"Guv"

This excellent article, which was hidden behind the Sunday Times paywall, reveals the drinking preferences of Lord and Lady Patten - "Guv" and Lavender to you and me from now on.  The new Chairman of the BBC Trust will be sad to find that there are no cellars associated with the Trust's offices in Great Portland Street, and the BBC hospitality trolleys no longer clang and clatter with in-house branded champagne, interesting Australian reds, etc.  The last convivial dinner I can find recorded by the Trust was in the restaurant of Durrant's Hotel, though Sir Michael Lyons and Mark Thompson did have dinner at the Landau Restaurant in the Langham after an RTS speech.

Guv will have to sneak into Villandry undercover - or ask for an inside table at Iberica.   Or maybe amble down to John Lewis, where you can uncork any bottle from the basement wine shop shelves for corkage of just £7. Meanwhile research continues on the Tarn Region, home to the Patten weekend and summer home....