Julian Borg

Julian Borg has been in the leisure industry for over 40 years. In 1964 he was employed at the newly opened Dragonara Palace Casino and after an intensive gaming course conducted by professional croupiers from Baden Baden he was among the top six Maltese to be chosen as French roulette dealers to work for the Kursall Company. After five years in the gaming business Julian moved to hotel and catering and started work at the then new Hilton Hotel that had been built in St Julian’s. From a modest bartender he soon moved rapidly up to head barman at the Falcon Bar, and the post of Beverage supervisor soon followed.

In 1970 he married English-born Jacquie Marshall and a couple of years later they both decided to emigrate to London, Jacquie’s home town. In their first year in London, both Jacquie and Julian found it hard living in a big city, but it was not long before they had good steady jobs. While Julian went back to the casino business, working at the famous White Elephant Club in the heart of Mayfair, Jacquie got back to midwifery, landing a job at Paddington Hospital. When Julian’s father Salvo decided to retire after running the City of London bar, Julian was offered the pub to run thus becoming the third generation to do so. The bar had been established in 1914 by Julian’s grandfather Karmnu. Julian has been successfully running the City of London, now a landmark, for over 30 years making Malta’s oldest bar one of the most loved pubs on the island.

When asked to comment over his long years at the helm of ‘City’ he immediately quipped: “I have never had it so good: the beer is excellent, we have a mixed and lively clientele, young and old and most of all, the City of London is a meeting place for people from all walks of life.”

How old are you? Star sign and date of birth?

64. I’m an Aquarian. 21 January 1944.

What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

To continue running the City of London bar.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Not to be dogged by bouts of depression.

What is your favourite occupation?

Classical music especially Mozart.

What is your greatest fear?

Fire in the hotel I am staying.

What is it that you most value in your friends?

Honesty, trust, loyalty.

How would you like to die?

In my sleep especially after an enjoyable night.

What is your greatest

extravagance?

Good food and an excellent bottle of wine.

What is your greatest regret?

That I am not among Malta’s top businessmen.

What is your most treasured possession?

The City of London bar!

Which talent would you most like to have apart from the ones you already have?

Playing a musical instrument especially the

violin.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Lacking food and water.

Where would you like to live?

In Malta as a base but with a home in Hawaii.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Caring for those less fortunate than me.

What are your heroes/heroines in real life?

The immigrants from Africa, especially the young ones who risk death in search of a new life.

What is it that you most

dislike?

People who don’t smell nice but especially those who have bad breath!

What is your motto?

Live now as if there is no tomorrow.