Kitchen Rat awaits Lord Martin and celebrates JJ Goodman's nuptials

Landlord to his lordship?

Did you know Tim Martin likes Brexit? The JD Wetherspoon boss doesn’t mention it very often – I mean, aside from the 500,000 pro-Brexit beer mats, the pro-Brexit magazine with its circulation of 350,000, and the 1,400 pro-Brexit words of his latest 1,900 word-strong financial report, he’s really rather quiet about it.

How surprising then that Martin’s name has come up among the several EU-bashers whom Boris Johnson is said to be considering for jobs in the House of Lords for services to the Leave campaign. Martin’s ascension from landlord to his lordship is of course not set in stone yet – but there’s every chance he may place in the upper chamber after spending much of the last three years railing at “unelected officials” in Brussels.

Solid foundations

The rat receives many an email touting newly refurbished event spaces looking for a bit of exposure – but quite frankly not enough that are tied up with fairytale romance. Here to fill that particular void is the Orchardleigh Estate in Somerset, which last week hosted the wedding of the renovated stately home’s owner Chris Vincent, who married Heather White, the daughter of a farmer whose land neighbours the estate. The two had lived adjacent for more than a decade and a half, but only met amid the rebuild four years ago. Whether the nuptials were part of an illustrious 16-year plan to create a perfect PR moment or not, congratulations are certainly in order.

Grab and go

When it comes to getting into the restaurant where everyone wants to be, sometimes there’s nothing for it but to turn up, have a friendly word and, if necessary, commit a minor crime. Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express is fully booked for most of the next two months, but one customer found a way to circumvent the system. Last week, as Khan tweeted, “a gentleman stood outside the window of our restaurant and was chatting to guests seated by the window. At some point he grabbed three of the prawns from their plate of tangra prawns and ran away!”. Pretty shellfish, if you ask me.

Sweet couple

Another cause for Champagne (with or without a Haribo in it) – JJ Goodman of London Cocktail Club fame celebrated tying the knot with Hannah Marie at the Arts Theatre in Leicester Square. Signage for the day told loved ones to “come for the love, stay for the party” – advice Raymond Blanc certainly took to heart, if the pictures are anything to go by…