The most exciting night of my life

And how I've used it to inspire my business decisions ever since.

It’s 2003, I’ve just finished my A Levels and my sister - who’s travelling in Australia - has told me that this summer will be the best one I’ve ever had.

She’s right, it is.

I go to Glastonbury Festival, get a new boyfriend and we hang out with a group of friends, moving from one free house to the next; having sleepovers for weeks.

As the summer comes to a close, my sister returns and together, with a different group of friends, we start going to parties in Hackney.

This is long before Hackney is the place to party.

There are hardly any bars or nightclubs.

But there are lots of artists living in warehouses putting on very good parties.

One of them is at the 291 Gallery, on Hackney Road.

It’s in a church.

We walk into the dark, cavernous church and see a long dining table laid out with napkins and plates.

There are candelabras with candles dripping wax onto a wine-stained linen table cloth.

It’s dark, except for the flickering candlelight.

People are drinking cheap cans of lager.

On the stage, there are four women tap-dancing with horse heads.