THE CHAP
Home is?
Columbia Road Flower Market.
Where do you stay in London?
At my home.
Best place in London for a first date?
The Princess in Shoreditch, serves good food with a pub environment.
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
Breakfast in bed and being pampered all day.
Earliest London memory?
Going to London Zoo and Regent’s Park.
Best meal?
Japanese at Roha in Soho.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Wear an Andy Warhol wig and call myself Boris.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
It would be the first building. I sold in Summers Street EC1. It was the first warehouse residential development in East London by Manhattan Loft Corporation. A great building.
Favourite drinking hole?
Formerly the Griffin (gone but not forgotten) now The Golden Heart... Classic East End boozers.
Favourite London discovery?
My first house on Broadway Market, London Fields.
TOBIAS ALLAN
Tobias Allen has closed many a large deal in his time and knows what business in London is all about.
He has been part of the property industry and invested in numerous residential developments over the last couple of decades. Known in the industry for his cheeky charm and talent at closing a deal, he is dead cert to fill us in on some of London’s finer establishments and his favourite haunts.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
Ghostbusters!
Best place to let your hair down?
Casita in Shoreditch.
Best place for a night cap?
Blues Kitchen.
Favourite shops?
Spitalfields Market.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
Life in general.
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
Always best when they say nothing.
Building you’d like to be locked in overnight?
The Shard.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Live life to the full and be happy.
Who is your hero?
My Mum & Dad.
Last album you bought?
Seasick Steve - You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
At the moment you are…
About to drive across India on an old Royal Enfield for a year trip.
What do you collect?
Good memories.
MARKETING GURU
Home is?
A converted warehouse in Stoke Newington; our Street has quite a rare community vibe.
Where do you stay in London?
South Place Hotel has the warmest most personal touches, is luxurious and has great food & drink. The more I stay in other hotels, the more I appreciate what the team built there.
Best place in London for a first date?
Lounge Bohemia. The drinks are strong, and each cocktail has a story and some theatre to go with it.
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
My boyfriend is beyond good, he keeps one upping himself. He organised a wine from my birth year on our first date, shipped a lamp I wanted from a boutique in Paris as a Christmas surprise... He feeds my bunny Coriander when I’m away, and writes great love notes too.
Best meal?
Andina. All the ceviches and all the Pisco Sours.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Wear an Andy Warhol wig and call myself Boris.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
I love the garden keepers cottages in the public parks. The one in Springfield Park is sublime.
Favourite drinking hole?
Sager and Wilde as its nice and small, has beautiful wines, and unrivalled posh cheese toasties.
CAMILLE LORIGO
Camille Lorigo has been involved in numerous industries from fashion to hospitality and everything else in between.
She has won awards in her field and is generally 'Missus Marketing'. She has recently branched out and set up her own freelance business, and you may just see her rushing round the City doing what she does best.
Camille has given us a heads up on some of London’s hidden gems and lets us know a bit more about her outgoing personality.
Favourite London discovery?
The Victorian planetarium in Hampstead.
Best place to let your hair down?
The Yellow Door if I’m looking for trouble. It’s like a house party.
Best place for a night cap?
Printers & Stationers off Columbia Road - London’s most original bar.
Favourite shops?
Glasshouse in Shoreditch for small brands, Strut in Stoke Newington for designer vintage.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
Dining out. What better?
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
'You’re going to make your train.' I’ll never cut a Eurostar so close again.
Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Wisdom through compassion. When I was young my father bought me a copper bracelet with this buddhist mantra on it.
Who is your hero?
Credit to the unsung and unknown, I’m sure there are many, but If I had to pick someone I’d say the Dalai Lama.
At the moment you are…
Sitting on my couch trying to get my bunny to wear a musical Santa hat.
What do you collect?
Evening gowns.
THE TAILOR
Home is?
Marylebone.
Where do you stay in London?
Claridge’s Bar.
Best place in London for a first date?
Duck & Waffle in The Heron Tower.
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
No comment!
Earliest London memory?
Visiting the Natural History Museum. I will never forget the awe-inspiring diplodocus in the entrance hall.
Best meal?
The steak tartare at 34, Grosvenor Square, W1.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Take taxis and buses off London roads, thus creating more space on the roads.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
Buckingham Palace!
Favourite drinking hole?
Dukes, St. James’s Place.
Favourite London discovery?
RAC Club, 89 Pall Mall.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
Piers Richardson.
OLIVER J BENJAMIN
Oliver J Benjamin is located in the heart of the City of London and is regarded as one of London’s finest tailors. Whether it’s a silk shirt, an overcoat or a three piece suit, Oliver Benjamin can fulfill all your needs.
With an elite client list and an ever growing selection to choose from, Oliver J Benjamin is a hidden gem that only true Londoners are lucky enough to know about.
We popped by and he shared some tips and tales of life - and tailoring - in the City.
Best place to let your hair down?
Kabaret back in the day.
Best place for a night cap?
Bar Italia. I always order a coffee and one of their chicken sandwiches.
Favourite shops?
Edward Green, Andrew Martin, Rapha & Liberty’s.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
Cars. I adore classic Porsches.
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
Can’t remember.
Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
You can do it.
Who is your hero?
Burt Reynolds.
Last album you bought?
To be honest, I now download all my music from Spotify or Apple.
At the moment you are…
Looking after my youngest daughter. She is now 5 weeks old.
What do you collect?
As many cars, watches and shoes as I can!
THE ARTISAN
Home is?
Shoreditch.
Where do you stay in London?
The Goring Hotel.
Best place in London for a first date?
Parliament Hill for a nice walk!
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
Taken me for a walk on Parliament Hill.
Earliest London memory?
Police helicopters waking me up in Shepherd’s Bush on a lovely summers night.
Best meal?
Hakkasan London.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Turn the traffic lights off.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
St Pancras – because its a beautiful example of neo-gothic architecture.
Favourite drinking hole?
The Golden Heart.
Favourite London discovery?
London itself, with something exciting going on every hour of every day of every week.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
Friends.
DAVE LATHAM
Dave Latham is an expert at restoring antiques and renovating beautiful artefacts. He is based in an old church yard right in the heart of the City and certainly is a one of a kind.
He has worked on pieces for private houses, museums and even stately homes. His carving and gilding skills are somewhat legendary by those in the know.
After a cup of tea in his work shop, Dave filled us in on the must go places and what he loves about London.
Best place to let your hair down?
The Barbican.
Best place for a night cap?
Portside – Rivington Street.
Favourite shops?
Passione vino and Harvey Nichols.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
A boat that I don’t use.
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
He was driving down a one way road - the opposite direction of where I wanted to go, and I said, this is a one way road. He replied - I’m only going one way.
Building you'd like to be locked in overnight?
St Pancras, Simply my favourite building.
Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Shut up!
Who is your hero?
I don’t have any heroes... Maybe Hellboy!
Last album you bought?
Discovery.
At the moment you are…
Doing an interview when I should be at work renovating a neo-gothic fire grate.
What do you collect?
Information.
THE CREATIVE
Home is?
Shoreditch.
Where do you stay in London?
If I had to, I’d stay at The Goring Hotel.
Best place in London for a first date?
Cecconi’s.
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
My wife Sylvie looks after me everyday – that’s the most romantic thing someone's done for me.
Earliest London memory?
Turning up at Smithfield Meat Market at 5am on a Saturday to fish with the Smithfield Meat Market fishing club, that was created by my father and called The City Nomads. This is not only my earliest memory but my happiest one – being with my father and all his friends who were such charming chaps and who took such good care of me!
Best meal?
Rules Restaurant’s steak and kidney pudding.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
I would make sure that every child in London received a present for Christmas because there are too many that don’t.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
Buckingham Palace.
Favourite drinking hole?
Electricity Showroom.
Favourite London discovery?
London itself, with something exciting going on every hour of every day of every week.
STEVE EDGE
teve Edge is the founder and creative director of Edge Design LTD. His knowledge, experience and eccentric character are all legendary within the branding industry.
He has worked with some of the leading brands in the world, and is somewhat part of the furniture in the Shoreditch neighbourhood having been famously titled ‘Lord Shoreditch’.
Here we catch up with Steve where he lets us in on some secrets that only a true Londoner would know...
Favourite London discovery?
98 Curtain Road, Cathy’s Cocktail Bar.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
Jamie Lawless.
Best place to let your hair down?
The Police Station.
Best place for a night cap?
The Flyfisher’s Club.
Favourite shops?
Farlows of Pall Mall, Gucci, Purdey’s and Selfridges.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
Flyfishing.
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
'I know you - you’re Lord Shoreditch!!'.
Building you'd like to be locked in overnight?
Victoria’s Secret.
Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
My father once told me to ‘always keep your own counsel’.
Who is your hero?
Salvador Dalí.
Last album you bought?
Stephanie O’Brien – Leave Your Heart at the Door.
What do you collect?
Everything.
THE HAT MAN
Home is?
Queen's Park.
Where do you stay in London?
An 'Old Dairy'.
Best place in London for a first date?
Duck & Waffle in The Heron Tower.
Most romantic thing someones done for you?
Still waiting for that one... Any offers, get in touch.
Earliest London memory?
12 years old arriving on my own on the overnight train from Scotland at King's Cross and walking in awe to Waterloo.
Best meal?
Spaghetti Bolognese.
What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Open up all the empty buildings to provide shelter for all the homeless... Even one night under cover makes a difference.
Building in London you'd most like to buy?
Old Spitalfields Market. Save a fortune on rent!
Favourite drinking hole?
The King's Stores... Great beer, great food and even better staff.
Favourite London discovery?
Always finding something new, it’s one of London's greatest features.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
Mal & Simon I work with... Top men.
COLIN ROSIE
Colin Rosie is one of Spitalfields Markets most colourful characters. His stall stocks a fine collection of fantastic hats in all shapes and sizes. When your in need of a hat - Colin’s your man.
He set up his hat business whilst living as a homeless man and has never looked back.
Not only is his story inspiring but he has kindly agreed to share his local knowledge and give us some tips of his favourite haunts in London.
Best place to let your hair down?
The Bell in Walthamstow.
Best place for a night cap?
I’d be in either The King’s Stores or The Bell.
Favourite shops?
There’s not one... But I could shop at The Last Stop or The Curious all day long.
Whats your biggest extravagance?
Hats.
Best thing a London cabbie has said to you?
It’s true then, a gentleman can sit in the back of a black cab without taking his top hat off then.
Building you'd like to be locked in overnight?
British Museum.
Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Live for now... Yesterday's gone, learn from it... Tomorrow will soon come along... But enjoy 'right now'... And I do.
Who is your hero?
No one in particular.
Last album you bought?
Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour.
At the moment you are…
Fantastic.
What do you collect?
Hats.
