Jeremy Mogford
Commentary: Mogford entered the hospitality market in 1973 with a £10,000 investment in the first Browns Restaurant and Bar in Brighton. Establishing a chain of seven restaurants in university towns by 1996 with a turnover of £15m he sold to Bass Brewery for £35m.
In the early days he formed a partnership with Raymond Blanc to create a bakery and patisserie, Maison Blanc. Other businesses included The Duke of Cambridge bar in Little Clarendon Street and Gee’s restaurant in North Oxford.
Moving on into the ’80s and ’90s Mogford had an instinct to select interesting buildings and refurbished them to a high standard, which has been a successful theme of Mogford’s business development.
Supporter of the arts and local events, Jeremy Mogford was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Brookes University in 2001 and in 2004 became a member of its Court.
Most recently, Mogford has plans to renovate an Oxford building, 36 St Giles, to convert into another hotel.
Quote: “I remain optimistic about Oxford as a buoyant city.“
Year of Birth: 1947
Residence: Oxford
Business: Mogford – High-end boutique hotels and restaurants transformed with vision and style. The Old Parsonage Hotel, opened in 1989 and has just undergone a £1.5 million major refurbishment and extension. The Old Bank Hotel opened in 1998 in the High Street, Oxford. Voted Best City Hotel in 2011. Houses Quod Brasserie in the banking hall
Gee’s (restaurant) in North Oxford is in a recently refurbished grade II listed Victorian conservatory, dating back to 1898. Formerly a florist and a greengrocer it was originally restored by Mogford over 20 years ago
Business Location: Oxford
Turnover and year: Mogford Ltd – £10.5m 2012
Description: Long-time hospitality industry entrepreneur and art collector
