Its style – determinedly casual and very slightly louche – has captivated the likes of Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and Meghan Markle, as well as any number of the Notting Hill classes, so many of whom asked Soho House’s founder, Nick Jones, where they could buy one of its sofas, or lamps, or mattresses, or pretty well anything, that he set up Soho Home, in 2016, so that he could sell them the stuff himself.
But even though the Soho House empire now has dozens of outposts all over the globe, from Berlin to Bangkok, and Sao Paulo to Soho Farmhouse where Meghan held her hen night, as well as ownership of Soho Home, it evidently doesn’t feel that everything’s going its way. Indeed, I can disclose that, in its guise as Soho Home, it has decided to initiate legal action against another, far larger empire – the retail giant Next.
It’s hired City law firm Lewis Silkin, which has just filed an Intellectual Property claim against Next Retail Ltd.
Soho Home and Soho House decline to comment on the impending battle, but the court filing makes it plain that the claim relates to copyright and design.
I understand that, of particular interest, is the alleged similarity between two small circular tables. One, by Soho Home, is entirely crafted from white stone, with ‘natural veining rippling its surface’, supported by three, interconnected circular legs, also crafted from white stone, and retailing for £995 – the sort of sum that Soho House members, who pay an annual subscription of £2,920 a year for access to all 42 ‘houses’ across the world, can stump up without undue strain.
Meghan Markle and Sophie Trudeau at Toronto’s Soho House in 2016. Soho House’s style – determinedly casual and very slightly louche – has captivated the likes of Meghan and other celebrities for years
The founder of Soho House Nick Jones. Nick launched Soho Homes in 2016
Next on Oxford Street. Soho Home has decided to initiate legal action against another, far larger, empire the retail giant Next
The Next table, measuring 20ins by 16, isn’t made from white stone. But its oak legs are arranged in a very similar configuration to those of the Soho Home table – and support a circular table-top in marble. Hearteningly, it’s priced at £399.
Without referring to the table or any other of the items in its immense homeware collection, a spokesman tells me: ‘Next is aware of the situation and has been in legal correspondence with the claimant’s solicitors for some time. As this is now a High Court matter, Next cannot comment further. It will, however, defend itself vigorously.’
Look out Alan! Goldsmith is gunning for TV gardeners
Looking forward to doing a spot of gardening now the weather’s cheering up?
Well, billionaire’s son Ben Goldsmith thinks you’re part of a ‘problem’.
The financier and former government environmental adviser claims that keeping a neat and tidy back yard is an obsessive ‘rejection’ of nature – and he singles out green-fingered television presenters such as Monty Don for particular scorn.
‘The world of organised gardening is a problem,’ declares the son of late tycoon Sir James Goldsmith.
Conceding that it’s a ‘wholesome, delightful activity which gets people outside and brings them closer to nature’, he claims: ‘The gardening philosophy espoused by most garden designers, gardening books and TV shows, garden centres and so on is one of micromanagement and a rejection of actual nature.
Looking forward to doing a spot of gardening now the weather’s cheering up? Well, billionaire’s son Ben Goldsmith (pictured) thinks you’re part of a ‘problem’
Goldsmith, who has ‘rewilded’ some of the 260 acres on his farm in Somerset, says online: ‘Consider how many figures in the gardening world despise the notion of rewilding. Think Monty Don (pictured), Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein, they hate it
‘A delicate carpet of native wildflowers at the woodland edge in spring, fringed with blossoming scrub, is just not good enough. Instead we must cut, tidy, mow, organise, chemically spray and subjugate every square inch. We must replace native species with colourful, exotic plants from around the world which offer nothing to our own wildlife.’
Leaving himself open to accusations of snobbishness, the brother of former minister Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and film producer Jemima Khan adds, ‘which is why the results so often look like some gaudy roundabout in the suburbs’.
Goldsmith, who has ‘rewilded’ some of the 260 acres on his farm in Somerset, says online: ‘Consider how many figures in the gardening world despise the notion of rewilding. Think Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein, they hate it.
‘For them, the very idea of allowing beavers, say, the autonomy to create their own beavery paradises along our watercourses is just appalling. Only they know what trees should be planted in a neat line alongside the river and they’ll be damned if any beaver is going to get in the way of that.’
He adds: ‘It’s a peculiarly British affliction this obsession with control, tidying and modifying nature to within an inch of its life.’
Poppy blooms in Marbella sun
So-called ‘babymoons’ are usually a chance for a couple to enjoy a last carefree holiday before the birth of their first child.
Poppy Delevingne goes on ‘babymoon’ to Marbella with friends to enjoy a last carefree holiday before the birth of their first child
Poppy with Victoria’s Secret mannequin Jessica Clarke, 32, and Game Of Thrones star Jazzy de Lisser, 33, who could be seen in a picture she posted online
For Poppy Delevingne, however, who is expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend Archie Keswick, scion of the multi-billion-pound Jardine Matheson business empire, her holiday was instead a trip to Spain with pals. The actress and model, 38, was joined by Victoria’s Secret mannequin Jessica Clarke, 32, and Game Of Thrones star Jazzy de Lisser, 33, who could be seen in a picture she posted online.
‘I chased the sun and babymooned with a few favourites at the mega magical Marbella Beach Club,’ Poppy says.
Tom Cruise was desperate for Hans Zimmer to create the score for one of his films. ‘I flew to Florida to meet Tom about a project. He wanted me to start working straight away,’ the composer says at a screening of Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond In The Desert. ‘I was, like, ‘I have no clothes’.’
‘A costume designer said, ‘I’m just going to Armani for Tom. What is it you need?’
£9million is music to Blunt’s ears
James Blunt has amassed almost £9 million in the company he uses to channel his earnings. Assets at James Blunt Ltd increased by £1.9 million in the year to last March
James Blunt said recently that he had become a solo artist only because he lacked the friends to form a rock band at Harrow School.
At least the You’re Beautiful singer, 51, does not need to share out his royalties. He has amassed almost £9 million in the company he uses to channel his earnings. Assets at James Blunt Ltd increased by £1.9 million in the year to last March.
The former Household Cavalry officer – who’s married to Sofia Wellesley, granddaughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington – just completed the European leg of his 20th anniversary tour.
Duke son’s sparkling news
He organised King Charles’s magnificent Coronation as well as squeezing in a smaller event, his own wedding to Francesca ‘Chica’ Herbert, a few months earlier. Now, the Duke of Norfolk can look forward to another big day. I hear that his second son,
Lord Thomas Fitzalan-Howard, has got engaged to Helen Bowen Wright, 32, a manager at private healthcare firm Bupa. ‘I am absolutely thrilled with the news,’ Edward, the 18th Duke, tells me.
Edinburgh University graduate Thomas, who celebrated his 33rd birthday last week, works in private equity.
Lord Thomas Fitzalan-Howard, has got engaged to Helen Bowen Wright (pictured), 32, a manager at private healthcare firm Bupa
In his role as Earl Marshal, the Duke, who is said to be worth £100million, was also responsible for the planning of Queen Elizabeth’s 2022 funeral.
Fat-cat politicians are looking noticeably thinner these days and the use of weight-loss drugs was the talk of the annual Pagefield Awards.
‘Ozempic offered to sponsor an award, but it had to be abandoned because there are far too many contenders for it in Westminster these days,’ joked the ceremony’s host, Jonathan Ashworth, boss of think-thank Labour Together.
He added, cheekily, of the newly lean former Tory leadership contender: ‘I’m not going to mention Robert Jenrick, but he does deserve to win something tonight.’
