The clocks have gone forward, bars and restaurants are open from April 12th (outside), and well, things are looking up! With a new whisky from HAIG CLUB, a new April menu from Six By Nico and some awesome festivals further ahead to book now, here’s The Luxe List April 2021.

Plant Girl Summer from Clean Kitchen

Brand co-founder and star of Made in Chelsea Verity Bowditch leads the launch of break out brand Clean Kitchen’s Plant Girl Summer concept. Pinky, perky and strictly vegan, the new boxes are so darn cool, they’re the perfect excuse to get dressed up and head to the park for bubbles and burgers. With a twist on their Greener Box offerings, you can expect delightful bites like the Pink Truffle Burger, Chickn Nuggets, Sweet Potato Fries, a DASH drink and oh-so-sweet treats from Candy Kittens. Right now, you can order via Deliveroo for delivery to Chelsea, Battersea and Tunbridge Wells, but there’s more to come with the launch of sit-down and to-go restaurants in Wembley, Shoreditch and Camden all on the way. We can’t get our Isabel Marant puffy sleeved number on fast enough! Follow Clean Kitchen on Instagram.

Summer Tasting Party (In a Box) From Tom Gilbey

Grab your five besties and get ready for a summer tasting party with Tom Gilbey. You’ll receive a box full of gorgeous wines which will go perfectly with the warmer weather and then jump on a Zoom with the man himself while he talks you through each along with gorgeous food pairings that work well with them. You can order a Box of Bigs or a Box of Smalls for your outdoor get together, and you’ll receive:

André Clouet Grand Cru Grande Reserve Champagne NV Brut, Bouzy
La Minuette Rosé 2020, Domaine Gayda, IGP Oc
Gruner Veltliner Tradition Reserve 2017, Weingut Durnberg, Weinviertel DAC, Austria
Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine de la Présidente, Rhone

The next session is April 23rd from 6.30pm – 8.30pm, £85 for full bottles, £55 for half bottles. Click here to sign up.

Limin’ – A Brand New Beach Club on the South Bank

Bringing Caribbean vibes to the South Bank from Monday, Limin’ Beach Club will have everything you need for spring and summer with sand, soca beats and cocktails served in pineapples! It’ll be super easy to social distance with tonnes of spaces at Limin’s location in Gabriel’s Wharf – right next to the Southbank Centre. Even better, the opening has literally just been announced, so there’s loads of availability! Get in on the action, by clicking Reservations on their website. Those that bag a spot will be able to indulge in rum punches, tropical cocktails and a menu including jerk chicken and soft shell crab, with an extended menu from 17th May.

The Courtyard at The Treehouse Hotel – New

The Treehouse Hotel has a brand new all day dining area on the ground floor called The Courtyard. Situated at the back of their coffee shop Backyard, The Courtyard has taken inspiration from a classic English garden with comfortable seating, planters, rustic raised decking, and a menu which includes beers, wines, seasonally sourced salads, sandwiches and lots more. With a laid back easy going vibe paired with exceptional 5 star service, it’s a great hangout from April 12th. Book a table here.

Home By Nico ‘Cooking Vietnam’

April’s offering from Nico Simeone brings with it all the flavours and deliciousness of South East Asia.  Start with duck bao buns which pack a punch with pickled veg and homemade hoisin roasted peanuts and crispy shallots, plus there’s hot and sour pho, a main of caramel belly of pork hot pot (anyone’s else mouth watering?!), and sides of sauteed Asian greens with garlic, or clay pot aubergine.  Dessert is a Vietnamese coffee with panna cotta, sponge and coffee crumb, and of course you get to wash it all down with an artisanal bottle of white wine.  A total bargain priced at £65.00 for two, order from Home-X here (veggie version available).

Southside Bars Virtual Cocktail Making Classes

While we can’t get to Ibiza, bring the spirit of the white isle to the comfort of your own home with Southside Bars’ virtual cocktail making classes via Zoom.  One of Ibiza’s finest bartenders will be on hand to shake things up while you prep and drink three delicious cocktails.  With gin, rum and tequila based classed on the 3^rd, 10^th and 17^th April, you can sign up here from as little at £15 for two people and you’ll be sent a link to the masterclass as well as a list of the ingredients you’ll need ahead of the sesh. Get your Ibiza playlist on Spotify ready to go.

HotBox & BOB’s Lobster at Home Six Course Boxes with The Passage

Homeless charity The Passage who provide street homeless people with support have teamed up with awesome smokehouse HotBox and street food vendor turned restaurant BOB’s Lobster to offer Londoners an incredible menu available for delivery.  The six course box costs £80 for two with £10 from each box donated to charity.  Inside you’ll find delights like the BOB’s Lobster signature lobster and crayfish croquettes served with old bay mayo and HotBox’s smokin’ smoke brisket tacos.  You can even add on BOB’s Lobster Margarita for two or a bottle of Laurent Perrier La Cuvee, but you must order by midday on Friday 2^nd April for delivery on Wednesday 7^th April. Everyone who orders will get the chance to join The Passage’s first virtual supper club on 8^th April hosted by Jenny Travassos, and including guests Rob Dann (BOB’s Lobster) and Lewis Spencer (HotBox) for an informal chat.  Click here to order.

Celebrate St. George’s Day with an English Whisky from the Cotswolds Distillery (23rd April)

St. George – we imagine him as a bit of a Tom Hardy – our hero, sleighing a dragon and rescuing a princess!  Celebrate the day on the 23^rd April with a Cotswolds Highball or two from our friends as the Cotswolds Distillery.  All you’ll need is 50ml of the award-winning Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky (the first ever whisky distilled in the Cotswolds), and serve in a highball glass with ice, top with soda water and decorate with a sprig of rosemary and a slice of orange.  Sit back and…. well, think of England! Available here, £39 for a 700ml bottle, 46% ABV.

Afternoon Tea Delivery Box from The Cherry Tree

This is one of the best value luxury afternoon tea deliveries we’ve come across and their scones are just so epic! For just £24.50, award-winning preserves producer The Cherry Tree have put together a luscious box of goodies to wash down with a good cup of tea. With a full range of curds, jams and chutneys (the spicy tomato chutney is literally out of this world), there’s a great selection of sweet and savoury scones including cheese, plain and rosemary and sea salt – YUM. They’ve even thrown in a tonne of clotted cream, and some to-die-for smooth vintage cheddar along with red pepper and chilli bites which should come with a ‘highly addictive’ warning. We can wholeheartedly recommend. Order here.

Arros QD Launches British Paella Concept with a Live-Stream Cook-along

London’s premier paella restaurant Arros QD have launched a new sustainably British paella concept, which will support British farmers and fisherman.  Quique Dacosta has created four delicious new rice-in-paella dishes which will appear on the menu, replacing Spanish produce with the likes of Cornish scallops and Northumberland halibut.  To mark the new chapter, Quique himself will be hosting a cook-along on Thursday 8^th Aril at 6pm to teach foodies the art of paella making while championing British suppliers and you can get your tickets here from £68 for two, meanwhile Delivery of ready-to-eat paellas and grill dishes are available here.

Cook Along Schedule:  

• 8 April, 6pm – Cornish Queen Scallop Rice  
• 6 May, 6pm – Berkshire pork belly Rice 
• 3 June, 6pm – Morel and wild garlic Rice 
• 1 July, 6pm – Northumberland Halibut Rice 

Shop Cuvée Easter Egg Hunt (4^th April)

With the rule of six outdoors coming back into force on 29^th March, Shop Cuvée locals will get the chance to take part in an exciting Easter Egg hunt on 4^th April in North London’s Clissold Park as a special thank you for supporting local business.  Among the prizes will be a three month natural wine subscription, wine and chocs and in store discounts with prizes redeemable all day.  Keep a close eye on Shop Cuvée’s Instagram page on 4^th April for the clues!  (The hunt will take place midday to 6pm)

HAIG CLUB Launch Brand New Mediterranean Orange

Haig Club have just launched a new and fruity little number with Global Brand Partner David Beckham.  For Easter drinks and bank holiday celebrations (following the government’s current guidelines of course), Haig Club Mediterranean Orange Spirit is guaranteed to liven up April with its juicy marmalade flavours, orange blossom extract and signature scotch whisky notes of Haig Club Clubman.  Enjoy 50mls with 150mls of Fever Tree lemonade and garnish with a wedge of fresh orange for maximum enjoyment.  All we need now is some sunshine!  Available from Haig Club and Amazon priced at £25 (70cl / 35% ABV) or grab a bottle instore at selected Waitrose store from 8^th April, ASDA from 19^th April and Morrisons and Tesco by May.

One for the Diary – The Concours of Elegance (3 – 5^th September)

The Concours of Elegance (presented by A. Lange & Söhne) returns to Hampton Court Palace in September and will this year showcase the oldest surviving Aston Martin – the A3 which celebrates its centenary.  Tickets for the luxurious event are now available via the website from £30, and include an incredible day with  stunning automotive displays, champagne by Charles Heidsieck, picnics by Fortnum & Mason, live stage interviews and jewellery and fashion displays.