Five things to do in London this week

With thanks to Country and Townhouse:

 

CULTURE    FOOD & DRINK    TRAVEL    STYLE    INTERIORS    PROPERTY               If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. But it’s boiling everywhere, predicted to hit an unfathomable 39 degrees celsius tomorrow in London (and why aren’t our prime ministerial hopefuls even mentioning the climate in their pitches?). Get thee then to a rooftop pool, or out on a boat, or into a lido. Failing that, stay inside in the cool and drool over our 2022 50 Finest Interior Designers list and fantasise about what you’d love to do with your interiors. Have a great week. Photo: 'Grandiflora Rose' wallpaper design by Designers Guild                   WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK       JEREMY CLARKSON'S NEW RESTAURANT The UK’s most famous farmer has – finally – opened a restaurant at his Diddly Squat Farm, which is set to star in the second series of Clarkson’s Farm, airing next year. My colleague Ellie Smith went to have a snoop, but had to bring her own booze.           LIGHT Simon Hampel considered the question of how consciousness, energy and tech could converge to create tipping points for change in the world. His answer is Light, an app-based programme that opens up pathways to ‘growth’. Curious? Read more here.         SUSTAINABLE FLOWERS Flowers are beautiful and cheer us all up but floristry is not always the most ethical industry. There are florists out there though who are changing all that by growing locally and offering seasonal blooms. Roses in February for Valentine’s Day is not a sustainable choice. Food for thought.         FIVE THINGS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS       Following a long development of one of Margate’s most historical buildings, Fort Road Hotel will open its doors on 1 August.         Book your tickets for the movie of the year: Reese Witherspoon’s adaptation of Where The Crawdads Sing, out on 22 July.       Satisfy your sweet tooth at Harrods’ new patisserie, which is helmed by top pastry chef Angelo Musa.         Explore Wakehurst’s new major outdoor exhibition, Nourish: a series of newly commissioned installations at the Sussex botanic garden. (The False Banana Pavilion, Flea Folly Architects (c) RBG Kew)       Dine at Amethyst, the latest opening from Carlo Scotto, the extraordinary chef behind the uber-original tasting menus at Xier.         WHAT'S TRENDING ON C&TH       The new edge: why are we hot for ruffle cushions?     From Thailand to Germany, these are the best spas for detoxing           Everything you need to know about Blonde, Andrew Dominik's new Marilyn Monroe biopic     Amy Wakeham gets the lowdown on how regenerative farming became the new rock ’n’ roll (Getty Images)                       Win an Overnight Stay at Ragdale Hall Spa Need some R&R?  Ragdale Hall Spa is offering the chance for some well-deserved ‘You-Time’ for one lucky winner and their guest.                   Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £19               Copyright © 2021 Country & Town House Our mailing address is:​ Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom                 CULTURE    FOOD & DRINK    TRAVEL    STYLE    INTERIORS    PROPERTY       The Sustainability Edition                 I recently had a catch up with two interior designers and one of the things that warmed my cockles was hearing them declare how attitudes to a professionally designed interior has changed. Clients now expect well-worn chairs to be reupholstered, furniture to be re-imagined and the occasional fabric re-used. Wanting everything brand, spanking new is, frankly, old hat. We asked sustainable designer Micaela Sharp, who recently assisted on the new Soho Friends space in Brixton, to share her tips on shopping vintage and we’ve rounded up makers and manufacturers doing their bit to make our tiny dwellings more beautiful while looking out for our bigger home, the planet. This week’s podcast hits a similar vibe - Charlotte Lawson Johnston of Cloth Collective who’s on a mission to educate us on using hand-dyed, climate-positive textiles. Take care of yourself and your surroundings,                 Want Your Interiors Bolstered? Get Your Chair Upholstered, says Micaela Sharp  We caught up with designer, upholsterer and all round creative polymath, Micaela Sharp, who shares a few pearls of upholstery wisdom  1. A Frame is More Important than the Fabric. When buying vintage, a solid frame is a good starting point. It's usually going to be reupholstered so the fabric doesn't have to be in good condition, or like the colour particularly.  2. Have a Good Look Underneath Before Buying. Especially when buying a vintage chair, as you'll often see the springs are sagging or have ripped through, in which case it's going to need reupholstering sooner rather than later. You may also find the maker's mark or stamp on the bottom to indicate the designer or year that it was made.  3. Want Your Furniture to Last Longer? Clean it Carefully. Take time to use the correct products to care for wood, metal or leather. Often using natural products and a little elbow grease is better in the long run than using harsh chemicals. A mix of vinegar, linseed oil and white spirit is great for cleaning up wooden frames, especially where sticky fingerprints have built up.  Is your curiosity piqued? You can sign up to Michaela's Introduction to Upholstery online course at the Create Academy that's coming out this autumn.          Carole's Top 3 1. I'm loving Tim Gosling's Restoration Chateau Graphenstone Paint Collection for it's sustainable credentials (their French Trellis Green hue is sublime). 2. Rehaus' reupholstered Pierre Paulin armchair has my vote 3. And Narchie's Mid Century Male Oil Portrait (well priced at £170), sold by Fond, wouldn't go amiss either.          You Light Up My Life  'Thanks I grew myself' is how you'll answer a compliment to a Sebastian Cox Mycelium Ceiling Pendant Lamp (£360). For second hand goods, we're looking at Narchie for this stand by Cambridge House (£180) and Vinterior for this dazzling aquamarine Glass Lotus Lamp (£650). For electrical repairs (but make it fashion) we're heading to RE-found objects for our slinky silk covered wiring solutions.          Ain't No Wallflower Fashion's having it's retribution on what fabrics are actually being used, and now we're turning to our walls. Stella McCartney and Cole & Son have recently dropped what might be the most sustainably crafted wallpaper on the market (you can read all about it here). For paint, House of Hackney, Graphenstone, are a good port of call, but here's our Eco-Friendly Paints Guide for more options.          Are You Sitting Comfortably?  We're looking more at our clothing labels, but have you ever stopped to consider what's in your sofa? Have a look on everything you need to know on our guide, How to Shop for a Sofa. But, in the mean time, we're especially loving Sebastian Cox's leather lounge chair (£3,850), Max Rollitt's Late 17th Century French Walnut Sofa (£12,800) and Vinterior's 5 Piece Togo Set by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset (£8,400).                    Sign up for 6 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus supplements and instant access to every digital edition for only £19                   Copyright © 2022 Country & Town House Our mailing address is:​ Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom                 CULTURE    FOOD & DRINK    TRAVEL    STYLE    INTERIORS    PROPERTY               I’m so proud of our latest issue which lands on the shelves this week. This time, sustainability was not enough for us. We went further by naming it the Regeneration Issue, because we can’t just sustain the status quo, we have to improve it – and it starts with the land beneath our feet. We spoke to a whole load of passionate activists, farmers, models, chefs, writers and, yes, even the odd popstar about how they’re ditching their day jobs and getting down and dirty with the soil. It’s the new rock ‘n’ roll folks and you heard it hear first. Buy your copy here. Have a great week. Photo: 'Grandiflora Rose' wallpaper design by Designers Guild                   WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK       COUNTRY & TOWN INTERIORS Who loves interiors? As a big thank you to you for being loyal members of our C&TH Club, we’re sharing the digital issue of our gorgeous new Interiors Guide here. It features our much vaunted 50 Finest Interior Designers too, so you can find someone for your next project. Happy drooling. (Image: Zoffany)         ELECTRIC BIKES I can’t go anywhere without my trusty ebike (almost). I absolutely love the freedom it gives me and the fact that I don’t arrive hot and bothered. I use subscription model Swapfiets because a) they have delicious Dutch-style bikes (so cool), and b) any issues and they’ll deliver you another one…          KLYK A shout out to BCorp company Klyk who sorts out all your old tech. I sent off one Macbook, two iPhones and an old iPad and they’ve all been returned reconditioned and ready for use – or resale. They also sell first-class second-hand stuff. So if you have a drawerful of unused hardwear, you know where to go.           FIVE THINGS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS       John Legend, Mabel and Carly Rae Jepsen all feature in the 2022 line-up of Somerset House’s Summer Series.         Head to Harrods for a glass of fizz at the new Moët & Chandon bar, which offers a range of champagne alongside paired sweet and savoury treats.       The V&A’s latest exhibition explores African creativity and fashion through photographs, textiles, music and visual arts.         Camp Hox is back, this year offering the chance to stay in a Hoxton-curated cabin in the countryside French region of Le Perche.       Looking for family-friendly activities for the summer? Sofitel London St James has launched a new interactive children’s afternoon tea.         WHAT'S TRENDING ON C&TH       From Wales to Scotland, here are the top 5 destinations for a UK road trip     Chase the darkness away with our pick of the best eye creams           What’s the problem with palm oil? Ellie Smith investigates       The London restaurants worth visiting for the interiors alone                       Win a Spot on Balance Holidays' Rewilding Retreat Longing for self-discovery and undisturbed time in nature, away from modern life’s stressors? Be in with the chance of winning Balance Holidays’ 5-day 4-night Rewilding at English Historic Estate Retreat, staying at the privately reserved Broughton Hall.                   Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £19               Copyright © 2021 Country & Town House  Our mailing address is:​ Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom                   CULTURE    FOOD & DRINK    TRAVEL    STYLE    INTERIORS    PROPERTY                   When you're tired of London, you're tired of life, as Samuel Johnson (almost) said. Post-pandemic and post-jubilee, London is getting its mojo back – and we love to see it. So here's our love letter to the capital, with a reminder of its most iconic addresses (I bet you haven't visited them all), best hotels for a romantic weekend, exciting new developments, and the homes that have caught our eye. There's also Peter Griffiths's excellent essay on why brands need London just as much as the city needs them, and the chance to win a private consultation and bespoke frames designed by the legendary Tom Davies.                   WE ARE LONDON Brands need London just as the capital needs brands. Here's how they work together         ICONIC LONDON ADDRESSES Have you visited them all?         LONDON'S MOST LUXURIOUS HOTELS Where to stay in style         THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS RESHAPING LONDON'S SKYLINE A peek into the future of the capital         BEST PROPERTIES IN LONDON The hottest houses on the market right now                       Great British Brands Season 2 Listen to season two of the Great British Brands podcast, and discover Michael Hayman in conversation with Deborah Pocock, CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, about the £3 billion craft industry, supporting the training and education of aspiring artisans, and how people are learning to love crafts again. Tune in today.           Q&A with... Mary Elizabeth Rankin of Savile Row Favourite British brand? All the Savile Row tailors and shops. Each has their unique style and the level of craftsmanship allows the customer to bring home something truly one-of-a-kind. Not to mention the inherent sustainability of bespoke tailoring. Hero? Sir David Attenborough. I admire his dedication to raising awareness around environmental issues. Weekend? The Cotswolds. I love spending time in the chocolate-box villages, going on long walks with my family and dog, and visiting as many pubs as possible. Meal? Sunday roast and sticky toffee pudding. Preferably at The Bull & Last near Hampstead Heath if I can get a table. Shop? Paxton & Whitfield. Undiscovered gem? The American Bar at The Stafford London. Idiosyncrasy? No other nation queues quite like the British – and I love it. Band? The Beatles. Car? Land Rover Series II Defender. I recently saw a stunning, fully converted electric one (by Everatti) at the Concours on Savile Row. Book? Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson. As a native North American living several years here in the UK, I identify with many of his observations. It’s light-hearted and I often find myself laughing aloud. Mary Elizabeth Rankin is the Marketing & Community Director at The Pollen Estate, majority owner of Savile Row           ALSO IN THE NEWS.... WHAT'S TRENDING IN BRITISH LUXURY? Beautiful new watches, Chelsea goes green, and a new rosé for summer sipping                         Win a Private Consultation with Tom Davies and a Bespoke Eyewear Wardrobe Luxury eyewear designer Tom Davies is offering one lucky person the chance to win a private one-to-one consultation and an eyewear wardrobe of three bespoke frames, altogether worth £10,000. Enter here           GREAT BRITISH & IRISH HOTELS 2022/23 200 incredible places to stay. Buy your copy here             Sign up for 12 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus supplements, and get instant access to every digital edition for only £19                       Copyright © 2021 Country & Town House   Our mailing address is:​ Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom                 CULTURE    FOOD & DRINK    TRAVEL    STYLE    INTERIORS    PROPERTY               I love beauty recommendations that really work, so I thought I’d share just a few genuine ones that friends have given me recently. For dewy, hydrated-looking skin, I’m told Chantecaille’s Future Skin does an amazing job. Just use over your favourite foundation and layer up. For cleansing, our beauty director swears by Decorté AQ cleansing oil, which is not too heavy or greasy and doesn’t leave a residue. She says its texture is fabulous too. I myself love Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10, the new breed of retinols (which can be super harsh), as recommended by Dr Uliana Gout, President of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine. For older skin, use very sparingly – perhaps once a week or so and evenly all over the face. So there you go, three products that work – straight from the horse’s mouth. Have a great week. Photo: 'Grandiflora Rose' wallpaper design by Designers Guild                   WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK       PADEL TENNIS It’s the sport everybody’s talking about – if not yet playing. A hybrid between squash and tennis, you’ll only find a handful of courts around the UK, but have no fear, this sport is here to stay. Find out more here.         SUMMER WEDDINGS I went to my first wedding as a guest of the parents rather than the betrothed. It meant I had to sit on the ‘grownup table’ and glance wistfully over at the vibrant young so full of youthful promise (and excess champagne). But if you’re a bride looking for a designer, check out our recommendations.         INSULATION Not exactly a sexy subject, but given the government’s ‘all talk, no action’ around meeting our net zero target, insulation is one area where we can all individually step up. Our draughty old houses need padding. Plus it will cut down on our heating bills. Win-win.         FIVE THINGS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS       There’s yet another reason to book a stay at Wilderness Reserve this July: a star-studded culinary pop-up featuring Sat Bains and KOL’s Santiago Lastra, among others.         Music and dance is the theme for this year’s London Art Week, which involves a mix of in-person and online exhibitions, plus concerts and an art trail. (Image courtesy of London Art Week)       Head to Chelsea Physic Garden on Tuesday for an evening of music on the lawn, with performances from some of London’s top emerging talent.         Running in collaboration with United Ukraine Foundation, a pop-up store is supporting Ukrainian slow fashion brands – check it out today on South Molton Street in Mayfair.       South Londoners, keep your eyes peeled for the launch of Robin and Sarah Gill’s new Brixton wine bar, Bottle & Rye – set to open its doors mid-July.         WHAT'S TRENDING ON C&TH       Sip your way through summer with our pick of the best rosé     From fedoras to caps, there’s a hat for every head – here’s how to wear them           Considering going blue for your bedroom? We have some inspiration     What to expect if you’re heading to Glyndebourne this year                       Win Two Tickets to Glorious Goodwood this July Fancy a day at the races this summer? Join Nicholson Gin, the official gin supplier of Goodwood Racecourse, for a day at ‘Glorious Goodwood’ this July.                   Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £19               Copyright © 2021 Country & Town House   Our mailing address is:​ Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom