The late 8th Earl Cadogan, known for his imposing stature and forthright demeanor, left a lasting impression wherever he went. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches and possessing the build of a “baronial barn door,” he was a figure hard to overlook. His blunt opinions, delivered with little regard for public reaction, were a hallmark of his character.

Those who managed Oriel, a well-known brasserie on Cadogan’s expansive 93-acre Chelsea estate, learned this firsthand. The restaurant, which had thrived for 25 years, met its end when the Earl himself dined there and found the experience lacking.

Displeased with both the quality of the food and what he deemed overpriced dishes, the billionaire peer decided not to renew Oriel’s lease. His decisive action underscored his influence and his willingness to wield it.

Although Charles Cadogan passed away two and a half years ago at the age of 86, his legacy continues to impact the Cadogan Estate. Recently, a notable shift in management has occurred at another local establishment, The Gloucester, a pub with roots dating back to 1835.

In a surprising development, acclaimed film director Guy Ritchie is set to take the helm of The Gloucester, bringing his own flair to the historic venue. Ritchie will assume control of the pub in May, signaling a new chapter for this iconic Chelsea spot.

That’s when the lease runs out for Greene King, which describes itself as ‘the country’s leading pub retailer and brewer’, with 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels.

That was evidently one too many for Cadogan, even though William, the 9th Earl, is a less acerbic – and more modestly built – character than his father.

Film director Guy Ritchie is taking charge at The Gloucester, a pub established in 1835

Cadogan Estate tells me that the expiry of Greene King’s lease offered ‘an opportunity to ensure that the only pub in Sloane Street was a great local, run by an exciting independent operator’ – someone, in short, who would ‘bring real character’ to the pub and, indeed, the entire street.

Ritchie, 57, who’s established a new company, 187 Sloane Street Ltd, to run the pub, declines to comment. But he’s previously owned The Punchbowl in Mayfair and the Walmer Castle in Notting Hill, and is currently owner of The Lore Of The Land in Fitzrovia, which has twice gone up in flames.

Conflagration is, of course, all in a day’s work for Ritchie: he’s about to begin filming his latest gangster movie, Viva La Madness, with favoured confederates Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones.

Why Kimberley is still in the pink 

Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner’s swimwear brand is to be rebranded as ‘Sunday’

Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner has always been the poster-girl for her swimwear brand but now her name’s been dropped from the label.

I hear that the line, which has been called ‘Kimberley’ since it was launched in 2013, is to be rebranded as ‘Sunday’.

The property developer’s daughter, 34, tells me: ‘I always wanted to call it Sunday, if I’m honest. The name suddenly became available.’

She explains that the label is expanding into unisex designs and a children’s range, too: ‘Sunday is such a relaxed day. I wanted the brand to be about men, women and children all matching together as a family.’

Who’s more barking – Denise van Outen or her telly-addict dogs?

‘I talk to my dogs constantly,’ admits the presenter, 51. ‘I’ll go out and I’ll go, ‘I’m not going to be long’, as if they know how long ‘long’ is. 

‘I’ll put the TV on for them. Sometimes something will be on and I think, ‘They won’t like that’. The news – it’s a bad energy. I think, ‘No, it’s a bit much for them’. I’ll skip over to Loose Women.’

Kirsty Wark shares some gran news

Kirsty Wark’s daughter Caitlin Clements, 35, a TV executive, has given birth to her first child

Kirsty Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight in 2024 after more than 30 years, now presents Front Row on Radio 4

Kirsty Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight in 2024 after more than 30 years, has a new role even closer to her heart.

The broadcaster, 70, has become a grandmother. Her daughter Caitlin Clements, 35, a television executive, has given birth to her first child.

She and her husband, civil servant Callum Galloway, have named their daughter Maisie. Proudly posting a photo of the baby online, Kirsty writes: ‘We are all so happy the stork brought you safely here. I’m beside myself with being a grandma.’

Kirsty who now presents Front Row on Radio 4, also has a son, actor James, 33, with her husband, TV producer Alan Clements.

Queen last went on tour with singer Adam Lambert in 2020, but if they hit the road again, the US will not be on the list. 

‘America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,’ guitarist Sir Brian May tells me. 

‘It’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.’

Rugby star Pollock’s latest royal highlights 

Henry Pollock visited Queen Camilla’s hairdressers, Jo Hansford, in Mayfair, to get his highlights done

Henry Pollock met the Prince and Princess of Wales when they visited the changing rooms at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium after he scored twice for England on his Six Nations debut last year.

Now, the flanker’s getting his hair styled by royal appointment.

This week, the 20-year-old visited Queen Camilla’s hairdressers, Jo Hansford, in Mayfair, to get his highlights done. 

A spokesman for the salon, which charges between £290 and £605 for full-head highlights, tells him online: ‘It was great to see you, Henry.’ Not sure the Welsh will feel the same at next month’s return fixture…

He described himself as ‘an ideas factory’, known at Buckingham Palace as ‘the entrepreneur-in-residence’. But if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor nurtured the hope those dreamy days might somehow be revived, he can lay it to rest forever next Tuesday.

I can disclose that’s when his company, Pitch@Palace Global Ltd, will be struck off – just three months after Andrew decided to wind it up. 

In its pomp, it encouraged young tech entrepreneurs to compete for funding, with a finale at St James’s Palace. Successful candidates were obliged to hand over 2 per cent of their start-up to Pitch@Palace. 

Andrew remained its only person with ‘significant control’, though its sole director was Arthur Lancaster – found by two judges to have given evidence ‘lacking in candour’ in a 2022 court case.