Spear's Wealth Management Survey

At the Sharp End: Nick Jones

The founder of Soho House faces the Spear’s questionnaire
 

Q.    What would your other career be?
A.     A chef. I just love great food. Simple.

Q.    Who is your greatest influence?
A.    In my personal life, it is of course my family and my friends. Professionally there are so many influences — both for what to do and what not to!

Q.    What is your biggest fear?
A.    Burning the roast.

Q.    What is missing in the world?
A.    They should bring back Concorde — or invent a real life teleporter. Travel should just be a lot easier.

Q.     In a year, the UK economy will be…
A.    Plodding along… we won’t be growing or shrinking.

Q.    Is business a pleasure?
A.    Yes — if you make a business out of what you love, how could it not be?

Q.     How many assistants do you have?
A.     One — one incredible assistant is all you need.

Q.     Who makes your shirts?
A.     Turnbull and Asser.

Q.     Philanthropy should be…
A.     Encouraged — it’s not always about grand gestures. You can do your own bit in your own way.

Q.    My business mantra is…
A.    Passion leads to pennies.

Q.    Who do you have on speed-dial?
A.    Home, my PA, the GMs of each of our units.

Q.    Where do you summer?
A.    In the summer we go to California. It suits us — it’s laid back and sunny.

Q.    Which watch do you wear?
A.    One that tells the time.

Q.     What is your guilty pleasure?
A.     Murder, She Wrote.

Q.    When I drive, I drive…
A.     With a smile.

Q     My greatest failure in business was…
A.    Over The Top — my first venture.

Q.    Which restaurant is indispensable?
A.    The River Cafe.

Q.    Money lets me…
A.    Live the life I want to with the people around me that I love .

Q.    My greatest success in business was…
A.    Still being in business.

Q.   How did you earn your first pay cheque?
A.   Waiting tables at the French Horn in Sonning.

Q.    Spear’s is sharp and to the point. I am…
A.     Definitely to the point!

At the Sharp End is sponsored by Citi Private Bank