From restaurants and hotels to beautiful accessories and jewellery, Hetty Chidwick reports from the front line of luxury.
From next month, guests on board the Belmond British Pullman (above) can sit back and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea hosted by Fortnum & Mason in sumptuous vintage carriages while gazing out over the British countryside. Setting out from London Victoria and steaming past lovely locations that range from Folkestone to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, passengers can choose from a variety of tea blends or Champagne to accompany dainty layered finger sandwiches, scones and cakes. From £235 per person (0845 077 2222; www.belmond.com)
Harrods recently marked Swiss watch brand Zenith’s 150-year anniversary with an exhibition of vintage timepieces. Of the new range, my favourite is the El Primero Chronomaster 1969—just 150 will be made. £7,300 (020 7730 1234; www.harrods.com)
Caran d’Ache is celebrating its 100th anniversary by releasing 50 of these artist’s chests. An Aladdin’s cave of colour, the elegant mahogany boxes feature more than 400 artist’s materials, from pastels to pencils and crayons. £4,000 each, exclusively at Harrods (020 7730 1234; www.harrods.com)
The steak at new London restaurant Kitty Fisher’s is so good that Country Life Editor Mark Hedges deemed it ‘the best steak I’ve eaten in a long time’. Accompanied by Tunworth cheese, the beef sirloin is the hero of award-winning chef Tomos Parry’s menu at the Mayfair grill. Meal for two from about £100 (020 3302 1661; www.kittyfishers.com)
Renowned piano manufacturer Steinway has launched a self-playing piano. Programmed via its own iPad and linked up to play more than 1,700 different pieces of music, the Spirio high-resolution system will be offered exclusively on select Steinway grands. Able to replicate the virtuosity of the most talented of pianists, this player piano is bound to impress unsuspecting dinner guests. Spirio Model O, £77,150 (020 7487 3391, www.steinway.co.uk)
Ascot racecourse has collaborated with six of the UK’s most talented milliners to create a capsule hat collection. The Royal Ascot Collective features elegant, floral designs by Rachel Trevor-Morgan (020 7839 8927; www.racheltrevormorgan.com) and Piers Atkinson (above, ‘Vita’, £1,500, 020 7249 1887; www.piersatkinson.com), which can be purchased from the milliners. Royal Ascot runs from June 16 to 20 (0844 346 3000; www.ascot.co.uk)
From today, the Watch Art Grand Exhibition —a showcase for Patek Philippe—opens at the Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea. The exhibition illustrates the company’s horological heritage, with demonstrations detailing how each watch is carefully crafted. Until June 7 (020 7811 3070; www.saatchigallery.com)
When drinking in the Mediterranean sea view at La Réserve in Ramatuelle, a luxury hotel and spa on France’s ever-stylish Côte d’Azur, it’s hard to believe this idyll is just 10 miles from the buzzing town of Saint-Tropez. Sleek and modern interiors lend the hotel a James Bond-esque feel, with guests able to luxuriate in a cleverly designed spa that offers views of hidden coves, as well as a magnitude of revitalising treatments. The hotel’s restaurant, La Voile, is renowned for its seafood and has just been awarded a Michelin star. Deluxe rooms from £565, dinner from £100 (00 33 494 44 94 44; www.lareserve-ramatuelle.com)
