London: Going Native; Sally Campbell

Sally Campbell, founding partner of Somesuch & Co, loves London’s grumpiness, irony and bad weather – well, it all looks better through a bitterly refreshing G&T…

What is the best thing about working in advertising in London?

It’s cool. Even a bus journey can be fuel for thought. (Yes, I take the bus. The 76 is my favourite). It has everything except good weather, but the weather keeps it creative, keeps it interesting. London would be drunk if the weather were always good.

What is the worst thing about working in advertising in London?

The future worries me.

Creatively, London doesn’t seem to be as confident and as brazen as it used to be. What happened to good writing? (I’m fairly rubbish at it, but then again, writing isn’t my job, telling everyone they are brilliant is – and I excel at that).

What advice would you give a visitor?

Don’t worry about the weather. Don’t listen to the French – the food is world-class. Don’t wear flip-flops. Well, don’t wear flip-flops ever, but especially not in London.

If you were booking a hotel, where would you choose to stay?

The Connaught if flush and doing business in the centre.

The Town Hall Hotel if visiting us in the east.

What do you miss when you are out of the city?

Grumpiness. Irony.

What is the best UK advert you have seen in the past year?

Volvo Trucks, it’s genius. Fuck, the Swedes made that. De Thurah’s Hennessy. Fuck, the Americans made that. (See my point on London advertising, above).

I really liked Harvey Nichols’ Sorry, I Spent It On Myself. A beautiful, simple idea and so true. And Paul Weiland’s Christmas Jumper film for Save The Children made me laugh out loud.

Where’s the best place to eat in London?

My house. After that [director] Nick Gordon’s house. After that, Barrafina. My favourite thing is getting tipsy on manzanilla in the queue while snacking on Iberico ham – who knew a queue could be so civilised. Or a late lunch at the Wolseley after shopping on Bond and Dover Streets, pretending to be rich.

Where’s the best place to drink in London?

My friends Ash and Maryam’s house, they have an amazing wine cellar and are extraordinarily generous with it. After that, a martini at Dukes Hotel in Mayfair or, if East, a cocktail at the Town Hall Hotel bar.

Who do you/would you love to work with in the industry?

I do love to work with my husband Tim Nash at Somesuch. We bicker endlessly (working here can sometimes resemble being at home watching your parents argue) but there are no two more loyal business partners, and no one is a better writer than Tim. He makes me proud daily. We enjoy a fairly relentless amount of piss-taking, too. I am very excited to be working with Anonymous and hope one day to collaborate with them on something as exciting as True Detective. TV is my dream. I am lucky enough to have worked with lots of the best in the ad industry, but I would love to work with Droga – he remains uncharted territory for me.

What’s London’s favourite pastime?

In bad weather, drinking while whingeing (although with humour). In good weather, drinking while laughing out loud.

What’s your favourite memory of London?

Spring. There’s nowhere better than London in the spring when the sun is shining… fact.

If London were a product what would it be?

Gin. It’s a drink with history and an acquired taste. A little bit bitter, but timeless, sophisticated, refined and – with tonic – thirst-quenching.

One table, four places. You and who?

Truman Capote [below], Faye Dunaway and Mario Batali. (Batali would cook for us too, of course). Camp, spiteful and delicious (…and dumbstruck).

What is your one-line life philosophy?

My big brother always told me to ‘Think before you speak’. Sadly I never quite managed to do it. It’s quite a good rule to have in life, though.

If you could have one question answered, what would it be?

How does one learn to think before one speaks?