Slice of the City - Spring Edition 2023

SLICE OF THE CITY

We write the spring issue in January and it’s always the oddest feeling trying to imagine those balmy days bathed in light spring sunshine. But once spring settles in the population can take a moment to exhale – head up, shoulders back, and breathe. This issue is all about newness – there’s a very important refurb of The Bristol to consider, a sensational new cocktail menu in The Sidecar at The Westbury to enjoy, and a piece marking London’s evergreen celebration of all things new – the Chelsea Flower Show. With some of the most extraordinary gardens on earth, created for a few short days at the end of May, the whole world comes to Chelsea every year and it’s easy to see why…

OF ALL THE BARS…

Think of the 20th century’s most iconic bar and Humphrey Bogart’s Casablanca ‘gin joint’ will be up there – along with greats like Harry’s Bar, Raffles and El Floridita. The difference, clearly is that Rick’s Café Americain was merely a fleeting presence on a 1942 Warner Brothers soundstage, its irresistible combination of classic cocktails and the principled non-conformity of its eponymous proprietor feels modern to this day. Rick’s at The Bristol is a brand-new space, inspired by the glamour of a member’s club in a far-flung destination and designed to capture its namesake’s spirit, without aping its look and feel. Designed in natural materials around

hand-woven rattan lighting, Rick’s features double-height ceilings, an open fire, outdoor terrace and an abundance of greenery. Cocktails are impeccable, wines, spirits and local pours are carefully chosen, and the evening sharing plates utilise the best of seasonal, regional produce. Guests and visitors come through the main entrance in Narrow Quay, to join us in celebrating all the wonderful libations and provender this part of the world has to offer. Opening hours: Wednesday 4-11pm, Thursday 4pm-12am, Friday 12pm-12am, Saturday 10am12am, Sunday 10am-5.30pm. ricksbarbristol.com

Explore our portfolio of Irish family-owned luxury hotels superbly located in the centre of London, Dublin, Bristol, Washington DC and Cork

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Illustration by Anne Harriet Fish as used on The Human Zoo cocktail menu (see p.18)

SUITE ELITE

With over 20 years in the business, Elite Traveler is the self-professed ‘marketleading guide and curator of the global luxury lifestyle of UHNW individuals’, and purveyor of the best in show for luxury travel. So, we are delighted to announce that in 2023 Elite Traveler has named The Penthouse Level at The Dupont Circle in its soughtafter listing of global top 100 suites, with special mentions for sustainability, service and luxury. Newly refurbished and featuring 12 exclusive suites, The Penthouse Level offers unparalleled views of D.C., via vast windows and outside terraces, with the 3,000 square foot, two-bedroom Grand Penthouse Suite, complete with heated terraces, marble floors and epic views the pinnacle. Find out more, doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-dupont-circle-hotel/suites

ALL THE WOMEN

To mark International Women’s Day (8th March, 2023), we’re delighted to announce the return of The Doyle Collection Headshot Initiative, an annual event celebrating women in business. We’re inviting women to come into selected Doyle Collection hotels to be shot by a female professional photographer giving them images to use on their websites, socials and in PR, as they build their business profiles. All money raised will be donated to women’scharities and foundations – to be announced by region nearer the date. At the time of going to press we’re still firming up details, destinations and the photographers themselves, so keep an eye on our socials. doylecollection.com

News & Views

FINE DINING

Connected as it is to Croke Park Stadium, home of Gaelic Football, we have a divine new reason to visit The Croke Park’s fine reimagined restaurant, The Hawthorn. It’s comfortable, relaxed, supremely luxurious and opening in April 2023 - but even with an opulent refurb, the food is emphatically the star. Championing all things local – the seafood for which Ireland is globally renowned alongside seasonal veg and meat that’s taking one short step from farm to fork, cooked to perfection, the menu offers a modern twist on the classic bistro. It’s hearty, delicious fare for the discerning, accompanied by an impeccably curated list of fine organic and vegan-friendly wines. Open Friday to Sunday for evening dining and private daytime events on the adjoining terrace. doylecollection. com/hotels/the-croke-park-hotel/dining/the-hawthorn

TEA FOR ALL

You can judge a London hotel by the quality of its Afternoon Tea – everybody else does! Just one reason we felt it was high time to reintroduce Afternoon Tea at The Marylebone, bringing a new twist of fabulousness to the capital’s tea scene. Served in the rarefied surroundings of The Cocktail Bar (you’ll sit cheek by jowl with some of the West End’s best bartenders, as well as a mighty fine champagne and wine list), the new Tea is an essay in deliciousness, with impeccable brews, fine china, perfect sandwiches, heavenly cakes, cloud-like scones and all the trimmings. Tea is served Thursdays-Saturdays. Enjoy! doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-marylebone-hotel/dining/ afternoontea

A NIGHT AT THE DONMAR

The Donmar Warehouse in Seven Dials, Covent Garden, is one of London’s most exciting theatres and, although its reputation as a magnet for some of the world’s biggest stars (Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen and Kit Harrington, to name just a few) may precede it, regulars go for the award-winning productions. Regardless, it’s always one of the hottest tickets in town so we’re delighted to partner with the Donmar in a Suite Package on offer until the end of 2023 and including a night for two in a suite at The Bloomsbury, two tickets to the Donmar Warehouse, a three-course dinner with complimentary glass of champagne and breakfast in the morning. doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-bloomsbury-hotel/ packages/a-night-at-thedonmar

At The Kensington we’ve always been proud of our affiliation with the Royal Albert Hall and are offering our guests some of London’s most sought-after tickets for what promises to be unforgettable nights out. While 2023 offers all the highlights you’d expect, we’re thrilled that this season will feature the return of Cirque Du Soleil – unarguably the world’s most exciting circus/dance/acrobatic hybrid - or, as they call it, ‘contemporary circus’. To celebrate, we’ve created a pre-theatre menu with a cocktail list inspired by Cirque du Soleil (our Cabinet of Curiosities menu), and three courses served in plenty of time for overture and beginners at the nearby Albert Hall. Priced at £30 for two courses and £35 for three, find out more at townhousekensington. com

GREEN DAY, 17TH MARCH

For a Scots or Welsh born fourth century Brit of Roman parentage named Maewyn Succat, St Patrick (he took the name Patricius on becoming a priest) has had quite the legacy. Kidnapped at 16, he was held captive in Ireland for six years, after which he managed to escape – having become a devout Christian. After 15 years’ religious training, an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. As an Irish speaker and one familiar with the country’s nature-based pagan beliefs, Patrick was smart enough to weave the traditions of the day (taking the shamrock as his emblem) into the Christian faith and spread it by engaging with the people. Today, St Patrick’s Day is marked by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, with parades, parties and celebrations of all kinds. We will be celebrating at The Westbury, The Bloomsbury and The Dupont Circle, while every one of our cities hosts their own parades and events. Find out more doylecollection.com.

MEET THE MAESTRO Michael Sammour, new Chef at The Dupont Circle

When your hotel restaurant is a DC institution and garnerer of many the fine review, a new chef is big news. But we’re especially excited to introduce Chef Michael Sammour, whose career has taken in some of the southern States most famous kitchens and destinations.

After studying at the rigorous Le Cordon Bleu in Pittsburgh, he started his career in the Sunshine State at The Ritz Carlton before moving onto The Ritz South Beach, Miami and the Waldorf Astoria in Boca Raton. He also Executive Chef’d at Marvel Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, catering to a variety of superheroes.

We took a minute to quiz Michael Sammour himself, but like all good chef interviews, this is all we could carve from his dawn-to-dawn schedule…

AN ADVENTURER’S TEA

Our Around the World Afternoon Tea, inspired by 80 days in the life of one (fictional) Phileas Fogg is heading for pastures new, moving from the flavours of London, Paris, Rome and Cairo to the further-flung climes of Hong Kong, Yemen, Singapore and India. The Tea itself will marry some of the wonderfully exotic flavours and tastes into the classic menu that has made Town House at The Kensington something of an afternoon destination and we look forward to an unveiling for early spring (we’re hearing some pretty delicious rumours). Afternoon Tea cocktails, too, will be something of a talking point, with spicy chai, clean green tea, fruity lychee, deep wine syrup and tangy Umeshu shaken, not stirred. townhousekensington.com/afternoon-tea

Chef Michael’s father was also a chef, but even though Sammour grew up around kitchens he very sensibly waited until completing his training before taking his first professional role. Working his way up at The Ritz Carlton, Chef Michael carved out a niche for himself as a highly inventive chef forever experimenting.

Naturally, Chef Michael comes with a restaurant pedigree that’s absolutely in keeping with the super-high standards of the D.C. restaurant scene - but we’re still trying in vain to get some of those Marvel stories out of him…doylecollection. com/hotels/the-dupont-circlehotel/bars-restaurants/thepembroke

A STONE’S THROW

Take a short walk from The Westbury and this is what you’ll find…

THE LITTLE MUSEUM OF DUBLIN

One of the city’s best loved, this is the place to learn about the history of Dublin, or, as the Sunday Telegraph put it, “One of my favourite attractions is the Little Museum of Dublin, a gem of a place housed in a beautiful Georgian townhouse on the north side of St Stephen’s Green, and filled with material and items, which tell a vivid story of twentieth-century Dublin. This is history at its most captivating and human”. With wonderful expert story tellers (AKA guides) to bring times past to life, via museum tours and walking tours of the immediate area, as well as exhibits, it’s a unique celebration of what being a Dubliner is all about. littlemuseum.ie

THE ABBEY THEATRE

Further north, on the other side of the Liffey you’ll find The Abbey – the national theatre of Ireland, one of its leading cultural institutions, and a hot ticket almost every week of the year. A vibrant showcase for Irish writers, directors and producers, The Abbey Theatre was founded by WB Yates and one Lady Gregory and, since it opened in 1904 has consistently lived up to its founding manifesto, “to bring upon the stage the deeper emotions of Ireland”. abbeytheatre.ie

Trinity College

Dublin builds on ancient origins to offer one of the best modern educations in the world. It’s Ireland’s oldest and best-known university, with stunning architecture, beautiful grounds and one of the world’s most extraordinary libraries (its lofty shelves laden with ancient texts only reachable by storeys of sliding stepladders and immortalised in many a film). Home to The Book Of Kells, a priceless 9th Century copy of the New Testament, handwritten and illuminated by monks, guided walking tours of university grounds and the library (go see said Book Of Kells) are bookable daily, and the college is just five minutes’ walk from The Westbury. tcd.ie

ST STEPHEN’S GREEN

If you can tear yourself away from the rather excellent shopping nearby and head south instead, you’ll be rewarded with an oasis of quintessential city park, with ornamental planting, trees, benches and water features – perfect for getting away from it all in the heart of the city. Named after a 13th century church, St Stephen’s Green’s 21st century tranquillity belies its sometimes tumultuous history – we recommend a guided walk to tell the full story. Or you can find a potted history here ststephensgreenpark.ie

BRISTOL FASHION

Following a reimagining of the lobby, The River Lounge and The River Grille and the creation of a brand new cocktail bar, Rick’s, The Bristol is looking far more than simply shipshape

Anyone who has ever straightened tie, smoothed hair or checked teeth for lipstick just before a meeting knows that first impressions count – and it’s a fact certified in numbers. According to the experts, businesses have about seven seconds to make a good impression, whereas with people we’re a little more generous, gifting an actual human up to 30 seconds to be memorable for the right reasons.

So, entrances make a difference. The lobby at The Bristol has always walked that fine line between being lofty yet welcoming, spacious yet cosy. And in its newest incarnation, inspired by the look and feel of a 1930s Art Deco Ocean liner (a nod to the city’s eight or so centuries of heritage as a global port, as well as one of our favourite decades in design) we think the new space feels really rather fabulous.

Lit by the diffused illumination of an impossibly handsome vintage Murano chandelier (sourced in London, like a delightful rescue

puppy, it was originally commissioned for a project that changed direction, leaving it brand new but in search of a forever home) a sweeping flight of marble stairs with chrome balustrade and mirrored walls draw the eye upward, while the luxe comfort of deep upholstery in soft leather and mohair, and dark wood furniture in The Jessop Lounge invite one to linger.

The upholstery in both The Jessop and The River Lounge is a story in itself. Our previous chairs and couches were beautifully crafted to last, but needed refreshing, so we took them to the experts (the lovely Julie in our case) at family-run Bristol Upholstery and they worked their magic reupholstering in a symphony of blush pink and mauves.

Above Soft light from the vintage Murano chandelier illuminates the lofty lobby while stairs lead up to The Jessop Lounge. Right The art of reupholstery alongside, well, actual fine art. bristolupholstery.co.uk

The refurbished lobby and lounge at The Bristol were inspired by the glamorous styling of an ocean liner in its Art Deco heyday…

Like a Parisian brasserie by the shimmering Seine, the light-filled, Manila palm-lined conservatory, The River Grille brings destination dining to Bristol’s harbourside

For The Bristol, location has always been a big draw - there are few better in the city than right beside the water in this once busy dock now buzzing with arts, culture and night life, as working warehouses have been converted for anybody who wants to experience a multicultural city at its best. In The River Grille, opening right onto the water, diners enjoy floor to ceiling windows that don’t just overlook the waters, but also line the roof, giving endless sight of sun, sky and, by night, moon and stars.

The space is bright and light in the day and warm and atmospheric at night, perfect for diners enjoying the delicious modern European cuisine including fine steaks from the Josper Grill, legendary Sunday roasts and delicious Afternoon Teas. Wooden floors are softened with cushioned dark rattan chairs, giving a country club feel, completed with custom wood lamps hanging high in the ceiling.

On the mezzanine above, The River Lounge overlooks The River Grille, and is flooded in soft light. It features a grand piano and,

with its timber-edged monochrome checkerboard carpet, reupholstered seating, butter-soft leather barstools and gorgeous blush rose quartz bar, it is a really cosy, comfortable space. It’s buzzy but chilled and atmospheric, the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or a bottle of wine with a sharing board of West Country cheeses.

Following the refurbishment of The River Grill and The River Lounge, a brand-new bar, Rick’s, is opening in the space next door. Rick’s is a must-visit new addition to the Bristol bar scene, so watch this space as we’re working towards an opening date in early spring.

Above The soft light and luxe comfort of The River Lounge, perfect for a bite and a drink.

Right Lofty and flooded with natural light, The River Grille has a slightly holiday feel whatever the weather.

JOLLY GOOD SHOW

Chelsea Flower Show might be the oldest in the world but every May it’s host to a brave new world of garden design on an epic scale

As the old saying goes, an Englishman’s home is his castle – so what of his (or hers, or any other pronoun’s) garden? Well, in literal terms obviously it’s the space outside, the lungs that surround. A place to sun, to play, to cook, to unwind, to work, and to take a deep breath away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. It’s a place dedicated to admiring the view, taking in the changing seasons, and where the never-ending yet polite tussle unfolds of taming nature - bending it to our will.

From Cicero to Sitting Bull, Thomas More to Alice Walker, since ancient times humans have waxed ever so lyrical about the joys, the rigours and the absolute delights to be found in that space outside. For the everyday gardener, the challenges and rewards tend to centre mostly on keeping the chaos at bay - pruning, weeding, dead heading, pollarding and planting. It’s all about working with nature to keep it under some sort of control.

Trips to the garden centre to buy bulbs, bags of compost, gardening gloves and replace the occasional fork feel like trips to the supermarket - essential and workaday. Yet when you’re choosing between different shades of wax begonias, you’re doing much more than simply selecting a bedding plant – you’re picking and choosing from a curated selection that reflects garden trends from all over the world.

MELTING ICE

While the ice block cube centrepiece to 2022’s Plantsman Ice Garden (see left) looked a little like aliens had sneakily landed in plain sight, the message was even more dystopian. Since 1994, 28 trillion tons of ice have disappeared from the earth’s surface with the melting permafrost mirrored by the real-time melting of this garden’s 15-tonne ice cube. While it’s making a serious point about climate catastrophe, The Plantsman’s Ice Garden also marks the release from their icy resting place of seeds buried over 30,000 years ago which are now being successfully germinated by Siberian scientists.

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

In 2006, the migraine relief people 4head, partnering with medal winners Marney Hall and Heather Yarrow, created the serene and tranquil Garden of Dreams. In a woodland setting complete with babbling brooks and encircled by a thorny hedge, its ‘Island of Reflection’ featured a reclining topiary woman, with rushes for hair, deep in slumber, aided, no doubt, by the borage, lavender and chamomile all around - herbal remedies for busy minds and broken sleep.

CARVED IN STONE

James Bassoon’s 2017 M&G garden divided the critics for many reasons – slabs of quarried stone from Malta with scrub plants of the kind you might see in very dry ground, alongside the ‘best in show’ award initially bemused public and press alike. But Bassoon’s thoughtful, intuitive planting (it’s all about where human meets nature), native tree, shrub and flower valiantly taking ownership of the terrain made it a moving and unusual addition to the Show.

EAGER BEAVER

Look right. A slate slab dry stone wall, an old timber walkway, an old woodshed alongside lazy river - anyone who’s ever enjoyed a big old yomp in the English countryside could be forgiven for thinking they’re taken an un-signposted detour into the woods. However, 2022’s Rewilding Britain Landscape is all about the essential part beavers play in our ecosystem. By turns educational and nostalgic, the riverside planting and artfully constructed beaver dam (and old wooden shed) won this garden best in show. While a brick gatehouse-like folly with rising roof, dancing hedges, revolving lawns, a very inventive shed and the brightest of bed give a sideways take on the English cottage garden.

GOD’S OWN COUNTRY

While it’s a region lauded for spectacular terrain, 2019’s Welcome to Yorkshire Garden designed by Mark Gregory was also a tribute to an industrial heritage and enduring spirit that’s quintessentially of that place. With its drystone walls, lock keeper’s canal-side cottage complete with actual, fully functioning lock, and wonderful diversity of native wild and cultivated flora, it was a pleaser of crowd and critic alike.

According to award-winning garden designer (and creator of Chelsea Flower Show 2019 gold medal winning Resilience Garden) Sarah Eberle FSGD, “you can date a garden by its plants”. A sentiment with which Cleve West MSGD, concurs. “Grasses were a novelty when I started designing. Today I can’t imagine not using them.”

Dedicated followers though they are, fashion isn’t just about the plants, stemming (pardon the pun) instead from trends in lifestyle. James Scott, MSGD explained that last century “people viewed their gardens simply as a place to be gardened” but that today our outside spaces are much more an extension of our homes – to be shaped, landscaped, designed, styled and finished in keeping or contrast with that look and feel.

Regardless, trends have always been a big part of gardening, especially when it came to the great gardens of yesteryear. Around the time BC turned to AD, Romans brought their classic enclosed courtyard designs with them to the UK – adaptations to account for the weather included bringing much of the al fresco socialising

safely indoors but, while they may have mourned their olive groves, vineyards and fig trees, their orchards absolutely flourished here.

In Medieval times gardeners grew fruit, veg, herbs and medicines, while separate spaces were set aside to feast the eyes (on flowering shrubs mainly) and calm the mind. The Tudors, unsurprisingly, were all about show, ornamental designs favouring mazes (Hampton Court springs to mind) and elaborate fishponds, segueing into the formal landscaped gardens of the 17th century.

Georgian times favoured experience – open vistas, large lakes and sweeping avenues spoke of natural grandeur while fancy follies added a playful sensibility. Victorian trends were rather overblown; riots of blooms (ideally from exotic outposts of empire), balustrades, fountains, hothouses (for those pinched cuttings and tropical fruits), and acres of lake and ornamental pondage.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that gardens became ubiquitous. Initially spare yet stately (arts and crafts influenced) this aesthetic married with mostly natural-looking plants. The first genuine

A lifelong love of Yorkshire inspired one of Chelsea’s most evocative gardens

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

One of the Show’s most controversial; creating James May’s 2009 garden, Paradise in Plasticine, took a village. Artists, school children, Chelsea pensioners, even Jane Asher toiled together to shape their masterpieces, presided over by a bust of plasticine inventor, William Harbutt and flanked by lawn, fruit trees, borders, vegetable patch and a full picnic tea, all in the hyper-bright children’s modelling putty. Visitors loved it – fellow garden creators less so. In an act of masterful diplomacy, the RHS awarded the garden a plaque made of, yep, plasticine.

ENGLISH ECCENTRICS

When Harrods wanted to celebrate the best of British eccentricity, they turned to Irish-born crowd pleaser, Diarmuid Gavin. Taking inspiration from English cartoonist, artist and imagineer of the whimsical contraption, Mr W Heath Robinson, the resulting Harrod’s British Eccentrics Garden featured a brick gatehouselike folly with rising roof, dancing hedges, revolving lawns, a very inventive shed and the brightest of beds - a sideways take on the English cottage garden.

consumer trend – the rock garden – was universally popular (slices of grey rock piled up with hardy alpine plants poking through) right through until the mid 1980s and dominated many gardens at early Chelsea Flower Shows.

Once the largest flower show on earth (a title now held by Hampton Court) Chelsea yet remains the oldest and most prestigious. Launched in 1862 as the Great Spring Show, brainchild of the Royal Horticultural Society, RHS (the gardening charity founded in 1804 with seven members – today it boasts over 500,000) the show took place in one of the society’s own gardens, in Kensington.

Removed for a stint to Temple Gardens, in 1912 the event was further relocated into its current location, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, before being renamed after its new locationand The RHS Chelsea Flower Show was born. And, aside from a year or two during each world war and this century for Covid, the show has opened its doors every year since.

There’s a plethora of fabulous facts from the Chelsea Flower Show. It once boasted the world’s largest tent – a marquee erected in

1951, which measured an incredible 3.5 acres and when decommissioned in 2000 was turned into 7000 bags, aprons and jackets.

Gnomes have always been banned (as is fake grass) with one exception – in 2013 the gnome ban was lifted to allow luminaries from Elton John to Helen Mirren to paint one each, to be exhibited and sold for charity.

Main Avenue’s famous plane trees simply puff out pollen throughout May and everybody duly sneezes and wheezes their way through the show – it’s known as the Chelsea Flu.

Despite the thousands of exhibitors showing all manner of plants in the various vast marquees (best in show are selected by 100 experts every year), it is the gardens that have always been the star. And they are becoming more elaborate than ever. If you can, we urge you to go to the show.

Chelsea flower show 2023 is open to visitors 23-27 May, tickets are available from the RHS and sell out fast. The RHS host many other shows and events throughout the year. rhs.org.uk

It’s the rare combination of playfulness and ambition that really says ‘Chelsea

TALL STOREYS

“Design a spectacular garden, please, superstar designer, Diarmuid Gavin”, said Irish sponsors, Westland Horticulture. “A seven-storey pyramid, you say? With a different garden on each level? Ascended by lift? With a tubular slide to leave by if you dare? Perfect…” And so, it came to pass. Sadly, logistics denied the general public the chance to ascend 2012’s Westland Magical Tower Garden and exit by slide, but on press and preview days the queue was committed, with many the Chelsea pensioner being denied a slide on account of his advanced years.

Inspired by the impossibly glamorous golden age of cocktails, we launch our latest menu at The Sidecar, introduced by award-winning cocktail maker and bar manager, Oisin Kelly

Designed as a ‘modern take on a ‘30s cocktail bar’, The Sidecar at The Westbury is a jewel of a bar and eloquent tribute to the fabulousness of Art Deco and the energy and the optimism of an extraordinary bygone era.

The 1920s is a decade that captivated the entire century that followed. A decade in which we the people shrugged off the shackles of war and convention (for women, corsets were binned, hair was bobbed and waved, hemlines rose), and came together to charleston, tango and lindy hop into a brighter, bolder future.

There was an almost palpable spirit of optimism in the two decades between world wars. Fashion was democratised, with ready-to-wear putting choice into many more people’s reach and the stylised look and feel of Art Deco (imported from France) added a gilded modernity to design.

While we could have a drink this side of the pond – and women joined men in that – Stateside, prohibition was in full swing (1920-33). On both sides, the act of drinking assumed a decadence and a sense of urgency that made it all the more intoxicating.

Coming from the USA, cocktails became a hugely popular way of consuming their contraband – partly to disguise the necessity of using bathtub spirits, but mainly to breathe theatre into a new genre of consumption. Necessity may have been the mother of that invention in that case, but cocktails have never wavered in popularity in the ten decades since.

Before such a febrile backdrop, sharpened by uncertainty, irreverent wit and satire became cultural currency - holding a mirror up to the establishment - poking fun and being amplified to the masses in newspapers and magazines of the day.

Anne Harriet Fish was a Bristol-born artist whose illustrations took her from the west country of her birth via London and Paris to the metropolitan energy of New York City, where she was published by the top magazines of her day - Vanity Fair, Vogue, Tatler, The Sketch and Punch. She didn’t just illustrate, she created her own character, a young woman named Eve, for Tatler, whose escapades were later published in the ‘Book of Eve’, which ran to three volumes.

When we were looking for a visual style that captured the essence of that time – the flapper, the Jazz Age - the witty pen drawings of Anne Harriet Fish made her illustrations a shoe-in for our new menu. To further evoke the era, we juxtaposed her cartoons with some of the pithiest quotes from the day, from the evergreen Dorothy Parker to the redoubtable Margot Asquith, the icon that is F Scott Fitzgerald to society snapper and man about town, Cecil Beaton.

The creation, evolution and perfecting of the cocktails took months (normal service, obviously, continued during this time). And if we were to share even a fleeting sense of the precise alchemy involved in the process, we simply had to speak to Oisin Kelly.

The man behind the concept, Oisin is a serial award-winning cocktail maker – though he’s best known to us as the bar manager of The Sidecar. Oisin heads up a team of 17 and eight of his best bartenders from all over the world were involved in the creation of these cocktails – each bringing their unique perspective.

THE ALCHEMY

In every cocktail bar, there are the classics. The drinks a good cocktail barman can create with their eyes closed. Obviously, The Sidecar team does those to perfection. In addition, about once a year they brainstorm ideas for a concept and create a whole new menu to dance across the tastebuds of anybody wanting to try something a little bit different.

Above It is the tiny Art Deco details that make The Sidecar so special. Even the Martini trolley (centre) is period perfect. Right and Overleaf ‘ High Sobriety’ and ‘Rockefeller Touch’ cocktails from the new Human Zoo Cocktail Menu.

Here’s Oisin…

“With this menu every cocktail is built around a ‘pillar’ – with the flavours layered in total harmony. We’re also bringing those curious bottles – and bitters and herbaceous flavours - down off the high shelf and into the mix.”

“Take High Sobriety. Anyone who loves a gimlet or daquiri will love this. But we’ve used Ciroc vodka (from grapes) with bergamot Italicus Strega (herbal liquor), orange bitters, lemon, elderflower and frozen grapes in place of ice cubes – so it looks like a dirty martini, but the ‘ice’ doesn’t dilute and it has a unique sour, fruity flavour.”

“ Forbidden Fruit was created by our bartender from Columbia and is so much more than a fruity vodka sour – it’s all melon and saline, topped with layers of matcha and ginger foam. While Rockerfeller Touch is made using Gunpowder Gin from an independent Irish distiller (it was developed as a test spirit for whisky production and was so good it has recently become the biggest selling gin in the USA!), which we mix with lemon, sugar, and fresh basil, then clarify it overnight, for layers of distinctive flavour that’s surprising in a drink so clear.”

“ Voguette is a clarified milk punch – another clear liquid but this time flavoured with fresh coconut and pineapple like an ultralight pina colada – so you get all the flavours without that cloying richness. Beginner’s Luck spins off an espresso martini, but using a malty Irish whisky, our own coffee blend, spices, and lemon foam, anchored by Barolo (a rich Italian red) for amazing deep layered flavours.”

At The Doyle Collection we believe that, if unsure, of course one should ask ‘But is it Art?’. In the case of this eponymous cocktail, we’re quietly confident there can be no doubt. The fine rum and bittersweet orange vermouth are lifted by lychee, pineapple, orgeat (a sweet syrup marrying almonds and orange flower water) anchored by bitters – it’s a beautifully choreographed flavour dance.

Ace of Hearts is one for negroni lovers who fancy a dry yet fruity variation on their usual - pairing gin, calvados and martini with Swiss gentian bitters, plum bitters and apple and cinnamon cordial. One of our favourites, Girl’s Best Friend , introduces pisco infused with aromatic jasmine to rue berry (an aromatic cordial made from the fruit of an Ethiopian spicy mountain shrub), an ume fruit liquor (marzipan-y bitter shiso), saline and a fruity, minty soda.

Back to Oisin, “In addition to the new recipes, we’re looking at new ways to serve. Martinis come frozen to the table on our ornate, gilt martini trolley, where they’re shaken, poured, and garnished to order. In our quest for sustainability, we save all the citrus we squeeze and infuse the zest into sugar for the rims of our glasses, we freeze fruit in place of ice and dehydrated cherries into leather for optimal natural flavour. Basically, we spent months creating this new menu and could talk about our 16 new cocktails for hours, but, really, you have to taste them – and we cannot wait to share them with our guests”.

VIEW FROM THE TOP

The Grand Penthouse Suite in The Dupont Circle, Washington D.C.

Events & Happenings

Step out of your hotel and into our pick of this month’s most captivating events

The Bloomsbury

SHOESTRING CINEMA

A little can go a long way in filmmaking. The creatives featured at the London Independent Film Festival produce extraordinary features on minimal budgets. Frights, fantasy, feel-good - whatever you’re into, you’ll find a film to fall in love with at the LIFF, all enjoyed in the renovated arthouse comfort of East London’s Genesis Cinema. London Independent Film Festival

Genesis Cinema

14th-23rd April liff.org

FORGED IN STEEL

What does it mean to replicate a symbolic object in a new context? That is the question behind this profound installation, in which Rachel Mars will forge a replica of the stolen ‘welcome’ gate from Dachau concentration camplive at the Barbican over four days. With audience members donning welding masks and a live-composed soundtrack, this is sure to be an extraordinary experience.

Rachel Mars: FORGE

The Pit, Barbican Centre 17th-20th May barbican.org.uk/ whats-on/2023/event/ rachel-mars-forge

SEE THE WOODS

Cecilia Vicuña brings an ancient South American art of record-keeping to the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in an installation of sculpture

and sound. Two 27-metre hanging sculptures, woven from materials including plant fibres, cardboard and local found objects, are the centrepiece of an immersive experience that asks how we can come together to repair the destruction of our forests and indigenous communities.

Cecilia Vicuña:

Brain Forest Quipu

Tate Modern

Until 16th April tate.org.uk

WHAM BAM AM DRAM

The premise of The Play That Goes Wrong is simple: in the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s new murder mystery production, everything that can go wrong, does! This side-splitting theatrical demonstration of sod’s law has been delighting audiences for a decade. Never mind whodunnit - the question is, can this uproariously unlucky show hold itself together until the final curtain?

The Play That Goes Wrong Duchess Theatre

Until October 2023 theduchesstheatre.co.uk

The Kensington

TO BOLDLY GROW

The world’s most famous flower show returns in May, teeming with gardening inspiration. From accessible gardens designed to support the recovery of the injured to rewilding gardens from the mountains of Korea - and even a mushroom garden - there’s something for every green thumb and green mind.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Royal Hospital Chelsea 23rd-27th May rhs.org.uk/shows-events/ rhs-chelsea-flower-show

FOUR MILES TO GLORY

One of the oldest amateur sporting events in the world, the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race still draws huge crowds

for a day of spectacle and jeopardy (will they sink?). Choose your side on this infamous university rivalry, or simply embrace the spirit

of the occasion as a neutral onlooker - the Boat Race is always a great day out.

The Boat Race

Putney to Mortlake

26th April theboatrace.org

GANGNAM STYLE

From Samsung to Squid Game, the products and popular culture of South Korea have rocked the world for decades. This V&A exhibition explores the brilliance and wonder of Korean art, fashion and design, and how its recent meteoric rise has captured imaginations around the globe.

Hallyu! The Korean Wave V&A

Until June 2023 vam.ac.uk

QUACKING GOOD FUN

The London Wetland Centre encompasses over 100 acres of lakes, pools and gardens, home to water birds, rodents, amphibians and damp minibeasts of every kind. Spring is a perfect time to visit, as birds return from their

Top left Rachel Mars welds to a live-composed soundtrack at The Barbican centre.

Left The London Wetland Centre in Barnes.

Top Korean art, fashion and design at the V&A.

Right The Oxford & Cambridge boat race victors pass the post.

winter holidays - including a few special ducks who like to hide along the Easter trail… Spring activitiesand Easter trail

London Wetland Centre

Throughout Spring wwt.org.uk

The Marylebone

PAINT THE TOWN GREEN

St Patrick’s Day in London is a celebration of the many things Londoners and the Irish have in common - not least their love of a good party! Join the 50,000 revellers expected to take part in the annual parade from Hyde Park Corner for its 20th year, and enjoy the very best of Irish art, music and food.

St Patrick’s Festival

12th March

london.gov.uk/events/stpatricks-festival-2023

STRINGS OF SPRING

Classical it may be, but the Spring/Summer programme at the Southbank Centre is far from stale. This is a wideranging slate of performances that explores and celebrates the many directions in which orchestral music is moving in the 21st century, from contemporary edits of beloved works to brand new 2020s compositions.

Classical Music Programme

Spring/Summer 2023

Southbank Centre

February to June 2023 southbankcentre.co.uk

RIGHT ON CUE

The politics of the rehearsal room come out front in this wry production of Jack Thorne’s brilliant new play, directed by Sam Mendes, which witnesses the inevitable clash of Richard Burton and the exacting vision

of his director, John Gielgud as they prepared for the legendary 1964 Broadway run of Hamlet. Johnny Flynn plays Burton, Mark Gatiss is Gielgud

Bristol VITAL VOICES

Folk fever flourishes in late April, as the Bristol Folk Festival

hails from the city, as do many of the artists who inspired and followed in his wake. Come, join us and witness the city’s most wonderful works of wall art.

Bristol Street Art Tours

Where The Wall Saturdays & Sundays year-round wherethewall.com

DIE HARDBACK

A group of strangers gather in a city hotel on a stormy spring weekend. They pore over cryptic texts, exchanging whispers in shady corners. Who or what is behind this mysterious behaviour? CrimeFest, of course. The International Crime Fiction Convention is coming back to Bristol - best go along and investigate…

CrimeFest

Mercure Bristol Royal Hotel 11th-14th May crimefest.com

A JOLLY JAUNT

The Motive and the Cue National Theatre

From 20th April nationaltheatre.org.uk

BEAN SCENE

There are few greater celebrations of the global passion for the beautiful brew than the London Coffee Festival. Enjoy curated selections in the Tasting Room, meet coffee artisans at the Roasters Village, enjoy barista skills in Latte Art Live, discover the finest coffee kit for at home it’s rocket fuel heaven.

London Coffee Festival

Truman Brewery, Brick Lane 20th-23rd April londoncoffeefestival.com

draws incredible musicians from the west country and all around the world to the stages of the city. From the greatest players of traditional tunes to the bold experimenters mixing old with new, there’s something for Folk folks of every flavour.

Bristol Folk Festival

28th-30th April

Multiple venues bristolfolkfestival.org

WALL-TO-WALL WONDER

Many of us never think twice about the blank walls flanking our city streets. But where some see brick and mortar, others see canvas. Bristol has had a thriving street art scene for decades - Banksy himself

On your feet! There’s nothing quite like a good walk, and that simple pleasure is celebrated for a whole month by Bristol Walk Fest. Whether your preference is for a social ramble or to challenge yourselfwhatever your speed, there’s a path for you at Walk Fest.

Bristol Walk Fest

Throughout May bristolwalkfest.com

The Westbury

PASTEL PERFECT

Unrelated to sugared shades, pastel is a unique artistic medium with a history spanning more than four centuries. This fascinating exhibition brings that history to light with a rich and varied collection of

works, documenting the rise of pastel’s popularity in the 18th century and the many ways it has been used since.

Pastel Revealed

National Gallery of Ireland

Until June 2023 nationalgallery.ie

ROCK OF THE IRISH

The oldest rocks in Ireland are a mind-bending 1.7 billion years old, formed somewhere south of the equator. Dublin itself sits on limestone from the tropics, dating around 330 million years ago. This exhibition brings those extraordinary timescales to life, telling the geological story of Ireland through centuries-old samples, everyday objects and an eight-by-six-metre floor-map.

Down to Earth: Exploring Ireland’s Geology

National Museum of Ireland

Open year-round museum.ie

HANGING OUT

What’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they abolish hanging?

Written by Martin McDonagh, famed for dark comedic works like In Bruges and 2022’s highly acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin, this major new production turns a comedic lens on a momentous and bizarre

moment in British history.

Hangmen - Martin McDonagh

The Gaiety Theatre

11th March-8th April gaietytheatre.ie

BACH TO BASICS

Composed for a Good Friday service in Leipzig 299 years ago, Bach’s St John’s Passion still captivates audiences

around the world every year. It is simply a masterpiece - dramatic, devotional, profound and intricate, an experience for people of all faiths and none. This year, the National Symphony Orchestra collaborates with some of the most expressive vocalists in Ireland to bring the Passion to life once more.

J.S. Bach’s St John’s Passion National Concert Hall

7th April (Good Friday) nch.ie

The Croke Park

GREEN DAY

Right

Being in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day is an experience like no other. The famed parade will wind through the streets all day Friday before rising star rockers

Left Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are reimagined in The Motive and the Cue at the National theatre.

Right, top Pastel drawing re-appraised and celebrated at Dublin’s National Gallery.

below London landmarks glow green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Pillow Queens take over the Festival Quarter on Saturday along with 12 incredible Irish music acts. Literally unmissable - you couldn’t avoid the celebrations if you tried!

St Patrick’s Day Festival

17th & 18th March stpatricksfestival.ie

TARTUFFE TIMES

The titular criminal beguiles the head of a noble French household in this modern reimagining of the 17th century comedy reluctantly banned at the time by King Louis XIV. The rest of the family set out to bring down l’imposteur - but when the going gets tough, will Tartuffe get going, or double down on his deception?

Tartuffe - Frank McGuiness

Abbey Theatre

3rd March-8th April abbeytheatre.ie

OH BROTHER, WHO ART THOU?

Arthur Miller’s classic tale of two estranged brothers meeting to settle their father’s estate remains as compelling

now as when it was first staged 55 years ago. What is the price of family duty?

Of personal ambition? And what kind of person does

it take to pay that price?

The Price Gate Theatre

From April 13th gatetheatre.ie

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

We all love to have a drink and a dance - but how often do you get to do that in a restored 17th century church, complete with spectacular stained glass and an original Renatus Harris organ? The Church bar and café is just that, perfect for a special evening in the heart of Dublin. Drop by SundayThursday for free traditional music and dance.

The Church Bar

Open year-round

Free traditional Irish music & dance Sun-Thurs from 7pm thechurch.ie

The Dupont Circle

SPOKEN WORLD

Step inside the world’s first voice-activated museum and see the words you use every day brought to life in some rather new and exciting ways. You can hear the word on the street on Lexicon Lane, paint adjectives across a landscape in the Word Worlds room or get your karaoke on and learn how the legends of songwriting conjure their hits.

Planet Word Language Museum

Open Weds-Sun, year-round planetwordmuseum.org

Above Behind the scenes at Crawford Art Gallery, Cork. Left The world’s first voiceactivated museum dedicated to the spoken word, Washington.

Right The Cork International Choral Festival hosts choirs from all over the world in April.

HORSING AROUND

Follow in the hoof-steps of the steeds that carried Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt on an enchanting ride through Rock Creek Park. An oasis of calm in the bustling city, the park’s 1700 acres make for great exploring on foot, but the best way to see them is from the saddle. And if you fancy making some more animal friends when you’re done, the park connects directly to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Rock Creek Park Horse Center Rock Creek Park

Seasonal opening times rockcreekhorsecenter.com

PRETTY IN PINK

We hope you like pink, because for four weeks in spring, that’s the shade almost every D.C. vista is cloaked in. It’s for the Festival that commemorates 1912’s gift of cherry blossom trees to Washington from the then Mayor of Tokyo. Smarten up for the Pink Tie Party, move to the rhythm of the Taiko drums at Sakura Taiko Fest, and join the crowds for the legendary parade on April 15th.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 20th March-16th April nationalcherryblossom festival.org

AIDS AND ANGELS

One of America’s great theatrical epics, Angels in America is Tony Kushner’s multi-award winning 1991 drama of two couples struggling through the AIDS epidemic. In a timely adaptation, director János Szász brings part one of this historic and thoughtful duology to the Fichandler stage in an in-the-round format that brings the audience

emphatically in. Go! Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches Fichandler Stage 24th March-23rd April arenastage.org

The River Lee

IN FINE VOICE

Five days, five thousand voices raised in song. The Cork International Choral Festival invites choirs from across Ireland, Europe and around the world to lift spirits of audiences in venues, churches, schools and on street corners around the city. With an eclectic programme and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s the perfect way to get immersed in choral culture.

Cork International Choral Festival

Venues across Cork 26th-30th April corkchoral.ie

FRAME OF REVERENCE

Great works of art can stand alone - years of experience and passion encapsulated in a single object. But peel back the paint, look behind the

periods of musical history brought to life by the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, from Symphony No. 1 to Revolution 9. The Cork Proms: Beethoven, Broadway and the Beatles

frame, and you’ll find that each is made of dozens of stories of creation, restoration and research. It is these stories that this pioneering Crawford Art Gallery exhibition tells, bringing the lives and histories of key works from the National Collection into the light.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Collection at Work

Crawford Art Gallery

Until 10th April crawfordartgallery.ie

ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN

What do Beethoven, Broadway and The Beatles have in common? It’s no riddle - they’re the subjects of this year’s Cork Proms! Three very different

Cork Opera House 6th-13th April corkoperahouse.ie

INIMITABLE ISLAND

Carved into the cliffs, the architecture of the rarelyinhabited Dursey Island should be seen to be believed. For its size, this starkly beautiful little isle has quite the rich history. Take a boat around the shore to witness its hidden wonders, or make landfall across the treacherous Dursey Sound on Ireland’s only cable car! It’s an adventurous day trip from Cork.

Dursey Island

2hr drive from Cork

Cable car reopens on 1st March durseyisland.ie

24 HOURS BROWSING

ARTS AND ARTEFACTS

The Royal Borough of Kensington is London’s most chichi, so arts, crafts (and shopping) on offer to browse and buy are fabulous.

8.30 ARISE AND BREAKFAST LIKE CHAMPIONS

Whether you like your eggs Benedict, Royale, Florentine, truffled, scrambled, poached, on the side of smoked salmon or atop smashed avocado, Town House at The Kensington awaits. doylecollection.com

10.30 SHAKE A LEDBURY

Wend your way to where Ledbury Road meets Westbourne Grove. It’s a destination for galleries (we love Bartha and Flow), antiques (check out RKade and Robin Martin) and fashion (try L’Appartement Sézane and Wild and Gorgeous for kids).

1.00 ALL THAT GLITTERS

Head down Kensington Church Street and turn right to the gallery of Malcolm Betts, meticulous handcrafter (in his back of store workshop) of the very finest jewellery. malcolmbetts.com

1.30 OH SANAIY

If magical carpets and antique textiles are your thing, Sanaiy Carpets on Kensington Church Street is a treasure trove of vintage rugs, runners, and kilims, as well as extraordinary centuries-old tapestries. sanaiycarpets.co.uk

2.30 JAPAN BOUND

With exhibitions, crafts, cookware, books, music and arts, Japan House London is part gallery, part shop, part restaurant, part performance space. From manga to woodcarving, there is always something to do and see, best preceded by a pause for sustenance in Akira Restaurant. japanhouselondon.uk

4.00 SMITH & PARTNER (S&P)

Specialists in original artworks and limited-edition prints, S&P is an online gallery with a physical space showcasing a revolving door of artists at all stages of their careers. spgallery.co.uk

5.00 NOT SO FARR

Globally known for his glorious rugs, Christopher Farr’s hand has been turned to cloth. The result is a riot of exquisite dyes, textures, patterns, and weaves. Browse, delight, and shop. christopherfarrcloth.com

7.00 RESTORE, REPAIR

Back at The Kensington we prescribe a warm bath or invigorating shower, followed by cocktails and a light, leisurely supper before bed. doylecollection.com

CLIFTON BRIDGE IN 1790 (AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN)

THEN

When wine merchant William Vick left £1,000 in his will (back in 1754) to be invested until it reached £10,000 (enough, he conjectured, to build a stone bridge spanning the Avon Gorge), he could have had no knowledge of the twists and turns, or the pared-back icon eventually created. He was also unlikely to have dreamed that the earliest serious submission for the bridge would take a village to fill

& NOW

Aged just 24 and recuperating in Clifton following an injury, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel became aware of a competition to design a bridge spanning the gorge and jumped at the chance. The first round in 1829 was thrown into disarray by renowned engineer Thomas Telford, who persuaded the committee to reject all submissions in favour of his own gothic towered

CLIFTON BRIDGE, TODAY

it. The 1790s creation of pleasingly named architect William Bridges, this extraordinary multi-storey Italianate façade (digitally imagined above), was to house galleries, museums, a granary, corn exchange, tavern, library, stables, general market, marine school, offices, and chapel, but, at a time of riots, was eventually deemed too extravagant and expensive a folly. Our loss, perhaps?

unpopular, so the competition was re-run in 1830 when Brunel’s iconic suspension bridge design prevailed (a story in itself). Brunel had been inordinately proud of his design, and the city were ultimately thrilled with his bridge, which was completed after his death, calling it “that stupendous work, the ornament of Bristol and the wonder of the age”.