Author Archives: Milly

At the Chapel, Bruton

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Bruton is home to the hip Hauser & Wirth gallery space so it makes sense that there is somewhere suitably stylish and creative for visitors to stay nearby. In the centre of the charming town of Bruton you will find At the Chapel, a beautifully restored medieval chapel with eight minimalist luxury bedrooms, a relaxed restaurant and an artisan bakery.

We were staying in Room 8 for a night, an indulgent mid-week escape from London. This large ground-floor room opens out onto a garden terrace and has a stunning spacious marble bath with free-standing bath and walk-in shower. Rooms range in price dependent on size, from £150 for the most petite to £250 for Room 5 which can accommodate families. I loved Room 2 which features the original 19th century stained glass window and Room 6, a first floor, south-facing bedroom which is gloriously light and offers views of the surrounding area. The rooms are decorated with modern artworks and vintage furniture, whilst ensuring the top comfort with king-sized decadent beds and smart tvs and ipod docks. The bathrooms are elegant and smart with Ren toiletries and cosy bathrobes.

The food at At the Chapel has a widespread reputation for good reason. Homemade pizzas at night and freshly baked croissants in the morning (delivered to the room) kept me satisfied. Locals visit the bakery throughout the day to pick up lunch or pastries and we couldn’t help buying a few of the irresistable loaves before we left.

During the day the building is at your disposal. Choose to enjoy an aperitif in the Clubroom or out on the terrace, or read the newspapers with a coffee upstairs in the secluded balcony. There are regular arty events held here and a wineshop stocking a carefully chosen selection of organic and biodynamic wines from small producers.

Without much competition nearby, At the Chapel is single-handedly making Bruton a must visit destination for hip foodie travellers.

Book a stay At the Chapel here.

Bloomon Flower Delivery

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It is no secret that my favourite weekend activity is visiting London’s most popular flower market on Columbia Road. I often dream of being a florist, surrounded by colourful plants and glorious scents. When Bloomon contacted me about a new flower delivery service I was instantly intrigued.

Bloomon Flowers

The company was started in Holland by three friends with a passion to deliver the freshest flowers from grower to the customer’s door. The Bloomon team pull together imaginative flower combinations to make unexpectedly beautiful bouquets. The concept was conceived in Amsterdam but has since spread to Berlin and London, supplying more and more of Europe with thoughtful floral arrangements.

Bloomon FlowersBloomon Flowers

The process is simple:

  1. Choose your size of bouquet, from small, medium and large.
  2. Choose how often… as a one off or every week.
  3. Organise delivery. Bloomon conveniently deliver day and night.

Bloomon Flowers

My elaborate bunch of flowers were delivered with a large glass vase and a sachet of plant food, and nicely trimmed and cleaned. They were quick and easy to arrange and thanks to the size (I received the large size) added life and colour to my sitting room instantly. Inspired by liquorice allsorts the arrangement had an inventive mix of flower varieties from soft-cupped coral peonies to unusual Celosia Argentea ‘Act Vida’ and Solidago. The rainbow of colours mimicked the retro sweet colour combinations.

Bloomon Flowers

The flowers lasted nearly three weeks, and when a couple of stems began to wilt I put the remaining flowers into a smaller vase. With such quirky bunches, Bloomon do all the thinking for you, so you just have to press send each week and your home will feel like summer even if the weather outside doesn’t agree!

Order your bunch of Bloomon flowers here.

Leo Carreira at Climpson’s Arch

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Climpson’s Arch has played host to a range of promising young chefs. The industrial area in East London offers a platform for creative, culinary ideas without the huge start-up costs that new restaurateurs have to consider. Consequently the venue is popular with keen foodies and with locals who value good grub, reasonable prices and a relaxed environment.

Leo Carreira is currently taking up the residency at Climpson’s Arch, serving customers with authentic and tasty Portuguese dishes. Recipes like Smoked Octopus in broth and Grilled Bisaro Ribs feature as favourites, though depending on produce and season there is always something new to try. I loved the Grilled Soaked Brioche with caramel and hazelnuts for pudding, proving that Portuguese is a broader cuisine than many believe.

Considering the makeshift nature of the kitchen, Leo presents food that is simple but sophisticated with a deliciously unique wine list to match.

More information about Climpson’s Arch here.