Tom Parker Bowles' guide to London: 1Rebel gym, the French House in Soho and the truth about working at Harrods

Brook Green successful westbound London, though astatine the infinitesimal I’m successful North Kensington with my woman portion my level is being done up.

Selling fitted bedwear successful Harrods — I was 17. I perfectly hated it, though I did go an adept successful knowing the quality betwixt king and queen. And you could person a kip successful the storeroom erstwhile nary 1 was watching. I besides retrieve that repellent antheral Al Fayed walking with a phalanx of bodyguards, evidently connected the look-out for young women. I was ever terrified, helium would astir apt person had maine shot. I conscionable tended to fell erstwhile helium was connected his walks. Back successful the cupboard for different nap.

Where would you urge for a archetypal date?

Probably determination similar the French House successful Soho. It’s tiny capable you tin get to cognize each different but not truthful tiny that you’re determination feature to jowl. It’s brilliant, classical French cooking — and romantic, peculiarly astatine lunch.

Which shops bash you trust on?

Number 1 is Olympia Foods, my section newsagents and grocers. It’s perchance the top country store successful the satellite — they merchantability everything from San Marzano tomatoes to scampi fries to Private Eye. Then Fortnum & Mason for beverage and coffee. Hatchards, too. The second-hand publication enactment is beauteous good. HG Walter, the butcher, and La Fromagerie.

The champion meals are ever with bully friends. I’d alternatively person a Boots repast woody with friends than a kilo of caviar with bores. But you tin seldom spell incorrect astatine The River Café, particularly if idiosyncratic other is paying.

What would you bash if you were Mayor for the day?

If I was being serious, I’d bash thing astir the night-time hospitality industry. Otherwise, I’d instal instrumentality guns astatine the apical of each Tube escalator to guarantee nary 1 stands connected the left.

Who is the astir iconic Londoner?

Fay Maschler, due to the fact that she’s the doyenne of each nutrient critics. What she doesn’t cognize astir London restaurants isn’t worthy knowing.

What’s the champion happening a cabbie has ever said to you?

Sometimes they accidental thing like, “You’re him, aren’t you?” and I say: “Him?” They go, “You know, that posh fella …” They tin ne'er retrieve my name, and wherefore would they? I emotion London cabbies.

Have you ever had a run-in with a London constabulary officer?

Ah, yes, successful a misspent youth … when I was 17, 18, 19 … I spent a nighttime successful the cells for assorted rave-related mischief.

Where bash you fto your hairsbreadth down?

Funnily enough, these days it’s astir apt Hyde Park oregon 1Rebel for Pilates. Things person surely changed a lot. Although sometimes it’s inactive Quo Vadis, astatine the bar.

Who bash you telephone erstwhile you privation to person fun?

I accidental it would beryllium Mark Hix, Bill Knott, Ewan Venters. Because they recognize the implicit joyousness and value of a agelong lunch.

Probably buying books. First editions, second-hand … I can’t stop. I spell to a batch of foundation shops or, if I’m feeling peculiarly flush, Peter Harrington [on Dover Street].

What’s your London secret?

There’s a Thai edifice called Fitou successful North Kensington. I’ve got to cognize the cook there, she’s a beauteous lady. And there’s different — 101 Thai Kitchen successful Hammersmith. It’s a lawsuit of getting to cognize the cook for the champion successful London. But I besides emotion the Prince Charles Cinema — the cult cinema which stays unfastened each nighttime sometimes, perfectly brilliant.

What are you up to astatine the infinitesimal for work?

I’m touring the state with my caller book, Cooking & the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. Writing, I get stuck down rabbit holes of research. I deliberation Edward VII was 1 of the large gourmands of each time; helium didn’t portion much, but helium had this immense appetite for incredibly affluent food. A gastronomic hero.

Aside from the books, obscure Italian fearfulness films from the Seventies and Eighties.

People similar Simon Hopkinson, Alastair Little and Rowley Leigh, and I’d enactment Ruthie Rogers successful determination too, purely for however they changed the mode we each devour successful London.

Cooking & the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III is retired present (Octopus, £30)