Matthew Steeples celebrates the nicknames of Chelsea’s characters but regrets that the area itself is rapidly being stripped of the very character that made it so appealing
In Chelsea well-known barflies and lavish lunchers have long been given wacky nicknames. Amongst my friends and acquaintances are ‘Steve the Lunch’ (known for planning where to lunch next wherever he’s currently lunching), ‘Charles the Horse’ (known for his prowess on the horse racing betting circuit) and ‘Tony the Suit’ (he was once in tailoring).
Such monikers reveal not only the personalities of the individuals but also illustrate something about the places these bon viveurs frequent. Yesterday, in The Times’ obituary of the legendary restaurateur Michael Proudlock, mention was made of how his customers “had schoolboy nicknames such as ‘Mental,’ ‘Dwarf’ and ‘Mother’ and this reminded me of what this once great area of London has now lost: Character.
Two stories to keep beside you
Chelsea chicks chatter
High maintenance horrors who never fail to shock It’s not uncommon to hear them in the bars and restaurants of Belgravia, Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge and Mayfair. They bark orders such as: “I’m having a blow dry in three hours so I want a superfood salad but I want a little cheese burger with no […]
Overheard – 15th March 2020
Clangers overheard and snippets spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’ Laughable Drinks “I’ll have a Seedlip [a disgusting tasting, overpriced non-alcoholic spirit that tastes of tree bark] and tonic” announced a millennial at a bar in Chelsea. Their friend then curiously added: “I’ll have a non-sparking water, please.” A well-known local barfly chipped in: […]
Proudlock, Richard Kay of the Daily Mail recalled in this excellently written tribute, “dined out every day, twice a day, seven days a week,” but now, sadly for the most part, such a lifestyle has gone to pot. Disappeared are the likes of Nigel Dempster, Keith Floyd, Sir David Frost and Alan Whicker and gone also are the enclaves that brought so much pleasure. In March 2017, with the closure of La Brasserie – due to the greed of the building’s selfish landlord – an era ended. The customers of “Chelsea’s answer to Cheers” dispersed and what was once a “community of fun loving reprobates” became displaced.
With Poissonnerie de l’Avenue and Como Lario also biting the dust, what is now left? A Kings Road that could be a high street in any town and things like a vegan restaurant on Pavilion Road ridiculously called Wulf & Lamb. How very sad: A place that used to be the haunt of the “cultural cognoscenti” has now been reduced to this.
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6 comments
There are many other wonderful old places that have closed like Monkeys, Dans, Sette Beccofino
Schumi sadly Chelsea is no longer louche & Bohemian Proudlock will be greatly missed. niknok
You are quite right sadly. The avaricious landlords and the incompetent good for nothing council have killed a once vibrant area.
So sad. Combo Lario was one of our very favorite restaurants. Will especially miss the white truffle pasta.
Not just landlords but greedy governments. Business rates are just knocking the stuffing out of small business.
This dimwitted government proposes allowing councils to use business rates to encourage entrepreneurial activity! Whata joke….council officers and councillors haven’t an entrepreneurial bone in their bodies
well said Matthew, its such a shame I was attending a dear friends funeral at Holy Trinity Sloane street the other week and we discussing this exact topic, so many of the characters and people who made Kensington & Chelsea special have gone
There used to be a great restaurant called Au Pere de Nico off Sloane Square. I washed dishes there in the sixties but my fave to eat was LUBUS Russian bistro. Alas all gone.