Jeremy King, the renowned restaurateur behind The Ivy and Le Caprice, has threatened to ban influencers from his Notting Hill eatery, The Park, after it was overrun by camera-wielding TikTok users. In a newsletter to customers, King apologised for the disruption, noting that the restaurant's restrooms were trending on the platform.
King joked that he may be forced to ban phones if another influencer arrives with a three-person camera crew, makeup artist and vanity mirror. The Park, which opened in 2024, has implemented protocols to minimise disruption, but King warned that the situation could escalate.
The restaurateur, 71, who was awarded an OBE in 2014, has seen his venues attract celebrities like Mick Jagger and Princess Diana. However, the rise of influencer culture has led to similar issues elsewhere, including a Brooklyn cafe banning filming and a Paris wine bar facing police callouts due to TikTok tourists.
A 2022 survey found that 30% of TikTok users travel further to visit restaurants seen on the platform, while some influencers demand free meals in exchange for posts. King, who was ousted from his company in 2022, has since opened Arlington and The Park, with Simpson's in the Strand set to relaunch later this month.
