11 minute read

Designer dining

Tattu, Leeds

DESIGN-LED DINING

Elysia Fryer picks out some of the world’s plushest venues offering surroundings as stylish as their dishes...

The Impeccable Pig, Sedgefield

HOME... TATTU, LEEDS

This body-art inspired restaurant in the heart of the city’s ultra-glam Greek Street serves up contemporary Chinese cuisine in a low-lit, buzzy environment. It’s a haven of beautiful blooms and funky decor, creating a unique place to drink, dine and socialise. The word Tattu is derived from a combination of the art form ‘tattoo’, which inspires the interiors, and the ancient word from eastern culture ‘tatau’, which means to ‘make a mark’. This place is sure to make a mark - both with its food and its design. tattu.co.uk

THE IMPECCABLE PIG, SEDGEFIELD

an elegant twist - and it’s one of the most Instagrammable spots to dine in the North East. With flowers hanging overhead and golden mood lighting adorning each room, it’s a great spot for a romantic dinner; while it’s buzzy bar in the centre of the room is perfect for catching up with friends over a cocktail or two. impeccablepig.co.uk

FORGE, MIDDLETON LODGE

Middleton Lodge knows a thing or two when it comes to merging cosy interiors with top-class cuisine. A winding, treelined path will bring you to Forge’s charming courtyard - home to festooned fairy lights and roaring fire pits. Inside you’ll find two beautifully-designed rooms with the bar sitting between the two. The lounge is a warm and inviting space. Think sink-in sofas, rustic chess sets and dreamy coffee table books. The restaurant itself is stripped back and simple. Out with the formal, white tablecloth approach and in

with rustic woodwork, flickering candles and arched windows. The Forge is contemporary, comfortable and screams country charm. middletonlodge.co.uk/forge-restaurant

THE MUDDLER, NEWCASTLE Not only will you find Pan Asian goodness at The Muddler, you’ll also be inspired by some rather ‘wow’ interior design. The dreamy decor brings Great Gatsby vibes to Grey Street. Think deep, moody colours, bold ritzy fixtures and sleek, shiny surfaces. The New York-style bar is all kinds of gorgeous, too. themuddlernewcastle.co.uk

Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athénée, Paris

The Stratford Brasserie, London

AWAY... THE STRATFORD BRASSERIE, LONDON

Funky 50s New York meets contemporary Copenhagen influence at The Stratford Brasserie. Blurring the lines between retro design and ultra-modern style, it’s a mustvisit for anyone looking for uber cool interior design in London. Harry Handlesman, the creative brains behind the Chiltern Firehouse hotel in Marylebone, had the vision to re-create the timeless glamour of 50s NYC and injecting it into the sleek spaces of a cutting-edge East London skyrise. The building is striking from the outside and is just as impressive inside. The concept is clean and clear; a linear take on luxury. thestratford.com

ALAIN DUCASSE AU PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS

Step inside this three-Michelin starred restaurant at the Hotel Plaza Athénée and prepare for something surreal - in everything from the food to the decor. When we say surreal, we mean something seriously special and oh-so stylish. The restaurant is based around curves, light and reflectivity - sitting beneath sparkling crystal chandeliers. The space stimulates an intimate experience, with a dazzling mix of contemporary design and traditional French style. alainducasse-plazaathenee.com

LING LING, MYKONOS

An open-air oasis hidden behind an unassuming door in the centre of town. Ling Ling takes diners on an Easterninspired, colourful culinary journey. Step inside a twinkling, blossom-covered terrace filled with lipstick kisses and clinking champagne classes. Paired with Asianfusion food, a tapas-style Izakaya concept and one of the island’s hottest DJ soundtracks, it’s the place to be in Mykonos Old Town. lingling.hakkasan.com

LE COUCOU, NEW YORK

Stateside super chef, Daniel Rose, is the kitchen captain at Le Coucou. His foodie ethos is to prove that ‘the true essence of fine French dining can thrive in any time zone’ and in keeping with that, he brings breezy, Parisian design to New York City. You’ll fine vaulted ceilings, a parlour-style bar area and regal green touches amongst steel and brass fittings. It’s luxe, it’s moody and it’s the perfect fit for French-style dining in SoHo. lecoucou.com

LIGHTING & INTERIORS

DISTINCTIVE CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL LIGHTING

WE HAVE MOVED AND OUR NEW SHOWROOM WILL BE OPENING SOON ALONG WITH THE LAUNCH OF OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER BESPOKE HOME CONSULTATIONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF LIGHTING THE OLD VICARAGE, HUTTON MAGNA, RICHMOND, DL11 7HJ TEL: 07733366200

A jewel in York’s crown

A beautiful new Berry’s store has popped up in a lovely location on St Helen’s Square, York. Luxe peeked inside…

No trip to York would be complete without a saunter through the quaint cobbled streets, stopping by the beautiful boutiques along the route. Berry’s Jewellers is giving us even more reason to while away the hours in the stunning North Yorkshire city. The family-run, independent jewellers is spreading its wings in York, with a brand new store sitting at the cultural heart of the walled city. The sparkling new Stonegate boutique has

taken over the former Crabtree & Evelyn premises overlooking St Helen’s Square - sharing a central, city centre spot with the likes of The Ivy and Betty’s Café Tea Rooms. The new site is located just a few doors down from the original Berry’s York boutique, which has been trading in the city for over three decades. A new premises and a £500,000 refurbishment gives shoppers and tourists even more reason to browse the store’s collection of luxury designs and very special, own-brand pieces. Berry’s Jewellers was founded in 1897 and put down its roots in the north of England. Today, the boutique jewellery business continues to champion its northern heritage, with sites across York, Leeds and Newcastle, to name but a few. Berry’s love for the region doesn’t stop at the store locations. Wherever possible, the jewellery experts work with regional businesses to bring their vision to life. It is those trusted relationships that have helped bring this beautiful new boutique to life. The Berry’s York team worked closely with Seymour’s Home of Darlington to create the new VIP concept at St Helen’s Square/Stonegate. Seymour’s Home was the brains behind the upstairs VIP suite in Berry’s Jewellers’ second York base - supplying the materials, decoration and expert interior design. “I was asked to design a VIP lounge for the new boutique, which I was delighted to do,” says Jeremy Borlant, Managing Partner at

Seymour’s Home. “The brief was to focus on the views over St Helen’s Square, so my job was to work around the main feature window. I sketched out a plan and the transformation was underway in no time. “Feedback from brands and visitors has been so positive. It’s great to see such a stunning store sitting in a spectacular position in the centre of the city.” A beautiful duck egg blue frontage wraps around the St Helen’s Square/Stonegate site, with elegant window displays featuring luxurious brands such as Breguet, Vacheron, Constantin and Blacpain. Inside, you’ll find plush furnishings, refined seating areas and plenty of light. There’s a large Omega collection and a stunning VIP room on the first floor with views over the city’s vibrant streets. Find the sparkling new Berry’s York store at: 52 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS TEL: 01904 654104 berrysjewellers.co.uk

An outstanding eclectic home and linen store that exudes luxury living. Here you’ll find everything from designer paint and furnishings, to lavish curtains and blinds

In full bloom

Beautiful blooms, breathtaking views, bustling venues. Wynyard Hall’s glorious Gardens are springing into action once again, says the Estate’s Managing Director, Allison Antonopoulos...

It’s been five years since The Gardens opened at Wynyard Hall. What developments have been made since the official opening? The first phase of The Gardens development was the Rose Garden, which opened in August 2015. The Rose Garden is filled with over 3,000 David Austen Roses and was recently named by David Austen as one of his top three rose gardens in the UK. It also houses the Farm Shop & Café, which serves local artisan food and drink. The second phase of The Gardens’ development was The Edible Garden, which opened in September 2016 and now supplies the kitchens at Wynyard Hall with a bounty of fruit and veg all year round. The Edible Garden is also home to The Glasshouse, a beautiful Victorian-inspired glass structure brimming with beautiful gifts and homeware. In early 2018 we started to restore the temple structures around the Woodland Walk path, which opened to the public later that year along with The Wild Garden. 2019 was a great year for The Gardens. With the full development being used for the first time, it attracted around 70,000 visitors.

How have you enjoyed watching The Gardens grow? The Gardens get better every year and take on a completely different look each season. From late spring to autumn, The Gardens are at their best, though with the Woodland Walk now open there’s plenty to see and do all year round. It’s a real family destination.

You’ve been at the heart of The Gardens since they launched in 2015. Where did you find your inspiration? Inspiration for the Rose Garden came from my father, but the vision for the Farm Shop and The Glasshouse came from regular visits to Daylesford, Petersham Nurseries and farm shops in and around Harrogate.

The Rose Garden is particularly special to your family. What can you tell us about this? It was my father’s vision, but I had the pleasure of designing it with our landscape gardeners, Alistair Baldwin and the team at Wynyard. Our unique selection of roses is one of the best in the country and is an amazing place to visit.

What will visitors find in The Gardens this spring? We have recently opened a Superworm Trail along the Woodland Walk. Based on the popular Julia Donaldson book, families will enjoy taking part in the activities and finding out all about Superworm and his friends as they stroll along the 3k route. Towards the end of spring the roses will start to open up. There are over 3,000 David Austen roses in the Walled Garden – they are the finest quality and we have a variety of species and colours.

You’re now allowing dogs in certain areas. How can families with furry-friends enjoy The Gardens? Visitors with well-behaved pooches will be allowed access to The Gardens via The Glasshouse. Families can park outside The Glasshouse and head off on a brisk walk through the woodland and surrounding gardens.

The Glasshouse is a beautiful venue of its own. How is it being used as an events space? The Glasshouse, which can host up to 40 guests, hosts everything from baby showers and birthday parties, to anniversary dinners and corporate meetings. Afternoon tea is incredibly popular, though we do also offer a ‘Best of British’ buffet.

When it comes to retail, what can visitors find inside The Glasshouse? They’ll find a brand new range from Wrendale Designs, Parlane and cushions and throws from Malini. All this, plus a large selection of faux flowers, vases, plant pots, gardening items, kitchenware and unique ornaments.

What introductions have been made to the Garden Café? We have just launched a new menu in the Farm Shop & Cafè. We also have a fixed daily menu offering homemade hot dishes. The Sunday carvery is proving very popular among The Garden and wider Estate visitors, too.

What can you tell us about the sustainable business plan for The Gardens, The Glasshouse and the wider estate? The main aim of most of our commercial activities is to sustain this fabulous historic asset and wider parkland. We have restored The Gardens to their former glory, but this comes at a huge cost. A team of gardeners work all year round to maintain our high quality standards. We charge entry to The Gardens (£6 per adult for a 12-month pass) and deliver a range of events across the year to secure the long-term sustainability of the estate. wynyardhall.co.uk/the-gardens

Walter Dix & Co are your local dealer in the North of England for AGA, EVERHOT and ESSE heat storage cookers. We are specialists in all Range Cookers, Refrigeration, Extraction Systems and cooking equipment. Contact us today for our unbiased advice and best prices on leading high-quality brands.