WEDNESDAY 28 APR, 2010

A COUNTRY PILE UP
Sanctum and the Dorchester open in the country

There’s something fabulously dishevelled about the British countryside – Country House Rescue’s attempt to save stately homes on Channel 4 features eccentrics that make Edith Bouvier and her Grey Gardens legacy look borderline sane. But batty proprietors, an ancient dog called Mongo and roof leakage does not a chic getaway make. If you want to sniff some real outdoorsy air with a side of class, you invariably have to hike to Soho House’s Somerset haunt Babington, or sat-nav it to Cowley in the Cotswolds.

So we’re excited about a couple of stylish Berkshire launches within welly-trekking distance of our front doors. First up, Mark Fuller’s rock’n’roll hotel Sanctum is moving to the sticks; Sanctum on the Green will have 9 boutique rooms, the same glossy interiors, and a heated outdoor swimming pool to rival its Soho sister’s infamous hot-tub.

And propping up their tent poles next door is Coworth Park, a member of the super chic Dorchester collection, boasting 237 acres of amazing period-drama parkland, a spa complete with roof-top herb garden, and 70 rooms spread between the Georgian main-house, stable blocks and renovated cottages.

Town-house to country-mouse – it’s time to take the air – and develop a fantastically quirky affectation. We are British after all. 

INFO
Santum on the Green opens 1st May
www.sanctumonthegreen.com
The Old Cricket Common, Cookham Dean, Berkshire, SL6 9TZ.

Coworth Park opens June 2010
www.coworthpark.com
London Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7SE

UJ Culturist May 2010

Festival season lurking on the horizon has two wonderful knock-on effects for the London cultural calendar this month. 1) The first smatterings of multi-day mash-ups and gigs can be felt already. And 2) the tumult of less carnage-driven distractions is also gaining momentum. What does this mean to the rest of us? Mostly that there’s such an awesome range of things to do in May it should be illegal. Now get out there!

Read the Culturist.

MUSIC – Alphabeat are back with brand new 80's pop-style hits guaranteed to get you dancing. 7pm, Koko, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE. £14.

LISTEN IN – UJ's very own J Saintil has curated a fantastic playlist for influential electronic music mag Little White Earbuds, check it out!

COMEDY – Lewis Schaffer is Free until Famous - an American fringe winner worth a punt. 8pm, The Source Below, 11 Lower John Street, W1F 9TY. Free.

HEADS UP – The Orla Kiely sample sale kicks of tomorrow with plenty of Summery prints. 29th April-2nd May, 11am-8pm, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, SW3 5EE. £1.