What To Book Around The UK This July

BOOK THIS NOW: Aldeburgh Food Festival

This celebration of Suffolk’s thriving food and drink scene takes place in the beautiful setting of Snape Maltings, next to the River Alde and close to the Suffolk coast. Here, over 100 local producers gather to sell their produce, including raw milk, organic vegetables, sourdough bread, award-winning beer and spirits from Adnams, cyder from Aspall and delicious street food. One for true foodies – make sure you snap up tickets for September now.

Snape Maltings, Suffolk, IP17 1SP; 29th and 30th September

Visit AldeburghFoodAndDrink.co.uk

‘BRING THE COLOUR’ HERE: Ascot Racecourse

Royal Ascot might be over, but there’s still plenty in the racing calendar to look forward to. Next up is the King George Weekend, where racegoers are encouraged to embrace the theme of ‘You Bring The Colour’ and celebrate every decade since the event first took place in 1951. There’ll be a 50s-style vintage tea lawn, 60s and 70s festival tent, a retro 80s and 90s silent disco, and a chilled club that will represent the 00s. And, of course, plenty of flat racing to bet on.

Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JX; 27th and 28th July

Visit Ascot.co.uk

DO AFTERNOON TEA IN STYLE HERE: Blenheim Palace

The Orangery by Searcys at Blenheim Palace has created the ‘LP Pink T’, a Swinging Sixties afternoon tea to celebrate Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rose, which was launched in 1968. Using vintage records as placemats, the tea features 60s-inspired treats such as prawn cocktail layered mille-feuille and spiced pineapple upside down cake. Sweet treats in all shades of pink include a Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé jelly, strawberry macarons and a Battenberg cake – all accompanied by a glass of the Cuvée Rosé.

Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP; until 30th September

Visit BlenheimPalace.com

CELEBRATE WIMBLEDON HERE: Down Hall Hotel & Spa

The Championships are underway at the All England Club in Wimbledon, and Down Hall Hotel & Spa is celebrating the occasion with an afternoon tea dedicated to the event. Guests are encouraged to grab their racquets and play a match on one of the newly resurfaced tennis courts, before heading to the hotel’s new terrace for tea and Pimms. Delicacies include Wimbledon-inspired Pimm’s cheesecake, pistachio and vanilla Battenberg and a limited edition white chocolate mousse tennis ball.

Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 7AS; until 15th July

Visit DownHall.co.uk
 

HEAR DOLLY ALDERTON IN CONVERSATION HERE: The Calcot & Spa

The Calcot Collection has created a new series of ‘In Conversation’ events, commencing at boutique Cotswolds hotel Calcot on 26th July. It kicks off with Dolly Alderton, The High Low podcast co-host and bestselling author of Everything I Know About Love. The ticket price includes a glass of fizz, a Q&A with Alderton, dinner and a book signing. Later this summer, authors Bryony Gordon and Sophia Money-Coutts will also take to the stage.

Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8YJ; 26th July

Visit CalcotCollection.co.uk

EAT ALL THINGS SEAFOOD HERE: Pommery Dorset Food Festival

Europe’s largest seafood festival returns to the beautiful harbour town of Weymouth this month. Now in its 11th year, the weekend will see 50,000 people flock to the Jurassic coast for sunshine, seafood and champagne. Top chefs doing the rounds this year include Sophie Michell, Neil Rankin, Ed Baines, Duncan Lucas, CJ Jackson from Billingsgate and Pete Murt from Rick Stein’s. Kids entertainment will include crabbing and slime-making – you’ll find us in the Pommery tent.

Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4AD;14th-15th July

Visit DorsetSeafood.co.uk

GO TO A VARIETY SHOW HERE: Dreamland Margate

The Margate theme park is launching its first variety show this month. Dreamland Variety will combine popular culture, inspiration from nostalgic Saturday night TV game shows and cabaret for the ultimate mix of guilty pleasures and performance. Hosted by punk poet, musician, writer, theatre-maker and feminist showgirl Brigitte Aphrodite, the first Dreamland Variety will feature an all-female line-up: garage duo Sweet Female Attitude, five-piece dance troupe Figs in Wigs, beat-boxer Grace Savage, poet Jade Anouka and a DJ set from BBC Radio 6 Music’s Gemma Cairney.

Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ; 27th July

Visit Dreamland.co.uk

RAVE IN A FOREST HERE: Farr Festival

Less than an hour from London, Farr Festival has expanded to a full four days for 2018, for a weekend that promises to blend cutting-edge music with a focus on wellbeing. Alongside live artists and DJs, such as Mount Kimbie, George Fitzgerald and Shy FX, there’ll be artisanal food and drink, holistic activities at The Shala including workshops, yoga and meditation, plus hot tubs, talks and cocktail workshops.

Bygrave Woods, Hertfordshire, SG7 5JX; 5th-8th July

Visit FarrFestival.co.uk

CHINAWHITE ARRIVES IN OXFORDSHIRE HERE: Henley Royal Regatta

Nightclub Chinawhite is popping up at Temple Island Meadows for the duration of the Henley Royal Regatta. Taking over a marquee, the pop-up will feature a lounge, courtyard and terrace, where guests can watch all the action on the water. As well as offering the perfect place to party once the races are over (acclaimed DJs will spin discs once the final race finishes), there’ll also be five bars, a beauty salon, street food and pop-up boutiques.

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 3DB; 6th and 7th July

Visit Chinawhite-Henley.com 

PRETEND ITS THE NINETIES HERE: Liverpool International Music Festival

Haçienda Classical, the vibrant celebration of the Manchester mecca of clubbing, will headline the Sunday of Liverpool International Music Festival with the Manchester Camerata experimental orchestra. The sixth annual Liverpool International Music Festival will take place at Sefton Park and will play host to Example, Wiley, Basement Jaxx, Young Fathers, Rae Morris, Trevor Nelson, Gilles Peterson, Jazzy Jeff and many more across three stages and two days. 

Liverpool, Merseyside, L17 1AF; 21st and 22nd July

Visit LIMFestival.com

TRY A BRAND-NEW FOOD FESTIVAL HERE: Manchester Eats

Manchester’s Heaton Park will play host to a new food festival this week. Manchester Eats is set to bring a raft of exhibitors (Red’s True BBQ, Prove Pizza, Manchester Gin), celebrity chefs (there’ll be demos with Marco Pierre-White, Ed Baines, Adam Reid, Mary-Ellen McTague) and entertainment such as vintage fairground rides and a visit from Chester Petting Zoo for its inaugural event. We like the sound of the In Truffle We Trust chocolate masterclasses.  
                                                                               
Heaton Park, Manchester, M25 2SW; 6th and 7th July

Visit ManchesterEats.co.uk

TRY THIS NEW NORTH-EAST RESTAURANT: Seaham Hall

Facing directly onto the North Sea, Seaham Hall is in an ideal position to source the freshest seasonal ingredients available for its new restaurant, The Dining Room. Decked out in a Scandinavian-inspired style, the eatery offers a laid-back dining experience that focuses on food that has been sourced from the hall’s 37-acre grounds. Dishes include the likes of Whitby crab with celeriac, hazelnut and dill; pickled radish, yoghurt and crispy chicken skin; and Bruce Farm strawberry parfait with dried milk and wood sorrel.

Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7AG; open now

Visit Seaham-Hall.co.uk