Attend : Woburn Coffee House

Woburn Coffee House, 21 Market Place, Woburn.

 Bank holiday weekend calls for a day out in the countryside : we visited historic Woburn, a perfect Georgian village. We were visiting to take afternoon tea at Woburn Coffee House.

 Situated in a 400 year old house on Market Place, Karen and her team have created a beautifully fresh boutique coffee house: a modern traditional interior, combining mix match crockery, and a beautiful walled garden to sip Pimms in the summer months.

 We were presented with an amazing 5 tier platter of finger sandwiches, scones, slices of cake, brandy snaps, Mille-Feuille and beautifully crafted cream profiteroles in the shape of swans.
 Whatever you can't manage can be taken home in a goody box...

Woburn Coffee Shop features a tranquil walled garden, opened up in Summer months for afternoon tea and Pimms.

 Woburn itself is a quintessentially British village - dating back to Saxon times. It's even been listed in The Sunday Times as one of the 'best places to live in Britain'
 The village has lots of cool antique shops, restaurants, gift shops, a farmers market and great scenery - all this, and only an hour from central London...

Woburn Coffee House
21 Market Place,
Woburn,
Bedfordshire.

Reservations : 01525 290050
Web : Woburn Coffee House 
Web : Woburn Village 

Instagram : The last month

Photo Update

April - A busy month again, well I did run The London Marathon this month!
I did manage to get some other stuff in other than running and training. This is what I've been up to:

L-R: Driving over Tower Bridge, the next time I would cross this would be during the Marathon; Sweetie Darling, It's Patsy and Eddie's house, my training helped me rediscover my local neighbourhood; Registration Time, the big day finally came!

 L-R: Stylish times, spring finally came and I still found time to dress up; Cut Throat Shave, you need to look good to run, treating myself to some pampering time; Bob Bob Ricard, you also need to eat lots to run - BBR was amazing.

 L-R: Buddha Bar Prague, time to relax post Marathon; Neon Chandelier in the Buddha Bar restaurant - my first night out drinking in 4 months; Reservé, Our party table!

 Follow me on Instagram : @opulentscrawls
 http://instagram.com/opulentscrawls

Observe: Alice Gabb Illustration

Alice Gabb stationary at Broadway Market

I visited Broadway Market in London's East End, it reminds me of how Portobello Road used to be - emerging craft stalls, delicious food stuffs and a great atmosphere.
 One of the stalls that stood out was Alice Gabb's stationary stall - continuing my love of re-vitalizing the art of letter writing (see Louis Vuitton's Stationary Room post)

 Alice states that her work is inspired by her love of language, British Regalia and vintage curiosities. She designs fine stationary, to try and encourage people to write more letters.
 The stationary line includes 'fine envelopes for splendid correspondence' and features hand screened monoprints of antique cartouches and frames.

 Alice is at Broadway Market every Saturday, and is also stocked at Anthropologie on Regent Street and Kings Road in London.

 Alice Gabb Illustration - Website
 Alice Gabb - Shop
 Broadway Market, London, E8 - Website

Stay : L'Hermitage Gantois, Lille, France

A unique, charming hotel 

I recently stayed at L'Hermitage Gantois in Lille, France. It's a charming hotel in a converted hospice, dating from 1664.

 More photos and full review can be seen in the 'Stay : Hotel Reviews' section of this blog, or by clicking here

Art Deco Breakfast

Breakfast : England Preserves

  'England Preseves' condiments are the perfect accompaniment to a stylish Art Deco breakfast. 

 The artisan jams that 'England Preseves' make are locally sourced and hand made in Bermondsey. The company began in 2001, and the jams have made their way from the local farmers market to gourmet menus. I love the Art Deco design labels.

 They help make a quintessentially English and luxurious jam on toast -perfect for a quick Sunday breakfast.

England Preserves : Website
Toast knives : India Jane
Vintage Art Deco plates
Vintage Art Deco toast stand

Attend : Milestone Hotel

Champagne Afternoon Tea : The Milestone Hotel, Kensington

 I can't think of a better way to spend a post Christmas afternoon than taking a relaxing festive afternoon tea.
 Whilst everyone else was out battling to the sales to do yet more shopping, I took in the quintessentially English interiors of 'The Park Lounge' at The Milestone Hotel on Kensington Court.

 The Grade II listed building dates back to circa 1880, and the hotel today is named after the original cast iron milestone that still stands in it's original position beside the establishment.

 
The festive champagne afternoon tea menu kept all the important tradition of finger sandwiches but served with a festive twist;

 Mini squares of Christmas cake, and miniature mince pies were served alongside freshly baked scones, only bought to your table at request to ensure they were freshly baked, served with clotted cream and homemade jam.
   Finger sandwiches included a new take on a classic; round cut chicken sandwich rolled in chopped almonds.

 I loved the wooden paneled interiors of this hotel, the beautiful vintage caricatures adorning the walls. The restaurant, Chenestons, looked amazing and I'd love to go back and dine in the adjoining oratory area.

 The Milestone is like finding a hidden gem of tradition amongst all the ultra slick modern hotels in London. Located opposite Kensington Palace it feels stepped in history and definitely opulently English.

 The Milestone Hotel : Website
 1 Kensington Court
 London
 W8 5DL

Louis Vuitton's Writing Room

Writing Collection : Louis Vuitton

After re-inventing the art of travel, Louis Vuitton have turned their hand to re-vitalizing the art of writing, a refreshing change in this current technology obsessed day. The label announced a new writing collection inspired by literary greats and their own heritage of trunk closures.
 I'm obsessed by this Louis Vuitton envelope with embossed detailing:

In the Louis Vuitton writing collection, notebooks and paper products feature alongside luxury pens & pencils, including small trunks to hold your writing equipment.
 The collection launches at Louis Vuitton's writing room : 'Le Cabinet d'Ecriture Louis Vuitton', a pop up shop at 6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, France on December 13 2012.

Louis Vuitton : Website

Town Hall Hotel : East End Deco Hotel

A refurbished Council Town Hall : Town Hall Hotel, London E2

 I recently stayed at 'Town Hall Hotel' in Patriot Square, London E2. This is a grand hotel, very modern but also very true to it's Edwardian and 30's Deco roots.

The building was originally opened in 1910 in the stylish Edwardian era, when Britain as a country was at the height of it's power. The council could afford to spend out on fine architects and craftsmanship. The hotel has successfully kept and showed off this unique style.
 Further building was added in the 1930's - another stylish era where Britain trail blazed a stunning design aesthetic.

The Rooms:

 The hotel has mixed modern with vintage in such a tasteful manner - the rooms are a unique blend of one off pieces of vintage furniture, sat back with glass, metal and high sheen white finishes.

 I stayed in a 'Signature Suite' - an enormous, high ceiling room with wooden fireplace, and antique furniture. Then, unusually - a built in, made to measure glass and white 'pod' containing sleeping area, bathroom, kitchenette and storage.

 This mix really works, the room feels homely and comfortable and is still slick, modern and stylish - it has separate areas that work individually from each other, but it is all still held together by the modern 'pod.

 Another unique feature is the quirky details that are scattered around the hotel. From hanging rugs with antlers, to unique sculpture all set against the original design aesthetic. I spent a lot of time just wondering around the corridors, discovering new things...

Overall, a truly unique stay.

Town Hall Hotel
Patriot Square, London. E2 9NF
Website : Town Hall Hotel
Phone : +44 (0)20 7871 0460

Tea Tuesday : Bistro Tea

Bistro Tea & Coalport China

 I spotted this beautiful Edwardian Coalport tea set in the William Weston Gallery in Royal Arcade, Old Bond Street.
 I love the bold black and white stripes against the delicate flowers - the emerging Art Deco style, against traditional Edwardian details.

 Set of six Edwardian decorated tea cups and saucers. Made by Coalport and with their mark underneath, and also the old Harrods mark which is where they were originally sold. c.1905/1920's.

 I first discovered Bistro Tea whilst staying at Majeka House, in South Africa. The simple, effective packaging doubles as a new smart tea bag design.

 As stated by Bistro Tea, this newly designed tea stick enables proper dosage without wastage, it does not drip, neither does it need wringing. It is also a well designed stirrer.

 They do great tea blends: Fruit Berry, Red Tea, Herbs n' Honey, Green Tea & Black Tea.

Website : BistroTea

Tea set : Bernice Weston, Antiques and Decorative objects
@ William Weston Gallery, 7 Royal Arcade, Albermarle Street, London W1S 4SG