Forget his football team, Victoria Beckham is worried David will be spending too much time down the pub
As David buys a pub, Vic feels left out – causing yet more tension
After spending much of the past year away from his family, you’d be forgiven for thinking that David Beckham would want to be at home as much as possible now. But it doesn’t look as if he will be, as he’s got yet another venture – he’s buying a London pub with his friend Guy Ritchie, and the pair plan to turn it into one of the capital’s drinking hotspots. But, unsurprisingly, his ambitions have not gone down well with wife Victoria, who is frustrated that the project will take David away from her once more.
“David and Vic have really been under strain the past year, thanks to work commitments keeping them apart for a lot of it,” our insider says. “Vic knows that David will be spending lots of time in Miami while he launches his football team over there, plus all the other deals he’s got, but she was hoping that when he was back home, he’d be around a bit more. She wants the pub to be a success, so she knows David will have to be there, but she can’t help but feel upset and worried about their future. She feels that sometimes David doesn’t put as much effort into their marriage as she does and is pulling further away from her. It’s been such a tough year and things don’t look like they’ll improve any time soon.”
The couple recently went to the South of France, where they visited a vineyard with a group of friends, including Guy and his wife Jacqui, Eva Longoria and husband José Bastón, plus Gordon and Tana Ramsay. But like other recent photos of them, there wasn’t much interaction between the couple and David didn’t seem to show any sign of affection, which was almost unheard of a few years ago. But he may have had other
‘This worries Vic about what it means for their future’
things on his mind, as he and Guy – who already owns The Lukin pub in Fitzrovia, and runs the Gritchie Brewing Company from his farm in Wiltshire – are set to splash out £3m on the Walmer Castle in Notting Hill, which is very close to the Beckhams’ home in Holland Park, with the aim of giving it a Soho House-style makeover.
“Vic has appointed herself creative director. She’s gushing about how, because of its location, it could to be the perfect glam bar, but David and Guy want to do a traditional English pub, although a very cool one,” says our source. “But now Vic’s involved, things can get a little heated. Because it’s located in an upmarket neighbourhood next to highend shops and restaurants, Vic thinks it could be a perfect spot where the yummy mummy crowd can go for Champagne and really good quality wine, or to take a break from shopping to have some super-healthy food.”
But, we’re told, David won’t listen, as he doesn’t think Vic knows what she’s talking about. Our source says this project is something he’s been thinking about for years. The 43 year old is often pictured in pubs and has said they were one of the main things he missed when the family lived in LA for five years. And last week, it was revealed the couple – who have children Brooklyn, 19, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 13, and sevenyear-old Harper together – have sold their Beverly Hills mansion for £25 million (making nearly £8m in profit) as they cut their ties with the city. They used to spend all the school holidays there after moving back to London, but have only been once this year. And, with David now spending more time in Miami, plus their country home in the Cotswolds, we’re told they felt they no longer needed it. It also means the money they made from the sale can be ploughed back into other businesses, such as Victoria’s fashion brand and the Walmer Castle venture.
“David and Guy think they have pub knowledge covered – and David has pointed out that Vic hasn’t been inside a pub in years,” says the insider. “She’s really upset with him and feels insulted that he won’t take her advice, and is instead gushing about how great Guy is and that he’s the main man when it comes to this. But David sees it as a chance to do something for himself, as well as spend time with Guy. Like anyone, he needs a bit of an escape and time away from the stresses of family life.”
The insider adds, “David and Guy want a really cool, popular pub – it’s something they’ve been
planning for ages during their own drinking sessions. David has built a pub in the grounds of their Cotswolds home, and Guy has one in his country place, too, and he’s got his brewery. It’s a lot of money to put in, but they know it’ll be worth it.”
While David isn’t keen on Posh’s input, we’re told he wants his eldest son Brooklyn involved. He recently quit his photography course in New York and David thinks it’ll be good to have him onboard. “He wants Brooklyn to be the ‘tastemaker’ to make sure it attracts a younger crowd, and for this to be his introduction to business,” our source explains. “David wants to do traditional pub fare, like pie and mash, and Guy thinks the same. They want a hip ‘country style’ pub that blokes will go to. Guy is going to involve his son Rocco, too, so it’s a project for all the men.”
We’re also told that David wants the venue to be exclusive but not snooty and, as well as having lots of different and interesting beers, he also wants stock some of the best wines. And no doubt their vineyard trip gave them some inspo. And while she was invited on that trip, the insider says Victoria, 44, is worried she won’t be involved in much else. “Vic is very put out that she seems to be being frozen out and is anxious about David going into business
with friends,” we’re told. “It’s always been her and David together, they are the business partnership – and so this worries her about what it means for the future. The fact David will be spending a lot of his time with Guy has made Vic left out again. She feels let down – she wants to spend more quality time with her husband, but it doesn’t look likely at the moment.” n Kate Randall