FANS of a good business lunch are up in arms after Simpson’s Tavern, where Charles Dickens is said to have been a patron, has closed its doors. The venue, which opened in 1757 and calls itself the oldest chophouse in London, shut last month and may not reopen.
“We are heartbroken,” manager Benjamin Duggan tells us. “We have survived fires, world wars, an industrial revolution, a plague and a mini-Budget”. Today, Duggan launches “Save Our Simpson’s”, a campaign to save it with help from regular City diners. Nigel Farage is known to be a fan.
The restaurant got into rent arrears during the pandemic and the landlord is now demanding back payment. There is also talk of selling the freehold.
“We’ve served everyone,” says Duggan, “from royalty to the guy who sweeps the street outside. I fear, without support, there is no road back. The venue and stories soaked into its walls will be lost.”
Will Matt hit out at Rishi in book?
AS WELL as going on I’m a Celeb, Matt Hancock is releasing his Pandemic Diaries next month. We hear the ex-health secretary will critique former Cabinet colleagues’ response to Covid-19 in the book. How easy will he go on Rishi Sunak? The two were allies, but Hancock is not in the Cabinet and was visibly swerved for a handshake by the new PM last week. During the Tory leadership campaign over the summer, Sunak claimed argued against lockdowns as the pandemic went on. The tome will end before Hancock’s resignation for having an affair with an aide.
Please, please, let me get a UK record deal
It seems that Morrissey’s controversial public image has lost him music industry backing in the UK. The Smiths singer has revealed his new album Bonfire of Teenagers will be released around the world next year “except for the United Kingdom, where there is no label deal”. Morrissey has been accused of being xenophobic: he wore the badge of far-Right For Britain party on a US talk show.
UK is not a cinema nation, says Oscar-winner Boyle
Director Danny Boyle risked the ire of UK cinephiles at a BFI Halloween screening of his horror film 28 Days Later last night. “It’s a terrible thing to say at the home of British film, but I’m not sure we are great film makers... as a nation,” he said. “I think our two art forms are theatre, in a middle-class sense, and pop music”. What would Hitchcock say?
Vampire party with Florence Welch
Singer Florence Welch bared her teeth with model Daisy Lowe for a vampire-themed Halloween dinner at Farringdon’s Luca last night. They were joined by designer Harris Reed, writer Shon Faye and sound artist Damsel Elysium. By the Thames, The Voice’s Catherine Harding, an ex of Jude Law, thanked Chelsea player Jorginho “for making me so happy every day”, as the couple announced their engagement.
