British tycoon Richard Caring made his start with a business in Hong Kong and is now the chairman of The Birley Clubs, which runs private members’ clubs, including Annabel’s, in London. He and his wife Patricia speak to Tatler about their journey in hospitality and a project with renowned Hong Kong jeweller Wallace Chan at the Frieze London art fair this October
Hi Richard. Tell us about your start in the hospitality industry.
Richard Caring: I got into the hospitality industry by accident. In 2004, I had just sold my [Hong Kong- based] textiles company [International Clothing Design]; I woke up on a Monday morning and a friend of mine called me and said: “Do you want to buy Wentworth Golf Club [in Surrey]?”. Being an avid golfer, and with my father’s encouragement, it was an offer that I couldn’t refuse. The investment was extreme, to say the least, but I had an idea to do hospitality memberships, as Wentworth was situated in a wealthy, luxurious residential area in Surrey.
I knew nothing about hospitality, so I called some people I knew from [London] restaurants I liked, like The Ivy and [the now-closed] Le Caprice, to come and help. They came, had a look, and said “Yes, we could do this”, but their quoted price was so high that I said it would be more sensible for me to buy the whole business—which, ultimately, I did.
What inspired you to take that first step into the industry?
Richard: I knew that hospitality had a lot of potential. I wanted to change the face of it and build new concepts, just like I did with the clothing business. I always thought that a good meal in beautiful surroundings should be available for all, and it’s what I set out to do with The Ivy [Caring’s other business The Ivy Collection operates The Ivy chain of restaurants]—because previously it had been seen as exclusive. I wanted to break through that barrier. Now The Ivy is in all the major cities in the UK, and it continues to grow.
There was also another aspect of hospitality that I wanted to explore further, and that was private membership clubs. When the discussions to be involved in Annabel’s [a London nightclub that opened in 1963] came up, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass on. It already had a reputation for being the most prestigious private members’ club in the world, and it was more than just a club—it was an institution with English heritage. It was an exciting prospect and an honour to be a part of.
Richard Caring at The Humidor at Annabel’s. Caring wears an Armani suit, Prada knit, Tom Ford shoes. Photography: Dan Kennedy/Tatler Hong Kong
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What is luxury to you?
Richard: Luxury isn’t just about being in first class or the VIP area, because some of the most luxurious experiences I’ve had have been about excellent service and, more specifically, the feeling of being welcomed home, even when it wasn’t at a fine-dining establishment. It’s that particular feeling that I wanted to bring to my businesses, because silver service, a genuine welcome and guest recognition are for everyone to experience.
What have been your most memorable moments at your clubs so far?
Patricia: We’ve hosted some outstanding events at our clubs, from the Bafta afterparties to incredible galas, Fashion Week parties and Annabel’s for the Amazon [the Carings’ event dedicated to raising awareness and funds to combat deforestation in the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest]. I am lucky to have met so many interesting people, remarkable celebrities and amazing club members along the way. One experience that has been imprinted on my mind was when I was eight months pregnant: Elton John performed at Annabel’s on a beautiful spring evening and sang my favourite song, Your Song, on the piano—it was truly magical.
