When some of the most stylish and influential people on the planet want to know how they should spend their precious weeks of holiday, their first call is often Jules Perowne. The founder of Perowne International, Jules is one of the most travelled women in the world, and most trusted voices in travel. Her office is just down the road from us, so we are always delighted to welcome her for lunch at Arlington. On this particular occasion, she was joined by Simon Leadsford, who is Condé Nast’s Western Europe Head of Industry (Lifestyle) and the publisher of Tatler, Condé Nast Traveller, House & Garden and World of Interiors.
Jules, is the Long Lunch a habit or aberration for you?
It’s definitely a habit, one that has been both a pleasure and a support in my career. Sadly, I have less time for them these days than I used to, due to travel and events. But when I do, they are a thing of immense joy.
What makes a Long Lunch enjoyable, versus a chore?
Both the person you are dining with and the quality of the wine. There is nothing worse than having to sit through a Long Lunch with a bore or someone who has no interests. Once the work part of the lunch is done, there has to be mutual connection and great banter. Otherwise, I would rather have breakfast. And bad wine is a no on any Long Lunch.
What are the qualities of an ideal lunch companion?
Humour, humility, and an interest in either hospitality or history.
Why did you bring Simon, of all possible lunch dates?
Simon Leadsford is my bestie of all, without whom I could not manage my crazy world of life and work. We talk a bit of shop, and then a lot of nonsense. He keeps me sane.
What did you eat and drink today, and why?
Let’s start with the most important — an excellent glass of house Champagne in a delightful Art Deco-style glass. Then we shared a bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin, my favourite Burgundy appellation. Then I ate tuna tartare with these lovely small sweet basil leaves, followed by chicken Milanese with a rocket salad. Simon had the duck and cashew salad followed by the sole with French fries and green beans. No pudding for us — that’s just wasted calories — but we did sneak off next door afterwards for for a drink in the new garden at The Ritz, which is a gem.
Tell us about your favourite Long Lunch of all time.
With my then-fiancé, now-husband Gus at Hotel du Cap in the Grille restaurant in August 2020. Covid had closed Europe for months, but suddenly, if you were brave and quick (remember the dreaded traffic-light system?), you could travel to France for a moment. So we hopped in our car and drove to the Cap d’Antibes and stayed there for a few days. The lunch was long and delicious — he had a truffled croque-monsieur as a starter that you could smell from the other side of the room — but it was even more poignant because there had been no lunches, no fun, and no travel for so long. And where better than sitting overlooking the sea on the Cap d’Antibes with a glass or three of delicious Léoube rosé?
If you could Long-Lunch with absolutely anyone on the planet — no offence to Simon! — who would it be?
Mark Carney. I’m obsessed. He’s truly a brilliant man, so intelligent, such an incredible orator. I’d also rather love Roger Federer if I was allowed another, and Peter Frankopan. A history genius.
On the days that you are Long-Lunching, do you dress differently? How so?
I’m afraid I’m rather old-school and I dress up every day. It’s my work armour. A lovely dress, heels always, hair done. So often clients or people I want to meet message me at the last minute about lunch or a drink and I always want to be prepared and feel smart when I see them. I wore a Victoria Beckham burgundy (see what I’m doing here) dress with Chanel pumps, and some vintage Chanel earrings, Dior handbag and my favourite Cartier Tank watch. And, of course, my Oura ring, without which life can’t go on.
What is your favourite time of year for a Long Lunch?
May and June, watching Londoners at their finest, the tourists arriving and the city buzzing with the social scene. Everyone is picking up some colour from the European sunshine and in a great mood.
The best day of the week for a Long Lunch is….?
Wednesday. A perfect way to break up the week. I also love a FLFL Sunday lunch, which starts at midday and finishes at 6pm.
Any further thoughts about Long Lunches?
I’m not sure the next gen understands the value of a Long Lunch — the value of great banter, the simple joy of talking about irrelevant topics that just create connection. It’s a way of connecting with people that goes well beyond a functional breakfast meeting. I’m a great one for sharing food, too. Simon and I both wanted to try similar starters so we ordered two and shared. There was a touch of nostalgia as Simon and I have been visiting Arlington — and before that, Le Caprice — as friends and colleagues for nearly two decades.
JULES’S DOSSIER
Birthplace: Norfolk, where my heart lives.
Neighbourhood: Ravenscourt Park, W6. We live next to St Peter’s Square, which is one of the most beautiful and hidden garden Squares in West London.
‘Short’ lunch strategy: One course, quick agenda, no wine. Otherwise I want it to be a Long Lunch.
Cocktail: A Paloma pre-supper, a French 75 after.
Workout: Every morning at 6am, I do 50 minutes on my Technogym bike and 15 minutes of weights whilst my 5-year-old son plays and chats away to me in the garden about tractors.
Bookshop: Daunt Books in Holland Park or my Kindle, which knows my love for Second World War French Resistance novels far too well.
Current projects: We are currently helping Nick Jones with the launch of his new St Clement Hotel in London. Beyond that we have major launches coming up in St Tropez for Oetker Hotels, JK Place in Milan, Upper House expanding to Shenzhen in China, Bvlgari Hotels opening in the Maldives, and Frégate opening in the Seychelles after a five year transformation. My next major launch trip though is Singita Elela in Botswana — there will be nothing like it in Africa. And there are several other exciting but top secret projects on the horizon!
Any recommendations for us? I’m hopeless with popular culture, I’m afraid. I’m on a flight to New York right now and excited to see Pressure. The film is available so I will watch that as I type. I’m looking forward to War with Sienna Miller and Dominic West. Gus and I have just started watching Band of Brothers again, which is 25 years old and still brilliant. My guilty pleasure though is Gilded Age, which is back in November.
