Jeremy Norman

Education

He was educated at Harrow School and Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated with his MA in 1976.

After Cambridge Norman became a self-employed entrepreneur and has continued to be so ever since – the result is a business life rich and diverse in people, work and places.

Career

He became involved in 1974 in Burke’s Peerage a genealogical reference publisher through a school friend, Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, editor at the time. Other directors included Patrick, Earl of Lichfield and John Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald of Arms. In 1984, Burke’s Peerage decided to separate its titles and sell their copyright: Burke’s Peerage was acquired by Frederik Jan Gustav Floris, Baron van Pallandt (1934–94) whilst Burke’s Landed Gentry and other titles were sold elsewhere. Burke’s Peerage was then bought by Joseph Goldberg, who reprinted the immediate previous edition.

Norman's first nightclub was The Embassy in Old Bond Street, "London's first modern New York-style nightclub … attracted many celebrities". Other directors were Michael Fish (sixties fashion designer) and Derek Johns (old master picture dealer and director of Sotheby's, 1968). Norman sold The Embassy to Lady Edith Foxwell. Meanwhile, he created an entirely new form of club, the ultradisco Heaven, in Charing Cross in 1979, which "quickly established itself as the centre of London gay nightlife" and soon became Europe’s largest and "the world’s most famous gay nightclub". Norman’s partner, Derek Frost, designed the "original hi-tech interior". Heaven introduced a new music style, Hi-NRG. After four years Norman sold the club to Richard Branson of Virgin.

Between the late 1980s and early 1990s Norman was the proprietor of two other successful clubs: Embargo (1990–94) and Leopard Lounge on Fulham Broadway (1989–92). Norman’s other businesses included La Reserve wines in 1974 with his brother, and Pasta Pasta, a manufacturer and retailer of fresh pasta and sauces, with Derek Johns in 1984.

Norman's pro bono and charity appointments focused on HIV/AIDS. He was the founding chairman of Crusaid in 1985, Trustee of the National AIDS Trust in 1986 and the founding Trustee of Aids Ark. Norman was also a Trustee of the University Pitt Club, Cambridge, from 1994 to 2009.

In 1983 Norman and Richard Branson were partners in Norman’s first gym, Power Station, in Chelsea (1983–89). Currently he is the owner and Chairman of Ovalhouse Ltd., trading as Soho Gyms, a chain of ten gyms located mainly in central London. He also owns real property investment companies Blakenhall & Co Ltd and Citychance Ltd.

Norman described encounters and experiences from his life in his autobiography No Make-up: Straight Tales from a Queer Life. The Times journalist Matthew Parris described it as "A marvellous book. Startlingly candid, unblushingly funny about wealth, privilege and the pursuit of fun. Mr Norman ... paints an unforgettable picture of gay life in an age of official prohibition."

Norman has been in a relationship with his partner Derek Frost since 1978 and they became civil partners on 21 December 2006, the first day it became legal in the United Kingdom to do so. They currently reside in Malta.

Norman has recently entered the field of journalism with pieces in the Sunday Times, the Spectator and the Times of Malta. His articles reveal insights from the extensive travel he has taken with Frost.

Norman has a series of books published about their adventures which take the point of view of the couple as "Two Men in a Boat". The first, Two Men in a Boat: Illyrian Shores, is a “story of a romantic voyage in the wake of the Venetians … from Cofu to Venice” while Two Men in a Boat: Chasing Spring was inspired by a quote Norman once heard: "Spring travels up through Britain at the pace of a walking man. (This) struck Norman as an intensely romantic notion, and, along with his partner Derek Frost, he set out to find the proof" which led them on a journey, chasing spring up the west coast of the British Isles.

These trips were recorded both in Norman’s books as well as a 25-part TV series, under the same title, which documented their extraordinary odysseys and is narrated by the presenters, Jeremy and Derek, and their expert guests about the history, archeology, art, natural history and the landscape of the many places they visit.

Pro bono appointments

Norman was formerly:

Books and publications

Films & Documentaries