Quo Vadis
(Picture: Harts Group)Members of Quo Vadis, the swanky private club in Soho, tell us they are miffed about a party held the night the Queen died.
On September 8, QV threw a boozy book launch for head chef Jeremy Lee, pictured. Many plans were cancelled when the Queen’s critical condition was announced that afternoon, but the club pressed on.
A spokesperson said: “It felt odd and quite wrong to pre-emptively postpone a party imagining that she would [die] until it had been confirmed.” Official news of the Queen’s death came through while celebrations were underway.
“During the party we held a minute’s silence and put the Quo Vadis flag to half mast”, they added.
An attendee told us: “The atmosphere was not at all a solemn one by the time I arrived – all the food was gone and people were plenty p***ed.”
New contender for Bond role
A new name is swirling in the race to be 007. At a 60th anniversary party for the franchise last night, Sex Education actor Connor Swindells was a favourite. His co-star on the show, Ncuti Gatwa, has already bagged the keys to the Tardis. We asked Alistair Petrie, who plays a teacher in the series. “I think he’s on the list. He’s got the right face,” Petrie said. “I’m enormously proud of him. He’s an extremely talented actor.” We sense a strong Bond.
Speccie slaps down the high-tax Tories
The Spectator gave the Government a rap on the knuckles at its parliamentary awards last night. The magazine, long associated with the Tories, gave its top awards to Labour. Sir Keir Starmer picked up “politician of the year” for turning his party around while shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves was “chancellor of the year”, beating the four Tories who have actually run the Treasury this year. Fraser Nelson, the magazine’s editor who hosted the awards, was seething last week after Jeremy Hunt’s tax-raising autumn statement.
Prince Harry’s ticking off from the House of Lords
The King’s proposal for new counsellors of state was on the House of Lords agenda yesterday. Sussex-bashing wasn’t, but it happened anyway. Lord Berkeley said: “Counsellors should be both in the UK and working. I don’t see why we cannot remove those who are no longer thought to be suitable. There is a fear that the Duke of Sussex would be jetting in and claiming he was working.”
Last night in town
TV presenter Alexa Chung and singer Paloma Faith enjoyed Miu Miu’s Holiday In London bash in Soho last night. Around the corner, supermodel and businessman David Gandy attended Thomas Pink’s flagship store opening on Jermyn Street. Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams was in London celebrating the launch of his skincare brand Humanrace at Selfridges. AJ Odudu, rumoured to be helming the new Big Brother, hosted Christmas drinks at The Mandrake Hotel.
