My London: Jason Atherton

A couple of years ago for my birthday Irha booked a private table at Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester. Even though you’re in the middle of the room, it’s completely private. They did a beautiful tasting menu with wines to match. They treated us like a king and queen. It was a wonderful experience.

What would you do as Mayor for the day?

Clean our streets a bit more — I’m a bit of a clean freak.

What do you collect?

Super Tuscan wine; Irha and I both fell in love with it a few years ago. We have maybe 300 to 350 bottles.

Favourite pub?

The Windmill in Mayfair. It does amazing pies. I normally go for the steak and stilton.

Best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?

‘Hello mate. I recognise you.’ I went, ‘Oh that’s very nice,’ and he said, ‘You’re that chef aren’t you?’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s right.’ Then he said, ‘Is your name Jamie?’

Where do you go to let you hair down?

The most regular place we go to is Chiltern Firehouse bar. The drinks are great and the bar menu is fantastic. The crab choux buns… oh my God, they are delicious.

If you had to be locked in a building overnight, which would it be?

The Connaught. Hélèn Darroze is an amazing chef, the new Jean-Georges restaurant (above) is everything you want an all-day dining restaurant to be and the drinks are just class. Never mind getting locked up there for a night; you could get yourself locked up there for seven days and not get bored.

Best meal you’ve had?

I had dinner recently at Claude Bosi at Bibendum (right). I think it’s going to be London’s next best three Michelin-star restaurant. I really fell in love with it.

Ever had a run-in with a policeman?

We had a gentleman who urinated on the front window of Pollen Street Social where people were dining. He was very drunk. I went out to move him, but he wouldn’t budge, so my restaurant manager threw a cold bucket of water over him. The man then called the police.

Best piece of advice?

It was from Marco Pierre White. He said: ‘As a chef the only thing you’ve got to sell is the talent you’ve got in your hands and what you store in your brain. And the harder you work on that and the more you soak up, the more valuable you’ll become.’

Who do you call when you want to have fun?

Angela Hartnett (below), she’s pretty bonkers.

Favourite London discovery?

In Soho there’s a tiny little Thai restaurant called Kiln where they cook everything over a barbecue. It’s become quite famous but I was one of the first to go.

Jason Atherton is the new UK brand ambassador for Moët & Chandon