Without Reservation: Lessons From a Life in Restaurants

In this brilliant new book, one of the world’s leading restaurateurs shares wit and wisdom from a distinguished 40-year career and offers deep insight into some of life’s most intriguing issues.

The peerless Jeremy King is the founder of such iconic London restaurants and grand brasseries, as Le Caprice in the 80s, the Ivy in the 90s, the Wolseley in the 2000s to the Arlington in the 2020s, among many others. He believes that restaurants are microcosms of all life that can teach us so much. There is a curious intimacy between guest and restaurateur, and he has been witness to much heartbreak, failures and challenges, as well as celebrations.

In this wonderfully entertaining memoir he describes his life in hospitality and spills 50 years of anecdotes and true happenings as well as life lessons. He talks of the mystery of solo diners, why you should always look the waiter in the eye and misperceptions about which are the best tables. Over the years he has found himself confided in and refereeing disputes, and his counsel has been sought widely; ‘Well, Jeremy told me…’

Here he gives a series of incredibly valuable and wise life lessons on everything from the art of a quick ‘no thanks’ to trickier dispute resolution. He also shares some of the secrets of his one-of-a-kind restaurants as well as memories of stand-out guests like Lucian Freud, Harold Pinter and Lauren Bacall.

© 2025 Fourth Estate (Audiobook): 9780008599058

Release date

Audiobook: 9 October 2025