He’s the dashing multi-millionaire whose seductive Dolce & Gabbana adverts, in which he wore nothing but a tight pair of white underpants, caused ladies around the world to swoon.
However, I am able to reveal that David Gandy, top model and photographer was forced out of a Mayfair pub for his alleged loutish behavior with his friends.
His party members were accused of being belligerent after bar staff denied them additional alcohol.
Diners at the Guinea Grill, where a rib-eye steak costs £43 and a bottle of Chateau Latour Cabernet will set you back £2,451, had to endure singing and chanting from the men, causing filthy looks to be directed at the unruly group.
David Gandy (41), Britain’s most-paid male model and his friends, were ordered by staff to vacate the Guinea Grill pub at Mayfair. They had been accused of being belligerent.
‘It was very uncomfortable to witness,’ a fellow diner tells me.
‘The men were very annoyed that bar staff refused to serve them, and started mocking them and filming them on their phones.’
After their offensive behaviour continued, they were eventually ordered to leave the pub, a favourite of City brokers — and Tory grandees, who enjoy its quiet corners for plotting and gossiping.
Greta Garbo was one of the past clients. Frank Sinatra is another. While Gandy’s chums might be expected to be embarrassed, they seem unrepentant, with one, art director Chris Lowe, even confirming online that he had been ejected and criticising the staff.
The Guinea Grill is a favourite of City brokers — and Tory grandees, who enjoy its quiet corners for plotting and gossiping
‘Such a big shame this evening,’ Lowe ranted in the post last Saturday.
‘I was there with four friends and we were heartily welcomed and had a lovely meal… all good. However, we were then refused to be served and asked to leave.’
Lowe, who has worked with Gandy on photo shoots and is often seen lunching with his model pal, added: ‘We are middle-aged men, all with families. We are not rowdy by any stretch.’
Gandy is 41 years old and married to Stephanie Mendoros. He’s likely to be very embarrassed by the incident, as he prides himself on his good manners — as well as his good looks.
A spokesman for Gandy, Lowe, and the pub’s landlord all declined to comment.
Sam Neill from Jurassic Park seems not impressed by the recent trend for high-profile Hollywood actors, such as Kate Winslet (and Nicole Kidman) to appear on small screens.
He remarks: ‘When I started in film, working in TV was like getting chlamydia and you were stuck with it for ever.’
It hasn’t done any harm to Neill. He’s appeared in many TV dramas over the years, including Peaky Blinders.
Keir will not be canvassed
You should spare a thought to Sir Keir Sterner. Despite being a former director of public prosecutions, a knight of the realm, and leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition for almost two years, no one wants to paint his portrait.
This week, Sir Keir was invited to open the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ exhibition at Mall Galleries, which is just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.
However, he tells me: ‘No one has ever offered to paint a portrait of myself.’
The Labour leader insists he does not clamour to be immortalised in oils, adding: ‘I don’t go in for hanging pictures of myself in my office.’
Sir Keir still tries to impress in politics.
Mayfair’s glitzy nights and wills: Here are our picks
THE OCCASION Charity dinner at Robin Birley’s private members’ club Oswald’s in Mayfair.
Holly Valance (38), wowed her friends in a small white gown at the evening out.
Minnie Driver, an actor whose father served as a financial advisor for the Royals, was present at the gala.
James Blunt from Youre Beautiful, along with Sofia Wellesley, a niece of Duke Wellington, also attended.
HONOURABLE GUEST Prince William, on a rare night out, was there as patron of environmental group Fauna & Flora International.
Prince William attended the event as guest of honor
PALS OF THE ROYAL KINGDOM: You’re Beautiful singer James Blunt — whose friends include Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie — attended with his wife, Sofia Wellesley, niece of the Duke of Wellington.
From LA to LONDONMinnie Driver is 51 and a Good Will Hunting actress. Since moving to London, she has been an established party host. Maybe she provided William with some money tips. Ronnie, Ronnie’s late father, was a financial consultant to the Royal Family.
BEST DRESSED Property tycoon Nick Candy’s pop singer wife, Holly Valance, 38, looked a vision in a white mini dress. The couple spend most of the time these days at their £10million mansion in the Cotswolds.
Jamie Oliver probably kiboshed his chances of a knighthood when he closed down the vast majority of his Italian restaurants, but he’s been handed a gong by the Italian government.
The Naked Chef has been bestowed with the Order of the Star of Italy ‘for promoting Italy, its amazing food and culture’.
And he’s even getting an Italian passport as part of the deal.
Oliver, 46, was heavily criticised when it came to light that, months before the collapse of his restaurants and the loss of 1,000 jobs in 2018, he had paid himself £5.2million
Blind date? Countess tells you everything
Earl Spencer’s wife, Karen, admits it wasn’t love at first sight when she met Princess Diana’s brother on a blind date while he was visiting Los Angeles.
‘It wasn’t instant,’ says Countess Spencer, 48, who is Canadian.
‘It took a minute. I mean, obviously, he’s very handsome, interesting and charming, but I was a jaded 38-year-old by the time I met Charles.’
Earl Spencer’s wife, Karen, admits it wasn’t love at first sight when she met Princess Diana’s brother on a blind date
Charles Spencer, age 57, was divorced twice and Karen had already been married.
Speaking on the Duchess podcast, Lady Spencer adds: ‘I knew he was Princess Diana’s brother and I had a vague recollection of his speech [at her funeral].
‘But I didn’t actually follow any of the Royal Family and didn’t know anything, so I didn’t know he had other sisters, and didn’t know much of anything.’
Presumably, her first glimpse of his ancestral home — Althorp — and its 550 acres helped overcome any doubts?
Damian Green was Theresa May’s de facto deputy prime minister, but he might be struck off a few Christmas card lists now. He tells me he’s not impressed with some offerings sent by colleagues.
‘I find it very tacky when politicians put pictures of their own face on Christmas cards,’ he tells me at the Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards at the Rosewood London hotel.
‘Jeremy Hunt does it every year with his family; David Cameron always did a very twee one with his.’
He adds, cattily: ‘I suppose Matt Hancock won’t this year.’
Experiential beach fun with Edo son
While Princess Beatrice has been attending royal events such as the Windsor christening of her sister Princess Eugenie’s baby son, August, her stepson and her husband’s former fiancee have been living it up in Dubai.
38-year-old Dara Huang was seen at the Dubai Beachfront Party with Princess Beatrice’s ex-girlfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Architect Dara Huang, who has a five-year-old son known as Wolfie, with Bea’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, wore a racy playsuit in this picture she shared from a beachfront party in the Middle Eastern Emirate.
‘Well Dubai, that was fun,’ gushes Dara, 38. ‘I’ll be back soon.’