A recently refurbished stunning new gastropub perfect for drinking, dining and socialising. With great hospitality and a seasonal menu, it’s well worth a visit...
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It’s highly unlikely you’ve ever stayed anywhere quite like The Tawny Hotel in Staffordshire. Set out across a 70-acre rewilded estate, the venue takes the traditional idea of a hotel and separates the rooms out so that there’s no need to ask for a room with a view – it’s guaranteed! You get the privacy and connection to nature that you get with camping, but with the service and comfort of a luxury hotel room.
“We offer relaxed luxury. Although our bedrooms are submerged in nature, they’re filled with home comforts and are beautifully appointed so you can truly relax and unwind in style. With so much outdoor space, guests have the freedom to make themselves at home and explore at their pace.”
And there’s a lot to explore. There are five lakes and 26 follies, created at specific vantage points across the estate so you can stand and drink in the view before you. But these follies were hidden underneath overgrown weeds and bushes when the family took over.
“We’re a family-run, independent business that opened in 2021- transforming a once-forgotten estate and preserving the previous owner, Mr Podmore’s legacy, into a haven for wildlife and nature. Keep an eye out for ducks, deer, kingfishers, and a whole variety of birdlife!”
You can’t create a wildlife sanctuary without considering the sustainability of your business.
“It’s a key factor in every decision we make for the business. As a family-run hotel, there’s a shared sense of passion and importance for balancing every business decision with environmental impact.
“For example, our whole 70-acre estate is rewilded, offering a biodiverse habitat of gardens, lakes, and woodland – we border the RSPB nature reserve and sit within a recognised dark sky area too.
“Last summer we invested in a significant new renewable energy initiative by installing 108 solar panels and a solar battery on site, alongside 15 EV chargers for guest use. This means the hotel generates and uses more renewable energy, enough to power a large proportion of the day-to-day operations and creates a 20-ton decrease in carbon emissions.
“In the restaurant we use the freshest and finest ingredients, locally sourced, to create ever-changing seasonal menus and specials – and we’re also developing a kitchen garden and orchard.
With all this attention on wildlife and sustainability, you’d be forgiven for assuming you’d be staying in a tent or basic room. But the opposite is true. The Tawny does an incredible job of balancing the needs of the environment with the comfort and wellbeing of guests.
“In addition to our unusual design and range of facilities, what really sets us apart is our team – we genuinely care about the guests who we look after and are often praised for creating a welcoming and friendly environment. We see it as a privilege to be able to help make stays extra special – so it’s our high standard of service, with a focus on the overall guest experience that we value most.”
Every room is unique, but with all the high-end touches you’d expect from a five-star hotel. “Bedrooms aren’t a one size fits all. Designed to invite a sense of the outdoors in, there’s a choice – from treehouses to shepherds’ huts, boathouses and luxury retreat suites – peppered amongst the woodland.
“Interiors are contemporary, with all mod-cons and clever touches to feel right at home (the goodies of handpicked local products in the mini-bar hits the spot). And each comes complete with an outdoor spa bath, perfect for stargazing or admiring the view by day. And there’s a range of dog-friendly rooms, so you can bring the pooch too.”
They’ve recently opened some larger lodges for groups, which each have exciting additions like swimming pools, cinema rooms and Big Green Egg BBQs.
Then there’s the outdoor heated pool, on-site restaurant, e-buggy porter services, treatment room and garden tours. You can hire bicycles, go for hikes or run along the many beautiful routes. The hotel puts on weekly experiences like private yoga sessions, kombucha workshops complete with foraged snacks and refreshments, abstract painting and mixed media classes, mindful stargazing and Raku Pottery experiences.
The Tawny really has got it all!
“In the restaurant we use the freshest and finest ingredients, locally sourced, to create ever-changing seasonal menus and specials – and we’re also developing a kitchen garden and orchard.”
All we want is to sip cocktails in the sunshine whilst sitting in the lap of absolute luxury. We don’t think that’s too much to ask – do you? If you dream of the same thing, we bring you some of our favourite luxurious rooftop bars in the UK, so all you have to do now is work out which one to visit first!
LEEDS
For over 15 years, Sky Lounge has been the ultimate rooftop destination in Leeds, with a list of classic cocktails and bar favourites that will have you returning time and time again. The terrace is heated so you can sit long after the sun has set, enjoying the beauty of the Yorkshire skyline.
STRATFORD UPON AVON
When you sit out on the rooftop terrace of the Phoenix in the sunshine, you really could be anywhere in the world. The holiday vibes are helped bythe lush green surroundings and white decor, while exquisitely crafted cocktails and plentiful pizzas mean you’ll never want to leave. And, if the sun does dip out of the sky, the indoor area is just as welcoming.
ESSEX
This floral delight is one of the most insta-worthy cocktail bars you can ever hope to visit. With cocktails crafted by expert mixologists and themed menus and attentive service from the staff, nothing is too much trouble for patrons of this bar.
EDINBURGH
If you want luxurious surroundings in the Scottish capital, then you must visit Chaophraya. With decor heavily influenced by Thailand, you’ll find Buddha figures a-plenty and earthy tones that help set a mood of tranquility. This rooftop wonder is actually a restaurant, but you have to try a Mai Thai while gazing out over the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh.
GLASGOW
There’s only one way to view the lights of Glasgow and that’s from the dizzying heights of RED Sky Bar at Radisson RED Glasgow. With its rich dark wood decor and low lighting, it sets a romantic tone with some delicious cocktail options. When the weekend hits and the sun sets, the bar comes alive with live music from resident DJs bringing good tunes, good cocktails and good vibes!
LONDON
Of course, the most obvious place to look for luxurious rooftop bars is the City and Jin Bo Law does not disappoint. Beautifully decorated in marble and bronze furnishings, this decadent space gives you views out over all of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Gherkin, the Shard and Tower Bridge. We recommend trying a Sichuan Fresh cocktail, made of tequila, peppercorn syrup, lime and basil, with a satisfying twist of pineapple for a fruity treat.
MANCHESTER
If you’re looking for fancy comfort in Manchester, then you need to head to 20 Stories. Offering 360° views of the city, the vibe here is laidback luxury, with white furnishings and potted trees creating a natural canopy. There are outdoor fireplaces, ensuring you stay warm no matter what the weather is doing and a cocktail list that celebrates the diversity of Manchester.
NEWCASTLE
Offering 360° views of Newcastle, Above is a real treat for cocktail enthusiasts. The decor is stunning, really adding to the chilled lounge atmosphere and the craft cocktails have to be tasted to be believed. You can also order light bites inspired by different places around the world.
Once they started stripping wallpaper, their plans escalated, and they turned their little house in London into a luxurious home for them and their baby girl.
Imogen and Tom bought their first home together in 2020 and started ripping down walls a few days later. With no renovation experience between them, they had no idea of the project they were about to embark upon. And then lockdown happened. Imogen said, “We ended up with a house full of rubble that we couldn’t take to a tip until they reopened months later!”
Of course, they’ve had lots of contractors involved in the job, “We’ve had a fair amount of help. We had a specialist contractor to do the front of the house, removing the pebbledash, restoring the brickwork, repointing, replacing the bay window. We also hired a loft conversion company who did that conversion for us as well as some of the work on the first floor like adding a bathroom in. We hired a builder to take out the downstairs bathroom and do the kitchen renovation for us.”
Her favourite room is currently the kitchen, but Imogen says that every time they finish a room, it becomes her new favourite. “We knocked down the old bathroom which sat in the middle of the floorplan downstairs when we moved in and made a big full-width kitchen area, with a snug off to the back and I feel like this just adds a bit of wow factor to the house. We’ve just added some fitted cupboards and a library wall to the snug and it’s the perfect place to sit now. I love it and I’m looking forward to how cosy it’s going to be in the winter too.”
Of course, it’s not all been easy going. And the kitchen may be her favourite room now, but there were some challenges in getting it finished. “We had a nightmare with our builders on this project and it kept getting delayed, with lots of things finished poorly or not at all. So much so that we ended up having to get the new flooring completely replaced and finish things ourselves just to get them done. It was awful to live through as I was pregnant at the time and we were living without a kitchen, off ready meals, washing up in the bath and only had our bedroom as a living space as we had to use all the other rooms to store the things we had in the kitchen before building work started. It’s such a shame as I love the room now, but it shows how important it is to find good trades and how they can make or break your whole renovation experience.”
Imogen has learnt a lot about what goes into a renovation during the project, and a bit about herself too. “I love researching and coming up with new ideas for projects and design schemes for rooms. So much so that I’m now considering redoing some of the rooms we finished first and possibly venturing into helping others design their homes too!”
Of course, she’ll have to work around Eliza, her nine-month-old daughter. The birth of her baby girl did stop renovation proceedings slightly, but they’re back on it now! “A lot of our reno work was done pre-baby which was lucky as it’s been a lot harder and slower to get things done now she’s around! We pretty much did nothing for the first six months of her life but now we tend to do our DIY projects during nap time, after bedtime or one of us will do the work whilst the other looks after Eliza. But it’s very much a juggle that we’re still trying to get used to!
“We’ve got a long list of snagging jobs like painting doors or skirting boards which haven’t been done yet, but the only major project we need to finish is the garden now. We’re hoping to try and get that done in the next month or two before autumn. Then I’d really like to redecorate our front bedroom, and possibly our living room as I have some new ideas for these rooms now!”
And her top tips for newbie renovators? “Look for the bones of the house. If you don’t have to do a lot of structural work, it’ll be cheaper to renovate. The kitchen extension had already been built on ours, so it was just internal layout changes which have enabled us to create our new kitchen space. Consider the cost and the time – everything is so much more expensive now than when we first bought this house, so you need to make sure you have the money, or you’re willing to wait and save money and complete jobs as and when you can. Nothing about a renovation is quick, so having patience and knowing an end will come, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, is critical.”
Check out Imogen and Tom’s incredible renovation journey on Instagram: @thelittlehouseinlondon
If you’re looking for that fairytale wedding and a celebration that lasts for longer than one day, then Orchardleigh Estate could be the venue of your dreams.
The stunning Victorian mansion is set in the middle of 500 acres of beautiful scenery and is rented exclusively to bridal parties for three or four days at a time. That means you have complete creative control of how you would like your wedding weekend to be. You don’t have to leave at midnight (dance for three days straight if you want!) and you can add any extra special touches to make the day uniquely yours.
Chris and Heather Vincent have owned the property since 1999 and they’ve seen some incredible sights in that time. Some of Chris’ favourite touches were when a couple arrived to their wedding by helicopter. And he loves a singing waiter – to him, entertainment is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.
“Our beautiful countryside 500-acre estate has a three-mile drive and no neighbours, allowing drinking and dancing till dawn!” That means there are no restrictions on how long you can have entertainment – you could throw a whole wedding festival if you wanted!
There are lots of options for where to hold the actual ceremony within the estate. St Mary’s Church sits on an island in the middle and has space for up to 100 guests. There’s also All Saints Church nearby with space for 150 guests.
But if you don’t want a traditional religious ceremony, you can get married absolutely anywhere within the grounds of Orchardleigh! There are a few options that lend themselves more naturally to a civil ceremony, including the countryside pergola, the Belvedere lawn and the garden terrace overlooking the lake. If you’d prefer to marry inside, there’s a Ballroom and a Great Hall that would be perfect for the occasion.
There are so many options, but Chris breaks it down into what is most popular: “Our packages are inclusive of food, unlimited reception and wedding breakfast drinks – there’s no extras here, everything is included.”
And there are plenty of sleeping options too. Most popular is, “A castle with hot tub usually for the girls and a lodge for the boys, sleeping a total of up to 35 for the night before. And there’s the amazing Lakeside Boathouse for the couple the day after to relive the day.”
The accommodation for the guests is just as inviting and there’s space for up to 165 people at any one time. The beauty of a three-day wedding is that you can people come and go as necessary, and you know you’ll definitely have time to talk to all your guests.
And you can be sure nobody will be bored in a venue like this either! With facilities for golf, fishing and shooting on site, there’s always something to entertain your guests – that’s if they’re not too busy soaking in their splendid surroundings!
The venue itself has been around since 1856, replacing the original house which dated back to the Norman conquest. William Duckworth built the current mansion, and it stayed in the family for five generations. The final generation had six girls and so they decided to sell up and split the cash.
Chris and Heather bought the site in 1999, but the building was in a bad state, having been empty for 15 years. As the house is a Grade II listed building, it was on the English Heritage risk register with a repair estimate of £6.6m.
But this story had a happy ending, with Chris and Heather doing the necessary work to get the building back to its sparkling self. Four years later, they held their first wedding and that is what they’ve been doing ever since!
With that in mind, Chris is in the perfect position to offer advice to prospective couples. His top tip is to “Relax and enjoy every minute” of your wedding day. And when it comes to choosing a venue, “Shop around look at everywhere then come to us and book our unbeatable package.” Wise words indeed!
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking amongst the stars, then the Maldives is the destination that will fulfil all your desert island fantasies.
By day, you can kick back on a sandy beach, with the sun in the sky, cocktail in hand, palm trees in the background. By night, you can stroll through the bioluminescent phytoplankton that live in the shallow waters. These tiny sea creatures create a bright blue glow to ward off predators and make it look as though the stars have fallen from the sky and landed in the sea. It’s an impressive sight, but it can only happen when the environmental conditions are just right. No matter where you stay in the Maldives, this is a phenomenon to watch out for.
The Maldives is made up of over 1000 islands, some of which have been transformed into private tourist destinations. These islands are divided up into 26 atolls located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka. They maintain a constant temperature of 25-30°, meaning you are almost assured perfect temperatures when you visit. However, monsoon season starts in April and ends in June, so you might want to avoid those months.
The Maldives has made its name as a romantic destination for honeymooners and there are several resorts that cater for adults only. So, if you plan to travel with children, your island options will be determined by which resorts will host you. Not that it really matters – all the resorts are incredible and some even come with a private butler to attend to your every whim. And all the islands are surrounded by lush green vegetation that ensures perfect views no matter which way you look. If, however, you are planning a few weeks of rest and relaxation without the distraction of children, you are in the right place. The Maldives boasts some of the top spa resorts in the whole world!
Joali Being is possibly the most famous spa resort, dedicating its service to total wellbeing. Instead of a TV in your room, you can enjoy musical instruments. The incredible food is all about fuelling your body – there’s no junk food on this island and the spa itself offers unique treatments such as a cryotherapy chamber and salt room.
Other resorts include exciting features such as slides from your bedroom that lead into the crystal-clear seas and hammocks that hang right over the water.
The islands make the best use of their most abundant asset – the sea. If water sports are your thing, there is nowhere better in the world to be – the waters are so warm, you might even forgo the wetsuit! You can enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling, or you can be really brave and swim with sharks! There are plenty of places to hire jet skis, waterskies, surf boards and kayaks, or you can enjoy the view of the ocean from the safety of the sandy beaches or one of the many boat tours. Look closely and you might even be able to see dolphins frolicking in the water.
While this all sounds like pure freedom, there are certain laws that tourists are expected to abide by. The Maldives are Islamic islands, which means you can only drink alcohol in the privacy of your resort, and you won’t be able to bring any off the plane with you. Drug possession is a jailable offence.
And they are big on sustainability too. So don’t even think of dropping any litter or picking any coral! The Maldives is a clean, tropical paradise because the locals have worked hard to keep it that way. On your travels, you might like to visit one of the many turtle sanctuaries or nature reserves to see the effects of the Maldivian conservation for yourself.
These islands are a true testament to what can be achieved when you work with nature and not against it. You can have incredible luxury and still appreciate the environment around you.
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR ITS 22ND YEAR, PROVING THAT THE BRITISH CAPITAL REALLY IS THE HOME OF DESIGN AND CREATIVITY. AS THE HUB OF DIVERSE DESIGN, IT IS AN EXCITING EVENT WITH UNEXPECTED INSTALLATIONS AROUND EVERY CORNER.
This nine-day event is an opportunity for those in creative industries to showcase their work, find inspiration and network with like-minded individuals. It is set in various locations around London, with talks, exhibitions, workshops and installations attracting people from all over the world. For an idea of the true scale of the festival, the 2019 event boasted a record-breaking 600,000 attendees from 75 countries. This year is likely to be even more popular, making it the best platform for up-and-coming designers to launch their career and open their studios up to the world.
Some of the stand-out showcases from last year included pieces from artists like Henry Moore, Dylan Glyn and Rio Kobayashi. Alongside the fine art installations and unique sculptures, visitors were surprised to see a botanical display from Lego, showing that this festival is for creatives of all types.
The festival likes to highlight topical issues through design. The last few years have seen more exhibitors tackling subjects like sustainability, AI and inclusivity, which are likely to be key themes this year too. But we are also seeing the idea of play becoming a strong theme, with its ability to strengthen bonds, improve wellbeing and enhance creativity.
Some of the highlights you can look forward to this year include an exciting innovation from Johnnie Walker, the Vert installation at the Parade Ground of the Chelsea College of Art and the suspended installation Duo at the Royal Naval College’s Painted Hall.
The festival is the brainchild of Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE, who wanted to bring a focus to the emerging design industry in the UK. The first event was held in 2003 and has been a huge boost to the economy. This first design festival became the template for other festivals around the world as other countries tried to emulate its success. But, as we know, nobody could do this quite like London!
The Mayor of London is a huge supporter of the event, which has helped the festival secure the necessary funding to make it bigger and better than ever before. Since he publicly declared his support in 2019, the Mayor has boosted festival sales by £66 million – this really is the event for struggling artists to finally make their mark.
But it’s not just about the extra income that the event creates. The London Design Festival gives creatives the chance to find new inspiration and learn new skills. They can learn from each other to bring a more holistic approach to their work, spreading their artistic knowledge to help create a richer design community.
This ethos and support means the organisers could have their pick of large conference venues in London to use. But it is never confined in one space, spilling out across the capital into artists’ own studios and unique spaces, divided into 11 design districts. Each district offers something slightly different, with its own personality and are located close to each other, so you can easily stumble out of one and into another. The districts are: Bankside Design District, Battersea Design District, Brompton Design District, Chelsea Design District, Dalston to Stokey Design District, Fitzrovia Design District, Greenwich Peninsula Design District, Mayfair Design District, Park Royal Design District, Shoreditch Design Triangle and William Morris Design Line.
Visitors to the city may come across installations as they dash for the tube or stroll through one of the public parks. It makes a trip to London all the more exciting – who knows what you will see?
The London Design Festival is running from the 14th to the 22nd September 2024. Most of the events are free to attend, so you don’t have to book your place. It is worth noting, however, that some shows and exhibitions are likely to get crowded quite quickly, so you want to arrive as early as possible for the best experience. Find out more about the event at www.londondesignfestival.com
12 – 17 SEPTEMBER 2024
Why we still love London Fashion Week
After 40 years of our favourite fashion event, we love LFW more than ever. With some critics questioning if the biannual showcase is still relevant, we look at the history behind our favourite calendar entry and celebrate all the reasons why it is still important to the industry.
The story of the famous Fashion Weeks begins with a man called Charles Frederick Worth, also known to many as the founder of haute couture and modelling. Based in Paris in 1850, he wanted to increase his customer base and had the original idea of presenting one collection at a time to his audience. By doing this bi-annually, he had two opportunities a year to display his work to a larger potential customer base all at once.
This was unique in the world of fashion at the time. The first fashion show wasn’t recorded in New York until 1903, so Worth was years ahead of his time. The New York show was held at the Ehrich Brothers store and was so popular that suddenly every designer wanted a show of their own. By 1910, fashion shows were regular events in department stores across America.
At that time, America was still heavily influenced by Parisian fashion, but when the Second World War began, this fashion avenue was closed off to the rest of the world.
The second hero of our story is a lady called Eleanor Lambert. She was the founder of the Met Ball and began the International Best Dressed List. And she took it upon herself to establish the American fashion scene independently of Paris.
The first New York Fashion Week was in 1943 and was created to showcase the brilliance of American designers. It was then called New York Press Week and was set up for press to attend only – fashion buyers had to make appointments to view the collections.
In 1958, Milan joined the party with its first Fashion Week held by the National Chamber for Italian Fashion. There are reports that there may have been earlier events held in Florence too.
And then Paris had its first official Fashion Week in 1973, supported by Lambert. This was a ‘competition’ between French and American designers, giving the event an exciting edge. Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin flew the flag for France, while America was represented by Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein and Stephen Burrows.
In 1984, London completed the ‘big four’ with its first Fashion Week. It boasted the debut of John Galiano and other design giants like Vivienne Westwood. Despite being the last to join in, London has had some forward-thinking ideas, being the first to live-stream a Fashion Week event in 2010. It now attracts more guests than Milan and Paris and is a key event on the fashion calendar.
With fashion becoming ever faster in our digital society, some have questioned the relevance of Fashion Week today. However, these events are still considered to be huge marketing, influencing and networking opportunities. They help to forecast trends, tell a story through the medium of clothing and transport us to a fantasy world. Buyers rely hugely on the events to decide what will be the biggest sellers in their stores. Without Fashion Week, there would be very little strategic planning on our high street and online stores and the industry just wouldn’t be what it is today.
This year marks 40 years since the very first London Fashion Week, organised by Lynne Franks, and of course, the February event was not going to pass without some kind of celebration of this milestone. It was a colossal event, with 67 designers, 46 catwalks and 36 events in total and an amazing opportunity to see creations by established designers like Burberry and Simone Rocha, as well as up-and-coming names like Olly Shinder and Camille Liu. Trust us, these are names you will be seeing more of soon!
It was also a great excuse to look back at some of the most iconic moments from the event over the years. Who can forget Prince’s surprise performance at the start of a Matthew Williamson show in 2008 and the Alexander McQueen dress that was spray painted by robots on the catwalk in 1999? Naomi Campbell’s fall in 1993 has gone down in history – no one else could have turned such a potentially embarrassing moment into one of iconic brilliance as well as she did. And did you ever think you would see a coffee table become a dress, like the one Hussein Chalayan displayed in 2000? You never know what to expect at LFW!
The next London Fashion Week is scheduled for 12th – 17th September 2024 and looks likely to be as fantastic as ever. Most of the action happens at 180 The Strand, but some designers prefer to hold their shows at different locations around the city, making for an eclectic event.
LFW SS25 will showcase designs for the upcoming Spring/Summer season and, as usual, will be an invite-only event. But you can still catch the action from home, as most designer showcases will be streamed at www.londonfashionweek.co.uk and many brands put them on their own social media accounts too.
At the time of writing, the schedule had not yet been finalised or any exhibitor details confirmed. But if AW24 is anything to go by, it is sure to be an event to remember.
Harvey Nichols Birmingham wine specialist, Paul Creamer, shares his favourite seasonal wines currently available at the luxury Mailbox store.
£52
This family-owned Champagne house is certainly one of my favourites. Flavoursome and impeccably balanced in the mouth, the citrus and orchard notes are integrated with suggestions of bread and honey.
£25
This stunning southern French white is a crisp and refreshing blend of Sémillon and Vermentino. The wine has notes of lemon and acacia flower.
£22.95
This spritzy, low alcohol wine has a smooth and fresh character with flavours of cranberry and wild strawberry. The Lazkano family only make a limited number of bottles, owing to the single hectare plot and the 50-year-old vines.
£9.50
No summer is complete without a good dry sherry alongside some al-fresco nibbles. This delightful, fortified white is bone-dry with a delicious saline kick to the finish.
£39.00
It’s always a pleasure to enjoy good Pinot Noir in the warmer months. This bottle is from the historic burgundy producer Louis Jadot who has been making fine wines for over160 years. Expect black cherry notes and hints of peony.
£27.50
Alvaro is one of the most respected winemakers in Spain. It bursts with red cherry and blueberry flavours and is a must-try for any Spanish red wine fan.
You can visit Paul and explore the full range in-store at the Harvey Nichols Birmingham Wine Shop.
Harborne Kitchen is not just an amazing place to eat, did you know it is also a zero-waste champion? Alongside listings in the Michelin and Good Food Guides and its two AA rosettes, the business is also doing its bit for sustainability.
We caught up with head chef Tom Wells to find out more about this exciting neighbourhood eatery.
Working sustainably
Starting at the beginning, Tom told us all about his restaurant career before Harborne Kitchen. “I have worked for Jonathan Fraiser at the Bath Spa Hotel, and he had a great influence on my career. In terms of work ethic, he was exceptional - always first in and last out. I also worked for Tom Aikens, running his Birmingham restaurant, and this opened my eyes to zero waste and using every part of the animal or the vegetable in dishes.”
Since then, the idea of zero waste has been at the forefront of Tom’s working ethic. “At Harborne Kitchen, we have developed multiple tactics to help us create a zero waste, more sustainable kitchen.
“Not only do we use ingredients grown in our teams’ gardens and local area, but we have also found new ways of using the kitchen ‘leftovers’ across other areas of the business, especially in the bar. For example, the cocktail, Rhubarb Fizz, came from the team noticing that we always had rhubarb syrup leftover from the Forced Yorkshire Rhubarb pre-desert in the tasting menu, and so we decided to use the syrup to create a delicious cocktail. This is also relevant for several other cocktails on the bar menu.”
Fine dining with a conscience
Perhaps it’s this approach that has made Harborne Kitchen such a success. Tom describes the restaurant as, “a super relaxed, casual fine dining restaurant, somewhere you can pop in for a couple of cocktails and some bar snacks or an eleven-course tasting menu and spend a few hours being wined and dined.
“We have always been very consistent in terms of our offering and how we deliver it. Amazing food and drinks all made with love and care; we’re here to look after our guests as if we are welcoming them into our home.”
He believes the definition of fine dining is changing as a new generation starts to enjoy good food. “I think we are seeing a younger guest coming through the doors. Fine dining is a lot more relaxed than it used to be, without the white tablecloths and pretentious service.” That said, he is not motivated by following food trends, “Trends in general will come and go. High quality food and drink produced by passionate people will never go out of style.”
Designing dishes you’ll love
There’s a new menu at Harborne Kitchen right now and Tom is very excited about it. “We have a small plates menu where you can come in anytime and have a few beautiful dishes to share and enjoy with a cocktail or a nice glass of wine. We have some great cured meats, burrata, chicken liver parfait and some fantastic British cheeses.
“My favourite dishes at the moment are our Amela tomato dish served with tomato ponzu, lovage and a Parma ham that we make in-house. I also love our new dessert which is Yuzu and burnt white chocolate cheesecake, meringue and yuzu sorbet.
“We always start our dishes with what’s in season, then it’s all about the flavour. Get those two right and the rest is easy!”
A passion for excellence
Harborne Kitchen opened in 2016 and Tom took over as head chef five years ago. His work ethic is unstinting,with his shifts starting at 8am and ending at 11pm most days.
When growing the team he’s looking for chefs with similar qualities. “The people that work at Harborne Kitchen are not just staff, they are like my family. They are all hard working, dedicated, loyal and hungry to achieve things in their lives. Some of us have worked together for over seven years in different establishments but above all, they are all really amazing cooks.”
He has high hopes for the future of Harborne Kitchen. “Onwards and upwards for us all! We have an amazing group of people working at Harborne Kitchen and together we just want to make all our customers happy. If awards come along, then that’s a bonus.”
Chicken liver parfait, English strawberry, White chocolate
75ml Maderia
30ml Brandy
75ml Port
100g Shallots (diced)
1 Clove garlic (crushed)
400g Chicken livers
5 Free range eggs (room temperature)
400g Unsalted butter (clarified)
20g Pink salt
175g White chocolate
45g Firm tofu
500g Strawberries
20g Minus 8 vinegar
6g Agar agar (or 1g per 100ml liquid)
100g Chicken skin
85g Chicken fat
85g Caster sugar
85g Oats
15g Salt
5 Springs thyme (picked)
English Strawberries
Freshly ground black pepper
Terrine mould (lined)
Preheat oven to 110 degrees C.
Reduce Maderia, brandy and port with the shallots and garlic until reduced by half.
Blitz the livers with the reduction in a blender until smooth. Add 1 egg at a time, blending for 3-4 minutes until smooth. Add melted butter a little at a time while blender on low speed, season with pink salt.
Pass the mixture through a fine sieve into the terrine mould and cover with foil. Place into deep oven tray and fill with warm water until two-thirds of the way up the terrine. Cover the oven tray with foil too.
Cook for 55-60 minutes and, using a temperature probe check the temperature has reached 70 Degrees C for a minimum of 2 minutes.
Cool the terrine in an ice bath in the fridge; it’s important to chill the terrine within 90 minutes until core temp is below 5 degrees.
While the parfait is cooking, heat the chocolate in a Bain-Marie until melted then transfer to a small blender and blend with the tofu until smooth, transfer to a piping bag and set aside.
Steep the strawberries and vinegar under vacuum at 80 degrees C in a water bath for 2 hours. Alternatively, use a mixing bowl and Bain Marie. Drain the liquid, bring to the boil and add the agar agar. Whisk and bring to the boil, then transfer to a suitable container. Once set blend the mixture, then pass through a fine sieve, transfer to a piping bag and set aside.
Pre heat oven to 180 Degrees C (fan).
Scrape and remove the fat from underneath of the skin, then place the skins on a baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes or until crispy. Chop and set aside.
Pre heat oven to 95 Degrees C (fan).
Combine the rest of the ingredients and bake in the oven for 2 hours or until crunchy texture is achieved.
Combine the chopped chicken skin and crunchy oats to make the topping.
Plate as shown in picture.
August bank holiday weekend is one of the busiest days of the year, with festivals happening all around the UK, appealing to a huge audience of different people. Have you got your ticket for one of these big events yet?
22nd – 25th August
If you prefer your music with an electronic dance edge, then you should be at Creamfields. One of the biggest music events of the year, it regularly attracts some of the biggest acts in the dance world. This year’s line-up includes the return of heavyweights such as Calvin Harris, Tiesto and Skepto as well as some newbies to the scene that you won’t want ato miss.
The brainchild of event organisers, Cream, Creamfields started as a one-day event in Hampshire in 1998, with an attendance of over 25,000 people and headliners including Daft Punk, Paul van Dyke and Sasha, so it was always destined to go down in history, but it has grown from strength to strength ever since.
Back then, a ticket was only £37.50, but now they have a range of ticket options starting from £75 for a day ticket, up to £430 for a four-day Gold ticket. The different ticket types determine the level of comfort you can enjoy while staying at Creamfields.
The standard ticket gives you basic facilities where you can pitch a tent and access to the main arena.
The bronze ticket includes hot showers, ‘proper’ toilets and access to the main arena.
The silver tickets gives you the same, plus a pamper tent and free car parking ticket.
The gold ticket gives you all the above plus access to the Gold Hospitality Arena which includes one complementary meal a day and a cocktail bar.
There are also standard and gold day tickets. While a standard day ticket just gives you access to the main arena, the gold ticket also offers free parking, hospitality arena, food and ‘proper’ toilets. And we all know how important ‘proper’ toilets are at a festival!
Set over four days in Cheshire, tickets are now extremely limited, but you can camp on site, making for a proper festival experience. There are also glamping spaces, for those that want a few more luxuries and if you really can’t bear the thought of sleeping in a field, then there are plenty of local hotels.
There is on-site parking, which has to be booked in advance, and shuttle buses running to and from all the major local towns, such as Liverpool, Warrington and Manchester, so it’s easy to get to the campsite. Once you’re in, there’s no nipping out to collect more supplies, as security won’t let you back in, so you’ll need to be well prepared before you leave.
Join the madness at
24th - 26th August
The very first Notting Hill Carnival took place in 1966, led by local activist and human rights campaigner, Rhaune Laslett. The aim was to bring all the local inter-cultural communities together, so they could live in London in peace, without any racial or cultural tension. Entertainment was provided by a local West Indies pan band and had the desired effect of drawing local Caribbean people to the event. The band made its way along Portobello Road and drew a huge crowd.
The event is now an important event on the capital’s calendar and is bigger than Laslett could ever have dreamed. It is now the second largest carnival in the world (only Rio Carnival in Brazil is bigger), drawing over five million people each year. To accommodate so many visitors, it is set out over the three-day weekend, with paid and unpaid events throughout London.
Steel bands still form a key part of the event, with the UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition in Pleasance Park on the Saturday. Sunday is the main day, with a J’Ouvert early morning launch following Caribbean tradition, followed by an Official Opening Ceremony, Children’s Day Parade, Dutty Fun/Mas (you will get messy!) and then the Sound Systems, where you can dance to reggae music all afternoon long. Monday features the adult parade and more Sound Systems.
You’ll be able to enjoy Caribbean food all weekend and there are always some big headliner acts announced. You’ll have to keep an eye on the website and Notting Hill Carnival socials to find out who they are – some aren’t announced until the very last minute!
If you’re travelling down from the Midlands, it’s probably best to travel by train and then jump on the tube once you’re in London. It’s a nine-minute walk from Notting Hill Gate which is accessible by the Circle and District or Central Line. Alternatively, you could stay in London for the weekend, but Air BnBs, hotels and guest houses fill up months before and prices go up in preparation for this busy time of year, so it’s best to book as far in advance as possible.
Find out more about the event and get tickets here:
23rd – 25th August
If your idea of a good weekend is rocking out to some of the biggest names in rock, indie and alternative music, then you can’t miss the Reading and Leeds festival. As the name suggests, the event is held over three days at two different venues, with the same line-up but on different days, appealing to people from the north and south of the country. The bonus of this arrangement is that if you miss out on tickets to one of the festivals, you might still be able to make it to the other one, with coach tickets available from some of the bigger cities.
Since its inception, Reading and Leeds has constantly moved with the times,
reflecting current trends in the musical zeitgeist, organically evolving into the much-loved festival that it is now. With an array of genres from its rock roots to dance and pop, headlining this year are some of the biggest artists in music, such as Lana Del Rey and Fred Again, Blink 182 and Liam Gallagher. With seven stages with jam-packed schedules, your biggest dilemma will be choosing which acts to watch!
Weekend tickets are £325 each for standard camping. There are also day tickets available and VIP tickets for those that need a little more glamour to their festival.
The venues are easily accessed via public transport, with links via shuttle bus, train, coach and even shuttleboat! And car parking tickets are also available. There are places to stay around the festival if camping is not for you, but they book up early and you don’t get the full festival experience this way!
Looks like you’re set for a musical bank holiday! Find out more about get your tickets at:
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