Staying In

Plan Your Christmas Like The Roux Family

The Rouxs hold a higher number of Michelin stars between them than your average family – to say the least of their culinary pedigree. So, with just a few weeks to go until Christmas, what can they teach us about perfecting the roast? Do too many cooks spoil the broth? They’d argue no, but ‘everyone takes a course, so there’s no stepping on each other’s toes’ says patriarch Michel Roux Jr.

He’ll be spending Christmas this year in France with wife Giselle, daughter Emily and son-in-law Diego Ferrari. Diego and Emily, who are co-chef patrons of Notting Hill’s Caractère, will both take their turn at the vanguard: Diego will bring a spoiling risotto, while Emily will whip up pigs-in-blankets from local chipolatas. Speaking to them about how they ‘do’ Christmas dinner, it’s heartening to know that every family, including food royalty, have their squabbles over brussel sprouts.

Going Out

Get Festive In Chelsea

If the Rouxs’ plans aren’t enough to spark that festive feeling, there’s nowhere more dazzling than Chelsea in December. Mulled wine and gift shopping at Ralph Lauren’s Sloane Square pop-up is a must, but be sure to pay a visit to the twinkling light trail weaving its way through Ranelagh Gardens, too. Wander through glowing trees and neon installations – and don’t miss Anya Hindmarch’s incredible Ever After garden in Duke of York Square, which features over 30,000 illuminated white roses. Swing by the Holy Trinity church to browse its annual charity Christmas card collection before rounding it all off at the first new pub to open on the King’s Road in over 100 years, The Trafalgar, for Wright Brothers oysters, wagyu burgers and spiced rum treacle tart. We’ll see you there.

Property Of The Day

Fancy living in Rapunzel’s tower? At 175ft it’s the UK’s tallest folly, and though it may look like something out of a fairytale, the tower’s story tells more like a Chaucerian farce. Built in the late 18th century by local landowner Walter May, Hadlow Castle originally sat much lower on the Kent skyline, but when May’s son inherited the property he had the tower constructed in order to spy on his wife after she up and left him for a local farmer.

On the market for £2.78m, fineandcountry.co.uk

Little Luxury

Veronica Beard has teamed up with sleepwear label Desmond & Dempsey on a loungewear capsule which revives the archival Hercules print. These chic PJs are the perfect winter pair (£170).

Competition Time

Win a deluxe Christmas hamper worth over £1,000, including a three-course meal in Chelsea, comedy show tickets, candles, a weekender bag, drinks and more. Enter here

Psssst…

Did you know the recently reopened Kensington restaurant Maggie Jones’s – originally known as Nan’s Kitchen – was named after Princess Margaret? The late Queen’s sister was a regular guest back in the ‘60s, reportedly slipping in for late-night dinners with Lord Snowdon and ordering the chicken and artichoke pie.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Clear spiders out of your Christmas tree. Finding a web between the branches is supposedly a sign of good luck.