Jeremy King has joked that he may have to ban “camera-wielding influencers” from his restaurant in Notting Hill.
Mr King, the restaurateur behind establishments like The Ivy and Le Caprice, apologised to customers in a newsletter saying that The Park, which opened in 2024, had been overrun by influencers.
He remarked that he may be forced to ban phones from the restaurant if “another young lady shows up with a three-person camera crew”, according to the Daily Mail.
The statement read: “In recent weeks, The Park has been subject to unexpected visits by camera-wielding influencers.
“This has taken us completely by surprise, probably because we do not spend a lick of time on TikTok. But some of our digitally-oriented team members have shared that The Park and its restrooms are trending.
“We take this very seriously, and have already addressed the matter if our over-flattering lighting and stylish interior design with the appropriate parties.
“In the meantime we have implemented protocols to minimise any potential disruption of your meal, and can assure you that you will not end up in the background of anyone's Reel.
“We are not quite ready to declare The Park a mobile-free zone, but if another young lady shows up with a three-person camera crew, makeup artist and vanity mirror, we'll have no choice but to reconsider our position.
“We hope we won't be trending for too much longer, and thank you for understanding.”
Mr King’s restaurants have long been celebrity magnets, with patrons such as Mick and Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall and Princess Diana.
Last year Brooklyn cafe Dae banned filming after “hordes of influencers armed with tripods” turned up.
Folderol, a wine bar in Paris, had neighbours call the police on four occasions following chaos from so-called TikTok tourists.
And a survey in 2022 by marketing agency MGH showed that 30% of TikTok users travel longer than normal to visit restaurants after seeing them on the platform.
There have also been reports of influencers threatening negative reviews when refused free, and demanding free meals in exchange for social media posts.
Mr King, 71, is a giant of London's fine-dining scene, and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to hospitality.
He was ousted from his company Corbin & King in April 2022 after a bitter boardroom battle, but has come back by opening Arlington and The Park in 2024, and he will relaunch Simpson's in the Strand later this month.
The Park, which offers stunning views over Hyde Park, is his first contemporary restaurant in a new building and his first venture to focus on American cuisine.
