SHH’s redesigns of the Barbican’s restaurants have won three major design awards in the space of just two weeks. Barbican Foodhall – the new ground floor restaurant and deli – and Barbican Lounge – the first floor bar and restaurant - were both named as winners in at the 2011 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, held last week at the East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, whilst the Barbican Lounge won a further award at the end of June in Monte Carlo at the 2011 International Hotel & Property Awards.

Helen Hughes, SHH’s Lead Designer on the project, commented, “It was a huge opportunity to work on the iconic feat of architecture that the Barbican represents. All we wanted was to do justice to it and we’re really happy that our design treatment has been so well received by our peers.”
At the 2011 Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, Barbican Lounge won the ‘Best Independent Restaurant’ Award and Barbican Foodhall the ‘Best Restaurant, Bar or Club in Another Space’ Award. Competition was tough, with the SHH schemes beating entries from some of London’s biggest name agencies. The international judging panel included Karim Rashid, top restaurant critic Fay Maschler; editors from Frame, Conde Nast Traveller, Yatzer and Monocle; Ian Callum of Jaguar Cars and Ravi Naidoo of Design Indaba.

At the 2011 International Hotel & Property Awards, held in Monte Carlo, SHH won the ‘Best Bar/Club/Lounge’ Award for Barbican Lounge. Barbican Foodhall was also shortlisted at the same awards.
SHH created new interiors for the spaces in Autumn 2010, with a brief to bring the food and beverage offer at the world-famous Barbican Centre up to the same standard as its arts and performance offer, as well as creating destination venues in their own right. SHH’s design approach, which fused a respect for the wonderful original architecture of the iconic buildings (including stripping back and revealing concrete ceilings and hammered aggregate walls) with bold new design interventions, such as the stacked olive-jar lighting (by PSLAB) in the Foodhall and the peacock-blue poured resin floor in the Lounge. The projects also celebrated the importance of great furniture, with SHH’s lead designer Helen Hughes working with furniture designer Stefan Bench to create three bespoke new seats for the two spaces, sitting alongside hand-picked reclaimed vintage seating, reissued vintage classics and, for the first floor terrace space, Robin Day polo chairs, in a nod to the Barbican’s original art director. The two spaces are linked by their outdoor terraces, which feature bespoke and striking ‘urban tree’ umbrellas, designed by Helen Hughes, together with planting by Chelsea Flower Show double-gold medallist garden designer Kate Gould.

Nick Rudlin, Director of Operations of the Barbican Foodhall and Lounge said, “This recognition is testament to the hard work and commitment of the designers, architects and the teams working at both the Foodhall and Lounge and we are thrilled to have won three great accolades.”
About SHH:
SHH is an architects’ practice and interiors consultancy, formed in 1992 by its three principals: Chairman David Spence, Managing Director Graham Harris and Creative Director Neil Hogan. With a highly international workforce and portfolio, the company initially made its name in ultra-high-end residential schemes, before extending its expertise to include leisure, workspace and retail. The company has had over 110 projects published in 70 leading book titles worldwide plus more than 65 architectural and design award wins and nominations to its name.
www.shh.co.uk
Images courtesy of Gareth Gardner

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS OPENS IN SELFRIDGES, LONDON - MONDAY 18 JULY 2011
Follow the butterflies into the enchanted garden of Van Cleef & Arpels as the renowned Parisian High Jewellery Maison opens its first boutique in Selfridges London this Monday 18 July.

Occupying a prime spot in the Selfridges Wonder Room on the ground floor, the new London boutique epitomises this sophisticated world of Van Cleef & Arpels with dark wood and lush eau du Nil carpeted floors, soft curtains and elegant, silk-satin covered Art Deco inspired furniture.

Visitors can discover the iconic Alhambra clover, which has brought the wearer luck, good health, fortune and love since its creation. The Alhambra motif comes in a variety of sizes and semi-precious stones, including turquoise, tiger’s eye, cornelian, lapis lazuli, grey and white mother of pearl, and onyx.

For those who prefer pure gold, the playful and refined Perlée collection is created from minute beads of both white and pink gold, inspired by the granulated borders of the Alhambra collection. Guests will also be enchanted by the Zip necklace, a true symbol of High Jewellery. Worn open as a necklace or zipped up into a bracelet, it captures the astonishing expertise of the Maison, consisting of two gold ribbons bordered with tiny hooks that fit into one another. The extreme precision of the gem-setting highlights the purity of the stones while the articulation technique gives the Zip an extraordinary flexibility, and allows the mechanism to function perfectly. As if by magic, the Zip necklace opens and closes as the elegant diamond set tassel moves the slider up and down.

Turning to the Watch Bar, visitors can marvel at the exquisite timepieces and Poetic Complications Timepieces of the Maison. Each watch requires hundreds of hours of work, with the virtuoso skills of the master watchmakers enhanced by enamellers and stonecutters. It is their complementary expertise that makes it possible to create these models, these poems of watchmaking whereby Van Cleef & Arpels explores the Poetry of Time through their Poetic Complications and Extraordinary Dials Collections.

As a welcoming and celebratory ode to this new partnership with Selfridges, Van Cleef & Arpels have created a new Magic Alhambra set, comprising a long sautoir and 3 motif earrings in rich yellow gold and deep green malachite, the colour combination inspired by the Vintage Alhambra necklace offered by Prince Rainier to Princess Grace of Monaco in the 1970s. The pieces will be available in Selfridges as a worldwide exclusive for a short period of time only.

We invite you to discover the enchanted world of Van Cleef & Arpels at Selfridges...www.vancleef-arpels.com
Complication Poetique, Extraordinary Dials, Alhambra, Perlée, and Poetry of Time are Trademarks of Van Cleef &Arpels.

WILLIAM CURLEY LAUNCHES AT HARRODS
Britain’s Best Chocolatier enters Britain’s most renowned department store…..
13th July saw the launch of William Curley, Britain’s Best Chocolatier, into Harrods, the world’s most exclusive department store. William’s award winning creations are now available in the exquisite and renowned Harrods Food Halls, alongside some of the world’s most luxurious and notable culinary brands.

Located in the Chocolate Room on the ground floor, William’s highly acclaimed chocolate range, including William’s Nostalgia range, couture chocolates and truffles, will appear alongside the most respected chocolate brands in the world.
July will also see William Curley launch into Harrods Patisserie department, which will feature a host of exciting new ranges including a section devoted to William Curley’s stunning patisserie.
2011 has been a successful year for William who was named as ‘Britain’s Best Chocolatier’ by the Academy of Chocolate for the fourth year running (2007-2011). Passionate about chocolate making, William’s chocolates, patisseries and desserts are renowned the world over.
www.williamcurley.co.uk
William Curley: 198 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 8UN10 Paved Court, Richmond, TW9 1LZ

KISSBERRY – HOW TO KISS STRAWBERRIES!
Kissberry owner Arif Sanal, together with business partner Björn Schwamborn, has developed the Kissberry ice-cream parlour in Bremen as a pilot project for a system catering business.

International restaurant-fitter Reinhold Keller provided a single-source solution: From the initial design concept to the trade implementation, from the furniture through to the kitchen technology, from the ceiling construction to the building service, all requirements were fulfilled by this single firm, already well known to top names in the business such as McDonald’s. After just 8 weeks of planning time and a 21-day construction period, the ‘Eiscafé’ welcomed its first customers in July 2010.

Kissberry offers customers the chance to create their own custom-made ice-cream from a range of fresh and colourful fruits, yoghurts and ice-creams – a modern, unique and exciting concept. The parlour interior features a simple product board to cater to the many international visitors, large-scale photographs of fresh fruit, and a mixture of both bright tones and earthy colours adorning the walls and furniture – designed to inspire a fresh and natural sensation in more than just the products on offer!

The idea of creating a custom-made ice-cream in front of the eyes of the customer, as well as an all-year round opening time means that the newly opened Kissberry ice-cream parlour will appeal to a whole range of customers from a variety of different age-groups.

A photo-gallery of the project can be seen at: www.reinholdkeller.com.

A PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER - GALVIN AT WINDOWS CELEBRATES THE PROMS SEASON THIS SUMMER

As we move into mid-summer, The Proms season begins – a spectacular annual event presenting world class talent. With this year’s distinctive French theme of concerts taking place at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, just a stone’s throw away, Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows will celebrate The Proms with a ‘performance’ of top-class French cuisine, accompanied by a glass of Champagne. A pre dinner cocktail – “The Perfect Prom” – is also designed exclusively for the occasion, lending itself to a French theme. Promming has never been so delicious.

The restaurant’s highly-acclaimed Head Chef André Garrett, is set to amaze both the serious gourmand and the inquisitive palate with an exquisitely designed set lunch and dinner Proms menu featuring Seared foie gras, spiced duck pastilla, confit lemon & date consommé; Braised turbot, cucumber, oyster, linguini, wasabi & oyster velouté; and Hot soufflé of banana, chocolate & caramelised peanut . This memorable fusion of dishes is designed to pair perfectly with a musical evening of Fauré, Debussy, French Baroque or Jazz Francais.

Galvin at Windows talented Bar Manager, Marco Ercolano, has orchestrated a special Proms themed cocktail with a French twist. The Perfect Prom is a delicious fusion of French ingredients, including Dubonnet, Mandarin Napoleon, Vodka, orange,and lemon zest with thyme, shaken and topped up with Pommery Champagne, then served in a coupette and garnished with fresh raspberries - quite a performance in itself.

Just a short walk or taxi ride away from the Royal Albert Hall, Galvin at Windows is located on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. Offering panoramic views and sitting on the cusp of Hyde Park, Galvin at Windows presents the perfect dining experience with its performance of French culinary talent for pre or post Proms concert goers, or even during Last Night of the Proms in the Park on 10th September.

The set lunch and dinner Proms menu is available from 15 July – 10 Sept and starts at £29 per person to £65 per person (lunch and dinner) and includes half a bottle of House Champagne for two people. The offer applies to parties of up to six people and is available from Monday to Friday in select sittings (12-12:30pm, 2:00-2:30pm, 6:00-6:30pm and from 10:00pm until 9 September 2011 subject to availability). The Perfect Prom cocktail is available at Galvin at Windows bar from 6:00pm and is priced at £15.25.

Customers are advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment. To make a reservation please call +44 (0) 20 7208 4021 or visit www.galvinatwindows.com

EAT, SEE, AND LEARN: THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE NAPA VALLEY
Local Napa Valley wine educator serves Wine Train guests sensory wine tasting tips dosed with local history.

(NAPA, CA) The Napa Valley Wine Train has just launched a new wine appreciation class that explores food, wine and Napa winery history. The course entitled “Eat, See, Learn,” encourages guests to relish every moment and deeply explore each bite and sip while traveling through and learning about one of the most beautiful places in the world.

“Eat, See, Learn” is hosted by well-known Napa local, Richard Miami, who is a Wine Educator at Robert Mondavi Winery. Miami was born and raised in St. Helena, California, and has worked for Domaine Chandon, COPIA, and as an entertaining tour consultant for both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

During the class, Miami will stroll through the Vista Dome while he discusses the Robert Mondavi wines and shares stories and facts about Napa History, as well as about Mr. Mondavi. But Miami isn’t the only main event for the afternoon, he shares the stage with the fresh, gourmet cuisine of the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Executive Chef, Kelly Macdonald.

All of the Wine Train’s rail cars have been restored with an eye to authenticity, but the Vista Dome Car is extra special. The 1952 Vista Dome is one of only of a handful of full dome cars made by Pullman and it truly exudes elegance. The two story car consists of the private kitchen on the ground level, and the exclusive dining room on the second level. The dining area is surrounded by large, curved windows, which give passengers an unobstructed and elevated view of Napa.
$165 per person
Classes held on select dates only: June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, Aug 15 and Aug 29
http://winetrain.com/events/wine-tasting-class

winetrain.com

The Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most unique and best Napa restaurants. This top dining establishment is housed in an antique train that runs on 25-miles of track in the heart of the Napa Valley. The train itself has two engines, three kitchens on board and a collection of early 20th century rail cars that are pure Americana. It offers guests great regional food and fabulous, hard-to-find wines. Enjoy winery tours, wine tasting on board, and celebrity winemaker dinners: A great place to celebrate your special moments, or just to enjoy everyday life. (800) 427-4124 winetrain.com

THE CONSERVATORIUM HOTEL, AMSTERDAM
The Conservatorium Hotel occupies the famous site of Amsterdam’s former Sweelinck music conservatorium. Originally built at the end of the 19th Century and conceived by the renowned Dutch architect Daniel Knuttel as the Rijkspostspaarbank Building, the construction heralded an urban regeneration of the Museumplein, an area which had been left previously derelict. Knuttel was praised for his ability to fuse simplicity and functionality, and the award-winning Milan-based furniture and interiors designer Piero Lissoni has embraced this tradition through the re-incarnation of this spectacular building 100 years later.

Against the backdrop of the building’s incredibly rich history, the hotel has been consistently imbued with Lissoni’s signature style. Known for his austere lines, demure fabrics and shades of grey that are occasionally dotted by the appearance of bright accents, Lissoni is considered one of the most prominent and exciting contemporary Italian designers. His clean designs are a hybrid of modernist and contemporary chic and contrast playfully with the on-going bath of natural daylight throughout the building’s airy spaces.

Furniture from leading Italian manufactures such as Kartell and Cassina sits prominently in all communal spaces while accent pieces such as vintage Asian rugs provide a sense familiar comfort. According to Lissoni, “The sophisticated simplicity of the hotel was conceived with the hope of creating a personal atmosphere and ambience whereby guests and visitors alike instantly feel naturally at home. This balance of beautiful design and hospitable warmth is key to all of my projects and a key facet to my collaborations with the Mamilla and Conservatorium hotels.”

Pioneering guest rooms
The Conservatorium Hotel is comprised of 129 rooms and occupies eight floors with room categories in the property ranging from superior, deluxe, grand deluxe and suites of varying sizes. Paying homage to the building’s original lofty ceilings and almost half of the rooms have been configured into stunning duplex layout with oversized functional windows and exposed structural beams. The rooms, all with natural daylight and double glazed windows, range in size from 30m2 to a spacious 170m2.

A destination for world-class food and drink venues
An integral pillar of the vision of The Conservatorium Hotel is the creation of restaurant and bar areas that will not just appeal to hotel guests but will become destinations in their own right for locals and international visitors, thereby imbuing the hotel with a wider responsibility in the local culture. All dining venues at The Conservatorium Hotel will be under the helm of celebrated Dutch chef, Schilo van Coevorden, whose style of food has continuously evolved throughout the years, adapting and adopting traditions from all over the world while retaining the virtues of simplicity and focus on locality and seasonality.

Guests, local residents, and visitors are able to soak in the first morning sunlight with the finest coffee, teas, and cakes from The Lounge where they can absorb the daily news from the comfort of the various plush oversized sofas located in the elegant Atrium space. Set to become a cornerstone for both social gatherings and informal business meetings, The Atrium also boasts an informal Brasserie offering classic and light all-day dining including salads, sandwiches, and seasonal plat du jour.

In addition to The Brasserie, the hotel’s specialty restaurant — located on the first floor and overlooking The Atrium and the Paulus Potterstraat (home of the Van Gogh and Stedelijk museums) – offers local dishes from regionally-sourced ingredients while magnificent open-plan kitchens enchant the restaurant’s guests. For drinks, The Bar is the ultimate watering hole in the city for sophisticated mixology, with an internationally inspired drinks list, a separate elevated smoking lounge, chic décor, DJ and gourmet tapas style food.

The Conservatorium Hotel and its family of hotels promises dedication to the highest level of luxury and an elegant, personalized service. These hotels build on the individual values and heritage of each location to create new, contemporary, world-class destinations that offer international and local communities extraordinary design and interiors, state of the art technology, innovative dining and entertainment venues and exclusive and inspiring holistic wellbeing spa & gym centers.

The discovery rate at The Conservatorium Hotel during the soft opening starts from € 355 per room per night.

www.conservatoriumhotel.com

THORNTONS LAUNCHES SECOND CENTENARY CHOCOLATE BLOCK ADDING TO THE AWARD WINNING RANGE
Thorntons has added a new limited edition bar to its award winning Chocolate Blocks collection. The Cloudy Lemonade bar is part of a collection based on classic British flavours. Thorntons Master Chocolatier, Keith Hurdman has added lemon oil and popping candy to white chocolate to create this unique bar. Made with 100% Dominican Republic cocoa butter (no vegetable fats or artificial colours or flavours), the white chocolate is loaded with popping candy. It’s sweet, fun and delicious, the perfect bar of chocolate for summer.
The British flavours collection is being launched throughout the year to mark Thorntons’ 100 year anniversary. The first was a Rose bar, Cloudy Lemonade is the second launch and will be followed by Bakewell Tart in the Autumn.
Made using some of the finest cocoa beans from around the world and combining deliciously unique flavours, Chocolate Blocks are truly sublime. Each bar comes in its own brightly coloured square box, with a stylish colour for every flavour.

The chocolate block collection is available in all Thorntons stores and online at www.thorntons.co.uk
RRP: £1.79 each

PRESTIGIOUS NEW MEMBERS CLUB COMPLETES IMPRESSIVE TRIPLE ASPECT VENUE

Broadway House, a new members only club in Fulham, West London, is set to open early August completing what will be the area’s first triple aspect venue.

Renowned operator Brenhan Magee has already successfully opened both The Broadway Bar and Grill and Brasa on the site. The first is a substantial 300 capacity brasserie bar and grill, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and a bite to eat. The second is a stylish restaurant on the first floor with a New York loft-style vibe, offering a distinctly British menu.

Founding memberships to Broadway House cost £300 per annum. Those registering pre-opening can take advantage of an off-plan incentive in the form of £150 credited to their membership account - redeemable against food and drink throughout the entire venue. Attracting a flurry of membership requests, construction of Broadway House has begun with completion anticipated within two months.

Members of this exclusive new venue will enjoy 5,000 square feet of luxury, with stunning open-plan spaces offering views over the bustling Fulham Broadway. Broadway House will be a home from home for its members, the perfect place to relax, eat, drink and socialise with like-minded people. The members club will have an extensive cocktail bar and two secluded roof terraces – a feature unique to the Fulham area. An exquisite lounge area on the upstairs terrace will provide guests with a beautiful summer sanctuary. An adjacent barbeque adds to the ambiance, serving food during the warmer months. A selection of private function rooms will also be available, suitable for all occasions from meetings and conferences, though to parties and celebrations.

The off-plan membership incentive for Broadway House is available now, for a limited time only. Those interested should call 020 7610 3137 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information. Alternatively, membership forms can be downloaded at www.broadway-house.co.uk.

Broadway House
474 - 476 Fulham Broadway
London
SW6 1BY
Tel: 0207 610 3137
Web: www.broadway-house.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com
Opening Hours: 12pm – 1am

BUPA LAUNCHES NEW FITNESS ASSESSMENT

Bupa is launching this month a new Fitness Assessment which has been designed to help all athletes understand their fitness levels and improve their performance, from the advanced triathlete to the newly keen runner.

Previously, detailed fitness assessments were the preserve of professional athletes and Bupa’s new Fitness Assessment is the first of its kind to be made widely available to the public. The test analyses in detail the user’s fitness levels, then works with this information to identify the different types of training and exercise that will help them achieve their very best.

No matter what the fitness goal is, Bupa Fitness Assessment offers invaluable insight to improve performance. It has been developed to provide bespoke advice to amateur runners, cyclists and triathletes - or simply someone looking to use exercise as a means of losing excess weight.

Britain’s number one distance runner Mo Farah recently trialled the test and said: “I found the stats fascinating. I’ve only ever seen these types of test available for elite athletes, so it’s brilliant that everyone can now go along and find out how fit they are!”

The hour-long assessment, carried out at a specialist Bupa Centre, involves three key stages:
A pre-fitness test to measure body composition and assess blood pressure and lung function
A full fitness analysis, which consists of a cardio-respiratory fitness test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill, using detailed breath-by-breath gas analysis to calculate fitness levels and produce an individual o2 Max reading[1]
A post-test consultation, which allows the user to benchmark their performance against peers and professional athletes. Advice on how to improve all round cardiovascular fitness is given as well as a comprehensive health and fitness action plan and results analysis.

The assessment is currently performed in the fitness rooms at Bupa Centres across London at a special introductory rate of £149 (usual price £199) up until the end of July. The new assessment will be available across the rest of the UK from July. Further Information can be found at Bupa.co.uk/vo2max.

Dr Peter Mace, Assistant Medical Director of Bupa said: “By helping individuals understand their current exercise responses, the Fitness Assessment will give them a much clearer view of their strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly it will provide an indication of what they can do to improve their fitness and meet their goals. Bupa can ensure that you train the right way to get to where you want to be.”

1] The maximum rate of oxygen (O2) consumption by the body during exercise, commonly written as o2 Max , is the standard measure of aerobic endurance fitness.

ROMANTIC SUMMERTIME STAYS AT LE COUVENT D’HÉRÉPIAN LUXURY RETREAT & SPA, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

This summer, Garrigae’s luxury boutique hotel Le Couvent d’Hérépian, a lovingly restored 17th Century Convent, is enticing couples into the heart of the Haut-Languedoc for a romantic break or relaxing wellness getaway with two sumptuous packages:
Honeymoon at Le Couvent –The perfect escape for those who have recently tied the knot and couples still enjoying the honeymoon period. The Honeymoon at Le Couvent package includes;

• One night in a Deluxe Suite with terrace, and breakfast delivered at your request
• A bottle of Champagne and bonbons upon arrival
• An in-suite candlelit dinner, including a bottle of Château de Raissac (red, white or rosé)
• Private use of the spa for one hour
Prices start from £270 for two persons
Wellness Getaway - Designed to offer couples a weekend of complete serenity and wellbeing. The Wellness Getaway package includes;
• One night in a Deluxe Suite with breakfast
• One hour massage of choice from Garrigae’s extensive organic treatment list including the relaxing Hot Stone Massage and pampering Ayurvedic Kansu Bowl Massage with Warm Oils, per person.
Prices start from £140 per person

Offering a choice of 13 individual suites, many boasting sweeping views of the surrounding countryside, a bijou spa nestled beneath historic vaults, offering pampering treatments with organic products crafted from local Mediterranean herbs, plants and fruits and a convivial Table d’hote for a relaxed dinner created from the freshest produce from the day’s market, Le Couvent d’Hérépian is the ideal sanctuary for a romantic break à deux.
For further information please contact Garrigae Resorts on +33 467 11 87 15 or visit www.garrigae-resorts.com

AL FRESCO DINING… NOW AT BRASSERIE VACHERIN
Indulge in light summer dishes and a glass of rosé on Brasserie Vacherin’s al fresco patio – perfect for lazy lunches and enjoying long summer evenings.
Now serving a new a la carte menu, light snacks and drinks, Brasserie Vacherin brings flavours of traditional Parisian cuisine to the great outdoors. Choose from the highly tempting hors d’oeuvres menu such as mussels, tomato, garlic & chilli or homemade chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche. Mains on the menu include a delicious selection of Grilled steaks, lamb, chicken & salmon dishes or a classic confit red onion & goats cheese tart. This summer, Brasserie Vacherin is also serving half a grilled native lobster and fries for £15.95. Desserts on the menu include favourites such as chocolate fondant with raspberry sorbet and Tarte fine aux pommes with caramel ice-cream.

The carefully compiled wine list features some excellent value wines with an impressive selection by the glass and carafe such as Sauvignon de Touraine Domaine Guy Allion 2009, Pinot Noir La Boussole Languedoc 2009 and Elegance Cote de Provence Rose 2010.

A welcome respite from the busy high street, the patio garden seats up to 50 and the set menu is available all day, every day. If the unpredictable British summer should bring showers, the wine bar at Brasserie Vacherin is also serving a new tapas menu perfect for leisurely drinks. Choose from Salt cod croquettes, Chorizo sausage & haricot blanc, Chilli & lime prawns or Home cured gravadlax blinis.
Brasserie Vacherin
12, High Street
Sutton
SM1 1HN
020 8722 0180
Monday to Friday, 8am – 11pm
Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 11pm
2 courses for £14.00, 3 courses for £16.95.

THE THREE OAKS NOW OPEN IN GERRARD’S CROSS

Henry and Katherine Cripps are delighted to announce the launch of their latest project, The Three Oaks (Austenwood Lane, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8NL; 01753 899 016). The property which opened on 1st July in the village of Gerrard’s Cross, Buckinghamshire, is the third property from the couple, who also own The White Oak in Cookham and The Greene Oak in Windsor. The new venture will cross the bridge between country pub and restaurant, offering locals and visitors to the area quality British food within a relaxed and informal environment.

The kitchen offers diners a regularly changing menu focusing on British classics and is overseen by Executive Group Head Chef Jack Woolner (The Snooty Fox, Lowick and The Pheasant, Keystone), who has worked for the group for three years. Dishes take full advantage of the finest seasonal ingredients and much effort has gone into sourcing local suppliers to ensure the best possible quality. Dishes include: roasted rump of lamb with creamed spinach gnocchi, braised scrag end and mint jus; roasted Cornish hake fillet with chorizo potato cake, rocket salad and salsa verde; and confit duck leg with ham hock and broad bean risotto and a duck jus.

Desserts include a range of traditional favourites such as apple and amaretto Bakewell tart, crème brûlée with raspberry sorbet and warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. A set menu is also available priced at £15 for two courses and £19 for three courses. Claire Beckwith, previously General Manager at Michelin starred The Crown at Whitebrook, joins as Group Senior Manager.

Situated only an hour from London, The Three Oaks is a perfect destination for locals and travelers alike. With Jack Woolner at the helm, The Three Oaks is set to become a welcome addition to the local community and the UK foodie map.

http://thethreeoaksgx.co.uk/

BRIGHTON GOES POP
New restaurant and bar launches in Brighton
Brighton, a city brimming with personality and style, has a hot new restaurant to take to its heart. POP Restaurant and Bar at The Royal York Hotel will unite a sumptuous mix of city chic with bohemian seaside charisma in a vibrant and bustling Brighton surrounding, just minutes from the famous Palace Pier.

The regency hotel opens the doors to POP this month, celebrating the tastes and flavours of acclaimed chef Neal Brunning.

Neal Brunning joins the team from The Courtyard in Brighton. As Executive Head Chef of POP, Brunning has created a menu that celebrates the restaurant’s seaside location and local suppliers. The menu includes Roast Cod and Clam Chowder; Risotto of Crab, Avocado Ice Cream; Pan Seared Wild Sea Bass Fillet with Crab beignet; and Bitter Chocolate Tart with Parsnip Ice Cream.

A true celebration of food, Brunning’s menu – with all fresh ingredients locally sourced within 50 miles of the restaurant – will change every two to three weeks.

The vibrant and welcoming POP bar – with its mish-mash of furniture, modern and local artwork, bold colours and spattering of traditional features and furnishings – echoes the overall feel of this boutique Regency hotel. The 51-bed Royal York celebrates its history alongside the more modern design statements expected in a 4* boutique hotel.

Cocktails take an innovative look at traditional favourites – Bloody Mary served with crispy bacon – and bring new tastes to the seafront bar. The Lady Gaga is a stunningly quirky cocktail of vodka, Chambord, Drambuie, strawberry and double cream – a cocktail that lives up to its namesake.

POP will be managed by Nicola Delmege, a well-known face in Brighton having owned and run The PV @ The Jury’s Out, Brighton since 2003.

POP restaurant and bar takes a stylish look at tradition – the interiors, food and drink are all traditional with a chic twist that makes POP a special experience and Brighton’s most exciting new restaurant & bar. q

POP soft opens in July ahead of the official launch on 9th September.

For more information please visit www.royalyorkbrighton.co.uk/pop-restaurant-and-bar / www.evensus.com/pop

POP Bright – Contact Details
Address
POP, 41-43 Old Steine,?Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1NP
http://www.royalyorkbrighton.co.uk/
Tel 01273 766 809

CABARET FLORIDITA
Cabaret Floridita is returning to Floridita Soho (100 Wardour Street, London W1F 0TN) and from Wednesday 13th July the restaurant will play host to cutting edge cabaret act The Globe Girls and will be offering entry to the restaurant and a three course dinner for £35. The menu will offer a choice of dishes including Salmon and tiger prawn ceviche with coconut and lime, Spit roast suckling pig with garlic, lime and oregano and Charcoal grilled chicken Churrasco, wild lemon and pico de gallo as well as desserts such as White chocolate and vanilla cheesecake and Banana and acai sorbet, poached pineapple and lemon shortbread. All this will be set against the back drop of The Globe Girls, a captivating, fabulous and glitzy act straight from the London’s West End. There will also be a variety of other special guests, all performing songs from different eras.
For more information please visit: http://www.floridita.co.uk/london/cabaret.php

Please Note: ?All information is supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. The views and opinions expressed by the individual companies, agencies and other contributors are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Hot Brands Cool Places. Inclusion in a news item does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, promotions, or news items. Recipes have not been tested by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.