Ferragosto is one of Italy’s most popular public holidays, dating back to Ancient Rome, marking the height of summer on the 15th August. For many Italians, it’s a time spent with family and friends, and is most commonly celebrated with a trip to the seaside. Sette‘s limited edition Ferragosto-inspired Menu in partnership with Ferrari Trento, can be enjoyed all throughout August, taking you on a journey of the restaurants’ classic dishes bursting with Italian flavours!
With its subtle presence, yet centrally located on High Street Kensington, Como Garden is an Italian restaurant that will transport you from the hustle and bustle of the city to a romantic Italian getaway in a heartbeat!
Mars: War & Peace by Luke Jerram is unveiled at St John the Baptist Church as part of the Kensington & Chelsea Festival, London. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
One of the most exciting projects to appear at the Kensington & Chelsea Festival in 2023 is inarguably Mars: War & Peace, the touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram… catch it whilst you can!
Mars: War & Peace follows the hugely successful appearance of Luke Jerram’s previous works at the Kensington and Chelsea Festival, each attracted up to 3,000 visitors per day. This summer will be the first time that Mars: War & Peace has been installed in a Church setting and a new soundscape has been created especially for the festival.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.
The artwork allows us to view Mars from the air, as though we are a satellite mapping and studying the surface in perfect detail. Every valley, crater, volcano, and mountain are laid bare for us to inspect. We are transported to this desert wasteland, to imagine what it’s like to step foot on this incredible planet and in comparison, really value our life on Earth.
These Social Media reels are helping the Mars invasion go viral…
Mars: War & Peace by Luke Jerram is unveiled at St John the Baptist Church as part of the Kensington & Chelsea Festival, London. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
Mars was named by the ancient Romans for their god of war because its reddish colour was reminiscent of blood. Accompanying the Mars: War & Peace sculpture is a specially created sound composition by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones. Featuring the sounds of seas, deserts and clips from NASA missions to Mars, it also incorporates the sounds of distant bombing and people marching, as if to war. This new soundtrack allows viewers the opportunity to reflect on the current conflict in Ukraine and the history and notion of war.
“Mars: War & Peace follows on from my other touring astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon and Gaia, allowing a close encounter with the Martian planet. Presented with a new soundtrack for the first time at Kensington & Chelsea Festival, I hope that visitors will feel transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland, whilst also being faced to contemplate the bleak realities of war on our planet.” – Luke Jerram
Mars: War & Peacewill appear at three different sites across the festival:
St John the Baptist Church (W14 8AH) from Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 July 2023
All Saints’ Church (W11 1JS) from Monday 31 July to Tuesday 8 August
Jubilee Square (W8 7NX) – an outdoor setting from Thursday 10 August to Sunday 13 August
Tickets will be required, but all locations will be free to visit.
The UK’s biggest festival of Japanese culture is back for its thirteenth year this weekend at Olympia London, running from Friday 21st July to Sunday 23rd July… Why not take a trip to Japan, without leaving the city?
London’s highly acclaimed French patisserie has launched a brand new pastry range, the ‘Miracles’ collection… and it seems London foodies can’t get enough!
“Human beings do better when they feel connected to each other” – Anna Anderson, founder of Kindred
London is one of the most bustling cosmopolitan cities in the world, yet rates of social isolation are higher than anywhere else in the UK, and a staggering 700,000 Londoners feel lonely ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’ according to research. To mark Loneliness awareness week (June 12th – 18th), Kindred – the events, restaurant and co-working space in Hammersmith, is hosting the first ever TogethernessFest offering a week-long celebration of curated events, aiming to bring together the local community and provide an antidote to isolation.
We caught up with the founder of Kindred, Anna Anderson, recognised in CODE Hospitality’s 30 under 30 list, for a heads up on what to expect from London’s newest fest championing togetherness!
Love is in the air! We’ve curated our Top 9 Picks for the perfect Val’s Day Gift – as recommended by our contributors and editors!
1. Choose Love Live
This Valentine’s Day Choose Love LIVE! is coming to the Jazz Café, with live performances from: The Waeve, The Big Pink, Gia Ford and Nuha Ruby Ra plus DJ sets from Nabihah Iqbal, Nadine Shah, Swim Deep and Lou Hayter – with all profits going directly to the emergency fundraiser for Turkey and Syria earthquake response, via Choose Love. Choose Love helps provide refugees and displaced people with everything from lifesaving rescue boats to food and legal advice.
Tuesday 14th February. Tickets are £35.00 and available here
Loving Kindness Workshop at East of Eden on 11th February 2023 230pm-430pm £15. Available both online & in their London studio.
As we approach St Valentines Day we may feel that the celebration of romantic love is a little overwhelming, whether we are in a romantic relationship or not, but love can be celebrated in so many ways. Love for our family and friends, animals, nature, universal love and love for oneself. During our time together we will use the practices of yin yoga, meditation and guided mantra chanting to gently peel back the layers of our energetic body (the pancha koshas) to realise our blissful self; the self that is made of prema (love) and karuna (compassion). Once we have experienced that we are love we will then extend that love outward towards all beings.
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practices beyond asana, whether you have an established practice or are newer to yoga and meditation. The workshop will be accessible for everyone.
Loving Kindness Workshop at East of Eden on 11th February 2023 230pm-430pm £15. Available both online & in their London studio.
As we approach St Valentines Day we may feel that the celebration of romantic love is a little overwhelming, whether we are in a romantic relationship or not, but love can be celebrated in so many ways. Love for our family and friends, animals, nature, universal love and love for oneself. During our time together we will use the practices of yin yoga, meditation and guided mantra chanting to gently peel back the layers of our energetic body (the pancha koshas) to realise our blissful self; the self that is made of prema (love) and karuna (compassion). Once we have experienced that we are love we will then extend that love outward towards all beings.
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practices beyond asana, whether you have an established practice or are newer to yoga and meditation. The workshop will be accessible for everyone.
Luxury fragrance platform and subscription service, HOOHAA, specialising in unisex, niche and artisan-made fragrances. HOOHAA provide a subscription service delivering luxury and niche travel size-friendly scents in 10ml bottles to your door each month, so it’s a complete surprise as to what you might receive. Previous favourites have included Maya Njie, Gallivant, Maison Matine and many more.
HOOHAA is a unique and exclusive gift option and a great alternative to introducing someone to the world of fragrance without blind buying a full-sized perfume bottle. HOOHAA offer gift card subscriptions perfect for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and so on.
Celebrate the many faces of love and affection with carefully curated gifts from Swiss Chocolatier Läderach. Explore their Valentine’s Day Gifts range of chocolates made from premium ingredients. Romantic packaging adds the finishing touch and makes our selection ideal for gifting among friends, family and, of course, for the love of your life.
One Sodastream can save up to thousands of single use plastic bottles!
Of all the plastic ever produced, only about 9% is ever recycled. 12% was incinerated, and 79% ends up in natural environment or landfills. Designed to last, nearly all of it still exists in some form today. SodaStream strives to eliminate up to 67 billion single-use plastic bottles from our planet, by 2025.
Show some love to yourself and the planet by investing in a Sodastream Art. With a unique lever, stainless-steel trim and a slim silhouette, the Art sparkling water maker also features the new Quick Connect technology for fast and easy CO2 cylinder insertion.
Bantof encompasses a unique dining experience reflective of old Soho, through combining flavoursome, stunning small plates, innovative cocktails, live music and art, encapsulated within a luxurious yet cosy and intimate environment.
London’s youngest Michelin chef, Asimakis Chaniotis has curated the food menu on offer at Bantof highlighting fresh seasonal ingredients and dishes from around the world. Bantof’s innovative cocktail menu is headed by Cyan Wong, creating an exciting mix of new and classic cocktails with a twist.
Experience fine-dining at a fraction of the price!
Nestled between Westminster, Victoria and St James’s Park, Yaatra is a modern Indian restaurant that opened last year at the beautiful, Grade II listed Old Westminster Fire Station. Keep an eye out for their soft launch offers of up to 50% off, still floating around!
Spice up your month of love with a date night at Twickenham’s Indian Tapas Restaurant, Tsaretta Spice!
Head Chef Yousuf Mohammed, who cut his teeth in reputable Indian restaurants including Dishoom, Tamarind and Bombay Brasserie before launching Tsaretta Spice, is behind the innovated tapas-style sharing menu. Having grown up in Hyderabad where his father taught him to cook, the menu is inspired by Yousuf’s childhood plus later travels across the sub-continent.
Utilising fresh produce, sourced from local suppliers, and spices procured from the best farms across India, the restaurant redefines Indian food while bringing a fresh perspective to classic, well-loved dishes.
Dietary requirements are also catered for, with an extensive selection of meat-free options along with plant-based dishes and gluten-free choices. Prepared with age-old techniques and finesse, Yousuf’s menus are a labour of love, offering a casual dining experience that goes far beyond the traditional curry house blueprint.
Leaving no stone unturned when it comes to creating an unforgettable experience for guests, Tsaretta Spice’s cocktail list spans well-loved libations to house-made specials. Adding a touch of elegance to mealtimes, the Gulab Martini features a blend of vanilla vodka, pink gin, white Crème de Cacao, rose water and chia seeds, while the popular Spicy Pimpri Martini comprises tequila, strawberry puree, elderflower cordial, Prosecco and Chilli. There’s also a comprehensive wine list, featuring bottles sourced from various vineyards, beers, and non-alcoholic options.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Make a reservation today
📍Tsaretta Spice 55 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NR
It’s a self-care kinda weekend as e.l.f. SKIN hosts their first EVER London pop-up! Treat yourself to a customised, luxe facial with real as e.l.f. skincare. Whether you’re concerned about blemishes, feeling dehydrated or experiencing sensitivity, the e.l.f.ing amazing facialists are here to help.
After your consultation, you’ll be treated to a 20-minute facial based on your specific skin concern. Once your skin is good to glow, enjoy all the fun and games the e.l.f. SKIN-clusive spa has to offer – plus FREE e.l.f. SKIN products* to take home!
*Facials are £10 to book and all guests will receive a minimum of £30 worth of product to take away). Facials can be booked here.
Guests are more than welcome to come without booking a facial and experience the products, games and space for themselves.
WHEN? Saturday 28th January 9am-5pm Sunday 29th January 10am -2pm
My London Times 