September 2016 – The Egerton House Hotel’s Concierge Corner
Make the most of your visit to London and more importantly your stay with us at The Egerton House Hotel and enjoy
fine food, friendly personal service and luxurious surroundings. We are truly delighted to welcome you and want you to
discover your home in Knightsbridge which offers the discreet and luxurious comforts of a private residence, with
uncompromising levels of service that quietly anticipate, even exceed your expectations in every possible way. Whether
you have stayed with us before or it is your first time at the hotel, we hope that you will have time to experience the
wealth of the Capital’s attractions and award winning restaurants that await you. Alternatively, if you have already done
all the touristy bits and feel like some off-the-beaten-track fun and interesting places to visit in the city during Autumn
2016, this is the section for you! Jacques Conradie – Guest Relations and Services Manager
Retail Therapy at...Maison Assouline - The throb and hubbub of Piccadilly might
seem the last place on earth one might seek quiet contemplation, but that notion
is about to change. The flagship store of Maison Assouline is designed as a
hushed temple of considered taste. So while the thoroughfare outside may groan
with tourists and traffic, inside the store the atmosphere is one of calm amidst
the best that culture can offer. So much more than a bookshop, this is a full
bibliophile experience. Perhaps order an espresso or glass of champagne from
the Swan Bar, a specially appointed area that will serve foie gras and Spanish
ham throughout the day. The building, originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
in 1922, has undergone an extensive refurbishment, with spaces devoted to quiet
reflection and a warren of rooms upstairs packed with curiosities. The offering goes
beyond books too; exclusive prints of the photography from a selection of the books are available to buy, alongside
leather goods, candles and a bespoke library service which curates books for the reader. (Located at 196A Piccadilly,
London, W1J 9DY)
The Tate Modern presents “Georgia O’Keeffe” - The first large-scale, monographic show on Georgia O'Keeffe in the UK
for more than twenty years, this ambitious Tate Modern overview reassesses her place in the canon of modern art.
Widely considered a founding figure of American modernism, the exhibition charts her progression from early abstract
experiments to late work in the 1970s when she was claimed as an important pioneer by feminist artists. This exhibition
relates her spiritual engagement with the landscape to the American tradition of landscape painting, examines her
relationship with photographer, art promoter and her husband Alfred Stieglitz, and positions her flower works in the
context of abstraction. (Until the 30th October 2016)
The Royal Academy of Arts presents “Abstract Expressionism” - Modern art scholars, be prepared to leave your
preconceptions at the door. This autumn exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art challenges preconceptions about
Abstract Expressionism arguing that it was not unified, its roots go back further than you'd think and it wasn't all about
painting. Using major works by the New York School, where members included Pollock, Rothko, De Kooning, and
Newman, the exhibition draws on works from all over the world to back up its claims. Epic canvases, drawings, sculpture,
and photography are all part of this, the first significant survey of Abstract
Expressionism in Europe for fifty years. (From the 24th September 2016)
The House of Illustration presents “The BFG in Pictures” - Examine the BFG in
Pictures at the House of Illustration, a display of illustrations by Quentin Blake
famously created for Roald Dahl’s marvellous novel, The BFG. See 40 original
artworks depicting the story that has enchanted generations of children and
adults. Some of the illustrations in the exhibition have never been exhibited in
public before: these were included in the first design, but were left out when the
book was eventually published in 1982. Take the unique opportunity to compare
these unique sketches with the final illustrations, and gain an insight into the evolution of the iconic imagery of The BFG.
(Until the 2nd October 2016)
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The Royal Academy of Arts presents “David Hockney RA: 82 Portraits and 1 Still Life” - In 2012 David Hockney's A
Bigger Picture filled the Royal Academy of Arts with vast landscapes in the year London hosted the Olympics. Now, a
mere four years later, those "overblown" landscapes have been set aside for more intimate portraits. Hockney, who once
said he prefers to only paint people he knows, has been working on a series of portraits
of friends and art world figures since 2013, all of whom sit in the same chair against
the same backdrop, painted over the course of three days. Around 70 of these new
equal-sized portraits are displayed including fashion designer Celia Birtwell, Dame
Edna Everage's alter ego Barry Humphries, the Californian artist John Baldessari and
Hockney's older sister Margaret. (Until the 2nd October 2016)
The Tate Britain presents “Turner Prize 2016” - Set up in 1984, the Tate's Turner Prize has been courting controversy
ever since. The most notorious prize in the world of contemporary art, it carries a large cash prize - there's £40,000 in
the pot - and instant fame for the winner who must be a British artist under fifty and have staged an 'outstanding'
exhibition of work completed within the year. The shortlist always seems to feature conceptual art of the most difficultto-understand sort. But despite the uproar from stuffier elements in the tabloids, this show is always great fun. No matter
what your view, the return of the Turner Prize to London in 2016 - following its temporary move to Glasgow last year makes this a must for lovers of contemporary art. (From the 27th September 2016)
Entertainment from...“No Man’s Land” at the Wyndham Theatre – Seven years after
starring in Waiting for Godot together, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart will reunite on the
London stage in 2016 for a revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land. Directed by Sean
Mathias, the production of Pinter's masterpiece will embark on a UK tour before stopping in
London's West End for a limited 14 week staging at the Wyndham's Theatre. First staged on
Broadway in 2013, McKellan will reprise the role of boozy poet Spooner while Stewart will
once again take the role of Hirst. The play follows the drunk duo as they embark on a drinking session in a Hampstead
pub before continuing the night at Hirst's nearby stately home, soon descending into a power game that's further
complicated by the return home of two sinister younger men. (From the 8th September 2016)
Lunch at...San Carlo Cicchetti Piccadilly - Piccadilly’s regeneration is well and truly under way – as evidenced by this
shiny new branch of the San Carlo chain, which delivers casual but effortlessly elegant
all-day dining with great panache. Behind the shop-like frontage runs a modern,
Venetian-style marbled bar that overlooks the dining area, while an open kitchen
and wood-burning oven at the back add some fun and theatre to proceedings. It’s
all attractively done, with warm bright lights and contemporary leather chairs,
buffed by polished and naturally hospitable Italian service and a cheery crowd.
Small-ish plates (mainly in the £6-9 range), tout classy regional favourites such as
pappardelle with Tuscan porcini, ravioli filled with truffle and pecorino, first-rate
rack of lamb and excellent grilled cod with a pesto crust and lentils. In short, this
place is slick, stylish and bang on-the-money. (215 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HN)
Dinner at...The Wright Brothers South Kensington - This latest seafood restaurant in the Wright Brothers’ net also
includes a separate cocktail and oyster bar, The Mermaid. But throughout the intimate, bistro-like premises, the menu
has oysters at its heart. There’s not much these folk don’t know about their favourite shellfish, and they’re eager to
spread the word. Oysters from across the British Isles and France are available. In The Mermaid, the emphasis is on wines
and cocktails, with little briny mouthfuls to accompany costing just £1 a pop during the ‘oyster hours’ (3-6pm). If oysters
aren’t your thing, choose from the selection of seafood platters or daily specials – there’s even Dingley Dell Farm pork
belly with crispy sprouting broccoli, miso and chilli, for those who prefer their ingredients land-based. (56 Old Brompton
Road, London, SW7 3DY)
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The Great River Race – The Great River Race gathers over 330 boats for a 21.6 mile race from the Isle of Dogs in east
London to Ham House west of London. Bursting with colour, spectacle, intense competition and casual fun, the race
challenges crews to row from the industrial cityscape of Docklands all the way along the Thames to the idyllic semi-rural
Richmond shores. Since launching in 1987, entries have snowballed from a mere 72 entrants to a massive 330 boats
carrying over 2,000 competitors, racing for 35 trophies. Festivities along the river at Richmond will begin at noon with
live music, a children's beach, donkey rides and food and drink stalls, finishing with a spectacular riverside party at Ham.
(Saturday, 3rd September 2016)
Last Night of the Proms – Featuring much flag waving and patriotic anthems - including Arne's Rule, Britannia!, Elgar's
Pomp And Circumstance March No 1 In D Major 'Land Of Hope And Glory' and Parry's Jerusalem - the Last Night of the
Proms brings the annual celebration of classical music to a rousing close. The final concert is traditionally very different
from the eight weeks that precede it, following a lighter, 'winding-down' vein and often pandering to popular classics.
Tickets are almost as hard to come by as Centre Court passes for the Wimbledon finals, but like the tennis, the whole
thing is broadcast live on the BBC - and all round the world. (Saturday, 10th September 2016)
London Design Biennale – Produced by the team behind the London Design Festival, the three-week long London Design
Biennale brings a new international element to the annual London festival. Held for the first time in 2016, the biennale
brings design installations and exhibitions from over 35 nations to the heart of the capital. Exhibitors respond to the
2016 theme 'Utopia by Design' through contemporary design, their presentations occupying the former royal palace at
Somerset House, including the famous Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court where London-based designers Edward Barber &
Jay Osgerby have installed Forecast -a giant kinetic wind powered sculpture. (7th-27th September 2016)
The London Flower Show - A brand new consumer event, The London Flower Show at Osterley House and Park is a
celebration of gardening, forestry and produce. An ideal family day out, it will feature floral arrangements, a fresh
produce market, art installations, entertainment, music and over 20 show gardens, allowing visitors to enjoy every
element of garden design. There will also be an open-air delicatessen, live cooking demonstrations from top UK chefs, a
dedicated children play space and work by the very best garden designers. (From the 8th-11th September 2016)
Fire! Fire! – The Museum of London marks the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1666 with a special interactive
exhibition, Fire! Fire! Inviting visitors to explore London before, during and after the fire, the exhibition will feature rarely
seen artefacts alongside hands on exhibits which will explore how the fire started and spread and give an insight into
personal stories of Londoners who were there at the time. You'll be able to get a sense of what it was like to be there
and learn how the London we know today was raised from the ashes. (Throughout September 2016)
The London Design Festival – A crazy golf course by Paul Smith in Trafalgar Square will be a highlight of the festival, an
all-encompassing celebration of the capital's design industry. The annual festival takes in sectors as diverse as fashion,
architecture, retail, typography, photography and textiles in an ambitious city-wide project. Cultural institutions like the
V&A, Somerset House and the Design Museum often take part and the city is divided into design districts - there are hubs
in Brompton, Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Islington, Queens Park and Shoreditch. Events in each vary from product launches in
tiny boutiques to massive trade shows including design-junction and 100% Design. This promises to be a fun, fascinating
exploration of cutting edge design across the city. (From the 17th-25th September2016)
The National Wedding Show – Planning a wedding can turn what should be The Happiest Day Of Your Life into a full
blown nightmare - known as 'bridezilla' in extreme cases. If you want to avoid this unappealing moniker, The National
Wedding Show can help you find things you never knew you needed for your big day. There are the invitations to sort
out, table settings, photographs, menus and cake to think of, not to mention the all-important dress. It's all been thought
of here. You can check out over 300 exhibitors, see make-over demonstrations, interviews with top designers and catwalk
shows four times daily. Get expert advice on everything from venues and vicars to cake and cards all under one roof.
Everything you need, in fact, to achieve the highest levels of perfection for Your Special Day. There's even a bar so your
husband-to-be can take some time out when he gets all tired and emotional. (From the 23rd-25th September2016)
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