| Extreme Weather A period of record breaking hot weather dominated another busy month. We now may get similar weather next week in London again. 'Exclusive' Soho Mews House The month started with a dinner with two lawyer friends at the 'invitation only' Soho Mews House. The food and company were exceptional. OK, we drank 'SF Martinis', so the drinks were unbelievable too. Later in the month I met Nick Jones, the Founder of Soho House. National Fish & Chip Day at 45 Park Lane & "No Bill for Mr Frew" I spent Friday 5 June (National Fish & Chip Day 2026) on the outside terrace at 45 Park Lane. Tempura fried monkfish, triple cooked chips from heaven and the best curry sauce of my life. All made even better by a chat with GM Lee. I ended the afternoon with strawberry & champagne ice lollies and being told there was no bill for www.sifrew.com The Legendary Breakfast at Pan Pacific, London & Taittinger Champagne When I declined the offer of champagne at breakfast at Pan Pacific, London, because I intended to swim, I was given a bottle of Taittinger to "drink later". Samuel Pepys & An Unforgettable Sunday Lunch at Cooper's Cut at Four Seasons at Tower Bridge I ended a delicious Sunday lunch in their Ho Bryan (private dining) Room. Ho Bryan is the anglicised, historical nickname for Château Haut-Brion. A 350 year old brand and one of the five premier cru wines of Bordeaux. The diaries of Samuel Pepys in April 1663 mention him drinking Ho Bryan. The walls of the private dining room are decorated with Château Haut-Brion wine bottles and artifacts. I got to eat my desserts in this room, try cocktails and learn there was "no bill" for any of the later experience. Cole Porter's Fabulously Glamorous 'High Society' at The Barbican Centre Felicity Kendal was brilliant as Mother Lord. This week we learnt indomitable Penelope Keith lost her fight with cancer. With 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', 'I've Got You Under My Skin', 'Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) etc Cole Porter really is songwriter supreme. Chef Elliott Grover's Oscars Evening at Fortnum & Mason This was a very special evening. I sat opposite F&M's Events Head Heidi and next to Nigel, who had travelled from Wales that day. A number of staff from 45 Park Lane helped and the food was exemplary (eg A5 Kagoshima Roast Beef; a Coronation Chicken Scotch Egg; USDA Beef Wellington with shaved black truffles; trifle etc) and we received a gold sprayed chocolate gift to take home. Chef Elliott is a natural storyteller and you can see why he is a morning TV celebrity. By the time the dinner ended the store was closed and it was brilliantly surreal making your way down from the 3rd Floor Food & Drink Studio via a darkened empty shop. 'No Bill' for Breakfast at St Clement Hotel & Met Nick Jones As soon as you enter the St Clement's lobby you know Nick Jones, Founder of Soho House, has done it again. Service is flawless and seating so comfortable. When you see Cacklebean Eggs are on the menu, you know this is a quality operation. A hotel that is going to be a huge success. I was surprised to learn there was no bill for my breakfast and thrilled to find Nick Jones in the lobby and happy to meet me. It was another '9 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) month, despite the extreme heat. I am sure you will agree the photos below justify another very high score but the window being replaced in my Barbican place, & the detailed letter from Buckingham Palace, would warrant that high score alone. |  Gold flakes on those champagne & strawberry ice lollies at 45 Park Lane on National Fish & Chip Day.  The Ho Bryan Room at Four Seasons at Tower Bridge. The Samuel Pepys diary quote about Ho Bryan is behind me.  The Barbican Art Centre is a 5 minute walk from my Barbican place.  Chef Sam White, Group Executive Chef Fortnum & Mason and 45 Jermyn Street and the legend who is Chef Elliott Grover.  Nick Jones said it was an honour to take a photo with me. I promised to spread the word ahead of St Clement's official opening in September 2026.  I received a letter from Buckingham Palace about HM the King's US visit. |
 A perfect 'SF Martini' served at the Soho Mews House.    Note the stunning window boxes at my Barbican place, which the guys replacing the window did not damage.  The advert for The Barbican Centre production of 'High Society'.   My tempura fried monkfish, triple cooked chips from heaven and the best curry sauce of my life on National Fish & Chip Day at 45 Park Lane.   GM Lee at 45 Park Lane & I always have too much to talk about.  I adore the breakfast at Pan Pacific, London.   John Kelly, Hotel Manager at Pan Pacific, London is such a brilliant guy.  At perfect 'SF Martini' by Ayman, at Cooper's Cut at Four Seasons at Tower Bridge.  A sublime pork Sunday lunch at Cooper's Cut.  Gold coated peanuts on the salted caramel dessert.  Samuel Pepys     Eggs from the Claridge's Bakery.  Chef Jamie Shears, Executive Chef Overseeing The Audley Public House & Mount Street Restaurant.  The Audley pub's World Cup burger, a collaboration with the Black Bear. I was the first member of the public to be served one & given a 50% discount on my bill. The burger was so delicious.   The Trooping the Colour flypast from the 30th floor of The Barbican.  My window boxes in The Barbican.    Extra A5 Kagoshima Roast Beef that we could help ourselves to.  Nigel sat next to me at the Oscars evening at Fortnum & Mason.       Cards from Fortnum & Mason.    Extreme heat and thunder & lightning.   Claridge's ready for Wimbledon.   Everyone admired my Four Seasons at Park Lane fan, created for Ascot.  Nico explaining this prawn dish on a light as air flatbread. A scrumptious part of London's only Tasting Menu Breakfast Experience.  I was glad I tried something new but am not a fan of courgette. Eggs Royale would have been a better, safer, option for me.  Loved this Lapsang Souchong based mocktail & am still dreaming about the French Toast.  The Peninsula, London ready for Wimbledon.   Promise Gus looks best in this photo. Four photos were taken and he did not smile in any of them. I showed him this photo before I posted it on social media and he said he was content with it.  Gus & I were celebrating good news that, hopefully, will be public news in a month. It was just ashame there was no ice left for our soft drinks, on a warm day.  Chef Elliott Grover's curry sauce was so much better. However, the bag of traditional sweets they gave us to take home were fun (eg aniseed flavoured Black Jack chewy sweets).  Mercato, Mayfair. Matthew, from Dubai, first took me there. Great, after a meal, for coffee and ice cream.  Had to try the latest Limited Edition strawberry sandwich. It tastes more like cake, than a sandwich, and is cumbersome to eat. However, it tasted much better than the strawberry & cream one. The chocolate bread is just too thick. |
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