April 2011

The Rookery, Clerkenwell, London

An elegant hotel where kids are welcome

7th April 2011 I recently met a friend for tea at The Rookery; she was staying and I rather wanted to see how it feels inside. The hotel is out of the centre of London in Clerkenwell, a popular area slightly to the North of central London with plenty of interesting bars and restaurants. Housed in a converted row of Georgian buildings, the interior is filled with fine furniture and accessories creating a warm, homely yet stylish setting.

'Mary Lane' room at the historic Rookery

This is a hotel that gets recommended by word-of-mouth and the sort of place that you can look forward to staying in.  And I love the way they are very accommodating to children. Cots and rollaway beds are available, and this is not always the case in hotels. Babysitters can also be pre-arranged. www.rookeryhotel.com

Should you be looking to stop over in a more central location, I would choose Hazlitt’s, the sister hotel, which is perfectly located for the theatres near Piccadilly and Oxford Street, and equally as exceptional in terms of comfort, individuality, and elegance. CN

www.hazlittshotel.com

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Lunch in central London

The Gallery, Fortnum & Mason

4th April, 2011 I recently had lunch with Joan at The Gallery in Fortnums, which is one of a number of places to eat inside London’s famous luxury food emporium. I arrived practically out of breath after a much delayed train journey, so I was really looking forward to a quiet lunch in the airy restaurant which overlooks the ground floor food hall. The menu includes some excellent main courses such as wild sea bream  as well as classics such as risotto and homemade tagliatelle. I chose the burger with tomato and basil relish and chips, given that I was hungry after the journey, which left me stranded on a train for an extra hour and a half without any snacks! And it was perfectly yummy, with everything you would hope for in a classic dish such as this, delicious crispy potatoes, and fresh garnishes with the meat which I really enjoyed. There are lighter choices, and Joan had one of these….her preference for seafood is well catered to here, and the smoked salmon and scrambled egg on sourdough bread is a favourite, she says! We booked in advance on the internet which is a very practical idea, I’d meet friends or have lunch meetings here for work, it’s an ideal place to stop in the busy streets of Piccadilly. In fact I’m planning to take the kids soon, I think it would be a great treat for them; but they will have their eye on the choice of puddings and the Banoffee Pie I expect. www.fortnumandmason.com CN

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April issue: eye on children’s design

 

This edition features children’s frames, and nowadays kids love to wear glasses — it’s so grown-up and cool! So for the past weeks, I’ve been researching designers and companies who have children’s collections that kids will enjoy wearing, and that parents will approve of.  Meanwhile, Clodagh has been on a fact-finding mission with her children to check out fun, creative places and shopping ideas for kids in London. We now update Eyestylist regularly – so be sure to check out Boutiques, Design & Inspiration, and City Guides for what’s new and happening in optics and other events during the month, for kids and adults too.  Enjoy! JG

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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AMQ 4171S

Royal Wedding Day

29th April 2011 To celebrate the wedding, and to pay hommage to British couture brand Alexander McQueen, and Sarah Burton, the designer of Ms. Middleton’s wedding dress, a gorgeous fairy tale design, featuring elegant handmade lace…

This is one of the McQueen sunglass styles currently in the shops….it’s a clean simple design, that would make a wonderful memento of the occasion, with the classic McQueen skull head featured in miniature. www.alexandermcqueen.com CN