Townhouse & country
AngloThai, Marylebone listings, Mick Jagger's former residence, The Crazy Bear, Ronnie Scott’s, Saltmoore, best Guinness pints, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Happily married
The Skinny: Almost a decade after their first AngloThai pop-up in 2015, John and Desiree Chantarasak finally opened their long-delayed, hotly anticipated restaurant at the end of 2024. As the name suggests, the restaurant melds Thai fine dining with British ingredients, all sustainably and responsibly sourced. It feels like the Thai cousin of Kol, Santiago Lastra’s Mexican-British tasting menu hit (both are backed by MJMK, the genius restaurant group also behind Nuno Mendes’ Lisboeta). If you like those establishments, you’ll likely love AngloThai.
The Vibe: Off bustling Seymour Place, sweetly fragrant smells emit from the open kitchen. Thai details dot the elegant wood interiors, which are reminiscent of Thai favourites Nahm and BoLan: the furniture was built in Chiang Mai from indigenous wood, there’s artwork and textiles from all over Thailand, and the brass cast lighting reflects an ancient Thai craft tradition.
The Food: Expect punchy Thai flavours and plenty of spice in elegant presentations. While it launched with an à la carte offer, AngloThai has now settled into a single tasting menu of 11 courses at dinner or eight at lunch. It showcases John Chantarasak’s Thai-British heritage with highlights like beef cheek with Makrut lime curry and brioche, and wok-fired aubergine with holy basil and soy-cured egg yolk.
The Drink: Sommelier Desiree Chantarasak has curated a selection of refreshing cocktails and a wine list emphasising cooler climates, particularly Austria, to match the bold flavours of the food.
The Verdict: Years in the making but well worth the wait, AngloThai feels like a new classic. –Laura Price
→ AngloThai (Marylebone) • 22-24 Seymour Pl • Wed-Sat 12-230p, 530-10p, Tues 12-230p • Book.
LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: Belgravia pub The Alfred Tennyson readying new upstairs dining room for mid-April debut • E5 Bakehouse adding outpost late May at V&A East Storehouse • The FT’s new rules of restaurant dining.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Marylebone that came to market in the last 90 days:
→ Harley St (Marylebone, above) • 4BR/3BA/2R, 210 m2 flat • Ask: £4.1mn • upper three floors of Edwardian townhouse, first sale in 35 years • Ownership type: share of freehold • Service charge: ad hoc and 50% of outgoings, recently £6K PA • Agent: Winkworth.
→ Harley House, Marylebone Rd (Marylebone) • 4BR/3BA/2R, 232 m2 flat • Ask: $£5.5mn • former residence of Mick Jagger, Regent Park views • Ownership type: share of freehold • Service charge £17,267 per year • Agent: Prime London.
→ Manchester St (Marylebone) • 5BR/5BA/4R, 316 m2 townhouse • Ask: £7.75mn • 1991 five-floor house fully refurbished in 2013 • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Craig Draper, Aston Chase.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: StudioMorey’s OWO Raffles Residence unveiled, hits market asking £18mn • UK female-led startups starved of funding • Hot in decluttering: Norwegian Life-Cleaning.
BARS • The Nines
Best pints, Guinness
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of London’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply.
The Devonshire (Soho), perfect pours, phenomenal bar snacks, wood-fire cooking par excellence
The Toucan (Soho, above), every inch of this place screams ‘Guinness’
The Chancellors (Hammersmith), also home to Crisp W6, one of London’s finest pizzas (if you manage to reserve one)
The Auld Shillelagh (Stoke Newington), any pub with name spelt like this should serve impeccable Guinness — it does
Homeboy Bar (Islington), delivering on promise of ‘modern Irish hospitality’
Pub on the Park (London Fields), outdoor tables w/ park views, as it should be
The Woodbine (Finsbury Park), North London’s finest since 1919
Gibney’s (City), live music, brilliant restaurant upstairs, best pint in Central London
Skehan’s (Brockley), adored by locals, revered by visitors, superb pad thai
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Strings attached
JO CALEB • songwriter/producer • Jo Caleb Music
Neighbourhood you live in: Twickenham
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
As a music producer, my work often keeps me in the studio late into the night, which means my mornings tend to start closer to noon. I have a home studio setup, so when I wake up, I like to listen to the previous night's work with fresh ears. It's a great way to assess what I’ve done, then dive into writing new ideas or refining what’s already in progress.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m working with Dave, one of my favourite artists. We’ve been collaborating regularly for the past few years, and our schedule is always a bit unpredictable. I often won’t know until later in the day whether I need to head to the studio, so things tend to keep me on my toes.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I live in West London, and one of my favourite spots is Shuili in Twickenham, an incredible Indian restaurant my wife also loves. The chef has a Michelin star, and honestly, it serves the best curry I’ve ever had. This weekend, I’m also planning to catch up with a friend over Thai food at Torthai in Chiswick. As you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan of a good curry.
How about a little leisure or culture?
As a jazz lover and musician, Ronnie Scott’s is always my top choice for live music in town. The 606 Club also has a great underground vibe. One of my all-time favourite gigs at Ronnie’s was quite a while ago when I saw the legendary Elvin Jones, who was most famously the drummer from John Coltrane’s quartet. More recently, I’ve caught Ezra Collective a few times — they’re an incredible band and always deliver an amazing live performance. I’ve worked with them a lot, and they never disappoint on stage.
Any weekend getaways?
I recently spent some time in Stadhampton at The Crazy Bear, which my wife booked. I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out to be a really cool experience. The place has so much charm and character; it’s so unique, with a sense of eccentricity in the design that somehow works to create a really cosy, lavish vibe. One of the highlights of the visit was definitely the chocolate crème brûlée — thinking about it’s making me hungry.
What was your last great vacation?
I visited Ghana in January and stayed at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, which is right in the centre of the main district. The country has such a rich history and culture that made the whole experience unforgettable. One of the highlights was meeting some local musicians whose sounds blend traditional Ghanaian rhythms with a more modern sound. I also checked out some of the local landmarks, like the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and visited Makola Market, where you can get all sorts of street food such as jollof rice and banku. I tried chinchinga for the first time, which is a grilled meat with a spicy pepper sauce. Delicious!
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I’m currently learning to play the arpeggione, a rare instrument invented in the early 1900s that quickly went out of fashion. You don’t see many of them these days. I purchased mine from a Russian luthier called Aleksandr, one of the few people still making them. The instrument has frets like a guitar, which makes it a bit easier for me to handle, but it's tuned like a cello and played with a bow. The bowing technique has been a real challenge, and it’s definitely been humbling. I’ll get there.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Wunjo Guitars on Denmark Street. They have a huge selection of new and vintage guitars, and the repair service is top-notch. They also carry amps and pretty much anything else a guitarist would need.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Breathless
Skunk Anansie • Roundhouse (Camden) • Fri @ 7p • level 1 standing, £62 per
Usher • The O2 (Greenwich Peninsula) • Sat @ 630p • VIP Pit, £375 per
The Corrs • Royal Albert Hall (Kensington Gore) • Sat @ 730p • loggia, £203 per
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Book it
Slightly unassuming from the outside, Heywood Hill is a mighty force of a bookshop, delighting visitors with a vast section of fiction and non-fiction. Their curation is so good that they’re often hired to put together the libraries in hotels and on cruise ships, and discerning customers know that their Year in Books offering is the best way to discover new literary delights each month.
The shop is tucked on a Mayfair side street, not far from Green Park, making it ideal for both spontaneous visits or pre-planned outings. It’s the sort of place that welcomes browsing and curiosity, unlike certain larger bookstores. Look for the latest bestseller alongside an undiscovered novel, or peruse the rare and special edition books, some of which can also be found online for those outside of London. Authors regularly pop in for signings, an added bonus for readers. –Emily Zemler
→ Shop: Heywood Hill (Mayfair) • 10 Curzon St • Mon-Fri 930a-6p.
GETAWAYS • Whitby
Love actually
Whitby has long been a popular British seaside resort for northerners, but not exactly worthy of a weekend trip from London, especially given the six-hour drive. That changed with the arrival of Saltmoore, a luxury wellness resort on the former site of Raithwaite Hall, just off Sandsend beach, 10 minutes outside Whitby. Its revival is the work of Montana Brown, a former Love Island contestant (turned influencer) who teamed up with her former rugby player (turned property developer) partner. Against odds, she’s pulled a blinder. Perhaps it’s her attention to aesthetics, but Saltmoore is simply made for Instagram, and just as good in real life.
Let’s start with the rooms. Ours, the Master Room, had enough floor space to do a cartwheel (I resisted) and came with a four-poster bed and roll-top bath, plonked brazenly in the middle of the bedroom. The bathroom itself was equipped with a walk-in rainforest shower and double sink. I wanted to live in it. The suites are even more lush. The next-door Gorse Suite is painted mustard yellow, with a plush yellow sofa, while the scarlet-themed Orchard Suite has an outdoor bath. Accommodations are divided between the main building, where we stayed, and the new Beach House, which has a more family-friendly vibe.
The food is by Tommy Banks of The Black Swan fame. As with all of Banks’ endeavours, there’s a focus on the local and seasonal, from Whitby crab tart to a hearty sausage and mash from Banks’s own Mangalitza pigs. At the moment, there’s the elegant Brasserie and its adjoining Orangerie, but the resort is soon to launch its fine dining offering, Calluna. There’s also a café by the spa, for bone broths after a dip in the pool (or the sea, if you’re feeling brave).
Located at the meeting of the mystical North Yorkshire Moors and the wild-and-salty North Sea, there’s so much to do, not least in the resort itself (there’s the gym, the pool and sauna, multiple restaurant spaces, and outdoor walks around the lake, with lake swimming coming soon) but also in the surrounding area. Sandsend Beach is a gem of a place, with dramatic cliffs jutting out from the sandy shore. The local food offering includes generous fish tacos at The Fish Cottage and even-more-generous servings at Mary’s Sandwiches, like roast beef with horseradish mayo and a side of gravy, for dipping.
It’s also worth taking the hour’s walk along the windswept cliffs from Saltmoore to Whitby. Once there, you can have your fill of scampi and, of course, climb the 199 Steps to see Whitby Abbey in all its glory (go at sunset for the finest view). But the best part is returning home to Saltmoore’s cosy lounge bar, which is decked out with Chess boards, solitaire, and playing cards. It’s a great spot for after-dinner games and cocktails, a perfect end to a weekend exploring this new luxury retreat on one of the most underrated coastlines in Britain. –Laura Price
→ Saltmoore (Whitby) • Sandsend Rd • Rooms from £200.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Following sale, Scotland’s Ballathie House to become wellness resort • Nobu Hospitality announces Nobu Restaurant, Hotel, and Residences Manchester • British Airways previews new first class design.
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