Rob van Helden
After months of creating festive magic for our clients, we look forward to simply resting and spending time at home. We love enjoying comforting, home-style cooking at Ffiona’s on Kensington Church Street, the wonderful ambience and service at Harry’s Bar, and the warm welcome at Tony’s Amalfi on Queenstown Road. Our favourite outings include visiting the V&A, the Saatchi Gallery, and the Chelsea Design Centre, as well as experiencing the light show at Kew Gardens. Most of all, we cherish any time spent with our boys—holidays, their sports activities, and exploring children-oriented places together.
- Robert van Helden
Food: Hoax
Credit: Hoax
Get ready to recalibrate what you thought “Italian dining” meant, because HOAX, opening this month at 390 Kingsland Road, is about to flip the script. Imagine: above stairs, a polished modern Italian kitchen serving up seasonal takes on elevated pasta (yes, that cacio e pepe you hear whispers about), slow-cooked beef cheek bathing in red-wine broth and a tiramisù flambéed table side for dramatic effect. Downstairs, behind a velvet curtain, hides the sly little sibling-bar The Devil You Know: a neon-lit clandestine den pouring truffle-washed gin martinis, espresso-tiramisu cocktails and tricky twists on classics. The décor? Upstairs channels ’50s Italian elegance with East London swagger with arched windows and bronze accents, whereas downstairs, you sink into deep velvets, low lighting and that “we only tell the right people” vibe. So why go? Because you’ll be trading in your tried-and-tested date-night spot for something that feels new, a bit cheeky and genuinely delicious. The food flexes tradition and the bar flips into nightlife. What’s not to amore?
Bar: Stable Wines
Credit: Stable Wines
Have you ever wanted to step into a pastel-tinted fever dream of art, film and obsessive detail? Well then, mark your diary for Wes Anderson: The Archives, opening at the Design Museum in Kensington on 21st November and running until 26th July next year. This isn’t your average “let’s look at movie posters” affair because more than 600 objects from the man himself, including his own notebooks, set models, costumes and props, will be on display for the first time in Britain. You’ll be able to see up close, the candy-pink façade model of The Grand Budapest Hotel, vending machines from Asteroid City, and the very FENDI fur coat worn by Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaum's. This is your chance to wander the eccentric, symmetrical worlds of this cinematic icon. There will be hand-made miniatures, puppets, storyboards and the kind of obsessive design vocabulary that turns films into visual feasts. Tickets are already on sale, so if you’re half-tempted, book sooner rather than later, because we predict it’ll be a race for the best viewing slots.
Hampers: A Round Up
Credit: Fortnum & Mason
There’s a special kind of joy in gifting a premium festive hamper. It’s the art of giving abundance in a single, beautiful box. Each ribbon-tied parcel feels like a celebration in itself: the rustle of tissue paper, the gleam of champagne bottles, the scent of spiced biscuits waiting to be shared. A luxury hamper says you deserve the good things, not just one, but many. It’s indulgence wrapped in generosity, a little theatre of taste and texture that turns even an ordinary winter’s day into a feast. So with all that in mind, here’s our choices of the best out there:
The Muse: Crafted by one of Britain’s most celebrated chefs, Tom Aikens and packed with hand-rolled chocolate truffles, rich fig chutney made for cheese boards, the elegantly smoky whisky gummies, and luxe Baron Bigod cheese nestled beside buttery oat biscuits and wild-foraged hedgerow jam; This isn’t your high-street hamper because every item whispers “fine dining at home”.
https://tomaikens.co.uk/the-muse-christmas-hamper/
Fortnum & Mason: If you’re looking to make a seriously indulgent impression this Christmas, The Fortnum’s Classic Christmas Hamper from Fortnum & Mason is your go-to. From the moment the signature teal ribbon is untied, you’re diving into British festive luxury: think rich orange-and-dark chocolate biscuits, fine loose-leaf tea, exquisite preserves and sparkling wine to toast the season. Packaged in a reusable wicker basket that screams elegance (and doubles as a stylish storage piece afterwards), this hamper is an iconic display of love. With a heritage reaching back centuries and a reputation for uncompromising quality, Fortnum’s makes gifting feel effortlessly refined- https://www.fortnumandmason.com/hampers/all-hampers
Daylesford: If you’re after a festive hamper that oozes country-house refinement with a responsible twist, look no further than the Daylesford Pimlico Hamper (and its siblings in the Daylesford Organic hamper range). Nestled in a beautifully woven white-wicker basket lined with linen, this hamper is filled with seasonal artisan foods, elegant treats and indulgent drinks straight from the farm and beyond. You’re gifting a story of ethical sourcing, sustainability and delicious taste. Each hamper comes packed with recycled materials and wool insulation, and that extra feel-good factor comes from knowing part of the purchase supports planting native orchard trees for biodiversity. Perfect for someone who cares about provenance as much as flavour—and for making you look effortlessly thoughtful.er
The River Cafe: For festive hamper gifting that oozes effortless Italian-style glamour then The River Cafe will give you exactly that. Their holiday gift boxes bundle up the kind of ingredients and treats you’d expect from their riverside kitchen such as olive oil, balsamic, panettone, handmade sauces, Negroni syrup, chocolate truffles and so much more indulgence. All of it carefully selected and beautifully presented. This one is like a ticket to a relaxed, sun-lit Italian lunch at home and is perfect for gifting to someone who loves cooking, good wine and a little indulgence. It says I love you with taste, class and a slice of La Dolce Vita.
Theatre: Bengal Tiger at the Bengal Zoo
Credit: Young Vic
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo opens at the Young Vic in early December, with tickets starting from around £25-£40 and previews even cheaper at £12. Set in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, the play pits a foul-mouthed, existential tiger (played by David Threlfall) against two sun-sodden American marines and an Iraqi translator, all licking their wounds and hunting for redemption. With a cast that also features Arinzé Kene and Ammar Haj Ahmad, and direction by Omar Elerian, this is gritty, dark humour wrapped in theatre’s sharpest claws. You’ll laugh, flinch, and question your own moral compass and then leave feeling like you’ve stared straight into the heat of humanity and singed your eyebrows in the process. If you’re after normal, stay home. This is raw. Irreverent. Unforgettable.
Exhibition: Harland Miller
Credit: Design Museum
Harland Miller’s largest UK presentation to date lands at the Design Museum this December; it’s bold, cheeky and visually impossible to ignore. Opening on the 10th December and running until late January, the exhibition is entirely free entry, making it one of the smartest culture pick-ups of the winter. Set in the museum’s sleek space on Kensington High Street, the show spans two floors: vast, billboard-sized canvases in the Helene & Johannes Huth Gallery (Level 2), and intimate works on paper upstairs on the Garfield Weston Mezzanine. It’s your chance to see Miller’s signature “Letter Painting” series with giant letters, explosive colours, punk-rock energy and typography that hits hard. Highlights include Far Out, his first full diptych in the series, and the freshly-produced XXX, where a single form becomes riotous, witty and visually saturated. It’s worth going because you’ll walk into a space that feels like the intersection between a graphic designer’s fever dream and a rebellious visual art party. It’s bold, it’s clever, it’s instantly Instagram-worthy and, best of all, it’s totally free. So we insist you treat yourself to an appointment of colour, concept and attitude because you’ll leave thinking of letters differently forever.
Dance: Matthew Bourne: The Red Shoes
Credit: Johan Persson
Brace yourself for a night where ballet meets obsession and nothing remains quite the same. The Red Shoes, choreographed by the legendary Matthew Bourne, arrives at Sadler’s Wells Theatre from the 2nd December 2025 to the 18th January 2026. With tickets from around £15 and up, you’re investing in a full-on sensory overload. A young dancer, Victoria Page, caught between her burning ambition and the possessive men who surround her… plus the red shoes that won’t stop dancing. This production is two hours of heart-racing choreography, scandalous love triangles and an orchestra roaring beneath Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous sets and costumes. Directed and choreographed by Bourne himself, this double-Olivier-award-winning masterpiece is both beautiful and brutal. It’s glamorous, it’s dark, it’s urgent and it’s unlike any ballet you’ve seen before.
Activity: SOS Dance
Do you wish you could go back and retrain as an elite dancer and spend your days as part of Beyonce’s crew, knocking out moves that would make Fred Astaire or Michael Jackson jealous? Well we may have the activity for you. SOS Dance hosts commercial and heels dance classes across London including Balham, Chiswick, Greenwich and Camden and this month, they are launching new festive-inspired routines including Destiny’s Child’s ‘8 Days of Christmas’ and the iconic Jingle Bell Rock as featured in the film Mean Girls. You can see a sneak peak here and sign up to your nearest class here. With classes starting from only £10, it’s the perfect activity to book with pals for some festive fun. The brand’s mission is clear: to empower people through dance, confidence, and community. SOS Dance was founded by Bonnie Parsons, a dancer-turned-entrepreneur, creative leader and passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. Your Tik Tok routines will get one heck of a glow up!
Christmas Shopping: Columbia Road
Credit: Columbia Road
Late nights Christmas shopping nights on Columbia Road are a proper festive rebellion. Every Wednesday from 17:00-21:00 on the 3rd December, 10th December and 17th December, this East End street of sixty-odd indie shops throws open its doors for “Christmas Wednesdays”. With mulled wine in hand, twinkling shop windows, unique gift-finds from local makers and the kind of relaxed winter glow you don’t get in the West End stampede, it reminds us of a simpler time where we got to enjoy the art of gift buying rather than doom scrolling on Amazon in front of the tv. This is the perfect way to dodge the big-box chaos, unearth something unexpected (vintage vinyl, art prints, quirky scents, artisan gems) and claim a mid-week shopping win. Roll in, bag your treasures, stay for dinner or a pint nearby and walk home with more than just bags, but a sense of festive frivolity.
Charity of the Month: Great Ormond Street
Credit: The London Pantomime Horse Race
Please can we tell you about the most gloriously bonkers event of December: the London Pantomime Horse Race (aka the “two-legged horse” gallop). It takes place on Sunday 14th December in Greenwich Park. For spectators: it’s completely free to watch, so drag your mates, grab a mulled-wine and soak up the chaos as costumed two-person horses (and zebras, and cows) thunder through the streets in full “Rockstars” mode. For participants, (there is still time to sign up!): teams register to race, dress up ridiculously, taste the sweet taste of victory and a few bruises, and help raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH) all at the same time. It’s your chance to witness something gloriously stupid and heart-warming in equal measure. You’ll cheer, you’ll laugh and you’re likely to spot a horse costume that defies logic. More importantly, your cheering boosts the fundraising because every donation directly helps children treated at GOSH. So don your glittery hooves or just turn up to watch the madness and donate a few quid. Because this is silliness with purpose, and you’ll walk away feeling like you were part of something brilliantly absurd and meaningful.