Everyone who’s anyone has at one time or another graced its beautiful blue and white tiled room on Langton Street, from Princesses Diana and Kate, to Placido Domingo and Mick Jagger, to Kate Moss and Felicity Kendal.

Above all, it is a homely, family-run restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine that has been adored by local residents ever since it opened its doors in 1975. That is, except for one neighbour.

The Citizen can reveal that La Famiglia has been in the grip of a long-running feud with a local man for more than 18 months that has escalated to the point that it threatens the very future of this elegant, discreet venue. Now, celebrities and locals are rallying round to support its owners and staff.

“The situation has got out of hand and now we are all concerned for what lies ahead,” said one worried regular. “The word has gone out that La Famiglia needs its family, so everyone is doing what they can to help.”

The row centres around noise coming from the garden dining room, which was opened in 1982 and was extended a few years later. It has 80 covers and has operated successfully without any complaints from residents ever since.

The garden backs onto multiple residential properties where the disgruntled neighbour in question lives. By some irony, he is an Italian man in his 30s, who began renting a flat in the area in November 2024. In January 2025, as the restaurant celebrated its golden anniversary, he started lodging complaints.

The man –  whose identity The Citizen is not revealing – claimed that loud chatter from guests and serving noise from staff  – the moving of cutlery and glasses – was waking up his baby daughter, who is now two. He even noted that celebrating diners singing Happy Birthday was a particular issue that vexed him.

La Famiglia has held a licence to serve in the garden until midnight for decades. Despite this, it agreed to restrict service to 11pm to appease the neighbour. The owner – Marietta Maccione – also directed a member of staff to act as ‘Noise Marshall’ every night, telling customers to quieten down if things became too rowdy.

The elegant garden room of 80 covers that is at the centre of the row

Those two measures hit profits considerably, but the compromise was not enough and complaints continued. Last October, the restaurant even went to the extraordinary extent of banning the singing of Happy Birthday – insisting that guests move into the front area if they wanted to sing that tune.

Restaurant managers preferred not to issue a statement to The Citizen, but a local with knowledge of the situation revealed:  “The complaining got ridiculous. No matter what the restaurant did to keep him happy, this man kept coming back with more issues and gripes. Even closing earlier and stopping anyone singing Happy Birthday was not enough.”

The neighbour started reporting his complaints to the council and began demanding that the garden close at 9pm Monday to Saturday and by 8pm on Sundays. His complaints have now triggered a licence review. On 7th July RBKC served a public notice announcing a review will be held by the Licensing Panel on the grounds of ‘Prevention of Public Nuisance and Protection of Children from harm’.

The notice is now in the window at La Famiglia, but The Citizen has redacted the complainant’s name to protect his privacy. His identity will become more public once the papers for the hearing are finalised and published by the council on its website.

It has become clear that if a stringent change in the licence such as closing the garden at 9pm comes into force it would have serious consequences for La Famiglia. It is understood that this would mean it losing the option of a “second sitting”. Takings would be affected so sharply that as much as 50% of its 60 staff could face being laid off, or having reduced hours. Fewer customers will also have a dramatic impact on a network of local suppliers who provide fresh produce and goods to the restaurant.

A local added: “If this man wins and the council changes the licence to close the garden at 9pm, it will be catastrophic for La Famiglia. The hospitality business is in a fragile state generally and such a restriction on a small family restaurant would make the entire operation unviable. It will cost a fortune in lost revenue and so many of the loyal staff will lose their jobs.

“It all feels so unfair. The flat where the man lives was extended by its landlord owner in the mid-1990s, which is the reason why it is so close to the garden. That was the choice of the freeholder, with full knowledge that La Famiglia had a dining room there.

“The people who run the restaurant have always been very respectful of their neighbours. In all these decades there have never been any complaints or disputes. Everyone loves the restaurant. It is an iconic character of Chelsea. The family who live right next door have raised their children here and have never had a bad word to say about the garden and its noise. This man is renting a flat and was here for only a short time before he started complaining and he has not stopped ever since. He is determined to cause chaos for La Famiglia.”

RBKC states that postal letters or emails (to licensing@rbkc.gov.uk) concerning the review must be lodged by 4th August. This has prompted a flurry of notes from supporters. The Citizen understand that many celebrities and notable locals have emailed the Licensing Authority to emphasise that they have eaten in the garden room over many years and can vouch for it always being orderly and well run by staff.

The Citizen has asked La Famiglia for comment and will be contacting the neighbour.

Redacted public notice from the council has been placed in La Famiglia’s window

Legendary La Famiglia founder Alvaro Maccioni and his daughter Marietta, the current owner

Richard Eden of the Daily Mail has picked up on The Citizen’s exclusive story

The scene…

For more than a century Stanley Studios in Park Walk has provided creative workspace for generations of artists, including celebrated sculptor Dame Elizabeth Frink. Now neighbours fear one of the borough’s important reminders of its artistic heritage could disappear forever.

Residents living in Stanley Mansions in Park Walk and The Sandhills in Limerston Street that flank the studios have launched a determined fight against the scheme, arguing it would destroy valuable artists’ workspace, overshadow neighbouring homes and erode their privacy while doing little to preserve Chelsea’s unique character.

They are urging Kensington and Chelsea Council to reject what they describe as a “ruinous development” in favour of a heritage-led scheme that would protect the studios while allowing sensitive redevelopment.

Stanley Studios now

The proposal by Squire & Partners would convert the Victorian complex into two three-bedroom and three four-bedroom houses. The architects say it would preserve the historic façade and carry Stanley Studios “into the next century with renewed purpose”.

Resident Philip Challinor said: “This is not intended to be a ‘not in my back yard’ campaign. Chelsea has to evolve and new homes are needed. The real question is whether we can find a more responsible way of shaping change.”

How the studios would look if they developed into five townhouses

One of the biggest flashpoints is the proposal to create five new rear doors opening onto The Sandhills estate is that they back directly into the studios. Residents there say that little, if any, consideration has been given to how the new scheme negatively impacts upon their homes.

Residents say the doors, described in the plans as fire exits, would destroy long-established communal planting beds whilst also destroying their privacy and creating serious security concerns.

One resident told The Citizen: “Those beds were put in by the council years ago so residents could grow vegetables and flowers. Now they will be destroyed to make way for what are described as fire exits.

“We believe they are really back doors to the new houses. They will invade what little quiet garden space we have left. It is a terrible and thoughtless plan.”

The entrance in Park Walk

Leaseholder Mussie Mulugheta said: “My lease specifically gives us the right to use the communal garden, but this application completely ignores that.

“They are not building social housing or a major community development. They are building five private houses that will affect a great many people without providing any real benefit.”

Mr Mulugheta also criticised the consultation process. “My biggest concern is security. Removing the existing wall to create access at the rear would leave residents feeling far more vulnerable.

“We also received very little notification about the application and have had to work hard to make sure our neighbours even knew what was being proposed.”

Plans are to create an exit through the side wall to the rear of the houses

Residents argue the council’s statutory consultation failed to reach many of those most affected because the planning notice was displayed in Park Walk while the main entrances to The Sandhills are in Limerston Street and Winterton Place.

They also argue the scheme would remove protected creative workspace and are urging the council to back an alternative that would retain artists’ studios alongside new homes.

Squire & Partners say the plans have been shaped by community feedback and would preserve key features of the Victorian complex, including its original 1890s façade and distinctive double-height studio spaces, while avoiding the need for a basement excavation.

A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson told The Citizen: “As with all planning applications, we have followed a defined consultation process to ensure that anyone interested in the proposal for Stanley Studios can comment and that all relevant considerations are taken into account.

“This includes publishing site and press notices. We have received 86 comments regarding the application, which gives us confidence that local people are aware of the plans and have been able to make their views known. Each of the comments received will be carefully considered before any decision is made, including any concerns raised about the information submitted with the application.”

The Chelsea Citizen approached both the landlord and Squire & Partners for comment but had received no response by the time of publication.

The future of one of Chelsea’s last purpose-built artists’ studio complexes will now rest with Kensington and Chelsea’s planning committee.

View the planning application HERE

A few of the many Objection letters to the council

Amazon-owned Whole Foods, which opened on the King’s Road in March 2025, has been at loggerheads with residents whose homes back onto the store for more than eight months.

Residents in Elystan Place – particularly those in a block of flats called Thackeray Court that borders the entrance – say deliveries by HGVs and vans have turned their quiet one-way back street into a daily ordeal of noise, congestion and disruption.

Often, their early mornings are interrupted by loud beeping from lorries reversing at a snail’s pace towards a downward slip road that leads to the basement loading bay for the supermarket.

Whole Foods before it opened last year

“That someone hasn’t been killed is a miracle,” one resident told The Citizen. “It’s not safe. Where else in London are you seeing articulated lorries driving down tiny, narrow one-way streets?

“They are enormous. They are damaging our buildings, hitting lamp posts and mounting the pavement. The drivers often get out and leave their engines running whilst they work out how to reverse into the access point. It is ruining our lives around here. Please, someone help make it stop!”

The problems stem from the fact that deliveries cannot be made at the front of the King’s Road store because zig-zag markings protecting the nearby zebra crossing must be kept clear. Instead, lorries and delivery vans use the narrow Elystan Place to access the supermarket’s basement.

Drivers must reverse into the slip road and down the slope because it is too difficult and dangerous to reverse OUT and back up the slope. Automatic beeping comes on whenever the lorries reverse, which adds to the disturbance for residents. This is compounded by idling engines which produce air pollution. Residents say that the impact on their lives has been relentless and “an unending nightmare”. “There’s going to be a serious accident here one day and Whole Foods will be accountable,” said one despairing home owner at Thackeray Court

Road route down Elystan Place to rear entrance to Whole Foods

Among concerns raised are the safety of pedestrians and cyclists sharing the narrow street with large delivery vehicles, damage to buildings and street furniture, and items allegedly falling from lorries onto the pavement.

Residents also claim the store receives up to 30 deliveries a day, including around five by vehicles more than 10 metres long, which they say struggle to negotiate the street safely.

“No one recognised how successful the shop would be when they were agreeing the delivery schedule with the Council,” said another resident. “It’s turned out to be a gold mine – but this has meant more and more deliveries.”

Whole Foods was served with a Breach of Condition Notice by the Council on April 20th this year following alleged breaches of its Delivery and Service Management Plan, which governs how deliveries should be carried out. The 28-day compliance period expired on May 18th.

Failure to comply with the notice is a criminal offence and, if the Council concludes there is sufficient evidence, it has the power to prosecute. Any fine imposed by the courts is – in theory – unlimited.

The Breach of Condition Notice focused on three alleged failings: multiple delivery vehicles arriving at the same time and obstructing the highway, vehicles failing to reverse correctly into the service yard before unloading, and drivers wheeling pallets along the public highway.

Whole Foods insists it has responded to the Council’s concerns and said in a statement: “We take our responsibility to our neighbours seriously. We’ve been working closely with the local authority to address delivery concerns raised by nearby residents. We’ve made changes to our delivery scheduling and logistics, and we’ll continue to refine our operations. We’re committed to being a good neighbour in Chelsea.”

A RBKC Council spokesman said: “We have been meeting regularly with Whole Foods, reviewing evidence from residents, and requiring the store to take steps to improve how deliveries are managed. We are also increasing monitoring in the area and where concerns relate to dangerous driving, we will continue to liaise with the police, who are responsible for enforcing road traffic offences.”

The Council has rejected suggestions that the zebra crossing on the King’s Road could simply be moved to create more delivery space. “The zebra crossing links directly to a public space and affords access to the supermarket on foot, and it is also a parallel crossing that cyclists can use which forms part of a designated cycleway.

“It’s effectively a choice between servicing on a busy high street with pedestrians, cyclists and several bus routes, or servicing off-street within a purpose-built loading bay, so the latter is the preferred option.”

No further enforcement action has yet been taken following the Breach of Condition Notice while the Council continues discussions with all parties and monitors the situation. Whole Foods has also stationed a traffic control marshal at the rear service area to oversee deliveries and prevent vehicles arriving before 8am.

Residents, however, say they will only be satisfied when a permanent – and more peaceful – delivery solution is found.

Battle lines were drawn after Conservative Cllr. Campbell wrote to residents’ associations last week claiming 53% of properties in the borough could be affected by the proposed annual levy on homes worth more than £2 million — a story The Citizen exclusively revealed.

In an astonishing broadside, Labour MP Mr Powell then accused the Council Leaderof using a “false” figure by confusing council tax bands with actual property values.

He stormed: “RBKC have once again shown they either can’t count or are prepared to lie to their residents for political purposes.

“Their claim that 53% of properties in the Borough will be affected by the new high value property tax surcharge is entirely false scare mongering.”

As background to the row, the Labour Government is proposing an annual surcharge on residential properties valued at more than £2 million and Mr Powell accepts that 53% of homes in Kensington and Chelsea do fall within the top three council tax bands — a genuine council tax statistic.

But, he argues, that is not the same as saying those homes are worth more than £2 million – many Band F, G and H properties fall below that threshold and therefore would not be liable for the surcharge.

The MP also points to Land Registry sales data which, he says, shows only around 15% of properties sold in recent years changed hands for between £2 million and £5 million, suggesting only around one in five properties would be affected.

He described Cllr Campbell’s claim as being “wrong by a factor of 150%” and accused the Conservatives of exaggerating the impact of the proposed tax to alarm residents.

Colville ward Cllr. Jack Reason (Labour and Co-operative) also waded into the row and challenged Cllr. Campbell’s figures. Responding to a post on Instagram by The Citizen flagging up its story, he wrote: “This isn’t an accurate analysis of the homes that would be affected by this surcharge.”

The Citizen asked Cllr Campbell to address Mr Powell’s central allegation that the Council had wrongly conflated the proportion of homes in the top three council tax bands with the proportion worth more than £2 million. Sidestepping that specific point, the Council Leader defended the council’s methodology.

She said: “Of course the local Labour MPs want to play down the impact of the Labour Mansion Tax. However, our estimate is based on information and guidance provided by their government. It outlines the properties most likely to be impacted in April 2028 when this regressive new system is likely to be brought in.

“Our residents would like to see their local representatives campaign against this punitive tax, not quibble over the number of homes it’s likely to hit. I believe our estimate is correct, based on all the information to hand, and we will be publishing our figures and how we got to them on our website in the coming days.

“Rather than lying, or hiding the truth, we are being completely open and transparent. We will continue to stand up for residents, providing updates to help them understand what is being proposed.”

The war of words shows no sign of cooling. A furious Mr Powell hit back: “Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money on fake letters, the Council leadership should focus on sorting out their painfully slow response to the cyber attack and get their systems fully back up and running, so residents can engage again with their local authority on planning, licensing and council tax administration.”

To be continued…!

Cllr Campbell’s letter

Lord Howard has called on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to correct what he now “regrets” was an “oversight” in amendments to the Bail Act of 1993 which he pushed through Parliament when he was serving in John Major’s government.

Lord Howard’s extraordinary intervention comes as he steps in to support the Justice For Jack Ryan campaign that is demanding for the automatic surrender of passports by anyone on bail for offences that carry a potential prison term.

Lord Michael Howard of Lympne

The campaign has been launched by the family of Jack Ryan and The Chelsea Citizen after the driver who killed Jack in a high speed collision in London in 2021 was able to flee Britain because he had been allowed to retain his passport.

Rashid Ali, then 28, was driving a Range Rover at speed – and jumping a traffic light – across Battersea Bridge when he hit 31-year-old marketing executive Jack, who died from his injuries at the scene.  

Ali, who claimed to be a student at the time, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the Old Bailey in 2024. But Ali did not attend the trial because he had been granted bail at an earlier court appearance and had returned to his native Pakistan. 

Rashid Ali arriving at a court hearing before he absconded

Since then, Ali has got married and started a new life and has shown no intention of returning to serve his sentence. There is currently no extradition treaty with Pakistan, but the Pakistan government has the powers to deport him to Britain.

The Bail (Amendment) Act of 1993 was written and introduced as a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons by Michael Stephen MP – who is now Vice Chairman of The Chelsea Society.

The Bill completed its progress through Parliament when Lord Howard, now 85, was Home Secretary. The Act gave prosecutors the right to appeal a court’s decision to grant bail, or a refusal to impose conditions, such as the surrender of a passport.

In a letter to Home Secretary Mahmood, Lord Howard, who retired in 2010, states that he agrees with campaigners and that he regrets not putting passport surrender in the legislation. In reference to a letter from the team behind Justice For Jack Ryan, he writes:

‘I am enclosing a letter which its self-explanatory. It seems to me to make a good point. The loophole is obviously something I should have thought of when I took the 1994 (sic) legislation through Parliament and much regret that I didn’t. Can you please remedy my oversight’.

Lord Howard’s letter to the Home Secretary

In a statement, the Ryan family welcomed Lord Howard’s intervention. “We are relieved Lord Howard has acknowledged that the existing bill laws are flawed and need to be changed. Our story highlights the reality of this serious issue and the devastating impact it can have on innocent people. We are grateful to Lord Howard for this acknowledgement and hope that this can add weight to our call for real change.”

Rob McGibbon, Editor of The Chelsea Citizen, added: “It makes no sense that someone facing a possible prison sentence is allowed to keep their passport and travel freely whilst awaiting trial. 

“When someone is facing years in jail, is it any wonder that they abscond and start a new life abroad? Lord Howard’s action shows that this problem needs to be fixed. I am pleased that he has highlighted the loophole in the law and thank him for supporting the campaign.”

When asked by The Chelsea Citizen, Mr Stephen said “In Jack Ryan’s case, the prosecution should certainly have asked the court to impose that condition, or not to grant Bail at all, and should have appealed under the power conferred by my Act if they refused.”

The petition for the Justice For Jack Ryan campaign currently has more than 2,400 signatures.

For media enquiries about Justice For Jack Ryan, contact Rob McGibbon via The Chelsea Citizen or email justiceforjackryan@gmail.com

Jack Ryan ©Ryan Family/The Chelsea Citizen

Back in 1995, he was an ambitious 20-year-old waiter at Lord Forte’s Hyde Park Hotel on Knightsbridge with lofty hopes of owning a restaurant one day. He would save up a month’s worth of tips to treat himself to steak tartare and a small carafe of house red at what was then Chelsea’s most fashionable brasserie, Oriel.  

And that distant dream came true. Today, Kuczmarski (pronounced Kooch-marr-ski) is the owner of Martino’s, one of the area’s newest and most successful restaurants. Based on the traditions of a classic Italian trattoria, but with the design and glamour of a five star hotel, it is full from breakfast to dinner, seven days a week. 

Alongside Martino’s, Kuczmarski, now 51, owns two other first rate eateries in Mayfair – The Dover and Dover Street Counter – and he is fast emerging as one of London’s most revered restaurant entrepreneurs.

Born in Warsaw, Kuczmarski moved to Italy when he was seven after his Polish parents separated. With a natural passion for the restaurant industry, he worked feverishly from his teenage years as a waiter at a seaside hotel and then climbed the hospitality ladder at some of the most prestigious establishments in Europe. 

Kuczmarski is married to the beauty “guru” Ruby Hammer, and is step-dad to her daughter Reena, who is in her 30s. He lives in Maida Vale, but he spends much of his time in Chelsea overseeing his new restaurant.

The Citizen joined Kuczmarski on a banquet seat for breakfast at Martino’s (carrot juice, eggs Benedict, fresh mint tea, and a custard cream Italian ‘cornetto’ pastry to finish. Very nice, thank you). He is sparky, fun company and someone who laughs easily. He is also clearly a dedicated man with a steely eye for detail and driven by the need to get things exactly right. As we talk, industrious waiters in cream jackets and black bow ties float around the glittering room…

So, Martino’s has been open for six months, how’s it going?

It is still a baby, and every day is a new lesson, but it is going well. In fact, it’s fantastic and better than I had ever imagined, or hoped. I was nervous to come here because Chelsea is new to me for business and this is a big venue. We have eighty covers inside including the bar and 25 on the terrace, so there is a lot going on all day, but it is exciting. The most important thing to me is that the Chelsea community has welcomed us and so many locals have become our regulars.

What was the inspiration for Martino’s?

People would always ask me, What is your favourite Italian restaurant in London – and I could never give an answer. There are more than 1,500 Italian restaurants in the city and I wondered, why am I struggling to choose.  

The answer is that I like different restaurants for different things. One might be for a specific dish, or for the location, or for the atmosphere. I started to think, wouldn’t it be fun to create an Italian restaurant that has all the elements under one roof. A place where you can get high quality, classic Italian food at a reasonable price, but in a really beautiful room.

So, I set about creating Martino’s. I think London is hungry for some elegance, but the key is for the place not to be intimidating. I never want a restaurant to be stiff and posh. Above everything it must be welcoming, but with all the details just right.

You are clearly someone who is across the detail. What can people expect when they come to this restaurant?

Too often, restaurant owners try to re-invent the wheel. You don’t have to. We are about old style, classic hospitality, the sort of thing that never goes out of fashion – like a favourite pair of jeans! We want the room to have a sense of nostalgia and familiarity, but a place that is finished to a superior level of elegance.

Our service is what I call “high-low”. We are essentially serving cucina povera [literally translates as ‘kitchen of the poor’, or ‘peasant food’], but to the highest standards, in a room that is special. If you order lasagna, it will be made with the best ingredients and it will be served on a fine bone china plate – we use William Edwards – and above your table is a Murano chandelier and the walls by your table are panelled with beautiful lacquered wood. Our water glasses are the shape and size of a basic trattoria glass – but ours are made of quality crystal and engraved with our name. 

So, you are having a home cooked style lasagna, served by waiters in cream jackets and bow ties, with everything else around you at a high level – but you are in a warm and fun atmosphere. But Martino’s will never feel intimidating – this is the priority.

You have successful restaurants in Mayfair. How important are Chelsea residents and local customers to a business like this?

The local residents are the Kings and Queens [surely, Lords and Ladies?] of our restaurant and they are the most important people to me. You live here, this is your area, I want Martino’s to be an extension of your living room.

We are lucky to be popular with visitors to Chelsea, the people who come for shopping, or for big events like the flower market [RHS Chelsea Flower Show?]. But that is a transient business – maybe once or twice a year. Regular customers are vital and are our bread and butter. We already have local people who come here three or four times a week and that was always my wish. I want Martino’s to have a family atmosphere and be a place that gives a big hug to Chelsea!

In the first few months, we were fully booked most days and we heard that it was difficult for local people to get a table. So now we hold back many tables every day for walk-ins – with the residents in the front of our mind.

Can you give me some insight into your background – and why restaurants?

I was born in Warsaw. My parents divorced when I was about four. My mother moved to Italy to work for Fiat in Turin when I was seven. She was a single mum and she had to work very hard. I owe her so much. Then she met my step-father, an Italian, and we moved to Tuscany. 

I grew up in Viareggio, near Forte dei Marmi [a popular tourist coastal area north of Pisa] and I loved Italy. I’m from Poland, but the Italian culture is in my heart. I always loved hospitality, so I went to catering school when I was a teenager. Every summer, my friends went to the beach and partied and I worked. 

Kuczmarski in a traditional cream waiter’s jacket when he was a teenager ©Martin Kuczmarski

My first proper job was at the five star Hotel Byron in Forte dei Marmi, which was quite stiff and proper. That is when I wore the traditional cream jacket for the first time. I started as a commis waiter, airing tablecloths and polishing glasses, then I became a waiter and worked my way up. From there, I worked at other big hotels, like The Ritz in Paris and Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. I travelled a lot and learnt all parts of the hospitality trade. This job has been my main passion in life since I was very young. I like to serve and make people happy.

Kuczmarski, first on the left, at Hotel Byron when running his own restaurant was but a distant dream ©Martin Kuczmarski

How did your London adventure begin?

I moved to London when I was 20 and worked as an assistant waiter at the Hyde Park Hotel, which was then owned by Lord Forte. The staff accommodation was on the ninth floor, so I had a perfect view across the park – but the room was only 20 square metres and I had to share it with three other guys! 

I was there for six years. The hours were long and the money was terrible, but I didn’t care because I loved what I was doing. They were amazing years for me. When I had time off, I would walk around the city for hours and around Chelsea. I would save up my tips and once a month I would go to Oriel for a treat and have steak tartare and a small carafe of red wine. 

I would sit there and think about the future and what I wanted to do. I had big ideas, big dreams. I remember thinking that it would be nice to open my own restaurant one day, or be at the top of a big hotel. Look what happened! [he goes quiet for a beat] I’m actually getting a bit emotional thinking about it [his eyes well up]. Now I have three restaurants and I even have one just across the street from that place [now Colbert]. It feels like an incredible achievement. 

When I reflect on it like this I feel emotional out of happiness. I actually still feel that it’s not real. I have to pinch myself – is this a dream, or is it really happening? I feel super proud that I made it happen.

Colbert can be seen in the reflection of the discreet entrance to Martino’s 78 paces away around Sloane Square

You worked with Nick Jones at Soho House for 15 years – from 2008-2022 – which had a major impact on your career. Tell me about that period.

Nick is my mentor and my dear friend. He is an amazing person – a very creative entrepreneur with great vision. At first, I looked after Electric Cinema [Notting Hill] when Soho House had just three or four properties. I gradually took on bigger roles and eventually became COO and together we grew the company to more than 50 properties.

It was an incredible journey. We were a perfect combination because we are good at different things and I never stopped learning from Nick. He was always juggling so many balls in the air, it was my job to make sure they all landed in the right places. We still have an amazing friendship, we talk all the time and get together every few weeks for lunch or dinner. He recently opened a new restaurant – St. Clement by Temple – so I have been there many times. We are always bouncing ideas off of each other.

So, what is the big ambition for Martino’s going forward – is it going to be a chain like The Ivy?

No way! I am not someone who does cut and paste, that’s not my style, so this is definitely not the plan. Martino’s will be a stand alone restaurant with its own character. Chelsea is an area which has its own unique character. I want the same for Martino’s.

What is this restaurant? I want it to be anything the customer wants it to be. If your fridge is empty, or you don’t want to cook at home, then come – have breakfast, or a quick bowl of pasta at the bar. If you want a long, boozy lunch on the terrace, come. If you want a power breakfast meeting, come. If you are dating and you want a sexy, intimate dinner, come. If you are celebrating a birthday with all the family or a group of friends, come. Martino’s can be all those places. 

The main thing for me is that people enjoy fantastic food in a friendly atmosphere. Restaurants are made for human connection. My vision is to create spaces where people connect and are happy. 

Steve Jobs once said, “If you find a job that you love, you will never work for the rest of your life”, and I was lucky to find what I genuinely love. Yes, I work hard, but I get energy from seeing people having a good time. I can go into one of my restaurants totally exhausted, but when I see it full of happy people, I am energised and I can go for another ten hours, no problem. I get home later that night and I feel that I have had a good day when this has happened. 

All these years after I started out as a waiter, I still feel every day that I have to serve. Not physically these days, but I am still serving in some way. I am a people pleaser and as far as I am concerned, I have one job – and that is to make people happy. 

Martino’s is open seven days a week. Breakfast is served from 8am Mon-Fri and from 9am on Sat and Sun. Lunch Mon-Sun 12pm-4pm. Dinner Mon-Sat 5.30pm-12.30am, Sun 5.30pm-12am. The terrace is open all day until 10.30pm, no reservations required. 

Book to eat at Martino’s here: www.martinoslondon.com 

All Photos by Rob McGibbon for The Chelsea Citizen

Short Order Q&A

Favourite drink?

Vodka martini

Favourite meal?

Anything Italian – penne arrabbiata. I like food spicy.

Favourite restaurant, that is not your own?  

Café Clement – Nick’s new place!

Perfect holiday?  

My wife Ruby and I in the Maldives. Alone.    

Top choice of book?

Anything that talks about people and psychology. I recently read Essentialism [The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown]. It is about streamlining your life and doing less and how that helps you become more productive and happier. A brilliant concept that really works.

Favourite film? 

Anything to do with the Italian mafia. They give me inspiration for my restaurants! I saw The Invite by Olivia Wilde recently and it is fantastic.  

Your unlikely super skill? 

I am a very good snowboarder. 

Your worst habit?

I am a perfectionist. If I see something that is not right, or a bit out of place, it drives me crazy. It can be relentless and is like living in a constant cage. Look over there, at the bar. You see that napkin holder? Can you see the napkin sticking out? That bothers me! Why has no-one else noticed it?!

Any regrets?

I try not to have regrets, but maybe in my past life I should have been more demanding. I was always of the mentality to work hard, keep your head down, and someone will notice you. Maybe I could have been punchier.

The way you want to be remembered?

He made people happy.

Campbell has sent out an unprecedented letter to the Chairs of Residents Associations across the borough inciting them to ask their members to object to the so-called High Value Council Tax Surcharge. The letter has been leaked to The Citizen and we publish it in full below.

In it, Campbell says that she opposes the tax in “the strongest possible terms” because it is masquerading as a “council tax surcharge” when in fact all funds raised will go to the national welfare programme across the UK and NOT into local services.

She warns that around 50% of homes in the borough valued at around £2m could be snared in the tax that will charge as much as £7,500 per year – even if you are a low earner.

Warning that some homeowners could be forced to sell their properties to meet the bill, Campbell urges residents to join the fight by lobbying ministers and MPs before the proposals become law.

She urges residents to join her by voicing their anger and opposition via email to: hvcts@communities.gov.uk.

The Chelsea Citizen is also welcoming comments from residents – especially from those who support the new tax and can offer educated arguments for it. Email: editor@thechelseacitizen.com.

Campbell’s battle cry letter

A six-week public consultation has been launched to shape the authority’s new Council Plan, which will set spending and policy priorities through to 2030.

The exercise comes against a backdrop of mounting financial pressure, with the council saying it has lost more than £100 million in funding because of central government cuts while demand for services continues to rise – and costs more.

Residents have until Sunday, 9th August to complete an online survey, which takes about 10 minutes.

The feedback will help shape the final Council Plan, which will be published in the autumn.

Council leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell said: “Our new Council Plan will be central to everything we do over the next four years, including how we work with partners and the community. We want this plan to be shaped by our residents right from the outset.

“We were elected to get the basics done well, deliver clean streets and amazing spaces, ensure value for money and offer accessible services with proper support. But we are facing a £108 million gap in our budget due to central Government cuts, so we have difficult choices to make.

“This consultation will help us establish where our priorities lie, where the difficult decisions are and how we will take them. I urge as many people as possible to take part. We need to hear from you.”

As well as identifying spending priorities, the consultation asks residents to help draw up a new Resident Pact, setting out what the council promises to deliver and what it expects from residents in return.

Once the consultation closes, the council says it will publish a summary of the responses and explain how public feedback has influenced the final plan.

Start the survey here

For further information email  CouncilPlan@rbkc.gov.uk.

The investment will see the pool close from 12th July until November 2026 as contractors carry out extensive improvement works designed to secure the building’s future for generations to come.

Originally opened in April 1907, the Chelsea Manor Street pool is one of the area’s longest-standing public leisure facilities. The refurbishment will include replacing the roof, resurfacing the main pool and the smaller learning pool for beginners, and reshaping the main pool to create a more flexible layout. The depth will also be standardised to a gradient of between one and 1.8 metres, making it better suited to swimming lessons and a wider range of users.

The Council says the project will also significantly improve the building’s energy efficiency, reducing both water and energy consumption while retaining the pool’s historic character.

Cllr Josh Rendall, lead member for leisure facilities, said: “This historic pool has been in use for 119 years, making it an important part of the borough’s history, as well as a vital health and fitness facility for Chelsea.

“This investment protects a valued heritage asset, suiting it to the needs of residents in 2026, and boosting its energy efficiency so that it can be enjoyed for decades to come.”

The refurbishment is being delivered by the Council in partnership with leisure operator GLL. The £1.3 million scheme is being funded through Section 106 developer contributions alongside grant funding.

The Council says the timing of the closure has been chosen to minimise disruption to pool users and school bookings. During the works, GLL members will be able to use alternative leisure centres, both locally and in other areas of the country.

The project forms part of the Council’s wider plans to invest in healthier communities, improve the efficiency of public buildings and protect the borough’s historic assets.

The Justice for Jack Ryan petition on the Gov website gathered more than 1,000 signatures in its first 24 hours and currently stands at 1,900. Under the Gov petitions process, 10,000 signatures require a formal response from Government and 100,000 triggers a parliamentary debate.

The campaign is being led by Jack’s family in partnership with The Chelsea Citizen and is calling on the Justice Department to close a legal loophole that allowed the man convicted of causing Jack’s death to leave the UK before standing trial.

“Something is not right in the legal system and it urgently needs to be fixed,” said Jack’s sister Ciara, 32, who started the petition. “The man who killed my brother was simply free to get on a plane, avoid justice, and start a new life. How can that be right?

“The current bail laws are feeble and urgently need to be strengthened. We want to make sure that no other family goes through what we have experienced with the justice system.”

Marketing manager Jack, then 29, was out jogging when he was killed on Battersea Bridge in Chelsea on 13th January 2021. As he crossed the bridge, he was hit by a black Range Rover driven at speed by Rashid Ali, a Pakistani national who was living in Britain on a student visa. 

Jack Ryan ©Ryan Family/The Chelsea Citizen

Prosecutors later proved that Ali, then 30, had accelerated through an amber traffic light signal on Beaufort Street before hitting Jack at around 40mph in a 20mph zone.  Due to the lack of bail restrictions placed on Ali after he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, he absconded to Pakistan whilst awaiting trial.

Concerns about bail failures were aired publicly by Rob McGibbon in 2024

Ali was convicted in his absence at the Old Bailey in September 2024 and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. He has never served a day of that sentence and remains in Pakistan, where it is believed he has since got married and enjoys holidays abroad. He may even have returned to the UK at some point since he absconded.

The Justice For Jack Ryan petition wants ministers to reform the Bail Act to make it mandatory that anyone facing serious criminal charges must automatically surrender their passport. Currently, such a bail condition must be independently enforced at a later date by a court, on a case-by-case basis.

Campaigners are also preparing to lobby the Government of Pakistan to extradite Ali so he returns to serve his sentence. “This is not about personal retribution, it is about justice,” added Ciara Ryan. 

“Rashid Ali did not set out to kill someone that night – we accept and understand that – but his actions and choices took Jack’s life. We have all been devastated by what happened and Ali must take responsibility. He cannot hide forever. We appeal to him show our family respect and do the right thing and come back to the UK. If not, we will seek his extradition.”

Rob McGibbon, the editor of The Chelsea Citizen said: “The existing bail system is open to failure because it rests on a magistrate to make the decision.  

“Often, clear red flags of flight risk are ignored by busy courts, or argued away by clever barristers. This flaw in the system is self-evident in the case of Rashid Ali. How can anyone who is facing a long prison term – like he was – be totally free to travel, on the promise that they will come back to face trial? It makes no sense. The law needs to be amended.”

Jack’s devastated parents, Teresa and Noel Ryan are supporting the campaign. Also on board is Jack’s partner Liz Austin. The couple were hoping to get married and had been planning a family via IVF in the months before his death. Liz, who now lives back in her native Australia, gave birth to their daughter within a year of Jack’s death.

Justice For Jack Ryan builds on a road safety campaign launched by Rob McGibbon, who witnessed the immediate aftermath of the accident. As a local resident, he was aware of long-held concerns about safety at that notoriously dangerous junction. So shocked by the horror that night, he decided to seek change. 

McGibbon’s subsequent petition called for a pedestrian crossing at the point where Jack was hit. It drew 26,000 signatures and widespread publicity and, within a year, Transport for London installed a Green Man crossing there. Since then, three others have been placed at the arms of the junction with Cheyne Walk.  

For media enquiries about Justice For Jack Ryan, contact Rob McGibbon via The Chelsea Citizen or email justiceforjackryan@gmail.com

The Petition is HERE