Come Friday evenings, Jefferies’ star banking analyst Brian Johnson likes to unplug, casting his mind far from the punishing insipidities – the incrementalism! – of the big four oligopoly. He breaks out the Fender, fires up Reefer Madness, maybe even phones his mum.

Just kidding. At Justin Hemmes′ flagship Paddington diner Fred’s on Friday, there was Johnson at the prize table enjoying dinner with National Australia Bank chairman Phil Chronican. Anything for the model.