
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien Jeremy King: The Restaurateur Behind The Ivy, Le Caprice and The Wolseley
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Mar 20, 2026 Jeremy King, the restaurateur behind The Ivy, Le Caprice and The Wolseley, shares his journey from shy outsider to creator of London’s iconic dining rooms. He talks about risky life decisions, the instincts behind choosing soulful buildings, creating atmosphere and service that make people feel they belong, and the long pursuit of relaunching Simpson’s.
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Choose Jobs You Actually Want
- Ask yourself which job you truly want rather than choosing based on money or expectation.
- Jeremy advised his children to pursue what they want first and return later if it fails, valuing personal desire over external 'shoulds.'
Change Is The Price Of Staying The Same
- Jeremy argues restaurants must constantly change to survive because leaning on past successes leads to decline.
- He forbids complacency: winning once isn't enough, staff must plan how to win next year rather than just 'maintain standards.'
Human Empathy Beats Robotic Service
- Jeremy values human intuition, empathy and warmth over robotic consistency in hospitality.
- He predicts robots can replicate tasks but not love or empathy, so human staff should aim to be exceptional, not robot-like.




