Travel December 8, 2023

Wake Up Here – Dao by Dorsett West London

Introducing you to the Dao by Dorsett West London

Combining the best of both worlds – a luxury hotel with the comforts and convenience of home, the Dao by Dorsett West London, with its thoughtfully designed apartments offers an elegant and convenient home away from home in the heart of London in Shepherds Bush.

With the shopping mecca of Westfield mere minutes’ walk away, you are ideally situated for everything West London has to offer, but is also in close proximity to Oxford Street, Notting Hill and Paddington too. The building has been renovated by architects Flanagan Lawrence who have thoughtfully retained elements of the original building and have added eight storeys to the building, effortlessly blending the old with the new.

From the spacious lobby with contemporary design with monochrome hues complimented with pops of jewel-toned turquoise. The lobby is also adorned with plants, funky artwork and striking features, making it a very welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The lobby is shared by the apartments and the Dorsett Shepherds Bush Hotel with the beautiful atrium area which also hosts the Jin Bar which has a cool Mexican theme.

This was my first time trying out this aparthotel-style accommodation and it didn’t disappoint. Whilst it is clearly aimed at business travellers, the accommodation (which is composed of 74 apartments) doesn’t compromise on the achingly-cool decor which includes a gold-plated bath feature in the lobby, a ten pound note artwork, framed photos of Hollywood stars of the past which included a beautiful print of the iconic Marilyn Monroe.

Checking into our apartment was a real vibe, unlike traditional hotel rooms, we had a little lounge area, a smart kitchenette which had a two-ring Smeg electric hob, oven, fridge-freezer, toaster, coffee machine and kettle (complete with a selection of premium teas). The hotel has also kindly provided a very welcome bottle of wine and chocolate-covered popcorn which was a great way to kick off our stay. There was (intriguingly) no bin in the kitchen which would have been a helpful addition, but was certainly not a dealbreaker whatsoever.

Following in a similar vein as the chairs in the lobby and shared areas, the apartment came with a decadent teal sofa which was a great place to sit back and check out the large flat-screen TV. There’s also a great selection of coffee table books to peruse including a great book on the city of London.

The charcoal-hued bathroom is pretty big for a London hotel and has a huge walk-in rainforest shower and is stocked with decadent Elemis products and a handy woven bag filled with everything that you might have forgotten for your visit – toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, hairnet, nail file, cotton pads, and a razor with shaving cream.

The expansive bedroom complete with a super king sized bed is located behind a sliding door for privacy and includes a little dressing table where some self care goodies were waiting for me. Helpfully, each side of the bed has both electric and USB outlets built into the nightstand.

Guests at the Dao by Dorsett can choose an add-on package which they call ‘journeys’ which includes dog-friendly, family and fitness (Move Your Way, where you can workout in your apartment with an in-room Peloton bike and yoga mat).

Pups will not be disappointed with the Pet Friendly package where all your four legged friends needs to do is to turn up as the hotel provides them with a super comfy pet bed or tent for them to sleep in, lots of toys to play with, food and water bowls and a handy poo bag dispenser.

As it has been a very long week, I opted for the self care package which included a YINA bio-cellulose face mask to enhance your skin’s self-renewal, a bottle of CBD balancing oil to encourage wellbeing and calm, some kombucha from You & I and a very thoughtful scented Dao candle.

In addition, guests can request a sweat blanket – which is a deeply relaxing treatment ideal for stress relief, sore joints and stiff muscles – or Red Light Therapy, that uses low wavelength red light to improve skin’s appearance. I gave this a whirl and can honestly say I feel it made a difference.

Apartments are only serviced once a week, but the staff at the Dao by Dorsett are on hand to help with whatever you might need and everyone we dealt with at the hotel were absolutely fantastic.

Truthfully, breakfast was a little bit disappointing – it wasn’t as fresh as it could be, but of course, we could have been a smidge unlucky in that respect. However, there’s a good selection to choose from the buffet which includes cold meats, fruit, cereals and pastries. Guests can also order one hot dish from an à la carte menu.

Guests can also choose to eat in the restaurant which serves up Chinese cuisine, the Shikumen Chinese restaurant is independently operated but hotel guests can take advantage of a 10% discount.

The setting was beautiful with plants everywhere and a bar with a stunning tropical design. Looking up allowed me to really take in the expansiveness of the hotel thanks to gold-plated gilded floor levels in an atrium setting.

For guests staying for longer than a few days (or for those who forgot to pack a change of clothes!) There’s a neon-hued laundrette in the basement. Following a similar design aesthetic as the other shared areas, every detail has been considered including a coffee bar and vending machines where you can enjoy a cheeky latte whilst doing your laundry.

Whilst the apartments and the surrounding hotel is ideal for business travellers, thanks to the handy working areas and the lobby space which is useful for client/colleague meetings, it is also a great option for non-business travellers who want more than just a standard hotel room whilst in London.

These sleek serviced apartments nestled in Shepherds Bush are an absolute thumbs up from me!

Check in from £158 per night at the Dao by Dorsett.

Chef's Table November 9, 2023

30 under 30 Chefs That Need To Be On Your Radar

With twenty-one new one-star restaurants gaining an entry into the Michelin Guide UK & Ireland 2019, along with three new two-star restaurants, #TeamCoco thought this was the ideal opportunity to look at the amazing 30 under 30 chefs that are producing some of the best food in the UK and Ireland right now.

From sensational sauces to perfect pastry, #TeamCoco rounds up the best 30 chefs under the age of 30 who need to be on your radar.

Tommy Banks, 29, Chef Patron – Black Swan/Roots

Tommy Banks’ talent is truly remarkable, not only was he awarded the title of Britain’s youngest Michelin-starred chef in 2013. He won his regional heat and subsequently got his dishes to the banquet in TV’s Great British Menu in 2016 and 2017. His debut solo restaurant the Michelin-starred Black Swan in Oldstead, Yorkshire was awarded The Best Restaurant in the UK 2018 by Food and Travel Magazine and the ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the World’ by TripAdvisor in 2017.

Sam Ashton Booth, 29, Head Chef, Stem

Sam is head chef at Stem – a Mayfair-based restaurant under the tutelage of Mark Jarvis. He has previously worked at Anglo, Restaurant Story and Gidleigh Park but has also completed stages at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing at The Ledbury and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

Josh Overington, 30, Chef Patron, Le Cochon Aveugle

Josh Overington trained in Paris working in several prestigious restaurants across Europe, before returning home to Yorkshire, aged 26 years old, to open his restaurant and bistro/wine bar, Le Cochon Aveugle and Cave du Cochon. Le Cochon Aveugle is a small stripped-back restaurant in the heart of York, serving a frequently changing tasting menu.

The contemporary European menu is rooted in classical French techniques and showcases the very best produce available to the kitchen on each day. Josh and his team prepare, cook and serve the blind-tasting menu from his open-plan kitchen, to offer casual fine dining with an emphasis on using high-quality ingredients from his carefully selected farmers and producers.

Louisa Ellis, 23, Private Chef

Despite her young age, Louisa Ellis is a force to be reckoned with. She has worked at the likes of Adam’s Restaurant and The Wilderness in Birmingham where worked her way up to become junior sous chef there before her appearance on MasterChef: The Professionals where she reached the final three. After working at the acclaimed two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains, she decided to go her own way and work as a private chef. Louisa is known for her skilful technique and her strong command of intense and creative flavours.

Damien Wager, 28, Edible Art Patisserie Ltd & Executive Pastry Chef of the Sleeping Bear Hotels Limited

Self-taught pastry chef, Damien Wager is the Executive Pastry Chef of the Sleeping Bear Hotels Limited and is also the owner of the Edible Art Patisserie. He was previously Head of Pastry at the Beechfield House near Bath which has 2 Rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide.

Asimakis Chaniotis, 28, Head Chef, Pied a Terre

Asimakis Chaniotis is Head Chef at one of London’s longest-standing Michelin-starred restaurants Pied a Terre. After completing culinary school he spent three and a half years at one of the best restaurants in Athens and moved to London. Asimakis is also very passionate about sustainability and has made sure the kitchen operates a no-waste policy, even recycling food scraps to grow vegetables which are then used at the restaurant.

Ellis Barrie, 28, Co-Founder and Executive Chef, of The Marram Grass

Ellis runs The Marram Grass in Anglesey alongside his brother Liam and the brothers are taking the culinary world by storm. They were awarded the title of ‘Best Bistro/Brasserie of the Year’ at the Anglesey Tourism Awards and have since been included in the Waitrose Good Food Guide and have been awarded 2 AA Rosettes. Ellis took part in the Great British Menu again this year (representing the North West) and managed to take his dish to the banquet!

Fred Clapperton, 30, Head Chef, The Clock House

After joining Drakes as a demi chef de partie in 2012, Fred Clapperton quickly rose through the brigade to become the restaurant’s Head Chef after the departure of chef and mentor Steve Drake (who has just been awarded a Michelin Star for his Surrey-based restaurant Sorrel) Fred and his team at The Clock House currently hold both a Michelin Star and three AA rosettes. His culinary style is centered around great produce which is both seasonal and has a local provenance.

Luke Selby, 30, Head Chef, Hide Above

Luke has previously worked at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before working with Ollie Dabbous at his eponymous restaurant before joining Ollie with his latest project – Hide at 85 Piccadilly which has recently been included in the latest Michelin Guide. Intriguingly, Hide has three separate levels – Hide Below, Hide Ground and Hide Above, so guests are going to be spoilt for choice.

Oliver Brearly, 29, Senior Sous Chef, The Ivy (Leeds)

Oliver has more than 10 years’ experience working in a host of restaurants across Yorkshire including Malmaison in Leeds, Hotel Chocolat’s Roast and Conch and has also worked as the Head Chef at Leeds’ Radisson Blu Hotel. He has recently joined The Ivy Victoria Quarter as Senior Sous Chef.

Dan Whittaker, 24, Executive Chef De Partie, Matt Healy x The Foundry

Dan is the Executive Chef De Partie for Leeds-based Matt Healy x The Foundry. He has been working in professional kitchens for eight years. One of his favourite things about working as a chef is the camaraderie of the kitchen and being able to develop new dishes. He particularly enjoys developing desserts and would love to own his patisserie one day!

Kelvin Tan, 30, Chef De Partie, Restaurant Sat Bains

With a degree from the University of Ireland, Kelvin Tan, 30, graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management in 2012 before going on to spend his formative years at London’s Savoy and Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Perthshire. After periods at the Ritz in London and The Dysart in Petersham, he joined two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains a year ago as a chef de partie. He made it to the regional finals of the 2018 Roux Scholarship earlier this year.

Ryan Darley, 25, Chef-Owner, Over There

Ryan was formerly the senior sous chef at Tommy Banks’s Black Swan at Oldstead but has recently opened ‘Over There’ which is his first solo restaurant. The eatery was a realisation of a childhood dream and is quite a family affair with many members of his family getting involved.

Jack Coghill, 18, Pastry Chef, The Black Pig and Oyster

Jack is a pastry chef from Scotland and is the youngest chef in our round-up. He works in The Black Pig and Oyster in Edinburgh. The restaurant is owned by Jack’s parents and serves classic Spanish food with one speciality being Iberian Black Pig and Oysters. Jack’s family lived in Madeira for some time which influenced the restaurants culinary style.

Jordon Bailey, 29, Head Chef, Aimsir at Cliff at Lyons

Cornwall-born chef Jordan Bailey is the Head Chef at Aimsir at Cliff at Lyons in Ireland. He was previously a key member of the team in Restaurant Sat Bains as well as working at renowned restaurants like Rosewarne Manor in Hayle and The Elephant in Torquay. He has also worked at the renowned Norwegian restaurant of chef Esben Holmboe Bang in Oslo.

Daniela Tucci, 21, Pastry Chef, The Art School Restaurant

Daniela was the first female winner of The North West Young Chef of the Year competition and is a talented pastry chef. She is also a two-time finalist in the National Young Chef of the Year.

Michael Carr, 26, Chef Patron, Restaurant 92

Michael is Chef Patron of his eatery – Restaurant 92 in Harrogate. He’s 26 years old and set it up three years ago having trained with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Alyn Williams.

Ruth Hansom, 22, Head Chef, Luton Hoo Hotel & Spa

Ruth completed her Royal Academy of Culinary Arts apprenticeship whilst working at The Ritz and subsequently was awarded a series of fantastic accolades; including winning gold at the World Skills UK in 2012, reaching second place in Craft Guild of Chefs’ National Chef of the Year 2013 and winning the Master Chefs of Great Britain’s Young Chef of the Year in 2013 and 2014 and received a Graduate Award from Craft Guild. Ruth’s career reached new heights and national acclaim in 2018, when she received a £1million investment in BBC 2’s Million Pound Menu TV show.

Adam Handling, 30, Chef / Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group

Named as Chef of the Year in 2014, Adam Handling’s star continues on a meteoric rise. At just turned 30, he has been awarded a myriad of awards including Scottish Chef of the Year 2015, Newcomer Restaurant of the Year in the Food and Travel Reader Awards 2015, as well as the British Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year 2014. His restaurants include The Frog Hoxton and The Frog by Adam Handling Covent Garden.

Adam’s culinary style showcases his love of Asian flavours and techniques – particularly Japanese – in his kitchen. His beautifully presented dishes start with careful sourcing of top quality, seasonal ingredients, prepared in several different, creative ways to enhance their inherent properties and deliver real depth of flavour and harmony.

Danny Young, 23, Sous Chef, Northcote

Danny Young was awarded the prestigious title of Young National Chef of the Year award last October and works as a Sous Chef at Northcote in Lancashire. It was Danny’s third attempt at the title and he worked hard to further develop his skills to clinch the title.

Sam Leatherby, 26, Junior Sous Chef, London Hilton on Park Lane

Junior Sous Chef at London Hilton on Park Lane, Sam Michael Leatherby realised his passion for cooking at an early age, joining the Hilton group straight out of school. Having demonstrated a high level of success, Leatherby was offered an opportunity to apply to join the team at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Having completed a series of tests, he successfully secured the placement and was promoted from apprentice to Junior Sous Chef.

Aidan Mannion, 22, Head Chef, Mill & Brew

Aidan graduated from the Jamie Oliver School of Cookery in 2015 after completing Jamie’s ‘Fifteen’ programme. Despite the intensity of the course, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for Aidan who cites the weekly sourcing trips as an unforgettable and inspiring moment in his culinary career. During his apprenticeship scheme, Aidan spent time at Claude Bossi’s Hibiscus and at the Grove Hotel in Watford, where he worked under the tutelage of Russell Bateman.

Aidan came to Mill & Brew in October 2017 and now at the age of just 22, he has progressed to the role of Head Chef.

Natasha Cooke, 28, Chef/Co-Owner, Lupins

Natasha (pictured right) is hugely inspirational, and talented and co-owns the highly acclaimed Lupins at London Bridge with another brilliant chef Lucy Pedder. Rated by Giles Coren the restaurant has been open just over a year and is a celebration of modern and seasonal British cooking at its best.

Niall Keating, 27, Executive Chef, Whatley Manor

Niall has worked across the world, from three Michelin-starred Benu in America to Restaurant Kong Hans Kaelder in Denmark, before joining Whatley Manor in November 2016 to offer a new style of cuisine. Niall has since been awarded a Michelin star and Michelin Young European Chef of the Year 2018.

Isaac Bartlett-Copeland, 25, Head Chef/Owner, Isaac At

Isaac originally set up his restaurant as a weekend pop-up three years ago, expanding to a full-time permanent restaurant a couple of years ago. The concept of the restaurant is simple, to source the best quality ingredients and produce as close to the restaurant as they can so that their weekly changing tasting menu reflects Sussex at any one time.

Toby Burrowes, 28, Head Chef, Elystan Street

Toby moved to London from Australia in 2013 and joined Phil Howard in the kitchen at Michelin two-starred, The Square, where he worked through the ranks to Sous Chef. In March 2016, when Phil Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas sold The Square to open their new venture, Elystan Street in Chelsea, London, Toby was appointed Head Chef. Elystan Street has achieved numerous top accolades since its launch, including a Michelin ¬star in the Michelin UK & Ireland Guide 2018, The AA “Restaurant of the Year in London 2018”, and Square Meal’s Award for “Best New Restaurant 2016”. Toby’s was also featured in CODE’s ‘30 Under 30 2017’.

Henry Wadsworth, 23, Junior Sous Chef, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Starting as a kitchen porter in local pubs, Henry spent years pushing himself to take part in cookery competitions to expand his knowledge and skills. Now in his 4th year at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and an integral part of the team, he has won the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Young Chef of the Year in 2017 under mentor, Gary Jones, Executive Chef at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and has twice made it through to the final of the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year.

Tucked away in the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a culinary institution in the UK under the leadership of Raymond Blanc Chef Patron OBE, setting the standard for haute cuisine and developing young chefs to reach their full potential.

Mark Winter, 23, Sous Chef, Lough Erne Resort

Mark has recently been awarded the title of Northern Ireland Young Chef of the Year and works as a Sous Chef at the luxurious Lough Erne Resort. He also won the title of Best Young Chef in Britain at a star-studded awards night in London back in May.

Martin Carabott, 29, Senior Sous Chef, Hide Above

Martin is a Senior Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Hide restaurant in London for Chef Ollie Dabbous. He has previously worked at the now closed Michelin starred Apsley’s restaurant and subsequently worked at the Royal Automobile Club which led to him winning titles such as British Culinary Federation Chef of the Year which he went on to win in 2016 and completing a stage at 2 Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saison in Oxfordshire.

He now works at ‘Ground’ restaurant within Hide where he assists with the day-to-day running of the kitchen.

Arts November 9, 2023

Why your next trip should be to North Jutland in Denmark

Think that gastronomy in Denmark is just exclusive to Copenhagen? Think again. For people in the know, the Northern Jutland area is THE place to visit to take advantage of some of the best food that Denmark has to offer.

North Jutland is beautifully situated at the very top of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. With its charming towns, stunning landscapes and powder-soft beaches, this island in the far north of the country is Denmark’s most northerly region, where Danish design and architecture meets pristine nature and then there is the food (more on that later!)

Jutting out dramatically into the sea, North Jutland is renowned for the special light it produces and has attracted artists both in current times and historically to paint here. It has more hours of sunshine than the rest of Denmark and has the most beautiful landscape which is made up of lush forests, quirky streets, sand dunes and endless white sand beaches.

Be happy

We started our Danish adventure in Aalborg which has been undergoing quite the development over recent years. It has been named as Europe’s happiest city, with a survey citing that Aalborg’s residents are the ‘most satisfied’in Europe. We stayed at the Hotel Cornwall Hvide Hus, a modern hotel with incredibly cool décor situated in the heart of the beautiful Kildeparken which is renowned for being the home of elegant sculpture which are nestled alongside the impressive fountain.

Singing trees?

As well as these impressive pieces of art, there is also the rather magnificent Park of Music. This initiative sees artists planting a tree to commemorate their visit in Aalborg. There is, however a twist. Some of the trees are accompanied by the artists’ own music and can be activated by the park’s visitors by pressing a button at the foot of the tree. From Beyoncé to Prince to Take That and Sir Elton John, you can meander around the park whilst creating your own symphony.

Award-winning architecture

Aalborg, with its impressive waterfront and quaint buildings blend seamlessly with the award-winning architecture and cosy cobbled streets. It is Denmark’s fourth largest city and is widely considered to be one of the most significant cultural hubs in Denmark.

What is GastroNorth?

As part of our Danish gastronomy adventure, we were invited to dinner by Mads Stenstrup, one of the pioneers of GastroNorth, a new foodie initiative made up of several gourmet restaurants throughout the Northern Jutland region who wants to showcase the regions unique culinary style and has ten restaurants who are part of the Gastro North collaboration. Their aim is to enhance their skills, draw international attention and hopefully secure the region’s first Michelin star soon.

Restaurant Textur

The fabulous Restaurant Textur who has recently received three stars in The Danish Dining Guide 2018 was our first port of call and was my favourite evening meal of the trip. Textur is one of the top restaurants in North Jutland and their kitchen is headed up by renowned chefs Dennis Juhl and Frederik Østera. The restaurant aims to curtail food waste and has a strong seasonal focus. Utilising local ingredients, we enjoyed an epic tasting menu with paired wines with amazing dishes like pan-fried Skagen fish with a salsify and ramson sauce, Danish potato, oyster and caviar and Sirius cheese, berry puree and roasted rye bread. All of which were complimented by corresponding wines and ports.

The restaurant only has 8 dishes on the menu at a single time and this changes every other week. Their aim is to focus more on the dish, utilising local produce seasonal ingredients throughout their menu.

The most authentic Italian restaurant in Denmark?

La Laconda dei Liberati is another restaurant that is part of GastroNorth and is the most authentic Italian restaurant in Denmark. It is situated in the historic Brix Court in the centre of Aalborg. We were served a plethora of delicious dishes cooked by renowned Italian chef Carlo Liberati such as grilled octopus, potato with a squid ink and grilled red pepper, beef tartare, buffalo mozzarella cream and sous vide egg yolk with a refreshing lemon delice with citrus fruit sorbet to end the meal.

The décor of La Laconda is as authentic as the cuisine. It is decorated with Italian square tiles from the 17th century and carefully selected ceramics providing a true Italian rustic style. Even the paving stones in the pretty courtyard are Italian and have been laid by Italian pavers, providing Aalborg with a little piece of Italy in the heart.

Mirror Mirror

Despite only having a few hours to explore the city, we were able to visit the fantastic Kunsten Museum of Modern Art. The building can only be described as an architectural icon made of white marble. It was designed by the world famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in collaboration with Elissa Aalto and Jean-Jacques Baruël. We were lucky to see the innovative exhibition ‘Eleven Less One’ by Michelangelo Pistoletto which features a series of broken mirrors. The artist did a live installation where he smashed up the mirrors at random revealing a myriad of colours.

We also visited the Utzon Museum, the Nordic centre for design and architecture. The current exhibition celebrates the life and work of prominent Danish architect Jorn Utzon who was the architect behind the Sydney Opera House as well as several important buildings throughout Denmark.

The House of Music

Visitors to Aalborg need to play a visit to ‘The House of Music’ which is one of the most prominent music venues in the city. The building (which is located on the edge of the Limfjord – the body of water that splits North Jutland in two) is incredible and is one of the most impressive and ambitious architectural projects throughout Denmark. The design was conceived around the idea of creating synergy and sharing of expertise and its curved auditorium was built to maximise the optimum acoustics for live music performances for both symphony orchestras and contemporary music. This highly complex acoustic concept was developed in conjunction with Tateo Nakajima.

Stunning Skagen

The second destination of our exploration of North Jutland is the beautiful town of Skagen which is just over an hour’s drive. Intriguingly, there is very little traffic on the road which makes for a speedy and very stress-free journey. Skagen is Denmark’s northernmost city and it is a small town with beaches and a busy fishing port nearby. The white sandy beaches are stunning with the crystal-clear waves crashing on the shore. It is renowned for nearby Grenen, where two seas meet – the Skagerrak and the Kattegat. Both of which flow into North and the Baltic sea respectively. On a cloudless day, you can see the point where the two seas meet. Grenen is one of the most iconic attractions in Denmark and it attracts over 2 million visitors annually.

Bohemia and beauty

Skagen is described as ‘part artistic bohemia and part natural beauty’ which is why many of the most prominent Danish artists made this their home since the 19th Century. The painters which includes Anna and Michael Ancher, Holger Drachmann and Peder Severin Kroyer were all fundamental members of the Skagen painting movement from the late 1870s through to the turn of the century. Attracted by the glorious coastline and the unique light, the Skagen artists found much inspiration from this ‘blue light’ – a translucent light that merges the sky and the sea.

Nautical cool

There are several hotels in Skagen, but we stayed in the Hotel Plesner, a cosy yet understated hotel with serious nautical vibes. Situated near the harbour, it was designed by Ulrik Plesner who was one of the members of the Skagen art movement. With little details like the navy and white striped wallpaper and the cluster of suitcases in living areas are all supercute affording a cosy vibe.

Seafood extravaganza

Staying in a fishing port could only mean one thing – seafood! What better way to try some of the local seafood and produce than a visit to the acclaimed Restaurant Pakhuset on Skagen Marina where you can enjoy the freshest and most delicious seafood dishes whilst overlooking the bustling marina such as fish soup with saffron and herbs, pan-fried plaice and prawns and cod with mussel sauce, kale and Danish potatoes.

Let’s explore

Exploring Skagen can be done on foot, but it is handy to have a car to visit Grenen where you can be escorted to the very northern tip of Denmark by landtractor as well as exploring the sand-buried church and the ‘wandering’ dune of the Råbjerg Mile which is the largest migrating dune in Denmark. We would definitely recommend a visit to the superb Skagen museum which is the fifth most visited museum in Denmark where you can see important works of art by members of the Skagen art movement. The building itself was designed by guess who? Ulrik Plesner. You can even pay a visit to the Ancher house which has been preserved in time with some of the most stunning interiors and artefacts.

A glimpse of the past

We also ate at the historic Broendums Hotel which is one of the most historic hotels in the region. Famed for being ‘the place’ for the Skagen artists to wine and dine, Broendums is a quaint hotel with fabulous décor with an exciting menu which offers seasonally-inspired dishes that are made from locally-sourced ingredients. Dining in this charming restaurant is like taking a step back in time thanks to its elegant décor and wall art. Paying homage to the artists love of wine (I know I should have gone to art school!) Broendums has an extensive wine list featuring wines from ‘old school’ vintages from France, Italy, Spain and beyond.

Michelin dining

Just a short drive away from the Marina is Ruth’s Hotel which was included in the Michelin Guide 2018. It offers two dining options. Classical French dining alongside Nordic cuisine. Diners who opt for ‘Ruth’s Gourmet’ can choose delicately put together dishes which are created by Chef Peter Frydkjær with inspiration from local commodities. Expect to see dishes like Flounder from ‘Hyttefad’, mackerel and roasted lemon sole on the menu.

North Jutland cuisine

The region of North Jutland is renowned for the most delicious fresh produce such as seafood, vildemose potatoes, cheeses and more. These delicious North Jutland specialties are based on traditional regional dishes and recipes handed down through generations providing unique opportunities for visitors and locals alike to enjoy.

Why visit North Jutland?

If you are looking for unspoilt coastal views, stunning architecture with artworks a plenty and thoughtfully cooked local cuisine then a visit to Skagen should definitely be on your travel bucket list. There is truly something for everyone – for art lovers, history buffs, those that want a relaxing break and above all else, foodies! If you come to the North Jutland area thinking that Danish food is synonymous with bacon, pickled herring and Danish blue, you will certainly leave with a completely different perception.

New Nordic cuisine isn’t just having a moment, it is here to stay and a visit to the North Jutland region is THE place to experience it.

Australia November 9, 2023

Girl Bosses of Great Britain – Ronke Fashola, founder of Love ur Look

Former fashion buyer Ronke Fashola is the creative genius and founder of Love ur Look, one of Great Britain’s most popular reproduction fashion labels. Her stylish creations emulate the glamourous designs of the 1940’s and 1950’s. It is a label that I love to wear and my rationale behind supporting this forward-thinking brand is not just restricted to the adorable asthetics, but also in admiration for their ethical and sustainable approach.

Our vintage and repro-wearing writer Emma Harrison spoke to Ronke about her designs, her vision and why sustainability is such a priority to her.

What was the inspiration and vision behind Love ur Look?

I wanted to create a brand which was fun, unique and gave people confidence. Having worked in fashion for many years as a fashion buyer I was aware of trends and the ‘must-have’ item that appears each season. Love ur Look isn’t about conforming to what’s in fashion – it’s about creating your own sense of style. A style which is reflected by embracing and enhancing the female body.

This is expressed through the nostalgic influence of the 1950s and 40s fashion. The cuts, prints and trims are all carefully considered when creating a Love ur Look design. I take time to read, watch and understand what customers want and need each season to ensure the brand continues to grow.

Was it a ‘lightbulb’ moment or was it more of a slow burning process?

I have always loved vintage. I remember going to Camden before its remodel to walk through the old stables, the back roads of Victoria station and Covent Garden to enter some of the most magical vintage shops. Sadly, these hallmarks no longer exist, but I knew my love for vintage was to continue. It was only a matter of how and what I would focus on. I organically grew the business into the era of the 40s and 50s and this is a much bigger industry people then people are aware of.

This was then fused with vintage and a commercial vintage influence to create Love Ur Look. So, for me it was more of a fairy organic progression from buying vintage pieces to creating my own collection.

Did you have any fears or worries when launching your business and how did you overcome them?

I had fears. I think thats totally normal. Anyone who has their own business has fear implanted within them, but it’s an excitement fear – a risk-taking fear of what could materialise from nothing.

I knew there was a gap in the market and a clear demand for what I was doing. I also do not follow catwalk trends. Love ur Look designs are created for longevity and to create a sense of uniqueness.

Cath Kidston also launched with a similar concept. I know we are very far apart brand wise, but I do consider it a brand which I aspire and compete with. Many of my customers wear Cath Kidston bags and dresses, so I know i’m on the right path.

I had successfully launched and run a company for over 10 years – Stylizers Style Consultancy. I knew if I could style over 500 people that I could create a collection and clothing brand which could be loved internationally.

I handle everyday business worries with lots of meditation and exercise and I also believe in surrounding yourself with strong women and supportive people helped. Negative people create negative energy. When you run a business, you need a daily plan and goals to stay focused.

How did you come up with the designs and patterns for your products?

Lots of research. I never switch off! Looking at what people wear, screenshots with social media – everything inspires me.

I even stop people in the streets if there is something I love. As the business has grown I now have a history of designs to work from, learn from and build upon.

The shapes of your dresses are very much reminiscent of the 50s and 40s – have you always gravitated towards those eras and a fan of vintage and vintage style?

Yes. I love the style and shapes. They are so flattering for the female body. I find inspiration from everywhere. There is no one process I use. Next year we have some more designs which have a nod to vintage. So those who are not into vintage can also find designs that they love.

Do you have a particular design process – where do you find your inspiration from?

No more than any other designer. I use my background knowledge from working as a fashion buyer. So, in that sense I work more from a business level and then implement design ideas. For example, I think about how I will promote a particular idea then come up with the design based around that.

How would you describe your brand personality?

Approachable. Fun. Colourful. Unique and influenced by nostalgic elements.

Looking back to when you were first coming up with the initial business concept, what advice would you give to yourself (knowing what you know now) and would you change anything?

Don’t rush into doing too many things. When I first started I wanted to do everything; dresses, tops, skirts, bags, homeware… I realised that’s not how you become successful. I’ve seen companies dive into areas which are total opposite to fashion. Such as homeware… To me that’s a whole other industry that requires another team to focus on it.

My focus was to master great prints and great vintage dress shapes. That is how I hope the brand is now known. Now I am more confident we have expanded into Menswear (shirts) and jewellery. We also have skirts coming back next summer.

Sustainability is a key element of Love ur Look – how important is having a sustainable business and using ethically-sourced products to you?

Our collection is made up of our own designed fabric and fabrics which are purchased from surplus markets. Surplus markets allow smaller businesses to buy fabric and which would otherwise end up in landfills. So much fabric which the big brands do not use is discarded for the smallest reasons. Such as a red not being bright enough. However, to another eye looking at that fabric, the red is red enough.

We also support a small animal rescue centre in India called Tofla who help hundreds of animals each year. Sadly, in India dogs, cats, cows, camels and donkeys can be very badly treated.

We produce our collection in a family-owned factory. Travelling to my factory twice a year allows me to meet my team, talk about concerns and ensure their working environments are all safe. Having a happy factory is very important for me. Hence why we have worked together from the start of the collection.

Where are your products made and how often do you change your collection?

We make the Love ur Look clothing in India. Knitwear will come either from Europe or UK and jewellery will comes from China. We change it each season. However, the Love ur Look seasonal calender lasts a little longer. Our SS collection finishes in September (whereas most high-street shops will start finish trading in July), so we end up with full on winter displays in sunny September!

Do you have any people that you personally look up to in business and have you been able to use this within your own business?

There are so many people I find inspirational. My mother who was and is still a lover of fashion. Jack MA; founder of Alibaba, Richard Branson, Patricia Field, Oprah, Jo Malone to name but a few business or public figures who have really inspired me.

What has been the most surprising thing that you have learnt about running your own business?

Running a business alone at the start can be lonely and very little people who are in a successful business reach out and give advice. I have been blessed to have some great women supporting me while the business grows.

My advice to people starting any business is that if you want help and support you have to knock on the right doors. That’s why I created a platform called Future of Fashion www.futureofashion.co.uk. (soon to be called the Future of Business).

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people, interviewing them and bringing more people together with businesses to network and work together. This October we are launching some workshops to facilitate this.

What do you feel has been the defining moment so far for Love ur Look?

Going into House of Fraser and launching into various stockists in Europe and America. Also launching our annual London pop up shop.

How would you describe the Love ur Look customer and who would be your dream celebrity customer?

Our customer is a lover of vintage. They are a lover or novelty prints and also a toe dipper. A toe dipper loves to get a bit of everything in life. They are a lover of vintage, high street and designer fashion.

Celebrity wise… There are elements I feel I would love to see on Katy Perry. But honestly, I design for anyone who wants a fun, stylish and unique look. Its never been about a celebrity for me, but if someone like Helena Bonham Carter decided to collaborate with a new brand, I wouldn’t say no!

You studied at the London College of Fashion and have also worked as a fashion buyer – how invaluable was that experience and what did it teach you?

Working for other brands before starting my own has been so invaluable. Its helped me understand so much from finance, costing, technical terms, factory issues, fabrics. The list goes on. It’s an extremely cut-throat industry, but well worth the experience and contacts you make and learn along the way.

What steps does the world of fashion need to make to become more sustainable and why is there such a ‘wear it, throw it’ culture in the UK?

When I was growing up there was still true vintage in second hand shops, second-hand shops are filled with high street brands.

Clothes which are designed by specific trend for that season. Once seen and worn shouldn’t be worn again. But why? If we created more unique designs and followed less trends this might start the ball rolling to a less fast fashion society. If brands which sell clothes very cheaply encouraged recycling. If we educated younger generations about vintage fashion and workmanship, maybe things could start to change.

I understand that you also work as a lecturer – please can you tell me a bit more about this and why you wanted to educate the next generation of designers?

I’ve been teaching for over four years. I started with a workshop on ‘How to become a Personal Stylist’. Which I still run under a brand called www.stylizers.co.uk. Through this experience and setting up my business I started to lecture on setting up a fashion business or business. Its been truly rewarding seeing so many people’s businesses take off.

These workshops can be found on www.futureofashion.co.uk site.

What’s next for you Ronke and for Love ur Look?

Expanding the label both product and on an international platform.

I also wish to build my platform up as a business expert offering more workshops and continue to inspire people who want to set up their own business.

I love teaching, supporting, lecturing and see a great deal in this area for me. If that’s online or with books maybe. I want to inspire more multiculturalism into the world of fashion.

I am the only Black women in the UK to own a reproduction vintage brand as my own. I want anyone and everyone to feel they can do what I have done.

Who knows what else could happen. Anything is possible. you just have to make it happen!

Arts November 9, 2023

Getting ship shape at Camp Bestival

At #TeamCoco, we love a good festival and Camp Bestival is no exception. Set in the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is ideal for all ages thanks to their diverse mix of entertainment; from fabulous music acts and comedy to cultural delights and intriguing sideshow attractions.

Camp Bestival was awarded Best New Festival in 2008 at the UK Festival Awards in its first year of operation. Deemed as the ‘little sister’ of the more dance-orientated ‘Bestival’, Camp Bestival is known for being very family focused and has the most relaxed and friendly vibe.

We arrived on the Friday lunchtime (despite many arriving the night before) to the festivities. Every year Camp Bestival’s founder Rob Da Bank and his team pick a different theme and this year it was a nautical theme which was reflected in the fancy dress costumes and the many HMS Camp Bestival hats worn by various festival goers.

With the sun beating down on, we took the opportunity to explore the expansive festival site. Camp Bestival divides their entertainment into different areas which includes the Castle Stage (the primary stage for entertainment) The Big Top, Bollywood, The Greatest Tent on Earth, Caravanserai, the Literary Institute and HMS Bestival – a new highlight for 2018 which is essentially, a big old boat which features a wide range of entertainment including BBC Radio presenter Fearne Cotton DJ’ing!

Also new for 2018 is the ‘Gin Festival’ where you can try more than 50 gins from around the world. As a gin aficionado, I did take the opportunity to try some new gins and to reacquaint myself with some old favourites such as the delicious Mermaid Gin.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were in luck, as they were able to learn how to foxtrot with Karen Hardy’s Dance Studio. It was lovely seeing people of all ages learning how to dance. There were also various crafting, literary and foodie activities to enjoy throughout the day.

Friday’s music line-up included Camp Bestival regulars – The Cuban Brothers, who entertained the crowd with their energetic set. The group have played for the likes of Robbie Williams, Elton John and more have played Camp Bestival 12 times now.

Other acts on The Castle Stage included 80’s band Pop Will Eat Itself, Dodie, Lauren Hibberd, The Skatalaties and with a further nod to the 80’s, BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox took to the decks for a DJ set featuring some nostalgic tunes from the decade.

One of my festival highlights has to be seeing Huey Morgan (from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals) DJ’ing with his renowned ‘NYC Block Party’ set.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rae Morris took to the stage on Friday evening, her latest album ‘Someone out there’ is certainly more ‘poppy’ than her 2015 debut ‘Unguarded’, thanks to the experimental drum patterns and electro-pop synths. It was my first time seeing Rae live and she is a truly captivating performer and I will definitely be downloading her new album.

Headlining Friday night was Rick Astley who has been enjoying a second wave of success over the last two years since the release of his number one album 50 and his recent top ten album Beautiful Life. Last year, Rick jammed on stage at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan with the Foo Fighters, which quickly went viral (but not as much as the Rickrolling phenomenon!)

When Rick announced that he was going to bring on a guest drummer, we all held our breath thinking it might be a member of the Foo Fighters, so imagine our surprise to see Mary Berry on stage. Yes, you read that right – Mary Berry was on a drumkit, keeping a tidy beat to Rick’s song – Beautiful Life. As you can imagine, the crowd went wild as this was completely unexpected. Rick’s set was a fantastic way to round off our first day and night at Camp Bestival.

We spent a lot of time on the Saturday checking out the amazing selection of traders – you can buy all manner of things, from a vintage style dress to a gluten free pizza (I admit, I may have brought both!) There is always an excellent selection of food choices at Camp Bestival. Gone are the days when all you can buy is a soggy burger, here you can choose from everything from a pulled pork hog roast to Ghanaian food.

Saturday’s festivities saw fantastic sets from indie band Jesus Jones and hip hop-electronic dance group the Stereo MC’s who really brought the energy. Sadly, Tokio Myers (last year’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent) was ill, so his replacement was pop duo Max and Harvey.

We trundled off to see singer-songwriter Adam French play in The Big Top which we were really pleased that we went to see. Adam was not an artist I was familiar with and this is why I love festivals, as it’s an ideal opportunity to get to know bands and singers that you hadn’t previously been familiar with.

The headline act for Saturday was electropop sensations Clean Bandit who performed a selection of their hits including ‘Rather Be’, ‘Symphony’ and ‘Rockabye’. Whilst the likes of Jess Glynne and Anne-Marie weren’t there, they were supported by two singers who really made the songs their own.

One of the best things about Camp Bestival is the sideshow attractions such as the Caravanserai where we saw fire dancers, trapeze artists and more whilst festival goers relaxed in vintage caravans.

Sadly, due to adverse weather conditions, Sunday’s Camp Bestival was called off. A difficult decision to make for the organisers, but absolutely the right one. Acts that were scheduled to perform were Simple Minds, Shed Seven, The Undertones and Jade Bird.

In summary, if you are looking for a chilled-out festival where you can see some of the best musicians, comedians, DJ’s around in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK, head to the Dorset coast of Lulworth and check out Camp Bestival. There is fun for all the family and even if you don’t have little ones, there is still plenty of grown-up shenanigans to enjoy. Camp Bestival’s (slightly crazy) older sister Bestival takes place this weekend coming – 2nd-5th August featuring London Grammar, M.I.A, Rudimental, Diplo & Mark Ronson and many more. Tickets are still available, so head over to the Bestival website for more information. Plus, we think the weather will be much better this coming weekend.

Thank you so much Camp Bestival – we will see you next year!

Arts November 9, 2023

#CocoStyle Celebrating 25 years of iconic fashion from Viktor&Rolf

Love fashion and travel? A trip to Rotterdam to visit the hottest exhibition in town – Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years’ is an absolute must.

This incredible exhibition celebrates the wonderful collaboration between Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, who together over the last 25 years have captured the imagination of the fashion world whilst pushing the boundaries between fashion and art.

Curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot, the exhibition of uncompromising beauty, takes place at the renowned Kunsthal in the heart of Rotterdam. Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years’ shows Viktor&Rolf’s radical conception of ‘wearable art’ and explores the elements that has made their designs truly unique in the contemporary fashion world.

Visitors can expect to see around sixty works from Viktor&Rolf’s haute couture collections on display, many of which are on rotating dummies. The exhibition provides a true insight into their unconventional and conceptual approach, their creativity and interplay of lines, volumes, bows, collars, ruffles and more.

Highlights include creations from some of their most iconic collections such as Van Gogh Girls, Wearable Art, Bedtime Story, The Fashion Show and Cutting Edge Couture. There are also some amazing never-seen-before pieces from their latest collection on display too – Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2017), Action Dolls (2017/18) and Surreal Satin (2018).

Fans of Madonna will be thrilled to see the outfit that Viktor&Rolf designed for her 2016 benefit concert at the Miami Art Basel. You can also see the wedding gown that Viktor&Rolf designed for Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau in 2004.

The exhibition also includes 25 handmade examples from Viktor&Rolf’s ‘Dolls’ series which consists of replicas of antique dolls dressed in some of the fashion artists’ most iconic designs. Each porcelain doll is dressed in an haute couture creation that was exactly scaled-down based on the original patterns, a meticulous and extremely labour-intensive process. Even the fabrics have been woven to scale, and the miniature model’s hair and make-up are exact copies of the runway styles.

Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren (Viktor&Rolf) graduated in 1992 from ArtEz Institute in Arnhem (The Netherlands). In 1993 they won the first three prizes of the most important fashion competition in the world: Le Salon Européen des Jeunes Stylistes in Hyères (France). From 1994, they started to present their haute couture collections as installations, mainly in art galleries, until 1998 when they presented their first haute couture collection. In 2000, they launched their ready-to-wear line for women, until 2013, to focus only on haute couture since then.

In 2005 they developed their first perfume called ‘Flowerbomb’; the following years they successfully introduced the additional fragrances ‘Bonbon’,’Spicebomb’ and ‘Magic’. Their work is included in numerous Dutch and international museum collections and is worn by famous artists such as Tilda Swinton, Tori Amos and Rufus Wainwright. In 2016- 17, the exhibition titled ‘Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists’ was presented at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne followed in 2018 by its adaptation to celebrate the duo’s 25th anniversary exhibition at Kunsthal Rotterdam.

#TeamCoco had the pleasure of being invited to the press preview yesterday (Friday 25th May) and we can confirm that it is spectacular and a truly fitting tribute to Viktor&Rolf. Take a look at some of the wonderful pieces from the exhibition below.

Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists 25 Years opens to the public today and closes on 30th September.

Beauty November 9, 2023

#CocoBeauty…and the beach – Celebrating a unique partnership between Temple Spa and Bluewater Spa in Bournemouth

Not that you need an excuse to come to beautiful Bournemouth, but surely the prospect of a luxury spa break could be just the thing to get you packing your overnight bag and heading down to Dorset.

Situated just a short walk from the town’s award-winning beaches is the stylish Connaught hotel – a 4-star hotel located in Westcliff in Bournemouth. Not only is the hotel a great place to stay when visiting the town, it is also home to the super luxurious Bluewater Spa.

#TeamCoco were delighted to be invited to a fabulous VIP event which celebrated the Bluewater Spa’s exciting new look and its partnership with British lifestyle brand Temple Spa.

From local business professionals to journalists and bloggers, more than 200 esteemed guests attended the occasion who were treated to crisp glasses of Prosecco and Mediterranean-inspired canapés and complimentary spa treatments and products.

The guests were able to take a sneak peek at the newly renovated spa facilities which provides visitors an oasis to relax, retreat and recharge.

Bluewater’s partnership with Temple Spa was explained along with an overview of the benefits of their luxury products which are inspired by the scent and nourishing botanicals of the Mediterranean, Thanks to the cute little goodie bag, I can attest that the products smell exquisite and feel wonderful on the skin. My favourite? It is a tough, closely-run competition between the Be Calm Smoothing Facemask and the Peace Be Still Calming Facial Balm. These products would be ideal to use as a luxury pampering session after a busy week.

If you would rather put yourself in the hands of a professional as opposed to a bit of an indulgent DIY, you can book yourself in to the Bluewater Spa for one of their indulging treatments which includes the Mediterranean Marinade – a facial that has been designed to calm and destress skin which includes a relaxing face massage, followed by the unique Temple Spa marinade mask, the ‘Work It Out’ massage which is a deep tissue, detoxifying treatment that uses essential oils like Juniper, Lavender and Cypress and the intriguing Champagne and Truffles Deluxe Treatment which uses the brands’ award-winning skin truffle mask. Don’t worry, you get to enjoy a glass of bubbly and a delicious hand-made truffle too!

As well as it magnificent azure blue swimming pool, the facilities also include a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, fully equipped gym and relaxation lounge and four private therapy suites including a double treatment room for you and your bestie!

Locals can book in for a treatment, but if you are planning a weekend away and want to hit the beach, the Connaught with its truly indulgent spa, fully equipped leisure club and contemporary brasserie onsite is the perfect choice for visitors seeking a 4-star, hotel stay and spa in Bournemouth.

Race you to the Spa!

Festivals November 9, 2023

#CocoMusic – Team Coco tag-team at Victorious Festival

They came. They saw, and they conquered – the good people at Victorious Festival have smashed it for another year. The UK’s biggest metropolitan festival which is now in its eight year is situated on the South Coast, in the picturesque seaside location of Southsea overlooking the Solent. In fact, one of the stages – the Castle stage is adjacent to Southsea Castle – a stunning historical landmark belonging to Henry VIII, built in 1544.

Day 1

Kicking off Victorious 2018 were The Lightening Seeds who really got the party started with a set of the most well-known hits. Despite the heavens opening halfway through, the crowds were not put off by the weather and continued to dance (albeit in the rain)

Indie Rockers Dutch Criminal Record were playing the Beats & Swing stage to a packed-out crowd. The band who are from nearby Chichester played songs from their newly-released EP Waiting on the Weekend to a delighted crowd.

Back at the Common Stage, Shed Seven played a selection of the hits – the band along with fellow Friday night artists The Lightening Seeds played the very first Victorious Festival eight years ago.

Following Shed Seven’s zealous performance was The Kaiser Chiefs who enchanted and entertained the crowds with their energetic and exuberant set playing a selection of songs including ‘Every day I love you less and less’ ‘Ruby’ and ‘Modern Way’. Ricky Wilson and his band had the crowd in the palm of their hands – singing, dancing and jumping up and down throughout the set.

Closing Friday’s line up at Victorious was The Libertines – fronted by Pete Doherty and Carl Barat, the band played a selection of songs including ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ and ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ to the Victorious festival goers who couldn’t get enough of the bands performance.

Day 2

Day 2 saw sunshine, and performances from the likes of the Happy Mondays, Gabrielle Aplin, Coasts and The Pigeon Detectives in the afternoon and early evening. There were also performances from nineties band Sleeper with singer (and author) Louise enchanting the crowds with not only songs from their back catalogue but also a couple of surprising additions including Blondie’s Atomic.

Singer-songwriter and previously frontman of Supergrass, Gaz Coombes was a great addition to the line-up. The crowd went wild when he sang the bands ‘touring’ song ‘Moving which explains the tedium of touring as a band.

Also playing was Billy Bragg and The Cribs who were full of energy and played a lively set which included festival favourite ‘Men’s Needs’. Over on the Castle Stage were Art Rockers Everything Everything who played a great set to the Victorious festival goers.

Back on the main Common Stage, excitement was building for two incredible acts – Brian Wilson and Paul Weller. Both legendary artists in their own rights, first up was Brian Wilson who had the crowd in the palm of his hand. He performed many of The Beach Boys hits that means so much to people including: ‘Wouldn’t it be Nice’ ‘Good Vibrations’ ‘Surfin’ USA’ and ‘God Only Knows’. The set can only be described as magical and the crowd were thoroughly entertained by the former Beach Boys star.

Festival goers were torn between the two headline acts – the fabulous Paloma Faith and Paul Weller. As a huge Paul Weller fan, I had to opt for the Modfather who played an array of hits including ‘My Ever Changing Moods’, ‘Sunflower’, ‘Broken Stones’ and a couple of classics from The Jam and The Style Council including ‘That’s Entertainment’ and ‘Shout to the Top’.

From all accounts, Paloma Faith was amazing and she played songs from her latest album which included ‘Crybaby’, ‘The Architect’ and ‘Tonight’s Not The Only Night’. That is probably the only frustrating thing about festivals – nine times out of ten there will be a scheduling clash and you can’t see all of the amazing artists that you want to see. Having seen her live before, I know that she will have put on an inspiring and fun performance.

Day 3

On the last day of the Victorious Festival; that quintessential rainy British seaside weather showed up in full force with strong winds and gales doing their worst to deter the last day of coastal merry-making — but it was definitely no match for the crowd’s unflinching determination to have a good time.

Amidst the gray skies and billowing winds festival goers were still as energetic as can be, jumping into muddy puddles and kicking along with the great acts on the last day of the Festival. On the common stage Nottingham based electronic punk music duo, Sleaford Mods got the crowd splashing about, and singing along to ‘Just Like We do’. Friendly Fires came on and rekindled the flame of this reviewer’s post-university youth with some of their greatest hits, which include Skeleton Boy, Jump in the Pool, and Paris. ( of course) And watching Ed Macfarlane vigorously swish his hips about in a pair of white denim jeans, was definitely worth the muddy trip out to the seaside. Finally, Victorious Festival ends with a literal bang — with The Prodigy taking over the Common Stage right as the sun went down.Which was perfect timing considering their set’s accompanying light-show was appropriately hardcore too. And as the flashing lights and head banging crowds frantically jumped along to the band’s mega-hits like ‘Fire Starter’ and ‘Smack my B**** up!’ — All we were thinking was how couldn’t wait to muddy up again for next year’s line-up at Victorious Festival.

Words by Emma Harrison and Hannah Tan-Gillies

Photo Credit: Tom Langford (Paloma Faith – Becca Egerstrom)

Victorious Festival

Lifestyle October 26, 2023

#CocoLive – GLOK (by Andy Bell), The Joiners, Southampton – gig review

Andy Bell is no stranger to creating musical alchemy and his work with shoegaze legends Ride, Beady Eye, Hurricane #1 and of course Oasis showcase not only what a consummate musician he is, but also what a fantastic songwriter and guitar player he is too.

With GLOK, comes something a little different, fusing together a myriad of genres to create the most intriguing and experimental soundscapes, on record GLOK is a kaleidoscopic whirl of brilliance, but the sonics are elevated even further on the live stage.

This is largely aided by the striking and creative visuals created by artist Innerstrings who has magically created an almost psychedelic whirlwind of colours and shapes that are executed with precision timing to the music of GLOK.

Andy Bell - Glok gig review — Andy Bell – Glok gig review

Ably supported by Warmpth who performed an inspiring set whilst charming the crowd, Andy arrived on to the stage in his truly understated style to a warm reception from the crowd. Incredibly humble, we had the pleasure of chatting to him at the bar beforehand and really enjoyed learning more about the origins of GLOK.

Andy has reworked several of the tracks for the live shows from his two GLOK albums ‘Dissident’ and ‘Pattern Recognition’. Alongside a carefully reimagined cover, unreleased tracks and a cheeky snippet of Ride fan favourite ‘Vapour Trail’, the closing track from Ride’s debut album from 1990, the crowd were utterly mesmerised by this aural adventure.

GLOK has allowed Andy to further expand his auditory horizons by fusing electronica with hedonistic guitar riffs as well as incorporating elements of krautrock, synthwave, art rock and techno too as demonstrated with some superb renditions of tracks from GLOK’s stunning debut album ‘Dissident’ with the titular track closing the set.

‘Pulsing’ with its shimmering and ethereal synths is almost cinematic and ‘Cloud Cover’ also made an appearance. All three tracks are multi-layered and almost take on a new dimension with Innerstrings strong visuals.

‘Day Three’ and ‘Memorial Device’ from 2021’s ‘Pattern Recognition’ alongside ‘Invocation’ takes the enraptured crowd into an almost meditative state. With GLOK, you are taken on an intoxicating journey that is truly hypnotic, dreamlike and surreal.

The crowd were treated to the debut of a new track coming from a future album called ‘Magic and Light’ which was absolutely sublime and gave the audience a real sense of what is set to come from GLOK.

Eclectic, bold and euphoric, GLOK will take you for the most extraordinary ride into something that is truly mesmerising.

Photo Credit: Joe Flanagan and Emma Harrison
Additional reporting: Joe Flanagan

Hotels & Spas October 26, 2023

Wake Up Here: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel review

Introducing you to the Kimpton Clocktower Manchester

Where is the Kimpton Clocktower hotel?

Housed in a magnificent terracotta Grade II–listed building, the Kimpton Clocktower in the vibrant city of Manchester has a rich history and effortlessly combines its storied history with its eclectic style and boutique amenities.

History of the Kimpton Clocktower

Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect behind Manchester’s grand Town Hall, the elaborate building with its distinctive clocktower that stands out in the city’s skyline dates back to the 1890s and in its previous incarnation as a life assurance building, the Kimpton Clocktower has maintained plenty of its original charm and ornate features.

Architecture and design of the Kimpton Clocktower

Located in the heart of the city, at the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street, the Kimpton Clocktower is extremely central with the bars of Canal Street just a hop and a skip away. The shared areas including the extravagantly-decorated lobby are where the hotel shines.

As you enter through the wooden revolving door, the catchphrase of Manchester’s very own Oasis ‘Mad fer it’ is emblazoned by hologram as you enter.

The lobby is expansive and has a spectacular glass-mosaic dome feature, vintage bikes and also has a centrepiece of a three-metre-tall bronze horse which was sculpted by artist Sophie Dickens who was the granddaughter of novelist Charles Dickens.

The artwork demonstrates where the original turning circle for horse and carts was when visitors used to come to the headquarters of The Refuge Assurance Company.

Eating at the Kimpton Clocktower

The bar at the Kimpton Clocktower hotel in Manchester

One of my favourite areas of the hotel was the super stylish Refuge bar which is resplendent and all kinds of fabulous. The restaurant can get busy, but the staff are extremely friendly and willing to help. This was reflected by all staff members in the hotel who offered excellent service throughout our stay.

The walls of the restaurant are adorned with graphics and pictures paying homage to the city of Manchester and in particular its industrial past. With its excellent cocktail menu and DJ sets, it makes for a very chilled vibe!

Breakfast is served in the Winter Garden conservatory area which has decorative trees adorned with twinkling lights and a white art-deco style floor. One lovely added touch was the complimentary refreshing ginger, grapefruit and lemon health shot before we chose from the impressive breakfast menu.

Dining at the Refuge’s vibrant menu works on a small plates basis, giving diners the option to choose a couple of dishes for themselves or opting for a selection to share. Highlights include the delicious hummus and corn ribs with hoisin sauce.

Richard Kelly photography exhibition – ‘A Time and Place’

Just outside of the bar and restaurant, there is a photography exhibition featuring the photos of music photographer Richard Kelly. ‘A Time and Place’ features a series of rare photos from the early noughties of musicians like Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty, Ian Brown, John Cooper Clarke, Florence + The Machine and many more.

Rooms at the Kimpton Clocktower hotel

The hotel is divided up into three separate buildings and there are 270 rooms and suites, all of which are individually styled. Some of the rooms have maintained some of its lovely original features such as panelled walls.

Decorated with a colour palette of neutrals juxtaposed with flashes of mustard, french navy and dark green, the rooms are spacious, but can be a little bit dark.

One nice touch is the complimentary snack boxes which contain water, crisps and chocolate as well as the ring to order service which is super helpful, as well as the standard toothbrush, razors, you can request everything from nail varnish to hair straighteners! Fantastic!

Opulent and stylish, with its nod to its industrial heritage coupled with its edgy yet chic interiors, the Kimpton Clocktower makes for a fabulous getaway to explore one of the UK’s most vibrant cities!

Check in: Double rooms start from £227 per night