Peter Spanton has spent much of his career creating places where people wanted to gather, linger, and enjoy good company. During London’s vibrant restaurant scene of the 1980s and 1990s, he became known for understanding that memorable hospitality was about far more than excellent food. Atmosphere, conversation, music, and genuine warmth all played an equally important role. That philosophy helped make his Clerkenwell restaurant and bar, Vic Naylor’s, a favourite destination during a transformative period for the capital’s dining scene.
While some people now recognise his name through his long relationship, and later marriage, to broadcaster and journalist Janet Street-Porter, Spanton’s career stands on its own. Long before attracting media attention, he had established himself as a respected restaurateur and entrepreneur. Over the years, he navigated the highs and lows of the hospitality industry, overcame alcoholism, and later found success in the premium soft drinks market, contributing to changing tastes within Britain’s food and beverage sector.
Despite these achievements, Peter Spanton has largely remained out of the public spotlight. Unlike many figures connected to the media, he has preferred to let his work speak for itself. Although relatively little has been published about his early life, the available record reveals a career defined by entrepreneurship, resilience, and a lasting influence on British hospitality.
Early Life and Background
Little has been publicly documented about Peter Spanton’s childhood or family life. Business records indicate that he was born in January 1955 and is British, but beyond that, he has kept details of his upbringing, education, and family largely private. Unlike many figures connected with the media or hospitality industry, Spanton has rarely spoken publicly about his early years.
What is known suggests he grew up surrounded by Britain’s traditional pub culture, where food, drink, and conversation formed an important part of everyday social life. In later years, references linked to his premium soft drinks business drew on memories of his father’s preference for whisky and dry ginger, offering a glimpse into the influences that shaped his understanding of adult drinking culture.
Rather than following a formal culinary path, Spanton developed his hospitality skills through experience. He belonged to a generation of restaurateurs who learned by observing customers, creating welcoming spaces, and understanding the atmosphere that kept people coming back. Those instincts would become one of the defining features of his career.
Building a Career in London’s Restaurant Scene
By the mid-1980s, London’s dining landscape was beginning to evolve. Neighbourhoods such as Clerkenwell had yet to establish themselves as culinary destinations, with many areas still dominated by warehouses, workshops, and industrial buildings.
In 1986, Peter Spanton opened Vic Naylor’s on St John Street in Clerkenwell. Launching an independent restaurant in the area was a bold move at a time when the neighbourhood had not yet become the fashionable destination it is today.
Vic Naylor’s quickly earned a reputation for its relaxed atmosphere and distinctive character. Rather than relying on fine dining or extravagant interiors, the restaurant became known for exposed brickwork, informal service, and a welcoming environment where guests felt at ease. Spanton was recognised as a hands-on host whose attention to detail helped create an experience that extended well beyond the food.
As Clerkenwell gradually transformed into one of London’s leading food districts, independent venues like Vic Naylor’s played an important role in attracting visitors and helping reshape the area’s identity.
How Vic Naylor’s Became a Creative Hub
As its reputation grew, Vic Naylor’s became much more than a neighbourhood restaurant. It developed into a popular meeting place for London’s creative community during the 1990s, welcoming artists, designers, writers, and musicians who were helping shape the city’s cultural landscape.
The restaurant has been linked with figures from the Young British Artists (YBA) movement, including Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, and the Jake Chapman and Dinos Chapman. Reports have also noted that Sam Taylor-Johnson worked at the restaurant before becoming an internationally recognised filmmaker and artist.
Rather than cultivating exclusivity, Spanton focused on creating an environment where people from different creative backgrounds naturally gathered. Word of mouth, loyal customers, and a genuine sense of community helped establish Vic Naylor’s as one of Clerkenwell’s best-known independent restaurants.
Much of that success reflected Peter Spanton himself. Friends, critics, and regular guests often described him as an engaging and attentive host whose personality was central to the restaurant’s appeal. His ability to bring people together became one of the qualities that defined both the venue and his wider career in hospitality.
Overcoming Addiction and Finding a New Direction
Running restaurants and bars in London’s hospitality scene during the 1980s and 1990s often meant long hours and a culture where alcohol was never far away. For Peter Spanton, that environment eventually took a personal toll. After years in the industry, he developed a dependency on alcohol, something he has since spoken about with honesty and openness.
In 1999, Spanton sought treatment at The Priory, recognising that his drinking had become unsustainable. Rather than portraying recovery as straightforward, he has described it as one of the greatest challenges of his life. His willingness to discuss addiction publicly has helped shed light on the realities of recovery, particularly within the hospitality industry.
This period also marked the beginning of his relationship with Janet Street-Porter, who has spoken about supporting him during this significant chapter of his life. Recovery prompted Spanton to rethink not only his personal habits but also the role alcohol played in Britain’s social culture.
That experience would ultimately inspire the next stage of his career.
Reinventing Himself in the Premium Soft Drinks Industry
After leaving alcohol behind, Peter Spanton turned his attention to creating sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks for adults. At a time when alcohol-free options were often limited to fizzy drinks or fruit juice, he recognised an opportunity to offer something more refined.
His business, Peter Spanton Beverages, focused on premium drinks made with carefully balanced flavours rather than excessive sweetness. Drawing inspiration from the complexity of cocktails and fine wines, the range incorporated herbs, spices, citrus oils, botanicals, and aromatic ingredients that were uncommon in mainstream soft drinks.
One of the brand’s best-known products was Beverage No. 7, an açaí-based drink developed over several years. Combining ingredients such as grape, clove, and star anise, it was designed to be enjoyed slowly and paired with food, offering a more sophisticated drinking experience.
Today, premium alcohol-free beverages have become increasingly popular, but Spanton was exploring this market years before the category entered the mainstream. His early work anticipated changing consumer tastes and the growing demand for high-quality non-alcoholic alternatives.
Building the Peter Spanton Brand
As the business expanded, Peter Spanton introduced a collection of premium mixers and tonic drinks featuring distinctive flavour combinations. Cardamom, cucumber, lemongrass, ginger, chocolate, mint, and bitter citrus all appeared across the range, giving the products a character that stood apart from conventional soft drinks.
The brand also embraced retro-inspired packaging, reinforcing its position as an alternative to brightly coloured mass-market beverages. Rather than appealing to children or casual consumers, the drinks were created for adults seeking flavour, balance, and sophistication.
Peter Spanton Beverages attracted attention from restaurants, bartenders, and specialist retailers, earning a loyal following within the hospitality industry. Although the company remained relatively niche compared with larger international mixer brands, it became recognised as one of the early pioneers in Britain’s premium soft drinks movement.
His work helped challenge traditional assumptions about what an adult soft drink could be, contributing to a market that has grown significantly over the past decade.
Marriage to Janet Street-Porter
Peter Spanton is also known for his long-standing relationship with Janet Street-Porter. The couple met in the late 1990s and built a relationship that has endured for more than two decades.
Despite Street-Porter’s high-profile career in journalism and television, the pair have generally kept their private life away from the spotlight. While Street-Porter has occasionally spoken about their relationship in interviews, Spanton has remained largely focused on his business interests rather than public attention.
Their contrasting personalities have often attracted interest. Street-Porter is known for her outspoken broadcasting style, while Spanton has built his reputation through hospitality, entrepreneurship, and product innovation.
In February 2026, Street-Porter revealed on Loose Women that the couple had married after 27 years together, a surprise announcement that attracted widespread media coverage. The wedding itself reflected their understated approach, with coverage focusing on the longevity of their relationship rather than celebrity spectacle.
Business Interests and Career Legacy
Throughout his career, Peter Spanton has remained involved in businesses connected with hospitality and premium beverages. Public records confirm his role in companies including Peter Spanton Drinks Ltd, reflecting his continued entrepreneurial interests.
Although online searches frequently ask about his net worth, there are no verified public estimates of his personal wealth. As with many independent business owners, available company records provide evidence of commercial activity but do not offer a complete picture of personal finances.
Rather than being defined by financial success alone, Spanton’s legacy lies in his influence on British hospitality and drinks culture. From helping shape Clerkenwell’s emerging restaurant scene to pioneering premium alcohol-free beverages before they became widely popular, his career reflects a willingness to embrace change, overcome personal challenges, and continually reinvent himself.
Public Image and Personal Values
Throughout his career, Peter Spanton earned a reputation as someone with a keen understanding of hospitality and the people it served. Those who worked with or met him often described him as thoughtful, charismatic, and instinctively aware of what made guests feel comfortable. Rather than relying on rigid business models, he focused on creating welcoming spaces where atmosphere mattered just as much as the food and drink.
His personal journey also became an important part of his story. After overcoming alcoholism, Spanton chose not to step away from hospitality altogether. Instead, he channelled his experiences into developing premium non-alcoholic drinks, demonstrating that social occasions could be just as enjoyable without alcohol. His work reflected a changing outlook on drinking culture long before mindful drinking became widely embraced.
His relationship with Janet Street-Porter has also shaped public perceptions of him. While Street-Porter has remained firmly in the public eye, Spanton has generally preferred a quieter life, becoming known as a supportive partner rather than someone seeking celebrity status for himself.
A Life Largely Kept Private
Despite occasional media attention, much of Peter Spanton’s personal life has remained private. Few details have been publicly shared about his family, education, or life before entering the hospitality industry, and he has consistently avoided discussing these aspects in interviews.
Unlike many modern entrepreneurs, Spanton has never built his profile through television appearances or social media. Instead, his reputation has been shaped by the businesses he created, the people he worked alongside, and the lasting impression he left within London’s restaurant scene.
This preference for privacy means that much of his biography is centred on his professional achievements and publicly documented milestones. Beyond those, he has largely allowed his work to speak for itself.
Lasting Influence on Hospitality and Drinks
Although Peter Spanton has never been a household name in the traditional sense, his influence can be seen across several areas of British hospitality.
With Vic Naylor’s, he helped establish Clerkenwell as an emerging destination for independent restaurants at a time when the neighbourhood was still developing its identity. The venue became associated with London’s creative community and reflected a more relaxed, personality-led style of hospitality that would later become increasingly popular.
His work in premium soft drinks also proved ahead of its time. Long before alcohol-free cocktails and sophisticated mixers became commonplace, Spanton was developing beverages designed specifically for adults who wanted complexity and flavour without alcohol.
Equally significant is his personal story of recovery. Rather than leaving the hospitality industry after overcoming addiction, he reimagined how people could enjoy social occasions in healthier and more inclusive ways. That perspective has given his work a relevance that continues to resonate today.
Where Is Peter Spanton Now?
As of 2026, Peter Spanton remains best known publicly through his long-standing relationship and marriage to Janet Street-Porter, alongside his earlier contributions to London’s hospitality industry and the premium beverages market.
Public records show that Peter Spanton Drinks Ltd was dissolved in 2022, although the brand’s products and reputation continue to be referenced within hospitality circles. In recent years, media attention has centred largely on his marriage rather than on new business ventures.
While he maintains a low public profile, Spanton’s influence is still evident. Independent restaurants that prioritise atmosphere and community continue to thrive, and the premium alcohol-free drinks market has expanded into a major sector, reflecting many of the ideas he championed years earlier.
Legacy
Peter Spanton’s career has been shaped by reinvention, resilience, and a genuine passion for hospitality. From transforming a Clerkenwell restaurant into a favourite gathering place for London’s creative community to pioneering premium alcohol-free drinks before they became mainstream, he has consistently stayed ahead of changing tastes.
Although he has rarely sought the spotlight, his work has left a lasting mark on Britain’s food and drink culture. His journey demonstrates that hospitality is about far more than serving meals or beverages. At its heart, it is about creating places where people feel welcome, connected, and able to enjoy meaningful moments together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Peter Spanton?
Peter Spanton is a British restaurateur and entrepreneur best known for opening the popular Clerkenwell restaurant Vic Naylor’s and later founding the Peter Spanton range of premium soft drinks and mixers. He is also recognised as the husband of broadcaster and journalist Janet Street-Porter.
How old is Peter Spanton?
According to publicly available business records, Peter Spanton was born in January 1955. As of 2026, he is 71 years old, although his exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Vic Naylor’s?
Vic Naylor’s was a well-known restaurant and bar that Peter Spanton opened in Clerkenwell, London, in 1986. It earned a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and became a favourite gathering place for artists, media professionals, and London’s creative community during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Is Peter Spanton married to Janet Street-Porter?
Yes. After being together for 27 years, Peter Spanton and Janet Street-Porter married in February 2026. The announcement was made by Street-Porter during an appearance on Loose Women and attracted widespread media attention.
Did Peter Spanton struggle with alcoholism?
Yes. Peter Spanton has openly spoken about his battle with alcoholism while working in the hospitality industry. In 1999, he sought treatment at The Priory, later describing sobriety as one of the most important turning points in both his personal life and professional career.
What happened to Peter Spanton Drinks?
Peter Spanton Drinks Ltd, the company behind his premium beverage range, was officially dissolved in 2022, according to UK Companies House records. Despite this, the brand remains recognised for its contribution to the early development of Britain’s premium mixer and alcohol-free drinks market.
What is Peter Spanton’s net worth?
There is no verified public information regarding Peter Spanton’s net worth. Although he has operated successful businesses in both the hospitality and beverage industries, reliable figures relating to his personal wealth have never been publicly disclosed.
Conclusion
Peter Spanton’s career has been shaped by creativity, resilience, and an ability to adapt to changing times. From helping establish Vic Naylor’s as one of Clerkenwell’s most memorable independent restaurants to pioneering premium alcohol-free drinks before the category entered the mainstream, he has quietly influenced Britain’s hospitality landscape for decades.
His personal journey is equally remarkable. By overcoming alcoholism and transforming that experience into a business focused on sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages, Spanton demonstrated that reinvention is possible without leaving behind a passion for hospitality or bringing people together.
While many people now recognise his name through his marriage to Janet Street-Porter, his own achievements stand on their own merit. Whether through the welcoming atmosphere of his restaurants or his forward-thinking approach to premium drinks, Peter Spanton has left a lasting legacy that continues to resonate across Britain’s food, drink, and hospitality industries.
