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It’s still November but Christmas is nevertheless coming. Richard E Grant, star of Withnail & I, marked the impending holiday with a Monday trip to The Ritz. As has come to be expected, he was positively gleeful on his Twitter feed.
Best way to start my day eating the first batch of Christmas Puddings @theritzlondon with exec chef John William’s & pastry chef Supremo Kumiko Hiwatari. I’ve eaten 3/4 of it pic.twitter.com/dbwFbPznN6
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) November 19, 2019
Speaking of Christmas, 34 in Mayfair has taken an “excess is best” approach to festivities, installing 14,000 decorations in the restaurant. The site unveiled the new look with a party on Tuesday, with actor Camilla Rutherford, rock progeny Leah Wood, and singer Natalie Rushdie among guests.
Another fashionable crowd was out on Tuesday evening, this time at Isabel on Albemarle Street. The occasion? The launch of designer shoe brand Malone Souliers’ new men’s collection. Model Jodie Kidd — who also owns The Half Moon pub in Kirdford, West Sussex — was among the guests, as was Amber Le Bon and Downton Abbey’s Max Brown.
It hasn’t been the best week for the royal family and restaurants has it? Nevertheless, the show must go on, and Wednesday evening saw Prince Andrew’s daughters stick to business as usual. Princess Beatrice was at Annabel’s for her fiancé’s — Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi — birthday party. You may recall that it was also the site of the after party for The Crown last week. Life imitates art, after all.
Also having a trying time is Mauricio Pochettino, sacked by Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. He took some time over the international break to dine at Michelin-starred Sabor, off Regent Street.
It also hasn’t been the best week for Charlie’s Angels, which has not exactly set the box office alight. But Elizabeth Banks — its star, writer and director — did not let reviews and revenue dampen her spirits. She was out at the Chiltern Firehouse on Wednesday.
To Shoreditch! Hoi Polloi, the brasserie at the Ace Hotel, unveiled its tree with a celebratory afternoon tea on Thursday. Designer Christopher Kane did the honours, bringing Jessie Ware (singer and host of the excellent food podcast “Table Manners”) and Downton Abbey actor Laura Carmichael along for the festivities.
