I was invited to review Hutong at The Shard and our food and drink was complimentary. I was not paid to visit and was not under contractual obligation to write this blog post or create content on any platform.
As we began to slowly come out of lock down, the smallest things became the biggest luxuries – sitting the park, a walk with a friend, a takeaway coffee. And as the restaurants began to open up, I came to realise I will never take for granted a long lunch or a Sunday brunch again. Being able to return to my favourite places has been the best feeling and last weekend, Mr S and I were able to take Oscar to Hutong at the Shard, one of our favourite Chinese restaurants.
Socially distanced, sanitised and with the menu being read through a QR code, all the Covid safety measures are in place but the strict measures certainly don’t dampen the atmosphere – it’s just great to have restaurants bustling with life again. Hutong is located on the 33rd floor of the Shard and is a feast for the eyes with panoramic views of city, stunning wood carved interiors, Chinese lanterns and a wishing tree.
Taking our window seat we got ready to place our order. The dim sum at Hutong really is unmissable and we ordered the Lobster xiao long bao – a dumpling filled with a delicious piquant soup which pops in the mouth!
The mushroom buns weren’t something that I would have thought to order but I’m glad we did as they were incredible. So fluffy and delicious.
My final recommendation for the starter is the crispy prawn rolls. Some of the best I’ve ever had. While there’s no children’s menu per se, the staff were really accommodating for Oscar and he noshed on sea bass and asparagus prepared without salt for him.
The crispy duck at Hutong is something very special, served with the requisite plum sauce, cucumber and pancakes but elevated to the next level. The duck is marinaded for twenty four hours and then roasted in the restaurant’s special oven in order to ensure the perfectly crisp skin, if you order the whole duck it’s carved table side. Oscar tried a pancake roll and really enjoyed it too!
The rest of the duck is served as a minced side dish to be wrapped in lettuce which is such a tasty way to enjoy it! Our final dish was one I’ve had a few time before and it’s just so delicious especially for lovers of spice. The Red Lantern is not for the faint hearted and is made up of crispy soft-shell crab with Sichuan dried chilli – not only is it delicious but it looks impressive on the table and its fun to search for the crab among the chillies.
Finally dessert is delicious and refreshing – a mango pudding and a chocolate tart both served with a zesty mango sorbet!
This was my first time dining at the Shard since lockdown but it was also one of the last places I visited before the lockdown was put in place.
We were fortunate enough to be invited to a preview of the fully refurbished Aqua Shard just before restaurants closed. And when I see how little Oscar is in these photos, it just underlines to me how long we were in lockdown and how much we missed!
The refurbishment at Aqua Shard is gorgeous and I particularly love the bar with the hanging crystals.
As well as these chic-yet-cosy booths!
But the interior design remains pared down so that nothing takes away from that incredible panoramic view.
Aqua Shard have a great value market lunch which focusses on ‘forgotten’ British dishes researched by food writer and broadcaster Matthew Fort and curated along with Executive Chef Anthony Garlando. The menu changes but at the times of eating (back in February!) I tried the following excellent dishes:
Asparagus with hen’s egg.
Poached Cornish skate wing.
With chicken breast and aubergine being the other options on the menu.
And my dessert was lemon posset with marmalade and Scottish shortbread.
A meal somewhere like the Shard will always be memorable, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget these two meals – one just before we went into lockdown and one just after.
Longtime readers might recognize Cordelia de Castellane from posts from 2007 and 2009 which highlighted her Paris apartments. Now Architectural Digest has just featured her weekend (and quarantine) house in the French countryside in their September fashion issue. Fashion and design are subjects that Cordelia knows a lot about too.
Her mother was a decorator and her cousin is Victoire de Castellane, the jewelry designer for Christian Dior, and she’s also a great grand-niece of the celebrated French architect Emilio Terry. As a teenager she spent her holidays interning at Chanel, where her uncle Gilles Dufour was Karl Lagerfeld’s right-hand man. After she left school at seventeen she got her first job at Emanuel Ungaro which is also where mother-in-law was a director for years. Oh, and her ex-husband is the grandson of legendary French fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin.
She designed her own line of children’s clothing for ten years and after she closed it in 2012, Dior hired her to design Baby Dior. In 2017, she was tapped to become the first artistic director for Dior Maison whose coveted collection was only available at Dior store on the Avenue Montaigne in Paris but it will finally be available in the United States soon.
Her eye for color and pattern is apparent in this country house, as are the eclectic mix of styles and periods that fill each room. “I was the youngest of three children and I spent my holidays with my parents; we went to the Biennale, to museums all over the world. I’m a collector; wherever I go I love to pick up unusual pieces.”
To read the entire story and see more photos of the house, pick up the September 2020 issue of Architectural Digest or click here. I also mixed in some of Cordelia’s Instagram photos with those by Matthieu Salvaing
From the splendid regal columns of Cliveden House to the high life of living in the rustic tree houses at Chewton Glen, Over the past 15 years of being a travel and fashion editor I’ve had the great pleasure of being invited to stay at some of the UKs most prestigious and indulgent spa hotels. I’d love to share my findings with you so here’s my Style Traveller edit of the best UK spa hotels and retreats for luxury staycations.
The English countryside boasts some of the most elegant and stately manor houses turned luxury spa hotels in the world. If you’re not quite ready to get on a flight abroad I hope this list of exceptional properties tantalise your imagination.
1 Chewton Glen – Live the high life in the tree-tops (pictured above)
Imagine sipping champagne under the starry night sky, caressed by the warm bubbles of the hot tub, on the balcony of your luxury tree house. Need I say more. Not only has Chewton Glen been voted one of the best hotels in the British Isles, it also gets the Style Traveller seal of approval.
Aside from the traditional main estate house with elegant regency bedrooms and a palatial Grecian spa, the USP which sets Chewton Glen apart from the rest is the spectacular tree house apartments.
These modern, rustic living spaces in the sky with the perfectly appointed, natural, sleek interiors, are the perfect place to escape the crowds and embrace nature. With beautiful forest views and the coast beyond, Chewton Glen offers a unique (and my favourite) experience unlike any other UK spa hotel. Prices for the treehouse suite start at £1150, definitely one to save for a special occasion. Location – Hampshire
Rustic interiors inside the tree house apartments at Chewton GlenBonnie rolls up to Cliveden House in style
2 Cliveden – The royal party palace with an infamous past
With a deliciously, decadent history for throwing notorious parties for the 1960’s glitterati, (remember the Profumo scandal?) the regal hallways of Cliveden are more renowned these days for hosting princesses and royalty, such as Megan Markle who stayed there the night before marrying Prince Harry.
It’s every inch old school glamour with a grand drive up to the Palladian estate, giant roaring fires and mahogany wooden panelled rooms, you’d be forgiven to thinking you’d wandered onto the set of Downton Abbey.
Each bedroom suite is individually designed and named after a Lord or Lady who’s stayed in it. With acres of perfectly landscaped gardens and a divinely indulgent spa with heated outdoor pool, Cliveden is one of the most ostentatious hotels in the country and they treat each and every guest like royalty. Rooms from £500 per night. Location – Berkshire.
Bonnie on the sun-filled terrace at Cliveden House
3 Soho Farmhouse – the hipster members club retreat in Oxfordshire (pictured above)
For those of you who haven’t heard of Soho House, it’s one of the most exclusive private members clubs in the world. With a boast worthy celeb clientele, the rules at the house request ‘no photos or social media’, in order to respect the privacy of famous guests who stay there.
Rooms are designed in all manner of styles from wooden cabins by the lake with outdoor metal bathtubs, farmhouse cottage rooms, glamping bell tents to luxury hot tub garden rooms.
You’ll be given your own personal wellies and bicycle so you can transport yourself from the spa, to the outdoor swimming pools or the cosy cinema, where you can snuggle with your partner by a roaring fire and enjoy an excellent glass of red. Rooms start from £350 look out for the mid-week offers. Location – The Cotswolds.
Bonnie staying in one of the Piglet rooms at Soho Farmhouse, with personal bikes and wellies
4 The Scarlet – The one with the cliff top hot tubs and breath taking views (pictured above)
Set atop the dramatic, rocky cliffs of the beautiful Cornish town of Mawgan Porth The Scarlet, (an eco-hotel) blends perfectly into its natural coastal habitat, as it’s built with sustainable locally sourced materials and miles of glass windows, lest the guests forget their spectacular location.
The ultimate in laid back luxury, this truly magical hotel is the perfect romantic beach retreat for honey mooners, baby mooners those who want to feel submerged in nature, whilst indulging in one of the sublime outdoor hot tubs. Each seductive room has a beach facing balcony. Prices start from £230. Location – Newquay, Cornwall
The pool at The Scarlet looks out to seaBeautiful main house at Limewood
5 Limewood – The New Forest bolt hole with wild ponies
As I arrived at Limewood I remember driving through the New Forest and being enchanted by the beautiful, wild horses who roam freely in the estates grounds. I was then wowed by the majesty of one of the prettiest Georgian grand houses in the country.
You can stay in the main house, or one of the modern secluded lake or luxury forest abodes if you want more privacy. With little personal touches such as complimentary Hunter wellies, Tracey Emin art works dotted about the property, a heated rooftop pool hidden amidst a herb and flower filled terrace, Limewood is all about being made to feel special within their uniquely curated style of laid back luxury. Price start from £395. Location – New Forest, Hampshire.
6 Brimstones – modern luxury in the Lake District (pictures above)
As you meander along country roads with breathtaking views of the placid lakes, arriving at Brimstone’s you know you’re about to experience the ultimate in pampering.
My perfect days itinerary here would look something like this…Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Stove Restaurant with a giant window facing onto an original water wheel, followed by a brisk hike alongside some of the UK’s most spectacular lakes and hills. When you return to the hotel they’ve already prepared afternoon tea by the wood burning fires, soft gown and slippers at the ready.
Then head to the spa for a sunset dip in the seriously sexy, outdoor jacuzzi followed by a sublime massage in the treatment rooms. Opt for a fine dining dinner or room service and the best nights sleep you’ve ever had. The whole trip is dreamy. Prices from £350. Location – Langdale, The Lake District.
I’m a northerner born and raised in Blackburn, which apart from the football never really makes it into the papers. But one thing Blackburn does have in abundance is lush, green, rolling hills with great countryside hiking and bridle trails.
Perched on the outskirts of the old cotton mill town, lies this beautifully renovated 17th century manor house nestled within 54 acres of rolling Ribble Valley landscapes. I highly recommend a little trip to the day spa or one of the overnight spa and dinner packages. Prices start from a very reasonable £120 a night. Location – Ribble Valley, Lancashire
Set in 500 acres of quintessentially English countryside the world renowned Four Seasons Hampshire is well known to be one of the best spa hotels in the UK, not just for its list of high profile celebs and guests who frequent the property but also its spectacular location and exceptional spa.
It’s the perfect haven for city dwellers in need of a little R&R as it’s just an hour out of London. With a recent multi-million pound refurb the classic splendour of this old school establishment has been infused with a touch of trendy hipster vibes.
On top of the spa and grounds you can also try out a spot of horse riding, falconry, archery, the list goes on. The main restaurant and bar areas are very Instagram friendly and the vast outdoor and indoor pools are the star attraction of the famous spa. Prices start at £250 a night. Location – Hampshire
Epic pool at The Four Seasons Hampshire
9 Rudding Park – The Yorkshire country house (pictured above)
Here’s another entry for the northerners, this time set in the spectacular Yorkshire Dales and historic city of Harrogate. Famed for The Pump Room and Betty’s Tea Room, there’s plenty to discover in town.
For those looking to get lost in the epic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and perhaps relive their Wuthering Heights fantasies, this is the place for you.
With light and airy, spacious rooms, an incredible spa, hydro therapy pools, 3 tennis courts a gorgeous conservatory restaurant, there really isn’t any need to venture outside the hotel.
My favourite part of Rudding park is the heated outdoor pool which looks spectacular when lit up at night with a view of the main house. Prices start from £150 per night. Location – Harrogate, Yorkshire.
10 Babington House – The one the celebs stay in post Glastonbury (pictured above)
Another of Soho Houses exclusive establishments, Babington (a sister to Soho Farmhouse) is open for non-member guests also. Famously the home for Kate Moss and her music buddies during and post Glastonbury Festival, this is a spa retreat with a rock and roll history.
With modern, retro chic interiors, enjoy cocktails by the outdoor pool, sunbath on the oversized striped day beds which fill the perfectly manicured lawns and peer discreetly over your Tom Ford sunglasses to see which celebs are on the day bed next you. Prices start from £220. Location – Near Glastonbury, Somerset.
The daybeds on the lawns at Babington
11 The Gainsborough – The one with access to the original Bath Spa (pictured above)
Situated right in the heart of the UK’s most historic spa town of Bath, The Gainsborough is the only hotel with direct access to the naturally heated thermal waters of Bath Spa. But as if that weren’t enough it also happens to be 100 yards away from the original Roman baths.
You may say this hotel isn’t exactly a countryside spa property but the ancient ‘healing’ city of Bath is so quaint and picturesque, it’s a wonderfully relaxing place to visit whilst out and about in the UK and well worth the trip. Prices start from £180. Location – Bath.
Naturally heated thermal waters at the Gainsborough, Bath
So that’s my Style Traveller round of the best spas and retreats in England. I do hope that you like the list and it might make you want to treat yourself to a little staycation?
Do you have other spas that you would have added to this list? If so please let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
Next week I’ll be writing about my staycation in Devon, UK. Click here to read the full review of my stay at Brimstones and Chewton Glen.
