American in Britain Summer 2023

Helen Elliott

Ben Everson US tennis player, Tommy Paul

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EATING OUT

Marcus at The Berkeley

The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London, SW1X 7RL

Coming back to The Berkeley hotel to review Marcus at The Berkeley was a special visit for me, as it was about 10 years ago I reviewed what was then, Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, and had a meal of truly rare quality, and even met the main man himself.

Revisiting things that are so memorable is always dangerous, as how can the second visit truly live up to the first?, but I needn’t have worried as the food, the service and the new décor were all just as good as the first time, although all different.

When you hear the name The Berkeley you know it suggests quality, and when you add the name of one of the best known, and in my opinion, best chef’s, you can be sure the experience will be special.

The room is now light and airy and has a few art deco touches, along with wellspaced out tables surrounding the central wine serving area, with an abundance of champagne bottles and sparkling crystal glasses. Previously, I remembered there was an abundance of dark leather and wooden walls, and that gentlemen’s club feel has now been replaced by a more contemporary and stylish vibe, but some of the leather chairs have still survived!

This restaurant was special before, but the updated design, completed in 2014, and the new menu showcasing all of the wonderful foods the UK has to offer, feels even more so, and is much more personal to Marcus Wareing as he celebrates 35 years in the business.

We settled ourselves in one of the roomy brown leather banquettes, with its oversized oval table covered by a crisp white table cloth, and perused the lunchtime menu.

The à la carte, and the 5 and 7 course Tasting Menus are available at lunchtime as well as the evening service, but we were invited for the lunchtime menu providing 3 courses (choice of two for the starter and mains) for £60, with a wine pairing (£49).

As we waited for our starters, we were treated to a trio of amuse bouchées’, including a Brazilian Cheese Puff, a Tapioca and Seaweed Crisp with potato emulsion and some Salami. The Brazilian cheese puff incorporated a combination of feta, cheddar and parmesan cheeses, the seaweed and tapioca crisp was so light it dissolved in my mouth, and the salami was meaty with a hint of sweetness, a lovely start to a meal.

My wife selected the Courgette, Homemade Ricotta, Honey, Basil and Olive, and I chose the Cornish Skate, White Asparagus, Chilled Bouillabaisse and Fennel. The fresh and creamy ricotta is found in the bulbous end of the courgette flower all covered by a tempura batter, and its distinctively tangy sweetness goes well with the courgette and textured tempura batter. To finish the dish a generous drizzle of honey was added at the table. The honey comes from the London Honey Co., and has an eclectic taste as it is prepared using a mix of different bee varieties from around London.

My dish was a slice of smooth mousseline with hunks of firm Skate served with pickled fennel and a slightly crunchy White Asparagus, surrounded by a vibrant bouillabaisse sauce. The combination of the smooth mousseline, the sharpness of the pickled fennel, the crunch of the asparagus and the richness of the bouillabaisse was a flavour explosion in every mouthful, and the only downside was I could have eaten so much more, even though the portion was generous.

For our mains the selection was either Pork or Halibut. My Cumbrian pork was served two ways, firstly, rich and almost sticky covered in macadamia nuts, and secondly, as a couple of the leanest of loin slices. Because of the

lack of fat in pork loin this cut can easily be overcooked and go very dry, so be aware that the pork here is served pink, but this means that this makes it very succulent and a delight to eat. Accompanying the pork were sweet slightly charred Roscoff onions, and the slightly bitter endive, again providing a heady combination of contrasting flavours to match the contrasting textures of the two types of pork and the crunch of the nuts. Gigha Halibut is a firm and sweet tasting fish, that absorbs any seasoning well and is hailed by fish lovers everywhere. Its firm meaty flesh and flakily white meat lends itself perfectly to being lightly pan fried which it was here. What is special here is the simplicity of this dish. Many dishes are really overly complicated and include too many contrasting flavours, but here the ingredients were allowed to speak for themselves. The fish is rightly the star of the show, and the accompanying mussels and butter sauce just supplement and enhance it rather than trying to steal the limelight.

The lunchtime menu closes with a ‘Floating Island’ dessert which takes the ingredients of an ‘ile flottante’ and was given the Marcus magic. The first thing you notice is how beautiful it is, with the circle of white marshmallow meringue covered in a light biscuit decorated with dots of rhubarb purée surrounding a petallike design. The real shame is that once you have marvelled at the intricate design you need to smash it to allow a rich vanilla infused crème anglaise to be pour over its top. Inside you ‘discover’ pieces of baked and compressed rhubarb, providing the slight tartness and texture to counter the sweetness of the marshmallow and the smoothness of the crème anglaise.

Marcus at The Berekeley has received a Michelin star and also 5 AA Rosettes, and it is not hard to see why. Head Chef, Craig Johnston, and his team, have created beautifully balanced, simple, but at the

same time complex, dishes. The simplicity is that they allow the best seasonal produce to shine in every dish they serve, by not over packing the plate with unnecessary flavours. The complexity is that they manage to make this look so simple, when, if you look a little closer, they do actually contain a myriad of differing flavours and textures all working in harmony, and is fine dining with a capital F. www.marcusrestaurant.com

The Gurkhas

110 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 6PQ

I have been lucky enough to visit many countries around the world, but one that is still on my bucket list is Nepal, and the dream that, even though I am getting older every day, I could still make it to Everest Base Camp! So, when I had the opportunity to visit The Gurkhas restaurant and try Nepalese cuisine for myself, I jumped at the chance, as there are not many restaurants serving authentic dishes from that region. The Gurkhas restaurant is the brainchild of Nepal born, Shrabaneswor Rai, and he and Head Chef, Joe Allen, (whose wife is Nepalese), are bringing this underrated cuisine to the masses. Nepalese food is a fusion of flavours from the Himalayas, India, Tibet and China and these diverse combinations perfectly reflect the country’s equally diverse geography and culture, and taste wonderful as well.

When you arrive at the restaurant you are greeted by staff all dressed in traditional Nepalese dress, and you can choose to sit either at the front of the restaurant where the lighting is slightly darker, or go to the back part, which is lighter and airier, where the wall to ceiling bar overlooks well

spaced out green velour seats bathed in natural light from the large skylights above. We opted for the natural light section and settled down to peruse the menu.

The menu is compact, fitting on one page, and is packed with authentic dishes celebrating the richness of the Nepalese flavours and spices.

Our meal started with the ‘Snacks’ section, which includes the sharp and crunchy Gurkha Pickles (£5), and the light Jimbu Focaccia with gundruk butter (£6.5), but the other three dishes are the real stars of this section. The Dungri, smoked cod’s roe and pickled shallots (£7) is a delight to both your eyes as well as your taste buds as you savour small mounds of light and fishy cod’s roe, which contrast well with the crunchy base and the sharpness of the shallots. The Aloo Nimki (£8) is a favourite street food of Nepal, and it even has its own Facebook page, and it is not hard to see why it is so popular, with the well spiced cold potato providing a gentle heat all wrapped up in a deep fried pastry. The final dish, Bara (£5) is also a firm favourite in Nepal, and is a black lentil pancake which was fluffy inside and crispy on the outside, and is a healthy dish which is also very tasty.

After this brief, but enjoyable journey into Nepal’s varied street foods “snacks”, we moved on to the starter section which again has a number of Nepalese favourites, one in particular being momo’s or steamed dumplings. Momo’s are originally from Tibet, and at The Gurkhas their dish, Kukhura Ko Jhol Momo (£15) is a real tribute to this delicacy, as it combines sticky chicken dumplings with a rich and warming lapsi and tomato sauce and is one of the best dishes I have had for a while. Our other starter was the Spicy Lamb

Kachila,(£18) a soft and silky lamb tartare with the fresh lamb being mixed with a heady combination of garlic, coriander, chilli, salt and fenugreek seeds, packing a real kick.

Our Nepalese culinary journey continued with the mains, where my wife selected the Monkfish, Choila (£28) and I carried on the lamb theme with Lamb Rump, spiced lentils, garden peas, smoked dhau and mint (£30). Monkfish is just packed with flavour and here the strong meaty flesh held the light spices ably accompanied by beaten rice and a crisp and fresh cucumber salad. The lamb was cooked to perfection with a crispy skin and a slightly pink inner, and the addition of the refreshing peas, lightly flavoured with mint combined with the slightly al dente lentils, was a masterstroke.

To complete our meal, I selected a Dark Chocolate Cremeux (£10), and my wife the Khuwa Crème Caramel with sorrel and caramel (£11). The cremeux was rich and indulgent and is exactly what a chocolate dessert should be, and the sweetness of the Khuwa in the crème caramel competed beautifully with the sharpness of the sorrel granita.

There is a good selection of red and white wines from £42 to accompany your meal, but if you fancy a beer instead then I would definitely recommend a large bottle of Gurkhas beer, as on the bottle it states that it is “brewed to cut through the sharpest thirst”, and it definitely does that.

The Ghurkas is a welcome addition to the restaurants in London, and is bringing the rich and complex flavours of Nepal to our shores, and now maybe I can put to bed the idea of walking to base camp and just enjoy their food much nearer to home!

www.thegurkhasrestaurant.com

JW SteakHouse, Grosvenor House Hotel

86–90 Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K 7TN

Although there are many restaurants that specialise in steaks, and even more that serve steaks, there are really only a few that are truly special and cook steaks as they should be cooked, and I am pleased to say JW Steakhouse is certainly one of them. Since opening its doors, it has established itself as one of the leading American Steakhouses in Mayfair, and is located in the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel which has graced Park Lane since its opening in 1929.

The hotel has a varied history. and was not only a favourite of Dwight D Eisenhower, it was also the place where a 7-year-old Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) learned to ice skate!

The restaurant, like the rest of the hotel, is grand, with lofty ceilings and wooden tables, and leather chairs and booths evenly distributed around the spacious room. The walls are ‘decorated’ with lists of the types and cuts of beef, along with the ways it can be cooked, and at one end is the iconic Bourbon Bar which is home to over 300 rare, pre-prohibition and most sought-after bourbons in the world.

Connected to the main restaurant there is a delightful outdoor space, called the JW Garden, which was designed by award winning interior landscape designer, Ian Drummond, which provides expansive views of Hyde Park over the bustling Park Lane, and in the summer, diners can enjoy the full JW Steakhouse menu in this little oasis. Unfortunately, we visited in March, and this oasis was being buffeted by strong winds and driving rain, so unsurprisingly we opted for a table inside!

There is a wide array of starters to suit every taste, including rich and creamy Crab Soup (£12) or the signature JW Shrimp and Avocado Cocktail (£16), but I opted for the JW Maryland Style Lump Crab Cake (£21), and my wife the Smoked Scottish Salmon (£17). Eating crab and crab cakes is practically a religion in Maryland, and so they take making them very seriously, and JW Steakhouse has definitely taken onboard all of the key requirements, as these crab cakes were absolutely delicious. They are made with fresh lump crabmeat bursting with flavour and are light and fluffy, all ably accompanied by a wonderful tartar sauce, and are enormous. My wife’s smoked salmon was equally fresh and full of flavour and was accompanied by all the usual accompaniments, namely a light crème fraiche, salty capers and crunchy shallots. For our next course we chose half a dozen Maldon Rock Oysters (£24), which are slightly sweeter than their native

counterparts, served on a bed of ice with a light mignonette (a vinaigrette dressing with shallots). You can add tabasco, but personally I think that just destroys the distinctive and special taste of these indulgent molluscs.

Wonderful as the starters were, I really couldn’t wait for my main, and when I looked at the menu and the choices of cuts and sides, I was truly a kid in a sweet shop. Each steak is hand-picked and cut in-house before being expertly seared on their 650C broiler and the choice is dizzying. There are always a number of special cuts to choose, and these are shown on the lists on the wall, but the standard selection is extensive on its own. For those who prefer American USDA Prime Beef, JW Steakhouse’s steaks are from Black Angus cows which consistently provide tender and delicious meat, and for those who prefer British Cuts, the meat comes from grass fed Aberdeen Angus cows.

My selection was the JW “Tomahawk” Rib Eye 32 oz (£80), which was just wonderous. The Tomahawk gets its name from the massive piece of bone that juts out of the steak like a Tomahawk handle, and the meat on the bone is generous and very thick. Thick steaks can cause difficulty to some chefs, but here my steak was cooked to perfection with a crisp slightly charred crust and a succulent slightly pink inside (I asked for medium rare). To accompany this, I selected the JW Fries (£7) and the Mac ‘n’ Cheese (£8). You can also have a variety of sauces to accompany your steak, but I passed on these, as for me adding a sauce to such a fine piece of steak is akin to adding Coca Cola to a malt whiskey, as it will mask the fabulous flavours these quality cuts have, and you have paid for. The fries were crunchy and light and the mac ‘n’ cheese gooey and bursting with cheesiness and so moreish.

My wife is not a steak lover, and so selected the Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with garlic butter instead, and they, like everything else at JW Steakhouse, were large, and you get 6 chargrilled sweet and succulent pieces all in a delicate garlic butter. It is nice that JW Steakhouse does cater for everyone with a wide selection of other meals, so if your partner isn’t a steak lover, but you are, you can visit one of the best steak restaurants in London without feeling guilty, as you know that there are plenty of dishes other than steak that they can choose from.

It is, however, important to hold back on the first few courses if you can, and leave a little room for dessert, as there are so many gems to choose from, and it would be a shame to miss out. As befitting an authentic American steakhouse, the first thing on the dessert menu is JW’s Cheesecake (£18), which is described as ‘the best this side of the pond’. The menu goes on to say ‘you may not want to share it, but you should’, and I understand the sentiment, as although the cheesecake could be out of one of the most

exclusive New York Deli’s, with texture and flavour abounds, it is so large I truly cannot see how anyone could eat it all on their own! The Apple Pie with cinnamon ice cream (£9) and the rich Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream (£9) are also worthy of mention, but frankly you can choose any of the desserts on the menu as they are all delicious.

JW Steakhouse has it all. The room is large, so diners have space, but it also feels cosy. The staff are attentive without being intrusive, and the food portions are generous without compromising on quality, and it is this heady mix that makes me long to return (well it could also be my love of steaks!), but maybe only once my waistline retreats a little!

www.jwsteakhouse.co.uk

Tipsy Tea At The K West Hotel & Spa

Richmond Way, Shepherd’s Bush, London, W14 OAX

How can one refuse an invitation to review a Tipsy Tea, and I am very glad I didn’t, as I spent a lovely couple of hours, drinking delicious Afternoon Tea inspired cocktails, whilst grazing on a cheese and meat platter, with not an actual cucumber sandwich or scone in sight!

The Mixologist, and Head Chef, at the K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush, have come together to create a selection of carefully concocted cocktails, representing some of the nation’s favourite parts of a traditional Afternoon Tea, and all cleverly named with Mar-Tea Ni in their names.

Our Tipsy Tea featured three cocktails based on traditional Afternoon Tea flavours - the classic cucumber sandwich, that I usually find very dull (not here though), sweet Victoria sponge, and strawberry jam to finish. The cocktails are made to share and are uniquely served in glass teapots, and these are paired with a cheese and meat platter that is served not on a triple Afternoon Tea stand, but on a retro record turntable.

Having settled into the laidback and urban cool Studio Bar, and enjoyed our welcome glass of prosecco, we were served our first cocktail, named the Tipsy Cucumber Sandwich Mar-Tea-Ni, combining peppermint infused gin, St Germain, apple juice, lemon juice and fresh cucumber and garnished with a cucumber peel. This was delicious and very refreshing.

This was followed by The Merry Victoria Sponge Cocktail, made from lemon infused gin, MB Creme de Mure, MB Creme de Cassis, lemon juice and vanilla syrup, served with a Macaron garnish – also delicious!

And finally, we enjoyed the Sozzled Scone and Strawberry Jam Cocktail, with green tea infused gin, Chambord, MB Fraise, cranberry juice, Agave syrup and a swirl of strawberry jam.

Whilst enjoying these creative cocktails, we enjoyed grazing on the cheese and meat platter that included salami and Parma ham, olives, stilton, Emmental and brie cheese, and a jar of honey, accompanied by nuts, pitta bread, dried apricots, grapes and raspberries.

The Studio has black granite bar that is illuminated by two dazzling dropcolumn chandeliers, with swathes of voile curtains, an architectural fireplace and chic furniture, radiating a sexy, chic style. On Wednesdays, every week, you can enjoy a free Cocktail Masterclass, from 6.15pm to 7.00pm, where you will learn the tricks of the trade from their talented mixologists, plus, they’ll give you 20% off your first drink afterwards.

Shepherd’s Bush is based in West London, and has changed almost beyond belief. My friend Jackie and I started our careers at the BBC there nearly 40 years ago, and we both said we wished the K West Hotel & Spa, and their Tipsy Tea, had been there all those years ago!

Reservations for the Tipsy Tea do require a minimum of two people per booking, and this includes your welcome glass of prosecco, three teapot cocktails and the cheese and meat platter to share.

The Tipsy Tea is served in the hotel’s Studio Bar & Kitchen daily from 4pm - 9pm and costs £59 per person. www.k-west.co.uk

THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros

Ain’t Too Proud

The story of one of the biggest selling groups of all time is now a West End show billed as ‘Ain’t Too Proud’.

It’s the story of The Temptations, the group behind very memorable songs such as ‘My Girl’, ‘Pappa Was A Rolling Stone’, ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’,and of course ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’.

Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial

In one corner we have Rebecca Vardy, who has been accused by the woman in the opposite corner - Coleen Rooney - of leaking personal information about her to the press, so Vardy sues Rooney for defamation, and all of this is cleverly put together in the play ‘Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial’. We all remember the tribulations, the gossip, and the salacious details that were revealed in the case which was called by the press as the trial of the century. Vardy (Lucy May Barker) and Rooney (Laura Dos Santos) slugged it out in court, and we all know that Vardy was not able to prove her case (last year), that Rooney libelled her by blaming her for the leaks from her private Instagram account. Rooney was the victor, according to the judge (the actual ruling, by Judge Mrs Justice Steyn, saw Vardy’s claims as inconsistent and unfounded. There were large parts of evidence that simply did not hold up in court, or were deemed too farfetched or ‘implausible’).

In the show, which plays out like a football match as a battle between two very famous WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends), two pundits (Halema Hussain and Nathan McMullen) give us the play by play - commentary on what is happening, what has happened, and what is about to happen, adding quite a clever and fun twist to the trial, and not allowing the show to succumb to just another play about a trial (this is definitely not ‘Witness for the Prosecution’!).

Writer (adaptor) Liv Hennessy, has taken bit parts of the actual trial testimony and turned this into the crux of what this show is all about - the amazing, exciting and unbelievable testimony that these two women gave to the judge on the witness stand. Some of it is hard to believe (a lost phone, deletion of all messages, and Davy Jones), while one of the women keeps digging herself into a large whole, with her credibility sinking fast. But taken as satire, this show gives you food for thought on social media, celebrity and privacy, and when you combine all three, you get a situation like this. It’s the modern age of social media, and as we now know, anything is possible.

To book, please visit: www.atgtickets.com/shows/vardyv-rooney-the-wagatha-christie-trial/ ambassadors-theatre/

The show is seen through the eyes of founding member Otis Williams, now 80 years old, and brilliantly played by Sifiso Mazibuko. ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ tells of the ups and downs of the group. From their beginnings in Detroit in 1962, where five young men with soulful voices came together, through to being signed by Motown right after David Ruffin joined the group (a brilliant Tosh Wanogho-Maud), where they were guided by legend Smokey Robinson and managed by Shelly Berger (Dylan Turner). From then their rise to fame continued, through thick and thin. They then became one of the first African American artists to crossover into the mainstream. They were even bigger then The Supremes (told in the mega hit show ‘Dreamgirls’).

But eventually the path to fame would be a rocky one. Ruffin never adhered to the groups rules, was kicked out and would eventually die of a drug overdose aged 50. Original member Melvin Franklin would also die young, aged 52. And Williams was also no stranger to tragedy, his only son would die at the young age of 23.

But ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ isn’t all about tragedy. It’s a musical with beautiful music, with songs that are not sung to the very end that leave you begging for more, and when you get more it’s just not enough. The men who play all the Temptations in this show

Lucy May Barker, Verna Vyas, Laura Dos Santos in Vardy v Rooney The Wagatha Christie Trial - Pamela Raith

AIN’T TOO PROUD. Tosh Wanogho-Maud, Mitchell Zhangazha, Sifiso Mazibuko, Cameron Bernard Jones, Kyle Cox. Photo Johan Persson

are perfectly cast, and all with incredible voices (with a lot of sweating involved).

Excellent Choreography by Sergio Trujillo and superb direction by Des McAnuff makes this show a winner. ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ is the best thing to happen to the West End in years, and expect it to snatch lots of prizes at next years Olivier Awards. www.london.ainttooproudmusical.com

Brokeback Mountain

It was first a book, then an award winning ‘out movie’ with two Hollywood mega stars, and now it comes to the stage. A story of two men who meet on a mountain called Brokeback.

Annie Proulx wrote the book, Ang Lee directed Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger in the film, and now two Hollywood stars - Mike Faust (West Side Story) and Lucas Hedges (Oscar nominated for Manchester by the Sea) - are in this stage version that is faithful to both the book and movie, plus it’s set to music.

It’s a moving and fine production.

Jack Twist (Faust) and Ennis Del Mar (Hedges) are cowboys out together on Brokeback Mountain in 1963 to do sheep herding, yet both men, alone on the mountain, have a quick tryst in a tent (as you do), but both declare it didn’t mean anything. But there is more than just lust between them, it’s deeper. They continue to meet up on the mountain and, through marriages, children, divorce - years and years - they still have a bond between them. But unfortunately, because of the days they were living in, they were never able to live as a couple. And then eventually it’s too late.

An older Ennis hovers around the stage looking back at what could’ve been, his regrets lingering throughout the entire show. A live band beautifully captures music relevant to the theme and it’s time. And while the romance and show feels rushed (it’s a short 90 minutes), both leads are just superb

and perfectly cast, with Faust the exuberant Jack and Hedges the laid back and sullen Ennis. The beautiful setting - camp ground one minute to a bedroom and then a kitchen - are perfectly captured, while Soho Place is the perfect venue for this show. Don’t miss it, it’s playing until August 24th. www.sohoplace.org

Frozen

You’ve no doubt seen the film version of ‘Frozen’ (especially if you have young daughters), but if you have not yet seen the stage version I urge you to do so.

The stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden is amazingly turned into an ice kingdom right before your very eyes in a show that transports you to the world of Queen Elsa (Samantha Barks) and her sister Anna (Emily Lane). From their lives as young children - to grown up women who’ve grown apart due to Elsa’s secret powers that turns the kingdom into ice, and it’s up to Anna to find and save her sister, and the kingdom, from perpetual winter. You see, afraid of her own powers, Elsa isolates herself in her icy castle, away from society, and her family.

It’s like magic that the theatre stage stays very true to the animated movie that has made Disney billions of dollars. From the bedroom the girls share to the ballrooms to the ice castle, and including the gorgeous lavish costumes and, of course the music (including obviously ‘Let it go’ - sung by Barks), and Olaf the snowman. It all comes beautifully together on stage in a production that’s perfect for the young ones and mesmerising enough for the adults.

The most successful animated film of all time has been transformed into a magical, sweeping and memorable stage production, and it has everything you’d want from a fairy tale: beautiful princesses, a snow palace, reindeer, handsome and charming men, ice bridges and sleigh rides, but at its heart is the story of two sisters and their love for each other, no matter the circumstances.

Tickets to ‘Frozen’ are very affordable, just be aware that in keeping with the theme of the show the theatre inside is actually very cold (everyone around us had their jackets and scarves on), and beware of little children chatting away during the show as if they are watching it in their own living rooms.

www.frozenthemusical.co.uk

Brokeback Mountain. Mike Faist (Jack) and Lucas Hedges (Ennis). Credit - Manuel Harlan

Samantha Barks (Elsa) - Disney’s Frozen the Musical - Photo by Johan Persson © Disney

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Timing Is Everything – Key Dates To Watch Out For As A US Citizen In The UK

Whether you have been resident in the UK for a lifetime or are a new arrival, there can be many important dates from a tax perspective for one to consider as an American in the UK. With sufficient prior planning and foresight these important dates should not prove a problem, but it is important to be aware of them, so they do not result in any nasty surprises.

Arising/Remittance Basis of Taxation:

Between your first and seventh year of UK tax residency, non-domiciled individuals have the opportunity to elect to pay UK taxes on the remittance basis without paying a tax charge associated with the election. Following year seven and until year sixteen, an individual can continue to elect the remittance basis, but doing so comes with an additional charge of either £30k or £60k depending on the length of residency. Paying UK tax on the remittance basis means that individuals pay UK taxes on their UK sourced income and gains as well as on any assets they bring onshore to the UK. This can be helpful where individuals may have large balances in the US or offshore, and can therefore shelter these from ongoing UK tax for a time. Whilst an individual electing to pay UK taxes on the remittance basis can reduce their overall tax position, this can also create wrinkles down the line should the individual want to use their offshore assets in the UK, as it can create nonremittable pools of capital offshore. This can mean that the assets held outside of the UK could be subject to an additional UK tax when bringing them onshore to spend in future years. Therefore, if you intend to stay in the UK for the long-term, it is essential to consider the cost/benefit of electing to pay tax on the remittance basis versus paying tax in the UK on an arising basis. We recommend talking through your options with a tax professional.

Another key aspect is considering how your tax position will change once you switch from the remittance basis to the arising basis of taxation. As mentioned above, after seven UK tax years there is an annual charge payable to continue paying tax under the remittance basis, and for many individuals it often makes sense to begin paying tax on the arising basis at this stage. This means that your worldwide income

becomes subject to UK taxes as it arises. Before this happens, it is therefore key to review any offshore holdings to ensure they are tax efficient from a UK perspective. If you have not restructured your investments early on in your residency, it is often prudent planning to sell down any tax inefficient investments from a UK perspective before you begin paying tax on the arising basis and at this juncture restructure into investments that will be tax efficient from both a UK and US perspective; for example, US mutual funds with UK reporting status. Doing this ahead of moving to the arising basis of taxation can save you significant taxes from a UK perspective, so it is certainly one to think about and plan for in advance.

Paying Your UK Taxes Early:

If at some stage in your UK residency you do pay taxes on the arising basis, you will be filing taxes in both the UK and the US. Fortunately, under the UK/US tax treaty there are provisions in place to prevent you paying double tax, however, these must be carefully navigated to make sure

the provisions can be applied. As you will already be familiar, the US tax year runs from 1st January to 31st December. However, the UK tax year runs from 6th April – 5th April. Therefore, it becomes important to ensure that you pay taxes at the correct time in both jurisdictions as it will allow you to claim foreign tax credits under the treaty and ultimately prevent double taxation. Your UK neighbours will have until 31st January each year to pay taxes for the previous tax year. For Americans in the UK, it is often beneficial to pay your UK taxes a month before the deadline instead, aiming for December 31st. This will then mean that you can deduct your paid UK taxes from your US returns for that year and allow the treaty to work as intended.

Deemed Domicile:

Once you have been a UK tax resident for more than 15 of the last 20 years, you will be well and truly cemented in British lifestyle. With this also comes a change to your tax position, as from this time you will be considered deemed domicile in the UK. This is an important milestone when it comes to inheritance tax, as from this juncture onwards your worldwide assets will be subject to UK inheritance tax. For Americans, this can be particularly painful as the estate allowances in the UK are significantly different from the US. As of today, the US has a lifetime gift and estate allowance of $12.92m per person after which an inheritance tax charge of 40% will be applied to your remaining estate. The UK inheritance tax allowance, known as the nil rate band, is only £325,000 or £500,000 (depending on whether you qualify for the extra main residence nil rate band) after which your estate will be subject to a 40% tax charge on the remaining estate. It is therefore important to spend some time on estate planning and consider how your estate is best structured from both a US and UK perspective. Appropriate areas that may be considered include lifetime gifting, settling a trust prior to becoming deemed domicile, or taking out a whole of life insurance policy. Considering these potential liabilities in advance will allow you to ensure that you have peace of mind that your estate is structured efficiently should the worst happen.

There can be many obstacles to navigate as a US person resident in the UK, so being

Another key aspect is considering how your tax position will change once you switch from the remittance basis to the arising basis of taxation

aware of the key dates and timelines is crucial. Being conscious of changes to your tax status in advance can allow you plenty of time to prepare and make any changes to prevent yourself from being caught out. If only we had the same foresight over the British weather!

Emma James

Emma James is a Wealth Manager at MASECO Private Wealth specialising in cross boarder financial planning and investment management.

Email: Emma.james@masecopw.com

The Legal Stuff

This document may not be forwarded, copied or distributed without our prior consent. This document has been prepared by MASECO LLP for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax or any other type of advice and should not be construed as such. The information contained herein is subject to copyright with all rights reserved.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of MASECO as a whole or any part thereof. All investments involve risk and may lose value. The value of your investment can go down depending upon market conditions

and you may not get back the original amount invested. Your capital is always at risk. Information about potential tax benefits is based on our understanding of current tax law and practice and may be subject to change. The levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation is subject to change. The tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each individual and may be subject to change in the future.

MASECO LLP (trading as MASECO Private Wealth and MASECO Institutional) is established as a limited liability partnership under the laws of England and Wales (Companies House No. OC337650) and has its registered office at Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London WC2R 0HS. The individual partners are Mr J E Matthews, Mr J R D Sellon, Mr A Benson, Mr D R B Dorman, Mr H Q A Findlater, Mr T Flonaes, Mr E A Howison and Ms A L Solana. For your protection and for training purposes, calls are usually recorded.

MASECO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in the UK and is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor.

TAXING ISSUES Important Tax Considerations For Americans Moving To The United Kingdom

The following is designed to provide general tax information for Americans contemplating a move to the United Kingdom and does not constitute legal advice. As with all legal issues, seeking tailored advice from qualified counsel is advisable.

Americans who relocate to the United Kingdom will encounter an income tax system with many similarities to the one they have grown to know and loathe in the United States. Nevertheless, continued US tax obligations, combined with new tax responsibilities in the United Kingdom, create a landscape characterised by both opportunities and pitfalls.

1. Tax Reporting Obligations And Remittance-Basis

Similar to taxation policy in the United States, UK tax residents will generally owe tax to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on worldwide income. But unlike the US system, many taxpayers do not need to file an annual tax return (known as a “Self-Assessment”) with tax responsibilities being largely satisfied through withholdings. For example, an individual earning UK wages as their only source of income would not need to file a tax return unless earnings for the tax year ending April 5th were greater than £100,000.

Importantly, Americans who are in the process of moving to the United Kingdom should be aware of potential tax savings through election of remittancebasis taxation. This tax status has no corresponding policy in the United States and creates an opportunity to protect non-UK investment income from UK tax for a limited time following a move.

While there are rigid guidelines to be followed and good advice is crucial, in essence, investment income from non-UK sources earned during the remittance period is not subject to taxation in the United Kingdom unless funds are remitted into or otherwise spent in the UK. US tax would continue to be due, but Americans with short-term plans in the United Kingdom who earn considerable investment income would be wise to analyse possible tax savings that would be produced through this strategy.

The remittance basis can only be used for seven years after arriving in the United Kingdom after which time an annual charge

of £30,000 applies. This annual charge then increases to £60,000 for those who are resident in 12 of the prior 14 years, and is not available once deemed domiciled, which applies after 15 years of residence during the prior 20-year period. Please note, domicile determinations can be challenging, and if strong connections are not maintained outside the United Kingdom, there will always be risk of a determination that UK domicile has been established by choice, thus eliminating protection of remittance basis.

Irrespective of UK status and filing obligations, US citizenship status will require that annual tax returns and foreign bank account reports continue to be filed back home. Because of these continued US tax obligations, many provisions are in place to eliminate exposure to double taxation for an American living in the UK, but cracks in the foundation do exist.

2. Tax Rates

Outside of remittance basis taxation, tax will generally be assessed in the United Kingdom at a rate higher than the corresponding rate that would be due on that same amount of income in the United States. Income from

salaries or self-employment, pensions, interest, and rental income will face a “basic” tax rate of 20% after the application of a personal allowance of (£12,570 in 2023/24). A “higher” tax rate of 40% applies to income in excess of £50,271 and an “additional higher” rate of 45% is applied to income over £125,140, recently reduced from £150,000.

By comparison, the progressive tax system in the US contains over twice as many rate bands and a top rate of 37%, which in 2023 does not kick in until total income reaches $578,125 ($693,750 for married taxpayers filing jointly). Americans who are resident in states with high rates of income tax, such as California, Hawaii, or New Jersey, will tack on an additional state tax charge and face rates closer to those encountered in the United Kingdom. But a permanent move from Texas, Florida, or another state with no personal income tax will always come with a hefty increase in the overall income tax bill.

3. Tax Incentives For Pensions And Investments

UK tax policy incentivises investment and offers a wide range of tax protection opportunities for British taxpayers working to fund their retirement or just save for a rainy day. To offset the brutality of the rates described above, tax incentives on investment and retirement are often considerably more generous than those offered in the United States. But unless specifically provided for in the United States – United Kingdom Income Tax Treaty, American citizens will continue to pay US tax on their tax-protected UK income.

UK Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)

Participation in retirement savings schemes in the UK is largely protected by this Treaty; however, the Individual Savings Account (ISA) designation will be disregarded for US tax purposes as the accounts do not qualify as retirement plans. ISAs create opportunities for British taxpayers to make limited annual contributions to tax-free investment accounts that can be withdrawn at any point, irrespective of age. ISA income remains fully taxable in the United States and retains its underlying character (ie., dividends, interest, capital gains, or PFIC income!).

Irrespective of UK status and filing obligations, US citizenship status will require that annual tax returns and foreign bank account reports continue to be filed back home

Tax Incentives For Investment Income

In the United Kingdom, annual tax-free allowances on different sources of investment earnings have been steadily reduced over the past few years. For 2023/24, tax free allowances are offered for dividends (£1,000), capital gains (£6,000), interest (£1,000) and rental income (£1,000), in addition to the personal allowance. The allowance for interest is reduced to £500 for higher rate taxpayers and eliminated at the additional higher rate.

Rates on dividend income have also been increased. Basic rate taxpayers pay a tax rate of 8.75% on dividend income, which is increased to 33.75% for higher rate taxpayers, and 39.35% for taxpayers in the additional higher rate. For capital gains, basic rate taxpayers pay a 10% rate on the sale of assets other than residential property which is taxed at a rate of 18%. Higher and additional higher rate taxpayers will pay capital gains rates of 20%/28%.

On the US side, American taxpayers benefit from a 0% tax rate on long-term capital gains and certain dividends while in the 10% and 12% tax brackets and pay a rate of 15% thereafter. The rate then jumps to 20% once taxpayers reach $492,300 in income ($553,850 for MFJ) (2023). No corresponding allowances are available, meaning US tax could potentially be due on tax-protected UK income.

Further complicating matters, outside of the interest allowance in the United Kingdom, Americans will generally face UK tax on tax-free interest income from certain US government bonds and obligations. Health and education savings plans in the United States can also carry unintended UK tax consequences.

Mutual Funds And Unit Trusts

Despite the tax incentives for investment income in both countries, mutual fund investments are problematic for Americans on both sides of the pond. Mutual fund investments in the United Kingdom will be subject to taxation under the Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) rules, whereby gains and certain irregular distributions are taxed at the highest marginal rate in the US with additional interest charges accruing over the holding period. The result is that the cost of compliance on the US side and underlying tax obligations have the potential to largely undermine investment objectives.

US mutual funds can also be inefficient for Americans who are tax resident in the United Kingdom and not using remittance basis. Like the PFIC rules in the United States, the United Kingdom taxes gains from certain non-UK mutual funds and unit trusts at income tax, rather than capital gains, rates. Fortunately, the same punitive rate and interest charges assessed in the United States under the PFIC guidelines do not apply.

Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

This 3.8% tax is assessed in the United States against the investment earnings of Americans

with income over $200,000 ($250,000 if MFJ and $150,000 if MFS). Even when the investment income is UK sourced and more than sufficient foreign tax credits are available, as it is classified as a “Medicare” tax, the IRS maintains that is not part of the foreign tax credit calculations and cannot be reduced by UK income tax paid.

Retirement Savings

Opportunities to save for retirement start to form the silver lining of the landscape. Provisions in the Treaty provide protection from current taxation of plan-level earnings in qualifying retirement arrangements in both countries. Moreover, a unique provision protects same country rollovers and post-retirement Roth distributions from taxation in both countries. With retirement savings strategies being the main area where the stars align for American expats in the United Kingdom, coming up with a plan to optimise participation with your financial advisor may be a good idea.

Nevertheless, a couple of additional considerations will come into play when thinking about UK pension participation from a US tax perspective. First, in the United States, retirement funds can be accessed before age 59 ½ by paying an additional 10% tax on taxable portion of the distribution. In the UK, there is no similar mechanism to access your pension pot before age 55 without considerable cost and unfavourable tax ramifications.

Furthermore, UK pensions will be reportable as foreign assets for purposes of US, FinCEN and FATCA filings. The reporting is purely informational in nature, but Americans who leave behind retirement accounts in the United Kingdom will need to make sure they understand what ongoing reporting will be required of them even after a move back stateside.

4. Home Ownership

Keeping up with the momentum of the retirement savings alignment, ownership of a personal home is heavily incentivised in both countries with broader tax savings available in the United Kingdom. For US purposes, a taxpayer can exclude up to $250,000 of gain from the sale of a home that he or she has owned and used as a principal residence for two of the prior five years. This is doubled to $500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

The tax exemption functions quite differently in the UK, where periods of usage as a main home can create a partial tax exclusion in the future, even when the property has not been used as a main home for an extended period. Furthermore, no cap is placed on the maximum amount that can be excluded from tax in the UK, meaning that gain from the sale of a property that has always been used as a main home in the UK will be fully tax protected irrespective of the amount of profit produced. Considerable capital gains could be generated from the sale of a main home that would be tax protected in the UK but taxed at capital gains rates with NIIT exposure in the United States, resulting in a sizeable check potentially being cut to Uncle Sam.

5. Child Tax Credits

Ending on a high note, filing US taxes can be a joyous occasion for Americans with children living in the United Kingdom. Since 2017, the income limitations for claiming the child tax credit have been increased to $200,000 for single taxpayers and $400,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

The way the tax credit ordering rules function on the US tax return allows for the foreign tax credit for UK tax to be applied first, fully offsetting the US liability and converting a portion of the child tax credit into an actual cash payment of up to $1,500 per child (2023). Americans with children who have been claiming the foreign earned income exclusion on their tax returns may want to ensure they have not left money on the table.

Conclusion

In summary, double taxation can generally be planned against despite the differences between the tax systems. Unfortunately, tax incentives in one country may be largely eliminated by limitations of the other. As a rule of thumb, the tax policy you will need to be concerned with is the more unfavourable between the two countries under the circumstances. American expats experience the best of both worlds in many ways, but do face the worst of both when it comes to taxes. Let us make it easier for you.

Roland A. Sabates, Expat Legal Services Group

Expat Legal Services Group offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States. Our firm serves the expat community in the areas of international tax, immigration law, and cross border business and estate planning leveraging a suite of modern technology solutions. Contact Expat Legal Services Group today at info@expatlegal.com or visit the website at www.expatlegal.com.

The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising.

Furthermore, UK pensions will be reportable as foreign assets for purposes of US, FinCEN and FATCA filings

PROPERTY Living In Marylebone

Situated just north of Oxford Street and south of Regent’s Park, Marylebone boasts an enviable location in central London. This prime position grants residents easy access to the best of what the city has to offer. With its charming Georgian and Victorian architecture, tree-lined streets and picturesque squares, Marylebone exudes an atmosphere of timeless elegance. The neighbourhood’s quintessential London charm, coupled with its cosmopolitan vibe, makes it an enticing place to call home.

Shopping And Attractions

Marylebone is a shopping haven, offering a delightful mix of high-end boutiques, eclectic independent shops and renowned department stores. The crown jewel of shopping experiences in the area is Marylebone High Street, a stylish thoroughfare lined with upscale fashion brands, artisanal food shops, and chic home décor boutiques.

The neighbourhood’s rich cultural tapestry is also a big draw. This includes The Wallace Collection, a stunning museum within a historic townhouse that showcases an impressive collection of fine art, furniture, and decorative arts. For theatre enthusiasts, the iconic Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre offers unforgettable al fresco performances during the summer months.

Where To Eat

Marylebone is famous for being a gastronomic paradise. Its diverse culinary scene caters to every palate and craving, from Michelinstarred restaurants to charming cafés and cosy pubs. For a refined dining experience, indulge in the culinary creations of worldrenowned chefs at establishments such as Trishna, a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, or St John, which showcases innovative and locally sourced British cuisine. For a more casual affair, explore the many delightful cafés and bars dotted throughout the area, including The Monocle Café and WatchHouse.

Parks And Leisure Space

Regent’s Park is the most popular of Marylebone’s green spaces, a sprawling oasis offering tranquil lakes, immaculate gardens, and picturesque walking paths. Take a leisurely stroll, enjoy a picnic, and relish the breathtaking views of London’s skyline from Primrose Hill, located within the park. You’ll also find countless charming garden squares tucked away throughout the neighbourhood, providing peaceful retreats for residents to enjoy a moment of respite in the heart of the city.

Getting Around

One of the many advantages of living in Marylebone is its exceptional connectivity.

The neighbourhood’s central location gives residents easy access to London’s extensive transport network. Marylebone Station, a major railway terminus, offers convenient connections to various destinations within the UK, including Oxford, Birmingham and the Chilterns.

For travel within London, there are underground stations in Marylebone, Bond Street and Baker Street, plus many bus routes that travel across the city.

Schools

There’s a superb selection of schools in the area – both independent and state schools, from nursery to sixth form. Notable primary schools with ‘Outstanding’ ratings include Hampden Gurney CofE, St Vincent RC and Wetherby Preparatory. Top local secondary schools include The St Marylebone and Wetherby Senior School. With many more exceptional educational offerings, Marylebone ensures children can thrive and flourish.

Property In Marylebone

Marylebone offers a diverse range of property options to suit various lifestyles and preferences. The area broadly presents a mix of elegant Georgian and Victorian townhouses, charming mews houses and modern apartments. Whether

you seek the grandeur of a period property or the contemporary comforts of a new development, Marylebone delivers in abundance.

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

We understand that moving home can be a stressful and time-consuming process, even without the added challenges of moving to a different country. Our relocation team is here

to help you start this new chapter smoothly. Our bespoke service is available with no cost or obligations and full access to London’s property market, ensuring your experience is as seamless as possible.

John Humphris, Head of Knight Frank’s Corporate & Relocation Services team

John has extensive experience across the residential markets, particularly Prime Central London, having worked for Private and institutional clients. His experience at Knight Frank includes having run two offices in Hyde Park and Marylebone. He is passionate about providing excellent service and results for clients, and being the go-to for any property needs, however diverse they may be. John is backed up by his Relocation & Corporate services team and is ideally placed to help any international or expatriate clients coming to London or the UK for the first time.

E: john.humphris@knightfrank.com

T: 020 7861 1145

www.knightfrank.com

HEALTHCARE

Summer is the perfect time to play more sport or take up something new. With so many tournaments, including Wimbledon, The Open, and The Ashes, taking place during the warmer months, there’s plenty to inspire and motivate us to get out and get moving.

However, without care and attention, and particularly if you’re a little out of practice, it’s easy to get injured.

We spoke to Mr Abbas Rashid, Consultant Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, who gave us some insider knowledge on injuries he commonly sees in his clinic, and shared his tips for avoiding an injury, so you can get the most out of the summer months.

What Are Some Common Injuries You See?

Broadly speaking, you can divide them into two groups. The first is people slipping and falling when they’re out and about. The other is repetitive overuse, which can result from playing sport.

So, on the one hand you have people cycling around the park when the sun comes out, coming off their bikes and sustaining fractures or dislocations of shoulders and elbows - things of that nature.

Then on the other hand you have people that increase their participation in sports

like tennis, cricket, and squash during the summer months, who go on to develop conditions such as tennis elbow, SLAP tears and shoulder impingement. It’s a whole spectrum.

Common Conditions And Their Symptoms

TENNIS ELBOW

This is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow, which can also radiate down the arm to the wrist. This can be mild and only felt when using the elbow, to a constant burning pain that interferes with everything from washing, dressing and sleeping. In some instances, people can even lose the ability to fully extend their arm.

It’s called tennis elbow because the prevalence is high in people that play tennis. In reality, it occurs in any number of sports, and even in people that don’t play any sports.

I’m on the national steering committee for tennis elbow, and so what’s important to me is ensuring treatments are data driven, and have a strong evidence base that they work. A treatment has to ultimately work and benefit a person.

If you do think you might have tennis elbow, it’s important to get a formal diagnosis. Without this, you won’t receive

the targeted treatment needed to effectively resolve it.

SLAP (SUPERIOR LABRUM, ANTERIOR TO POSTERIOR) INJURY

This happens when cartilage in the inner part of your shoulder joint tears. Tears can happen over time in people who play sports or do exercise that requires lots of overhead motion.

Playing tennis, swimming and lifting weights are all common causes for SLAP tears.

A SLAP injury can make it painful or difficult for you to move your shoulder and arm; cause popping noises or a grinding feeling when you move your shoulder; and make it feel like your shoulder might pop out of your shoulder blade.

Left untreated, these tears can cause chronic pain, limit how much you can use your arm and shoulder, and lead to more serious shoulder problems. As such, it’s important not to grin, bear it and ignore your symptoms. Seeing a doctor and getting a formal diagnosis is the first step to getting your quality of life back.

SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT

Shoulder impingement happens when a tendon inside your shoulder rubs or catches on nearby tissue and bone as you lift your arm. It can come on gradually or

you might feel it all of a sudden. It can cause pain, and a feeling of weakness when you lift or move your arm.

If your pain doesn’t go away, it’s worth seeing a specialist who can assess your condition and create a recovery plan for you. This could include working with a specialist physiotherapist, steroid injections in the shoulder, and rarely, surgery.

For Avoiding Injuries, What Would You Recommend?

Exercise is important for physical health, mental health, genuine enjoyment and engagement with other people. However, it does also increase your risk of injury.

In general, injuries are caused by repetitive overuse, the intensity of participation in a sport, and not giving the body enough time to recover. However, other factors such as biomechanics and overall musculoskeletal health, as well as sport-specific things like the weight of a tennis racket, its string tension, and what surface you’re playing on, also play a role.

MIX IT UP

Varying your activity, rather than doing one type of activity intensely, can reduce your risk of injury. Try to combine some other workouts, like yoga, Pilates and strength training, alongside your preferred sport.

BUILD UP GRADUALLY

To avoid an injury, it’s really important to warm up before and after exercising, stretch regularly, and build muscle gradually. When getting into, or re-starting any sport, enlist the support of a personal trainer who can show you the basics and create a tailored development plan. When it comes to weight training, starting with lighter loads is essential to avoid muscle strains and tears. Focus on perfecting your technique first, then work on your strength.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Eat a varied and balanced diet, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and remember that rest is essential to integrating the benefits of exercise.

What To Do Following An Injury

The first thing to remember is that injuries happen. Stop your activity. If necessary, take painkillers and anti-inflammatories, ice the injury, and then get plenty of rest. If after a day or two, you don’t see any improvement, seek help.

Alternatively, if you feel intense pain straight away, book an appointment with a specialist so you can start your recovery journey without delay.

What to expect from a shoulder and elbow consultation

The first thing is to establish a diagnosis. Once we have this, we can

treat in a very targeted way. And that’s much more effective.

Establishing a diagnosis involves taking a history and conducting an examination. This can involve scans, such as x-ray or MRI to find out the severity of the problem, as this will also determine how we treat someone.

Treatment can be non-operative, such as pain management and physiotherapy, or surgical. The majority of patients we see in upper limb orthopaedics can be treated non-operatively with lifestyle modifications, pain management, and by seeing a proper accredited upper limb physiotherapist.

HERE TO HELP

If you’re struggling with shoulder or elbow pain, Mr Abbas Rashid practices at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital in North West London alongside a number of respected shoulder and elbow consultants. Find out more:

www.hje.org.uk/summer-sports or call 0207 078 3891 to book an appointment.

TAKE FIVE

Sizzling Summer Treats by Judith Schrut

Welcome to summertime Britain! While our famously fickle weather can’t be guaranteed, you can absolutely count on long days, light nights and a breathtaking bonanza of music, festivals and other seasonal treats. So, pack your wellies, macs, sun hats and picnic gear, and join us for a peek at some of this summer’s best.

1. Anniversaries All Around

“The further back you look the further forward you can see”, Winston Churchill was reputed to say. Summer’s the perfect time for a trip down memory lane, stopping to salute some great British and American anniversaries.

While no one expects the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party to be widely cheered this side of the Atlantic, there are lots of other 2023 milestones we can all celebrate. In Britain, it’s the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service. It’s 300 years since the death of pre-eminent architect Sir Christopher Wren, whose crowning achievement was rebuilding 51 London City churches destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666, including St Paul’s Cathedral. The great man’s legacy will be fêted throughout the summer with concerts, tours and a mass Wrenathon of choirs across the City of London.

The music world celebrates several big birthdays this year. Expect plenty of birthday bumps for William Byrd at 400 and Sergei Rachmaninov at 150. Late, great rock stars George Harrison, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin would have turned 80. Meanwhile,

very much alive and still crooning in their 80th years are Mick Jagger, Joni Mitchell and Barry Manilow.

Birthday cakes with 75 candles await Scottish singer Lulu and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lulu’s marking the occasion with 33 tour dates around the UK, and you’ll always find a Lloyd Webber musical playing somewhere in the world. In London, you can see Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre or Evita in Concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, while Jesus Christ Superstar is doing a massive 50th anniversary tour around the UK.

It’s a huge year for anniversaries and birthdays in the film world. Let’s start by sending 90th birthday wishes to actors Sir Michael Caine, Dame Joan Collins and former Man From Uncle, David McCallum. 100 years ago, the iconic Hollywood sign went up in the hills above Los Angeles. The big, white, wooden original actually read Hollywoodland, stood 50 feet (15.2m) high and was lit by 4000 lightbulbs. This year also marks the 90th birthday of the

world’s first drive-in movie theatre, opened in New Jersey by salesman and film fanatic, Richard Hollingshead. This was after many months’ experimentation in his home front yard, using a bedsheet nailed between two trees and a Kodak projector balanced on the hood of his car. The drive-in advertised its charms with the slogan, “the whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are”.

If you’re looking to celebrate at an outdoor film this summer, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Adventure Open Air Cinema, promises 250 screenings at an astonishing variety of venues across the UK, like Carlisle Racetrack, Salisbury Cathedral and Swindon Cricket Club. London’s Barbican Centre hosts outdoor cinema in its sculpture court, while Kings Cross Everyman puts on a fabulous and free Outdoor Film Festival on the banks of the Regent’s Canal

There are anniversaries aplenty in the worlds of science and technology. This year is the 550th birthday of astronomer Copernicus, whose revolutionary idea

Wonderful WOMAD, photo courtesy Borkowski Arts & Ents

Engineer Martin Cooper with cellphone used for first cellphone call, image Valerie Acona, FP via Getty Images

Celebrating outdoor cinema with Everyman Screen on the Canal Free Open Air Film Festival

was that the Sun, not Earth, was centre of the universe. A mere 100 years ago our kitchen lives were transformed by Clarence Birdseye’s invention of frozen food, while 110 years ago we welcomed the first crossword puzzle and the first modern bra.

It’s also the 25th birthday of Google and the 50th anniversary of the world’s first handheld mobile phone call. That call was made on Motorola’s mighty brick DynaTAC 8000X, measuring 10 inches (25cm) high, weighing 2½ pounds and with a talk time of 20 minutes for each 10 hour charge.

You can honour these scientific turning points with a visit to one of the UK’s fabulous and free museums, such as Newcastle-UponTyne’s Discovery Museum, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum and the Science Museum, London.

Further information:

Wrenathon, 13-24 June 2023 and Wren300

January-December 2023, wren300.org/ events

Kings Cross Free Open Air Film Festival, 22 June-6 August 2023, kingscross.co.uk/ event

Adventure Cinema Open Air Cinema Tour, various dates & locations, JuneSeptember 2023, adventurecinema.co.uk

Discovery Museum, Newcastle Upon Tyne, discoverymuseum.org.uk

2. Castles To Come Home To

It’s been quite a moment for Royal Britain. In recent years we’ve seen an unprecedented number of noble comings and goings - royal weddings, births and funerals; the Queen’s Jubilee, the King’s Coronation and the final series of The Crown

If you’re missing that buzz of pomp and circumstance, why not go on a royal venture of your own this summer? Whether you’re new to the UK or have been here since Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, visiting castles, historic houses and stately homes is an unmissable and uniquely British experience. From perfectly restored fairytale fortresses to crumbling medieval wrecks where much is left to the imagination, these are attractions you definitely can’t get state-side.

For a first-class imperial outing, visit Sussex’s Arundel Castle and its medieval festival and Jousting Tournament.

Over six days, international jousters on horseback battle to be crowned Champion of Champions. As well as the thrill and excitement of the jousts, you can enjoy close encounters with minstrels, falconers, archers and fire eaters, and a chance to try your luck at archery, axe throwing, warrior training, forging and period crafts. Arundel’s Knights’ Table is the place for a spectacular feast, real ale and medieval mayhem. Other splendid summer events at Arundel include history days and open air Shakespeare in the castle’s lush gardens.

A particularly brilliant castle for families is Hever Castle in Kent. Over 700 years old and pure storybook, Hever is the ancient home of

the Boleyn family and where King Henry VIII courted the second of his six ill-fated wives, Anne Boleyn. It has every enchantment you’d expect in a perfect palace: turrets and battlements, a double moat, knights in armour, weapons and instruments of torture on display, majestic gardens and a splashing water maze. Until November, Hever entry includes admission to a historic exhibition, Catherine & Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers. Here for the first time in 500 years two treasured Book of Hours prayerbooks, belonging to and cherished by Henry’s VIII first two wives, are reunited and displayed together.

Hever is famed for its annual summer festival, packed with plays, music, movies, comedy and family entertainment. Other fair weather options include open water swimming in the Castle lake, Afternoon Tea served in the Boleyn wing and picnicking on the Two Sisters’ Lawn.

Blenheim Palace , near Oxford, has a long and noble history, most notably as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and his illustrious ancestors. It’s renowned for gilded state rooms, breath-taking water terraces and magnificent landscaping. Blenheim’s Great Court is the stunning setting for the annual Nocturne Live summer concerts. This year’s starry lineup is topped by Lionel Richie, Gregory Porter and Gabrielle, with Pete Tong reprising his Ibiza Classics Show.

Further information:

Hever Castle and Gardens, open daily, hevercastle.co.uk

Hever Festival, May-August 2023, heverfestival.co.uk

Arundel Castle International Jousting Festival, 25-30 July 2023, arundelcastle.org

Nocturne Live, Blenheim Palace, 14-18 June 2023, nocturnelive.com

Hever Castle, photo by Peter Smith

Arundel Castle’s Medieval Festival, photo courtesy PMW Communications

Different centuries, worlds apart, same hairstylist? Happy anniversary, Janis Joplin & Sir Christopher Wren, image ©National Portrait Gallery

3. Pride Of The Proms

Hailed as the world’s greatest festival of classical music, the BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, affectionately known as The Proms and a national treasure since 1895, roll into London midJuly, filling the Royal Albert Hall with an incredible 84 concerts and eight weeks of sumptuous sound.

Prom seats are affordably priced and every concert famously features hundreds of ‘Promming’ tickets for £8 each. These give you the unique chance to stand in the central Arena or stand, sit or even lie down in the Upstairs Gallery. You can also tap into dozens of free and extra events, talks, films and workshops.

This year’s Proms are more imaginative and diverse than ever, a feast of international orchestras, conductors, choirs and soloists, and a huge variety of music. Visits by the musical great and good from around the world include thrilling Chinese pianist Yuja Wang and South Korean violin sensation, Bomsori.

There’s a star-studded Bollywood Night celebrating India’s ‘Queen of Melody,’ Lata Mangheshkar, while singer-songwriter Rufus

Wainwright takes audiences to new heights with his mesmerising Want Symphonic CBeebies Children’s Prom guides families on a fun-filled Ocean Adventure, while the folks behind the Horrible Histories series plus eminent musical guests team up for a high decibel and hilarious ‘Orrible Opera Prom, complete with dying divas, spellbinding sorceresses and ghostly generals.

The heavens above and the 9,999 pipes of the Royal Albert Hall’s glorious organ are front and centre for the Moon and Stars Late Night Prom. Several Proms are dedicated to shining single works, like Mozart’s magnificent Mass in C Minor and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, which the Aurora Orchestra performs completely from memory.

American musicians are always wellrepresented at the Proms and this year is no exception. Dee-Dee Bridgwater and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra sing jazz standard and big band classics, shimmer-voiced Reginald Mobley leads us on a musical journey through the AfricanAmerican spiritual, and there’s even a dedicated all-American evening. The vibrant Marin Alsop returns to conduct the legendary Last Night of the Proms

The Last Night is a beloved, very British annual ritual, replete with traditional fancy dress, party poppers, balloons and flagwaving sing-a-longs to ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, and Last Night tickets always sell out fast. But if you can’t make it to get to the Last Night in person, you can still watch, wave your flags, pop your party poppers and singalong via giant public video screens around the UK, or enjoy the magic of the evening live on radio, laptop, smartphone or TV from the comfort of your own home, courtesy of the BBC. Further information:

BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (‘the Proms’), 14 July-9 September 2023, bbc.co.uk/proms

4. Around The World At WOMAD

WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance and is simply the biggest international music festival on the planet. Happening the last weekend in July, WOMAD brings together performing artists from dozens of countries and thousands of world music fans to its splendid open air site deep in the Wiltshire countryside.

This year’s adventurous line up is topped by Afrobeat stars Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, and Cuba’s sensational Ana Carla Maza, with her distinct brand of Bossa Nova and Samba. Global musical royalty is represented by the queen of Portuguese Fado , Mariza, and by Malkit Singh, undisputed king of Indian bhangra.

From Morocco come the mesmerising sounds of Asmâa Hamzaoui and her all-female band, challenging the maledominated world of North African gnawa From Japan is a musical whirlwind known as Ajate, with its extraordinary blend of traditional Japanese Ohayashi and East African Afro-funk.

BBC Proms in glorious colour at the Royal Albert Hall, photo by Mark Allan

Marin Allsop conducting, courtesy BBC Press Office, photo by Chris Christodoulou

There’s also swinging juke-joint jive from King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, hot and spicy southern Italian pizzica from Amaraterra, cumbia from the Peruvian Amazon’s Los Wemblers, self-described ‘freak cabaret’ courtesy of Ukraine’s Dakh Daughters, and much, much more. Don’t be surprised if your most memorable WOMAD sounds come from musicians or music styles you’ve never heard of before.

But WOMAD is much more than a chance to revel in a rousing feast of music. It’s also a place for dancing or drumming the night away, acapella singing workshops in a Bedouin tent, and celebrating all things spoken and written with the World of Words Stage and the Hip Yak Poetry Shack

The much-loved Taste the World Cookery Stage, will be back. Here, performing artists prepare choice dishes from their home countries whilst chatting about their lives, music and culture with charming stage host, Roger de Wolf. It’s all served up with a side order of spontaneous music and the audience gets to taste the completed dish.

All that hard work traipsing from stage to stage makes for hearty appetites and WOMAD’s Global Market is more than ready for this. Let your tastebuds do the travelling as you eat and drink your way around the world. Try festival favourites like Goan fish curry, Indian thali and Japanese tempura, whole spit-roasted chickens, sheep’s milk ice cream cones and splendid tea and cakes. Take time to browse the tempting range of crafts, clothing, music paraphernalia and worthy causes on display.

With free entry for under 14s, a dedicated kids’ zone, World of Children , offering hundreds of free activities from dawn to dusk and a relaxed vibe, WOMAD is an outstanding choice for families.

In need of a break from the hullabaloo? Nip into the World of Wellbeing, a cool, calming space among the trees of the Arboretum where you can sample laughter yoga, song baths, didgeridoo healing, sound meditation and some excellent tea and cakes. And if

you’re tired of chemical toilets and ground sheet camping, treat yourself to the La Di Da Loos, luxury camping in tipis, podpads and yurts, or splash out on a WOMAD Spa ticket. This gives you unlimited access to pamper pavilions of Persian rugs and saffron light, gardens and gazebos, hammocks, hot tubs and barrel sauna, the exclusive Chakra Bar and a range of therapeutic treatments. Further information:

WOMAD, 27-30 July 2023, Charlton Park, womad.org

5. Eat Drink And Be Merry

Summertime Britain is a food lovers’ paradise, with dozens of festivals, fairs and other tasty offerings where food and cooking take centre stage.

For a top taste treat in July, head to Edinburgh’s famous Food Festival, taking over George Square Gardens in the heart of the majestic city’s Old Town for a 10-day eat and drink extravaganza.

Also in July, Cornwall plays host to RO, the annual Rock Oyster Festival , on the picturesque banks of the Camel Estuary. Think Michelin-starred chefs cooking in tipis, open fire feasts on Mussel Beach, and masterclasses such as Smoking and Curing, Foraging, Soul Food and How to Light a Fire. Be sure to save some room for RO’s usual and not-so-usual side dishes like music, comedy, cabaret, wild swimming, aerial yoga and Bacchanalian Bingo

‘Eat, Drink, Stink’ is the memorable tagline for Isle of Wight’s 40th annual Garlic Festival, complete with garlic games, garlic characters, garlic masterclasses - in short, garlic everything. The Festival is a pungent proposition of live music, family-friendly entertainment and most of all fantastic food and drink, though not exclusively garliclaced. Festival favourite, the Flying Seagull Project, delivers high energy cheer with its team of clowns, street artists, magicians and

musicians. This year sees the return of the popular Garlic Festival Dogshow with prize categories including Best Little Stinker, Most Handsome Hound, Loveliest Lady and Best Veteran - strictly for senior pooches, 7 years and older.

In August, Meatopia comes to London’s Tobacco Dock. A self-proclaimed “love affair with food, drink, fire and music”, expect nothing less than exclusive creations from 60 world-leading fire chefs using ethically sourced meat, cooked to perfection over sustainable wood and charcoal.

Meanwhile, seafood lovers won’t want to miss Dorset’s sumptuous SeaFeast , taking place in early September on Weymouth’s beautiful sandy beach and historic harbourside. With an emphasis on responsibly sourced local seafood, you’ll find demonstrations and tastings from seafood superheroes, children’s cooking workshops at the School of Fish, plenty of lively entertainment and unlimited fresh sea air. SeaFeast proudly helps raise funds for the Fishermen’s Mission charity.

If multiple weekends of summer eating aren’t enough to satisfy the appetite, check out newly-opened Hackney Bridge in East London, offering a lively, year-round, open-to-the-wee-hours indoor street food market, with eating areas overlooking the canal and surrounded by East London’s biggest garden. This exciting venue will host weekly vintage and makers’ fairs as well as a wide variety of music, learning and entertainment events.

Further information:

Edinburgh Food Festival 21-30 July 2023, edfoodfest.com

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, dates 19-20 August 2023, garlicfestival.co.uk

Dorset SeaFeast, 9-10 September 2023, dorsetseafood.co.uk

Hackney Bridge, hackneybridge.org

Take Five is our quarterly feature bringing the best of British to Americans in Britain.

Participants at the School of Fish, Seafeast Festival, photo courtesy In the Bag PR

Fresh off the boat, Fish & Chips, Seafeast Festival, photo courtesy In the Bag PR

HOTEL REVIEW

Park House Hotel & Spa, Midhurst, West Sussex

The term hidden gem is a widely over used one, and usually refers to things that are neither hidden or gems, but when I refer to the Park House Hotel & Spa in these terms I am doing them a disservice, as this is not just a gem, but a diamond!

The Park House Hotel & Spa is conveniently located in the small village of Bepton, right in the heart of the UK’s newest National Park, the South Downs (created in 2010), and is a perfect location for you to visit all that the South Downs has to offer, or alternatively you can just relax and enjoy the hotel’s extensive facilities and just marvel at the views from the comfort of their patio.

The hotel has been in the hands of the same family for four generations, and everywhere you look there are glimpses of how the house has evolved over the years, from its original use as a private house to the present-day layout. In the late 1940’s, the original owners, Ioné and Michael O’Brien, opened their home to the glamorous polo set (Cowdray Park, the home of UK polo is only 4 miles away), and since then not only has it been a firm favourite for said polo set, it has also been a haven for a large number of famous actors when they have been performing in Chichester, which is only

12 miles away. When you visit, keep an eye out for the signed pictures of the great and the good (you will be surprised who you will see).

What each of the guests, whoever they may be, will experience, is a really warm welcome, and you instantly feel like you are invited guests to your friend’s country estate for the weekend, and this homely and welcoming feeling is what makes the Park House Hotel & Spa so much more than the sum of its parts.

The décor is shabby chic and every room has its own individual charm, and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. This is a hotel where guests do come back time after time as if to revisit an old friend, and the moment you enter the front door you feel like you are back home.

There are 23 rooms, 12 in the main house and the rest sprinkled around the estate in converted cottages. The rooms in the main house are all individually decorated and have the feel of a family guest bedroom (which they used to be), and are spread over the first and second floors, with stunning views of the South Downs and the outside facilities in the grounds. There is a wide selection of room types, but each has an ensuite with separate

bath and power shower, bathrobes and slippers, flat screen TV’s (with Sky sports), and luxurious Voya bathroom products, and at the end of a tiring day either sightseeing, walking, or even just relaxing at the spa, the crisp Egyptian cotton sheets welcome you to a refreshing night’s sleep.

For such a boutique hotel the facilities are truly amazing. Just outside the dining room terrace there is an immaculate croquet lawn, and a little further around the house and past the beautiful covered garden walk ways are two spectacular grass tennis courts for the guests to play on. Next to the tennis courts are two crown green bowling rinks, and just beyond that is a 6 hole, par 3 golf course, with 3 different tees for every proper green allowing you to play 18 holes, and also a putting green. The course is well laid out and is suitable for all ages and abilities, from the single figure handicapper, who can fine tune their short game from inside 100 yds, to beginners just starting out.

If these outside activities weren’t enough, you then reach the spa! This has two pools, one inside and one outside, both heated, and a jacuzzi, steam rooms, and a sauna, to enable you to escape the hustle and bustle of life and relax and destress. There are a wide

range of massages, facials etc., for men and women, using well respected beauty brands including Voya, Caudalie and Jessica, but booking is vital. My wife had a very relaxing reflexology treatment, that was so relaxing all her plans for the afternoon were put on hold whilst she just enjoyed doing absolutely nothing but lying down! Having never had reflexology before, she was amazed by how the therapist, Janet, picked up on certain issues that she has elsewhere in her body just by manipulating certain areas of her feet. Having played a round of golf (and lost to my wife!), and had a quick knock up on the tennis courts, I was ready for dinner. The menu is packed with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, showcasing modern British food. Starters are varied which is shown by the fact that I started with the spiced lamb faggot, creamed potatoes and port reduction, whilst my wife chose the truffle and mozzarella aranchini with bois boudrin. It is rare to find such an eclectic menu where a well spiced British classic vies with a gooey Italian delicacy! For our mains my wife had sea bass with tagliatelle and mussel velouté and I the Guineafowl with morel sauce, both utilising fresh Sussex produce and very tasty. There is also a wide selection of desserts, with the banana tarte tatin with coconut and rum sorbet the stand out dish. To accompany your meal, there is also a wide selection of wines starting from £30.

The Park House Hotel & Spa is a really special venue, as it combines all the required elements of a good hotel, and then adds an abundance of outside activities, a stunning and tranquil location, a state-of-the-art spa, and then tops it off with a healthy dose of British country hospitality, which makes all its visitors feel special, and that is a heady mixture which clearly appeals as visitors come back year after year.

For further information you are encouraged to call 01730 819000 to discuss your requirements, or please visit www.parkhousehotel.com

TRAVEL

Dublin, Ireland Featuring Staycity Aparthotels

When I mentioned to my friends that I was going to Dublin for a few days, some asked who was getting married and why they hadn’t been invited to the stag do, and the others said ’Oh you are going on a drinking weekend’, but both could not have been further from the truth, as Dublin is a fascinating city just on our doorstep, blessed with a rich history and culture (although I do have to admit some of that does involve alcohol!).

Dublin is the Capital and largest city of Ireland and has roughly 40% of its population, and is a quick hop and a skip away from the UK by plane from a multitude of UK airports. It sits on a bay at the mouth of the river Liffey and there has been a settlement here since before the 7th Century. It was initially established by the Gaels and then followed by the Vikings, and grew so rapidly that in the 17th century it was the second largest city in the British Empire and eventually became the Capital of the Irish Free State in 1922 (renamed Ireland in 1937). The name Dublin comes from the Irish word Duibhlinn, meaning dark tidal pool, referring to where one of the Liffey’s tributaries meets the Liffey forming a tidal pool.

Dublin has had a colourful history which has given rise to a number of its sights including Dublin Castle, Trinity College, and St Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals.

My wife and I arrived at Dublin’s modern and large airport located approximately 10km from the centre and opted for the express bus, which, for a single fare of Eur 8 takes you right into the heart of Dublin and doesn’t take much longer than a taxi. We left the bus at one of the Quay’s along the river and made our way to our accommodation, Staycity Tivoli, to drop off of our suitcases so we could start our sightseeing.

Dublin has many options when it comes to accommodation to suit every pocket, from luxury 5-star hotels to hostels, but our choice wasn’t either of these, but rather a Staycity

Aparthotel which provides all that a hotel suite can offer at a fraction of the price.

Staycity’s Aparthotels are a great hybrid form of accommodation that combines all the benefits of a hotel with the benefits of an apartment, so our ‘aparthotel’ not only had guest laundry, 24hr reception, breakfast, a café and bar, and a gym, they also have much more room, and offer 1- or 2-bedroom apartments with a kitchenette and a dining and sitting area and separate bathroom. This is like having a suite without the accompanying cost, and also allows you to relax in your room in the evenings if you don’t fancy going out, but would prefer to stay in and cook or have a takeaway.

Staycity have a number of different aparthotels in Dublin, all offering slightly different rooms and amenities, but all are modern, stylish and perfectly located in the heart of Dublin, and all a short walk from the sights.

Once we had freshened up and dropped off our suitcases, our first point of call was a sightseeing cruise on the River Liffey with Dublin Discovered Boat Tours. I always think that you always get a better feel for a city if you see it from the water, and here is no exception. You get the boat from the Sean O’Casey Footbridge and travel down the river alongside Dublin’s old Georgian Quaysides, including the 18th Century Custom House, until the boat can go no further for risk of the boat running aground, (the Liffey is a tidal river), and then back up past the Jeanie Johnston Famine Boat to the docklands, where iconic modern architecture sits alongside Georgian warehouses. The guide provides interesting facts about all the sights and our 45-minute trip just flew by. On disembarking the boat we retraced our steps, and revisited the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship which we had passed earlier on the boat. This is a replica of one of the most famous famine tall ships that made the gruelling

voyage ferrying people from Dublin to North America to escape the famine in Ireland, and here you learn about the remarkable stories of her passengers and crew, and experience some of the hardships they endured during their long voyage.

After this we walked back to our aparthotel, in the upcoming area of Libertines, a stone’s throw from the famous Temple Bar area, for a short rest before partaking of the mandatory pint of Guinness, which I am reliably advised is much more creamier than ones you would have in the UK, although I wouldn’t know, as this was the first pint of Guinness I had drunk, and I know it may be heresy, but it will also be my last! Dublin is not short of restaurants and bars for the visitor to enjoy, and you can eat, drink and be merry well into the wee hours if you so choose.

After a wonderful night’s sleep under the fluffy duvet, it was a wrench to drag myself out of bed, but there is so much to see and do in Dublin there is no time to sit inside. Our first stop was Kilmainham Gaol Museum where for over 100 years it has held thousands of men, women and children for crimes ranging from minor offences to some of the most momentous events in Irish history, as it was here that those involved in the 1916 Easter Rising were held and executed by firing squad. The gaol is a little way out of the city and is the only place you can’t walk to from our aparthotel, but it is definitely worth the effort. It closed in 1924, and was preserved as a national monument in the 1960’s, and is a must visit, but be warned, you must book in advance and also as early as possible, as it is extremely popular and if you don’t get in early everything will be booked up and you will miss a real slice of Irish history. It is also where the Italian Job and Paddington 2 were filmed!

After this visit we went to my favourite trip of the day, namely a visit to the Jameson Distillery Bow Street. Jameson’s is a prominent name in Irish Whiskey and their Bow Street site has a

number of tours ranging from one showing you its history and how to make the whiskey, to trying your hand at blending a whiskey. We decided on the educational tour which was an excellent way to discover the colourful history of the brand, which dates back to 1780, when John Jameson established a way of making Irish Whiskey, and how the distillery featured in some of Dublin’s most famous events, namely the Easter Rising. Although all production moved from the Bow Street site in 1975 down to County Cork, the tour takes you through the process of making the iconic brand, and how it is stored to make the different types of whiskey, and at its end you get a selection of whiskeys to taste!

After sampling a few of these different whiskeys, what better way to recover than a brisk walk-through Dublin to see more of what it had to offer. Our first stop was the Ha’penny Bridge which was the first pedestrian bridge to cross the Liffey and was built in 1816 to replace the old ferry boats that used to transport people across the Liffey, and I am guessing you can work out how much it cost to cross the bridge, although it is free to do so now. Having taken the mandatory selfie of ourselves on the bridge, our next stop was Trinity College, which is the only college of the University of Dublin. It dates back to the reign of Elizabeth I and was founded in 1592, and as well as being a functioning University with

countless students, it also has a number of impressive architectural sights, including the Old Library which houses over 200,000 books, and the must see, Book of Kells. This is the world’s most famous decorated medieval manuscript of the four gospels dating back to the 9th century, and it is truly a work of art. From there we made our way over to Suffolk Street where we visited the statue of Molly Malone, the fictional heroine of the well-known song, who sold her cockles and mussels in Dublin’s fair city.

Our final stop of the day on our way back to our hotel, and right next to Christ Church Cathedral, was the Dublinia Museum, which gave us a taste of what Dublin was like in the Viking and medieval periods by recreating the houses and streets of those times, as very little from those eras remains.

Although almost all of the sights we visited were close together, we did walk double our usual daily average number of steps, and so we were grateful to sink back into our sofa at our apartment and have a few moments to relax before sampling the night life in the Temple Bar area.

Dublin’s night life is legendary, and there is so much to do it needs no introduction from me, so I will just say you will find something for everyone, and after a fairly quiet night we were grateful that it was only a short walk back from Temple Bar to our apartment and our comfy bed.

Our final day in Dublin dawned, and after a hearty breakfast we had one final stop before our trip back to the airport, namely the Guinness Storehouse. To many, Guinness is the national drink of Ireland, but whether you agree with that or not, it certainly is its most iconic, and what better way to immerse yourself in all things Guinness than on a tour where it is brewed? Here you learn to dispel a few myths, namely that Guinness does not use water from the River Liffey in its brewing, as well as the exceptional optimism of its founder, Arthur Guinness, who signed a 9,000-year lease on the St James’s Gate site!

Dublin is an enigma, as many believe it is just a place to drink and party, but from our time in Dublin it is so much more, and you will come away from a visit with a better understanding of Irish history and how it has developed through the ages, and for me if you can do that whilst having a Guinness or two, or a few tots of Jameson’s, what’s not to like!

Website Details

Dublin Discovered Boat Tours: www.dublindiscovered.ie/ Staycity Aparthotels: www.staycity.com/dublin

Jameson’s Bow Street: www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-us/visitour-distilleries/jameson-bow-streetdistillery-tour/

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MENTAL AWARENESS SUPPORT

“This is going to take some getting used to”. No truer words were spoken than what my eight year old son said one week into living in London.

My husband, son and I are living in temporary housing near my husband’s new office in Central London, having moved from Boston, Massachusetts just a few days prior. The following Monday my husband went to work and my son and I began the new unfamiliar journey on the bus to his new school.

and the loneliness blanketed my every move. So why was it so hard? Why didn’t I feel like myself?

This was the first move out of the United States but still what was going on? At first, I assumed I just needed something to do, something to keep me busy and give me purpose. This isn’t a bad strategy, but it doesn’t address the entire problem. Keeping busy is great but it didn’t fix the disconnect I felt within myself. It took me a while to understand that the sudden severing from my previous world caused me to disengage from how I was experiencing myself in my new day to day. Nothing was like it was before and I felt off balance and afraid, and my coping strategy was to isolate.

In my virtual therapy private practice I use my education as a therapist and my experience living abroad to assist others in understanding their struggle and give them tools to find their sense of “self” again in new and old ways. Through connection, validation, and compassion I join people who are feeling a bit lost to help them find themselves again in a new country. Together we discover how profoundly moving away from the familiar can challenge our definition of ourselves, but also to help us locate a strength we weren’t aware we had.

The bus was crowded with commuters and I remember being desperately worried we would miss our stop. I was still exhausted from jet lag and the morning school drop off felt like trudging through mud! But it wasn’t until I turned away from the school after saying goodbye to my son that the realisation of what we had done flooded through my body.

We had packed up and moved to a foreign country where we knew no one. The weight of this decision felt heavy on my chest and I had to fight back tears. The long day of no plans and no one to talk to yawned before me and I began to walk. I had left my job, family and friends in the States just days before where everything was familiar and routine. Now, as I walked I didn’t recognise anything or anyone and I felt very alone.

I didn’t understand what was happening to me, all I knew was the more I felt unfamiliar, the less I felt like myself. Where was that confident woman who had purpose and direction back in Boston? I lost her when I was standing on the wrong side of the escalator and getting rudely bumped and grumbled at.

I couldn’t find her when I was frightened and intimidated by the money and refused to use the coins for fear I would do it wrong. My sense of self had disappeared and I retreated. My best friend became Charles Dickens, and when I wasn’t reading I was walking.

Many times my voice would be hoarse from no use when I would pick my son up at school and it would crack when I said hello. I realised I hadn’t spoken to anyone all day

As a psychologist, I know that our identity is partially made up of our encounters with the world, our connections. I understand who I am by my conversations with you and vice versa. We reinforce our identity with people, jobs, clothes, and the possessions we surround ourselves with. A sudden disappearance of most of what I defined myself by left a huge void in my sense of self. I struggled to regain my equilibrium long after my son made friends at school and my husband began to go to the pub with new colleagues after work.

Eventually I found a therapist and I began to talk. I talked about the loss of my prior life and the shame I felt for struggling. I allowed myself to grieve the old me so that I begin to find the new.

Reinvention of who we are can feel painful at times, but is also an opportunity for growth and change. We can and do build a new belief in ourselves as we grow in our new world.

“…when I awoke in the middle of the night, not knowing where I was, I could not even be sure at first who I was.”

- Marcel Prous

Dr. Bonnie Wims, Virtual Counseling Psychologist

www.bonniewims.com

T: +16177687411

E: bonnie@wimsandassociates.com

This is going to take some getting used to I realised I hadn’t spoken to anyone all day and the loneliness blanketed my every move. So why was it so hard? Why didn’t I feel like myself?

Reinvention of who we are can feel painful at times, but is also an opportunity for growth and change

DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY

BBC Earth Experience

Who would have thought that in the centre of a thriving metropolis, currently experiencing a major ongoing row about clean air and the restriction of polluting vehicles that are damaging our planet, that you would find the latest spectacular attraction showing the wonder and beauty of the natural world and what we will lose if we don’t stop sleepwalking into destroying our planet. I am no eco warrior, far from it, but everyone should take the time to visit this interactive 3D experience with their family and experience the breath-taking and wonderful planet that we have.

The BBC, and Sir David Attenborough, have been at the forefront of bringing amazing films about the natural world for as long as I can remember (and I have a long memory),

and this new journey is one of the best yet. Think of this experience as one of their best documentaries on steroids!

The Earls Court area is currently under major development and one of the new buildings, the Daikin Centre, only a five minute walk from West Brompton station, is housing this 360-degree audio visual journey using hundreds of multi-angled screens surrounding seating areas where visitors are taken through the incredible animals habiting the seven Continents of the world.

Your journey through these diverse and very different continents takes you into the centre of a colony of cheeky penguins in Antarctica, to a group of big cats hunting in Africa, and the amusing lizards and majestic kangaroos in Australia.

All of these images are accompanied by the dulcet tones of Sir David Attenborough,

explaining clearly and concisely what is happening, and gently explaining the impact of our actions on these wonderful creatures, without being preachy.

The cinematography takes place in different areas, some with benches to sit on and another with bean bags to lie on, and at times it was difficult to work out which screen to watch, as there was so much going on, but it is all beautiful, and at times I felt that I was actually in the Continent that was being shown!

When we were there the room was full of all age groups, including young children in pushchairs and prams, and in fact I wish we had taken our 5 month old Godson, Bill, as the colours and the movement I am sure would have entertained him for the entire time we were there. The main show lasts just over half an hour before it starts again, and

we spent longer in total as we did also visit the other zones available.

After your whistlestop journey around the world, courtesy of the latest digital screen technology, there are a number of breakout zones where you can dive into the depths of Water World, marvel at the sweeping landscapes of the Vista Stage and braving the creepy crawlies in the Micro Life Zone, luckily all on screens!

On your way out, the final room has an image of our world and a final parting message from Sir David, challenging everyone to think again about what you can do to save our planet, however minor you think it is.

This experience promotes sustainability, and by showing what amazing things we would lose if we continue to abuse our world, looks to prompt people to think about their

actions and what they can do to protect it. It is a clever and gentle way to promote these vital discussions amongst families without making people feel guilty, or preaching to people about how they are damaging the planet.

I think the final word should go to Sir David as this quote puts it better than I could ever do:

“We have to recognise that every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food we take, comes from the natural world. And that if we damage the natural world, we damage ourselves…. We have the power. We have the knowledge to actually live in harmony with nature”.

BBC Earth Experience

Venue: The Daikin Centre, Earl’s Court, London

Opening Times:

Opens now - 31 July 2023

10am - 7pm on Sunday - Thursday 10am - 9pm on Friday – Saturday

Tickets on sale now at: www.bbcearthexperience.com and Ticketmaster.

Children under 3 go free, and child tickets for 3-15 year olds start from £15, midweek. Concessions also available for students, seniors, families and Blue Light cardholders.

Group booking available via See Tickets: 10% discount of groups 10 + School Group Bookings: £9.50 per child for self-guided tours/40 max per group Teachers go free.

AMERICAN CLUBS’ NEWS

AWBS International Women’s Club

We are the AWBS International Women’s Club, and we serve as a social, cultural, intellectual, sporting, and philanthropic club for women who reside in Berkshire and Surrey. Founded in 1981, we started as a group of American women, but today celebrate a more international presence amongst our membership. Whether you are new to the UK, a repatriating British expat or looking to make friends with women who share your international world view, AWBS has something for you!

We have a diverse and growing membership of 300+ women ranging in age from 35 -70 and hailing from 46 different countries with 46% American and 15% being British. Our members are educated world travellers looking to meet like-minded women, share life experiences and expand their knowledge, as well as integrate into their local communities in a fun and friendly way. 1 in 4 members volunteers as club activity or event leaders, board members, or committee members, such as, membership, philanthropy, or marketing.

AWBS offers more than 25 monthly activities! We offer tennis for newbies and experienced players, golf, dragon boating, Country Walks, “LoveLondon” tours, Glorious Gardens, Food Explorers, Potluck Lunches, Trips Abroad, Mahjong, “Booked For Lunch” book club, English History, Art Appreciation, Let’s Go day tours, “The Flying Solos” for our single ladies, Working Women (evening events for women who work),

Royal Ascot Day, Annual Spring Luncheon, December Holiday Lunch and much more. Our Club thrives on allowing members to meet, share and make new friends as we meet up at some of our favourite Berkshire and Surrey venues. At our monthly General Meetings we hear from famous speakers and shop with our local business vendors. Our April GM honoured the esteemed Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York as our Guest Speaker! If giving back to your community is where your passions lie, we also have a strong philanthropic program that supports local charities. Over the past 10 years AWBS has donated nearly £150,000+ to charity, and £650,000+ since inception with countless hours of volunteer time.

Joining the AWBS International Women’s Club connects you to a wonderful group of friendly, accomplished, and diverse women offering support, friendship, and new opportunities. We would love to hear from you and welcome you as a member! Contact our membership team membership@ awbs.org.uk for any questions. For more on the Club and our upcoming events, visit our website www.awbs.org.uk. You can also find us on social media on Instagram @AWBSinternationalwomensclub, and Facebook and LinkedIn. Scan our QR Code for more information.

Celebrating Inclusiveness and Friendship for Women in Berkshire & Surrey

AWC London

Are you looking to expand your connections and make new friends? Explore new interests or discuss current events? The American Women’s Club of London provides a wide range of programmes and social networks for our diverse membership of 250+ women, along with opportunities to serve others in the London community.

Our Summer Evening New Members Meetings: June 27th at 6:30 pm at The Starman (Mayfair) and July 11th at 6:30pm (Location TBD).

Summer Morning New Member Meetings: July 3rd and September 4th at 10:30 am at The V & A Museum Café.

Register to attend a session and learn more please visit www.awclondon.org/ join-us.

We have welcomed over 60 new members since the start of the year! Join us!

American Women Lawyers in London –AWLL

AWLL is an organisation of London-based women with ties to the American legal community. Our aim is to provide professional development support to members through educational events, networking, and mentoring opportunities. AWLL has also partnered with several top companies to offer exclusive discounts and benefits to members.

We have a lot of exciting events coming up! Please join us for the following:

- 4th of July Summer BBQ

For more information about AWLL, please visit our website at www.awll.org.uk or contact AWLL President Eryn Hanlon at eryn@awll. org.uk.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. We look forward to seeing you!

AWS

AWS International Women’s Group welcomes new members from near or far to the Surrey area!

Whether you have just landed or have been here for 20+ years AWS International Women’s Group is here for you. We have been welcoming members from all over the world for over 45 years and are proud to represent over 37 nationalities.

Based in Surrey, we’re here to create social connections and support for expatriates while also providing philanthropic support to local charities. We would love for you to join us!

We have a wide variety of events and activities - everything from English hikes and pub lunches to art gallery tours and date nights. Come and meet new people, share passions, explore gardens, visit historical attractions and so much more!

Our members and sponsors have a wealth of information for you as well; they can help you to obtain a driving license, move house, find a dentist, obtain healthcare and much more. We are here to help you get the most out of what Surrey has to offer.

For more information visit our website AWSurrey.org or contact us directly at membership@awsurrey.org or president@ awsurrey.org.

CAWC

One of the highlights of the social calendar at CAWC is the May Tea Party and this year

was no exception. A full house turned out at a spectacular event held in the beautiful grounds of Missenden Abbey in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

Members entered into the fun by designing themed tables and decorating them in wonderfully imaginative and impressive ways. A delicious Afternoon Tea was served, and members had the opportunity of visiting the grounds and the walled garden. Much fun was had browsing and shopping the several artisan vendors as well as chatting and socialising with friends. A prize raffle was held and lucky winners took home some gorgeous prizes donated throughout the year by our vendors. All the proceeds of the raffle will go to our chosen charity.

CAWC International is delighted to be supporting the charity, Carers Bucks. We will be raising money to support 1,800 young people aged 5-25 throughout the Buckinghamshire area who give unpaid support and care to their loved ones.

If you would like more information about the CAWC, please contact: cawcpruk@ gmail.com

KCWC

KCWC is an organisation of international women who want to enjoy everything London has to offer. We appeal not only to expatriates and to those new to London, but also to those who want to experience the UK at its best. We have something for everyone, during the day or

evening. Enjoy more than 30 different activities including languages, art history, book group, walks, museum visits, and much more.

KCWC hosts regular General Meetings, with high profile guest speakers. Please join us as we return to the Royal Geographical Society on Friday 6 October, where we welcome award-winning interior designer Alidad as our guest speaker. To register to join us at this event, then please contact info@kcwc.org.uk.

KCWC has many special events for our members in 2023. We invite you to log onto www.kcwc.org.uk to explore our website and the many activities on offer.

Join KCWC to experience friendship and the best of London. For more information contact marketing@kcwc.org.uk.

If you are a member of an American Expatriate Club and would like to share your news, events and photographs with fellow Americans in the UK, please email ben@theamericanhour.com

USEFUL CONTACTS

CHARITABLE GIVING

CAF AMERICAN DONOR FUND

10 St Bride Street

London

EC4A 4AD

Contact: Joe Crome, Senior Manager, CAF American Donor Fund

Telephone: +44 (0) 3000 123 150

(Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding UK bank holidays).

Email: cadf@cafonline.org

Website www.cafonline.org/cadf

With over 20 years’ experience, we are the smart, tax-effective way for dual UK and US taxpayers to achieve greater impact with their charitable giving.

The CAF American Donor Fund is a dual qualified Donor Advised Fund which can help you maximise the value of your gifts to charitable organisations. If you pay tax in the UK and the US, the CAF American Donor Fund enables you to claim eligible UK and US tax relief on your global giving, including adding 25% through UK Gift Aid where applicable.

We have a range of flexible products available, starting at one-off giving through to long-term invested funds. We accept donations of cash (any major currency); stocks and shares as well as non-cash gifts.

Whatever stage you’re at with your philanthropy journey, we can help. Our specialist team of Relationship Managers will be with you every step of the way to guide you quickly and efficiently throughout the management and administration of your giving, using our established and trusted service.

EDUCATION - SCHOOLS

TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND

Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey, TW20 8TE

Contact: Sarah Travis

Telephone: 01932 582316

Email: ukadmissions@tasisengland.org

Website www.tasisengland.org

The educational pathways TASIS England offers to day (3-18) and boarding (13-18) students include a broad-based American curriculum, AP courses, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and EAL support. Taught in small classes, every student in our diverse community from 50 nations is encouraged to reach their academic potential. Participation in co-curricular activities, the arts, athletics, and leadership programs provides balance, fosters curiosity, and develops Individual talents. With excellent exam results and one-to-one

college counseling, 97% of TASIS graduates gain acceptance to their first- or secondchoice university in the US, the UK, and worldwide. Extensive summer opportunities are also offered to students from all schools. Located close to London on a beautiful and historic 46-acre estate.

TAXATION

EXPAT LEGAL SERVICES GROUP

Website: Expatlegal.com

Telephone: 1.888.502.8579

Contact: Roland Sabates

Email: roland@expatlegal.com

Expat Legal Services Group, with its background in international taxation, offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States. We leverage a suite of modern technology solutions that enable us to bring our international expertise directly to you no matter where in the world you might be living.

USTAXFS

3 Harbour Exchange Square, London, E14 9GE

Telephone: +44 20 7357 8220

Contact: Joni Trulock

Email: j.trulock@ustaxfs.com

Website: ustaxfs.com

Twitter: @ustaxfs

With over 35 years’ experience, our US/UK expat tax specialists provide US and UK tax return preparation, planning, compliance, and expatriation as well as all US business tax services, wherever you are in the world.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

LONDON & CAPITAL

Two Fitzroy Place, 8 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JJ

Telephone: +44 (0) 207 396 3200

Email: invest@londonandcapital.com

Website: londonandcapital.com

The core of our expertise at London & Capital is managing investments for wealthy families and our clients generally share similar requirements; they have amassed wealth or capital and now need it to be structured and invested in a way that preserves and grows it for the future. We build investment strategies that are designed to be resilient and help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Many of our clients are international, with finances, business interests, property and family across multiple countries. We provide clear comprehensive financial strategies and global reporting regardless of currency or location.

US CONNECTED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

We are also one of the few wealth managers who actively welcome US clients and are both SEC (US) and FCA (UK) regulated, with a dedicated team looking after the wealth of international American families since 1989. Whether you are a US Citizen or Green Card holder living abroad, a British expat in the US or a foreign entity with US reporting, we are uniquely positioned to work you to organise your wealth into a coherent global strategy, invest with a focus on capital preservation and provide clear, concise global reporting.

MASECO PRIVATE WEALTH

Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London, WC2R 0HS

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7043 0455

Email: enquiries@masecopw.com

Website: www.masecoprivatewealth.com

MASECO Private Wealth gives peace of mind by providing expert guidance to US families on how to simplify their cross-border wealth management needs. We serve and care for Americans living at home or abroad through the planning and implementation of rational, practical and tax efficient wealth management strategies.

To discuss advertising or annual print & digital promotional packages in American in Britain magazine and www.theamericanhour.com, please email Helen at helen@theamericanhour.com

Helen & Ben would like to wish you, your family and friends a very Happy 4th July!

The Only Ball Marker for Golfers in Stormy and Inclement Weather

Not only can it be used to mark balls in bad weather, it can also be used as a Nearest the Pin Marker, a Longest Drive Marker and a Locker Key Ring

Looking for a New, Fun and Innovative Golf Gift for the golfer in your life? Tired of buying novelty golf presents they won't use?

Why not buy a gift that he/she can use over and over again, but also has that fun factor?

Be the first to buy the golfer in your life Stormarker, the New, Unique, Innovative and Exciting Multi-Purpose Marker, designed and created by Helen Elliott, Founder & CEO of American in Britain!

Stormarker’s main purpose is to mark your ball if you have to leave the course mid-round due to bad weather, but it can also be used as a Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive Marker, and when not being used on the course its striking design make it a fun Locker Keyring.

Stormarker is lightweight and easily portable, and as it is 20cm in height and distinctively shaped as a lightning bolt (with its own name tag attached) will clearly mark the place of golf balls if golfers have to leave the course. Because it is so visible from a long distance, it can also be used as a Nearest the Pin or Longest Drive marker.

It is available in five bright, attractive, vivid colours - Red, Yellow, Pink, Orange and White.

Golfers love nearest the pin and longest drive challenges, and if groups of friends, societies, charity days etc., want to add a bit of extra fun to the round, then all they need are Stormarkers, rather than the large, unwieldly, heavy metal markers that damage your golf bags when carried.

Stormarker will provide a fun and useful alternative to golf balls, towels and tees for those looking for stocking fillers as well as Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day and Mother's Day presents. They are also great for charity day, golf day and society day gifts and prizes.

Price: £9.99

For further information, or to purchase these markers, please email helen@theamericanhour.com

The recipient of your gift will be delighted with this product, as it has only just been created, so they will be the first to own one and will be the envy of their golf friends.