After inheriting Wilton House from his father, Lord William Pembroke was faced with the daunting task of, as he puts it, ‘bringing the estate into the 21st century’. The sprawling 14, 000 acre estate situated in Wilton, near Salisbury in Wiltshire; and has even featured as a set for period dramas and films, including Oscar nominated movie Pride and Prejudice.
As the estate has been in his family for centuries, Lord Pembroke is keen to keep its cultural history alive. His greatest passion, however, is undoubtedly motorsports and automotive design, with Wilton House serving as the backdrop for his annual Wilton Classic and super car show.
We were lucky enough to have the chance to find out more about his work.
The most memorable place I have been to in the last year is…
Imola Race track near Bologna. I was invited there to take part in a high speed drive of the spectacular new Lamborghini Huracan.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
Mnemba Island, off the coast of Tanzania
I always go back to eat at…
Maggie Jones, Kensington Church St. The best of old school English food.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I haec ever had was…
Tucking into cold gristly pickled ducks feet, sea cucumbers and scorpions in Beijing.
My guilty pleasure is…
Chicken and Mushroom Pot Noodles.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with a art I would…
Park up the one off 1925 ‘Round Door Rolls Royce’ in the Double Cube room at Wilton. It is a spectacular example of Art Deco automotive design.
My style icon is…
I’ve never been a close follower of fashion but I tend to look to Charles March when it comes to a timeless and sophisticated country style.
If my house was burning down the item of clothing I would grab would be…
My father’s old smoking jacket which fits me perfectly and still gets well used.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera and film I would pick…
Film
My favourite film is…
True Romance. That dialogue between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper, powerful stuff.
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
At 25 I inherited my family’s 500 year old estate, so my primary objective at that point was not to make too many mistakes, especially as at the time I was working as a product designer for Sir Terence Conran. It was somewhat of a juggling act, but sadly one of my careers had to make way for the other. My actual ambition, however, had I had the choice, would have been a professional racing driver.
The idea to establish a Classic and Supercar Show at Wilton House came about because…
I have an enduring passion for cars, motorsports and fellow petrol heads. I was fortunate enough to meet a few people with a similar passion as mine and our seed of a show soon blossomed into the car show I had always dreamed of attending.
The most exciting developments at the year’s 7th Wilton Classic & Supercar Show are…
Due to popular demand we have for the first time expanded the show to two days, with the first concentrating on world class classic cars, and the second with the very best super cars. We are also celebrating the 10 year birthday of the Veyron with a spectacular Bugatti display.
The most hotly anticipated car model among the car fraternity is…
The 1000mph Bloodhound land speed record car which will be on display here because it will firmly put Britain on the map as the world leaders of automotive engineering.
A potential successor for Jeremy Clarkson would have been…
Nigel Farage. He’s even more controversial and like Clarkson, no one takes him seriously.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Leonardo da Vinci, an astonishing engineer and artist (and possibly time traveller!)
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
With some assistance, to bring my family’s estate into the 21st century and make it run as an efficient and successful business.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Performance cars
This time in ten years I will be…
Proud of my achievements (I hope!)
Wilton House, Wiltshire -http://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/estate/
Imola Race Track – http://www.autodromoimola.com/home/imola-racetrack-history.html
Wilton Classic and Supercar show -http://www.wiltonclassicsupercar.co.uk
Maggie Jones, Kensington Church Street – http://maggie-jones.co.uk
Marc Jacques Burton is arguably the true archetype for turning your dreams into a reality. Taking two of his greatest passions in life; leather jackets and hospitality, he has turned them into successful careers. He is the founder of DecorumLYD, a brand that produces leather jackets that are handmade in Italy and designed by Burton himself. He is also the co-founder of the ever popular Chelsea hotspot Tonteria, along with his business partner Guy Pelly.
We had a chance to sit down with Marc Jacques Burton and discover just how it feels to, as he puts it, live the dream.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
E11even in Miami
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
Cap d’Antibes
My favourite city is…. because…
New York, because of the energy
I always go back to eat at…
World’s End Market, Chelsea
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
La Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul De Vence. To be surrounded by such art is mind-blowing.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
A packet of Haribo’s Cola Bottles
I am currently glued to…
Nothing. I do not own a TV or watch any. I prefer to read.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
I would call up Alec Monopoly, Mr Brainwash and Max Wiedemann and fill the space with their art and then throw a huge party.
My style icon is…
Lapo Elkann. Without a doubt the best dressed man in the world. I love how he is always pushing the boundaries.
My best loved piece of clothing is… because…
My DecorumLYD Decimus leather jacket (pictured) because it release my inner gladiator.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would pick…
Film
My favourite movie is…
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
My biggest work inspiration is…
From hospitality, it is Nick Jones, and from my life it is my dad, Glenn.
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
Live my dream.
My alternative career path would have been…
I didn’t have an alternative. I always believed I could do it.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
J Paul Getty
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
Leaving the comfort of Whiskey Mist and founding Tonteria from scratch with Guy Pelly, my business partner.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Leather jackets
This time in ten years I will be…
Still living my dream
E11even Miami – http://www.11miami.com
Tonteria, London – http://www.tonteria.co.uk; @Tonteriaexpress
DecorumLYD – http://www.decorumlyd.com; @DecorumLYD
La Colombe d’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence – http://www.la-colombe-dor.com
The World’s End Market, Chelsea – http://www.theworldsendmarket.com
Mark Hilpern has circumnavigated the globe twice with Thom Thom his 1963, 43 foot sloop. Throughout the course of his career as a yacht broker Mark has worked with many of the world’s finest shipyards and been involved with the construction, sale and purchase of a number of iconic yachts. He is now based at Camper and Nicholsons International in Mayfair. His Pommy Polar is exceptional!
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
A little bay in the top end of North Goa.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
Goa.
My favourite city is…
London; if a man is tired of London he must be tired of life itself.
I always go back to eat at…
Chelsea Arts Club.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
Nobu.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
A 1962 Pomerol with a straw.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
Lucian Freud
My style icon is…
I have no style icon but to give an answer, Andy Warhol
My favourite piece of clothing is…
My sarong because it does everything
My favourite movie is…
Scarface
My biggest work inspiration is…
The sea
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
Sail around the world
My alternative career path would have been…
Jail
The most exciting developments in the yacht world in 2015 are…
Lighter building materials, carbon fibre, the hydrogen engine to come.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Jesus Christ
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
Spinach
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Cheating
This time in ten years I will be…
Old
Camper & Nicholsons Int; http://www.camperandnicholsons.com
Chelsea Arts Club; http://chelseaartsclub.com
Nobu; http://www.noburestaurants.com
Five time Olympic Gold Medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave, sits among the greats of British Sports. Now chairman of the Henley Royal Regatta, he needs no further introduction.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
Sailing on the Mediterranean Sea. Not being very experienced sailors learning a new skill, travelling around from port to port each day; mooring up each night; enjoying the local food in fantastic weather; for somebody who doesn’t enjoy sitting on a beach it was heaven.
My favourite city is…
Sydney because I don’t like big cities and Sydney isn’t huge, but you have all the advantages of city life, based around the waterfront and great beaches, fantastic outdoor life and fantastic weather. Unfortunately I haven’t been back since 2000, which was a memorable time for me.
I always go back to eat at…
Chequers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. My son and I love our steaks. This is a great place to go and choose your own.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
I have a sweet tooth; so desserts are always a favourite of mine. When I was training at Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames, Matthew Pinsent and I for lunch would quite often have starter and dessert and miss main course! But in those days we were trying to have something between 6 and 7.000 calories a day.
My style icon is…
I have never had a style icon. My sport came first; so I tended to be in rowing gear most of the time. I am most comfortable casually dressed, but would never have worn jeans. Now being Chairman of Henley Royal Regatta I am wearing more suits than ever before. Also feel very comfortable in a good quality shirt.
In a fire the one item of clothing I would grab from my wardrobe would be…
I would grab my Olympic blazers. Not because of the style or cloth but because of the memories. I certainly couldn’t do them up!
My favourite movie is…
Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton. A very silly film, but made me laugh a lot.
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
To equal Jack Beresford by winning three Olympic Gold Medals.
My alternative career path would have been…
I probably would have been a builder following in my father’s footsteps. He had a small family business and I used to work with him before my rowing took over.
To row at International level the most important attribute you have to have is…
There are many athletes that have the ability to do well, but what makes a champion is dedication, discipline and desire.
My most memorable moment on the water is…
Winning my first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 when I was 22.
I would describe Henley Royal Regatta to someone unfamiliar with rowing as…
A fantastic event with a garden party feel, set in Henley’s rural countryside; where you can watch some outstanding rowing close up; you can almost reach out and touch the athletes.
My aim as Chairman of Henley Royal Regatta is to…
Continue the traditions of the Regatta as we have done for the last 176 years.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Nelson Mandela; having been to Robben Island and met some of the inmates that were imprisoned at the same time he would be such an interesting character to talk to and we can all learn from his example.
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
In 1997 I was diagnosed with diabetes. I thought my rowing career was over. However with support from my Diabetic Consultant, Ian Gallen, I was able to find strategies to deal with the condition and continue my path to gold at Sydney.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Nuclear science; I’m joking!! Sport, but I don’t have good record on Question of Sport!!
This time in ten years I will be…
The fittest 63 year old in the country. A lot of work to be done to achieve that! Things have slipped since being an athlete…
Sir Steve Redgrave’s site; http://www.steveredgrave.com/index.pl
Chequers; http://www.thechequersmarlow.co.uk
We were thrilled to get the chance to sit down and talk with Charlie Bowmont, founder of Capstar Chauffeurs, a premium chauffeur company that employs former servicemen and women from the British Armed Forces. The company is built around core military principles; integrity, loyalty, trust and discipline. These values ensure that Capstar provides an unparalleled experience for both private and corporate clients in London and the South East. Capstar’s pioneering mission to aid ex-servicemen with their reintegration into the civilian workforce is an honourable one, and their stellar presentation, affable nature and knowledge of the city sets them apart from the rest. Providing a secure and ever reliable service, they are fast gaining popularity among private clients.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
A fantastic lodge in the Seychelles called Alphonse Island. I was lucky enough to be there for a week with 15 friends – blue skies, blue seas and a fantastic service on the Island.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
The Alta River in Northern Norway. My father’s family have been visiting since the 1870’s to fish for Salmon on this wonderful river. There is great family history here and it is the one place I can leave the phone in the bag and totally relax.
My favourite city is…
Melbourne – great food, climate and so many friends there. A very close second would be Cape Town for the same reasons.
I always go back to eat at…
The Hind’s Head in Bray – my favourite pub in the UK. An honourable mention will have to go to the Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland (seafood) and the Roxburghe Hotel in the Borders for regional Scottish food.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
Having my first meal of fresh food in the British base outside of Basra after a month of living in the desert of SE Iraq. Chicken and chips, orange squash and cheesecake has never tasted so good.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
At the moment it’s a week away from the office. I started a new Chauffeur firm (Capstar Chauffeurs) in 2013, it has been a great experience but the early days of a new company take up an enormous amount of your time! A week away is rather at a premium!
I am currently glued to…
The new season of Game of Thrones when it comes out again, and I’m missing Top Gear!
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
Take advice!
My style icon is…
Sean Connery as James Bond. Very sharp suits, timeless elegance and so cool. Steve McQueen would be another.
The item of clothing I wear most is…
A Patrick Mavros belt my father gave me for Christmas last year.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would pick…
Film
My favourite movie is…
The Big Lebowski, Trading Places or the Grand Budapest Hotel.
My biggest work inspiration is…
As an individual – from my time in the Army it would have to be my former Commanding Officer – now Major General of the Household Division. A great leader and an inspirational man.
I was compelled to found Capstar because..
In order to provide meaningful and sustainable employment for those leaving the Armed Forces. I also wanted to find an industry where those who had been injured during their service could operate on equal terms with their able bodied counterparts.
My business partner (Rob Bassett-Cross) and I felt that there was a natural service culture in the Armed Forces, and those leaving could use the inherent military qualities of timeliness, etiquette, discretion and security awareness to brilliant effect as Chauffeurs in London.
The transition from the forces into the civilian world is not an easy one, and we wanted to provide opportunity for anyone who had served, knowing that they would do an outstanding job, whilst creating the top chauffeur business in London.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Winston Churchill.
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
I would say that founding and building a start-up business has put a few grey hairs on my head, but deploying on operations as young officer gave me a good basis to understand hard work, motivation and leadership.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
An unhealthy obsession with cars of all ages would give me an advantage in Top Trumps, pub quiz category would probably be sport.
This time in ten years I will be…
On the board of Capstar Chauffeurs, now a Global business and the largest employer of Veterans of any international company.
Capstar Chauffeurs; http://www.capstarchauffeurs.com
Hind’s Head; http://www.hindsheadbray.com
Kylesku Hotel; http://www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk
Roxburghe Hotel; http://roxburghe-hotel.net
Patrick Mavros; http://www.patrickmavros.com
With Easter around the corner, we were lucky enough to get the chance to interview celebrated Chocolatier and Pâtissier, William Curley. If you have not yet done your chocolate shopping, make sure you head to one of Curley’s eponymous stores; and treat yourself to a symphony of flavour.
Brought up in Scotland, Curley trained at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire before going on to work in a number of Michelin-starred restaurants that included Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and The Oak Room. He went on to become the youngest Chef Pâtissier at The Savoy Hotel at the age of 27.
William’s many awards include ‘Britain’s Best Chocolatier’ from the Academy of Chocolate which he has won a total of four times. As lovers of chocolate here at Kingdom, we were very much looking forward to this interview.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
East Neuk. This is on the East coast of Fyfe in Scotland. A beautiful, peaceful, picturesque area close to where I came from.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
South of France. The Pyrenees is stunning. A perfect location for great food & wine, climate and terrain.
My favourite city is…
London, such an incredible cosmopolitan miss match of cultures. The food is fundamental.
I always go back to eat at…
I always go back to eat at Koffman’s at The Berkeley.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
When I was younger I went for a meal at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. To me the whole experience was amazing.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
I have always enjoyed Jaffa cakes, so much so William Curley have their own take on the ‘Jaffa cake’.
I am currently glued to…
I don’t watch a lot of TV, however, if I do get the chance I enjoy watching Saturday morning kitchen.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
I would fill a large domestic space with Chocolate sculptures.
My style icon is…
My style icon is Carlo Brandelli an English born designer.
My best loved piece of clothing is… because
Nigel Hall lightweight jumper, which is pure quality. I like wearing the colour tangerine because it’s my football teams colours.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would pick…
Dance, for me it’s graceful and more beautiful.
My favourite movie is…
I watched the Dammed United recently. The story of Brian Clough’s 44-day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club in 1974. It was absolutely amazing – inspiring stuff.
My biggest work inspiration is…
Pierre Koffmann as a chef. Pierre Hermé in business is remarkable.
My alternative career path would have been…
I like working with my hands. To watch other people working with their hands is quite inspirational. I like carpentry; perhaps I would have gone down that path.
The William Curley recipe I am most proud of developing is…
Paris-Brest – this is a French dessert, made of a choux pastry ring.
The Easter Egg I will be giving this year is…
An Amedei Dark Chocolate Easter Egg finished with award winning Muscovado caramels
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
I would like to meet Jim Morrison for me, an iconic legend in the music industry.
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
Every day is a challenge in business…
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
My specialist subject would be – Dundee United Football Club History from 1976 to present.
This time in ten years I will be…
The Chocolatiers of tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing the little ambassadors of William Curley in the future.
William Curley; http://www.williamcurley.com
Koffman’s; http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/knightsbridge-restaurants/koffmanns/
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons; http://www.belmond.com/le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons-oxfordshire/
Following a move away from the corporate world, Tom Ilube has created an exceptional legacy of successful businesses. Once described as: “A true leader of people who can generate incredible results by supporting and fostering brilliance in others around him”, he now stands as the CEO of the African Gifted Foundation. A pioneering organisation, it is led by African and UK executives and educational experts with the aim of developing opportunities for talented children in Africa.
He was kind enough to take the time to sit down with us and share some insights into his world.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
A week on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
Santa Fe & Taos, New Mexico in the USA. We spent our honeymoon there
My favourite city is…
London because it’s simply the best. The history and the diversity. There is nowhere that comes close
I always go back to eat at…
Kettners, the gloriously glamorous West End restaurant, haunt of Oscar Wilde, Bing Crosby and even King Edward VII
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
Pan fried monk fish, fresh from the Caribbean seas, cooked by Big Grandma (my wife’s grandmother) for breakfast in Montego Bay
I am currently reading…
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
Contact DegreeArt.com and choose or commission new works from some of the UK’s most promising student and graduate talent
My style icon is…
Gary Oldman in his role as George Smiley in TInker Tailor Soldier Spy
My best loved piece of clothing is… because
My 15 year old woolly comfort jumper. When my wife sees me wearing that she thinks “oh dear, what’s happened now?”
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would pick…
I love wandering off to watch a good film on my own on a quiet weekday afternoon (if I get the chance!)
My favourite movie is…
Bladerunner. That line “all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain”
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
Work for a top tier investment bank or consultancy. I ended up doing both (PwC and Goldman Sachs) and realised corporate life wasn’t for me after all!
My alternative career path would have been…
I grew up with Jacques Cousteau on TV and dreamed of being an underwater photographer.
The fundamental characteristics of being a successful entrepreneur are..
As well as the usual stuff (vision, drive etc), you need a special relationship with failure and the ability to bounce back again and again and again…
The most exciting developments in the technology industry in 2015, from my perspective are…
The rise in machine learning. We are applying machine learning to cyber security defences. It makes your head spin!
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
The 1965 Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman. Now that was a chap who lived a full life
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
The untimely death of my big brother, Jim, a couple of years ago. I haven’t nearly surmounted it. I just need to be at peace with it
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Particle physics, quantum theory, string theory. I would get all the questions wrong but I read Applied Physics at university and that’s my holiday reading each year
This time in ten years I will be…
Chairman of the African Science Academy, the new school for academically gifted African girls to study science, technology and mathematics that we are working hard to build in Ghana.
African Gifted Foundation; http://www.africangifted.org
Kettner’s; http://www.kettners.com
Degree Art for sale online; http://www.degreeart.com
John Gordon has founded several innovative companies: Intelligence Squared (a global forum for debate), Contagious (a new media consultancy), Globalista (a travel information service) and The How To Academy, created to offer unconventional educational experiences.
We were lucky enough to sit down with the entrepreneur to gain an insight into his many ventures.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
Puerto Williams in Sub-Antarctic Chile.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
The Atacama Desert in Chile.
My favorite city is…
Venice because I’ve been going there for 45 years and it still remains full of architectural surprises and exquisite beauty the moment one ventures (not very far) off the beaten path.
I always go back to eat at…
Dinings in Marylebone.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
In the New York Grill in the Park Hyatt in Tokyo.
I am currently reading…
A bad biography of Mark Rothko and a memoir by Roger Cohen, the Girl from Human Street.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
Buy a Rothko, a Gauguin and photographs by Sergio Larrain, Desiree Dolron and Paula Rae Gibson.
My style icon is…
Alidad and Stephen Bayley.
My best loved piece of clothing is…
Alas what I don’t possess. Badly in need of a makeover.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would…
Pick dance particularly contemporary dance – Rambert, Twyla Tharp and New York City Ballet.
My favourite movie is…
Fitzcarraldo and Con Air.
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
Work for Reuters, Granada TV or the BBC
My alternative career path would have been…
and was, as a Barrister.
The fundamental characteristics of being a successful entrepreneur are…
The ability to multitask and to love mastering and engaging with every aspect of the business.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Alive Leonard Cohen and dead Karl Krauss.
The greatest challenges I have had to surmount in my life have been…
Trivial in nature and nothing special.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
Literature.
This time in ten years I will be…
Presiding over the How To Academy in its soon to be launched guise as a global Intellectual Uber, from my bucket list of destinations to be visited ticking off Siwa and Vietnam, welcoming grandchildren and seeing my youngest go to Prep School.
How To Academy; www.howtoacademy.com
Globalista; www.globalista.co.uk
Dinings; 22 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HH; www.dinings.co.uk
New York Grill; 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 163-1055; [email protected]
Gary Robinson, restaurant director at Condé Nast International Restaurants, shares some personal insights with Kingdom. Before leading the team at Condé Nast, he spent seven years as personal chef to the House of Windsor. His rise to success in the culinary arts since beginning his career in a local restaurant in Fort William is testament to his creative genius and industry.
The most memorable place I have been in the past year is…
Moscow. Its sheer beauty and incredible architecture captivated me, and also reminded me that there are still so many wonderful discoveries to be had.
If I had to choose one vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be…
The French Alps. Magical in the winter, but surprisingly hot and quite beautiful through the summer.
My favourite city is…
Hong Kong. It has been home to me for so many years, and I have never tired of the energy the place gives off.
I always go back to eat at…
Palombos Fish and Chip shop in Alexandria, where I grew up. It’s still my favourite chippy, despite having sampled a fair few in my time.
The most exhilarating culinary experience I have ever had was…
The absolutely incredible 12 course tasting menu at Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. I remember so much of it still, from the perfectly roasted pigeon under a bread crust to the pistachio gelato served in paper thin sugar snap cones, I doubt I’ll ever forget it.
The first thing to appear on my list of guilty pleasures would be…
If it was a food, cheese every time. If it were to be a luxury treat, I am fascinated by beautiful watches. If we are talking about something non-materialistic, holidays where the sun shines late into the evening; Cebu in the southern Philippines would be my escape of choice.
I am currently glued to…
Having just finished re-watching the entire Luther series for at least the fourth time, I still cannot fathom out how it has come to such an abrupt end. While I’m waiting, I’m back onto Dexter.
If I was asked to fill a large domestic space with art I would…
Give this over to the mind-blowingly incredible artist Antoinette Wysocki to work her magic. I have been tracking her work for years, and what she can do with a free reign and plenty of space is just too perfect a position to find yourself in.
My style icon is…
I am always taken by the way that Jude Law can carry off a tweed three piece suit. In saying that, I am also incredibly envious at how Anthony Adebo can wear red so well.
My colleague, the ever sartorial Jacky Tam, Senior Fashion Editor for GQ China, is the only man I trust and ask when I need advice in this department.
My best loved piece of clothing is…
An old blue cashmere sweater. It’s been with me forever, never let me down and always does the job at hand.
If I had to choose between theatre, opera, film and dance I would pick…
Movies fill in the long, lazy gaps in life, but I think the opera is an art form that should it disappear, we would all be the worse off for it.
My favourite movie is…
I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but The Matrix is the one. I’m less ashamed of the fact that I can pretty much recite the entire dialogue of the movie from start to finish.
My biggest work inspiration is…
Hearing appreciation from a complete stranger.
When I was 25 my ambition was to…
Perfect my art and prove people wrong.
My alternative career path would have been…
An archaeologist, and I may still have that in me.
The person I would be most interested to meet, dead or alive is…
Sir Winston Churchill, and I’d have him stay for the weekend to make the most of the occasion. We would talk field tactics over chilled vintage Champagne.
The greatest challenge I have had to surmount in my life so far is…
Accepting the fact that what I do can be quite subjective in some people’s eyes.
As a member of a Pub quiz team, my specialist category would be…
I’m a dab hand at Sports and Geography, if I do say so myself.
This time in ten years I will be…
Opening an incredible restaurant in an unimaginable destination with a group of very passionate and dedicated people alongside me.
Palombos Fish and Chips; 40 Balloch Road, Balloch, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Alexandria G83 8LE, Scotland 01389753501
Enoteca Pinchiorri; Via Ghibellina, 87, 50122 Firenze, Italy +39 055 242757 enotecapinchiorri.it
Antoinette Wysocki; [email protected] www.antoinettewysocki.com