Nutfield Priory

HOTEL & SPA

Boasting a prime location atop of Nutfield Ridge, Nutfield Priory Hotel & Spa is a neo-gothic country retreat overlooking the picturesque Surrey Downs.

Dating back to 1872, the Victorian manor house was designed by architect John Gibson and modelled on the Palace of Westminster.

Once a base for Canadian soldiers during the Second World War, and a boarding school for severely deaf children, the house was sympathetically renovated in 1987 and reopened as a hotel the following year.

Now under ownership of Hand Picked Hotels, who have country house properties all over the country, the hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme to create the hotel you see today.

Effortlessly blending classic and original features with modern elegance and amenities, the glorious house offers 60 bedrooms, including 15 feature rooms, event spaces, an award winning spa and health club, and a 2 AA Rosette restaurant.

Interiors reflect the building's illustrious past. From intricate carved panelling, high ceilings and marble chandeliers, to the

impressive Grand Hall with its stained glass windows, a minstrel gallery and a stunning original 1874 organ restored by the Shepherd Brothers of London. The 15 feature bedrooms are all named after famous writers. With huge sleigh or four poster beds, the Wordsworth suite in particular is worth checking out. The large open plan living space offers stunning views across the rolling Surrey countryside. Gothic windows, and modern amenities such as a Hypnos Lansdowne cashmere mattress, complimentary WiFi, blackout curtains, and luxury toiletries make for a comfortable stay. A modern bathroom is situated off a separate dressing room, and boasts a Victorian roll top bath and double shower. Another feature room of note is the Byron suite which is set over three floors in the west tower. A refreshing escape from the city, just a 30 minute train journey from Victoria, the hotel offers plenty of areas to relax in, from the library to the airy spa. With a 14 metre pool, steam room and jacuzzi; the spa garden is the perfect place to while away a summer's day.

When you're not spending time in the spa, you can enjoy the surrounding countryside. Surrey is a walker's paradise, offering an extensive network of footpaths for walkers of all levels. The hotel itself is set in 12 acres of grounds so those not so keen don't even have to venture far to appreciate the beauty. A recent addition of a terrace during lockdown makes for the perfect spot to enjoy a refreshing gin and tonic while admiring the view before dinner.

With impeccable service, stunning original arched interiors and beautifully presented dishes, the restaurant offers a seasonal British menu.

Menu highlights include, Smoked salmon ballotine with avocado cream and air-dried cherry tomatoes; Lemon poached Monkfish; Cauliflower steak and English asparagus with summer truffle and wild garlic pesto; and a Chateaubriand of Surrey beef with a French bean and onion salad, heritage tomato, and triplecooked truffle chips to share.

Breakfast is just as delicious. One night isn't long enough - you won't want to leave.

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BRITISH TRADITIONS MEET FINE FRENCH REFRESHMENTS

Whether you're making the most of the weather and enjoying a picnic or are looking for a more refined experience indulging in one of London's many luxury afternoon teas, you can rest assured that the best partner for your food will be of the French variety, from Rosé to Champagne.

BELVEDERE VODKA

TANQUERAY SUMMER GARDEN X FLAT IRON SQUARE

Flat Iron Square has been given a beautiful botanical makeover thanks to Tanqueray Gin.

Blending together the Spanish characteristics of Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, the Indian flair of Tanqueray Rangpur and the Parisian elegance of Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale, visitors to the space can immerse themselves into the wonderful world of Tanqueray and indulge in some tasty dishes from Flat Iron Square's amazing range of vendors.

From Tuna Tostadas to crispy fried chicken bao buns, guests can eat and drink their way through the experience with QR codes dotted around the garden providing more information on their favourite gin. There are also a whole host of weekly prizes to be won and some truly insta-worthy photo points.

Book ahead and pre-order your favourite gin tree or go the extra mile and book a masterclass for £18.00 per person and take a 45 minute guided journey through the Tanqueray collection.

Just in time for summer, premium vodka brand Belvedere has launched Belvedere Organic Infusions: a unique range of organic Polish Rye vodka, infused with organic fruits and botanicals. Proudly made with nature, Belvedere Organic Infusions are the brand’s first certified organic spirits, meaning all ingredients are farmed without artificial pesticides, additives or chemicals. This allows the natural taste of each ingredient to shine through and their true character to come to life in the vodka.

Each of the three delicious infusions have been created using the finest quality ingredients and marries natural essences to produce a layered yet balanced flavour profile. From fresh and bright, to vibrant and crisp, the new Organic Infusions range comprises unique and intriguing flavour combinations, not typically found in vodka. Try the Lemon & Basil with a touch of Elderflower; Pear & Ginger with a drop of Linden Honey; Blackberry & Lemongrass with a hint of Sage.

Ideal for dinners al fresco, picnics in the park or tipples at the beach, Belvedere Organic Infusions are the perfect partner for drinking occasions this summer. Each variant is best savoured in a long, refreshing Vodka Soda to appreciate the infusions’ depth of flavour and quality, but work exceptionally well in cocktails too.

New Belvedere Organic Infusions are available from Selfridges at £44.99, as well as Amazon, The Whisky Exchange and selected bars and restaurants nationwide.

ILLUMINATI

SEVEN TIME DISTILLED, ULTRA-PRMIUM VODKA

Illuminati Vodka, a light, refreshing and sophisticated spirit, crafted to deliver a subtle-on-the-palate signature brand flavour and produced with the highest quality Polish cultivated rye grain.

This ultra-premium vodka, with an unparalleled and exceptional velvety softness, is presented in a uniquely eye-catching bottle - matte-black, featuring a distinctive blue fibre-optic-lit logo ‘Eye of God’ motif which has a soft glow.

The unique seven-step distillation process, which includes filtering the liquid through charcoal to remove all microscopic impurities, Illuminati Vodka is crafted using only the finest ingredients and with the utmost care. The final step within the process sees the liquid aged in steel vats - a traditional, centuries old technique that clarifies the taste - allowing the spirit to rest and the flavours to synergise, coming together in harmony to deliver a sleek, balanced taste with a delicate finish and a silken texture.

Illuminati Vodka, 70cl £39.99 | illuminativodkaltd.com

THE TOP HAT

The Top Hat is a brand new destination restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by the timeless classic Monopoly game. The elegant new space launches this month in London’s West End and will be a playful homage to the London version of the iconic game and an immersive celebration of the capital itself.

The menu will be a quintessentially British small plates concept, featuring dishes such as rump steak, parsnip mash and yorkshire pudding; miniature fish and chips; Wye Valley lamb skewers with minted jus; and lemonade meringue pie with whipped soured cream.

Cocktails will be fashioned around historic London narratives to represent the game’s iconic properties such as The Leicester Square and The Mayfair. The drinks will be crafted using a sliding scale of speciality and feature some of the world’s most premium spirits and ingredients to echo the game’s playful pursuit of success.

The venue’s distinguished interiors will comprise interactive nods to the game with design highlights including vintage bank vault lined walls, hidden top hats within the bespoke wallpaper, and the use of reclaimed upholstery from old London underground lines.

This playful new destination promises a memorable drinking and dining experience of whimsical luxury, fit for Mr. Monopoly himself. It aims to bring guests together to reconnect with the capital once again and immerse themselves in the nostalgia of everyone’s favourite board game.

2 M A ST E R S

Dictador have added to their spectacular 2 Masters collection with a never before seen collaboration with a Port house. Following suit with the rest of the collection, it isn't just any Port house, but the iconic Niepoort who were chosen to create this luxuriously unique premium rum. The award-winning Colombian rum have been carefully curating the finest selection of blended spirits since the initial 2 Masters release back in 2018. Now, in partnership with historic Port maker Niepoort, they have launched the unique limited-edition rum: Dictador 2 Masters Niepoort. Launched in Porto by winemaker Dirk van der Niepoort and Dictador’s Master Blender Hernan Parra, who made the journey from Columbia to Portugal to celebrate the launch, the creation marks the ninth and latest addition to the Dictador 2 Masters collection of ultra-premium rums; the result of an ambitious and pioneering project by Parra.

Taking never before used different wines and spirits to blend, Dictador has created an entirely new and astounding luxury category for fine rums. Parra has entrusted a portion of his vintage Dictador rums to a select group of highly respected and prestige wine and spirit producers worldwide to ‘finish’ the Dictador blends as they wish. The aim for these partners is to apply their unique styles to infuse and finish the master rum with their own layers of flavour and texture, creating an individual, characterful and rare masterpiece. In the case of aging the rum in Port shipping barrels, the Dictador blend results in a deep red colour with a rich and refined palette.

Dictador 2 Masters Niepoort combines Hernan Parra’s masterful blend of four Dictador vintage rums - 1971, 1974, 1978, and 1980 - with the knowledge and techniques of one of Portugal’s most renowned winemakers, Dirk van der Niepoort. Dirk is the fifth generation of his family to produce Niepoort Port, with the brand having been established in the Douro Valley in 1842. “Niepoort has a long tradition in the production of old aguardente (wine brand), aged in oak casks, in our cellars,” says Dirk Niepoort. “Producing such a special rum with a good friend seems the perfect combination for such a special bottling.”

Hernan Parra explains that “Port is a symbol of rich flavours and intense maturity. To me, Niepoort is the symbol of merging family traditions, high quality products and ever-evolving creativity. Combining this, it symbolises what this project stands for: the synergy of 2 Masters. Only 620 bottles will be available of this beautiful liquid so you better be fast!”

The Dictador rum has been aged for 12-16 months in 550 litre pipa barrels, yielding 620 bottlesworth of 48% ABV ultra-premium blend. “Today, all Port is shipped in bottles, but in the olden times they sailed the world in ‘pipas’ or pipes,” explains Dirk. “Smaller sized barrels were called hogsheads, which was a half pipe, quarters and octaves. Wealthy individuals would order a ‘pipe of Port’ from their wine merchant, either for their own consumption or to lay down as a gift for a young relative. A pipe should not be confused with a cask, which is a larger type of barrel used for aging. Casks are always made from oak, but shipping pipes could be made of either oak or chestnut.” A perfect digestif, on the palette one senses dark chocolate, coconut husk, bitter orange and fennel, which gives way to plums, figs, quince jelly and cloves, and a big, fulsome finish.

To protect the authenticity of this unique spirit, and the integrity of the partnership, Dictador has developed innovative and robust bottle security features. The 2 Masters label contains 11 layers of protection, guillochés, gold paint with UV glowing protection, microtext and typographical numbering, including holistic cryptographic technology. Special safety packaging made of armoured glass uses fingerprint technology for unlocking; it can legitimately claim to be the most protected bottle in the world.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Red cherries and dark chocolate combine with rich leather, polished oak and walnut shells. A hint of cola, cardamom and some nutmeg, too.

Palate: Dark chocolate, coconut husk, new leather and aged cigar tobacco with a hint of bitter orange and fennel, which gives way to plums and figs.

Finish: Liquorice and leather, with blood orange.

BAO BUN BRUNCH

Enjoy a deliciously simple bottomless Bao Bun brunch, complete with Bloody Marys and Prosecco for just £38.50 every Saturday at The Lucky Club Mayfair. Perfectly located just around the corner from Bond Street, this hidden cocktail bar is the perfect stop off pre-or-post shopping or for central catch ups with friends.

For one and a half hours you can chow down on the likes of Karaage Chicken with house pickles and lettuce; BBQ pork also with house pickles and slaw; Furikake Fish; and Shiitake Mushroom with crispy tofu and pickled mushroom; all served with a selection of sides and salads such as cold noodle salad with edamame and spicy broth. You can choose to sample some of everything or if you have a firm favourite, just order specific buns and see how many you can get through. Each of the four options are delicious, but the Karaage Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom Bao's are definite winners on the flavour front.

Drinks are bottomless too and the Lucky Mary is a must try. Made with Kimchi, spices and Henderson's relish it's the perfect brunch drink ideal for washing down all those buns. Prosecco and espresso martinis are also available so you truly are spoilt for choice.

The incredibly simple structure of this brunch is ideal for those looking for a quick stop and the setting lends itself to an extended stay to enjoy some of the many other cocktails on offer in this cool hidden spot.

CITY SOCIAL

The City's fine food with a view staple, City Social has seemingly come through the pandemic stronger than ever with a show of force from some superb dishes on their latest menu. Taking the opportunity to utilise some of the 'quiet time' to develop and enhance the menu, Atherton's refined culinary City spot has managed to maintained the distinct quality expected from this restaurant throughout.

New dishes such as the poached native lobster with heirloom tomato, basil and verjus starter and South coast plaice with chorizo and lobster minestrone and summer beans main are not only beautifully presented, but offer a fresh take on some classic flavours in incredibly well balanced fashion.

With dishes of such high quality, it is only fitting that you allow the sommelier to do their thing and offer up some wine pairings to enjoy with your meal. Selecting from an extensive, varied and unique wine list - which was shortlisted in the AA Notable Wine List Awards, reaching the final round - there are so many options to choose from that you will likely miss the perfect pairing. Thankfully, the sommelier staff are true experts in their field and thanks to the extended period of development time that was available, they have managed to curate the perfect pairings for each dish. All you have to do is sit back, enjoy the view and indulge in one of the finest meals available in the City.

Don't fear if you are a returning diner, as the restaurant has ensured that they remain inviting to all and have continued to offer some recognisable dishes such as the ever popular Devon crab with bitter leaf salad, nashi pear and brown crab toast; and braised short rib with watercress, alliums and olive oil mash. This is the perfect spot for a romantic meal for two, indulgent catch up with friends and family or business dinner alike. Whether you enjoy food or wine, or both, there are few destinations of this calibre boasting this level of quality in the City and you can be sure that the chic, vibrant-yet-relaxed atmosphere will be ideal for a dinner to remember. The seasonal menu offerings won't be around forever, so don't leave it too long to book your spot in this elegant elevated eatery.

PAVILION

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Established business members’ club, Pavilion, with locations across London, have launched their first private members' club in the heart of Knightsbridge.

Heralding a new breed of members’ club, the venue offers a unique opportunity to work and thrive in this prime central London location with some the world’s leading minds alongside an extensive social offering. The club, a social with substance setting, features a terrace boasting panoramic views of Hyde Park as well as an all-day dining menu created by Michelin-starred Chef, Tom Kerridge. Set over six floors, the property also features a serviced club and members’ lounge, two members bars, seventeen private office spaces and one penthouse suite. The interiors have been designed by Russell Sage Studio who has brought an art deco yet laid back style to the club.

For his first members’ club venture, renowned Chef Tom Kerridge has created a deceptively simple menu. Accessible quality cooking with brilliant, seasonal produce, harmonious to Kerridge’s beloved style, the menu features hero dishes including the Pavilion bacon and smoked cheddar burger, dressed Cornish crab with radish and apple and the smoked king oyster mushroom masala with coconut naan, created using only leading British suppliers. Available across all three levels of the members’ club, the menu can be enjoyed on every occasion from intimate business discussions at the bar, to large events for guests on the terrace. Tom Kerridge says: "We are really looking forward to this. It is an incredibly exciting project in the heart of London that connects the business world and entrepreneurial spirited, like-minded people with a food style that is fast, accessible but also high level. The brand ethos of Pavilion Club and the Tom Kerridge group sit really well together, as it is about embracing people and personalities, whilst delivering a highend product that guests recognise and enjoy.”

The Renaissance of Afternoon Tea

and how to pair Champagne with your favourite bites

Ahead of Afternoon Tea Week (9th-15th August), Francoise Peretti, Director of Champagne Bureau UK offers expert advice on pairing Champagne with favourite teatime snacks.

In the year 1840, Anna the seventh Duchess of Bedford found that she would begin to languish during the long stretch between lunch and supper - served late at eight o’clock, as was the fashion of the time. To curb her hunger, she called for a tray of tea, bread, butter and cakes to be brought to her room around four o’clock. As her daily habit continued, she began to invite friends to join the occasion and the trend quickly spread to high society. Thus, the Afternoon Tea - now perhaps the most quintessential British tradition - was born. 150 years on, it is safe to say that Anna and her friends might not even recognise the modern evolution of their afternoon ritual. Formalities of silk gloves and musty properness long shed, recent decades have seen the ante upped to a full-blown foodie celebration of creativity. From glorious show stopping pastries to Alice in Wonderland themed tipsy teas, pooch inspired bonanzas and savouries and sweets influenced by cultures around the world, London has a vibrant diversity of teas to suit all tastes. And in that spirit of celebration, you will find no luxury offering without the option to upgrade with Champagne.

With this in mind, I wanted to share with you a quick guide to pairing traditional afternoon tea delights with Champagne styles - whether you’re hosting yourself or indulging About Town. Here, we will break down the tea into individual components and the best style to pair them with, as well as discussing the best choice if you’re selecting just one special bottle.

No afternoon tea would be complete without succulent

Scottish smoked salmon on buttered brown bread, or prawns with Marie Rose sauce in a soft roll. For these seafood sensations, I’d recommend a pink hued rosé Champagne. It is exceptionally versatile and matches oily fish and shellfish harmoniously. The red berry aromas and flavours of this style also work delightfully with pastries or cakes featuring strawberries and raspberries.

For delicate vegetarian flavours such as a cucumber sandwich, perhaps layered with a basil or minted cream cheese, I’d recommend a Zero Dosage Champagne. Also known as ‘Extra Brut’, this is a no-frills, low-to-no sugar style which will really let the natural sweetness of the vegetables shine through. For more creamy or rich elements, such as an egg mayonnaise and cress sandwich or a particularly buttery pastry, I’d recommend a Blanc de Blancs Champagne. This is a zingy, lively style made from 100% Chardonnay. Known for its citrus fruit flavours and aromas, this will cut through any potential heaviness and make everything taste much lighter.

For meaty, more flavourful sandwiches such as a classic Coronation chicken in all its curried glory, or slithers of beef pastrami layered with stronger condiments like caramelised onions or mustard, I’d recommend choosing a Blanc de Noirs Champagne. This is a white Champagne made from 100% black grapes - Pinot Noir or Meunier. This style will offer a wine with good structure and backbone that will hold its own against powerful flavours and potentially offer red fruit aromas, that will tie in well with the often sweet/savoury combinations found here. For freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream, little cakes and tarts - dare try a Demi-Sec Champagne. This is a slightly sweeter style which is still incredibly fresh but softer on the palate paired with sugary treats. Choose this for an ultimately luxurious mouth feel. If you are looking for one special bottle to pair with the whole experience, choose Vintage Champagne in your favourite style. Vintage Champagne is aged on the lees for at least 3 years in the cellars of Champagne (although many are aged for a lot longer). During this time, the wines develop layers of complexity. At times brioche, pastry, butter and toffee aromas and flavours. Sometimes even earthy tobacco, dried fruits and spice. Layers of intrigue and the capacity to chime with different elements in dishes make Vintage the ultimate food wine.