Chris Floyd - Jeremy King / Simpsons X Esquire
Chris Floyd, who is as masterful with words as he is with his camera, beautifully reflects on his recent photographic commissions and collaborations with renowned restaurateur Jeremy King — the man behind some of London’s most iconic dining establishments, from Le Caprice and The Ivy to J. Sheekey and The Wolseley. King has now turned his attention to restoring one of the most fabled restaurants in London's history: Simpson's in the Strand, neighbouring The Savoy.
“It has been an absolute delight to have spent some time in the world of Jeremy King over the past couple of years. Along with the homeware department at Peter Jones in Sloane Square it’s a place where you feel that nothing bad can ever happen.
My entrée started as a commission from Esquire, to photograph him for a profile piece in December 2023 and the location for the interview and photo shoot was to be his new project.
In 2018, The Savoy, which owned it, had closed Simpson’s in The Strand, continuously operating since 1828. What a great shame for a restaurant with such a deep and rich history. The headquarters of chess in the 19th century and the place where Churchill went for lunch on VE Day in the 20th century. Jeremy had taken it over for the 21st century and the work was yet to begin.
By the time Jeremy started work on its restoration the place had been stripped and everything was coated in a fine layer of dust.
Over the past year I have popped in from time to time to take some pictures of the work in progress. Last week was the first time I have been in since it began service to an invited cast of guinea pig customers and it’s beautiful to see. It is now fully open and taking bookings. I needn’t say what a beautiful and magnificent job Jeremy and his team have done, congratulations!”
Beautiful storytelling and portraits created for Esquire are accompanied by Chris's evocative black-and-white and colour photographs, capturing not only Jeremy King himself but also the remarkable restoration of one of London's great dining institutions.
