Lounge: January 2007

James Lohan, the Mr in Mr & Mrs Smith, is quickly becoming one of the premier taste purveyors of London.  Lounge finds out a few of his favourite things.

TELL US HOW MR & MRS SMITH CAME ABOUT

In the early 90s I ran a glam-house club called Come Dancing.  Then I opened up South London's first members only bar, The White House, in Clapham.  I also ran an events company called The Green Room, which organised parties for people, corporate events and launches.

As I got older, I became more interested in travel.  My girlfriend and I had a disastrous weekend at an awful hotel in The Lake District.  We went to the pub, and basically hashed out the idea for Mr & Mrs Smith, so we'd never have to stay in a grotty, overpriced place like that again.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME PLACES IN LONDON THAT YOU LOVE?

Restaurant:  I have very happy memories of Chez Bruce in Wandsworth.  My father lived in London, and we used to go there when I was growing up.  I still go there now and it's a friendly, romantic place.

Cafe:  Well, it's hardly a cafe but I love The Wolseley for tea or breakfast.  It's very grand and old school, you can almost imagine it in the Raj area.

Favourite view:  It's a view I don't have any more, but the view from my old houseboat, which was moored between Chiswick and Hammersmith bridges, was amazing.  You could see all the way to Barnes.

Hotel:  Blakes: I think it's the sexiest hotel in the world.  Anouska Hempel has just bought it back so it's going to get a re-fit soon.

Store:  Selfridges, because you can get everything there.  The boy's clothes department is great too, and you can round it off with a salt beef sandwich.  Plus it's great for present shopping.

LIVING IN LONDON HAS TAUGHT ME:

I travel a lot so I guess it's how much I really love it here.  I think we're the most tolerant city.  And I think it's a tough city – if you can make it here you can make it anywhere.