Nick Jones (entrepreneur)

Nick Jones

Nicholas Keith Arthur Jones (born 22 September 1963) is an English entrepreneur. He is the owner of the Babington House hotel and health club and founder and chief executive of Soho House UK Ltd, which specialises in luxury private members’ club venues [1] with restaurants, cinemas, health spas and bedrooms, with some aspects open to the public. He is married to the broadcaster Kirsty Young.[2]

Early life

His father was an insurance broker.[3] Jones grew up in Cobham, Surrey, the third of four children. At seven, he was sent to boarding school. By his own admission, he didn't shine at school, and partly puts this down to his dyslexia. By the time he left school at 17 he had decided on a career in catering. "It was considered a shit job, 20 years ago. But that was partly the reason why I wanted to go into it. Plus, I'm obsessed with food." He was partly influenced in this decision by the fact that his mother was a follower of the chef Robert Carrier.[4]

Career

The rooftop bar at Soho House in New York

After leaving school he joined the Trusthouse Forte training scheme in 1980.[5] He spent eight years with the group, rising to marketing manager at Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. In the 1980s, Jones created Over the Top, a small group of restaurants.

He opened the Soho House Club above his Café Boheme restaurant in 1995. His current portfolio includes six London restaurants (Balham Kitchen & Bar, Barcelona, Boheme Kitchen and Bar, Café Boheme, Cecconi’s and Electric Brasserie).

The clubs include Soho House (London and New York), Babington House in Somerset, and the Electric House and High Road House & Brasserie in London.

The group has also developed the Cowshed spa and salon along with a line of Cowshed-branded hair and body products.

Babington House

In 1998 he acquired Babington House, which offered a private members’ club and cinema.

In that year, he was cautioned by police after eleven Polish illegal immigrants were found working at the hotel.[6] The hotel has gained a strong celebrity following, hosting many notable weddings.

In 2003, he opened Soho House New York (with 24 bedrooms, a cinema, bar, restaurant, Cowshed spa and private members’ club), along with the Balham Kitchen & Bar and in early 2004 took over the daily operation of Mayfair restaurant Cecconi’s which was reopened in late 2005 after a complete makeover.

Personal life

He has two children, Natasha (born 1994) and Oliver (born 1996),[7] from his first marriage to Tania.[4] He married his second wife TV presenter Kirsty Young[8] at Babington House in September 1999, having met her there in 1998. They have two daughters, Freya (born February 2001) and Iona (born April 2006). Amongst several homes, they own a house in Los Angeles, California, USA.

References

  1. ↑ "Nick Jones". Tatler. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  2. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949784/bio
  3. ↑ "Nick Jones: Pefecting the art of pampering - Features - Food & Drink". London: The Independent. 2005-11-12. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rachel Cooke (2005-11-03). "Wanna be in my club? | Life and style | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Savill, Richard (2001-02-03). "Celebrities' hotel risks fine over immigrants". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  7. ↑ Melanie Reid. "Life | The Times". Women.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  8. ↑ Profile of Kirsty Young in the Daily Mail

External links