Life's a Beech: Sinclair Beecham, founder of Pret A Manger, gives a rare interview

“Well you clearly don’t like the hotel,” he blurted out. I’ve rattled him. This is my first big interview and I have pissed my interviewee off. No, I splutter, I’m simply playing devil’s advocate to try to get to the bottom of this. But I can tell he’s unimpressed and I move swiftly on.

Since the Hoxton Hotel opened in 2006 there have been a thousand and one complimentary reviews probably written by the same people who voted the hotel to an astonishing third straight victory as the Guardian and Observer hotel of the year.

I could go down a similarly superficial route of describing the clean cut and sophisticated décor, or raving about the free wifi and international calls, or perhaps bringing up the quirky fact that the mattresses are made by the same company that makes the Queen’s.

But most of those critics won’t have Sinclair Beecham, visionary owner of the hotel and founder of fast food giant, Pret A Manger, starting to take a distinct disliking to them down the other end of the phone.

If nothing else, I’ve got his full attention now. I could hear the tapping of a keyboard before, but now the background is eerily quiet. No doubt I am an inconvenience to Beecham (he is notoriously private); there seems to be a sharpness to his tone that doesn’t match up with the softness of his features I’ve seen in pictures.

Beecham founded Pret A Manger back in 1986 with a £17,000 bank loan, a gift few would be afforded now. He and his business partner Julian Metcalfe made significant loses in their first few years but he’s got it in his head that I think he had it easy. “Look, making money now is no harder than it was back then. You just have to spot the opportunity and have the courage to follow through with it.” I can’t help but think that sounds incredibly easy.

Yet Beecham and Metcalfe made bold and noble decisions to distinguish Pret from the grotty, lower class image of fast food giants such as McDonalds and Burger King. Surplus food is handed out to the homeless at the end of every day and a democratic system of hiring new staff is employed, whereby potential new staff are voted on by the staff. I ask him whether this integrity was ingrained in him as a child. "It's as simple as this. I created a business I would want to work for." And that's it. It all sounds so obvious out loud.

But to most it is not obvious. The Hoxton Hotel’s success has been built on a pricing system stolen from airline companies, yet no other hotelier ever thought of it before. Every room is identical but the further away from the date you book, the cheaper it is. Rooms can range from £59 months in advance to £199 on the day. But here’s the real clincher: every month 5 bedrooms are given away for just £1. So don’t guests get jealous of what others have paid? “Obviously not because they keep coming back,” he bluntly retorts. A 98 per cent occupancy rate would suggest it is a good point well made.

The rise of the hotel has coincided with the birth of Silicon Valley, but Beecham refuses to take credit for the area’s reinvigoration. “I got lucky,” he claims, “I was attracted to the area’s buzz. There are some wonderful little bars and restaurants around and it’s never quiet. We encourage our guests to take a look for themselves.”

And of the hotel’s latest success? “The awards are great for the staff so that they know they are on the right track. But I’m far more concerned with the million and one things we have to get right on a day to day basis that means the hotel can enjoy the bigger successes.” One gets the feeling it is all business for Beecham, much like this interview.

Hoxton takeaway "walks away" with best Indian award

A Hoxton restaurateur has called for Asian restaurant magazine, Spice Times, to create a nationwide competition after winning their London takeaway restaurant of the year award for the second consecutive year. More than 2,000 customers voted for the Pitfield Street Indian takeaway, Tiffin Express.

Owner Sahedur Rahman said: “I think we clearly walked away with it. We could easily compete on a national scale - I’m so confident I wrote to the Spice Times to ask for it.”

He added: “the award is good for the staff. You can see the increase in morale and they all enjoy working here.”

The family run business has seen a 15% increase in custom since their 2010 victory and Mr Rahman puts a large part of their success down to the open plan layout.

“Customers can see the kitchen, how clean it is and exactly what we are doing to their food. And of course the quality of our food matches our value.”

The restraunt’s speciality is the Beef Ka Baddashi, a beefsteak cooked in a strong blend of aromatic spices finished with “chef’s special touch”. It costs £8.95.

Ellie Slee described the restaurant as “BRILLIANT. You make Pitfield Street less of a pit.” Matt Irvine said: “You can smell this place from 100 yards in any direction. And the food tastes as good as it smells – excellent.”

Find lost ring and get wedding invite, says Crouch End musician

A devastated bride-to-be is offering an invite to her wedding as a reward to anyone who finds her lost engagement ring.

Crouch End musician Kirsty Newton has launched an internet hunt for the diamond encrusted ring after her “most treasured possession” fell off her finger on Wednesday, November 30.

The 35-year-old has appealed to Hornsey Journal readers to help in her search - as well as a Twitter campaign - citing the most likely locations to be opposite the King’s Head pub in The Broadway, where she lives, or Crouch End’s Shell garage in Park Road.

Other possible locations include Sheffield Memorial Hall, where she was performing, and the Watford Gap service station - both of which have no sightings.

It has a thin, white gold band with a round brilliant diamond set between two eye-shaped marquise diamonds.

She said: “It had been a really stressful month and I had lost a bit of weight. I could feel it was slightly loose but didn’t think it would fall off.

“I was so tired it wasn’t until my boyfriend held my hand outside our flat that he noticed.”

Miss Newton and her fiancé Nick Broody got engaged two years ago during a discussion on marriage with his father. Mr Broody, a comedian, made up for this straightforward proposal by buying the ring of her dreams.

“After trying on hundreds we found the most perfect ring. I gasped and said: ‘That’s the one!’ Then I saw the price so I told him not to worry about it as he couldn’t afford it.”

But Mr Broody sneaked back to the shop to buy it and Miss Newton had not taken it off since.

“I’ve had nightmares about this happening before and woken up in sweats only to be relieved it was just a dream,” she said.

“Now it has actually happened and I just feel sick every time I think about it. It’s my most treasured possession.”

The couple hope to get married next year and Miss Newton has offered anyone who recovers the ring an invite to the wedding.

(Published in Hornsey Journal, 08/12/11)

Residents unsatisfied with latest plans to redevelop Hoxton Cinema

Hoxton residents expressed their concerns over the proposed cinema redevelopment on Pitfield Street yesterday. Evening noise, an influx of visitors and an invasion of privacy were three of the main concerns raised by the cinema’s neighbours.

Architects, Parritt Leng have proposed a three screen cinema with 19 residential flats built on top, including two glass penthouse suites. The project will restore the cinema’s original façade.

The latest discussions in the drawn out affair happened at an open meeting hosted by Parritt Leng at the dilapidated cinema site as efforts continue to involve the residents in the consultation process.

The designs have met the approval of an independent heritage specialist.

Home owners on neighbouring Haberdasher Street and Buttersland Street have consistently opposed attempts to regenerate the old cinema. Parritt Leng say the majority of the community support the £5 million project.

Buttersland Street resident, Sheila Cohen, said: “I am horrified to find out they will do late night showings. We won’t be able to open our windows in the summer for the noise of people coming and going. This is not the right place to have a night time venture.”

She added: “I will probably go to it (the cinema) if I have to put up with the hell.”

Mr Parritt of Parritt Leng, who own the site, defended his companies’ plans, saying: “This is a not-profit-led project that focuses on regeneration, restoration and employment. If we don’t do something now we will have a piece of history that is completely lost.”

“This site is not legally protected meaning it could be turned into anything. We were the only developers willing to maintain the original use and are working closely with residents to find solutions to their concerns. We view this as a signature project that gives something back to the area.”

86-year-old Ivy Gynem, who describes herself as “a true Hoxtinite”, said: “I remember the original cinema and I am really pleased it is getting restored to its former glory.”

Vivienne Jones, 20, lives above The George and Vulture pub on the corner of Pitfield Street and Haberdasher Street and is unfazed by the estimated 18 months of building work. She said: “It’s got to be better to look at than it does now. This project looks really exciting.”

Parritt Leng hope to gain planning permission by March.

Angela and the beanstalk

Hoxton ladies’ three bean plants grows into a community project.


“It will just cause a big mess…you will never be able to sustain it… it will attract foxes and rats…” These are just some of the complaints you are likely to hear if you start up your own community kitchen garden. 

But it only takes a bit of perseverance, optimism and rationality and your seeds could soon grow into your very own beanstalk.

“When I proposed the idea to the residents’ association one lady came to me and said she had 45 people who opposed the plans. But I visited them and it was clear they would object to the question “do you want mess and foxes in the neighbourhood”, anyone would. It only took a bit of explanation to bring them round,” explained Angela Large, the founder of Crondall Court estate community kitchen garden in Hoxton.

For Angela the initial scepticism was a minor challenge to overcome for the pleasure of growing and eating her own produce. “I come home from work, decide I want salad for dinner, pick it and serve it, all within an hour.”

“I grew enough salad over the summer to not have to buy any. I don’t know how much money I save but that’s not the point. When I pull a carrot out of the ground I’m dying to show someone what I’ve just grown.”

When Angela grew three bean plants in 2009 a seed had been planted. “I would quite like to do more of this,” she thought to herself. Despite initial scepticism from her neighbours, she secured a £1,000 grant from Capital Growth, Boris Johnson’s sustainable food initiative and, with help from councillors Carole Williams and Philip Glanville, pressed forward with the project.

There are now 13 beds in the allotment, each owned by around 20 local residents, couples or families who pay £2 a month for maintenance. The group host three social events per year and community spirit is thriving.

“At the beginning one lady threatened to set fire to anything we grew near her flat. Three months ago she knocked on my door and asked for some compost. I was so shocked I couldn’t bring myself to ask her for any money.”

“When I presented the idea to the residents’ meeting they told me I was wasting my time. They’ve seen middle class people like me move onto the estate, think they can solve all their problems and leave again.”

“Now residents are always peering in, complimenting us on our garden and chatting to us. There’s been a real softening in the community,” Angela said.

And now it is something for the community to take pride in. “All the previous opposition made us think it has to be lovely and appropriate.” The proof is in the eating.

Bridge Over Troubled Water: a postmortem of Chelsea's Terry-ble week on and off the pitch

After a week of capital punishment, Chelsea will be relieved to board a plane to Genk for their midweek Champions League fixture. No one will pretend London derbies are easy, but it will come as a concern to Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas that Chelsea have failed to win neither ugly nor pretty against their two rivals.  Chelsea’s talisman, John Terry in particular has had the kind of week that would warrant borrowing Mario Balotelli’s “why always me?” t-shirt after losing his cool against QPR and his footing against Arsenal.

Both the FA and the Metropolitan police have launched investigations into Anton Ferdinand’s allegations that Terry called him a “f****** black c***”, an allegation that Terry vehemently denies. The evidence is far from conclusive. The difference between "black" and "blind", which Terry claims he said, is not discernible and so we must give him the benefit of the doubt – reluctantly. His character reference is barely worthy of a pardon.

Either way, one would assume it would not be wise for the England captain to slander the brother of his international centre back partner with such vile language.

Whilst there are many things the Premier League can be proud of, player and referee respect is not one of them. Effing and blinding has long been ingrained into the fabric of football. It is a shame it has taken two accusations of racism to flag up an issue that should have no place in the game and should be held in the same taboo box as diving.

What happens to footballers when they cross the white line to turn them into petulant yobs is anyone’s guess. Passion is not an excuse; no one would dare accuse former England rugby captain, Lewis Moody, of a lack of passion because he kept his temper in check.

Terry’s second slip up of the week was also the second time Stamford Bridge’s hallowed turf let Roman Abramovich down. His move to buy the last remaining piece of the Chelsea puzzle, the green grass of home, was blocked by Chelsea Pitch Owners. When it rains it pours in west London, but it seems not even all that rain can grow Abramovich some new grass.

With UEFA’s financial fair play rules set to nullify Abramovich’s billions, a new stadium is at the top of Chelsea’s to do list if they want to continue to compete at the business end of European football. The rules, which come into effect for the 2014 Champions League, will exempt any club from the competition if they fail to balance their books.

Having bought the fans Premier League titles, FA Cups, Champions League finals, some of the world’s finest players and reverence in world football, Abramovich failed to buy over the “true blues” this week. Chelsea Pitch Owners voted to maintain control of Stamford Bridge’s grass and and with it a fingertip of autonomy in their club - a romantic notion - but in doing so seem to be wavering their newfound entitlement to Champions League football. The value of green space is high in London these days, but surely not that high.

Developers roar on with Lions Club proposals

Developers have vowed to press on with plans to revive Hoxton’s Lions Club after gathering a petition of 1,200 signatures supporting the development, despite concerns raised by the local residents on Monday.

The plans have attracted criticism from residents of Charles Square and Pitfield estates, who argue the developers are more concerned with the 22 new flats planned over six floors above the young persons’ club, rather than preserving the community club that has served the area for 80 years.

The Pitfield Street site requires £50,000 a year to run and, with local authorities reducing funding to just £15,000 this year, the dilapidated building is in desperate need of a significant cash injection.

Mike North of Crondall developers, the company hoping to take on the project, said he can understand the residents’ hesitation considering the history involved in the club, but insisted the majority of the community were behind the proposals.

He said: “Our research shows over 90 per cent of the community support the scheme, but residents’ concerns are valid and if there are misconceptions we have to work hard to change them.”

“We understand change can be scary; some of these residents probably went to the club as children. But this centre is in terminal decline. If the centre is to continue it has to make money. We want to make sure the legacy continues for another 80 years.”

Hoxton councillor Carole Williams said she sympathised with the residents’ concerns, but supported the plans. She said: “There has been a lot of development in Shoreditch recently and residents are anxious to make sure we get it right. The developers are doing a good job of listening to locals’ concerns to ensure the club is here for a lot longer.”

The planning process is in its fourth year, with builders unlikely to start work for at least another year.