What To Book Around The UK This July
HAVE AFTERNOON TEA HERE: Blenheim Place, Oxfordshire
The Orangery by Searcys at Blenheim Palace has new afternoon tea which will run throughout the summer. Featuring classically inspired cakes by world-renowned chocolatier and pâtissier William Curley, the menu will be paired by Laurent-Perrier Harmony champagne, specifically chosen by Curley to match his creations. Savouries include finger sandwiches with fillings such as smoked salmon, dill and lemon and cream cheese and cucumber; and coronation chicken; as well as a courgette and ricotta tart; followed by buttermilk scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Individual teacakes include pistachio and raspberry financiers, chocolate sacher torte, lemon and earl grey macarons and black forest tart. Meanwhile, a cake table will offer flavours such as chocolate and cherry, lemon drizzle and chestnut and rum. Bookings for afternoon tea at the restaurant also allows guests access to the parkland of Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP
Visit Searcys.co.uk
BE SUSTAINABLE HERE: Daylesford, Cotswolds
Daylesford Organic has launched a zero-waste pantry in its flagship farmshop in Kingham. Created with sustainability in mind, Daylesford has replaced single-use packaging with refillable vessels, so shopping for your kitchen staples can be lighter on the planet’s resources. Centred around a dry-goods dispensary for organic staples such as cereals, nuts, seeds, grains and pulses, customers will be able to use their own containers from home or choose from a range of reusable vessels. Adjacent to the loose dry stores, a honey dispensary features four organic honeys and there’s an olive oil and vinegar dispensary, allowing customers to fill their own sustainable bottles or jars. We like the sound of the kombucha bar, where organic kombucha will be available on tap, alongside freshly made juices and a water refill station.
Daylesford near Kingham, Gloucestershire, GL56 0YG
Visit Daylesford.com
SEE JANELLE MONAE HERE: Manchester International Festival, Manchester
Once again, Manchester International Festival has put together an amazing programme of live acts and arts. Every day and night, there’ll be live sets from the likes of The Orielles, LIINES, House Gospel Choir and Children of Zeus at Albert Square – all of which are free to attend. Also free are nightly DJ sets from the likes of The Black Madonna, DJ Yoda, Swing Ting DJs, Dave Haslam and Mary-Ellen McTague. For families, Mr Bloom from CBeebies will be performing and there’s also a YESFAM takeover. Most exciting of all, MIF will see the likes of Yoko Ono, Janelle Monae and Skepta perform solo shows. In theatre news, Idris Elba will make his directorial debut with Tree, before it transfers to the West End. Elsewhere, David Lynch will take over HOME. Featuring art, film and music, a series of events will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the American artist, musician and director of Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.
Various venues across Manchester; 4th-21st July
Visit MIF.co.uk
HEAD TO CONRWALL HERE: Port Eliot, Cornwall
Come the end of July, the masses descend on Cornwall for Port Eliot festival. This year is no different – Saturday is already close to selling out. Set within the grounds of the vast Port Eliot estate, the grand 18th-century house is the backdrop for a host of cool up-and-coming musical acts, plus comedy, literature and outdoor pursuits such as axe throwing, astronomy and wild swimming. This year sees a focus on intimate food demos with festival-goers enjoying an up-close-and-personal experience in Port Eliot’s centuries old Big Kitchen and at the Open Fire stage in front of the house: expect appearances from Honey & Co, Normal Russell and Olia Hercules. Line-up highlights include Lily Allen, Charlotte Church’s Pop Dungeon and Beak.
St Germans, Saltash, PL12 5ND; 25th-28th July
Visit PortEliotFestival.com
GET FEASTING HERE: Smoked & Uncut, New Forest
Put on by the team behind The Pig in Brockenhurst, this one-day festival has expanded across three of the group’s restaurants in the south-east. This month, Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett and some of her chef friends will be hosting long table, family-style three-course feasts in The Field Kitchen pop-up, while chef Mark Hix will be paying homage to the British love of a classic Indian takeaway with his Ruby Murray House. When it comes to music, The Vaccines, Kaiser Chiefs and Sister Sledge will top the bills across the events.
New Forest (6th July) and Lyndhurst (27th July)
Visit SmokedAndUncut.com
HEAD TO A GIN GARDEN HERE: Iberica, Manchester
This summer gin brand Gin Mare has launched a ‘Med Garden’ takeover at Iberica Spinningfields in Manchester. Capturing the spirit and holiday vibe of the Med, the pop-up is marking the official start of summer with ta range of different G&Ts. We like the sound of the ‘Triple Orange G&T’ (Gin Mare, orange marmalade, 1724 tonic, orange bitters and orange) and the ‘Mediterranean Tiger’ (Gin Mare, Ysabel Regina, tiger nut liqueur, banana liqueur and pineapple juice).
14-15 The Avenue Spinningfields, Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3HF
Visit IbericaRestaurants.com
FIND A STATEMENT PIECE HERE: Goldsmiths North, Sheffield
Goldsmiths North is a new summer fair bringing the finest contemporary silverware and jewellery to the North. Hosted in Sheffield’s Cutlers’ Hall, visitors to the fair will have the opportunity to meet and buy from 60 independent makers from all over the UK. Among the designers, you’ll find works from local artist Jennie Gill, who’ll be joined at the fair by a host of talented makers, including Victoria Walker, whose jewellery is inspired by flowers and seed pods; Polly Gasston, whose pieces reflect the near east; 3D jewellery designer Max Danger; Mikala Djorup, whose jewellery has a Scandinavian feel and Letters to Jinny who creates jewellery with secret compartments and hidden messages.
The Cutlers’ Hall, Church Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 1HG; 11th-12th July
Visit GoldsmithsNorth.com
FIND YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD STALL HERE: The Hall, Essex
The team behind Market Halls in Fulham and Victoria is about to open its newest dining concept, The Hall, at intu Lakeside in Essex. The Hall will bring together independent food traders from across the south-east in a 14,500sq ft spot at one of the country's most popular retail and leisure destinations. Familiar favourites from Market Halls, including BaoziInn and Fanny's Kebabs, will join new editions from street food aficionados Burger & Beyond, Fundi Pizza and Mother Clucker, plus newcomer on Naanstop. The venue will encompass six kitchens, two bars, a coffee shop, a dessert stand, a big screen for sport, outdoor pop-up areas for food trucks and two bars championing British-made beers, spirits and soft drinks.
Intu Lakeside, Grays, Essex, RM20 2ZP
Visit MarketHalls.co.uk
TRY A NEW TIPPLE HERE: Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, Birmingham
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend is back for four-days this year, bringing together 50 of the city’s best-loved bars for an extra day of festival fun. New for 2019, Nocturnal Animals, Bank, Fumo, Birmingham Hippodrome, The Rectory & 180 Club, Saint Paul’s House, Fumo Selfridges, Arch 13, Serve, Opus, Pub du Vin and Be at One Brindleyplace will all be joining the event. The Maker’s Mark Hub will be the starting point for cocktail-revellers, where they can grab their wristbands before heading out to explore the best of the city’s bar scene, one signature cocktail at a time. Wristbands cost £10 and allow revellers access to each venue’s £4 signature cocktail. There will also be events and masterclasses running across the four days. Bottoms up.
Various venues across Birmingham; 11th-14th July
LEARN SOMETHING NEW HERE: Also Festival, Warwickshire
Described as ‘TED Talks in a field’, Also Festival returns to Warwickshire for a sixth year this month. Taking place on Park Farm, festival-goers can explore the lakeside setting while they learn from professors, authors, theorists and comedians. Founded by Salon London, the festival brings together leading revolutionary minds for a weekend of forward-thinking discussions. There's something for everyone, whether it's checking out new bands, artists and audio adventures, wine tastings and cocktail makings, wild swimming, a disco bunker, forest bathing, workshops or sitting down to a three-course dinner in the festival's dining tent. Over the weekend there's also a range of activities of for kids including: DJ masterclasses, circus and clown workshops, lightsaber fights, raft building, kite making, robotics, calligraphy and den building.
Park Farm, Compton Verney, Warwickshire, CV35 9HJ; 5th-7th July
Visit Also-Festival.com
HEAD TO A FESTIVAL HERE: Camp Bestival, Dorset
The UK’s much-loved family festival, Camp Bestival, has announced the return of its carnival of cuisine, The Feast Collective. Back for a sixth year, the collective features exceptional, artisan food from producers from across the UK. Returning is gastronomic genius of DJ BBQ, a live-fire chef and leading name in the world of BBQ. Bringing an entirely different flavour and style to the tent, West African trailblazer Zoe Adjonyoh of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen will be serving impeccable home-cooked Ghanaian food with love. And as the appetite for more vegan and vegetarian choice gathers pace, there’ll be food from Avant Garde Vegan by Gaz Oakley and Jake’s Vegan Steaks, an all-vegan street food company, specialising in serving up Philadelphia style ‘cheezesteaks’.
East Lulworth, Wareham, BH20 5QS; 25th-28th July
Visit CampBestival.net
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