For a whole decade, almost any word uttered by Mervyn King, the Bank of England governor from 2003 to 2013, had the power to move markets. But it turns out he has unexpected influence over other parts of the economy too.

We’ve arranged to meet at a Notting Hill restaurant called Uli: a modest, and very modestly priced, contemporary Asian joint a stone’s throw from Portobello Road. It’s not far from King’s pad in swanky Holland Park, but he’s chosen it for another reason.