Dear Reader,

Are you feeling down about being British? We like to give ourselves a bit of a hammering, wearing our hangdog faces as we moan about the 35th day of rain and pondering why on earth they chose Peter Mandelson as our man in Washington. But here's something to bring a smile to your face: it's Hugo Rifkind's laugh-out-loud A-Z of Britishness and I defy you not to have a chuckle – a loud one at that. Take C, for Carpet In The Bathroom, which as he points out, 'most other nations have always been baffled at – the Germans, because they are health freaks, and the French, because their own toilets are usually just holes in the floor.' Yet, he notes, 'to be truly British is to yearn for the sensation of stepping directly from the bath onto a plush underfoot shag.' He's not wrong. Read the whole lot, and you'll finally find the zinging interjective you've been waiting for: zounds!

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

Watch ITV’s Betrayal

There’s a gripping new drama to binge, premiering tonight at 9pm on ITV1. Betrayal centres on John (Sean Evans), an MI5 agent crumbling under the pressure of his secret double life while simultaneously being pulled into the tangled world of Iranian dissidents and attempting to keep his marriage pieced together. Romola Garai stars as his wife Claire, a busy GP and mother to two young children. ‘She is one of those women who just about copes with the extreme pressure of running her family and a busy working life that involves caring for others – a pretty toxic combination that lots of women will know and recognize!’ Garai tells C&TH. ‘She’s deeply empathetic and caring, but you also feel like she’s close to the edge of what she can take. Her husband‘s secrecy (the secrecy required by his job and also that extends into his character) is pushing her into a place where we see her take some pretty wild action to correct the balance of their relationship.’ Intriguing… Watch it tonight at 9pm on ITV1.

Ditch these nutrition trends

It can be easy to get swept up in social media health trends, but ZOE’s head nutritionist Dr Federica Amati is urging us to ditch the influencer advice. First up: don’t be lured into buying junk food just because it contains added protein. ‘Supermarket shelves are proliferated with protein-boosted biscuits, cereals and puddings, many relying on the same additives, sweeteners and processing techniques as their non-protein counterparts.’ She also advises against overloading on supplements without regard for dosage or biological need, noting that many formulas deliver ‘extreme concentrations far beyond safe limits’. And all those viral metabolic ‘hacks’ and hormone resets plastered on your Instagram feed? Many of these are ineffective and sometimes unsafe, says Amati. Instead, we should be focusing on upping our fibre intake, which ‘feeds the microbiome, stabilises inflammation, improves blood sugar control and strengthens natural satiety signals.’

Create a Valentine’s tablescape

There are plenty of ways to impress this Valentine’s Day. A date in the city, some sparkling jewellery, a surprise getaway or a big, beautiful bouquet all make for wonderful gifts. But if your plans don’t involve straying past the front door this year, then you may need to get a little more creative. An intimate dinner date at home can feel just as romantic as a fancy restaurant – especially if you take the time to make the space your own. ‘The perfect Valentine’s set-up is all about creating warmth and generosity,’ notes Laura Hart, co-founder of Wildflowers and Bar Flor. ‘With a table that feels indulgent, glowing and inviting. Anything done en masse feels luxurious and generous, so don’t hold back. Whether it’s flowers, candles or fruit, more is more when you’re decorating for someone you love; it’s never too much on Valentine’s Day.’ For more tips and tricks on how to create a romantic tablescape, see our guide here.

Going Out

See Cynthia Erivo in Dracula

Our resurrection of the 19th-century Gothic knows no bounds, from recurrent productions of Jekyll and Hyde to Kip Williams’ version of The Picture of Dorian Gray, for which Succession’s Sarah Snook bagged an Olivier in 2024 and a Tony in 2025. A magnificent collision of cinema and theatre, Snook took on all 26 roles from Oscar Wilde’s novel, ricocheting between live performance and pre-recorded video to thrilling effect. Williams’ next move was always going to garner attention. Dracula premiered to immediate acclaim in Australia in 2024, starring stage actress Zahra Newman and marking Williams’ final production as artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company. Taking up the mantle is Cynthia Erivo at the peak of her powers, with an Emmy, Grammy and Tony under her belt. She has 23 roles to play with (including the undead himself, Count Dracula) in this pulse-quickening, tongue-in-cheek take on the vampire classic, which opens in a crumbling castle in the desolate wilderness. Again, Williams utilises video feeds to bounce the star’s image around the stage, including borrowing cinematic tropes and camera angles from the visual language of cult horror films. Less a resurrection than a reinvention, then – and bite-sized at under two hours. Until 30 May, Noel Coward Theatre. delfontmackintosh.co.uk

Get excited for Chelsea Arts Festival

After its joyously energetic debut last autumn, C&TH's Chelsea Arts Festival – which saw everyone from Malala and Stephen Fry to Zandra Rhodes and Lenny Henry take to the stage – is back for its second year this September. Promising to be even bigger, bolder and more brilliantly eclectic, it coincides with a celebration of 50 years of Punk, so you can only wonder what plans we'll have for the King's Road. To be the first to know what we've got planned and for ticket releases and special events, sign up to the Chelsea Arts Festival newsletter at chelseaartsfestival.com.

Find your February glow

In need of a seasonal skin boost? Say no more. One of London’s leading wellness destinations, The Dorchester Spa, has just announced a brand-new residency in partnership with KICHI Skin. Founded by Natasha Clancy, one of the UK’s leading facialists, KICHI Skin is known for its advanced Korean-tech facials and results-driven approach to skincare. And with Clancy’s bespoke facials designed to lift, sculpt and regenerate the skin at every level, you can expect nothing short of a transformational experience. Two treatments have been created exclusively for Clancy’s residency at The Dorchester Spa: the KICHI Exo Ice Lift and the KICHI Exo Ice Infusion. Both utilise cutting-edge Korean 5-billion E50 exosomes to leave skin feeling bright and refreshed – and ready to tackle the last dregs of winter. Bookable Thursdays and Fridays at The Dorchester Spa, treatments start from £750. dorchestercollection.com

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Three of the Best…

London Date Night Spots

Arc Community Sauna

‘Staring into each other's eyes with synchronised deep breathing is famously sexy, but doing that in an ice bath admittedly takes the heat out of things. Yep, contrast therapy isn’t a flattering first date idea, but later down the relationship line, there’s something bonding about hopping between the sauna and the ice-cold baths (two per tub; romantic!) and coaching each other through it. Friday nights spell ‘Arc After Dark’, featuring a live DJ and a convivial vibe. I even spotted two single strangers hitting it off in the recovery lounge a few weeks ago – so you never know!’ Level -2, Unit 46, Minus, 1 Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AR, arc-community.com

Olivia Emily, Digital Culture Editor

Side Hustle at NoMad London

‘Everyone knows about the atrium restaurant at the centre of NoMad London, but the much better date spot is Side Hustle, a Latin American-inspired bar tucked away at the side of the hotel. With low lighting and cosy booths it’s romantic without being OTT, and the casual small plates format feels less formal than a classic restaurant (think dips and chips, tacos and quesadillas). Most importantly, the bar serves some of the best margs in town.’ Old Police Station Entrance, 28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW, nomadhotel.com

Ellie Smith, Digital Editor

Upstairs at Ronnie’s

‘Ronnie Scott’s is possibly the world’s most iconic jazz venue away from New York, and its main room has hosted absolute legends of the scene, as well as the tippy-top of the hip-hop, funk and soul crowds – from Miles Davis to Anderson .Paak. Upstairs at Ronnie’s has, of yesteryear, been slightly more reserved for those in the know; its late late show attracts the coolest London sessions musicians, who join the jam after finishing their jobbing gigs. A spanking new renovation of Upstairs promises to land this venue on the map for all, with a sleek update – think marble bar, luxurious seating, sexy lowlit ambience, and heightened glamour all round. Its Valentine’s late late show The Get Down starts at 11.15pm with the music (and license) running until 3am, so perfect for an after-dinner date.’ ronniescotts.co.uk

Tessa Dunthorne, Food & Drinks Editor

Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

Spanning an eye-watering 17,000 sqft, this seven-bedroom Aspen Mountain chalet is certainly a sight to behold. Your very own private resort, the property boasts an indoor pool, two elevators, a 1,500-bottle strong wine cellar, four bars, a movie theatre, bowling alley, spa, tennis courts and gym. If you can ever bring yourself to leave, just outside sits Aspen’s iconic ski slopes and the Silver Queen Gondola resort.

On the market for $75m, sothebysrealty.com

Competition Time

Win a two-night stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel in Crete

Win a two-night stay at The Devonshire Arms in the Yorkshire Dales

Win a Wodar boiling water tap worth £1,499

Psssst…

The Gladwins, the brother trio behind farm-to-table restaurants like Rabbit in Chelsea, are opening their first pub with rooms. Keep an eye out for the revamped Black Horse in Amberley, West Sussex, which will reopen in March 2026 under the Local and Wild group.

The Full Story

BTS On The King’s New Documentary

Olivia Emily went to Windsor Castle for the preview of Finding Harmony

King Charles III is sticking his head above the parapet. We all know he is ‘rather dotty’ about the environment (his words), but his core belief can be summed up in a simple quip: we should all see ourselves as part of nature, not apart from it.

He calls this ‘Harmony’, applying the ethos across his life and work – a six-decade fight for the planet from Highgrove to Dumfries House, Afghanistan to Guyana. King Charles’ environmental thinking has never been gathered under one banner before, and that’s the purpose of Finding Harmony, a new documentary now streaming on Prime Video.

C&TH was lucky enough to preview the film in the grand surroundings of Windsor Castle last week – the very first film premiere at a royal residence. (Alas Charles himself would return for his own screening come evening, A-listers in tow.) Filmed across four continents and drawing on 75 years of archival footage, Finding Harmony traces ‘King Charles the monarch, the man, the environmental missionary’ (as the Royal Household’s communications secretary Tobyn Andreae describes him) from a young man alarmed by nature’s degradation to a figure whose ideas have improved thousands of lives while keeping nature at the centre.

Entering Windsor Castle on a day it is closed to the public feels faintly unreal, every clacking footstep piercing an otherworldly hush. Snapping pictures every five steps – of the sprawling site complete with church, shop, 11th century keep and tinkling waterfall – I shunned myself for being so taken with it all as other suited and booted journalists beelined for the coffee and pastry reception (served in a grand hall boasting enough paintings to fill a national gallery). But to be taken with it all is to see it for what it is. That the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle belongs to a monarch whose lifelong passion is environmental regeneration feels almost as extraordinary as the monumental structure looming before me – so vast I can’t squish it all into my gaze, let alone capture a picture that does it justice.

At the heart of Finding Harmony (and the King’s belief system) is The King’s Foundation, the charity that puts Harmony into practice. Dumfries House features early on – where Harmony truly took root after the King purchased the Ayrshire estate in 2007, now the Foundation’s HQ. ‘We were quite a quiet organisation before [the documentary], if I’m honest,’ chief executive Kristina Murrin told me over tea in December at Dumfries House Lodge, a Michelin Key guesthouse on the same 2,000 acre site. More than 15,000 students learn practical and heritage skills here each year, from farming and woodworking to costume craft and hospitality, spanning primary school pupils to post-doctoral academics.

‘There’s a humility to His Majesty,’ Kristina says. ‘A feeling of, “I don’t want to shout to the rest of the world until I know what works”.’ One retrospective success story is Duchy Home Farm, the organic enterprise Charles established in 1985 that would make his ‘dotty’ views headline news. Today, Duchy Originals has raised £50 million for charity, and its products are a familiar sight in Waitrose. But embracing organic farming at the height of the Green Revolution, when fertilisers and pesticides were being championed for saving millions from famine, was rather bonkers. We now know the ecological damage they would wreak in the long term.

‘Our monarch was spotting some of the biggest trends in the world decades before other people,’ Kristina says. ‘And he was willing to stand up and say “this is important” at a time when it was really unpopular.’

Born in 1948 when the global population was just under 2.5 billion, King Charles came of age at a moment of extraordinary acceleration. In 2026, that figure is nearing 8.3 billion. Cue archival footage of the 21-year-old Prince delivering a contemporaneously ridiculed speech warning about the environmental catastrophe afoot. ‘We are faced at the moment with the horrifying effects of pollution in all its cancerous forms,’ the young man declares. Watching the clip back decades later, the King smiles wryly. ‘I remember being profoundly concerned,’ he says. ‘It seemed crazy to go on without thinking carefully about how we manage all of this.’ The first Earth Day followed just two months later. Slowly, very slowly, the world began to listen. 

Kristina refers to Dumfries House and its surrounding estate as The King’s Foundation’s ‘living lab’. Back in 2007, nearby Cumnock was one of the most deprived towns in the UK, battered by mine closures and industrial decline, while the house itself sat shuttered behind high hedges. ‘When His Majesty stepped in to save Dumfries House, it was a chance to ask, “Can you use a heritage asset to regenerate a whole area?’” Kristina says. 

Today, it is Cumnock’s second-largest employer, its grounds are open to the public and its influence extends far beyond the estate – not least because The King’s Foundation often brings world leaders here to see Harmony in action. With projects in 35 countries, the documentary’s voices note His Majesty’s unparalleled ability to draw changemakers together, a baton Prince William is running with via his own Earthshot Prize.

Kristina – who helped nudge the King into greenlighting Finding Harmony – hopes it will be the kind of film viewers can enjoy at the end of a busy week, while still finding it useful. ‘It doesn’t matter who you are, there’s something in there for you,’ she says. ‘If you’re a single woman in a London flat or a large-scale farmer in America, you can apply something. If we all put nature at the centre of our thinking, what would that do?’

Finding Harmony is streaming now on Prime Video.