What To Book In London This February

BE INSPIRED HERE: Sir John Soane’s Museum

Holborn’s Sir John Soane’s Museum is continuing its new series in partnership with Luke Irwin, in which leading figures from across the world of design discuss their practice through a single item. Inspired by Sir John Soane’s own extraordinary collection, and co-hosted by Will Gompertz, arts editor at the BBC, and Alice Rawsthorn, design writer and critic, the series will reflect on the power of objects – large or small, mundane or exceptional, aesthetic or utilitarian – to spark new ideas, and act as a spur for different forms of creativity. This month, Alice will talk to artist and designer Es Devlin, while future speakers will include Edmund de Waal and Olga Polizzi.

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, WC2A 3BP; 18th February

Visit Shop.Soane.org

FIND YOUR SCENT HERE: Cora Pearl

Covent Garden restaurant Cora Pearl is teaming up with British perfume house Penhaligon’s to host an evening of fragrance discovery on February 4th. A knowledgeable Penhaligon’s fragrance expert will guide guests on a journey to find a signature scent. Suitable for both ladies and men, the perfume profiling will take place within the elegant surrounds of Cora Pearl on Henrietta Street, accompanied with a cocktail or glass of fizz and canapés from head chef George Barson. Tickets for the event are £30pp, and include cocktails, canapés and the personalised fragrance profiling. Ideal ahead of Valentine’s Day.

30 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8NA; 4th February

Visit CoraPearl.co.uk

BOOK THIS: Ghost Girl // Gwei Mui 鬼妹

On a hot clammy muggy day in October, in a Chinese takeaway restaurant, a decision was made: a woman was going to take another woman’s baby. Based on the personal story of theatremaker Jennifer Tang, who was born to Cantonese parents but raised by a white British family, Ghost Girl is a powerful and contemporary new show which asks what it really means to be British and Chinese. Presented as part of Chinese Arts Now festival, Ghost Girl explores British-Chinese identity and heritage, love and belonging.

58-60 Hampstead Road, King’s Cross, NW1 2PY; until 9th February

Visit CPTheatre.co.uk

CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR: Hutong

For Chinese New Year, award-winning northern Chinese restaurant Hutong will be marking the ‘Year of the Pig’ with a night of celebrations and a bespoke menu created by head chef Fei Wang. The celebration will take place on 4th February as a reunion dinner, which takes place on the eve of Chinese New Yearand is considered the most important get-together meal of the year. Highlights from the menu include: scallop and prawn wonton with homemade chilli oil; Chinese asparagus heart and sesame dressing; slow-cooked lamb rack, cumin, Sichuan peppercorns and seaweed salad; sweet and sour dover sole. In honour of the ‘Year of the Pig’, the team will give each table a chocolate piggy bank to break open, revealing edible coins to eat at the end of the meal.

The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London Bridge, SE1 9RY; until 4th February

Visit Hutong.co.uk

LEARN TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL HERE: London Marriott Hotel County Hall

On 27th February, Marriott Hotels will host the second event in its ‘In Focus: How to lead in 2019’ series. Panellists Sharmadean Reid, founder of WAH Nails, Timo Boldt, founder of Gousto, and Vanessa Vallely, founder of WeAreTheCity, will offer their insights into the world of leadership and how to maximise leadership potential throughout your career. Chaired by journalist and The High Low podcast host Pandora Sykes, the events have been themed around current career trends, from side-hustles to self-care, to help ambitious people reach their full potential.

Westminster Bridge Road, Westminster, SE1 7PB; 27th February

Visit Eventbrite.co.uk

WATCH THE SUPER BOWL HERE: The Stafford

In keeping with its namesake, The American Bar at The Stafford is going all out for the Super Bowl. Kicking off at 10:30pm, guests can settle into comfy chairs to watch the big game with a selection of classic American drinks and snacks. Culinary director Ben Tish will be cooking up all sorts of US treats including corn dogs with American mustard; mac and cheese bites, hot wings and blue cheese dressing and nachos. There will also be two cocktails themed on the two competing teams (that’s the LA Rams and New England Patriots), alongside a bespoke American craft beer menu. We recommend booking Monday off work – the event finished at 4:30am.

16-18 Saint James's Place, St James’s, SW1A 1NJ; 3rd February

Visit Eventbrite.co.uk

BE A VIP HERE: Pachamama East

The creators of Peruvian-inspired restaurants Chicama in Chelsea and Pachamama in Marylebone opened its new dining destination Pachamama East in Shoreditch this winter. Pachamama East focuses on fresh seasonal produce with an Asian twist: expect to find dishes like pork belly chicharrones; sweet spicy chicken with sugar snap peas and Sichuan pepper; and cumin lamb stir-fry. This month, SL VIPs will get 50% off food, plus a free love shot, when they show their SL VIP card. Find out how to become a member using the link below. Plus, they are offering 40% off food for all SheerLuxe readers. To redeem: please email at hello@pachamamaeast.com with SheerLuxe in the subject line. Offer valid for up to 4 people until 28th February.

73 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HR; offer valid until 28th February

Visit SheerLuxeVIP.com

GET SKETCHED HERE: London EDITION

Jessica Bird’s brightly coloured chalk, pastel and charcoal live drawings have been used to capture backstage activity and key looks from the runway by brands such as Delpozo, Huishan Zhang and Johnston's of Elgin. This London Fashion Week, she will take up residence in The Lobby Bar of the London EDITION each night of LFW between 6pm and 8pm to create 15-minute fashion portraits of the hotel’s residents and friends. Jessica will work on a first come first served basis, inviting guests to take away with their one-of-a-kind portrait free of charge. Now to plan your outfit…

10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3NP; 15th-19th February 

Visit EditionHotel.com

HEAD TO BARRE & BRUNCH HERE: Orrery

This month Orrery will host 'Barre & Brunch’ every Sunday. Guests will step into an hour-long ‘Xtend Barre’ class at boutique fitness studio Xtend Barre Marylebone, where they will be guided by founder Catie Miller in a class which will incorporate elements of dance, ballet and Pilates. Post-workout, it’s a short walk to the French restaurant for brunch, where options will include roasted butternut squash, wild mushrooms and poached egg; jambon de savoie, quail egg and truffle vinaigrette; and smoked salmon, orange and quail egg. A selection of fresh juices will also be available to re-energise guests including kale, ginger and apple and spinach, beetroot and carrot juice.

55 Marylebone High Street, Marylebone, W1U 5RB; every Sunday in February

Visit Eventbrite.co.uk

SEE ANNA CALVI HERE: The Roundhouse

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Anna Calvi returns to the capital with a new headline show as part of her first UK tour in years. Hunter, Calvi’s third studio album (and SL Luxe List fave) was her first new music since 2014’s collaborative release with David Byrne, Strange Weather. This performance at the Roundhouse will be the artist’s biggest show to date – expect epic guitar shredding and howling vocals.

Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8EH; 7th February

Visit Roundhouse.org.uk 

WATCH THIS: Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Celebrity biographer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) makes her living profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. But when Lee is no longer able to get published, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E Grant). Given that Grant and McCarthy are both Oscar-nominated for their roles in the film, we’re expecting great things.

In cinemas now