Visit RH England The Gallery at the Historic Aynhoe Park
Invest in a bottle of Courvoisier Mizunara
Sip sangria poolside at The Berkeley’s new rooftop bar
See Jonny Lee Miller in A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre
Stay at the newly opened 1 Hotel in Mayfair
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Tempus Hot List: August 2023
By Lauren O'Neill | 10 August 2023 | Culture, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel
From the hottest hotels to where to sip sangria in the sunshine, discover August’s best buys to know and places to go, before September’s back to school feeling rolls around.
Visit RH England The Gallery at the Historic Aynhoe Park
Luxury design and lifestyle brand RH, formerly Restoration Hardware, has long been a staple in North America for interiors aficionados and lovers of luxury home furnishings but, having not previously had a retail presence here, the brand has remained slightly under the radar in the UK – until now. Instead of setting up shop in central London, the brand has gone for a bolder approach for its launch into the UK, opening experiential RH England, The Gallery at the Historic Aynhoe Park, a 17th century estate in the Cotswolds, spanning 73 acres, this August. The 55 sq metre manor – restored by esteemed architect Sir John Soane in the 19th century – is now home to several hospitality outlets – restaurants The Orangery, The Loggia, and The Conservatory, as well as a Wine Lounge, Tea Salon, and Juicery – all seamless integrating RH’s luxury home furnishings with rare art and antiques. The Gallery is also home to an exhibition celebrating Sir John Soane, as well as a design and architecture library featuring an extensive collection of books dedicated to design, some dating back over one millennia.
Invest in a bottle of Courvoisier Mizunara
This August, renowned Cognac House Courvoisier reveals the second edition of a rare cognac expertly blended in collaboration with iconic Japanese Whisky maker, House of Suntory – which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Courvoisier’s Seventh Chief Blender Thibaut Hontanx together with The House of Suntory’s Fifth Generation Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo have joined forces to create the unique blend, aged in casks hewn from Cognac’s finest oaks, before being transferred to rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks, which Suntory has spent multiple decades studying and mastering. The result is a golden mahogany liquid featuring a distinctive harmony of exotic fruits, jasmine and cherry blossom beautifully juxtaposed with the Courvoisier signature notes of rich fruits, layered with an elegant floral finish. The cognac will be available for £2,500 at Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Selfridges from August 2023 and has a limited release of just 500 bottles.
Sip sangria poolside at The Berkeley’s new rooftop bar
Among many of the stand out features of The Berkeley in Knightsbridge is its coveted rooftop pool – the perfect spot to while away the summer days in style, complete with incredible views of the city. Until now, the rooftop had been reserved exclusively for the use of hotel guests but, this August, the hotel unveils its brand new rooftop bar which will be open to all. Open for evenings only, guests will be greeted by a colourful new mural created by artist Chiara Perano and can choose the option to reserve a table or take a chance on bagging one of the loungers, which are for walk-ins only. Take in the sunset while dining on Mediterranean small plates and sipping on a refreshing spritz – or try the bar’s very own signature sangria, a blend of Côtes de Provence rosé, raspberry lemonade, grapefruit juice and mixed seasonal fruit.
See Jonny Lee Miller in A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre
This month sees acclaimed British actor Jonny Lee Miller – best known for his roles in Trainspotting and, more recently, as 90s Prime Minister John Major in the latest season of Netflix drama, The Crown – tread the boards in A Mirror, a new play by Sam Holcroft. Holcroft, formerly Writer-in-Residence at the Royal National Theatre and the recipient of the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize in 2014, is the playwright behind National Theatre drama, Rules for Living, and she returns to the stage with this dark comedy, which also stars Tanya Reynold (Sex Education) and Michael Ward (Empire of Light). Not too much is known about the plot, but it is set in a dystopian society and centred around the wedding of ‘Leyla’ and ‘Joel’, with Almeida describing it as an ‘elusive and explosive new play, interrogating censorship, authorship, and free speech. The play opens on 15 August and runs until 23 September.
Stay at the newly opened 1 Hotel in Mayfair
1 Hotels, the sustainably driven luxury US-born hotel group known for its nature-filled, contemporary properties – such as its stunning Brooklyn Bridge hotel with glorious views of Manhattan – has just landed in London’s Mayfair. The hotel marks the groups first European outpost, with further openings planned for Copenhagen, Paris and Elounda in Crete, and is an exciting new addition to London’s luxury hotel scene. Located on Berkeley Street, nine-storey 1 Hotel Mayfair has 181 rooms, 44 of which are suites which includes the largest one-bedroom Penthouse in Mayfair. Alongside outlets such as cocktail bar, Dover Yard, as well as cafe and evening bar, Neighbourhood, the hotel is home to an eagerly anticipated new restaurant – Dovetale by renowned Chef Tom Sellers, known for his Two Michelin star London Bridge eaterie, Restaurant Story.