I’m lured by luxury travel, luscious food and wine, and lazing around in the spa. So I was thrilled to discover all of the above – and more – when I went to explore Cognac.

What is the difference between cognac and brandy? Do you know? For those who don’t (and I didn’t before I went), all cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Only brandy from the Cognac region is called cognac. And it has to follow a distinct set of distillation and ageing processes.

I was in Cognac to learn about cognac and visit the distilleries. Moving around the region, all the big names jump out at you from every winding road through the vineyards: Martell, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier, Hennessy… but there are loads of smaller independent producers too. The region supports both – those vineyards not big enough to make their own cognac sell their grapes to the big houses.

Cognac Vineyards, Petite Champagne, Charente-Maritime

Employment and the economy in the area is hugely driven by the industry – that and tourism. In 2024, there were over 4,400 winegrowers, 120 professional distillers and 270 merchants operating within the Cognac area. And many of the Cognac houses are still family-owned.

Many – probably most – offer some kind of tour and tasting experience. I was lucky enough to visit (in order) Chateau Montifaud, Hennessy, Delamain, and Rémy Martin. They’re all hugely different, with each visit offering a completely unique experience.

Visiting Cognac

The Cognac region is about halfway down France on the lefthand side. The closest airports are Bordeaux and La Rochelle, but you can reach the area by train and road. I’d recommend hiring a car as it’s a rural region.

Arriving into Bordeaux after a very quick hop and a skip from Gatwick (it’s less than two hours in the air), I was very pleased to see that we were immediately headed for lunch. If there’s one thing – of many things – the French do extremely well, it’s lunch. And I was not disappointed.

Lunch at Restaurant Cave La Quincaillerie

Weaving our way into one of those tiny little restaurants you might easily pass, on an ancient street flanked with shuttered houses, we headed upstairs at Restaurant Cave La Quincaillerie for their set lunch. This little cave of joy is in the Michelin Guide, and deservedly so. An hour or so later, I was happily stuffed with melty goat’s cheese on toast, slow cooked pork with pommes puree, and a greedy plate of cheese from the trolley, all washed down with a bottle of excellent Sancerre.

What a way to kick off the trip. Rubbing my fat tummy, I climbed back into the charabanc for our next stop, Chateau Montifaud.

Chateau Montifaud is a family-owned house that has been with the family Vallet for six generations, notching up more than 150 years of experience. We had a lovely tour, bumbling around the distillery learning about the processes. Nice touch with this tour was having a cocktail shaker handed to us at the start, and with each stage of the tour, a new ingredient added, relative to the information of the moment, resulting in a good shaking at the end of the tour, and a lovely cognac-based cocktail to quaff.

Chateau Montifaud

Where I stayed

After such a good lunch, and more than a little sampling of cognacs at Montifaud, I was pleased to arrive at our hotel, and even more pleased when I saw my absolutely stunning room.

Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa is a gorgeous five-star property right in the heart of Cognac. Sprawling across a wide area, the house used to be a distillery, and the hotel buildings are all comprised of the former cellars, cooperage, ageing halls (chais) etc. The conversion has been beautifully handled, and the property is rich with the tapestry of its history. It has a relaxing spa area complete with inside/outside pool, and several spaces in which to eat and drink in luxury. It’s also a perfect base from which to explore the Cognac region.

My fabulous room at Hotel Chais Monnet Hotel & Spa

After a bit of very welcome down time to digest and unpack, we were treated to an absolutely majestic tasting menu at the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant, Les Foudres. Course after course came out, delivered with theatrical aplomb, interspersed with amuse-bouches and palette cleansers, and every course paired with a beautiful wine. It was a masterclass in quality and delivery, and it very nearly had me beaten.

Up the next morning and still feeling full…

I launched a rather pathetic attack at some coffee and a skirmish with an egg before we hit the road to visit Maison Hennessy. And what a wild trip this was. I had expected to view the cellars, try some cognacs, hear some history, and we did have all that. What I wasn’t expecting was a fantastic mind-bending virtual reality trip through the Hennessy journey with full AR headsets on, a boat ride over the river to the Hennessy cellars, and a chance to visit the cooperage and watch an apprentice cooper make a barrel from scratch.

An excellent morning at Hennessy

Hennessy is one of the few houses left that have a cooperage on site. And the mathematical and physical balance it takes to make a cask without glue, bind it all together with metal hoops, heat it and bend it to fit, and get the lid on with all its groovy grooves… my little mind was blown. Yours truly, being the sort that gets stuck in, even had a go on the ratchety machine thing that draws the slats together. This was a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of morning – I will forever be able to say that there are glasses of H-dawg circulating that has been laid in a barrel I helped make.

After all this activity, we had a tasting – got to love quaffing Hennessy XO at 10am – and we finished up, sitting in the Hennessy café, eating cognac and raisin ice cream. And this brings me to an important point.

The French aren’t fussy about how you drink your cognac

The French take their food and drink pretty seriously, as we all know. So what I hadn’t expected was to find that absolutely no one is precious about how to drink cognac. They’re happy to adulterate it with water, mixers, ice… There was almost no balloon swirling or pontificating.

The most popular way for the locals to drink it – if they drink it at all, mostly it’s exported – is as a long drink with tonic water and ice. And this is nicer than it sounds. There are all sorts of cocktail variations using cognac. My favourite was a margarita with the tequila swapped out.

Back to the hotel for lunch in their La Distillerie restaurant, and conscious of making such a poor fist of breakfast, I went large on lunch. I felt it my duty to ensure that I tested out their skills. So, appetite sharpened by Hennessy intake, I had canapes, a melange of salmon things, and duck that was so fresh it nearly flew away off my plate.

Lunch at La Distillerie

After a necessary post-prandial forty winks, we were back at the hotel’s excellent bar, the 1838, for a cocktail masterclass. Remember when I said the French weren’t prissy about the cognac? Well, here was more proof, pun intended. Using the local fire water, we made cognac Sidecars, Negronis, and Margaritas. Then got a fantastic tour of the bar, including all the secret back bar areas.

Making (and drinking) cognac cocktails in 1838 Bar

Then into the hotel’s minibus for a short trip to Poulpette, a tiny gem of a restaurant tucked away in Cognac village. Another restaurant that you can find in the Michelin Guide, one of those absolute treasures that has a small but perfectly formed menu. I loved that they had no traditional wine list but all the wines you could order lined up on a shelf, with the price handwritten on the bottle. Like browsing a grapey library, you could have a good nose before choosing.

The restaurant is small enough to feel like you’re having a dinner party with friends. And once I’d shovelled in homemade tarama, a slab of foie gras with a giant oyster mushroom in a citron bouillon, line-caught cod with chorizo and veggies, and (ye gods) a selection of ices – chocolat, marron, saki, sesame – I could barely even breathe. What a way to go though. Have you seen La Grande Bouffe?!

Dinner at Poulpette

Day three

Today kicked off with a trip to the spa at around 11am for a massage and some relaxing time kicking around in the pool. What a cracking way to start the day, and a really good massage too. Having worked up an appetite, er, lazing around in the jacuzzi, we had another utterly dreamy lunch at the hotel’s La Distillerie restaurant, before walking the short distance from the hotel to Rémy Martin.

Rather than visiting a vineyard this time, we were in the Remy historic house and boutique in the centre of Cognac itself. And this was a very slick, almost clinical look at Remy, its history, its artwork, and ultimately a chance to taste its cognac. Paired with dark chocolate truffles, my favourite was the XO (obviously I have expensive tastes). This tour was again completely different to both Chateau Montifaud and Hennessy, and I appreciated that. If all the tours had been the same, it would have felt less special, and less interesting.

Learning history (and tasting cognac) at Rémy Martin

In the early evening we embarked on an extraordinary trip into the countryside, firstly via Maison Delamain, who had laid on a beautiful ‘candle’ lit tasting with oysters and heavenly meaty snacks. It’s a real privilege to see the old distilleries like this, and I urge anyone visiting the area to get to a few different houses. The rich history of Delamain is matched only by the quality of its cognac. Even I was beginning to develop something of a palette for it by this stage.

L-C Chateau Delamain private tasting in the cellars, and R tasting pineau and watching the show at Cognaço Musica

On from Delamain to Distillerie Pinard Frères, in Jarnac, not for a tasting this time, per se, but for a singularly unique theatrical performance, Cognaço Musica. An immersive experience combining music, theatre and (yay) tastings of both pineau (the grape-must drink that’s kind of the stage before cognac), and cognac itself. Although I had very little idea what was going on, it was hugely entertaining. And it’s part of a wider cultural celebration that takes place each autumn, the Ban de la Distillation. It’s a two-day festival of the cultural heritage of the Cognac region, celebrating producers, makers and visitors through tastings, talks and experiences.

Our final port of call was for dinner this evening was Restaurant du Chateau a Jarnac – one of those quintessentially French restaurants that do literally everything properly. And I didn’t even have to think about the arduous task of ordering dinner – they’d laid on a special menu for us: a cognac/bubbles cocktail, fish soup, salmon fillet with creamy risotto, and cognac cake with pears and ice cream. Thank you, and good night.

Dinner at Restaurant du Chateau a Jarnac

Why go to Cognac?

Like much of France, this is a region that really shines when it comes to food and drink. But it’s a particular pilgrimage for those who really want to dig into cognac. The area is understandably saturated with it, literally and figuratively. I had an absolute whale of a time learning about the processes at the various houses we visited, as well as drinking a lot of cognac and eating a lot of stunning food.

It is always a real treat to eat at the little restaurants that you know are always tucked away in ancient French villages but not always easy to find. So if you head to the area, take my advice and try all of the eateries I went to. Also try the cognac and tonic – it works better than you’d expect, I promise.

Everything we ate and drank was faultless, although I did gain about half a stone in the space of about four days, but it was well worth it. And base yourself at the Hotel Chais Monnet and Spa for a real treat. Frankly, I never wanted to leave.

DETAILS

Explore Cognac www.explore-cognac.com
Hotel Chais Monnet Hotel & Spa
Restaurant Cave La Quincaillerie
Chateau Montifaud
Maison Hennessy
Poulpette
Rémy Martin
Chateau Delamain
Ban de la Distillation
Restaurant du Chateau a Jarnac

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Exploring Cognac. Hidden wonders and a feast for the senses appeared first on Silver Magazine.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of visiting the Maldives, staying at the idyllic Cora Cora Maldives resort. And I’m here to tell you two perhaps surprising things.

Firstly, that although May/June is technically low season, when it’s wettest and most humid, it’s actually a very good time to go. More on this later.

And secondly, that this luxury paradise is not as pricey as you might think – particularly if you go in low season. Considering the stunning beach villa I had, the amazing food and wine I inhaled, and the fact that it’s genuinely all inclusive (more on that later too), when I came to look at the cost, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Let me tell you all about my stay…

Heading east to the Indian Ocean

Flying east is always a bit tougher on the old body clock than heading west. And when you travel to the Maldives, you’re losing a solid four hours. The pro trick? Fly overnight, sleep as much as you can on the flights, and lean into the luxury at the other end. I found that doing it this way made it easily tolerable, with minimal jet lag.

We left Heathrow on a Sunday afternoon, and flew through the night with a stopover at Doha before touching down at Malé airport just after 8am local time on the Monday morning.

As with most resorts in the Maldives, the best – and often the only – way to access the resorts is by seaplane. And I was very excited about this. However, as we were about to board, blundering around in a jetlagged brainfog like overtired toddlers, the heavens opened and there was wild wind and rain, putting us on hold for a bit. Frankly I found the whole thing quite exciting, and not because I’m British and love rain, thank you.

Arriving on a seaplane is straight out of a Bond film

Being May, it’s the start of the rainy season so this sort of thing is to be expected. But the downpours are short, and we were soon skimming across turquoise waters and tiny islands like something out of a Bond film.

I slept almost the entire 45 minutes it took to get there. I think most of our group did. But how wonderful to stagger off the seaplane, on to the jetty and meet the team from Cora Cora Maldives, armed with cool flannels and floral neck garlands for us. What a gorgeous way to arrive anywhere.

Day one – settling into the luxury

Our first day was a gentle one – just enough to shake off the travel haze and settle in properly. Absolutely LOVED my beach villa. Outside the cool, air-conditioned suite, I was able to open the back door, walk onto the sand, scattering colourful birds and little lizards and crabs, and fall straight into the warmth of the Indian Ocean. I also loved the indoor/outdoor bathroom – there’s something hugely decadent about showering outside, completely naked.

Pics from my villa: the ‘back yard’, the bubbles and sweets left out for me on arrival, and my gorgeous inside/outside bathroom

We gathered for a relaxed lunch at the biggest/main restaurant on site, Tazäa, where I asked for an enormous gin and tonic and got something so strong it would have floored a rhino. OK Harrington-Lowe, I thought. When they say, ‘how many measures?’ and you hilariously say ‘six!’, maybe reframe that. I had freshly-made gazpacho and a Caesar salad. Man, it was good.

I’m just going to say that I would love to write more about all the food in this review, because every single meal I ate was exemplary. But if I gave you the rundown on everything, you would genuinely be in a retirement home by the time you’d finished reading. Everything is extraordinarily fresh, with clean, elegant menus at each restaurant. I didn’t have a duff meal once in the whole time I was there. And I tried a LOT of food!

I might have had a tiny gin-fuelled snooze after lunch…

Before easing into the evening island vibe. I had a shower, and a little mooch about outside before we all met up for dinner. Which was a frankly fantastic Japanese experience at the elegant Teien.

Japanese feast at Teien. So beautifully fresh and exquisitely prepared

If I have any regrets about my trip, it would be that I didn’t get more time in Teien. It’s very rare you go to an ‘all-inclusive’ and get the option to eat yourself silly in the premium restaurants. Often, one can eat and drink in a couple of the main outlets, with additional costs levied for eating in the special places. That’s not the case here, and it’s one of the things that makes it properly standout. All the eateries are included in your package, and so are premium drinks such as champagne. It’s such a treat not to have to think about it as you go along, and an even bigger treat to eat and drink like Henry VIII 24/7.

When in, er, the Maldives…

Doing a sterling job of reviewing everything on offer, we headed for a snifter at Italian-flavoured Acquapazza, where the breeze was soft, the night was warm, and the nightcaps flowed freely. I must admit to being a bit of a lightweight here – I think I had one and headed for the very welcome AC coolness of my villa. It’s a solid 29 degrees all day and all night here, and I needed a day or two to get acclimatised to that.

Fellow group mate Lauren’s late-night battle with the local gecko population provided plenty of entertainment after I’d left, via our group WhatsApp messages. “I’m never sleeping. One’s hissing at me,” she said.

Day Two: lizards, learning, and laughter

Tuesday dawned hot and bright, and Lauren survived the night. And after breakfast we were taken on a tour of the resort. A site inspection might sound dry, but not here. Whilst the resort is a paradisical playground, the owners also work in a largely unique way to not only champion ecology and sustainability, but also to applaud and recognise its Maldivian history.

For those who don’t know about the Maldives’ background… ancient trade hub/stopoff point for Spice Road, Buddhist for centuries, Muslim from 1153, Portuguese arrived 1558, Dutch followed, British protectorate till 1965. I think I have that right. And the Dutch Onion museum on the resort reflects a lot of the rich tapestry that makes up the Maldives’ history.

The museum visit was a genuine pleasure, mostly because of the guided talk we had. Our guide was truly passionate and knowledgeable. In a small resort playground with mostly ‘fun’ things to do, I found a touch of culture very welcome. There is exceptionally thoughtful curation and some fascinating insights into Maldivian heritage.

A similarly passionate coral conservation talk led by marine biologist Giulia Morello was delivered just as the skies opened in an apocalyptic downpour – not that it dampened our mood. And it was fascinating to learn how they’re creating coral ‘reefs’ using frames which they gently attach new corals to.

Talk at the museum, relics from the Brits tucked away in the curation room, and learning about the coral frame restoration project

Time for some more indulgence

Hitching a ride on one of the golf buggies to get me to the spa without getting drenched, the next thing on my agenda was a massage. Which I enjoyed face down on the bed, watching the waves and fish in the sea underneath the lagoon villa, through a special window in the floor. Masseuse Eva launched herself at my back and gave me the kind of working over I always want, but rarely get. That girl has The Gift.

Lunch followed at Acquapazza again, where the food is so consistently good I never want to stop eating. Yves reported that he had been having a bath and discovered a peeping bat staring at him from a tree. There are HUGE fruit bats flying around all the time. I thought they were birds, they’re so big.

Dinner was at Ginger Moon, where we overindulged in a wild array of the most amazing pan-Asian dishes under a canopy of dramatic monsoon clouds.

Fantastic pan-Asian dinner at Ginger Moon whilst the monsoon whooshed around us outside. A fantastic experience – and amazing food

Wednesday: saltwater, stretching, and storms

The day dawned bright and sunny. And by Wednesday we’d all more or less adjusted to the rhythm of island life. Which is to say barefoot by breakfast and blissed-out by sunset. The day began with yoga, of course, because nothing says ‘posing in paradise’ like trying to balance in tree pose while the sound of the sea washes around you. It really was very special.

Then it was into the water for snorkelling – a proper highlight. The reef is lively and vivid, full of darting fish and the occasional moment where your brain tells you that shadow might be a shark (it might be!).

The evening brought a resort meet-and-greet, followed by dinner back at Acquapazza, where the rain decided to put on another spectacular show. The air was fresh after a brief, wild downpour. I loved it. The champagne is always on tap, the food always excellent, and the company pretty good too!

Acquapazza delights: carpaccio and Champagne, night-lit pools, and yes that IS a rum baba and it was heavenly

Thursday: vibes, views, and velvet skies

Thursday slowed things right down. A morning sound bath lulled us into a sort of transcendental calm, although I found just as I was drifting away it was over all too soon. We drifted between the pool and the sea in a collective trance, broken only by the occasional splash and laughter from those attempting to perfect their ‘casual holiday float’ for Instagram (looking at you, Lauren!).

As the sun dipped low, we boarded a boat for a sunset cruise. Bubbles on board and lots of bobbing about on the warm seas. The sky turned apricot and gold, Kevin and Yves recreated ‘that’ special Titanic moment, and the whole thing felt deliciously cinematic.

Bubbly and being daft on the sunset cruise, an awesome chance to see the atoll from the waters

Friday: Champagne and so long

Friday was our final day, and the weather really turned it on. Blue skies, blistering sun, and water so clear it looked Photoshopped. We swam in the sea, lounged in the heat, and reluctantly packed our bags. A last lunch at Acquapazza, complete with chilled champagne, was the perfect farewell toast.

And then it was back on the sea plane, skimming across the waves once more, trying to hold on to the sense of calm and colour that only a place like this can give you.

Practical travel tips for UK visitors to the Maldives

Time zone shift
The Maldives is +4 hours ahead of the UK, which can mess with your body clock – especially flying east. To beat the worst of the jet lag, opt for an overnight flight. You’ll arrive in the morning local time, which makes it easier to power through the first day and reset.

Flights and transfers
There are some direct flights from the UK to the Maldives, but many have a stop. We flew with Qatar Airways and stopped at Doha, but the changeover was speedy. And honestly it was quite nice to stand up and move around for a while.

Once at Malé (MLE), many resorts (including Cora Cora Maldives) require a seaplane transfer – a glorious, scenic way to arrive, but it’s worth knowing:
• You’ll likely need to wait at the seaplane terminal a while after landing.
• Seaplanes don’t fly after dark, so late-arriving flights may require an overnight in Malé.

Currency
The Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) is the local currency, but USD is widely/more generally accepted, especially at resorts. You won’t need much cash – most things go on your room tab – but a few bucks are handy for tips or local purchases.

Weather
Expect heat and humidity year-round. May is the start of the southwest monsoon, so while it’s warm, you may get sudden tropical downpours. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, light clothing, and a decent hat – the sun is fierce.

Connectivity
Wi-Fi is generally good at high-end resorts like Cora Cora, and I found that by the time I’d piggy-backed the Wi-Fi in the airport and then the resort, I didn’t need to pay for data for my phone, which can be expensive. Download anything essential before you go, and consider a local SIM or travel data package if you plan to be online a lot and you’re moving about.

Sustainability notes
The Maldives is incredibly eco-conscious – especially the newer resorts. Cora Cora Maldives is single-use plastic free, has its own coral regeneration programme, and encourages barefoot luxury with a conscience. Treat this with the respect it deserves.

Costs

Looking ahead to 2026 and planning as if I was going to go back for my birthday in late January, these are the best costs I tracked down online (in June 2025), booking directly with Cora Cora Maldives, and Qatar Airways.

Six nights at Cora Cora Maldives, January 2026

Lagoon Villa £2,000 pp
Beach Villa £2,500 pp
Flights on Qatar Airways £745 pp

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Paradise found. Cora Cora Maldives delivers more than you expect appeared first on Silver Magazine.

If Athens and the Acropolis are on your bucket list but you’re put off by the thought of intense heat and insane crowds, this is your sign to go right now. Because springtime is the best time to visit Athens.

Usually when I step off a plane in Athens, it’s summertime. That sort of punch-you-in-the-lungs heat that you never get in the UK. It’s always a bit of a shock to the system.

It can easily hit 40 degrees in high season Athens. And in fact the only thing saving Athens from being completely unbearable is the breeze that blows off the Aegean Sea. Many Athenians abandon the city for the islands in summer, because it’s so hot inland. That should tell you something.

My springtime experience…

Firstly, I’ve had a very decent ride with Aegean (complimentary hot Greek meal and drinks, clean A360 plane with good legroom). Arriving into Athens on easyJet is a lot less easy on the old 50-plus bod, it has to be said. I’m Aegean all the way from now on.

A very decent prawn cocktail, hot pastitsio, and snacky biccie thing on board, for those of you interested. Wine not shown, ahem.

It’s heavenly stepping off the plane

Not unlike an early summer’s day in England – everything is warm, but has a light, green feeling. You can take a deep breath, draw in the fresh air, everything verdant and new, rather than the heat of summer when it’s all overripe, heavy and cloying like a black banana.

It’s early March and it’s the first time I’ve done Athens so early in the year. Before I even leave the runway and get into the airport I’m a convert.

First stop in my short trip is the hotel

I’m staying at the famous and beautifully elegant Hotel Grande Bretagne in Syntagma Square. One of the best five-star residences in Athens, and arguably the most famous, the hotel celebrated 150 years in 2024. It’s actually a Marriott now, but don’t let that put you off; it’s also a Luxury Collection hotel and retains its stately standing, with beautifully appointed bedrooms, excellent bars and restaurants, luxey pools and spa amenities, and that feeling I always want from a grande dame.

It has all its individual charm, great service, and feels every inch the traditional five star. My room also has a great view, plus the most exciting snackie drawer and well-stocked mini-bar I’ve seen in a hotel room for a long time. Bravo.

We arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon – there are a few of us travelling together – and once we’ve showered and changed, we’re all ready for some fun.

First things first; a drink in Alexander’s Bar at the hotel. This is a great place to start the evening – the bar and lounge are furnished with a nod to both Greek culture and the British theme of the hotel. I try not to feel too colonial.

The hotel, incidentally, has great views of the Acropolis. There’s an outdoor pool with stunning views of the hill and the buildings. Inside Alexander’s, there’s also an atrium where you can sit ‘outside’ and enjoy a peaceful oasis slap bang in the middle of one of the noisiest cities in the world. Cocktails all round, and then we’re definitely ready for some food. We head out into the Athens nightlife.

Read more: Why Mexico should be on your bucket list

Time for dinner and we’re off to Ergon

This is a place I’ve been wanting to visit for ages, so I’m thrilled to be at Ergon House. This isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a deli, a place to stay… a place to eat and drink and relax. The inside is set in a vast light atrium space, and the ethos is very much about local farmers and producers, seasonal foods and sustainable agriculture.

There’s even a ‘vertical orchard’ stretching up one wall of the 25-metre atrium which is worth the trip alone to have a look at. Incorporating the latest advancements in hydroponics and aquaponics, it serves as a 2.0 farming field, growing seasonal herbs such as oregano, basil, and rosemary. Unfortunately my photograph of it was awful, but you can see it on their website.

As you’d probably imagine from a place with these credentials, the food here is stunning. We pile into a range of different smaller plates; dolmades, Greek salad, khachapuri (that bread boat thing with cheese and egg in the middle), mad cheese pastries… but seeing as we’re sat right in the middle of one of the best butcheries in Athens, the obvious choice here is from the fresh meat counter.

You can pick things to eat from the deli and butchery counters – it’s an immersive eating experience – so I went for some lamb chops which were on the specials board. Sublime. And to finish off, at the insistence of the team at the restaurant, a vast quantity of local piney liqueur, Mastika, made from tree resin. This is an acquired taste, but a good digestif.

Safe to say we weren’t moving at any kind of speed after that lot, and we slid happily into digesting, chatting, and enjoying the buzz of an Athens just waking up from winter.

However, I’ll sleep when I’m dead…

I’m only in Athens for a short time so I’m making the most of it. I’ve been recommended a bar called The Bank Job. I feel it’s my duty to try it out, and my travelling chums are keen to support this noble effort. It’s only a short walk from Ergon (what did we do before Google maps?), and we’re glad we made the effort.

As you might guess, it’s in an old bank vault, with drinking spaces both inside and out, and it’s gently busy. We enjoy some really outstanding cocktails, and some freebies from the owner. I’d love to tell you his name but by this point things are delightfully hazy. Deciding to call it a night, and not ruin the next day, I slide off around 1am. Apparently I’m becoming more sensible in my advancing years.

Clearly being very sensible. Making the most of the Athens nightlife

Not sensible enough to avoid a thick head the next morning unfortunately…

But sensible enough to get up, shower, enjoy a decent breakfast and get to the Acropolis at a very reasonable hour. The site is open from 8am and I’m there before 9, because I’m wondering if there might be a bit of a queue, even at this time of the year. However, I wasn’t prepared for it to be so quiet. We paid our money, got our tickets and slipped straight through.

The Erechtheion or Temple of Athena Polias

Once on the site I could count the number of people there on one hand. It was slightly bizarre. I’ve been before but only in summertime, which is brutal. It’s so busy you can barely see the ground under your feet for crowds around you, let alone the ancient wonders.

This, then, is possibly the best reason of all to come in springtime. Late February/early March (avoiding that sneaky half term towards the end of the month) and probably well into April is prime time if you want to really see the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and so on. Not to mention a smog-free view of the city, laid out around you. It’s breathtaking, no exaggeration. Do it.

The Greek Theatre of Dionysus, and Athens beyond

View over Athens from Acropolis

Leaving the Acropolis we pottered down the hill

Already slowing into Greece pace – siga, siga, for those who know – which roughly means ‘slowly, slowly’. By this point it’s around 17 degrees, and the streets are littered with jolly dogs and watchful cats enjoying the gentle spring warmth. I pat a few lazily wagging curs. They sniff me hopefully for treats, and I wonder how they cope in the blazing summer heat. I guess they’re used to it. The road is cobbled and in very good nick. It’s also very clean.

Next up, the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is relatively new, having opened in 2009 after a fierce architectural competition – CAD-bags at dawn, one assumes. It’s actually a lovely job, architecturally-speaking. Modern and minimalist, the design lends more than a nod to the stately Acropolis architecture on the hill behind it. And there is a lot of glass. The windows are coated and the antiquities positioned so there’s no sun damage. But the lighting throughout the building is a joy.

The museum incorporates an ancient Athenian village, built around it to both preserve and display it. Discovered during an excavation, this 4,000-square-metre insight into ancient Athenian living can be seen from the viewing platforms. And somewhat disconcertingly through the glass floors.

Upstairs you enter an extraordinary space, filled with statues and pottery findings from past civilisations, leading up to the Roman Empire. Move through and you can get up close and personal with a couple of caryatids, sculpted women who for a couple of thousand years bore the weight of the Erechtheion. And there are the strangely humbling Parthenon statues upstairs in the glass gallery. It’s quite the ride, and a must-see for archaeologist enthusiasts.

At the museum I joined a tour group

So I could traipse round and understand what I was looking at. The guide however spent half the time telling everyone how terrible the British were for stealing things. A fair point, I’ll concede, but not something I can personally fix whilst on a mini break. And her endless ranting made it impossible to enjoy the treasures. Eventually I got fed up of being told off for something I hadn’t actually done myself, and went off piste, abandoning the group. I wasn’t the only one to ditch, either.

Happier walking around at my own pace, and feeling less like a dog with its tail between its legs, I drifted through the beautiful statuary in a happy little dream. The museum is well laid out and enjoyable to walk around. But like any museum, one hits a limit eventually – or at least my lower back does – and it’s time to stop the drifting.

Thankfully, there’s a very good restaurant on site. Time for some lunch after my busy morning. Obviously the vast meal of last night and hearty breakfast of earlier haven’t quite done the trick because I’m all over this lunch like a cheap suit. Excellent wine makes my cheeks pink, and I work my way through both spanakopita and Greek salad, followed by some kind of slow cooked beef thing (not stifado) with potatoes.

I’ve impressed even myself. I’ve also knocked myself flat on my back – I grab a taxi and head back to the hotel. Time for a nap.

My ‘nap’ ends up being an all-nighter

I ended up feeling so fat and happy in bed that I stayed there. I ordered a bit of room service, and had a good night’s sleep. In the morning, we left early, and my only regret is that I didn’t get to explore the hotel further. I had wanted to swim in the pools, eat in the restaurants. But it was a flying visit, and hopefully I’ll be able to go back.

More than anything, I would urge anyone keen to see the ancient treasures of Athens to go right now, before it gets any hotter. I am here to tell you that – for this kind of experience – springtime is the best time to go to Athens.

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Why springtime is the best time to visit Athens appeared first on Silver Magazine.

‘What drew you here?’ I asked a couple of nutrition coaches from Portsmouth as we sat in the sauna at one of Channel Four’s most famous Grand Designs. ‘Ooh, we had to see the house,’ they giggled. ‘We love a nose,’ agreed a mother and daughter couple, who go for a retreat day together a couple of times a year.

The lure of the grand design is an interesting idea. The borrowed fairy tale can be so other-worldly that it becomes a kind of liminal space for the yoga, breath work and natural swimming pond dip/sauna/hot tub prescription to work its magic.

But for anyone who saw the episode in which interior designer and architect couple, Nina and Dan, built their dream out of a Shrek-like swamp, the site of our day retreat was a story of transformation that we could all learn from.

Set in Bosham, one of the south coast’s most photogenic locations, The Watershed is a triumph of manifestation over the reality of glaziers failing to get your windows made in time. It’s a vision of how to make your dreams come true. In spite of Brexit, Covid, and Dan’s lovely dad dying before the magic could happen. As parallel narratives to accompany your yoga day go, it’s a good one.

How the dream began

As she showed us around the extraordinary space, regaling us with tales of the TV show experience and the hellish build, Nina told us how the biophilic design is about bringing the outside in. The vast windows look out onto the water and the garden, while the natural materials they’ve used for the interiors are all part of the plan to enhance well-being, health and productivity. It’s a very good place to retreat for the day.

After the first session, yoga overlooking the natural swimming pool, it was time for the dip. Now, I know a little about the oxygenating plants that purify a pond, creating an Eden for wildlife as the frogs, newts and dragonflies turn up the biodiversity volume. We’d almost gone the same route with the pond at our own eco-house in East Sussex, also home to retreats, but we decided that the ducks and geese might get more use from it. Dan and Nina have divided their pond; half for their human guests and the other half for the more indigenous swimmers.

The Water Shed natural swimming pool. Photo: IO Photography

It was always going to be a challenge to work with the elements, particularly the pond; ‘Like a narcissistic lover, water will destroy a building,’ Grand Design’s Kevin McCloud warns at the beginning of their build, as he surveys their plans. By the end of the episode, he clocks that these two clearly have someone to watch over them, as they dodge the bullets and brace themselves against the slings and arrows of life on a building site with two small children and a new puppy. The result is another triumph; a crystal-clear pool which the house perches upon, rather like the ducks on ours.

How could I not go in for a dip?

Yoga leader Anna Coates prepared the group. Trained in Wim Hof breathwork, she showed us how the breath can make all the difference to an icy swim.  ‘Dithering around’ in the shallows, she told us, confuses the body which is waiting to kick into protection mode. Commit to getting straight in up to your chest, exhaling slowly rather than panic breathing, and your body will do the rest, she said. The blood will flow to the surface, turning the skin a healthy pink.

I’m not sure I stayed in long enough to experience the ‘stabbing’ and the ‘electric fanny’ that everyone was chatting about in the sauna, but let’s just say that I’ve been having cold showers ever since.

The Water Shed hot tub and decking

And so to lunch!

Lunch! Photo: Gilly Smith

After a vegetarian lunch of burnt spring onions with ajo blanco, cavolo nero salad with sweet potato, beetroot and fat couscous, caramelised cauliflower and coconut soup, it was time to manifest our own dreams.

Guided by chantress, sound healer and breathwork coach, Camilla Hamblin, we used the gentle rhythmic pranayamic long breath mixed with a more activated short exhale to lead us into a meditation where our unconscious was waiting to have a word.

As we shared in small groups afterwards, there were plenty of tears as those who came for the view had a whole new way of seeing how to rebuild their own lives. Busy couples looked at each other as if for the first time. Workaholics, yoga sceptics and, yup even nay-saying cold water swimmers like me had a whole new vision of how life could be. And we hadn’t even had the cacao ceremony and sound bath yet.

The Water Shed living room

If houses could smile, I think the Watershed was rather pleased with the spell she had cast.

Kevin McCloud ends the episode of Grand Designs with a quote from American architect Charles Moore, who according to Aaron Betsky in The Architectural Review, had ‘the ability to make the fantastical seem logical, and the sensual seem necessary.’

‘Buildings should be the instruments of connection, not of isolation,’ says Kevin as he assesses the finished dream house. ‘The question is: what do you want to be connected to?’

The next day retreat is 2 May 2025, and the venue is available for hire
www.thewatershed.co.uk

Gilly Smith

Gilly Smith is a food journalist, podcaster and runs food writing retreats at A Sussex House near Lewes. @foodgillysmith on Instagram

The post Want a truly idyllic retreat? Try the Water Shed appeared first on Silver Magazine.

I’ve wanted to use this photo of Jilly Cooper for yonks, so I’ve dug it out shamelessly for this piece. Just look at her! How gorgeous? I suspect that Jilly’s life has probably been, in parts, as exciting and racy as many of her novels. When I think of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, or Riders, or any of them, I sort of picture her like this, writing them.

I grew up loving Cooper. As a child, I can remember my dad guffawing to her columns in the heady days of Harold Evans’ Sunday Times, over a full English and untipped Gitanes. I was too young to read her then, but endlessly devoured collections of her works a few years later. And as I hit my teens, I fell head over heels in love with her romantic heroines. Prudence, Octavia, Emily, Bella, Imogen et al – I read them cover to cover, repeatedly. I loved Octavia best, because who doesn’t love a broken bad girl? And Octavia was very naughty indeed.

Tame stuff by today’s standards really, despite the wildness of the ‘70s. But my love for Jilly was set for life. The delicious Britishness of it all was a big part of the attraction. I devoured the wicked filth of Jackie Collins, but it was so American to me, settings I could barely relate to. Whereas Cooper wrote very much about life from my own frame of reference. Country living, London, dogs, ponies… ridiculous 11am drinks parties. As a child, one of my first ever jobs was as a pheasant plucker – I kid you not. So to find someone writing about sex, drama, and intrigue in English country villages…

Read more: Are you common? A class guide…

But I digress

When the big ‘bonkbusters’ (god, I hate that term) started coming out, I was in fits of ecstasy. From Riders onwards I was hooked, reading voraciously and pining until another one came out. I have no idea how one even starts to write novels like that, holding all that information about so many characters together. I can barely remember why I went into the kitchen. But reading the books, sinking into that heady world of treachery, and money, and sex, and absolutely appalling behaviour was a wild pleasure I can still feel today.

So when I saw that Rivals was to be made into a TV series – by Disney no less, a weird marriage, I thought – I was wary. There have been a few adaptations of Cooper’s work before, and they’ve largely been rather awful. Would this be any different? As luck would have it, I was invited to a premiere screening of the first two episodes, followed by a panel sesh with some of the actors – so I would get to find out sooner rather than later.

The launch event was huge fun

The invite had specified there would be ’80s-themed drinks and canapes, and on the way up to town, my plus-one Kath and I necked G&Ts and wondered what they might be. Vol au vents, for sure. Possibly smoked salmon. Prawns? It turned out to be a take, rather than a religious revisit, which is probably better. But there were vol au vents, you’ll be pleased to know (creamy chicken and mushroom). Also prawn cocktails, and teenie Black Forest gateaux, amongst other delights.

…you could have been forgiven for thinking it really was 1985. We circulated a bit, rubbing shoulders with celebs and quaffing bubbles and tequila sunrises…

We did however arrive to a glittering event with Duran Duran blaring, hot and cold running cocktails and champagne, and stars galore. For one moment you could have been forgiven for thinking it really was 1985. We circulated a bit, rubbing shoulders with celebs and quaffing bubbles and tequila sunrises, before taking seats in the sumptuous screening room.

Kath and I tried not to squeal with excitement when Aidan Turner sat right in front of us (WHAT a handsome man). But sadly he was moved to the front, ready for the Q&A at the end. My friend Amanda was messaging me, telling me to sniff him so she could know what he smelled like. I was four drinks deep by then and might just have had a go, but thank god the poor man was moved before I could work out how to do this. And I probably avoided an arrest for public harassment into the bargain. So sorry, I can’t tell you what Aidan Turner smells like, but he looks very clean. And did I say how handsome he is?

(L to R) Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Emily Atack, David Tennant, Dame Jilly Cooper, Danny Dyer, Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Claire Rushbrook and Victoria Smurfit (Photo: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

Tell us about the show

I’m not allowed to write about the show itself yet properly. It’s embargoed until whatever date was on the piece of paper they made me sign. So I can’t actually review it properly. But I think I can tell you a few things without getting strung up.

Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

David Tennant (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

Katherine Parkinson (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

The lineup was always going to make this enjoyable viewing, even it was shit, let’s face it. Some of my faves are in this – David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner, Emily Atack… and many more, as they say. It’s a great bunch, and dare I say it, very well cast. Tennant is sneering and chippy as Lord Tony Baddingham, Danny Dyer a perfect Freddie Jones. Bella Maclean is meltingly beautiful as Taggie, and Victoria Smurfit is a brilliant, fragile Maud O’Hara. And if you tell me that there’s a better actor to play hot-headed, principled Irish TV star Declan than Aidan Turner, well I don’t believe you.

The lineup was always going to make this enjoyable viewing, even it was shit, let’s face it

If you’ve been looking at the photos and thinking that Alex Hassell isn’t right for Rupert Campbell-Black, well, you’re not alone. Even Alex admits to being really worried about stepping into his shoes and not exactly looking like everyone expects him to. He’s not blond, for a start. But – and there are no real spoilers here Disney, if you’re reading this – after literally every part of Alex is revealed in the very first episode, as he points out, there’s nowhere really left to hide. So he just got on with it. And honestly, he makes a pretty good fist of it. He’s handsome, dastardly, and has a good bash at Rupert’s hidden depths, such as they are.

The challenge of taking on well-known characters

Many of the actors channelled older family members or situations. As readers of the book will know, Declan is fiercely protective of his family. Aidan said he was able to get into Declan mode by looking back at his own family. “He’s a dad, I’m a dad,” says Aidan. “I sort of related to him. And he’s like my dad, he’s Irish, there’s the hair…”

Nafessa Williams, who plays the gloriously feisty TV exec Cameron Cook, said she couldn’t wait to immerse herself in the ’80s, pointing out that she had family back then who looked exactly like she did in the show, big hair and all. She’d been able to use her own experience as the only American actor in the show, not really having insight into the wonders of the English countryside.

“It’s a lot like life imitating art, right?” she says. “Like, she [Cameron] came from New York to come here, I came from LA. So I understood her coming here and being new and not understanding this world.”

I’m not sure how many slow-burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on, so it was extremely enjoyable to play

Katherine Parker plays gentle Lizzie Vereker, and I suspect talking about the situation between her character and that of Danny Dyer’s is off limits, although obviously you can read what happens in the book. But she confesses to being thrilled to be working with him, and their chemistry is lovely.

“I was so pleased that Danny was playing that part. It’s so beautifully drawn throughout the series, their dynamic. And it unfolds over eight episodes, which is a kind of slow-burn relationship. Which feels very ‘80s. I’m not sure how many slow-burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on, so it was extremely enjoyable to play.”

And another great team

David Tennant is Lord Baddingham, massively hung up on class and wanting to fit in. He’s anchored by his wife, Lady Monica, played by the excellent Claire Rushbrook, who is very much old school posh, and who gives him the only real class clout he has. David says he loved playing Tony.

“It’s all there, it’s all there in the writing. And it’s very potent, it’s very British. But it’s very human too, you know? Like, [as Tony] I can never quite be where I want to be, to always be disappointed, because no matter how hard you try, there’s a club you’re not allowed to be in. And for someone like Tony, that’s devastating. He can only try harder. And he will never be satisfied because he’s always one peg down from the exclusive club, and it kills him.”

…he will never be satisfied because he’s always one peg down from the exclusive club, and it kills him…

Tony’s a grammar school boy, as opposed to, say, Rupert’s start in life at Harrow. And the chip on his shoulder is enormous. The most important thing to Tony?

“Winning!!” shouts Tennant, quite literally, channelling Tony alarmingly right there in the screening room. “Whatever that means, and whatever the situation… because he can never have the ultimate prize, he must have ALL the other prizes.” Tennant laughs. “He’s very balanced. There’s no daddy issues here, AT ALL!”

On scenes with Claire Rushbrook as his wife, Lady Baddingham. “I love those scenes, because it’s where all his armour falls away, and you get to see the little boy again. And he’s sort of got his mum there, that comfort. He’s very at home with her, and absolutely needs her. And he kind of runs this extraordinary lifestyle of treachery and debauchery, but he always has to have Monica.”

Best part of the night was seeing Jilly Cooper

Dame Jilly Cooper attends a special UK screening of “Rivals” (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

It’s not often I fangirl massively, but honestly. It’s DAME JILLY COOPER! After a lifetime of reading her books and words, I actually found it quite emotional to see her in the flesh. She was utterly divine, just so happy with the production and telling all the girls how beautiful they were and all the men how handsome. Plus ca change, Jilly! She’s a rather marvellous 87 now, and looking good on it. Plenty of the old Cooper sparkle, and clearly having a whale of a time at the do. I didn’t get to corner her, and probably would have been too shy really. But it was enough to have been there for this whole event.

As for the show – well, I could have sat there and binged the whole lot in one go. Which is, I suspect, what will happen when it finally airs. It’s one hundred per cent a ‘romp’ and not to be taken massively seriously. I absolutely loved it, and really hope they make the entire Rutshire Chronicles into telly shows, if they’re going to be like this.

Jilly Cooper’s Rivals launches on 18 October on Disney+ in the UK

Don’t say: “I’ll have a soya matcha latte with a gluten-free protein bar.”
Do say: “More champagne and keep it coming, and pass the Dunhills.”

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post First look: Jilly Cooper’s Rivals is a wild ride appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Arriving in the chandeliered lower chamber of the Ham Yard Hotel, where I have attended a slew of preview screenings in the past, I sensed this was a far more high-stakes affair.

A blue ‘red’ carpet had been laid on for the press to snap assorted luminaries implicated in A Very Royal Scandal (available to stream from 19 September) as they posed for the cameras. The glittering centrepiece beaming beneath those flashlights though was Emily Maitlis, whose career-defining 2019 Newsnight grilling of Prince Andrew is dramatised in the three-part Prime Video series.

Incidentally, she’s also the executive producer. She cuts a taut but staunch figure encased in a slinky evening dress, and her charisma means she stands out a mile. Maitlis’ central presence dominated the line-up in the post-screening Q&A session, too.

Emily Maitlis at the premiere of A Very Royal Scandal

During the screening

Onstage, her magnetism out-ranks even the actorly stature of Ruth Wilson (who has some pretty big “third-wave feminist” shoes to fill playing Maitlis) and Michael Sheen (whose Prince Andrew swerves from simpleton to sinister without breaking a sweat).

It is proof of the pairs’ acting chops that I did not recognise either onscreen until the credits rolled – supposedly the highest compliment you can bestow upon a thespian. While neither star bears much resemblance to their real-life counterparts, the sneak preview we were afforded suggests both have an admirable crack at inhabiting their roles.

Seated between the combined clout of two household names on one side, and the industry gravitas of writer Jeremy Brock, director Julian Jarrold and executive co-producer Karen Thrussell on the other, Emily Maitlis nonetheless remained the gleaming jewel in a very heavyweight crown. And not simply down to her sparkly dress. Almost all those assembled on the stage relayed their own tale of how over-awed they were when meeting Maitlis for the first time, if not downright intimidated by her journalistic might.

But Ruth humanises her subject somewhat during the Q&A by revealing that the former national news anchor scoffs Percy Pigs non-stop on the sly. We are teased with further glimpses of a more relatable Maitlis in the first episode, in the form of the frazzled and fallible “family woman” behind the Newsnight titan. One who guzzles her vodka nightcap with gusto, grapples with dog crap, gets chastised by BBC bigwigs for rolling her eyes during Brexit coverage, and rails against the Daily Mail. She even frets about which shoes to wear for her face-off with HRH ‒ whether to pump for feminist spike heels or more demure “Royalist” courts.

Read more: quiz – how well do you know your royal history!?

Bringing history to the screen

It feels apt to mention her attire this evening. The first episode features a wry scene in which Maitlis’ prospective interview outfit is planned in strategic detail – and, of course, in a manner and context that would never have been the case had Prince Andrew’s interrogator been a man. But, as the script recounts, Prince Andrew’s people were determined that he be interviewed by a woman. It’s “all about the optics”, as ever.

And not just any woman. In a scene that elicited gasps from the audience and actors alike, Prince Andrew meets with Maitlis for a pre-interview vetting and asks her abruptly if she has ever been abused herself.

We may only have been privy to a preview of the first episode, but such scenes go some way to setting up what promises to be an acute and astute examination of the tension between the monarchy and the media. This simmering dynamic has played out ever since QE2 was forced to kow-tow to the latter’s power for the first time in the original High Noon style stand-off with the British press following Princess Diana’s death in 1997.

…how on earth Prince Andrew could have thought “telling his truth” was a wise idea

The dialogue explores how on earth Prince Andrew could have thought “telling his truth” was a wise idea, given the circumstances, and points to his enduring privilege as the answer. Although answers are nowhere to be found in this version of events, it would seem. At least, not according to Michael Sheen.

Sheen praises Brock’s script for offering up more questions than explanations, and cites this uneasy ambiguity as key to its appeal. He goes on to divulge that he made up his own mind about Andrew’s culpability and proceeded to do different takes of crucial scenes. The Welsh star switched between playing the Duke of York as indeed guilty of sexual crimes against a minor, and depicting a maligned but ultimately benign man innocent of the allegations against him.

Sheen doesn’t share his private verdict on the Prince during the interviews, and insists it should be left to viewers to make up their own minds. Whether the rest of the series is mired in a similarly murky coyness remains to be seen. When quizzed, executive producer Karen Thrussell candidly attributes any narrative opacity to a “legal nightmare” rather than mere stylistic device or moral squeamishness. “It was fine to talk about the King wanting to become a tampon, though.”

The Q&A scandal

Speaking of moral squeamishness, it seems Maitlis has no truck with such qualms. At several points, the Q&A compere appears to ask whether Maitlis herself feels any remorse for her actions in the aftermath of probing Prince Andrew.

When met with initial bewilderment, the host presses the broader question of whether journalists should feel a sense of accountability for any adverse impact on their interview subjects.

At first somewhat flummoxed, Maitlis’ brow briefly furrows. For a fleeting moment she seems mildly riled, before shifting to rightful dismissiveness. “I don’t really think about it in that way,” she finally says. “That isn’t part of my job.”

Whatever the fallout from Randy Andy’s moment of reckoning with Emily Maitlis, his feelings (and those of his family) are not her responsibility. Nor should they be. Perhaps some of the seedier elements of the British press should face certain ethical questions about the effects of their approach on innocent parties caught up in such coverage. But just watching the first instalment of A Very Royal Scandal is reminder enough that few are more deserving of media scrutiny than the seedier elements of the British establishment itself.

I put it to my Plus One in the pub afterwards that, in its purest form, journalism is potentially among the noblest of professions ‒ when harnessed to hold the powerful to account. As one interviewer put it to another during the Q&A: “This is why we become journalists.” And why A Very Royal Scandal is potentially one worth getting caught up in.

A Very Royal Scandal streaming on Amazon Prime from 19 September 2024

Vivienne Button

Vivienne recently returned home to the East London riviera, spending her days working as an editor on Fleet Street and her evenings attending free screenings. A perennial crazy cat lady currently without a cat, she is ready, willing and more than able – when not stalking Silver’s own emotional support pug, Alice –  to pet-sit in exchange for a chance to escape the Big Smoke.

The post ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ premiere review appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Flying out to Zurich it was an unusually clear day. So clear that as we flew over the edge of England I could see my house from the plane. I waved goodbye to Blighty and settled in for the short journey to Switzerland. I was off to review the five star Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, hurrah.

Upon landing, the first thing I discovered was that my phone provider didn’t work in Switzerland. I’d just blindly assumed that I’d automatically get data switched over, but no.

No biggie, I figured, I’d just use the free Wi-Fi that I could see was in the airport. But connecting to the airport Wi-Fi was impossible. Log in here, add this code, no you can’t because you don’t have connectivity, log in here etc.

In the end a fellow traveller did me a hot spot so I could log in and buy some data. So be warned – Switzerland is not in the EU and your phone might not automatically work there. Plan ahead.

Leaving the airport, I was excited about my onward journey, because we had a train ticket to ride. I have a mad passion for train travel. The train was very clean and – we discovered to our amusement – very strictly silent.

In fact, our small group (all women, all quite excited) was roundly told off by a very cross little man who genuinely leapt out of his seat to tap the sign that presumably said “quiet”. We all shut up, trying not to look at each other and giggle.

I was right to be excited though…

I had a first-class ticket, and a first class view of Switzerland as we sped towards our destination. Awe-inspiring mountains rising out of stunning blue lakes, the tops so high they were lost in the clouds. It was thrilling, and I don’t say that lightly. There’s a huge benefit in feeling the power of awe, and the landscape really is awesome.

I could have spent hours on the train. But we arrived at Sargans station all too soon, and were picked up to head to the hotel resort.

Once inside the hotel I was hugely impressed. The lobby is light and airy, with a fantastic art installation of bubbles to represent the natural spa/spring water in the area. It’s upmarket without feeling oppressive. I don’t know how they manage to make such a vast hotel feel so family-run, but that’s how it rolls.

Dogs are allowed, which always makes me happy. And also kids, which I’m generally less enthusiastic about, if I’m honest. The resort is very much geared up for children though, unusual for a spa hotel like this, and I think actually it’s a nice idea. There’s a Kindervilla on site, for the children to hang out in during the daytime, as well as plenty of babysitters.

There’s also a children’s Heidi-themed spa area. So although the little darlings are allowed at the hotel, you don’t get them killing the chill in the adult spa zones. I don’t really mind kids. But don’t want them squawking next to me in the jacuzzi.

Also, something that one finds increasingly these days, despite the hotel having five stars and a very luxurious offering, guests were dressed quite informally. Not scruffy, you understand. Just in a relaxed fashion – which I totally appreciate. I’m done with heels and uncomfortable clothing these days.

My suite was a total corker

The view from my balcony

The suite was vast, situated at the front of the hotel with breathtaking views across the mountains. Standing on the balcony staring at the scenery whilst soft rain pattered around me was a quiet moment of bliss that I can still feel now if I close my eyes.

On my desk I found a gorgeous little selection of sweet and savoury snacks. And I was also delighted to find a very well-stocked fridge and snack zone. Decent gin and tonic! Big tick.

Another word to the wise: I’d felt very smug remembering to bring my UK to Europe plug adaptor, but guess what?! The plugs in Switzerland are different. At our hotel the concierge had a bunch of them you could borrow, and almost everyone in our (British) group needed one. But something to be aware of.

Standing on the balcony staring at the scenery whilst soft rain pattered around me was a quiet moment of bliss

In the afternoon we’d been due to have a tour of the outside art installations, part of the Bad RagARTz exhibition, which happens once every three years. It’s a region-wide showcase, with art, sculptures and statues dotted everywhere. Worth planning a trip around this to see it, if you’re thinking of heading here. But it was raining, so instead we relaxed, had a tour of the hotel resort, including the Kindervilla, and got ready for dinner.

As I was dressing for dinner, a storm broke out over the mountains. Storms always excite me – it was quite something, thunder and lightning over the mountains. I watched it for a bit, spellbound.

Around the resort

The Grand Resort is home to several very lovely restaurants, as well as a health and medical centre, dental centre, and of course the spa. There’s even a take-away sushi kiosk, KOiSO, which I confess to ordering twice from during my stay.

The resort is a centre of medicine and wellness, not just a place for a massage and dip in the water. There are doctors here practicing in everything from orthopaedics, traumatology and vascular disease to mental health, dental health, and Chinese medicine.

There’s also a full-service plastic surgery department, sports therapy clinic, rehab centre, nutrition clinics… you name it, it’s probably at the resort. One could absolutely have a face lift and tummy tuck, and hide out here in the mountains to recover, having regular massages, therapies, and swimming in the various pools. Have put this on my mental wish list for in a few years’ time.

Our first night, and we met in the elegant lobby for cocktails

I’ve had beautifully-made cocktails in places all over the world (she said smugly) but the mixologists here are amongst the very best I’ve experienced. Exquisitely crafted drinks, gorgeous choice of glassware – a very good start to the evening.

Namun is their Asian-inspired restaurant, and where we ate on our first night. The joy of travelling in a small group means you get to order a la carte, rather than have a set menu, which can happen if you’re in a bigger group. I had Thai prawn summer rolls, and a mix of dim sum including dumplings, melt-in-the-mouth Wagyu beef, and various gyoza.

Sadly I couldn’t manage any pudding, but I did choose some sake from their extensive sake-specific menu. And by the time dinner was over, I was ready to drop. The food was magic, and I slept like a baby.

Deliciousness at Namun

Next morning the sun had broken through…

And I was chuffed to bits that I’d ordered breakfast in my room. I leapt out of bed – well, maybe not leapt, but rose enthusiastically – and before even having a cup of tea, bolted downstairs to the outside pool. I’d seen it the day before, and was desperate to get in it, to swim with that phenomenal backdrop, and make the most of the dry weather. It was heavenly.

Back up to my room and my breakfast trolley had been delivered. This for me is the height of dining delight – to eat indulgently in the privacy of my own room. I made a point of having the ‘<<verve>>’ special, so named after the resort’s Michelin-starred restaurant. If you’re interested, it’s crispy sourdough toast, with a tomato jam, and lovage whipped tofu cream, topped with poached eggs and baby salad leaves. I could have done without the jam, very sweet. But the whippy tofu stuff was magic.

Outdoor pool; <<verve>> breakfast; spa relaxation area

I was booked in for the ‘Pause and Reset’ treatment – an 80-minute aromatherapy full body workover that is “specifically designed to help ease the side effects of hormonal changes.” I don’t know about that, but I do know that I could barely stand when I got off the bed. Can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed.

After that it was a short stagger to the spa area, where I bobbed about in the fabulous body-temperature swimming pool, before somehow making my way to my room for a short siesta. Nice to be able to wander around in my robe. It’s one of the nicest and oddest things about fancy spa hotels, I find. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to grab sushi to take up to my room. Because once I landed there, I was wiped out! Siesta time…

The afternoon saw a few activities before dinner…

Post-lunch, members of our group pottered around the local area. For me it was a chance to take in some of the outdoor art installations, and also have a little mooch around the little village next to the resort. Some of the group went to the Tamina Gorge, the source of the 36.5° C warm thermal waters that have made Bad Ragaz world famous.

‘Bad’ by the way, means ‘bath’, in case you were wondering. I didn’t know that until I came here, and I’d thought Bad Ragaz sounded a bit like a rapper’s name. But now we both know.

In the evening we were lucky enough to eat at verve by Sven, the Michelin-starred restaurant on site. I’d been excited about this since we arrived, and made the most of the exciting menu. For starter I had tomato, redcurrant, basil, and pine nut burrata plate, which was outstanding. Then for main course, a few of us shared the frankly astonishing seared beef cutlets with hoisin jus, served with seared lettuce and other bits.

A beef encounter

I know, not very adventurous in a place with a star. But frankly I think you can judge a restaurant by its steaks, eggs, custards, and sauces. I’m going to say it’s a yes from me here. The beef was meltingly delish. I wish I had two stomachs.

Our final day…

And I woke up to breakfast in my room again. I went all-out this time. Eggs, crispy bacon, caviar and a little bottle of Ruinart, my favourite champagne. How could I not?!

Oh well, if you insist

Once we’d checked out, we had a trip to Heidi’s Village, which was as surreal and adorable as you might imagine. Although Heidi is a fictional character, the stories are set in the region, and Heidi’s Village is only a short 10 min ride from the hotel. There are goats, natch. And they’ve created the houses that Heidi and all the other book characters would have lived in. It’s a bit nuts, but very endearing. It’s perfect for children who know the stories.

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is a great place for multigenerational trips because it’s one of the only places in the world that I’m aware of that accommodates kids at an upmarket spa hotel.

Plenty of childcare, coupled with the children’s spa and pool areas, mean that you can take your kids and grandkids there and not have to sacrifice your own peaceful experience. Or enable your darling offspring to annoy other guests. And when you’re not in the hotel, there’s plenty to do within a short hop from the resort.

I loved the place, and wished I could have stayed longer. The food was exemplary, and the service and facilities faultless. I didn’t want to come home!

Now, to start planning my next visit there…

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
Rates: high season, rooms and suites from 750CHF (Swiss francs) per night. A suite like mine is around 1,100CHF (£990) per night
‘Pause and Reset’ treatment 295CHF (£265)
Tasting menu at verve by Sven 120CHF (£116)
Return flight Heathrow-Zurich is around £200-300 off peak, but you can easily double that in high season

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Five star treatment at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz – review appeared first on Silver Magazine.

If immersing yourself in the gentle glamour of a bygone age is up your street, you’ll love this. A luxurious lunch on board a beautiful steam train, a Pullman Dining Train. With nothing to do except eat, drink, and take in the breathtaking Yorkshire scenery. Escape the real world for a few hours, and let the train take the strain. Naomi Katze went along to try out the Moorlander experience…

Arriving at the station

Your experience begins when you drive into the picturesque village of Grosmont, North Yorkshire. Grosmont is actually famous for the discovery of ironstone in 1836, when George Stephenson’s original railway from Whitby to Pickering was being built. Although the ironstone industry is now a thing of the past, the railway is still a prominent part of the village.

Parking is plentiful for access to the station, with large parking areas. Don’t forget to pay for your ticket before you walk to the station like we did!

With just a 5-10 minute walk through pretty woodland, crossing over the wrought iron bridge to the station, you start to get the feeling you’re travelling back in time. It’s like a scene from Heartbeat. The staff are impeccably dressed in vintage attire. And there’s a real buzz around the station as there are trains due in, and some being shunted about. The sun was shining – we were actually blessed with some sun when we visited. And there’s just something so nostalgic about these trains. Even if you’re no train enthusiast, the beauty of them is evident as soon as you see them.

All aboard!

We’re met by cheerful staff, who check us in and also inform us of an upgrade! So we are shown to a first class private coupe, which was a lovely surprise. The table is laid out with proper linen tablecloths and napkins, and our (pre-ordered) menu choices are displayed on a card on the table, along with some fresh bread and butter. We’re asked if we would like any drinks and I have to say, during our whole time on board, the service was absolutely brilliant. Attentive, but not annoying, they work like clockwork to their schedule. It’s obviously a well-rehearsed service, and the experience and meticulous planning is clear.

It’s very comfortable in our special coupe, the chairs are beautiful. But don’t expect air con or Wi-Fi, charging points or any modern bits. The experience is authentic and it’s really rather lovely not having ‘mod cons’ everywhere. Once you get moving, with the whistle blowing, the chuffing of the train, you’ll settle back in your seat and just enjoy the food and views.

Alan and Naomi settle in for a good lunch

The views and the food though…

Chugging along the 18 miles of railway through the scenic North Yorkshire Moors, we enjoy our starter and main courses. And drinks, including some fizz, obviously. Drinks aren’t included in the price, so anything you order is an additional cost. But cash or card accepted, so it’s easy to pay.

The menus change, but for the record, we had goat’s cheese, pear and walnut tart, and home-made chicken liver pâté with sourdough toasts and sticky onion marmalade. Main courses, we had to try the locally produced roast loin of Yorkshire pork with stuffing, crispy crackling, apple sauce and home-made gravy. And for some balance, the Yorkshire seafood chowder, with succulent chunks of local fish, prawns and mussels in a creamy sauce. The desserts are served after we have a break – more on this below.

Seafood chowder with local fish, prawn and mussels, and roast Yorkshire pork with crackling, apple sauce, crackling and veggies

We were happy – and particularly happy that despite working in a restricted train prep area, the chefs were able to work around my husband’s allergy to onions. Special mention for the homemade pâté, which was delicious. Both main courses were good – the roast had a really good selection of veg. And the chowder was really tasty, lots of fish.

The three-course menu is all very tasty, and paced nicely throughout the journey, so we never feel rushed, but equally never find ourselves looking up and down the corridor in vain, trying to get fed. We get to the end of the first leg and stop at Pickering station for about 10 mins or so. The break is designed to allow for a leg stretch, or the opportunity to take some photos of another unique and pretty station.

Read more: Discover one of London’s best hidden afternoon teas…

And turn around again…

Once everyone is back on board, the train takes the return journey back to Grosmont. Again, you are tended to along the way, with dessert, and coffee or tea served with the most wonderful chocolates I’ve tried for some time. We went for the cheeseboard, and a trio of desserts (lemon posset, white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, and chocolate tart). Which just about finished us off, as we sat back, happy and full.

Selection of cheese and biscuits. In case you hadn’t worked that out!

I want to mention a really nice touch with the chocolates too. They’re made by Park House Barns, a charity that supports young autistic people to develop work skills. I can vouch for the fact that they’re certainly doing a great job with these choccies.

Full and nicely relaxed, we trundle along the tracks, with everyone you pass waving at the train and its passengers, so of course you wave back. Scenes from the Railway Children aren’t far from our minds. The whole experience is a very relaxed and enjoyable affair, and you cannot help but smile every time you hear the sound of the whistle blowing. There’s just something about how that little noise makes you feel.

For a lunch, it may not be the cheapest of days out. But it’s very enjoyable and certainly relaxing. A lovely experience that’s helped by the well-organised, informative and happy team that tend to you throughout your journey. Give it a go; you won’t be disappointed.

Prices include meals but not drinks – menus change with the seasons
Per person £95
Four-person private coupe £399

North Yorkshire Moors Pullman Dining Trains

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The post Luxury lunch on board a Pullman Dining steam train? Yes please… appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Stereotypes abound of lazy millennials and Gen Zs who are too scared to make a phone call, when they’re not busy being triggered by full stops. At the other end of the age spectrum, “OK, boomer” has become a widespread response to anything anyone over 70 says. Especially if it involves the alleged good old days. In the middle, Gen X is probably, I dunno, thinking ‘meh, whevs’ and listening to Absolute Radio 90s… But none of this beefing across the decades is particularly edifying or constructive – or even accurate in many cases. Which brings me nicely to my Red Pitch review, about a wonderful coming-of-age play.

The play centres on three 16-year-old black aspiring footballers, Bilal, Joey, and Omz. They live on the same inner London estate. And they are all hoping to impress the scouts at try-outs for QPR.

That might not sound like the premise for a relatable night at the theatre for anyone older than about 21. Or anyone who doesn’t care about or can’t play football. But it is definitely worth the pleasingly affordable ticket price. For all three, the chance to play for QPR represents a chance to be successful, help their families and overcome unfairly low expectations.

Emeka Sesay as Joey, Kedar Williams-Stirling as Bilal, and Francis Lovehall as Omz, photo by Helen Murray

The play doesn’t descend into tired stereotypes about gangs, drugs, or knife crime

Instead, it is a powerful state-of-the-nation wake-up call in a country. Where people are still judged by the colour of their skin, and their age.

As the surface is scratched, it soon becomes clear that Red Pitch is not just about three lads kicking a ball around and arguing over Twix bars, chips, and chicken wings.

Omz is a young carer for his 81-year-old grandfather. Bilal is living in the shadow of a tough father with impossible standards. Joey is the most privileged of the three friends, but he is full of righteous anger about those who are being left behind by the gentrification of their estate.

For anyone who was 16 many moons ago, there is a lot to learn from the fast-talking, wisecracking trio. When we – and our parents and grandparents – get older, caring responsibilities cast shadows over our lives.

The characters are hugely relatable

As much as anyone might want to be stoic and dutiful when it comes to caring for ageing relatives, it was easy to relate to Omz’s constant worrying about his grandfather. It is an act of love that will always be tempered by stress, heartache and glimpses of our collective mortality. It was tempting to rush onstage and give outwardly brazen but inwardly fragile Omz a hug. Especially as Soho Place’s in-the-round setting means you can almost touch the actors from the stalls.

Read more: behind the scenes of a small theatre company

With Bilal’s story, the pressure placed on him by his unseen but exacting father must have revived memories for many of the adults in the teen-heavy audience. Parental pressure to succeed – but only in certain fields – and dealing with teenage disappointment that lingers into adulthood, are themes that don’t stop being relatable as we age.

Then there’s Joey, who aspires to be a lawyer and a footballer. It might sound incongruous for a 16-year-old to be full of rage about the changes coming to their rundown but beloved estate. But the deft script means he doesn’t sound like London’s youngest pub bore. It is clearly a reflection of the displacement of social housing tenants that has happened at Elephant and Castle.

The neighbourhood has become shinier at the expense of soul and of the security of longstanding communities.  This is a big message for a play about three teenagers, but it is important and thought-provoking. It can be easy to forget how young people need that sense of belonging that is imparted by strong communities. Even if the buildings are unpretty.

Delving into nostalgia

For me, the play was enhanced by the fact I was surrounded by teenagers and young adults. The smell of Skittles, Doritos and teenage deodorants reminded me of high school in Australia. That era’s aromas were tuckshop food, Rexona Sport and Body Shop White Musk. I’m sure the scents have changed, but it is a universal and constant truth that rooms populated mostly by teenagers tend to smell like junk food and cheap fragrances.

When the initial feelings of nasal assault were replaced by nostalgia, it provided a sense of comfort. This amid a play that is designed to make people feel uncomfortable. As I left the theatre, I overheard an elderly gentleman confess that he only understood about 50 percent of the dialogue. But I hope that even if he was confounded by the fam-laden script, he was able to see that young people are facing challenges that are simultaneously unique to their generation, while being common to us all. We can and should do better to understand each other, rather than resorting to cheap stereotypes that reduce us all.

• Red Pitch runs until 4 May 2024 at Soho Place theatre, London

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Red Pitch review: exploring cross-generational challenges appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Despite a few po-faced reviews, Plaza Suite is a hoot. Georgia Lewis fights back with her Plaza Suite review. All photos Marc Brenner.

Theatre reviews can be a useful guide to spending your entertainment budget. Especially when ticket prices can set you back the equivalent of a weekend away in Paris. But a large grain of salt should be kept handy. This is the case with reviews of Plaza Suite, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Who make the most of the chemistry and familiarity that comes with being married for 27 years.

The Daily Mail gave it a nostalgia-infused five stars, the Evening Standard gave it four stars and described it as “sensational”, while The Telegraph’s four-star review punnily opined that it “hits the suite spot.”

…they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce…

But the Guardian’s Arifa Akbar gave it a miserable two stars, describing it as “dated”, and “flat and forgettable, not testing either actor’s seasoned skills on the boards.”

Never mind that Parker and Broderick are on stage for the entire three-vignette play, each playing three different roles. They alternate between comedy and tragedy for the first vignette that depicts a marriage where hitherto unspoken tensions bubble to the surface within an hour. Then they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce amid assorted marital home truths for the second and third vignettes.

In his three-star review for Time Out, Andrzej Lukowski agrees that Plaza Suite is “dated”. And feels it would have been better if “a modern sensibility” was applied. Sam Marlowe for The Stage gives it two stars, declaring it a “mechanical museum piece”.

“Dated” is a weird description for a play written by a heterosexual man in 1968 about heterosexual relationships in 1968. And, frankly, there is nothing wrong with a period piece play shining a light on a bygone era.

Setting the scene; the first vignette

Broderick and Parker as Sam and Karen Nash. Photo: Marc Brenner

Of course, if it was written today, the luxury hotel room where all the action takes place would be sleek and minimalist with a Nespresso machine and Netflix on the telly. Instead, the set is a plush beige and gold Room 719 that would have represented the height of sophistication at the time.

The set provides a window on the play’s relationship stories. Hotel rooms are both intimate and impersonal. This is why the suite is the perfect backdrop to efficiently tell three very different stories. The slate is wiped clean for each new tale, as if room service has come by.

And if it was written today, there would probably be at least one same-sex relationship among the three mini-plays. Indeed, there is ample opportunity for an enterprising playwright to try their hand at a modernised adaptation. The trust issues of Sam and Karen Nash, the couple trying and failing to celebrate their 23rd (or possibly 24th…) anniversary in the first vignette, are not exclusive to straight couples.

Read more : Fancy a break away off grid in Wales?

In the second vignette…

Broderick as Jesse Kiplinger. Photo: Marc Brenner

Broderick plays thrice-divorced Hollywood producer Jesse Kiplinger meeting his high school sweetheart, Muriel Tate, who is now a star-struck New Jersey housewife. Parker definitely channels Carrie Bradshaw’s dippier moments for this one. Meanwhile, Broderick is a bitter Austin Powers – and possibly Ferris Bueller’s final form. Jesse and Muriel’s reunion keeps you guessing as to whether they will move from the suite’s living room to the bedroom. It is a light palate cleanser after the escalating seriousness of Sam and Karen’s arguments.

If Jesse and Muriel were gay high school sweethearts, that would certainly add a poignant twist to the lightest of the three stories. It’s easy to imagine them reuniting after a secretive teenage romance. Especially if it took place in less enlightened times – and it would be sadder still if, as adults, the characters were trapped in heterosexual marriages. Again, this is something an enterprising playwright could test at the keyboard.

Marianka Swain’s largely positive four-star review for London Theatre makes the curious criticism that Jesse referring to his ex-wives as “bitches” is jarring. No, it’s realistic. It’s not pleasant language, but it’s not even exclusive to 1968. You’d have to have led a pretty sheltered life if you’d never heard someone refer to their ex as a bitch. Or indeed a bastard. It’s how real people talk, whether it’s 1968 or 2024. If Jesse, a classic Hollywood arsehole, referred to his ex-wives as “horrid”, THAT would be jarring.

The third vignette…

Parker and Broderick as Norma and Roy Hubley. Photo: Marc Brenner

Where high farce and physical comedy are ramped up to Mach 5, centres on Roy and Norma Hubley. A long-married couple desperately trying to coax their daughter Mimsey out of the bathroom on her wedding day. Anyone who has been involved in wedding dramas will relate. Especially if you have ever said, “Well, they’ll have to go through with it now. Too much money has been spent already!”

My imagined enterprising playwright might want to make the family non-white. Perhaps with a deft touch to avoid cheap stereotypes about weddings in different cultures. Or perhaps Mimsey has cold feet about marrying her bride, while the hapless Roy and the magnificently-hatted Norma are desperate to show the world how open-minded they are.

I would pay good money to see a modernised adaptation of Plaza Suite

But equally, on my visit, the diverse London audience related to the universal themes of distrust, jealousy, desperation, wondering what might have been, social climbing, uncertainty, temptation, and familiarity breeding contempt. Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate, whether performed traditionally or given modern updates.

Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate…

Above all, I recommend Parker and Broderick’s Plaza Suite because it is a lot of fun. Not everything needs to make a big political point. Their performances bounce around the stage like exuberant pinballs, the costumes and wigs are almost characters in their own right. And even if the beige and gold hotel room isn’t to your taste, you might just enjoy the two leads throwing themselves into their roles with the full force of their true star power.

At the end of the day, showbusiness is still a business. The proof of the pudding is in bums on seats – and Plaza Suite run has been extended. The people and their wallets have spoken.

Book Plaza Suite tickets here

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Plaza Suite review: A fun period piece with star power appeared first on Silver Magazine.