17 October 2023 , 15:11
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The mystery woman James Haskell was spotted chatting to in snaps over the weekend has been identified as PR director Martine Bridge, according to inside sources.
The retired English rugby star enjoyed a trip to the luxurious Chiltern Firehouse in west London without his wife of four years, Chloe Madeley. James, 38, shares 14-month-old daughter named Bodhi with the personal trainer, who is also famously the daughter of Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley.
He and Martine were spotted engrossed in conversation as they departed the celebrity hotspot, which is known for serving a litany of A-list customers including Kate Moss, Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne. With its gorgeous interior and swanky menu of caviar and lobster, it is widely regarded as one of the snazziest places for a bite to eat near the West End.
Martine Bridge is the woman James was spotted with on Saturday
James Haskell with Chloe Madeley (Dave Benett/Getty Images)"The woman in the photos with James is Martine Bridge," a source told the MailOnline, before adding that the "hugely successful businesswoman" is "at the top of her game" in the PR industry. The 39-year-old founded her communications consultancy company in 2013, and has gone on to work with powerful clients in both the property and lifestyle sectors. In her twenties, she was a devout attendee at London's high-society events, popping up at wine-tastings, jewellery galleries and glitzy brunches on a regular basis.
The insider also said that "James and Martine have known each other for years" and mingle in the same social groups. "They follow each other on Instagram, it seems likely they will stay connected, at least on social media," they added. Chloe also enjoyed a glamorous night out with friends on Saturday, heading to the Treehouse Hotel bar near Oxford Circus before moving on to Soho House for the final part of her evening, where she was pictured without her wedding ring.
Chloe Madeley returns to work weeks after giving birth as she 'needs the money'
After the snaps have left fans bemused over the strong couple's antics, a representative of James has now shared with the Mirror his side of the story. The spokesperson said: "The woman pictured is a friend of James’s group who he just met that night. They were simply having a conversation outside so there is nothing to this story."
James' sighting at the weekend comes shortly after he revealed that he viewed women as "sex objects" because of his single-sex education. Speaking to Unfiltered on Monday, the dad-of-one explained that going to school with only boys affected his relationship with the opposite gender.
"Truthfully, I think what other exposures do you have to women other than as sex objects? You may have female teachers and a strong mother, but otherwise how you're not exposed to in any other way, shape, or form," he said, before admitting that he is committed to reflection and growth.
"Have I had to learn and unwind a lot of things? Yeah, of course. As long as you keep learning. I think that's why I find it so stupid with all these people going back trying to correct history, trying to go history's history for a reason."