What To Book Around The UK This February
GET OUT OF LONDON HERE: The Falcon, Herfordshire
A new restaurant has opened its doors in the market town of Buntingford. Chef Kieren Steinborn-Busse and his wife Natasha have launched The Falcon in Natasha’s home county of Hertfordshire in a cosy Grade II-listed building (where there are just 28 covers). Kieren has worked at the likes of The Goring, Quo Vadis (under the mentorship of Marco Pierre White), and Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells where he retained the restaurants then- Michelin star. The menu at The Falcon showcases his experience and love of British food, deliberately moving away from overcomplicated, haute cuisine. Expect to sample the likes of salt-baked beetroot, dandelion and Graceburn cheese; Isle of Mersea skate wing, confit fennel, onions and caper brown butter; and honey panna cotta with poached rhubarb and lavender shortbread.
69 High Street, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9AE
Visit FalconRestaurant.co.uk
GET SHOPPING HERE: Bicester Village, Oxfordshire
An impressive edit of ten cutting-edge young Chinese designers are being featured at Bicester Village to mark Chinese New Year. ‘Celebrating China’, a pop-up curated by leading fashion influencer Susie Bubble, will be hosted by the Oxfordshire-based shopping destination until 17th February. Housing well-established designers such as Huishan Zhang – a former winner of the BFC Fashion Trust Award and a LVMH award finalist – together with a slew of rising stars whose designs strike a powerful chord with fashion-forward millennials, ‘Celebrating China’ offers guests an exciting opportunity to shop leading Chinese brands all under one roof. New generation designers include the likes of Ryan Lo, Anaïs Jourden, Mukzin, I Am Chen, Marie Yat, Xu Zhi, Matter Matter, Yang Li and Snow Xue Gao; all powerful voices on the catwalks of global fashion weeks and many recipients of the world’s most prestigious new talent awards.
Bicester Village, Pingle Drive, Bicester OX26 6WD; until 17th February
Visit BicesterVillage.com
DO VALENTINE’S DAY IN STYLE HERE: Sorrel, Surrey
Sorrel, the Michelin-starred restaurant from chef Steve Drake, is partnering with Italian artist Elena Costa to put together a one-off ‘Discovery’ menu for Valentine’s Day. The nine-course menu will feature dishes such as venison tartare with chicory marmalade, Cornish gouda and truffle toast; turbot lollo rosso with seaweed, oscietra caviar, lemon thyme and truffled Tunworth cauliflower cheese; and ibiscus ice with cinnamon, pear and Pedro Ximenez. In addition, artist-in-residence Elena will be discreetly live-sketching guests, leaving them with a special keepsake line drawing to take home. The Surrey Hills restaurant is also working with local florist Kingfisher to organise any last-minute bunches of flowers – very handy.
77 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2JU; 14th-16th February
Visit SorrelRestaurant.co.uk
SEE STACEY DOOLEY HERE: Brighton Dome, East Sussex
Stacey Dooley has firmly established herself as one of BBC3’s most celebrated presenters through her hugely popular investigative series, covering a wide-range of topics from sex trafficking in Cambodia, to Yazidi women fighting back in Syria. At the core of her reporting are incredible women in extraordinary and scarily-ordinary circumstances – from sex workers in Russia, to victims of domestic violence in Honduras. In this rare live appearance, Stacey talks about her remarkable career so far, and explores the themes of her debut book, discussing everything from gender equality, to sex trafficking and sexual identity, weaving these global strands together in an exploration of what it is to be women in the world today. There will also be a book signing post event.
Church Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UE; 14th February
Visit BrightonDome.org
CHECK OUT AN OLD FAVOURITE HERE: The Bingham Riverhouse, Surrey
This month will see the storied Bingham in Richmond evolve into the Bingham Riverhouse. Following a full refurbishment by award-winning interior designer Nicola Harding, the family behind the Bingham Riverhouse say the restaurant and hotel now feels more like a modern private house, complete with light pastels, deep jewel tones and clean lines. Guests will be able to enjoy the ambiance of two new all-day dining rooms, which both look out over the River Thames. In addition, all 15 bedrooms have been completely refurbished, using the views of the river as design inspiration.
61-63 Petersham Road, Richmond, TW10 6UT; from 7th February
Visit TheBingham.co.uk
SEE THIS: Glengarry Glen Ross, UK-wide
David Mamet’s Pulitzer-winning Glengarry Glen Ross is heading out on a UK tour from 14th February. Set in an office of cut-throat Chicago salesmen – pitched in a high-stakes competition against each other – four increasingly desperate employees will do anything, legal or otherwise, to sell the most real estate. As time and luck start to run out, the mantra is simple: “Close the deal and you've won a Cadillac; blow the lead and you're f****d”. Directed by Sam Yates, the hard-hitting sales team includes Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Nigel Harman (EastEnders, Shrek the Musical).
Woking, Birmingham, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Bath, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Richmond, Brighton and Cardiff; various dates between 14th February-4th May
Visit ATGTickets.com
BOOK AHEAD FOR THIS: Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Named The Sunday Times’ 'Hotel of the Year’ 2018, this beautiful Georgian mansion in Hampshire became last year’s most talked about place to stay. On 23rd March, the team will host the latest of its ‘Dynamic Female Speakers’ series, as BBC Radio 4 presenter, journalist and comedian Viv Groskop celebrates the greatest female speakers and discusses how they capture our imagination. Drawing on the likes of JK Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Angela Merkel, this will be both an inspiring and practical talk. Then on 27th April Anna Murphy, fashion director of The Times, will discuss fashion, anthropology and power. Drawing on fashion history and contemporary insight Anna will be shedding light on the power of clothing to tell our story. Get your tickets now – these always sell out.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire, RG27 0LD; 3rd February
Visit HeckfieldPlace.com
GET A NEW HAIRSTYLE HERE: Hare & Bone, Esher
Award-winning hair salon Hare & Bone has launched a new destination in Esher, Surrey. One of London’s leading cut and colour specialists, the new spot offers haircuts, colour and treatments to men and women, and is headed up by Surrey-born salon founder and creative director Sam Burnett. Over the years, Sam’s clients have included Max Factor, Tom Ford, Issey Miyake, Dua Lipa, Erin O'Connor, Daisy Lowe, Emma Willis, Charli XCX and Jaimie Winstone, so you know you’re in safe hands. The light-filled, spacious salon has been designed to enhance the customer experience and their wellbeing – plants and flowers fill the windows and organic teas, Fairtrade coffee and juices are offered alongside glasses of wine and prosecco.
7 High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9RL
Visit HareAndBone.co.uk
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