This week’s LDNER is the founder of The Columbo Group who own several bars, restaurants and clubs across the capital, you could say he’s a big deal and probably owns many leather bound books. He recently opened The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch, took over the Cat and Mutton and also runs XOYO, The Nest, The Old Queen’s Head and Paradise, so when does he find to to sleep, lets find out, meet Steve…
Where in London do you live and what did you love about that area?
I’m lucky enough to live in Primrose Hill, it’s such a beautiful part of London. I love the community vibe, there’s something so undeniably British about it. Great place to walk the dog too, although I probably appreciate it more than the dog does.
You currently own and run a whole host of pubs, clubs and restaurants across London. How did you get into the industry?
It was never planned, as a student I started handing out flyers outside clubs and bars in my spare time, and things just progressed from there.
What’s been the most fun venue you’ve worked on to date?
It might sound cheesy but they’re all fun. We only open places we’d want to go ourselves. The hours are long in this industry and I couldn’t do the job if I didn’t enjoy it.
Are there any plans to open any more venues this year?
We’ve just opened the second Blues Kitchen, which is in this stunning old Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch and The Cat & Mutton, which is fabulous classic boozer over-looking London Fields. So we have our hands full at the moment but I’m sure we’ll get round to another project soon.
Finally what would your perfect day in London be?
My daily schedule is pretty hectic. So any perfect day would move at a very sedate pace, a dog walk, with my partner and son would be followed by a very leisurely lunch at The Diary in Clapham or maybe White Rabbit in Dalston, I’ve recently only discovered both restaurants and they’re both exceptional. In the afternoon I’d go on a boat trip down the Thames. It’s one of those things I keep on putting off but I’d absolutely love to do. Finally dinner at 8 Hoxton Square would round things off very nicely.