Griff Rhys Jones OBE is famous in the UK as a Welsh comedian, actor and TV presenter. His career first took off when he appeared on the comedy show ‘Not the Nine O’Clock News’ in 1979 and then in his own sketch show with Mel Smith called ‘Alas Smith and Jones’ which was so popular it ran from 1984 to 1998. He has also set up two successful TV production companies and more recently has travelled the world presenting travel programmes about Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Two years ago, Griff bought his first house outside the UK, here in Menorca. We went to talk to him to find out why he chose this small island out of all the places he has visited in the World.
At the age of 70 Griff shows no signs of slowing down. He was in Menorca in late April for only a few days, taking a short break from his one man show ‘The Cat’s Pyjamas’ which has toured over 40 theatres around the UK. Griff admits he is not organised and when he starts the show, he is not sure how it is going to end. He says he is targeting the ‘elastic waistband’ crowd being largely unknown to the under 30’s. The tour finishes in early June, allowing Griff to finally spend more time at his house here, with his wife Jo and their family and friends.
When did you first come to Menorca?
I have owned two classic sailing yachts, firstly Undina, a 45’ wooden boat from the 50’s, and for the last 12 years Argyll, a 57’ 1948 Marconi Yawl. We take part in the classic regattas all over the Mediterranean and have been coming to Mahon since 2004 to compete in the Copa del Rey. In the winter the yacht is moored in Cannes in the South of France. The harbour master there gives us reduced mooring fees as he likes to have a row of classic yachts lining his harbour to attract tourists. My skipper Alex grew up in St Tropez and he knows the area well which is another advantage for me. When we first sailed into Mahon harbour for a regatta, we saw the empty moorings in Fonduco and the abandoned buildings and we imagined the classic boats in a row there with a club house above. However, we soon realised the complex planning issues involved with renovating buildings around the coast, and of course you cannot buy private moorings in the harbour.
How did you choose your house here?
I have a passion for restoring old properties. I bought an abandoned farm in Wales with 6 dilapidated buildings and gave it a new life. We made a TV documentary about it called Restoration and just like here in Menorca there were many planning regulations and other difficulties to overcome such as tourist tax and finding room for 5 recycling bins, not to mention a bat hotel. My philosophy is that I hate second homes that lie empty for most of the year. I rent out the farm cottages in Wales and also my country house in Suffolk so that they are always occupied and bringing benefits to the local area.
I am also the President of the Victorian Society in the UK. Every year the society compiles a list of the most endangered top ten buildings and I go on TV to publicise it. Liverpool Street Station is currently under threat from developers. My first inclination when I discovered Menorca was to buy and restore a classic town house in the centre of Mahon. However, I now have 4 grandchildren and my son and daughter rebelled, saying we needed outdoor space and a swimming pool. This house ticked all the boxes for the family as we have 8 hectares of rustic land but we are also in walking distance of the town and harbour, and it has a tourist licence so I can rent it out when I am not here.
How much time have you spent in Menorca?
We bought the house two years ago but we couldn’t move in for a year as we were waiting for paperwork to be completed including police checks. We finally got to stay here just before Christmas in 2022 and loved spending time in Mahon.
Due to my busy schedule last year, I have not been able to spend much time here or to explore the wider area. My knowledge of the island so far has been restricted to our own environment, my garden and furniture suppliers! However, the house has been very popular with all my family and friends who seem to no longer want to go to Wales!
I have inherited Miguel who farmed the land for the previous owner, Carlos. He was a very keen propagator and so we have an arboretum with many interesting trees including a baobab. I have also been planting trees like mad to create a barrier from the road, to protect me from the noise of the Sunday scooter riders, my only complaint so far. I like the native species of trees such as cypress and evergreen oak but from previous experience I know that you must plant them small and wait for them to grow. If you buy big expensive ones in pots they have become lazy and don’t grow. I am not one to hide away though and generally we have been clearing land. Jo and I love gardening; I am the planner and the pruner of the partnership.
Photo: puigvelaclassica.com
What are your plans for the future?
This year I will be sailing Argyll in June from Italy and then coming to Menorca with the boat for two months in July and August. We will take the boat to the regatta in Palma during that time and then we will be here for the Copa del Rey in Menorca from 27th to the 31st August. As I am now 70, I give myself perhaps 5 more years to enjoy sailing and then I may change to a traditional motor llaut. I first leant to sail with my father but had never raced until we entered Undina into a regatta when I sailed to the Baltic with Bob and then I got hooked.
When I first became involved in Classic yachts there were mainly “hard arsed crews and wrinkly owners”. Over the years we created more of a social group of owner/helmsmen, although we always get the blame when things go wrong. More recently the circuit has changed. Argyll has a true amateur boat crew by all accounts, and we are now up against other “amateur” crews that are flown in from New Zealand, all expenses paid. It has changed from being a group of enthusiasts to being taken over by billionaires.
Taking part in the full regatta circuit is very peripatetic; travelling from place to place but spending only a short time in each. I am beginning to tire of Formula 1 and would like to do just Spanish and local regattas. I love the Spanish regattas and I am proud to say that Argyll has won the Spanish league twice, and we won the Barcelona event two years in a row.
In the summer, I am hoping to find a share in a small boat here in Menorca to get to the beaches with the grandchildren. Similar to my ideas about home ownership, I don’t want to own a boat I only use two months of the year. I am looking forward to spending time in Menorca and enjoying it to the full.
Griff told us that his only exposure in Spain during his career was when he appeared in a soft drinks advert. He reeled off his lines for us word perfect, but he says it was his only Spanish and he is now learning using Duolingo.
When we visited, Griff had several friends staying and we were met at the gate by Clive Anderson, who kindly went off to tell Griff we had arrived. (Sorry for staring Clive, it took me a moment to realise it was you). Having checked Griff’s Instagram page later, I think Tom Hollander may have been hiding away somewhere too. Through his TV and acting career and his production companies, Talkback and Modern Television, Griff has built up a large network of friends in the theatre and entertainment industry, even sitting next to Lady Di and introducing Queen at Live Aid. I am keeping my eyes peeled around town this summer.
Dates of the VCYC Mediterranean Classic Championship 2024
Antibe, France – 29th May
Porto Santo Stefano Italy 12-16th June
Club de Mar, Palma, Mallorca 14-18th August
Copa del Rey Mahon, Menorca 27-31s August
Imperia, Italy 12-15th September
Cannes, France 23-29th September
In addition to Palma and Menorca the Spanish Championship includes:
Cadiz 4-7th July
Pollensa, Mallorca 23/24 August
Puig, Barcelona 4-7th September
