Weekly 1 May

Ellie Smith & Parm Bhamra
May 01, 2026

Dear Reader,

I'm obsessed with stripes. Not to wear – I know my limitations. Stripes on a body are to be avoided unless you're Erin O'Connor. No, stripes in my home – the project that has been consuming my past few months. Moodboards, magazine pages, other people's homes... those aesthetic dreams converted into dust and sleeping under plastic wrap once the builders descended. But it's been stripes that steal my heart every time. In that quest to plaster them everywhere – or most particularly, the bathroom – I had to scour every corner of the internet to find a suitably robust vinyl wallpaper with the perfect colour stripe. It's harder than you think. Anyhow, I landed on Rebel Walls and paid handsomely for their commercial grade, water resistant bespoke printed paper in Happy Stripes Raspberry. Firstly, I ordered far too little (I was never good at measuring; please if you do this, get someone who knows how to measure). OK, fine I'll shell out for some more. This was done in haste, on the hoof. I ordered the wrong one – oh hell. Now, I'm paying more for paper in my bathroom than doing my whole top floor. Cue write to customer support, in tears. Result, a 50 percent reduction on the new purchase. Gulp, swallow, just do it. It's only money... Then, oh lord, the new batch arrives – the bathroom now two weeks behind schedule – and the colour match is off. It's just slightly different from the original. Full blown panic – and an outpouring of heartache to Mr Customer Service. A fulsome, groaning, agonising email of pain and distress. They wrote back and said, Lucy, we understand – we will replace your whole bathroom wallpaper at no further cost. I'm only telling you this silly tale because it's a story about a good company, with impeccable customer service. It's still out there, it still exists, and it makes things better. If you want to recommend any companies that have surpassed dwindling expectations, let me know. I will champion them.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

READ: Our New Issue

What could be better this Bank Holiday weekend than the cracking new issue of Country & Town House? It includes our annual Aesthetics Guide, created to bring you the most trusted voices in the business on everything from hair loss to the top ten K-Beauty buys (most available on the high street), what to wear to the big events this summer, how to turn your classic car – 911, E-Type, Landy – into an EV in just one day, interviews with Harland Miller and Jackson Boxer, a kitchens and bathrooms special, the best summer reading and British festivals to book now, and the most talked-about new hotel openings here and abroad. Phew! Kick back and dive in – inspired by fashion director Nicole Smallwood and her sizzling cover shoot in the balmy Bahamas. Buy your copy here.

WATCH: Widow’s Bay

If you are yet to dabble in the world of Apple TV, let new drop Widow’s Bay be the reason you finally utilise that tempting free trial. Set in the quaint island town of the same name, set off the coast of New England, Widow’s Bay is your rare character-driven comedy that blends belly-laugh moments with thrilling horror. Centring on Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the whole premise is that the remote island, with its lack of Wi-Fi and spotty phone signal, is cursed, with locals citing old stories that seem too ludicrous to be true. Nonetheless, Loftis is determined to turn Widow’s Bay into a tourist destination – and when visitors finally start arriving, he is dismayed to discover the hauntings are back too. Three episodes streaming now on Apple TV, with new episodes weekly.

EAT: Matcha Power Balls

The matcha mania is going nowhere – in fact, the green powder is even more popular come summertime. But you need not shell out a fiver on a coffee shop latte every time you’re craving it: you can also create your own matcha goodness from home. To give you a helping hand is Matcha at Home, the debut book from London matcha brand JENKI. Founded by Claudia and Otto Boyer in 2020, JENKI now has six locations across the capital serving its signature ceremonial grade matcha. The new book includes not just traditional lattes, but also pancakes, cookies and desserts – plus power balls perfect for snacking on-the-go, which we’ve shared the recipe for below.

Ingredients

60g (2 oz) pitted dates
9g (3¼ oz / 1 cup) desiccated (dried shredded) coconut, plus extra to finish
1 tablespoon hemp seeds, plus extra to finish
1 tablespoon protein powder, flavourless or vanilla
120g (4¼ oz) almond butter
60g (2 oz) coconut butter, melted
2 teaspoons matcha
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
50g (2 oz / scant ½ cup) almond flour
Pinch of sea salt

Method

Soak the dates in a bowl of hot water for 30 minutes, then drain and add to a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until crumbly but holding together.
Scoop the mixture into 1 tablespoon portions and roll into balls.
Scatter some extra desiccated coconut and/or hemp seeds on a plate, and roll the balls across the plate to coat. These will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

TIP: Coconut butter can be found in most health food shops or online; it is made by grinding coconut meat.

Going Out

BOOK: El Fenn’s Broadwick Soho Takeover

Legendary Marrakech hotel El Fenn is coming to London, taking over Broadwick Soho’s rooftop bar Flute for the summer season. Expect the same dazzling aesthetic the Moroccan hotspot has become known for – signature white stripes, suspended lanterns, maximalist prints and all. A specially created menu will feature dishes like smoked aubergine zaalouk and charcoal-grilled octopus, alongside cocktails including the Hibiscus Margarita and the Marrakech Negroni. The residency will also programme art talks and cultural discussions, as well as a rotating roster of DJs and musicians. It opens in June, but reservations are open now – and judging by the popularity of both venues, we think they’ll get snapped up fast. 25 June – 31 August 2026, broadwicksoho.com

CHECK OUT: The New Third Space Chelsea

Third Space has made its way to Chelsea. The sleek gym and health club opens the doors to its newest venue today, set across five floors on Mallord Street just off the King’s Road. The heart of the space will be a cutting-edge gym complete with top equipment and the brand’s first velocity-based training system. Members will also gain access to over 250 classes across four studios, plus a spa with a pool, sauna and cold plunge. Could you be tempted to join? Here are some other luxe London gyms to have on your radar.

SEE: The Devil Wears Prada 2

Often cited as a favourite film, especially among fashion lovers, The Devil Wears Prada is a seminal classic based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel of the same name. Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, a sequel has always been in high demand, but our prayers have never been answered – until now. The follow-up finally premieres in cinemas today, with all the big names returning to reprise their roles. Andy Sachs (Hathaway) is back at Runway magazine despite her sour ending there as an assistant to editor Miranda Priestly (Streep) in the 00s. Now Runway‘s new features editor, luckily for Andy, Miranda has no memory of her bumbling second assistant, who managed to live out her dreams as a proper journalist in the decades-long interim. Instead, Miranda’s coveted attention is absorbed by the declining print industry – a tale as old as time. Seeking vital advertising revenue, she finds herself in a head-to-head battle with her former first assistant Emily (Blunt), now a high-powered executive at an LVMH-style luxury group.

Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

When Charles Dickens found himself struggling with writer’s block in 1849, he took himself and his quill on an Isle of Wight writing retreat. Starting each morning with a sea-swim and cold plunge beneath the waterfall, Dickens would write for a few hours in the afternoon before playing rounders with his family on the beach. Though he only managed to scratch out five chapters of David Copperfield that summer, the novelist did fall madly in love with his holiday home, Winterbourne, which he described as ‘the prettiest place I ever saw’.

On the market for £1.6m, spencewillard.co.uk

Competition Time

Win a bed and breakfast stay at Dormy House in the Cotswolds
Win four Thursday Day Members’ Badges for the Royal Windsor Horse Show
Win a three-month supply of all of MOGU's Functional Mushroom Capsules

Psssst…

May’s first full moon, the Flower Moon, will reach its fullest at 6.23pm tonight – but we won’t be able to see it. Instead we have to wait for the moon to rise above the horizon, which will begin at 8.45pm. Drawing on the idea of abundant plants and flowers, the Flower Moon is spiritually connected to new beginnings, fertility and growth; you might want to use the opportunity to embrace change or pursue new opportunities.