Category: Lifestyle

Covering your home in glittering lights and beautiful decorations, filling the house with fine food and wines, sourcing that perfect gift for someone special or simply making precious memories with loved ones.

We are here to ensure that Christmas 2020 is exceptional and magical!

Festive Afternoon Tea To-Go

We create and deliver charmingly festive hampers complete with quintessential bone china crockery, elegant cake stands, crisp and fruity Champagne and flutes. All the classics will be included, delectable finger sandwiches, mouth-watering sweet pastries and cakes, a selection of luxury loose leaf teas and of course the classic crumbly scone and freshly made jams.

If you would like to enjoy your afternoon tea in the grounds of your own home, we have a
variety of beautiful outdoor gazebos and domes, complete with cosy furnishings and fur throws for a uniquely Winter Wonderland experience.

Festive Designs

Our dedicated team of design specialists will craft the most inspiring displays.
Considering your concept and colour palette, we will adorn and light your home using the finest quality decorations and lighting.

We at Stratfield Fairlane offer a complete design and installation service, both internally and externally. Once the magic of Christmas has ended, we will return to carefully take it all away for you.

Floral Table Packages

We provide exceptional floral displays created and brought to your door, so you can celebrate the Christmas season with your home filled with colour and style.
Our team carefully curate stunning displays that will fit any Festive theme and delight the senses.

Handmade decorations

Want to design and assist in the making of your own Blown Glass decorations. We can arrange for an intimate artisan course where you can learn the fine art of designing and blowing glass decorations.

Rare Gift Procurement

Our team will source thoughtful gift items on your behalf, such as coveted accessories by the likes of Bottega Veneta, rare vintage items of clothing, commissioned pieces of jewellery or simple yet exquisite hampers from the most discerning artisans.

Exquisite Wrapping

Extravagant wrapping papers and ribbons in every colour with finishing touches such as miniature wooden toys, berry bouquets and handwritten labels.

We will package your precious gifts and deliver them with style and care.

Delectable Bake Boxes

Send loved ones scrumptious, beautifully decorated Christmas bakes straight to their door.

Our talented biscuiteers can literally create any design. Fully constructed gingerbread houses, Nutcracker toy soldiers or Santa and all eight of his reindeer, there is no limit where our creativity is concerned.

Luxurious Christmas Cakes

An essential component of the traditional Christmas dinner is a luxurious dusted Christmas sponge (available in a variety of flavours) or hand iced, rich fruit cake.

Our team of highly skilled bakers will lovingly hand make your Christmas cake using their time-honoured recipe.

Champagnes, Wines & Tours

We at Stratfield Fairlane have partnered with some of the most innovative Award-winning Vineyards in the UK. Let the chalk soils of the English Countryside bring you a range of passionately crafted, high quality champagnes and local wines.

We can arrange private, inspirational vineyard tours where you can discuss your cellar,
pallet preferences or Christmas dishes and delight in tasting some exceptional wines.

If you would like more information relating to the above services, please do
not hesitate to contact our lifestyle managers.

We might be in a second lockdown, but that doesn’t mean December is totally off the cards. From socially distanced children’s shows to winter lights trails, here are nine Christmas activities worth booking in the hope they go ahead.

The Gruffalo’s Child at Alexandra Palace

Internationally acclaimed theatre company Tall Stories is planning to bring its celebrated production of The Gruffalo’s Child to the Alexandra Palace Theatre for a limited Christmas season. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist – does he? Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical stage adaptation, of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Suitable for children aged three and over, the performance will last 55 minutes, without an interval.

Miracle at 34 at 34 Mayfair

The uncertainty of 2020 inspired 34 Mayfair to unveil its show-stopping ‘Miracle at 34’ installation in October. In partnership with Nyetimber, the restaurant will still be adorned with approximately 14,000 decorations – including 8,400 glittering and colourful baubles – once it’s able to reopen in December. Designed by Jane Wadham, the installation covers every inch of the ceiling and walls with decorations. A new menu will offer three courses, with dishes including roast pumpkin soup, rotisserie roast chicken and truffle mash. Guests will also be able to elevate their experience with a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine. 

A Winter Walk at The Newt

Encouraging families to get out in the fresh air, The Newt’s gardens, woodland and deer park will be open every day except Christmas Day. Visitors over the festive period can experience a mapped Tree Trail created by the woodland team, celebrating the estate’s ancient trees. And for the first time, the team across the estate – chefs, butchers, bakers and cyder makers – have created a range of fresh and pantry products for festive feasting and gifting. Spiced preserves, fine cyder, infused chocolate, Christmas puddings, fresh groceries and luxury hampers – including your entire Christmas Day – can now be delivered to locals and across the country.

Carols at Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall hopes to open its doors this December with a programme of festive favourites, welcoming a live audience to a much-needed celebration of Christmas in 2020. The season will feature essentials from the hall’s Christmas tradition, including the Royal Choral Society and Handel’s Messiah – both staples since 1871 – alongside Christmas carols, The Nutcracker, Guy Barker’s Big Band Christmas and the family show, My Christmas Orchestral Adventure. Presented under Covid-19 secure guidelines, the concerts will create a safe and comfortable environment for audiences to celebrate together again – with measures including socially distanced seating, e-tickets, deep cleaning, staggered entry times, temperature checks, a face=covering policy, and sanitising stations throughout the venue.

Festive Screenings at @TheDriveIn

Following a sell-out summer tour stretching three months and 13 cities, @TheDriveIn is aiming to return this winter for a special run of festive shows in London, Birmingham and Manchester. With new releases and festive classics on offer, Christmas @TheDriveIn will be a socially distant entertainment experience. New walk-up options are also available in the shape of igloo-style pods and cosy alpine chalets. With space for up to six people – from the same household or social bubble – each pod will be decked out with comfy seating and festive décor ideal for those without a car. Festive films include Elf, Love Actually, Home Alone and It’s a Wonderful Life, plus newer releases like Onward and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Festive Lights at Kew Gardens

Returning for its eighth year, Kew’s winter trail is set to return with old favourites and new light installations. Visitors can expect bursts of colour and enchanting optics as they explore Kew Gardens’ Unesco World Heritage landscape after dark. New for this year, visitors can wander through a tunnel covered with a canopy of glowing, colour-changing stars, and further along the trail, a returning favourite – the Cathedral of Light – will twinkle with thousands of fairy lights for that all-important Instagram moment. 

Miracle at Henrietta Hotel

Experimental Group hopes to bring its Miracle pop-up bar phenomenon from the US to London for the third time. The Christmas-themed pop-up bar, renowned across America for its creative cocktails garnished with a side of kitsch, will launch on Henrietta Hotel’s mezzanine from early December until 23rd December, providing the perfect pitstop for a cocktail in Covent Garden. New creations on offer will include the ‘Fruitcake Flip’ (brandy, Jamaican overproof rum, amaretto, fruitcake, cherry bitters and whole egg) and ‘Jolly Koala’ (gin, vermouth and pine-cardamom-sage cordial), all served in fun and festive glassware.

The Nutcracker at Royal Opera House

Peter Wright’s production of The Nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since its first performance by The Royal Ballet in 1984. Combined with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman, this magical production aims to open in December for a reworked, Covid-safe version of the festive favourite. If all else fails, we predict a live screening, similar to those shown on the Royal Opera House’s website during the first lockdown.

Ice-Skating at Beaverbrook

Beaverbrook has prepared a programme of festivities including a new ice-skating rink in its winter wonderland grounds, surrounded by the Surrey Hills. For now, from 4th December-31st January, guests will be able to glide on the ice while listening to yuletide melodies and trying mulled cider, hot chocolate and sugary waffles from the rink-side cabin. ‘Beaverbrook on Ice’ will be available to both hotel and local guests visiting the estate for an overnight stay, spa day or dining experiences at one of the hotel’s restaurants. 

For more information on the above Christmas activities or for bookings, please contact your lifestyle manager.

Once upon a time, British wine was an oxymoron. Today, the UK produces award-winning wines that have made the world sit up and take notice. Whether you’re after a day trip with a difference or a weekend away, here are some of the country’s best vineyards to visit.

Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery, Henley-On-Thames

Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery is one of the most charming vineyards in the UK. Just over an hour from London, the vineyard sits on the Chiltern Hills, surrounded by a vast woodland and Hambleden Valley (near Henley-On-Thames), where the local climate is ideal for grapes. Chiltern Valley offers a two-hour behind-the-scenes tour on which you can try wines, ales and liqueurs. For an overnight stay, stay at the Pool House at the on-site B&B. Its Old Luxters farmhouse can be hired as a wedding venue.

Oxney Organic Estate, Sussex

Oxney Estate is home to one of the most famous vineyards in the country. Close to Rye in East Sussex, it takes a natural approach to winemaking and harvests its grapes in small batches. The Pinot Noir Rosé is one of our favourites from the 20-acre estate, which also produces fantastic varieties of pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay and seyval blanc. For a romantic getaway, book a wine tasting tour with a picnic lunch.

Llanerch Vineyard, Glamorgan, Wales

Close to Cardiff, Llanerch is home to a stunning vineyard in the depths of the Welsh countryside. Renowned for its Cariad wine (unique to the area), Llanerch produces different varieties year-round, though autumn is the best time to visit. On site, there’s a stylish farmhouse, where guests can stay overnight in Calon Lodge, which has beautiful vineyard views, as well as a bar and two dining areas for breakfast and afternoon tea. Visitors can book a group tour for up to 20 people, or a private tour led by one of vineyard experts. We recommend the tasty, crisp Cariad Dry White.

Castlewood Vineyard, Devon

On the Devon-Dorset border in the village of Musbury, Castlewood is a small vineyard that’s home to some of the best sparkling wines in the south west. It grows three varieties of grape – pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier – with only the ripest crop turned into sparkling wines at harvest time. All the wine is made without filtration or chemicals. For a lovely day trip, book a guided tour to try the famous Vintage Brut, and take home a bespoke collection of bottles cased in a wooden box made from fallen trees on the estate. 

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking

Denbies Wine Estate has been making English wine since 1984. The family-run estate is one of the largest wine producers in the UK, boasting an extensive variety of grapes that make some wonderful reichensteiner, pinot noir and chardonnay wines. Denbies offers tasting tours throughout the year and has two restaurants where you can book a ‘wine evening’ lead by a sommelier. The estate is a great wedding location during the summer, with its award-winning Cubitt Blanc de Blancs 2013 an ideal drink for any reception.  

Camel Valley, Cornwall

Some of the best English wines comes from Devon and Cornwall. Camel Valley is a multi-award-winning vineyard in the small town of Bodmin. This family-run business supplies wines to a range of high-street supermarkets, as well as Rick Stein’s restaurants so, if you’re in the area, make a beeline for the vineyard. Book a guided group tour, stay in a cottage on the estate, or simply head to terrace and enjoy some sparkling wine – one of the best being Annie’s Anniversary Brut. 

Greyfriars Vineyard, Guildford

Greyfriars Vineyard makes a great day out and is open all year for tasting tours and experiences. On a south-facing chalk slope just outside Guildford in Surrey, the original vineyards were planted in 1989 and now produce some delicious English sparklers. Greyfriars also has an impressive wine cellar where you can try some of itsseasonal produce for free during growing season. We can’t get enough of the 2015 Sparkling Rosé Reserve – the ultimate Friday afternoon rosé. 

Rathfinny Wine Estate 

Since 2010, Rathfinny Wine Estate has been producing excellent wine from its vineyard near Alfriston in the South Downs of Sussex. Thanks to a south-facing slope, proximity to the sea and fertile chalk soils, Rathfinny is able to make some of the finest English sparkling wine. October and November are two of the best months to visit – you can sample their complete portfolio. Book a guided tasting tour, have dinner at the courtyard restaurant, and you can even stay on the estate. 

Polgoon Vineyard & Orchard, Penzance

Visit Penzance to sample some seriously good Cornish wine and cider at Polgoon Vineyard & Orchard. As one of the few English vineyards on the coast, Polgoon uses sustainable techniques to harvest crops that produce some seriously good wine. Its range spans still and sparkling – one of the best is a light red wine that blends pinot noir and rondo. Polgoon has a large outdoor seating area, where visitors can enjoy freshly harvested wines, as well as an award-winning restaurant – The Vine House – which serves delicious local seafood and produce grown on the orchard.   

Nutbourne Vineyards, West Sussex

In the quaint West Sussex village of Pulborough, Nutbourne is home to a small family-run vineyard. The boutique winery has a selection of award-winning wines, including a riesling-style 2018 Sussex Reserve. Nutbourne’s unique ‘terroir’ (a warm climate and fertile soil) makes summer a great time to visit if you want to see grapes on the vine. Book a guided tour and relax at the pop-up restaurant on site. 

Hambledon Vineyard, South Downs

Home to one of the most renowned English sparkling wines in the country, Hambledon Vineyard sits on a gently sloping hill in the South Downs. One of the oldest of the UK’s estates, Hambledon grows its grapes on a 200-acre vineyard using a gravity-fed machine that uses some pretty impressive technology. For a relaxed afternoon, head to the South Downs and book the ‘Classic Cuvée Rosé’ guided tour – you’ll be shown around the vineyard, before enjoying afternoon tea and a glass of rosé. 

Fairmile Vineyard, Henley-On-Thames

During the summer months, Henley-on-Thames has a similar climate to northern France, meaning Fairmile can turn out some fantastic wines. Over the last few years, it has produced some exceptional grapes and the best have been turned into the signature Henley Sparkling Rosé. To visit Fairmile, you’ll need to book a private tour, or visit an open day which usually takes place in October.   

For more information on the above vineyards or to make a booking, please contact your lifestyle manager.

Whilst current government guidelines permit restaurants to open for indoor eating, for many of us, nothing marks the arrival of the weekend like a lazy weekend brunch. From Michelin-legend Angela Hartnett’s new morning repast, to The Hoxton’s newcomer Rondo, here are some of the best new brunches places to book into across the capital.

RONDO, HOLBORN

Coming from the Hoxton Hotel collective, newly opened Rondo’s brunch might seem humble, but its credentials are numerous. Heading up the kitchen is ex St John chef, Chris Gillard, which explains why the menu is refreshingly unfussy. Think laid back gems like nduja scrambled eggs and sourdough, or fenton eggs, any style, on toast – all of which can be consumed in the group’s signature cool surroundings.

199-206 High Holborn, Holborn, WC1 7BD

LIV, BELGRAVIA

Among the sleek architectural lines of Liv, Belgravia’s latest acclaimed establishment, you’ll find chef Mark Jarvis, previously known for his work at Farringdon hotspot Anglo. Since reopening, Liv now offers a brunch where banana bread, buckwheat pancakes with seasonal berries and the best eggs Florentine in London are orders du jour.

18-22 Holbein Place, Belgravia, SW1W 8NL

KOLAMBA, SOHO

If egg hopper with perfectly seasoned kithul-glazed bacon; a pol sambol toastie with date and lime chutney; or Kolamba granola with fresh shavings of coconut aren’t enough to instantly transport you to Sri Lanka, then not much will. Soho’s trusty Sri Lankan, Kolamba has launched a new weekend brunch menu, with owners Eroshan and Aushi Meewella carefully designing a complimentary warm interior with cascading greenery and exposed brickwork.

21 Kingly Street, Soho, W1B 5QA

DAFFODIL MULLIGAN, SHOREDITCH

Opening to rave reviews last year, Daffodil Mulligan has just launched a new brunch menu under the watchful eye of chef-icon Richard Corrigan. It’s in Corrigan’s DNA to serve up unpretentious and quality, modern Irish food. Irrespective of the trendy interior design of this Old Street location, expect the atmosphere to be old school and friendly. An extra bonus is it’s a 50-cover restaurant – so there’s plenty of room for social distancing. 

70-74 City Road, Shoreditch, EC1Y 2BJ

NUTSHELL, COVENT GARDEN

Iran’s abundance of spices, herbs, fruits and nuts define its fragrant dishes – and Nutshell’s brunch menu is testament to just that. Stand outs on the new weekend brunch menu include saffron and sour cherry Sheermal French toast with mixed berries, sumac clotted cream and candid orange; and Ghatogh poached eggs with butter beans, turmeric, apricot & dill.

30 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4ER 

CAFE MURANO, BERMONDSEY

For the first time ever, guests can now enjoy an Italian-style brunch by Michelin-starred chef, Angela Hartnett, at her latest Café Murano opening in Bermondsey. Enjoy yours in the surrounds of industrial lights and an open kitchen, and there’s also a coveted bar space for those who enjoy watching the chefs run the pass. We’d advise making a bee-line for the chicken Milanese served in a bun, with slow roasted tomatoes and spicy mayonnaise.

184 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3TQ

For further information on these best new brunches places or restaurant bookings, please contact your lifestyle manager