February Scrapbook: it's been a busy start to the year
Now that the 300 days of January are over, here's what I'm looking forward to
We all must be feeling the same way as we enter February. Was January not the most full-on, busiest, never-ending month that it has felt like in years? Everyone hit the ground running, actually responded to emails, and made stuff happen? I kind of loved it. Like I always say, the second you sit down, you collapse, so I do have to say that it felt particularly nice to start the new year off with a bang. Now, it's a new month with new happenings to enjoy. Here's what's going on.
Wiltshire’s much-loved country hotel, The Rectory, sees a new London head chef take the reins in the kitchen. Jake Simpson, who trained at Bocca di Lupo and Quo Vadis, will be joined by James Erasmus, formerly of The Ledbury and Harwood Arms, to shake up the restaurant menu. It’s sure to be a goodie.
There's a new ramen joint in town (well, really a reiteration of the now-shuttered spot Tomari-Gi), this time in the creative hub of Stroud. Daikoku Ramen has put pulled noodles and big bowls of broth on the menu. Now open.
The music lineup for The Big Feastival (August 23rd-25th) has been announced. Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, and Cat Burns will all take the lead on the stage.
Rugby fans, unite. Practically every pub in the Cotswolds will be showing the games. Where should you head? One of Pete and Tom's – The Lamb, The Fox, The Sherborne Arms – each with a burger and pint deal for £16. Winning.
We have recently seen quite a lot of pub awards announce their top spots – from the Top 50 Gastropubs to the Cotswold Gentleman’s Top 50 too. From the former, these were the best pubs in the Cotswolds:
The Woolpack, Slad (#28 – the secret is most definitely out)
The Bull, Charlbury (#50 – definitely deserves higher)
News from a few weeks ago, the ever-growing hospitality group, The Pig, will be taking over Barnsley House, the country pile that stands pretty in the quiet village of Barnsley. Plus, they are taking over the village pub, marking their first foray into proper pub life. Slated to open in July.
I will be doing a few more of these little edits moving forward. Themed shopping curations I suppose. Little gift guides too. So stay tuned. For now, here are five little bits and bobs for the home from some brands I’m loving right now.
Karin Hossack
No, I don’t think scalloping is over. These little dishes are perfect for lemons, cherry pits, rings and everything in between.
Barton Croft
Milky colours for simple shapes. Classic, clean and smart tableware.
Montes and Clark
Can’t get enough of butter yellow anything. Or olive green for that matter. Will be debating both colours.
Feldspar
The ultimate water jug. But equally looks lovely with tulips this time of year. Or £1 daffodils because happy days, they’re back.
Glassette
I missed each and every launch of the Frenchettes. They are still sold out, even the new G version by Glassette. Will patiently be waiting for more.
It’s awards season and I am a bit behind on some of the big hitters. More so, I’ve been zooming through Mad Men, a show I guiltily have never seen. And it’s so good and boy is John Hamm handsome.
Now, I am queuing up a few films, not necessarily recent but some I’ve just been too late to the game on. Are there any I’m missing?
Poor Things
Quirky, fun, weird. A modern day Frankenstein. I’ve loved Emma Stone since her Superbad days and this just sees her completely unhinged, wild and free.
All of Us Strangers
I can’t even express how much I fancy the pants off Paul Mescal. And Andrew Scott. And them together. These two delightful Irishmen take us through the pain, the love, the fears, the laughs of a new relationship, plus the memories of our childhoods and the basics of human relationships.
Past Lives
A24 can do no wrong. This one takes a slower turn, a sad lost love story of a childhood crush, the roads we take in life and that single thread that connects it all. There are beautiful flashbacks to Seoul and Korea too.
February 6th – There are still tickets for an evening in Bath to watch the wonderous English designer Flora Soames be interviewed by journalist and novelist Plum Sykes at Topping & Company Booksellers. A brilliant excuse to get some more interiors inspiration, as if we need any more. Tickets here.
February 8th – Ever-popular The Bull in Charlbury is hosting an end of game season supper club. Family style, menu highlights will be muntjac meatballs, wood pigeon salad and game tea. Book here.
February 24th – The Cellar in Stow-on-the-Wold (the cool wine bar that feels more suited to Shoreditch than this charming market town) is teaming up with one of the The Bull in Charlbury’s chefs Rupert Haley. It will be a Lebanese feast paired with funky natural wines. Find out more.
February 25th – Forrest yoga workshop at Ella and Fleur Hot Yoga in Cheltenham. A real mix of breath work, core strength and holding positions for a very long period of time. Book here.
February 27th – This is a fun one, spoon carving with Dickon Morris, the thirty-something founder of one of Oxfordshire’s best coffee houses, New Ground. They have two brilliant spaces in Oxford, a roastery and new very slick wine bar. Learn to carve, shape, sand and finish your spoons to bring home. Hosted at Daylesford farm.
Looking ahead – Andrew D’Ambrosi of D’Ambrosi Fine Foods in Stow (the very good and very delicious deli, with those incredibly addictive peanut butter sandies) will be cooking dinner for one night only on March 21st at The Fox Inn in Broadwell. Email them for a booking info@thefoxbroadwell.com.
We also now have a date for season 3 of Clarkson’s Farm, May 3rd. Mark it down right this very second.