Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium

Cat Cafe coming to London

Slightly off topic for this blog, but something I just had to share : Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is coming to London!

 I've seen the concept before on many of those 'look at how wacky the Japanese are' programs, and with the current trend of cats being the new cultural phenomenon - just look on every social media site out there (youtube videos, instagram posts, tumblr blogs etc) this was sure to happen in London soon.

  Lauren Pears' cafe concept is simple: Too many people in London don't have the space, time or financial commitment to give a cat a home, and therefore miss out on the pleasure of keeping a cat.

 The Cat Emporium will take rescue cats from 'Mayhew Animal Home' and provide them a safe, comfortable home. In turn humans can visit the cafe and pet the cats whilst having some tea. Vouchers can be purchased on her Shopify page.

 The project has been funded by crowd funding website indiegogo, raising £110,000 to enable the project start up.
 Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is going to be located in Old Street area of London's East End - and I can't wait to visit!

 'Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium' blog - click here

Attend : Corinthia Hotel

Champagne Afternoon Tea : The Corinthia Hotel, London

 It's been a while since I've been for afternoon tea, and tea at The Corinthia hotel has been top of the must visit list for some time. So on a bitterly cold March afternoon, it seemed the ideal time to indulge in some treat therapy.

 The Corinthia hotel opened to much fanfare in 2011. The building originally opened as The Metropole hotel in 1885, and the facade retains much of its original grand hotel charm.
 Afternoon tea is served in the opulent central lobby, a light and airy space with huge hanging glass chandelier.

 The Corinthia hotel afternoon tea offers a great selection of teas, many from Tea Palace - I had 'Afternoon at The Palace' - a tea with a refreshing, light aromatic taste and the perfect accompaniment to sweet afternoon treats.

 
 The selection of cakes are served on a tall 3 tier freestanding platter. My particular favorite was the chocolate sponge roll filled with dark chocolate ganache topped with a sugar rose petal. The oversized salted caramel macaron was amazing, dipped in chocolate and finished with flaked almonds.

 Afternoon tea was delicious, it's in a very grand and smart setting, yet with an overall feel of relaxation within a very calming environment. I'd love to go back in the summer and take afternoon tea in the outdoor central atrium court.

 The Corinthia Hotel
 10 Whitehall Place,
 London
 SW1A 2BD

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

Achieve : London Marathon 2013

London Marathon 2013

I'm in training for the London Marathon 2013 on Sunday April 21st.
I recently had the experience of training in the desert - whilst staying at 'Qasr Al Sarab', a retreat in the world's largest uninterrupted desert; the Liwa desert.

I'm running for a local charity. If you'd like to sponsor me, please follow the link below:
My London Marathon sponsorship page - click here

Instagram : The last month

Photo update

I realize it's been a month since I've posted - it's been busy. This is what I've been up to:

 L-R: Damien Hirst at The Belvedere, Holland Park; Sunday outfit - A new Tom Ford pocket square and Louis Vuitton Electric boots; Patum Peperium 'The Gentleman's Relish' Ltd Ed porcelain cases at Partridges; Food Heaven at The Belvedere, Holland Park

 L-R: Snowy Days on my Vespa; Snowy Rooftops - A view from my apartment; Goyard on Mount Street - My new shopping destination street; Cable Knit - A new deep green cable knit with toggles from Joules

 L-R: Boulevard - in Paris for trade fairs, watching the sunset from the hotel; Folies Bergere - Stumbling across Art Deco Icons whilst shopping in Paris; Desert Retreat - Some relaxing time at Qasr Al Sarab, Liwa Desert, UAE; Dune Bashing - some adrenaline driving in the desert

 Follow me on Instagram : @opulentscrawls

 http://instagram.com/opulentscrawls

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

Style : Cocoa Juvenate

Hotel Chocolat Beauty : Cocoa Juvenate

 I've had a fondness for all things 'Hotel Chocolat' since my visit to the Rabot Estate in St.Lucia last year (see post Attend:Hotel Chocolat Rabot Estate) So I was excited to hear about a new beauty range launch from the chocolate house; 'Cocoa Juvenate'

  The Cocoa Juvenate candle is described as being "inspired by the beautiful blend of natural scents all around the Cocoa Juvenate Spa, set amongst the cocoa groves of Rabot Estate, Saint Lucia"
 It sounds like the ideal candle to beat these miserable, dark winter days - and the rest of the range sounds just as uplifting.
 The scheme will also work perfectly in my new bathroom : Bathroom Interior

 Hotel Chocolat - Cocoa Juvenate