Posh’s fears over David’s ‘secret’ double life
Concerns over her husband’s latest venture leave Victoria Beckham worrying about the impact it could have on their family
They’re just a few months off celebrating their milestone 20th wedding anniversary, but scrutiny of the Beckhams’ marriage shows no sign of ending.
It appears things are under strain again, as David, 43, forges ahead with a new gastropub venture – named Lore Of The Land – in London’s upmarket Fitzrovia, with celeb pal Guy Ritchie.
Insiders say the former footballer’s decision to invest was motivated by his desire to have an escape from celeb hotspots and enjoy a quieter life in London.
But wife Posh – who has Brooklyn, 19, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 14, and sevenyear-old Harper with David – is worried about the amount of time he’ll have to put into the new investment, when they are already increasingly pulled apart by other work commitments.
ESCAPE
In October, he hinted at the pressure their work lives had put on the marriage, when he confessed, “To be married for the amount of time we have, it’s always hard work. You make difficult situations like travelling, being away from each other, you make it work.”
A source says, “Part of the appeal of investing is that David wants somewhere low-key for a quiet drink with friends. It’s an exciting project, and somewhere that will allow him to escape and have a separate life away from his high-profile showbiz lifestyle.
“But Vic thinks David’s taking on too much. She says that while owning a pub and having a secret bolthole may sound like fun, it’s going to take a lot of hard work, and it will mean a lot of hours away from her and the kids. She knows that to make it a success he’ll be there regularly at the beginning, and worries he’ll need to pop in every night – when that’s the precious time she has with him after work.”
HARD WORK
The source adds that in many ways, David enjoys a “double life”. He may be a regular at glitzy celebrity parties and events, but behind the scenes, he favours low-key nights. In 2016, he said, “I love an old man pub and having a great Sunday roast in front of a log fire surrounded by lots of old people. That’s my ideal situation. I have a great local near me and I go in there so much, no one bothers me any more. I’ve been in there with Tom Cruise and they didn’t bother him, either.”
The source says, “David
❛ SHE’S NERVOUS IT’LL CREATE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM ❜
does all the showbiz parties for work, but when he’s ‘off duty’, the real David just wants a quiet pint with mates. The new pub is a hobby for him, but it’s also going to be somewhere he can go to unwind.”
As Closer reported at the start of the year, Posh – who tends to prefer quiet nights in – had promised David she would try to make more of an effort with his pals, including Dave Gardner and his wife Liv Tyler, and they had been seen out as a foursome multiple times.
But pals say Posh is worried David’s determination to make the pub a success will prevent them from having quality time together.
An insider says, “She’s trying to be positive but she does despair, as she knows he’s a perfectionist so will really put in the work to make it a huge success. She also knows that Guy puts his all into these things; when he bought The Punchbowl pub in Mayfair about 10 years ago, he was often hanging out at the bar with celeb friends like Jude Law, so it’s not just a financial thing for them.
“Besides, it’s not really somewhere she’ll get proper time alone with David. She’s nervous it’ll create some more distance between them.
“She’s also warned him that it won’t be the peaceful respite he’s hoping for, and that once word gets out that he owns the pub, people will flock there to see him.”
DISTRACTION
The couple have been blighted by reports of marriage troubles over the past year, amid claims David’s partying has led to a string of rows between them. And last week, he hit the headlines as he glanced at a scantily- clad cheerleader during a basketball match in LA, which he attended with pal Dave Gardner.
David and Posh put on a united front last June when they shot down divorce rumours on Twitter, and pals say the fashion designer is keen to have more time for family, without the constant distraction of David’s business endeavours.
The source adds, “Vic feels their lives are busy enough as it is, and says she’d like to plan more family holidays and romantic trips, which could be eaten into by David’s involvement in the pub. But David feels if he gets proper time off to relax, he’ll be more relaxed at home.”
Meanwhile, Victoria – fresh back to the UK after a family skiing trip – opened up last week about her marriage, revealing in an interview, “David is such a great husband, such a great dad and the most incredible business partner that anybody could ever want. He really supports me in what I do.” She added that they had not decided how to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July, saying it would be “low-key”.
‘TOTAL SHAM’
But insiders say the former Spice Girl was left hurt last week when Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan labelled the couple “a total sham” and “rank hypocrites” for asking the media to leave their kids alone while simultaneously trying to make them mini-stars.
The source adds, “David said Piers’ comments prove why they need to have a space away from the showbiz scene, where they can be themselves.”