Londoner’s Diary: Notting Hill Carnival CEO on its mighty comeback

NOTTING Hill Carnival chief executive Matthew Phillip has revealed his plans for the event’s long-awaited return next month. The “mega-event” celebrations have been three years in the making, with the pandemic affording organisers “focus” and the ability to “get the plan as good as it can be”, Phillip tells us.

“For some people it’s more important than Christmas, that one time of the year they look forward to”, so its hiatus has generated a great deal of build-up. What can be expected? For the first time, Carnival will be livestreamed for those wary of large crowds. It will have new electric floats and improved infrastructure. Attendance is also set for an all-time high: “There’s significantly more people going to events,” he says. Prepare for summer’s biggest party.

WOULD chef Tom Kerridge ditch the kitchen for a canvas? Not so fast. “Being a chef is a commercial trade that you learn, with art you have complete freedom,” he said, hosting a West Contemporary Gallery event at Kerridge’s Bar & Grill. “If I was going to paint a portrait, it would be of someone like the great Paul Bocuse”, the late three-Michelin star chef. Try it, Tom.

GALLERIST India Rose James told us she must be “in the heart of Soho where it’s young and fun” last night, during the final opening at her Walker’s Court gallery before she moves to Greek Street. “I’d feel weird working anywhere else, Soho is like my family.” It runs in the blood: her father manages Soho Estates. She was joined by artist Georgie Somerville, curator Charlie Siddick and DJ Twiggy Garcia for Clare Davidson and Coco Morris’s exhibition at Soho Revue.

At The TwentyTwo, Mayfair, presenter Isabella Poppius, creative director Christopher McCrory, and Vogue’s Donna Wallace sipped on photographer Mert Alas’ bespoke tipples during his Seventy One Gin event. Down the road in Selfridges, velour tracksuit label Juicy Couture hosted models Bee Beardsworth, Kiki Ransom and Kai Isaiah Jamal, designer Lois Saunders and hair stylist Issac Poleon for margaritas for the launch of ‘House of Juicy’, their largest UK retail space. DJ Nada was on the decks and guests left with customised pink and diamanté tracksuits in tow.