As the phenomenon of the “influencer” grows, clashes are escalating between the TikTok set and restaurant staff who are desperately trying to stop them ruining the experience of bona fide guests. At this time of severe challenges for restaurants generally, the dilemma is how best to reach new clients without alienating existing ones. Let me step back in time and examine how we reached this tipping point.
Lucian Freud possessed an uncanny and impressive aim with a breadstick. He used them as a weapon against perpetrators of flash photography in my restaurants over the years and perfected his skill at The Wolseley, when I would see him hit his offending target at several yards distance. His fear was not solely the invasion of his privacy but also the blinding effect of the flash itself. His retribution was quickly followed by my staff explaining the “no flash” rule to the offending guest. I once asked Andy Warhol to cease taking photos at Le Caprice, explaining that the rule was to protect celebrities like him. It was heartbreaking not to have the prospect of treasuring those photos in the future but I had to be consistent and he understood.
