A 20-question interview with bon viveur, chairman of L’Escargot and chief executive of Devonshire Club Brian Clivaz
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
The Sermon on the Mount – Ask, Seek, Knock. (Matthew 7:7).
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Rise above it”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?
Sam Allardyce as England Manager. He’s a nice guy, but I mean, really?
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
My father. He died two years ago.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
A verdant tropical island.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Crisis, what crisis? The bankers seem to be doing all right to me.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Toilet”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Give it all away: You can’t take it with you. I support the Royal Academy Schools, the RSPB, the RSPCA and the Terrence Higgins Trust.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
‘Irritating gadgets’ are essential tools for modern life; but please keep your voice down and learn how to put it on silent.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
The French rugby team.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Terrine of foie gras, lobster thermidor, roast grouse, raspberries and cream and stilton and digestives. I would eat it in my cell.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Bollinger at breakfast is a good mantra.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A Negroni but please don’t muck around with it and add all those mad “hone-made” vermouths and botanicals. Give me equal measures of Campari, sweet martini and Plymouth or Beefeater gin. Serve in a big glass with plenty of ice. I’m ambivalent about the orange slice.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
David Morgan-Hewitt’s annual birthday party in the penthouse at The Dorchester is the best as there is free flowing Krug to start and Château D’Yquem to finish.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Tony Buzan, the creator of “mind-mapping”, is a seriously positive person and always recharges my synapses.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Roquefort and McVities.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A bulldog, although I’m more of a hippo, I’d go for a bulldog as I have a lovely bitch called Doris.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Jaguar MKII 3.4-litre with overdrive.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I live in Brixton and travel around London on a Vespa.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A “waterfall” clock given to me by my late grandmother, a pair of vases and a couple of Roja Dove aoud candles.
Brian Clivaz was born in Brighton and started his career at The Dorchester. He then worked throughout the world until launching the Home House private members’ club in 1998. Clivaz then revived and relaunched Mayfair’s Arts Club and as well as being chairman of L’Escargot in Soho has just opened a new private club in the City of London named Devonshire Club.
Follow him on Twitter at @BrianClivaz.
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