Something for the weekend with Julia Carrick

09/05/2008 

The luxury goods promoter tells Jeremy Hazlehurst she loves the ballet, Bellinis, the ’Bello and has a taste for unusual antiques

JULIA CARRICK is chief executive of Walpole, an organisation which represents the British luxury industry. Its members include mac maker Burberry, jeweller Boodles, shirtmaker Thomas Pink and around 100 others.

Walpole supports the industry with events such as its recently announced Brands Of Tomorrow with mentoring to try to help British luxury brands become global ones.

Before joining Walpole in 2000, Carrick spent 20 years on the publishing side of the Financial Times, during which she started the How To Spend It supplement and various lifestyle pages. She lives in the Hambledon Valley with her dog, two children and is single.

What’s your recipe for the perfect Friday night in London?

Supper and ballet. I love the charm of the ballet — there is a great production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House.

If you could have dinner anywhere in London this weekend, where would you go and who would you treat?

Cecconi’s is an old favourite. It is very social, I often bump into friends there and it is the best place in London for a Bellini. However, if I am looking for a romantic evening then Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s is a perfect setting. I would treat my best friend.

Where’s your favourite place to shop?

As I spend my working week around Bond Street I like to spend my shopping weekends browsing around Kensington Church Street, Westbourne Grove and Portobello Market. I look for unusual antiques — there is a great place called Themes And Variations. I also like Covent Garden, where there is lots of activity. For clothes, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Around Christmas Liberty is a favourite.

And what would you buy, money no object?

Time. Or anything that helps me save time so that I can spend more of it with my family. Otherwise, I would employ a fulltime masseur.

Where would you take kids for a day out?

My daughters and I went to Fortnum & Mason for ice cream sundaes recently and for me they have a tremendous selection of tea and coffee cake. If the weather’s nice, then we might brave the ice cream parlour at Harrods and where they can have Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Then off to Hyde Park to work off some of it and for a go on the pedalos near the Serpentine Gallery.

What’s your favourite place for Sunday lunch?

If I’m feeling young and trendy and book ahead of time, then I head to Bumpkin in Notting Hill. If not, then my secret spot is the cafe in Liberty. I also like to go to Riva in Barnes — it is lovely there and child friendly.

What book will you read this weekend?

I have just read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and enjoy historical novels and books like The Boleyn Story. I have recently been lent The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Whose house would you like to hang out at? Hugh Grant’s or Colin Firth’s. No, seriously, my friend’s house in the south of France would be ideal at this time of year.

And which play, gig or exhibition would you take them out to see?

The Wallace Collection is London’s most enduringly beautiful and chic gallery. Sadler’s Wells also puts on the most vibrant and dynamic shows — I am really looking forward to Havana Rakatan, a great Cuban dance and music show there at the end of the month.

What is the soundtrack to your perfect London weekend?

Pure England retro music — the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. If you want to escape London, where do you like to go and what do you do there? My most recent trip was to Reims, where I stayed at Le Chateau de Saran. I do also love Tuscany. If it’s a weekend or few days away in the UK then I stay with my daughters at Chewton Glen in the New Forest — it is wonderful there. This has become a tradition every Easter.

What was the best weekend you ever spent in London and why?

A recent weekend with my daughters comes to mind. We went to see the Terracotta Warriors at the British Museum, followed by lunch in a delightful cafe in Covent Garden, a stopover at Abercrombie & Fitch, then onto Fortnum & Mason for a light supper before heading to The Lion King. The day was an absolute treat and we did all we set out to do and were exhausted by the end. In no other city could you find such diversity.