Mick Jagger’s Secret Dinner in Prince George Revealed

On November 4, 1989, Mick Jagger dined discreetly at Rosel’s restaurant in Prince George, British Columbia, after a performance in Vancouver. The legendary frontman of the Rolling Stones was in town as part of their Steel Wheels North American tour. An unusual request from a friend in Houston prompted the restaurant owners, Wilf and Rosel Vogt, to open their doors two hours early for this private meal.

Rosel Vogt recalls the day vividly. She received a call requesting an early opening without any indication of the guest’s identity. “I opened up especially for him, not knowing who was coming,” she said. The surprise guest arrived with a friend, both eager to enjoy a meal in the sunroom of the restaurant. As Jagger entered, Rosel noticed his nervous demeanor as he glanced out the window for a taxi.

The friend, described by Rosel as “ugly as sin,” turned out to be none other than the renowned rock star himself. “They were both very nice,” Rosel remarked, reflecting on their two-hour dinner. While she could not recall their specific orders, she remembered the relaxed atmosphere. Jagger engaged in conversation and even complimented Rosel during his visit.

As their meal concluded around 17:00, Jagger expressed interest in walking around the restaurant. By then, it was open to the public, and the presence of other guests allowed him to mingle without drawing attention. Remarkably, Jagger found that no one recognized him, a rarity for the iconic musician. “I think he was rather pleased,” Rosel noted, highlighting the unusual quietude he enjoyed that evening.

After the dinner, Jagger took time to sign the guestbook, leaving his signature in a unique style that included an extra stroke on the letter ‘M.’ He also provided his address at 25 Whitmore, London, a location tied to his past with then-partner Marianne Faithfull. Interestingly, the penthouse apartment at that address was recently listed for sale at £5.5 million.

The evening did not end for Jagger and his friend at Rosel’s. After their meal, they headed directly to the airport, where a private plane awaited him. The Stones were scheduled to perform later that night in Oakland, California, requiring a swift departure from Prince George.

News of Jagger’s visit quickly spread through the city, attracting a wave of young fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the rock star or find remnants of his time at Rosel’s. Unlike a previous visit from CBS News legend Walter Cronkite, which had resulted in photographs, no images of Jagger surfaced from that evening.

While Rosel could not identify Jagger’s friend, she noted that the clientele at Rosel’s typically valued discretion. “Many guests were those who had money and wanted to be discreet,” said their daughter, Tina Best, who was in Prince George at the time but not working at the restaurant. “Rosel’s was known for discretion and often hosted politicians and other well-known figures.”

Rosel’s restaurant, celebrated in its time, closed permanently on October 18, 1997, following Wilf’s battle with cancer. The building now serves as a medical office, while Rosel and Wilf later operated a bed and breakfast before retiring. Wilf passed away on June 22, 2023, at the age of 94. Reflecting on their experiences, Rosel commented, “We got very, very rich… rich on friends.”

The guestbook containing Jagger’s signature now resides at The Exploration Place museum, a testament to the unexpected encounter that remains a cherished memory for the Vogt family.