Harper’s Bazaar
Ella Alexander - September 2019
Even Hearst’s London store – an airy, bright space on a corner opposite Claridge’s – honours her sustainable credentials. Designed by Norman Foster, it features parquet wood floors recycled from the remains of a military barracks, curved display cases made from trees that had fallen in a storm and biodegradable packaging in which clothes are stored. Noticeably, there are no mannequins or window displays because, as Hearst says, “there is no mannequin that’s inspiring”. The shop has been open only a few weeks and is already proving popular, with sales in its first week exceeding projections four times over.
British GQ
GQ - February 2019
Some restaurants trade on the charade that they’re a “best-kept secret” – despite inviting every food blogger in town to write them up. Laylow, however, is the real deal. True to its name, it doesn’t actively do any PR, the website comprises simply a menu and contact details and it’s hidden down an unassuming street in West London, right by the Trellick Tower. Yet the fact that this members’ club is run by Bella Freud and her partner, the artist Taz Fustok – who have also built a nightclub downstairs – should give you a sense of the vibe inside. The dining room is a full-on scene, guests double-glancing around the tables on arrival to spy who else is in and to size up their wardrobes. Unusually for such a hotspot, it’s also very much a place to eat. The Ibérico pork pluma, for instance, is sensational, as is the hot smoked salmon. But you didn’t hear about it from us, OK?
Condé Nast Traveler
Becky Lucas - December 2018
Pucci Mayfair has permanently popped up on Maddox Street and it’s a very good thing – certainly not only because it’s located right behind Condé Nast Traveller HQ. No, Pucci Mayfair is worth travelling for. The space has a certain character worth experiencing in person, beneath the dangling bulbs, as you sit at one of the intimate wooden dining tables, opposite the striking Pop Art. That character is personified by charming front-of-house manager Rufus Albanese, ‘who, with his father Pucci, ran Pucci Pizza in Chelsea – where the likes of Rod Stewart and Bryan Ferry regularly popped in for supper – for three decades before shutting it in 2010. Now, together with ex-Gordon Ramsay Group chef Tilly Turbett, he has relaunched the brand in this larger, busier Mayfair spot. Dogs are more than welcome here – on our visit the arrival of a cartoon-tiny Chihuahua named Dolce inspired much joy.
Ceviche is the latest raw fish dish delighting foodies
Emma Gritt - November 2019
Sashimi is losing its grip over the ‘people who like eating raw fish’ market as more poke and ceviche restaurants set up shop across the UK. The latest opening in London, Crudo Cevicheria, brings a colourful taste of Peru to a grey corner of central London. The restaurant keeps it simple with three staple ‘bowls’ that you can personalise with some tasty extras, like plantain chips, cancha corn, nori and sweet potato, or you can use your imagination and build your own dish from scratch.
Victorian splendour in the heart of Holborn
Faye Greenslade - July 2019
On this site in the 16th century stood dyers’ buildings, where foxhunters’ tailcoats, known as hunting “pinks”, were turned traditional brilliant red. Step just off lively Chancery Lane into what is now a peaceful, private enclave crafted from six Victorian buildings into a classic collection of luxury apartments that ooze style, with tall ceilings and light flooding in through glass walls. This duplex, for sale on the lower ground floor, has a bright, double-height living/dining and kitchen space, fully equipped with the latest gadgets, hand-picked Italian marble and underfloor heating.