My West London Life

Nick Valentine

Nick Valentine

October
20

Nick Valentine, co-founder of new pool bar, diner and live music saloon Miss Q’s, on celebrity exhibitionists, crap TV and his local café

www.heart.co.uk/on-air/toby-anstis

Why did you choose Earl’s Court for your latest venture?

It’s an ideal location because of its strong musical heritage and the site is right on the main drag.

What can we expect at Miss Q’s?

A one-stop shop where you can eat and drink great cocktails at pub prices, play pool on full-size American tables, catch established and up-and-coming acts in a stripped down semi-acoustic environment and a place to shake your thang to our resident DJs, A Boy Like Me and Daisy Heartbreaker.

What inspired Miss Q’s style direction?

American diners and funky dive bars.

What kind of crowd are you expecting to attract?

Anyone who appreciates sex, rugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

What’s your top tip for a successful party?

A great mix of people, fantastic entertainment and plenty of booze.

What’s on your iPod?

Something for every mood, from musical theatre to death metal.

What’s on your west London cultural hit list?

Miss Q’s Icon Gallery.

What’s on your bedside?

A lavender-scented black-out eye mask and a Colonel Tom Parker biography

What was the last show you saw in London?

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. I loved the movie, too.

What has been your most memorable west London meal?

My local café in Richmond, Dinos, does the best bubble and squeak in Christendom.

What’s the most outrageous thing that’s happened at one of your venues?

Having dinner at Cuckoo Club [Swallow Street, W1] with a Hollywood celeb who got rather wasted and dropped his wedding tackle on to my date’s Beef Wellington!

What’s your philosophy on life?

I like the quote ‘A life without mistakes means you’re not taking enough risks’.

How would you spend a perfect Sunday?

A long lie-in, a Sunday roast at my local, followed by an evening of crap TV.

Miss Q’s, 180–184 Earl’s Court Road, London, SW5; www.missqs.com; 020 7370 5358

King Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold & author of The Royal Butler

March
16

King Charles' former butler Grant Harrold tells Olivia Allwood-Mollon about dancing with the late Queen, and the time he accidentally hid from King Charles in a car

Can you tell us a bit about the protocol behind an everyday royal excursion in a car?

Royals never go out alone as they always have their security with them. When they’re going to engagements, they always have their security team with them in surrounding cars. The royals will always work in the back of the… Read more →

Anna Jordan, TV Writer and Playwright

February
20

Chloe Reeve chats 'Lost Atoms' & iconic Succession one-liners with writer, Anna Jordan

Hi Anna, I’ve seen your new show, Lost Atoms – it’s fabulous – but for the sake of our readers, tell us about your new 2-hander that recently opened at The Lyric, Hammersmith.

Thank you! It’s a play that explores love, how it changes us and how we remember it. It also explores how our memory changes… Read more →