Meet Alice Fox, the owner of Fox & Magor, who moved here from London ten years ago.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I love city life and I always thought if I moved to America I would live in NYC, however when I first visited here I met some incredible friends straight away and started having the most ridiculous amounts of fun. That, twinned with being able to access the hills, the sea, the mountains, the snow and the desert got me hooked pretty quickly. I am now a dairy-free, yoga-practicing cliché with both a shaman and a tiny dog! Hilarious, but I am not ashamed!! I’ve also found the entrepreneurial spirit here refreshing. People are very happy to give you a chance and as a result there are a lot of open doors. I doubt I would have been able to build a successful business so quickly back in the UK.
What do you miss most from home?
Apart from my family and friends…mainly the food. I miss Sunday lunch, everyone has brunch here. I miss Hula Hoops and Monster Munches, and English chocolate, American chocolate is vile. I miss my beloved Soho (I lived there for years) and also the greenery, the countryside! I grew up in Herefordshire which is on the Welsh borders, so whenever I go home I love tramping through the bracken and climbing hills and valleys.
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since?
I thought it was weird and wonderful and full of possibilities! I thought the clubs were fun, that Americans were quite loud, and I was obsessed with diners and vintage shops. Has it changed? I think I’ve grown up a bit so now I am experiencing a different side of LA, but definitely the art scene has blossomed, as has the hospitality scene. Plus I feel young people are getting more politically woke, as shown in the last two Women’s Marches that were held in Pershing square.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus London?
As I said earlier, there have been a lot of amazing work opportunities here for me which I doubt I would have got in the UK. Plus the perpetual sunshine really makes a difference to my world!
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
Yes, check out my neighborhood, Larchmont Village. It’s a cool little place with lots of lovely cafes, stores and restaurants. Hit me up, we’ll have coffee!
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here ?
Get decent visa advice.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Never invest your own money in a film. Remember to tip the host. Take Fountain. My advice is: having great manners and conducting yourself with integrity pays off in the long run!
Lastly, how can we find out more about you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
I have my own agency, Fox & Magor (www.foxandmagor.com) which helps busy families manage their lifestyles. As well as helping them with re-location, events and much more I have a fabulous network of incredible childcare workers, housekeepers, chefs, PAs, and house managers etc. We also do security and cyber security training using our network of ex-Special Forces experts from the UK. We help all sorts of people with all sorts of things, ranging from throwing parties in $100 million mansions, to helping clients with extremely specific staffing needs: Russian and Mandarin speaking nannies anyone? We work with a lot of high-profile families so discretion is very important, but I am so lucky, I have sourced the most amazing network who are all experts in their fields. I love the challenges of my job, it’s brilliant, I help nice people find great jobs with other nice people!
