Last week I went to the Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain. If you love film photography, surrealism and history — I would find some time to catch this. Miller was once the most favourite model of the highest paid photographer in the 1920s and a flagship face for Vogue, until she remarkably decided she would rather be behind the camera making the image herself. She would go on to be one of the biggest innovators in photography — way before it was classed as an art form by leveraging experimental techniques such as solarisation, to name a few. That was until the Second World War, when she pivoted into documenting the aftermath as a frontline photo-journalist who still retained her flair of metaphorical and ironic image crafting, despite of all the devastation.
Leo
Remember the old courtyard wine spot in the belly of Covent Garden’s market hall? After 45 years, and notably being one of the first residents when the hall reopened in 1980, The Crusting Pipe has closed for good.
British pubs are under serious threat this year after a series of VAT, business rate and tax changes under Reeve’s treasury. The Telegraph has announced its ‘Save our pubs’ campaign to put pressure on the government — who are failing to address the increasing number of closures in the hospitality industry.
The latest NYC late-night, no-phone live lounge
Esmeralda’s Mayfair, Mandarin Oriental | Now open
Images courtesy of Esmeralda’s Mayfair Instagram
London’s hotel scene has been really leading the way for multi-functional entertainment spaces and at Hanover Square, Mandarin Oriental has recently opened a peek into the golden age of New York’s live lounges.
Thursdays to Saturdays will now host a six-piece band performing soul, funk, and disco — alongside a DJ going into the early hours. Picture burnt orange velvet curtains, soft lighting, low lounge seating, classic cocktails reimagined and a mini champagne serve presented with the bill, as a closing gesture. The food — elevated comfort i.e caviar-topped chicken nuggets, Wagyu sliders and lobster rolls.
The most enticing part of the concept, created by twin brothers Lee Caulfield (Circle PR) and Nicky Caulfield (Molto Music Group), is the no-phones/recording rule — an intentional decision for people to feel like they can let their hair down and be themselves without having to duck and dodge out of someone’s IG story.
Ruth’s — a new local for Putney
Putney | Now open
Images courtesy of Ruth’s
Just off Lower Richmond Road, at the front end of a residential corner lies Ruth’s — a bistro centred around British classics and ingredients with some quasi-French touches. It’s a cosy and quaint little spot that, truth be told, feels like something out of Stoke Newington than South West London — a semi-detached property decorated in bistro curtains, hand-drawn signage, olive green painting on the outside matched with burgundy red indoor walls.
It’s the first project together for Ed Baillieu and Callum Ross, who originally met in New Zealand and have worked together across the world. Callum was general manager at The Camberwell Arms and Forza Wine, whilst Ed’s roster includes Pitt Cue, Sager & Wilde and Executive Chef at The Hero.
It’s a non-pretentious local with a menu that will mimic a bite into some British favourites incl. a Monster Munch crisp with their fried mussels.
Iranian & Iraqi food meets French bistro culture
Logma | Hackney | Now open
Farsin Rabiee and Ziad Halub would host their friends with their regional Iranian and Iraqi food to rave reviews. Then something clicked — they realised they could turn their passion into something. That something translated into a successful supper club that ran for over a year in East London and has led them to now — a permanent home in Hackney known as Logma Cafe Bistro.
Inspired by the retro French bistros that dominated the Middle East in the early 1900s where you would eat, drink and, in their words, chain smoke — their goal was to emulate that feeling that allowed you to lounge. The menu will make use of local and organic produce, where possible, with an often-changing menu and classics like kofta, stews with saffron rice and Middle Eastern coffee/tea.
They’re in soft-launch mode currently expecting to be in full motion by the end of January.