Posted on

London’s Best Mother’s Day Flowers

Flowers remain the classic Mother’s Day gift. We’ve picked out the very best florists across London for bouquet delivery. Order early to guarantee delivery on Mothering Sunday, 11 March:

West London: Scarlet and Violet 

The name behind Kate Moss’s wedding flowers, Scarlet and Violet consistently ranks amongst London’s very top florist’s. Make time to visit the Kensal Rise shop for the visual splendour of flowers, chatter and bustling creativity. You can choose your own favourites, either in person or over the phone, setting a budget. Or take inspiration from the styles online, but bear in mind that the bouquets vary day-to-day depending on what’s available at the market. A trusted favourite. From £50. scarletandviolet.com

East London: That Flower Shop

Hattie is possibly the best florist in London right now. An artist whose palette is flowers, her creatively ambitious bouquets are akin to paintings. We love the wild shapes and textures in this Imitation of Life bouquet (£80). Prices start from £38. thatflowershop.co.uk

Further East: Rebel Rebel

If your mother likes colour, this is the florist to choose. Bright and bold bouquets are the order of the day at Rebel Rebel. The florist’s have a stall at Old Spitalfields Market Mon – Sun 11am – 7pm, and Broadway Market on Saturday’s or you can order online by 9 March for Mother’s Day delivery. From £50. rebelrebel.co.uk

North London: Augustus Bloom

Augustus Bloom delivers beautiful hand-tied bouquets with their own ‘menu cards’ that list out all the flowers used in the arrangements. With delivery on Mother’s Day itself, £45–£100 + £5 delivery. augustusbloom.com

Central London: Bloomsbury Flowers

Set up by former Royal Ballet dancers Stephen Wicks and Mark Welford, Bloomsbury Flowers occupies a small but abundant shop in Covent Garden. As the official Firmdale Hotel florists’ they also have a space in Ham Yard and provide all the flowers for the hotel, most recently beautiful planted baskets of spring narcissi. Order your bouquets by calling 020 7242 2840 or online bloomsburyflowers.co.uk

South London: Jam Jar

Holding some of London’s most desirable weekly contracts, from Chiltern Firehouse to Daylesford to Spring, Jam Jar flowers are chosen with impeccable, truly seasonal taste. As the name suggests their bouquets are all delivered in a jar – the signature JamJar costs £50 ascending to Pickle Jar, Kilner Jar, Giant Jar and finally, Enamel Buckets at £150. jamjarflowers.co.uk

Outside London: Scented Narcissi from The Blue Box Flower Company 

Go British and order stems of scented narcissi from the Isles of Scilly. The Blue Box Flower Company work with a number of flower farmers on the islands who have been growing narcissi since the 1800’s. A truly lovely gift. From £26 for 50 stems delivered across the UK. scentednarcissi.co.uk

Posted on

4 Steps to Spring Skin

With spring approaching it’s time for a beauty refresh. This simple, four-step plan will have tired and lacklustre skin glowing fast:

Cleanser
A supercharged cleanser will remove built up debris, exfoliate and calm the complexion. Rich in vitamins, Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel is a cult beauty buy that deeply cleanses and restores the skin with its gel-to-oil formula.

Exfoliator
Acids are the latest trend to sweep the skin care industry, credited as the key to a dewy glow. The key ingredients to look for are Glycolic, Salicylic and Lactic acids, ideally in a combination formula. REN have recently launched their Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, and it is a real game changer renewing the skin, minimising pores and creating a brightening effect. Glossier’s Solution is another good option that combines all 3 acids and promises to transform skin in 4 weeks.

Protector
Vitamin C is the key antioxidant for anyone living in a city. Skinceuticals C E Ferulic comes with a hefty price tag but delivers a real punch that has kept it at the top of many beauty Best Buys list for years. More affordable versions include Glossier’s Super Glow and The Ordinary’s selection of Vitamin C formulas are great. Watch out for The Ordinary’s new powder Vitamin C which is coming soon.

Moisturiser
Finally, invest in a good moisturiser that contains Hyaluronic acid – yes more acids for your face, but don’t let that alarm you. Hyaluronic acid is the body’s own hydrating molecule and is able to absorb 1,000 times its own weight in water which helps our skin stay plump and supple. Vichy’s Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturiser, combines the healing powers of thermal water alongside Hyaluronic Acid to give skin a real surge of hydration. Medik8 Hyrd8 B5 Skin Rehydration Serum, is Hyaluronic in a serum form which can be applied before your usual moisturiser, or mixed in. Again Glossier also do a fantastic serum called Super Bounce, which won’t break the bank.

Posted on

Bruce Oldfield In Conversation at the Chelsea Physic Garden

For many designers there is a clear synergy between between the fashion and horticultural worlds – and a steady stream of inspiration flows from the latter into international fashion collections. So Bruce Oldfield’s upcoming In Conversation with writer and garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair at the Chelsea Physic Garden sounds like an intriguing evening. The pair will discuss how gardens have inspired Oldfield’s work and the role of flowers and gardening in his life. It promises to be a fun and revealing hour with a British couturier who has counted so many incredible woman amongst his friends and clients. It’s also a great opportunity to have a wander around the glorious spring gardens of the venue at a magical time of year too.

Posted on

Do you and a friend want to see Hamilton?

To celebrate our relaunch, we are giving away to one lucky reader (plus a friend) the opportunity to go and see the hottest show in town.  We went to see it last December and loved every minute!  Enter the competition below to be in with a chance to win.  The winning entrant will be informed after the closing date on 26 March 2018.

Please note that due to the strict anti-tout rules of the Victoria Palace Theatre, we are unable to give tickets to the winner directly.  To attend Hamilton, the theatre goer must have the booking number, the card the tickets were booked through and their passport.  Accordingly, the winner will be directly reimbursed for their purchase (tickets are currently available from September – December 2018).

Good luck!

Posted on

The Allbright: London’s New Women-Only Members’ Club

#MeToo has had a timely impact on subscription enquiries to The Allbright, the first all-female private members’ club opening today near Oxford Street. The club has all the makings of a powerhouse with huge ambitions to be a space for women to create, connect and collaborate. The impressive array of celebrity founding members, including Mary Katrantzou and Tara Fitzgerald, will certainly help the launch.

Members and E-Yuan kaufen associates have the benefits of rubbing shoulders with mentors and angel investors to inspire and hone your business vision whether you’re a new start-up, in finance or the arts. Or simply want a place to hang with other like-minded women over a drink or a blow dry.

With more than a nod to its Bloomsbury setting, each of the five floors is themed after one of the Bloomsbury set with Virginia Woolf’s declaration that women need ‘to have money and a room of her own’ being central to its ethos. The interiors have been designed by No 12 Studio, featuring jewel-toned velvet, sleek marble, and clean white walls, though each floor promises a different feel. 

What does this new opening mean for men’s clubs of yesteryear and the mixed Soho House we wonder … the dynamics between the sexes is really changing and we are excited. 

Posted on

Semlor Buns for Lent at Bageriet

In the middle of Lent the stretch to Easter can feel endless, especially with freezing temperatures outside. Scandi semlor buns offer the ideal antidote. The warming cardamom buns filled with marzipan and whipped cream are traditionally served during Lent with a hetvägg (hot cinnamon milk) on the side, or better still, poured on top.  The best in London are found at Swedish bakery, Bageriet. It should be impossible to manage a whole one yourself but actually it’s easy – the bun is incredibly light with a delicious, textured almond paste inside. Available every day until Easter.

 

Posted on

A Look Inside Kettner’s Townhouse

Fans of the Dean Street outpost will love newly-opened Kettner’s Townhouse, the latest addition from the Soho House group. Dating back to 1867, Kettner’s was one of the first restaurants in London to serve French food, with August Kettner rumoured to have been chef to Napoleon III. The toast of town through the ages from Winston Churchill to Bing Crosby have enjoyed a glass of fizz in the glamorous Champagne Bar. Original features such as the 1920’s tiled floor and an original 18th century spiral staircase have been retained giving the feel of a classic French bistro infused with characteristic Soho House style; there’s a marble-topped walnut bar, pretty lighting and printed banquette seating.

Upstairs, the 33 bedrooms feature William Morris wallpapers, antique chandeliers and green velvet scalloped headboards. The jewel in the crown is the Jacobean Suite that has it’s own private entrance and a freestanding copper bathtub.

Perfect for a post-theatre drink, you don’t need to be a member to enjoy the Champagne Bar, restaurant or to book a room.

Hot on the heels of Kettner’s, White City House in West London opens in April. Watch this space.

Posted on

New Brit Brand Isabelle Fox

Bringing a breath of fresh air into our wardrobe classics, Isabelle Fox is the brand of the moment. From simple black dresses to a well-cut pair of trousers, Isabelle Waring uses high-quality fabrics and takes influence from her couture-trained grandmother (surname Fox). The pieces are inspired by Edie Sedgwick, Jean Shrimpton, Audrey Hepburn and Rita Hayworth so think fitted waists, longer hems and flattering necklines. We love the new SS18 collection that has us dreaming of warmer days with its colourful button-down sundresses and playful wide-legged trousers.

Made in England, the new pieces are available to pre-order now for delivery at the end of March.

Posted on

Annaliv Snowsuits for Babies

Wrap up warm and brave the Beast from the East with Annaliv’s Scandi snowsuits for babies and toddlers. The Nordic brand’s Hygge hoodies with ears, shearling-lined bloomers and Little Grow’s in organic cotton are ideal for chilly, winter days. The Booties and Bloomers in a Box also make a lovely present for winter snow babies.

Little Grow – Stripe, £65.00  annaliv.co.uk

Posted on

A Look Inside Kettner’s Townhouse

Fans of the Dean Street outpost will love newly-opened Kettner’s Townhouse, the latest addition from the Soho House group. Dating back to 1867, Kettner’s was one of the first restaurants in London to serve French food, with August Kettner rumoured to have been chef to Napoleon III. The toast of town through the ages from Winston Churchill to Bing Crosby have enjoyed a glass of fizz in the glamorous Champagne Bar. Original features such as the 1920’s tiled floor and an original 18th century spiral staircase have been retained to give the feel of a classic French bistro, but infused with characteristic Soho House style; there’s a marble-topped walnut bar, pretty lighting and printed banquette seating. Upstairs, the 33 bedrooms feature William Morris wallpapers, chandeliers and green velvet scalloped headboards. The jewel in the crown is the Jacobean Suite that has it’s own private entrance and a freestanding copper bathtub. You don’t need to be a member to enjoy a late-night cocktail, dinner or to book a room. Hot on the heels of Kuttner’s, White City House in West London opens this April. Watch this space.

Posted on

Three new London Restaurants to book now

1. Scully

“Chef Scully has an insatiable appetite for bold flavours and irreverent blends of ingredients; his kitchen is an exciting and unexpected place to be.’

Any restaurant opening that gets Ottolenghi excited is going to be very good indeed. Scully, the first solo venture from Ramael Scully, the former head chef at NOPI opens 1st March. After years of cooking alongside Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi the new restaurant, backed by the Ottolenghi family, will serve dishes reflective of Scully’s Chinese, Indian, Balinese and Irish descent.

The array of brightly coloured jars of pickles, syrups, shrubs, preserves and fermented fruit and vegetables that greet you as you enter the St James’s Market restaurant also provide the foundations of the menu. Dishes include Baby Beetroot Jerky with Green Cardamom Cream and Puffed Beef Tendons with Kilpatrick and Oyster Mayo. Watch Scully and his team in the central open kitchen whilst you enjoy a Pandan Daiquiri at the bar – white rum infused with pandan leaf, mixed with cordial made from the leftover citrus husks used by the restaurant.

Both walk-ins and bookings taken scullyrestaurant.com

4 St. James’s Market, W1Y 4AH

2. Evelyn’s Table

Set around a tiny, marble horseshoe bar with just 11 seats, Evelyn’s Table is the latest opening from siblings Zoe and Layo Paskin (The Palomar, The Barbary, Jacob the Angel). The kitchen bar makes use of the former beer cellar beneath Chinatown pub, The Blue Posts and you can have a pint upstairs, or at first-floor bar, The Mulwray whilst you wait for a table. The locally-sourced menu includes Cuttlefish ragout, Polenta bramata and Mammole artichoke and Rock salt fillet of beef with bone marrow. Pre-booking advised, although spaces at the two tables adjacent to the bar are reserved for walk-ins.

theblueposts.co.uk

28 Rupert St, W1D 6DN

3. The Petersham and La Goccia at Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden

Waiting for Petersham’s new restaurants to open feels a bit like waiting for spring to arrive; we are more than ready. Now the date has been set and on 23 April, The Petersham, La Goccia and the Floral Court will open their doors. The Petersham will be the more formal, classic restaurant serving lunch and dinner with pre and post theatre menus including day boat fish from Cornwall and organic meat from Haye Farm. The interiors are inspired by Petersham House in Richmond, so expect Murano glassware and elegant contemporary art. La Goccia will be the buzzy little sister; an all-day open kitchen with a wood fired oven and grill serving cicchetti, pizzette and fritti. La Goccia Bar will mix Petersham’s new signature cocktails using botanicals, herbs and edible flowers. In summer the tables will spill onto the Floral Courtyard, across which you’ll be able to pick up ingredients to take home at the Delicatessen.

Both The Petersham and La Goccia are now taking bookings ahead of their opening on 23 April. petershamnurseries.com

31 King St, WC2E 8JD

 

Posted on

Debut Cookbook and Restaurant from Tart London

Avid readers’ of Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison’s ES Magazine food column, we’re awaiting the opening of the pair’s first London restaurant, Eccleston Place this summer with giddy anticipation. If you can’t wait until then, their debut cookbook A Love of Eating: Recipes by Tart London is out in April. Featuring over 100 characteristically bright and inviting recipes, the book includes all sorts of ideas from one-pot weeknight wonders to long and lazy weekend lunches.

We’ve had a sneak peek at the book and will be sharing their recipe for Saffron Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes, Crispy Chickpeas and Buckwheat Labneh in our newsletter on 12 April (publication day) so keep your eyes peeled.

It’s goodbye for now…

The team at A Little Bird are taking a break to recharge and make some exciting changes behind-the-scenes. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

CONTINUE TO SITE

A Little Bird Told Me…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO STAY IN-THE-NOW. ONLY LANDING IN YOUR INBOX ON THURSDAY MORNINGS AT 11AM.