If the walls in Quaglino’s could talk, they’d have 90 years’ worth of fabulous stories to tell.
From royalty sneaking in and out to rockstars getting randy in the loos, as the famous celebrity hot spot in St James marks its 90th anniversary, we thought we’d take a walk down memory lane.
Stars including Angelina Jolie, Holly Willoughby, and Judy Garland have celebrated within the hallowed halls of the basement establishment in the city.
Earlier this year the Rocketman cast also got down following the London premiere of the flick, with Taron Egerton and Richard Madden suiting up for a night at Quags.
Amanda Holden has called into the place, while Neil and Katya Jones spent a Valentine’s Day there before they split earlier this year.
The famous brasserie-style restaurant was founded in 1929 by Giovanni Quaglino at the height of the American prohibition.
From Hollywood stars to royalty, it’s said a table was permanently reserved for Princess Margaret, and it was the first public restaurant ever visited by a reigning monarch when the Queen and Prince Philip came for dinner in 1956.
Then after the restaurant was relaunched in 2014, Prince Harry was one of the first through the doors.
According to those who have been going to Quaglinos for years, a lot more has gone down inside as well…
‘A female pop star from a well-known girl band went on a secret date with a well-known radio presenter a couple of years ago,’ one insider of the famous haunt told Metro.co.uk.
And they’re not the only famous face to hang out, with Angelina Jolie spending an evening in 2016 dining with former foreign secretary William Haque.
This Morning’s Holly Willoughby is also a fan, after recently dining at Quags, ‘she had bubbly with her friends on a girl’s night out’ our insider said, with photos showing she left looking very giggly and giving us all the fomo.
It was also claimed Strictly’s Katya Jones was told to ‘be quiet’ by her husband Neil on a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.
Same.
The insider also added: ‘A rock legend is rumoured to have gotten very frisky in the toilet during a dinner date.’
The more you know.
Before Prince Edward married Wallis Simpson and abdicated, he used to attend Quaglino’s with Freda Dudley Ward – who is long known as the other woman he was willing to give up the throne for.
Judy Garland married her fifth husband, Mickey Deans, and held their reception within the famous walls, where only around 50 out of 300 invited guests turned up.
That and, ‘a well-known presenter celebrated a birthday at Quaglino’s ended up losing a precious gift on the night of her celebration’ and finally, our favourite piece of Quaglino’s goss, apparently ‘Princess Diana used to sneak out through the kitchens’.
She’s hardly the first celebrity to use the back door to avoid the press lurking out the front, sure, but there’s something so gosh darn elegant about the sneaky exit, right?
Tonight the restaurant hosts an evening of eclectic celebrations to mark its milestone birthday, with a menu inspired by the last 90 years, with the bar hosting nightly takeover.
If you’re down for the beats, the famous stage, host to many of the biggest names since 1929 will welcome special guest performers and DJs will pay homage to the history of the iconic venue.
Tickets are available from £45 for the dining experience and £20 for Bar Tickets only.
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