From bottomless brunches to breathtaking views, we’ve asked London lifestyle influencers to fill in the blanks and shine a light on the city they call home.
If there’s one menswear expert to keep up with, it’s Carl Thompson. Founder of luxury handmade shirt label Hawkins & Shepherd, Carl is the quintessential London man about town. His effortless style doesn’t end there…he’s your go-to guy for all things grooming, lifestyle, travel, fitness and food related.
My guilty pleasure…
…has to be a Five Guys burger, make that a double patty with cheese and of course a milkshake and fries. Guilty pleasure numero uno. Outside of that, Pizza Pilgrims in Carnaby St. They have a few dotted around London but I like the intimacy of Kingly Court, especially in the summer for a bit of al fresco dining.
My go-to shopping street is…
I’ll be in Reiss on most days, but you can also find me down St Christopher’s Place and, more recently, Seven Dials. Seven Dials has more choice and delivers more of a consumer experience. Check out my recent blog where I highlight some of the coolest shops in Seven Dials.
My favourite bar is…
Wow, you know I get asked this a lot and it’s a question that always makes me thirsty. There’s obvious ones like the Nightjar down City Road in East London and The Beaufort Bar in The Savoy, although that can get a little dark. If you’re going that upmarket you should head to The Connaught; it’s better lit and the serving of Martini’s is more dramatic.
I always forget about a place called Callooh Callay down in Hoxton. It’s this place that has a hidden wardrobe door that extends out into another room and it’s just magical. You need to book though. Also the toilets are completely shrouded in old cassette tapes – well the gents’ are, anyway.
My favourite memory in London is…
…when I was new to London, and I had a girl show me the zebra crossing made famous by The Beatles album cover, Abbey Road. It was late at night and we went to the studio gates. They have graffiti all over the wall that runs down the street. Completely splattered with Beatles lyrics. We just read them all and sang to each other, badly.
I find my zen whilst…
…walking Charlie (my dog) around Clapham Common. The place comes alive in the summer, people descend out of nowhere, as if we’ve just emerged from hibernation. I love that. I guess when I box at my local Kobox gym I find nice sobering thoughts.
My brunch spot is…
…Charlotte Street Hotel just off Oxford St! If I ever get invited to meetings, I always strategise them around there; the service is good, the coffee is fresh and if the client or friend has never been there it’s the kind of place that can reflect well on you. Recently I’ve found another gem in Granger & Co. which is just off of Sloane Square, so a great place to visit after my boxing class. You have to try the scrambled eggs!
My ideal day in London would be…
…a tour of the Crystal Palace stadium – I’m a Palace fan. Or a box seat for one of the games. And if it’s my ideal day, I’ll be allowed to come on and play for the last 20 and score the winner right?
After that I’d like to get kitted out in a bespoke suit, maybe Huntsman. Actually, definitely Huntsman. Of course it’s my ideal day so they’d be able to turn around a bespoke suit in a few hours and I’d wear it to a premiere down Leicester Square. Of course it’s the premiere to a film I’m starring in. Have I gone too far with this? I have, haven’t I.
I get my interior design inspiration from…
…Wallpaper Magazine (is that too obvious?) and the Bo Concept catalogue. They have this Bo Concept store out near Euston and I just dream of having the sort of money where I could walk in like Richard Gere does in Pretty Woman and tell the store owner ‘I’m going to spend an obscene amount of money in here’.
There’s also a guy I went on a press trip with to Paris way back when, he doesn’t know it but I keep an eye on his site, João Botelho. He won’t remember me as it was very fleeting, but he has a good eye and he’s London based.
A London view that takes my breath away is…
…Primrose Hill! I swear that if you go to the top at just the right time, you can see everything that God had in mind when he was putting his horizon pinterest board together. Outside of that there’s a shopping complex called One New Exchange next to St Paul’s – you can get on the roof there and have a drink and get a shot of St Paul’s in the background. You’re not allowed to set up the tripod and lighting gear though, I’ve learnt.
It’s Friday night, you will find me…
…probably at home working, to be honest. I’m 37 you know! This interview was going so well right? If I’m heading out for a few drinks locally, you’ll probably find me at No32 in Clapham Old Town.
If I could be trapped anywhere in London…
…I think I’d like to be trapped in a cinema and binge on films and Minstrels all day. I like the Ritzy in Brixton, although they might only have foreign language films on so I better hedge my bets and go for a multiplex. Or one of those Secret Cinema events. I went to a Star Wars one once and it was surreal. My mate actually turned up with a light sabre he bought off the net for £500. I’m not that fanatical, but I have a lot of time for that level of dedication.
