fisher.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Buying hotels. Making hotels. That is quite extravagant. There’s no two ways about it, buying and developing hotels is quite extravagant.
What are you up to for work at the moment?
Well, strangely enough, I’ve just opened my new hotel, Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, Morocco. Then I’m designing a ballet for the Royal Ballet which will come out next June. Then we just launched a homewares collection for Next, and I’m working on my own dress and bag collection. So that’s keeping me pretty busy.
Jasper Conran is the proprietor of L’Hotel Marrakech and Villa Mabrouka in Tangier (l-hotelmarrakech.com; villamabrouka.com)
