Skating Under The Stars Boots presents Glide at Battersea Power Station
London’s only riverside ice rink returns this Christmas, introducing the capital’s first ever ice-skating trail. Set against the backdrop of Battersea Power Station, with awe-inspiring views of the River Thames and city skyline, this open-air attraction runs from 7 November to 4 January.
Featuring three interconnected ice rinks, and this year a new riverside skate trail, skaters of all levels are welcome.
With live music, elite shopping and food and drink options galore, there will
be on-site curling and darts, plus a vintage carousel and helter-skelter.
The regeneration of Battersea Power Station has created a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood with over 150 shops, bars, restaurants and leisure experiences in and around the famous Grade II* listed building. These include Lift 109, a unique glass elevator experience inside the building’s north west chimney, offering 360-degree views of the London skyline. glidebatterseapowerstation.co.uk
Scented Glow
Hand-crafted candles by St Eval
Candles are such an important part of Christmas, and St Eval’s new range of handcrafted, festive-scented wonders will infuse the home with delicious aromas.
Scents include: Figgy Pudding’s clementines and spice; Winter Thyme’ pine and rosemary; Inspiritus’ cinnamon, cedarwood, marmalade and rose; Orange & Cinnamon’s zesty warmth; plus limited-edition, 30th-anniversary scent, Sacred Forest, which brings to mind twinkling sap, snow-covered stillness and the first stirrings of dawn with its notes of orange, eucalyptus, pine and musk.
‘I was very lucky to grow up in the country and I love natural fragrances and spices – they connect you to something that is bigger than the sum of its parts,’ says Sarah Young-Jamieson, who founded St Eval with her late husband Tim. Her son, Harry, has joined the business, which
Deco The Halls
Festive range from Claridge’s Mayfair hotel Claridge’s has launched eye-catching baubles as part of its new Christmas collection. The hand-blownglass baubles use an ‘inside-out’ painting technique where the artist decorates the inside of the bauble through a hole in the top, with depictions including Art Deco ladies, and the grand entrance of Claridge’s with its welcoming doormen.
The Christmas collection spans hampers filled with festive foodie treats from the hotel’s kitchens and bars; Christmas puddings made by hand using the hotel’s secret, century-old recipe; homeware including cashmere blankets, glassware, stocking fillers and gifts for children.
Claridge’s Christmas crackers are filled with keepsakes inspired by the hotel’s heritage, including the hotel’s cocktail recipes.
Once a single house, becoming a hotel in 1856, Claridge’s was transformed into its glittering Art Deco incarnation in the 1920s. claridges.co.uk
is based on a farm on a clifftop in rural North Cornwall.
‘To be able to work somewhere not on an industrial site,’ Sarah says, ‘means you actually are in nature, wild and natural, making a product that’s connected to nature – it’s a wonderful place to be.’ st-eval.com
DESIGN DISCOVERIES
This Christmas, make the little details count with festive decorations, tableware and homeware designed to create moments of joy and celebration throughout the season
FEATURE
SUZANNA
LE GROVE
WRAP IT UP
Using wallpaper offcuts to wrap presents is eco-friendly and lends a personalised feel. If the designs are in colours not usually associated with Christmas, add ribbons in festive hues for a nod to the occasion.
Wallpaper (from top): Spring Flowers, Bombolone; Great Ormond Street, Galette; Aderyn, Olive Colour; Burges Butterfly, Masquerade, all from £114 a roll, Little Greene
TREE TIME
Platters are a serveware staple at this time of year, whether offering guests mince pies, presenting a delicious starter to share at the table on Christmas Day or proffering tasty leftovers for a Boxing Day buffet. Double the versatility with these matching platters in a traditional Christmas shape.
Winter frolic tree platters, small, £78, large, £207, Nina Campbell
STRIKE A LIGHT
A box of matches decorated in a seasonal design adds a fun flourish when lighting votives and cosy fires. Pair with a scented candle as a thoughtful gift for Christmas and party hosts.
Clementine matches, £7.50, Nancy & Betty
SACKFULS OF JOY
For gifts from Father Christmas that will not fit into a stocking, opt for a capacious sack in a luxurious cotton velvet such as this one from Garden Trading. Whether hung at the end of a bed or placed under the tree, they will bring much delight when they are discovered filled with treats on Christmas morning. Hyde Christmas sack, Fern cotton velvet, £30, Garden Trading
GOLDEN WREATH
When arranging groups of smaller Christmas ornaments on shelves and mantelpieces, a metallic wreath can be the perfect finishing touch to add a different shape and height into the ensemble. For a standout feature, lean it against a wall in a contrasting colour (as seen in the above image) to make the metal pop against the background. Gold wreath, £55, Re-found Objects
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
Involving pets in all the seasonal activities taking place in our homes adds to the fun. A glamorous pet bow could be a smart Christmas morning outfit, a dazzling party costume or simply an adorable look for a Christmas family photo. This glamorous red velvet design with its own jingle bell is lightweight and easy to tie onto a pet’s neck without any clips. Dog/cat velvet Christmas bow neck tie, £6, Talking Tables
‘It’s an absolute melange of different people’s furniture that has come together rather well’
There was perhaps no one more likely to develop a good eye than designer Jane Churchill. Growing up, she was greatly influenced by “the two Nancys” – her great-aunt, Nancy Lancaster, and her great-great-aunt, Nancy Astor – both revered for their unparalleled entertaining skills and influence on quintessential English country house style. Family is also at the forefront of Jane’s renovation of this classic Cotswold cottage, which had belonged to her mother for 30 years. As it required a complete rebuild due to being burnt down, Jane prepared it to put it on the market, but was surprised when her youngest son, Alexander Spencer-Churchill, decided to purchase it a week before it went on sale, having had ‘such happy memories there with my grandmother,’ he says.
It was a devastating fire in 2017 that caused the cottage to burn down. Almost all of Jane’s mother’s belongings were lost, except for a few rescued treasures. ‘My mother was about 90 when it happened and the one thing she did want was her address book,’ recalls Jane. ‘One of the neighbours went in the day after the fire, and by the fireplace, on a table with the telephone, was the address book, which was rather extraordinary.’
When rebuilding the property to sell it, Jane made several changes to the original footprint. The kitchen was built out and relocated from the front to the back of the house, to replace the street view with one of the garden, and an existing garage was converted into a hall, ‘because I have a hall fetish, especially in the country,’ laughs Jane. Plans were also put in place to install a different style of roof to avoid the costly insurance that comes with thatching, but as the only cottage with a thatched roof still left in the village, she was persuaded to replace it like-for-like.
ABOVE Alexander sits in the sitting room on an antique chair which belonged to his aunt, the late designer Melissa Wyndham. A Danube 1 rug from Robert Stephenson anchors the seating area.
LEFT The Roman blind made by Anabel Design in Soane Britain’s Scrolling Acanthus in Eau de Nil pairs with cabinetry painted in Farrow & Ball’s White Tie for a serene kitchen scheme. Jane already had the large lamps from TDC Cordless and the Murano glass table lights in a mix of jewel tones are from Green Wolf Lighting.
Bringing cheer and sparkle, the Christmas tree is decorated in an assortment of colourful decorations, many from Daylesford’s festive collection. The shapely antique chair belonged to Jane and the large table lamp from Tarquin Bilgen is topped with a shade from Vaughan.
Keeping it in THE FAMILY
Having thoughtfully transformed an enchanting Cotswold stone farmhouse, siblings Chris Peters and Sarah Adwalpalkar have created a home-fromhome that is ideal for celebrating the festive season
FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH
ABOVE Brother-and-sister duo Chris and Sarah have not looked back since deciding to join forces and renovate their jointly owned farmhouse in the Cotswolds. The wreath is from The Flower Studio in Marlow.
SURREY: Beaverbrook
At the heart of a 470-acre estate set amid the Surrey Hills, this hotel is the former home of politician and newspaper publisher Lord Beaverbrook. After purchasing the property in 1910, Lord Beaverbrook hosted myriad famous figures (from Elizabeth Taylor to Winston Churchill) at the mansion, which continues to welcome guests today. Accommodation is split between the grand house, where bedrooms are named after notable former occupants; the country cottage interiors of The Garden House; and the whimsical charm of The Village (the estate’s former workers’ cottages). The latter, all bright colours and contrasting patterns, will be ideal for families, with six of the bedrooms featuring delightful curtained bunkbeds that are sure to be the perfect den for young children. Christmas Day at the hotel starts with cocktails after breakfast and a visit from Father Christmas. Perfect for: Families
Tel: 01372 571 300 beaverbrook.co.uk
ABOVE A grand country house hotel, Beaverbrook looks resplendent bedecked in wreaths and garlands during the festive season.
RIGHT Located in The Village at Beaverbrook, the JM Barrie suite is among those to feature cosy bunkbeds for young guests.
LAKE DISTRICT: Langdale Chase
Roaring fires, towering Christmas trees and tranquil views make for an atmospheric winter’s stay at this grand hotel, which enjoys a privileged spot, perched on the shore of Windermere. Having undergone restoration and rejuvenation in recent years, the hotel now pairs imposing Victorian features with softer, contemporary touches including intricate hand-painted floral wallpapers. Several of the bedrooms boast views of the expansive lake and snow-dusted Langdale Pikes. In the hotel’s reading room, guests will find literature inspired by the Lake District. The hotel also welcomes dogs in some of its bedrooms and suites, so canine companions need not miss out on adventurous hikes and lakeside ambles. For those keen to get out on the water, a trip on the hotel’s 1920s motor yacht is a wonderful way to while away an afternoon. Perfect for: Those with dogs Tel: 01539 432 201 langdalechase.co.uk
ABOVE The hotel’s carved woodwork and swathes of mural wallpaper, seem all the more atmospheric when bathed in the glow of fairy lights and open fires.
ABOVE RIGHT The Langdale Pikes suite grants guests spectacular views.
RIGHT Guests are treated to a festive afternoon tea on Boxing Day.
