What To Book Around The UK This March
FIND YOUR NEW FAVOURITE DRINK HERE: Birmingham Wine Festival, Birmingham
Following the success of the festival’s debut last year, Birmingham Wine Weekend will be taking over the city for a second time from 22nd-24th March. The first festival of its kind outside the capital, the three-day event gives wristband wearers the opportunity to try glasses of premium wine for just £4 a pop. This year, the festival shakes up it’s offering with the introduction of wine cocktails and food pairings, alongside a line-up of exclusive events from tastings to sit-down dinners. With 20 places across the city taking part, all guests need to do is show their wristband at each venue to get access to their exclusive #BWW2019 serves. Expect to find some old favourites and discover some fresh tastes too.
Various venues across Birmingham; 22nd-24th March
RELIVE THE ROYAL WEDDING HERE: Brighton Pavilion, East Sussex
Hat maker to the stars Stephen Jones OBE takes over Brighton’s Royal Pavilion for a new exhibition, showcasing some of his most famous designs. The Regency landmark has long been an inspiration to Jones and many of his hats reflect the whimsical, radical nature of the building, specifically his S/S12 collection Chinoiserie-on-Sea. Jones burst on to the London fashion scene during the explosion of street style in the late seventies. This site-specific exhibition shows hats worn by everyone from Lady Gaga to Diana, Princess of Wales, plus those made in collaboration with Dior, Thom Browne, Giles Deacon and Comme des Garçons.
4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE; until 9th June
Visit BrightonMuseums.org.uk
TAKE AFTERNOOON TEA HERE: The Ivy Cafe Richmond, Surrey
To celebrate the coming of spring, The Ivy Café Richmond has created a limited-edition ladybird afternoon tea, available for guests to enjoy from 3-5pm until 28th April. Inspired by the borough’s green spaces and natural parks, such as Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, the afternoon tea launches in line with ladybirds’ most active season following a winter of hibernation. Served daily, the tea features savoury dishes such as smoked salmon on dark rye bread with cream cheese and chives, plus a selection of sweet treats including warm fruit scones with Dorset clotted cream and strawberry preserve; chocolate and salted caramel mousse; and a crème brûlée doughnut. A great treat to book for Mother’s Day.
9-11 Hill Street, Richmond, TW9 1SX; from 4th March
Visit TheIvyCafeRichmond.com
CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY HERE: Ladies of Restaurants, Liverpool and Manchester
Ladies of Restaurants, the hospitality collective supporting women in the food and drink industries, is gearing up for its first International Women’s Day weekender. Taking place across London, Liverpool and Manchester from 7th to 10th March, the series of events celebrates and supports inspirational women in the hospitality industry. The schedule includes a collaborative dinner with 11 female powerhouses within Liverpool’s restaurant scene on Friday 7th; a discussion on being a working mum in the industry at Dishoom Manchester, led by hospitality pro Lucy Noone, followed by a networking cocktail party hosted by The Creameries, Manchester on Saturday 8th. The weekend ends with a networking brunch at Ace Hotel Shoreditch.
Bold Street Coffee, 89 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HF, 7th March; Dishoom, 32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT and The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 0SD, 8th March
Visit LadiesOfRestaurants.com
BOOK AHEAD FOR THIS: Manchester International Festival, Manchester
The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work. Bringing together artists from different art forms and backgrounds to create dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking works, the event takes place across a range of venues – from theatres, galleries and concert halls to railway depots, churches and car parks. Artists already announced for 2019 include Janelle Monae, Yoko Ono’s Bells For Piece, Idris Elba’s debut play Tree and DYSTOPIA987, a new immersive experience from British rapper Skepta. We’ve been many times before, and can attest you’ll come away feeling inspired.
Various venues across Manchester; 4th-21st July
Visit MIF.co.uk
EAT HERE: The Hall, Essex
Following successful launches in Fulham and Victoria, Market Halls has set its sights on Essex for this third opening. The Hall brings together independent food and drink producers from across the south east at Essex’s most popular shopping centre, intu Lakeside. With seven kitchens, a coffee shop, pop-up areas for food trucks and two bars championing British-made beers, spirits and soft drinks, this diverse space aims to be the antithesis of the anonymous restaurant experience typically found in large retail centres. The space has been designed for families, big groups, lone shoppers and couples alike, with an array of high quality, good-value dining options and relaxed seating. The opening coincides with the launch of Nickelodeon’s first family entertainment centre, indoor mini golf experience Puttshack, Hollywood Bowl’s largest site to date, indoor trampolining experience Flip Out and the existing nine-screen Vue Cinema. Ideal for the Easter break.
West Thurrock Way, Grays, Essex, RM20 2ZP; opens late March
Visit MarketHalls.co.uk
FORAGE FOR YOUR DINNER HERE: The Forest Side, Lake District
Guests at The Forest Side in Grasmere will be able to really immerse themselves in the Lake District this spring with the launch of an exclusive foraging package. The Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms prides itself on using locally sourced and foraged ingredients. This new package allows guests to join head chef Kevin Tickle and his team on a foraging excursion, taking to the surrounding fields, fell tops and Cumbrian woodland to source the freshest Lake District produce. Stopping off at various locations, guests will learn top tips and tricks for eating on the wild side, as Tickle advises how to seek out and cook with spring plants including wild garlic, sorrel, scarlet elf cup mushrooms and sweet cicely. A gourmet picnic lunch ends the trip, and all produce will be sampled back in the main restaurant over dinner.
Keswick Road, Grasmere, Lake District, LA22 9RN; from 3rd March
Visit TheForestSide.com
SEE THE ‘SPICE GIRLS’ HERE: Edinburgh Playhouse, Scotland
Spice Girls musical Wannabe is currently touring the UK, celebrating the career of the world's biggest girl band. Costumes, groups and families are all welcome at what’s being billed as the ultimate 90s party. Featuring all the Spice Girls’ hits, this musical celebration successfully recreates the era of ‘Girl Power’, bringing to life the fab five from their early days through to their solo careers...
18-22 Greenside Lane, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA; 30th March
Visit PlayhouseTheatre.com
GET PAMPERED HERE: The Spa At South Lodge Hotel, Sussex
A £15m investment has seen award-winning country house hotel South Lodge open its doors to a new spa. Fourteen treatment rooms, plus a dedicated mud room, plays host to a menu of over 50 treatments. Guests keen to keep fit can do so in the state-of-the-art gym, complete with the latest Technogym equipment, at the outdoor training terrace or in the dedicated spin studio. The Ridgeview beauty bar, home to four manicure and two pedicure stations, houses the UK’s first ever Enoflute sparkling wine dispenser, offering the opportunity to kick back and relax with a glass of fizz with your treatment. Meanwhile, the neighbouring male grooming bar – with a residency from local barbers Grizzly’s – offers a beer with every full haircut or wet shave.
Long Hill, Lower Beeding, Horsham, RH13 6PS
Visit Exclusive.co.uk
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