Spring is looming, although, if the last few weeks are anything to go by, it seems to be taking its time to fully arrive. And yet, when the sun does make an appearance, everything feels lighter. We’re more upbeat, more energised, and somehow the juggle of work, family commitments and social plans feels that little bit easier. Sunshine has a wonderful way of lifting our perspective and reminding us what’s possible.
Of course, having a positive outlook doesn’t mean life is without its challenges. For many women, particularly those navigating the complexities of midlife and menopause, this season can bring its own set of changes. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is transformative for some, it’s not the right choice for everyone. Increasingly, women are seeking holistic approaches that nurture both mind and body. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and mindfulness are two powerful, evidence-based tools that can help restore balance, improve sleep and ease anxiety. Turn to page 8 to discover how these supportive therapies can help you manage your menopause.
Mother’s Day is once again upon us (17th March) a time to show all those amazing mums out there how much we love and appreciate them (and dads who take on the role of Mum and Dad). We’ve been busy finding our favourite gifts (page 18) that we know will bring a smile to your mum’s face.
If you’re planning your escapes for the year ahead, we have plenty of inspiration to spark your wanderlust. From sun-soaked destinations overseas to charming retreats closer to home, our travel edit (page 47) brings together a collection of places we’re sure you’ll adore.
Spring also offers the perfect opportunity to reset some of our quieter habits, including the endless ‘doomscrolling’ that can so easily steal our time and drain our energy (page 16). With longer, lighter days ahead, perhaps it’s time to step away from the constant news cycle and reconnect with what truly nourishes you. Swap screen time for fresh air, meaningful conversation, a new book, or simply a moment of stillness. Protecting your peace is one of the simplest luxuries you can give yourself.
Until next month,
How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Helps Manage the Menopause
The menopause is a deeply personal journey. For some women it passes with manageable changes; for others it brings a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. Hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, anxiety, low mood, brain fog and reduced confidence are common. Relationships may shift, careers can feel more demanding, and a woman’s sense of identity may evolve.
While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is helpful for many, not all women can or want to use it. Increasingly, women are turning to holistic approaches that support both mind and body. Two powerful options are Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) and mindfulness.
Menopausal symptoms are influenced not only by hormonal changes but also by how the brain responds to stress. When we feel anxious or overwhelmed, the brain’s threat system becomes more active, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These can intensify symptoms like hot flushes, sleep disturbances and irritability.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works by calming this stress response and helping women regain a sense of control. Rather than analysing the past, SFH focuses on the present and future, on strengths, resources and small, achievable steps forward.
During hypnosis, the mind enters a relaxed, focused state. In this state, positive suggestions can help strengthen neural pathways associated with calmness, confidence and resilience. As stress levels reduce, many women notice improvements in both physical and emotional symptoms. Stress often exacerbates hot flushes and night sweats. When the nervous system is calmer, the body is less reactive. Through guided relaxation and visualisation, SFH can help reduce the frequency or intensity of these episodes for some women.
Sleep is another key area. Hypnosis promotes deep relaxation, supporting healthier sleep patterns. Improved sleep alone can significantly reduce fatigue, irritability and brain fog.
Mindfulness complements this process by teaching women to observe sensations without fear or resistance.
A hot flush becomes a temporary physical experience rather than something to dread. This shift in perception can reduce the anxiety that amplifies symptoms.
Menopause can bring unexpected emotions, grief for the end of fertility, concerns about ageing, or uncertainty about changing roles. SFH offers a supportive, structured space to focus on what is working and what a positive future could look like.
By concentrating on solutions rather than problems, women often rediscover strengths and develop a renewed sense of purpose. Confidence grows as attention shifts from what feels out of control to what can be influenced. Mindfulness strengthens emotional resilience. Learning to pause and observe thoughts helps reduce rumination and self-criticism. This can be particularly valuable for women experiencing mood swings or heightened anxiety. Over time, mindfulness builds greater emotional regulation and self-compassion.
Hormonal changes can affect communication, intimacy and patience. By lowering stress and increasing selfawareness, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and mindfulness can help women respond rather than react. As emotional balance improves, many feel better able to express their needs clearly and calmly, strengthening relationships at home and at work.
Some women use Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and mindfulness on their own; others combine them with HRT or other medical support. There is no single right approach. Each woman needs to choose what works best for her.
By calming the nervous system, improving sleep, building resilience and encouraging a forward-focused mindset, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help transform menopause from a time of struggle into a period of growth, clarity and renewed confidence.
If you’d like help managing your menopause symptoms, please get in touch.
A Korean Facial in a Pad Glow Recipe have launched their Toner Pads (£27, Sephora), a daily 5-minute treatment inspired by the results of a Korean facial. Designed to quickly deliver visible results with minimal effort, the collection features: LHA + AHA Exfoliating Toner Pads, Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads, and PDRN+ Repair + Soothe Toner Pads. Whether your skin needs exfoliation, brightening, or calming, each pre-saturated pad can be used alone or combined to multi-mask based on daily skin needs.
The Neck Complex
ZO Skin Health is bringing its clinically backed, science-first philosophy to one of skincare’s most neglected areas with the launch of Neck Complex (£144, www.facethefuture.co.uk) a targeted anti-ageing and brightening serum for the neck and décolleté.
Designed to address the unique structure and accelerated ageing of neck skin, the multi-faceted formula is clinically shown to firm, tighten and visibly improve crepey skin, horizontal neck lines and uneven tone.
Straight Up
The award-winning KEEO Genius Pro+ Straightener, £299, www.keeohair.com is the ideal tool for the healthconscious consumer with customisable heat and tension settings, and a unique protective air gap. This lets the straightener gently glide through the hair to reduce tension damage, in turn minimising thinning, frizz, and breakage compared to traditional straighteners.
DIY
Lips
e.l.f.’s limited edition (S)e.l.f. made lip balm kit (£30, www.elfcosmetics.co.uk) features 3 flavours of Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm and a dripped-out bottle so now you can mix and match your favourite Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms to create your own custom flavour.
What Would I Say in a Conversation with my Younger Self
If I could sit across from my younger self, I wouldn’t start with advice. I wouldn’t warn or correct or list all the things she should do differently. I would start with kindness. I would start by letting her breathe.
I’d tell her she doesn’t have to earn rest. That exhaustion is not a badge of honour, and productivity is not a measure of worth. I’d tell her that the constant tightness in her chest isn’t ambition, it’s fear dressed up as discipline. I’d remind her that she is allowed to move through the world at a human pace, not a punishing one.
I’d tell her that she is not “too much.” Not too sensitive, not too intense, not too emotional. The things she’s been trying to sand down, her empathy, her curiosity, her depth are not flaws. They are instruments. They will one day allow her to connect, to create, to notice what others miss. I’d tell her to stop apologizing for having a nervous system that feels deeply.
I would say: you don’t have to have everything figured out. Not at twenty. Not at thirty. Maybe not ever. Life is not a straight line that rewards certainty. It’s a series of revisions. The people who look confident are often just practiced at pretending. Confusion doesn’t mean you’re behind; it means you’re paying attention.
I’d tell her that she doesn’t need to shrink to be loved. The right people will not require her to edit herself into something quieter, easier, more convenient. Anyone who benefits from her silence is not owed her compliance. Boundaries are not cruelty; they are clarity. Saying no will feel terrifying at first. It will also feel like oxygen.
I would gently tell her that not every thought deserves belief. That the voice in her head that sounds so convincing, so urgent, so critical is not always telling the truth. Anxiety speaks in absolutes. It predicts catastrophe with confidence. She doesn’t need to defeat it; she just needs to stop letting it drive. Feelings are information, not instructions.
I’d tell her she is allowed to change her mind. About careers. About relationships. About who she thought she’d be. There is no moral failure in outgrowing a version of yourself that once made sense. Staying loyal to an old identity at the cost of your current well-being is not integrity, it’s fear wearing a familiar coat.
I would say: take more photos, even when you don’t like how you look. One day you will miss the softness of your face, the unselfconsciousness you didn’t realise you had. One day you will look back and wish you had been gentler with your body while it was carrying you through everything.
I’d remind her that grief doesn’t mean weakness, and joy doesn’t require permission. That two things can be true at once: she can be grateful and still want more; she can love people and still leave them. Complexity is not a character flaw. It’s a sign of growth.
I would tell her that comparison is a losing game because it assumes everyone started from the same place, with the same resources, the same invisible burdens. She is not late. She is not early. She is exactly where her life has led her to be. Progress that looks small from the outside can be enormous on the inside.
I’d say: call your friends. Say the thing. Take the trip when you can. Don’t wait for a version of yourself who is braver, thinner, more accomplished. Life does not begin once you are “ready.” It is already happening, quietly, daily, in the ordinary moments you keep rushing past.
Most of all, I would tell her this: you are already worthy of the love you’re trying so hard to deserve. You don’t need to prove your goodness through sacrifice or self-denial. You don’t need to be perfect to be safe. Be curious instead of cruel with yourself. Speak to yourself the way you would speak to someone you adore.
And if she asked me whether everything works out, I wouldn’t lie. I would say: not everything, but enough. Enough joy. Enough meaning. Enough softness to balance the hard days. And I would promise her that one day, she will look back at this version of herself not with embarrassment, but with tenderness. Because she was trying. Because she didn’t know yet what she knows now. Because she deserved kindness then, just as much as she does now.
For more about living life to the full check out my book Make it Magnificent and ebook Creating a Mindset for Manifesting both available on Amazon.
www.frenchconnection.com
HOT PICKS AFFINITY
This month’s must have gifts and accessories
Rum & Rose Vegan Leather Candle, £19.99,
Denim & Cream Cardigan, £66, River Island
Charm Necklace, £32.50, Oliver Bonas
Denim Cushion, £14, Habitat
Pink Marble Sunglasses, £28, Oliver Bonas
Face Candle, £16.99, T.K.Maxx
Wedge Sandals, £695, Jimmy Choo
Scarf Handle Bag, £19.99, New Look
Monogram Cap, £19, River Island
Novel Notebook, £14.95, Martha Brook
Scarf, £35, Monsoon
Ceramic Lobster Mug, £7.99, Gisela Graham
Strappy Sandals, £250, www.essenthelabel.com
Floral Pyjamas, £22, Matalan
Time to Stop your Doomscrolling
It’s a familiar scene: after a long day at work, you collapse onto the couch, phone in hand, planning to unwind for a few minutes. Before you know it, hours have passed as you scroll through an endless stream of negative news and social media updates. This habit, known as “doomscrolling” involves compulsively consuming distressing content online. Often driven by fear of missing out, it can feel like a way to stay informed, but research shows it frequently leads to increased psychological distress, lower mental wellbeing, reduced life satisfaction, and even decreased engagement at work.
The good news is that doomscrolling is a habit and habits can be changed. One of the most effective ways to break the cycle is to consciously replace phone time with a more fulfilling activity, such as a hobby.
Having an after-work hobby is strongly linked to better wellbeing and reduced work-related stress. Creative activities, in particular, foster personal fulfilment by helping you develop new skills. This sense of fulfilment strengthens emotional resilience, making it easier to cope with stress and setbacks.
Mindful hobbies are especially helpful when it comes to breaking the doomscrolling habit. Mindfulness means focusing your attention on the present moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It’s not about emptying your mind, but about fully engaging in what you’re doing. Activities like colouring, knitting, sewing, or crocheting naturally encourage this focused awareness.
Five ways mindful hobbies can help:
1. They hold positive attention.
Creative activities keep your hands busy and your mind engaged, reducing the temptation to reach for your phone. Many crafts can create a “flow” state, a feeling of being fully absorbed in what you’re doing, often losing track of time. This immersive experience replaces passive scrolling with active engagement.
2. They’re calming.
Repetitive physical movements involved in crafts can feel meditative and soothing. These actions help regulate emotions and calm the nervous system, counteracting the tension and stress that often result from consuming negative online content.
3. They provide a sense of achievement. Doomscrolling can leave you feeling overwhelmed and
powerless. In contrast, hobbies produce tangible results, a completed drawing, a knitted scarf, or an embroidered design. This visible progress creates a sense of control and accomplishment. Achievement is a key component of psychological wellbeing and an effective antidote to distress.
4. They reduce stress and anxiety.
Mindful crafting offers relief from rumination. Research suggests that just ten minutes of mindful colouring, three times a week for two weeks, can reduce stress, anxiety, and low mood while improving overall quality of life. Creative hobbies have also been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, promoting relaxation.
5. They offer a sense of belonging. Taking up a hobby often connects you to a community of like-minded people, either in person or online. Positive social interaction and a sense of belonging are strongly associated with improved wellbeing. Engaging in supportive hobby communities can also encourage healthier online experiences.
When choosing a hobby, start with something simple and enjoyable. Activities such as colouring, knitting, sewing, or crochet are ideal because they combine repetitive, soothing movements with achievable goals. The key is selecting something you genuinely want to do, habits only stick when the activity feels rewarding.
Start small. Set realistic goals, such as completing one colouring page or knitting a small square. Alternatively, commit to spending 10–20 minutes on your hobby after work before checking your phone. Small, early successes build motivation and reinforce positive change.
Setting boundaries around phone use is equally important. Create a “no phone zone” during your hobby time to reduce temptation and support focus. As you engage in your activity, pay attention to colours, textures, and movements. If your mind wanders, gently guide it back to the task at hand.
Breaking the doomscrolling habit doesn’t require abandoning social media altogether. Instead, it’s about creating balance. By replacing endless scrolling with mindful hobbies, you give your brain a much-needed break from negativity. In doing so, you establish healthier boundaries, build meaningful habits, and prioritise your mental wellbeing in a world that constantly competes for your attention.
www.thomassabo.com
MUM’S THE WORD
Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show those special women in your life just how much they mean to you and we’ve found some gifts they’ll love.
www.newbyteas.com
www.mackenzie-childs.co.uk
Enamel Check Tea Kettle, £199,
GlowTinis Mini Skincare Set, £34, www.sephora.co.uk
Laura Mercier Honey Bath, £47, www.lookfantastic.com
Thomas Sabo Ring, £185,
Tea Ceremony Gift Set, £150, www.moltonbrown.co.uk
Flowering Tea Gift set, £50,
Mulberry Silk Eye Mask, £18, Marrks & Spencer
Seed to Skin Massage
£81, www.libertylondon.com
Confetti Birthstone Tag Necklace, £140, www.poshtottydesigns.com
Introducing Play...with these dreamy Play Tents (£59, www.cuddleco.co.uk/collections). Whether they become a woodland cottage, make-believe market or a cosy corner for quiet moments, both the Play House and Pavilion Tents provide a warm and welcoming space for imaginative play. Crafted from durable cotton canvas, these beautifully structured play tents feature door openings and peek-through windows, creating a space that feels inviting, playful and reassuring.
A Little Luxury
The Little Green Sheep’s ‘Little Luxuries’ gift box (£80, www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk) is the perfect gift for a new baby.
With two gorgeous gift sets to choose from, ‘Truffle’ or ‘Juniper’, each offers a trio of handy and timeless essentials for baby, from birth to 6 months to keep them safe and cosy. Including a pack of three luxury muslins, a super-soft sleeping bag and a beautiful breathable baby blanket, all of which are free from any nasties.
Sweet Dreams
Multi award-winning sleep experts Sweet Dreamers, have brought to their brand
The Luna Dream machine (£29.99, www.sweetdreamers.co.uk) a lightweight, portable soothing sleep aid to help baby settle, and sleep anywhere you go. With 10 gentle sounds to comfort baby and a clever smart cry sensor that conveniently activates automatically, this new gadget is all ready for dreams on the go.
Body Beautiful
Great skin doesn’t stop at your jawline. These beautiful body lotions feel indulgent without trying too hard, leaving your skin soft, smooth and subtly glowing
www.rituals.com
www.lizearle.com
www.uk.loccitane.com
www.moltonbrown.co.uk
www.uk.elemis.com
www.sephora.co.uk
This Works In The Zone Body Lotion, £28, www.thisworks.com
The Ritual of Sakura Whipped Body Cream, £28.90,
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Cream, £30,
Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Body Cream, £80, John Lewis
L'Occitane Shea Body Cream, £39,
Laura Mercier Ambre Vanilla Body Cream, £58,
Liz Earle Body Balm, £22,
Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Body Lotion, £38,
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, £48, Cult Beauty
The Ritual of Jing Overnight Body Mask, £18.90, www.rituals.com
FASHION
Pretty In Pink
Channel your feminine vibes with pink, whether it’s head to toe or just accessories it’s time to add a touch of pink to your look.
, www.qvcuk.com
Blazer, £59.99, Zara
Charm Bag, £46, River Island
Collared Cardigan, £60, Oliver Bonas
Hoop Earrings, £18, Oliver Bonas
Lace Trim Dress, £99, River Island
Pleat Dress, £49.99, Zara
Radley Sunglasses, £54.99
River Island
Slogan Tee-shirt, £28, Monsoon
Trainers, £20, Peacocks
Zip Jacket, £35, F&F
Blue Hues
Pale blue hues are the new neutrals, fresh, refined, and effortlessly uplifting, bringing a soft, confident energy to every look.
Blazer, £55, Very
Blouse, £28, Very
Bomber Jacket, £14, Primark
Bra, £36, Knickers, £19, Curvy Kate
Broderie Skirt, £29.50, F&F
Broderie Top, £22.50, F&F
Cardigan, £45, Cotton Traders
Cotton Traders
Flower Necklace, £24, Oliver Bonas
Mini Dress, £519, Harrods
Sweatshirt, £25, Very
Crop
It
Cropped jackets are the ultimate transitional must-have, whether it’s casual or smart, there’s a jacket to suit any outfit
Boucle Jacket, £45, Very
Camel Jacket, £49.99, Zara
Denim Jacket, £69, Monsoon
Faux Leather Jacket, £54, River Island
Leather Jacket, £3,990, Saint Laurent
Red Wool Jacket, £350, ME+EM
Safari Jacket, £38, Very
Suede Jacket, £29.50, F&F
Suede Jacket, £119, Zara
Wool Jacket, £479, MAJE
Zara
Sunshine Energy
Yellow shades are an instant mood-booster, bright enough to stand out, soft enough to wear every day, and the easiest way to add a fresh pop of colour.
Blazer, £55, Very Blouse, £285, Alice+Olivia
Button Cardigan, £19.50, F&F
Button Jumper, £65, Oliver Bonas
Collar Top, £16, Peacocks
Daisy Dress, £50, Joe Browns
Cotton Traders
Dress, £26, Tu
Givenchy Leather Coat, £9.050 Harrods
Jewel Collar Jumper, £279, Maje
Linen Stripe Trousers, £25, F&F
Mini Dress, £475, Staud
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4
2
1
10
Sweat it Out
Sweatshirts are no longer just for lounging, they’re an easy, everyday staple you can throw on with jeans, tailored trousers, or even over a dress for a relaxed, put-together look.
1. £16, Matalan
2. £25, F&F
3. £25, F&F.
4. £29.99, Zara
5. £29.99, Zara
6. £32, Cotton Traders
7. £129, ALLSAINTS
8. £52, River Island
9. £34, Cotton Traders
10. £20, Peacocks
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Creating Space to bloom
Honouring that gentle shift as the clocks change at the end of March, the daffodils start to appear, the mornings are brighter and the nights not as gloomy. Here’s your guide to set you up for spring, cleansing your space and sinking into simplicity, and getting ready to bloom! Like the seasonal flowers that are beginning to rise, the hibernation is coming to an end and you are so ready to feel that spring in your step.
Step Outside
If you can, step outdoors early, by 7am the mornings are beautifully light. Natural daylight is one of the most powerful ways to gently awaken your body. Move your body to shift stagnant energy. Support your lymphatic system. Breathe in fresh air to promote clarity and focus for the day ahead. Let nature set your rhythm.
Gratitude Attitude
On your morning walk, think about three simple things you are grateful for … the running water in your home, your feet for taking you places, your eyes for allowing you to see the natural beauty you’re surrounded by! It’s often the smallest things we take for granted. Gratitude grounds us, softens us and raises our energy.
A Time to Cleanse
Making space in your home is essential this time of year, when you release the old, you energetically allow the new to enter.
Set aside intentional time for this, not rushed, but mindful. Perhaps create a simple to-do list for each room and tick things off as you go. (There’s something so satisfying about a list, it reduces mental load and brings a sense of accomplishment.)
When clearing a wardrobe or particular space, ask yourself: 1. Does this item hold the energy I want for the year ahead?
2. When did I last wear or use this? If it’s been over 12 months and through all seasons, it may be time to let it go.
3. Could this serve someone else better?
Sustainably clearing a space feels even better. Consider selling via Vinted or Facebook Marketplace or donating to a local charity shop.
Before returning items, give your space a proper clean. A non-toxic cleanser (we love Purdy & Figg (page 4)) can completely shift the feel of a room. Natural, plant-based products not only cleanse physically but subtly lift the vibration of your home.
Talking of plant power…my essential oil of the monthLemongrass! A zesty powerhouse and one of my favourites to use as we have a seasonal shift into lighter moments.
Diffusing 5–10 drops (depending on room size) in water can help alleviate mental stress. Its uplifting aroma enhances focus, awareness and mood. Studies also suggest that mindful breathing with Lemongrass may support anxiety relief.
When diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut or almond, it can be massaged into the body to ease muscular and joint discomfort.
Please note: Lemongrass essential oil is photosensitive and may cause skin reactions in direct sunlight.
I’d love to hear from you if you’re cleansing your space this season, and how you feel afterwards. There’s something truly powerful about creating space to bloom.
As always contact me on my socials Instagram: @daniellecox.wellbeing website: www.coxsalon.com
FOODIE NEWS
Egg-stra Luxe
This Easter, Neuhaus (www.neuhauschocolates.com/en_GB) unveils a fresh new design across its Easter gifting range. Inspired by blossoming nature, the collection comes to life in soft orange and vibrant green tones, enriched with delicate floral patterns that reflect the lightness and optimism of the season. From charming Easter bunnies and playful chocolate figures to refined filled eggs and elegant gift boxes, it’s time for a little chocolate indulgence.
Guess How Much I Love You
Step into a storybook this spring with a charming new family afternoon tea at Lanes of London on Park Lane, inspired by the much-loved children’s classic Guess How Much I Love You.
Bringing the gentle magic of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare to life, the experience weaves playful, imaginative references to the story throughout the exquisitely crafted menu. Highlights include a whisker tip hare biscuit that is almost too cute to eat; a miniature wildflower meadow, made with rhubarb confit, wild honey panna cotta and cocoa soil; as well
as a chocolate orange tree stump and a light and fluffy lychee rose cloud with magical moon motif, paying homage to the book’s most iconic quote: “I love you right up to the moon – and back”. Little ones will leave with their very own Nutbrown Hare soft toy and a copy of Guess How Much I Love You in a gift bag, keeping the magic of the story alive long after the experience ends.
Priced from £65 per adult with a glass of bubbles and £45 per child including drink and keepsake gift bag. www.lanesoflondon.co.uk
Lamb Pastitsio
“This family favourite got a plant-powered upgrade and pickled Wwlnuts are the secret weapon that add a wallop of flavour”
Ingredients
200g penne pasta
1 egg, separated
50g butter
50g plain flour
500ml milk
Pinch ground nutmeg
Black pepper, to season
1 egg yolk (added after cooling)
½ tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion (brown or red), roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp tomato purée
400g tin chopped tomatoes
250ml leftover gravy (or 150ml stock/water)
200–300g leftover cooked lamb, shredded or chopped
1 tbsp Opies Capers, drained
100g (about half a jar) Opies Mini Silverskin Onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
50g grated cheddar cheese
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C fan / 200°C / 392°F. Cook the pasta in boiling water for 1 minute less than packet instructions. Drain and stir in the egg white. Set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking after each addition. Add nutmeg and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whisk in the egg yolk.
Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook onion for 7–10 minutes until softened. Add garlic, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, and tomato purée. Cook for 1 minute. Then stir in chopped tomatoes, lamb, gravy or stock, capers, and chopped silverskin onions. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season to taste.
Spread pasta in a 26 × 20 cm ovenproof dish. Spoon lamb sauce evenly over the pasta. Pour béchamel over the lamb layer and spread to cover. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Bake for 30–40 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe from: www.bennettopie.com
Slow Roast Lamb Shoulder with Onions & Peas
Easter is still a special time for lamb and this easy one-tray is packed with delicious flavours to impress family and friends
Ingredients
1.5kg lamb shoulder joint
50g anchovies in oil
2 flat cloves garlic, sliced
2 sprigs rosemary
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
1kg new potatoes
1 jar Opies Silver Skin Onions with Red Wine Vinegar
325g broad beans
300g peas
175ml white wine
100g feta cheese
Fresh mint leaves, chopped
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 170°C / 150°C fan / Gas 3. Place the lamb in a roasting tin and using a knife, pierce the shoulder all over. Drain the anchovies and cut each fillet into three, then stuff a piece inside each hole along with a sliver of garlic and a few leaves of rosemary. Season the lamb generously all over and drizzle with oil, then cover with foil and place in the oven for 2 hours. Meanwhile halve the new potatoes and silver skin onions. Add the potatoes to the lamb tray, turn the oven up to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas 6 and roast for 30 minutes until starting to brown. Next add the broad beans, peas, white wine and silver skin onions and return to the oven for a further half an hour. Remove from the oven, crumble the feta cheese over, scatter over the mint and serve.
Recipe from, www.bennettopie.com
Ingredients
6 hot cross buns
120g butter, softened
Hot Cross Bun Rosette
An Easter centrepiece, that’s simply stunning and a clever way to use up leftovers.
1 large pear, cored, peeled and thinly sliced lengthways
1 jar Opies Black Cherries with Kirsch
1 jar Opies Stem Ginger in Syrup
6 eggs
200ml milk
300ml double cream
75g caster sugar
110g brown sugar
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas 4. Grease a round 25cm ovenproof baking dish. Stand each hot cross bun on its side and using a sharp knife slice into 1cm thick slices before spreading one side of each slice with 50g of the butter. Arrange some of the slices around the edge of the baking dish so that they overlap slightly.
Next add a layer of pear slices around the buns, overlapping slightly. Continue layering the bun slices and pear around the dish until you finish in the centre.
Drain the cherries and scatter half the jar evenly over the buns, using your fingers to push them in between the layers.
Beat the eggs, milk, cream and caster sugar in a large bowl then pour evenly over the bun slices and leave to absorb for 15 minutes. Place the dish in a large roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until egg mixture is just set. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Meanwhile, empty half a jar of stem ginger and its syrup into a blender and blitz until smooth. Pour into a pan over a high heat and bring to the boil until thickened before adding the remaining butter and stirring until melted. Pour syrup over the bun slices then leave for a further 510 minutes before serving.
Recipe from, www.bennettopie.com
Amandla Sauvignon Blanc
Take a Sip to International Women’s Day
For International Women’s Day, Tesco is shining the spotlight on inspiring female winemakers, an opportunity to recognise the women who bring inspiration in every glass.
The grapes for this zesty, lip-smacking Sauvignon Blanc are hand-picked and blended by Praisy Dlamini, one of the brightest stars in the wine industry. Drink this wine with your best friends, or use it as an excuse to make new ones!
£9.75
Kylie Minogue Petit Rose
A lightly sparkling rosé with bright notes of summer berries and soft floral tones. Crisp and refreshing with a delicate, elegant finish. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with a fresh burrata and peach salad.
£8.00
Bird In Hand Sparkling Rosé Wine
This finely crafted Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé is a vibrant and lively expression of red summer berries and floral notes, with a delicate and refreshing finish.
£16.00
Arbousset Tavel Rose
This wine is dry and full bodied, with notes of grapefuit, raspberries and spices. Its great complexity means it can be enjoyed throughout the year, as well as with foods such as grilled meats, spicy cuisine, cheeses and fruity desserts.
£13.00
Yealands Reserve Pinot Gris
Elegant aromatics of pear drop, mandarin and fresh Jasmine. The palate is textual with excellent fruit sweetness and lingering minerality.
£12.50
interiors
A Little Piece of Bridgerton
As the social season stirs once again, so too does our appetite for Regency-era romance. From softly gathered textiles and refined florals to sculptural furniture and antique-inspired finishes.
Grandeur and elegance combine to create a candle stick (£25, www.coxandcox.co.uk) that adds a romantic touch to any home. Handmade from iron, the antique gold finish adds a relaxed, regal look, that’s perfect for any interior style.
The Laura Ashley Thurston Bloom Set of 4 Bowls (£36, www.lauraashley.com) is the perfect combination of beauty and practicality. Adorned with a beautiful tonal floral print illustrating clusters of intricate pansy flower heads amongst trailing stems of flowering grasses, these porcelain bowls are ideal for serving snacks, dips, or small portions. A delightful touch of vintage style for any table.
Antiqued
Antique Brass Mirror, £130,
Serene, refined and beautifully simple in style, this bed (£1,245, www.frenchbedroom.co.uk) is upholstered in a heavyweight linen in a soft shade of French taupe with upholstered buttons, surrounded by exquisite oak, with medullary rays and grain that display the character and true natural organic beauty of oak in all its glory.
This wooden chest of drawers (£1,195, www.coxandcox.co.uk) has an elegant, bow-fronted design with gracefully curved legs, and is crafted from pine finished with a subtle antique wash. The drawer fronts are adorned with a combination of ornate drop handles and knobs, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
Chandelier, £2,200, www.besselink.com
The Classic Style Ornate Bedside Cabinet (£4,313, www.julietteinteriors.co.uk) adds perfect grace and form to any interior, Italian design at its finest. A truly versatile storage solution with a touch of class. Romantic by design and offering classic furniture for intimate rooms. A striking statement piece.
Hoppy Easter
Whether you're styling a beautiful tablescape, adding playful touches to your home, or simply looking for inspiration, you'll find everything you need in our Easter round-up.
Welcome to Chat Noir! where The Lost Estate invites audiences to travel back to the birthplace of cabaret for an evening of art, absinthe and anarchy.
Opening this month (March 2026) at The Lost Estate’s West London home, Chat Noir! is the latest creation from The Lost Estate, the company behind The Great Christmas Feast and 58th Street; celebrated for transforming live performance into fully realised worlds. Here, audiences will be transported to bohemian Montmartre of the 1890s, inside the legendary Le Chat Noir – the original Parisian cabaret club that launched a cultural revolution and gave birth to the modern nightlife we still chase today.
At the centre of the story stands Rodolphe Salis, the real-life proprietor of Le Chat Noir and architect of its most notorious cabarets as he prepares his final, and most ambitious, creation: a feverish celebration of love and madness. Played by the ‘Dandy King of Cabaret’, Joe Morrose, Salis is a man aflame with ideas, careering between anarchy and art, chasing one last moment of transcendence before the curtain falls. Tonight he has summoned the greatest artists of his age, the magician Buatier De Kolta (performed by acclaimed magician Neil Kelso), dancer Cléo de Mérode, mime Paul LeGrand (performed by the virtuosic Pi the Mime), and chanteuse Yvette Guilbert to create one final, audacious revue, a night of love, madness, and French art from across the ages. Together they conjure a variety show of reckless brilliance, accompanied by the club’s house band, Les Enfants Vagabondes.
A wild troupe of bohemian musicians, led by the young Erik Satie, take their place at the heart of Chat Noir!. One of the most eccentric and influential figures of the Parisian avant-garde, audiences join Satie at the height of his career as the real-life resident pianist of the original Le Chat Noir, a composer whose music would go on to define a generation of French modernism. Known as Les Enfants Vagabondes, the ensemble perform new arrangements of French late-Romantic masterpieces by The Lost Estate’s composer-inresidence, Steffan Rees. Their ragtag quintet – piano, violin, cello, accordion and percussion reimagines Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Bizet’s Carmen, Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Saint-Saëns’s Danse Macabre for a night that blurs the line between elegance and delirium. As the evening unfolds, their performances spill from stage to floor, musicians roaming between tables while a spellbinding
sequence of shadow puppetry transforms light and smoke into living art. It is a world where sound, movement and illusion entwine, and where cabaret first sparked into a global phenomenon.
As night falls, guests slip into a world of after-dark delights. Inside, they become part of the story as they join the writers, illustrators, poets and musicians who made Montmartre hum, the artists, revolutionaries and mad romantics who lived by night and dined between poems, paintings and half-finished manifestos. The experience evokes the secret suppers of Paris’s wayward aristocrats, where indulgence is an art form and pleasure a quiet rebellion.
Guests dine as they did, not with aristocratic formality but with appetite and abandon. The tables are laden with the classic haute cuisine dishes that gave birth to modern gastronomy: Coq au Vin, Crème Brûlée, champagne, absinthe, Parisian cocktails and an extensive old-world wine list. The Lost Estate Executive Chef Ashley Clarke and Head of Beverages Ilya Demenkov have created a feast of butter, brilliance and bohemia, served beneath flickering lamplight.
This is time travel by velvet and smoke, a living, breathing story where music, theatre, design and hospitality become a single work of art. This extraordinary immersive world is created by The Lost Estate’s Head of Design Thomas Kirk Shannon, lighting designer Mike Gunning (Alice’s Adventures Underground, Drowned Man, Grace Jones) and couture by Susan Kulkarni (Secret Cinema, Come Alive!). The Lost Estate are fast becoming the leaders in immersive live arts experiences, crafting worlds that blur the lines between stage and reality and offer Londoners something rare: a night that feels like it could change history, a night out, a century in the making.
The world of Chat Noir! is designed for surrender. Guests dress in Vintage Parisian style, silks, velvets, waistcoats and smoky eyes –and cross a threshold where phones are forbidden and time loses its grip. Somewhere between dinner and dream, the city outside disappears and the cabaret begins.
Are you ready to enter?
For more information or to book, visit www.chatnoirlondon.com
Here
& Now
‘Steps’ into Theatre g
et your party on with HERE AND NOW, the hilarious, brand-new musical based on the songs of multimillion-selling pop phenomenon, Steps. Hailed as the “biggest jukebox hit since MAMMA MIA!” (The Sun), don’t miss this feel-good celebration of love and friendship as it tours the UK & Ireland and comes to Milton Keynes, Theatre later this month (March).
It’s Friday night and the vibe is right as Caz and her fabulous friends dream of the perfect summer of love. But when Caz discovers her ‘happy ever after’ is a lie, and the gang’s attempts at romance are a total tragedy, they wonder – will love ever get a hold on their hearts? Or should they all just take a chance on a happy ending…
Move your feet and feel the beat to the iconic pop anthems of a generation in a night of musical heaven. Produced by Steps, ROYO, and Pete Waterman, HERE AND NOW includes the hits One for Sorrow, Better The Devil You Know, Deeper Shade of Blue, 5, 6, 7, 8 and more.
Steps (Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee) are the UK’s most successful mixed sex pop group of all time, with 14 top-five singles, 4 number-one albums, 22 million record sales, 500 million streams & 11 sold-out national arena tours under their
belts. The band’s hits include #1 singles Tragedy/Heartbeat and Stomp, the gold certified One For Sorrow & Better Best Forgotten, the silver certified 5,6,7,8, Last Thing On My Mind, Love’s Got A Hold On My Heart, Chain Reaction, all of which will feature in the musical alongside many more.
Steps’ 2017 comeback tour sold out all 300,000 tickets, making it one of the biggest pop tours of the year. The band have since continued to release new music, including two further iTunes #1 singles, the Sia-penned What The Future Holds in 2020 and the Michelle Visage duet Heartbreak In This City in 2022. In 2022, Steps celebrated their 25th anniversary with a headline summer tour and released the #1 album Platinum Collection, which means they join ABBA, Rolling Stones and Stereophonics as the only groups in UK history to score #1 albums in four consecutive decades.
Now's the time for feeling alright, so experience the joy of this brand-new, original British musical and get your ‘Step’s’ ready for dancing.
HERE & NOW The Steps Musical comes to Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 31 March – Saturday 4 April.
Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes
TRAVEL
A Royal Jersey Escape
There is a fleeting window each year when Jersey feels like a delicious secret. The light sharpens, the sea air softens and, across the island’s famous côtils, the first crop of Jersey Royals begins to push through the soil. Spring has arrived.
These early potatoes are more than produce; they are ritual. Grown on impossibly steep, south-facing slopes overlooking the ocean, lifted while still small and sweet, they appear on plates across the island simply dressed in butter and sea salt. To eat them here, within sight of the fields they came from, is to understand Jersey’s deep, almost instinctive connection between land, tide and table.
The island’s relationship with the sea is equally intoxicating at this time of year. Cool, clean waters yield outstanding oysters, mineral, briny, alive with Atlantic energy. Mackerel returns, crab and lobster sweeten, dairy from the island’s golden-coated cows grows richer with the new grass, and the menus of Jersey shift into their most optimistic gear: precise, elegant, gloriously seasonal.
No address interprets this moment quite like Longueville Manor. Set in a secluded valley just beyond St Helier, the manor has long been the island’s gastronomic heartbeat, now recognised with a coveted Michelin Key and longheld AA Rosettes. Family-run and surrounded by 18 acres of gardens, orchards and woodland, it is the sort of place where the rhythm of the kitchen is dictated not by trend but by nature.
At its helm is the renowned Executive Chef, Andrew Baird, a figure woven into Jersey’s culinary story. With more
than three decades at the stove, Andrew remains most animated by what tomorrow’s tide might bring. He is known to track the cycles of the moon to predict what the sea will offer, and as a certified PADI Divemaster has led scallop dives himself, returning with the day’s catch and the kind of knowledge that cannot be couriered in. Guests reap the rewards. Lunch might be a just-picked crab sandwich, deceptively simple. Dinner could open with hand-dived scallops, perhaps lifted that very morning, paired with ingredients from the Victorian kitchen garden, courgette flowers, herbs, citrus, leaves still holding the day’s warmth. Everything speaks of place.
The garden is central to life here. Its season begins, of course, with Jersey Royals and rolls forward through chard, tomatoes, peppers and soft herbs, while foraging expeditions deliver wild garlic, seaweed, berries and edible flowers. Even dessert carries the estate’s imprint: honey from the manor’s own hives folded into delicate creations that taste of meadow and sunshine.
Bedrooms look onto lawns beginning to green, terraces reopen for long lunches, and the pool starts to glitter with possibility. Yet the true luxury is subtler, the sense of being somewhere that understands exactly where it is, and cooks accordingly.
In spring, Jersey doesn’t need embellishment. It simply needs arriving at, appetite ready.
BOOK IT
For more information or to book, visit www.longuevillemanor.com
An Easter Escape in the Eternal City at The Rome EDITION
As Rome prepares for spring, one of its most atmospheric times of year, The Rome EDITION offers the ideal base for an Easter escape. Just moments from Via Veneto, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Borghese Gardens, the 93room hotel places guests at the heart of the Eternal City while offering a refined, contemporary retreat from the crowds.
The Rome EDITION seamlessly blends historic architecture with the hotel brand’s signature contemporary design, creating interiors that are elegant and understated, with walnut accents, bespoke furnishings and light-filled spaces. The hotel features 93 rooms, including 17 suites and two penthouse suites, with premium options such as the Loft Suite, Connecting Suite, Garden Suite, EDITION Signature Suite and Premier Skyline Suite. Guests staying in these suites enjoy curated amenities including complimentary, seasonal fruit, a welcome bottle of Italian sparkling wine and personalised EDITION touches.
At its culinary heart is Anima, the hotel’s signature restaurant led by Chef Antonio Gentile, celebrating the bold flavours of Rome and Naples through seasonal Italian dishes and thoughtful wine pairings. The restaurant extends into a lush courtyard garden ,ideal for long Easter lunches and aperitivo beneath climbing jasmine.
The hotel’s vibrant social scene includes two standout cocktail destinations: Punch Room, an intimate, speakeasyinspired bar dedicated to modern interpretations of historic punches, and Jade Bar, a jewel-box space showcasing an
immersive and refined experience, with signature martinis, exclusive Champagne cocktails and elevated bites such as caviar and anchovies.
The Roof offers panoramic views across Rome’s skyline, alongside a travertine plunge pool, Mediterranean plates and sunset drinks overlooking the city’s domes and monuments.
With its prime location, dynamic dining and bar scene, and effortlessly sophisticated design, The Rome EDITION is redefining modern Roman hospitality, making it the ultimate base for an Easter escape in the Eternal City.
BOOK IT
For more information or to book, visit www.editionhotels.com/rome
Luxurious Jungle Retreat
Uga Resorts, the boutique Sri Lankan hotel group renowned for its world-class hospitality, have unveiled the first phase of Uga Jungle Beach’s brand new look, marked by the complete refurbishment of its 49 rooms and restaurant.
The property is set within a 15-acre reserve where three ecosystems converge: a four-kilometre stretch of powder-soft beach meets dense tropical mangrove, while inland jungle presses close with all its wild insistence. This is Trincomalee's eastern shore as it has existed for millennia.
Uga Jungle Beach provides the perfect base to explore the largely undiscovered town of Kuchchaveli and its surroundings. Those wishing to immerse themselves in the local culture can also participate in village bike tours or visit the historical harbour city of Trincomalee during the Trinco City Tour, uncovering ancient temples, stunning viewpoints and historical sites.
The interiors are designed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, creating a luxuriously eclectic atmosphere across the 49 expansive cabins. Clean lines, airy proportions and modern amenities suit the tropical setting, while botanical prints line the wall and detailed ferns and native flora celebrate the wild beauty of the location. Plush queen-sized beds anchor each space, accented with colourful headboards and jeweltoned cushions inspired by Sri Lanka’s rich artistic heritage.
The newly renovated 75-cover restaurant is designed in quiet dialogue with its surroundings, surrendering to the landscape rather than competing with it. Light filters through roof panels, shifting with the sun’s arc from crisp morning shadows to golden afternoons and a softly ceremonial glow at night, when uplighting reveals the mature tree growing through the deck itself.
A restrained, natural palette - white-washed beams, dark rustic wood, crisp linens, and olive-and-cream textiles - echoes the
gardens beyond the open edge. Cane dining chairs and tactile furnishings reinforce a tropical sensibility that feels authentic and grounded in natural materials.
Defined by its openness, the space dissolves the boundary between indoors and out, opening fully to a manicured lawn, then wilder coastal scrub, and distant glimpses of beach and ocean. Sheltered from the elements by the thatched overhang but never separated from the landscape.
A marine biologist’s playground, the region is famed as one of the best places in Sri Lanka for observing the blue whale, and guests can also look out for dolphins, sperm whales, endangered sea turtles and black-tipped reef sharks while on guided snorkelling trips or on boat expeditions. Back at the resort, guests can check into the spoiling spa at Jungle Beach, enjoy exquisite local and international cuisine at the main restaurant, arrange an intimate beach picnic or simply lay back and enjoy a cocktail or two by the main pool.
BOOK IT
Nightly rates at Uga Jungle Beach start from $334 (£262*), based on two adults sharing a Lagoon Cabin on a bed and breakfast basis.
For more information or to book, visit www.ugaresorts.com/junglebeach
*Price in pound sterling accurate at time of publication.
Soulful Wellness at
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay A Year of
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay invites you to approach wellbeing through curiosity, care, and personal alignment rather than pressure.
As guests set intentions for the months ahead, the Mediterranean seafront retreat introduces “A Season to Reset, Renew & Find Your Own Rhythm,” a collection of immersive wellness journeys that blend mindful movement, nature, human connection, creative exploration and Ibiza’s signature spirit of unpolished beauty and ease.
Thoughtfully developed for travellers who seek restoration without rigidity, each retreat reflects the hotel’s philosophy of natural elegance: refined experiences, delivered softly, without judgement, expectation or overwhelm.
“Nobody’s wellness looks the same,” says José Manuel Molina, General Manager of Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay. “A new year should feel restorative, energising, and inspiring. Our retreats are designed to support that feeling, giving guests space to explore ideas, meet new people, exchange perspectives, and leave lighter in their own way.”
With a line-up spanning April through October 2026, the programme partners with renowned practitioners, local experts, and emerging communities to offer experiences that are both grounding and forward-thinking, balancing movement, immersion and conversation with meaningful insights and island discovery.
2026 Wellness Retreat Collection
The Reformer Escape with SEVEN Wellness Club 16 – 20 April 2026
A first-of-its-kind reformer Pilates immersion pairing dynamic movement with restorative spa rituals and mindful Mediterranean dining, crafted to bring harmony back to body and breath.
PAWS & PRESENCE Mindfulness Retreat
4 – 8 May 2026
A joyful sanctuary for soulful humans and their happy hounds. Guided by a blend of yoga, sound healing and moments of simple connection, this retreat celebrates presence, play and shared calm.
Female Empowerment Retreat
17 – 21 May 2026
Created by women for women, this retreat embraces confidencebuilding and community in a setting shaped for open dialogue, reflection, and collective uplift.
Wild Ibiza with Harry Russell
31 May – 4 June 2026
A celebration of 20 years of storytelling through lens and sea. Guided by content creator and island expert Harry Russell, guests capture hidden trails and secret underwater worlds, exploring both creative inspiration and industry wisdom.
Crystal Sound Sanctuary Retreats with Camilla Sheeley
7 – 11 June | 20 – 24 September 2026
Cave sound healing, crystal meditation and sunrise yoga combine for a sensory journey centred on reflection, resonance, and renewal.
Holistic Hikes with Ibiza Hike Station
Multiple dates April – October 2026
Island exploration meets elevated hospitality across cave sanctuaries, natural Jacuzzis, and panoramic trail rituals, enriched by conversations, nature immersion, and a carefully curated welcome omakase dining experience at Nobu restaurant.
Beyond the Sun - A Celestial Escape
9 – 16 August 2026
A front-row seat to Ibiza’s total solar eclipse paired with the ethereal energy of the Perseid Meteor Showers. A rare week of guided hikes, wellness rituals and starlit storytelling devoted to wonder, reflection and shared connection.
Reopening its doors on 16 April 2025, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay positions 2026 as a year to reset through experience rather than expectation, offering a calendar of journeys that respect individuality, inspire personal intention-setting and deliver wellness through a lens of beauty, softness, and culture.
For more information or to book, visit To book and find out more, visit www.nobuhotelibizabay.com
Relaxation and Luxury Refined at Montcalm Mayfair
Montcalm Mayfair, a five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair redefines luxury through a lens of nature, culture, and craft. Following a meticulous two-year restoration, the hotel, a part of the Montcalm Collection - blends Georgian elegance with contemporary storytelling, rooted in a concept called “The Mark of the Garden,” which draws on the site’s history as an ancient forest. This theme runs through the interiors, sound design, curated libraries, and a bespoke sleep programme designed to reconnect guests with natural rhythms.
The hotel offers 151 luxurious, sophisticated, and spacious accommodations including three exceptional signature suites.
The crown jewel, the Botanical Suite, offers London’s only fully private hotel suite experience, complete with its own entrance. An artistic takeover by Camille Rousseau brings The Garden theme to life through immersive artwork.
The Drawing Room Suite pays homage to Elizabeth Montagu's legendary salon culture, featuring rare works by Joan Miró, while the Parlour Suite houses an expertly curated collection of lithographs and modern artworks. Each signature suite features luxurious Frette bed linens and Bamford bathroom amenities.
Michelin-starred chef Akira Back leads the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lilli by Akira Back, offering bold reinterpretations of British cuisine with an Asian twist. Underground sits the YĀTRĀ Signature Spa, a sanctuary dedicated to holistic wellbeing that blends Ayurvedic philosophy with contemporary design, complete with bespoke forest sounds and scents. The YĀTRĀ Signature Spa features immersive rituals, saunas, a hydro pool, and a serene relaxation lounge designed in partnership with COCON and Studio Est.
A key feature of the hotel's storytelling is their art collection curated by Culture A, featuring over 800 works that reimagine the hotel as a modern secret garden. From a hand-painted floral ceiling mural by Camille Rousseau, to contemporary portraits of Georgian-era figures reinterpreted by emerging London artists. There are illustrated sleep poems beside each guest bed, sculptural ceramics, abstract works, and tactile pieces that tie into the wider narrative of the hotel - sensitive luxury rooted in story, season and sense of place.
BOOK IT
Nightly rates start from £500. For more information or to book, visit www.montcalmcollection.com/montcalm-mayfair.
Sea Containers London Unveils New Riverview Suites
Sea Containers London, the luxury lifestyle hotel in the heart of London’s vibrant South Bank, unveil a new design direction this spring with the introduction of a new junior suite category, the Riverview Studio Suite, alongside an evolution of its wider Suite collection.
Enhancements include the hotel’s signature Riverview Balcony Suite and One Bedroom Riverview Suite, building on the unique collection of four Cabin Suites launched last year. Together, these additions mark the beginning of a new era for the hotel, coinciding with the debut of agua Studio, a dedicated wellness space within agua Spa, and the arrival of a striking new contemporary sculpture in the lobby.
Each of the 59 suites has been thoughtfully reimagined to enhance the hotel’s maritime story while responding to the needs of contemporary travellers. Nautical flags, bespoke tapestries, layered textures and carefully chosen materials bring warmth and character to the river-facing spaces, many of which retain and reinterpret original elements to support a more sustainable, long-term design approach.
Tabletops and counters are crafted from meticulously sourced, recycled plasticsmaterials once destined for the sea, now reborn as refined terrazzo-style surfaces. Flecks of history and texture shimmer through each piece, transforming discarded elements into tactile works of art.
Bespoke coffee tables are formed from reclaimed ship propellers, handselected from vintage and antique dealers around the world. These sculptural centrepieces are paired with chairs fashioned from industrial maritime hardware, their silhouettes drawing confidently from Art Deco glamour, Brutalist strength, and the bold attitude of 1980s design.
Sweeping views of the River Thames anchor the guest experience. Room layouts are deliberately composed to frame the river at its most cinematic, capturing both London’s iconic skyline and its ever-changing light. Each suite is completed with a selection of coffee-table books curated by Phaidon, creating spaces that feel unmistakably residential - elegant, intimate, and layered –yet infused with the personality and playful edge of Sea Containers London.
The new Riverview Studio Suites and redesigned Riverview Suites form part of the newly defined guest journey at Sea Containers London, introducing tailored in-room amenities.
Further enhancing the hotel’s wellness offering, agua Spa has launched agua Studio - a dedicated wellness space hosting weekly yoga classes, breathwork and immersive sound baths, alongside the new agua Thai Experience - a grounding Thai massage ritual designed for balance, recovery and seasonal reset. Guests can also enjoy a curated menu of holistic therapies using the Hedgerow by agua organic product line, inspired by Britain’s wild hedgerows.
Additional developments will continue to unfold as part of Sea Containers London’s 2026 design evolution, including forthcoming updates to Sea Containers Restaurant and 12th Knot rooftop bar.
For more information on The Suites at Sea Containers London and to book online, visit www.seacontainerslondon.com/suites-at-seacontainers-london.
STARS
Manish Kumar Arora
(K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month
Pisces (19 February – 20 March)
You have a better sense of self-confidence, know what you believe in, and are more responsible financially. You emerge with less weight on your shoulders, and less burdens from the past, but still have some way to go and more lessons to learn. You look further into the future and can take a different route to get to where you want to be.
Favourable Dates: March 1, 2, 10, 19, 20, 29
Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow
Aries (21 March – 19 April)
You try to be realistic with your plans, and you can make long-term plans that are achievable. You get advice from people that you admire and have important communication with mentors and elders. Your alternate self loves variety and doesn’t want to have the same old stuff all of the time, so when it takes over, you’re prone to trying all sorts of different ways to deal with whatever you’re dealing with.
Favourable Dates: March 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26
Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow
Taurus (20 April – 20 May)
You’re in touch with your feelings, and your feelings are heightened. You might be a little too open with them at times, and have an outburst or two, especially when angry. Impatience can get the better of you, and you’re easily irritated and frustrated when things don’t go as quickly as you want them to. There’s also a focus on your health and trying to improve your lifestyle so you can live better.
Favourable Dates: March 1, 4, 10, 13, 19, 22
Favourable Colours: Yellow & White
Gemini (21 May – 20 June)
You can do better in the background, without anyone paying attention to you, and you can work on eliminating some things from your life. You may come across as more compassionate, sensitive, or understanding. If newly dating someone, you can decide if it’s going somewhere or not. If single, you can meet someone you have a karmic link to. If attached, you want to be more romantic and have a better emotional connection.
Favourable Dates: March 10, 12, 19, 21, 28, 30
Favourable Colours: Red & White
Cancer (21 June – 22 July)
This is the start of a brand-new expansion cycle for you, and you are more enthusiastic, driven, excited about life, and willing to get things off the ground. You have lots of new opportunities that present themselves to you. It’s time to try new things, have new experiences, go to new places, meet new people. You do everything to the best of your abilities and take pride in the work that you do.
Favourable Dates: March 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27
Favourable Colours: Blue & White
Leo (23 July – 22 August)
Your mental energy surges this month. You might be a little scattered though, so try to keep track of everything you come up with and everything you say. You can be surprisingly sensual and in touch with your body and nature, and you want a physical connection to life. Your emotions run high, and you need some comfort and familiarity, but may not feel like you’re getting what you need to feel emotionally secure.
Favourable Dates: March 7, 9, 16, 18, 25, 27
Favourable Colours: Grey & Blue
Virgo (23 August – 22 September)
You can finish a work project, become more committed to your work, or decide you want to walk away, though it may not be a permanent decision right now. You can stress yourself out easily, especially if you take on too much work, so try to have an emotional outlet. You can emerge
with a stronger internal self, better understanding of your emotions, and are more willing to give yourself what you need without guilt.
Favourable Dates: March 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27
Favourable Colours: Red & Grey
Libra (23 September – 22 October)
You finalise a financial arrangement, agreement, or partnership, settle a financial dispute, or stop working a second job or side gig that you’ve been doing for extra money. You need to force yourself to use your energy creatively, to make time for your hobbies and the things you enjoy, and to make time for love and your loved ones.
Favourable Dates: March 6, 8, 15, 17, 24, 26
Favourable Colours: Green & Blue
Scorpio (23 October – 21 November)
You start working towards your dreams, but you quickly lose steam, or you have a hard time getting started at all and become impatient about it. You can feel insecure about your future, and this leads to a short temper and aggravation. You can take charge in emotional situations, and your assertiveness comes out when you’re defending people you care about, especially family.
Favourable Dates: March 6, 8, 15, 17, 24, 26
Favourable Colours: Green & Blue
Sagittarius (22 November -21 December
You work hard and try to be smart with the decisions that you make. You focus more on the direction your life is taking and want to make sure you’re on the right path. You come across as more practical, stable and responsible. You also focus more on your spiritual side, enhancing your spirituality, honing your intuition, and studying spiritual and metaphysical subjects.
Favourable Dates: March 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22
Favourable Colours: Green & Yellow
Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)
This can be a fun time where you open your heart more to the possibilities in your life, to other people, and to fun. You want to enjoy yourself more and experience good times. You may need to let go of something that you don’t want to let go of yet, but you have to. Your intuition can be much stronger though, so listen to what it has to say, and let it guide you through moments of self-doubt.
Favourable Dates: March 5, 8, 14, 17, 23, 26
Favourable Colours: Green & White
Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)
You want to be around others for the mental stimulation, and you want to keep busy. You can take on lots of smaller tasks and projects to keep yourself engaged. It can be a good time to express yourself and have an important communication with someone. You may come across as more logical, friendlier, or funnier. You want to take your time with things, and you stick to whatever decisions you make without being swayed.
Favourable Dates: March 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21
Favourable Colours: Red & White
manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com
book club
Woman Down by Colleen Hoover
A frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations…and reality.
Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and famehungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since. Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career and herself.
Then he shows up. Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.
Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighbourly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.
Or at least, she did. These days, Debbie's life seems to be spiralling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie's done being the bigger person. She's done being reasonable and practical. It's time to take her own advice.
And now it's time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.
One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.
Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs
