What To Book, Watch & Listen To This Month
THE SHOW: The Definitive Ratpack At Christmas
The Definitive Ratpack are performing a special Christmas show with the Manhattan Swing Orchestra at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 18th December at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. West End stars Stephen Triffitt, Mark Adams and George Daniel Long – who won an Oliver Award for The Rat Pack: Live from Las Vegas – will take to the stage again as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. The trio will perform festive favourites the whole family will love, including White Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside, The Christmas Song and Let It Snow, plus all-time favourites like That’s Amore, Mr Bojangles and New York, New York. Expect warm-up songs from The Golddiggers, and plenty of glitz and glamour throughout the night. Tickets start from £24.50pp.
5 Sloane Terrace, Chelsea, SW1X 9DQ
Visit CadoganHall.com
THE EXHIBITION: Fabergé In London: Romance To Revolution At The V&A
The V&A has opened an exhibition about the life and work of Russian craftsman Carl Fabergé – the man who brought luxury goods to Russia in the early 1900s. At Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution – the first major exhibition dedicated to the artist – expect to see over 200 objects on display, including Fabergé’s iconic eggs adorned with diamonds and jewels, plus luxury jewellery and accessories from the Queen’s own collection. Don’t miss the second section which tells the story of Fabergé’s time in London, including how his firm flourished under royal patronage, and how its creations became a social currency for gift giving and displays of wealth.
Until Sunday 8th May 2022; Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 2RL
Visit VAM.ac.uk
THE SUPPER: Skye Gyngell Scratch Menu At Spring, Somerset House
On Saturday 18th December from 3pm to 9.30pm, chef Skye Gyngell is hosting a special three-course supper at her restaurant Spring in Somerset House. Emptying the fridge and pantry to make use of the restaurant’s leftover produce, Skye’s anti-food waste menu ‘Scratch’ has been kept strictly under wraps – diners will find out what’s in store on the day. Previous dishes from her waste-free menu have included starters such as roasted Jerusalem artichoke soup with brown butter chestnuts and shredded cauliflower leaves; pasta off-cuts reinvented into tortellini with girolles and sage; and yesterday’s bread transformed into warm bread pudding served with gooseberry jam. Tickets cost £25pp for three courses.
Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Place, WC2R 1LA
Visit SpringRestaurant.co.uk
THE EVENT: Ascot Christmas Family Racing Weekend
Ascot is always a fun day out, but if you want to get the grandchildren involved, the racing ground is hosting a festive family weekend on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th December. To celebrate Ascot’s ‘Jump Season’, gates open from 10.45am when visitors can watch a series of races from the King Edward VII Enclosure or the Queen Anne Enclosure. Off the track, there’s plenty to keep the family entertained, including American cookie decorating workshops, ice hockey sessions, festive arts and crafts, and bubble magicians. Little ones can also visit Father Christmas and his reindeer – look out for Mrs Christmas who’ll be telling stories by the fire. Tickets start from £27.
High Street, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, SL5 7JX
Visit Ascot.com
THE BOOK: Patricia Highsmith: Her Diaries And Notebooks
Published for the first time to mark the centenary of her birth, this book is a collection of Patricia Highsmith's diaries and notebook entries. Offering new insight into the life and mind of one of the 20th century's most celebrated writers, this volume details Patricia’s journey from an American schoolgirl to bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Much of the work included was posthumously discovered in Highsmith's linen cupboard and edited down from 56 thick spiral notebooks by her devoted editor, Anna Von Planta. The diaries show Highsmith's unwavering literary ambitions – often at huge personal sacrifice. A fascinating read.
Visit Waterstones.com
THE SPECIAL TREAT: The Nutcracker Immersive Dining Experience At Brown's Hotel
If you’re after a charming evening with the grandchildren, Brown’s hotel is putting on two performances of The Nutcracker on Sunday 19th December. With performances at 5.30pm and 8.30pm (for adults), guests can watch the story unfold while enjoying a three-course dinner. Once seated, each diner will receive a set of clues explaining a mysterious disappearance and be encouraged to help the characters uncover the missing item’s whereabouts. Actors, magicians and ballet dancers will narrate the story of Clara and the Nutcracker, while waiters dressed in Christmas outfits will serve glazed beetroot and goat’s curd, chicken with onion on chestnuts, and gingerbread crème brûlée. Children’s menus for little ones are available on request. Tickets start from £49 for children and £98 for adults.
33 Albemarle St, Mayfair, W1S 4BP
Visit EventBrite.co.uk
THE LIVE PODCAST: The Guilty Feminist Presents: Camp At Christmas
On 16th December at 6pm, guests can tune into a live recording of The Guilty Feminist podcast at Union Chapel in Islington. Hosted by the podcast’s creator Deborah Frances-White and comedian Tom Allen (8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week), ‘Camp At Christmas’ will welcome a host of LGBTQ+ celebs including presenter Sandi Toksvig, actor Russell Tovey and journalist Raven Smith. The festive event also includes a comedy auction when guests can bid for exciting experiences including dinner for four with Judge Rinder and a personalised video from Andrew Scott – Fleabag’s ‘hot priest’. The event will raise money for two charities: The Say It Loud Club, which aids LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing homophobic violence, and CanDo, which provides an early warning system in Syrian schools to give children a chance to evacuate ahead of an aerial attack. Tickets cost £25pp.
19B Compton Terrace, Islington, N1 2UN
Visit UnionChapel.org.uk
THE FILM: The Lost Daughter, Netflix
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, this new film with its all-star cast is not to be missed. Alone on a seaside vacation, Leda (Olivia Colman) becomes consumed with a young mother and daughter as she watches them on the beach. Unnerved by their compelling relationship – and their raucous and menacing extended family – Leda is overwhelmed by her own memories of the terror, confusion and intensity of early motherhood. An impulsive act shocks Leda into the strange and ominous world of her own mind, where she is forced to face the unconventional choices she made as a young mother and their consequences. Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard and Paul Mescal also feature.
Available to watch on 31st December
Visit Netflix.com
GYAN GURUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
THE HOTEL: Beaverbrook In Winter
SheerLuxe readers will know we love Beaverbrook, so we were excited to hear that the Surrey hotel has a range of festive experiences to enjoy over the next couple of months. The hotel has been decked out with classic decorations, while an ice-skating rink has been built on the lawns at The House. Adults and children alike can skate whilst listening to Christmas music, before indulging in festive treats, such as mini donuts, candy floss, hot chocolate and champagne (for the grown-ups) from the rink-side cabin. Ice-skating is available to both hotel residents and guests visiting the estate for dining or spa days. The ‘Skate & Dine’ package includes festive dining in any of the hotel’s three restaurants – book a table at The Garden House to enjoy dishes like burrata served with pickled chicory, roasted mushroom and chestnut soup, and Himalayan salt-aged pork.
Ice skating is available until 30th January; Reigate Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8QX
Visit Beaverbrook.co.uk
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