Romeo rory heads for florence

Rory Keegan, the self-styled Proust of the London nightclub world, has swapped the delights of Chelsea for la citta bella, Florence...

In 1998 he co-founded Chinawhite, a favourite Soho haunt of Princes William and Harry, supermodels and football studs.  

"We're all very jealous of Rory," says John Stephen, Keegan's business partner. "He's moved from Redcliffe Place off Fulham Road and settled in Florence, where the people are nicer, the food and wine are great and there isn't this idiotic Government."

Chinawhite closed before Christmas because of a major redevelopment of its Air Street basement site. "But we're reopening this September in larger premises off Oxford Street that used to be the Wax Bar," adds Stephen.

Twice-married Keegan, a former West End impresario, restaurateur and microlight pilot, chose nightclubs because of the opportunity to seduce girls. "Life is all about trying to get their knickers off," he boasts.

Source: www.homesandproperty.co.uk