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It must be said, this is one of our favourite times of year. Art, ideas, crisp air, and calm, pre-holiday mayhem. It’s a good time to try to pause, take stock, and make some plans. Have great weeks all.
xx Taryn and Team UJ xx
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 | |  | | | NyLon | | | In the latest edition of New York to London transfers, we have Dante at Claridge’s, which has extended their pop up residency until the new year; Carbone, which, as we’re sure you know, recently launched at The Chancery Rosewood and is already, as expected, a hoooooot ticket; and news just in that Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar will be coming to the UK too in 2028, opening at 1 Hanover Square (the former Vogue House). And, though not exactly a NY transfer, NYC-style pizza-by-the-slice spot Vincenzo’s (from Hertfordshire) is opening on Bethnal Green Road in November. Slice it up!
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|  | | | Virgil Abloh: The Codes | | | If there was one opening we noticed last week, it was the Virgil Abloh exhibition, Virgil Abloh: The Codes, which opened at the Grand Palais in Paris on his birthday with a ‘Happy Birthday’ song led by Travis Scott, and many others from his global creative collective in attendance. Exploring almost 20 years of his 20,000-object archive, there’s also a gift shop by Colette’s Sarah Andelman with a playlist by long-time Virgil collaborator, Benji B. There’s still time to catch the last few days; on until 9 October.
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| | |  | | | Concept by Émilie Chen, photography by Rachel Louise Brown. | | | Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican | | Neverland as you’ve never experienced it | | Sponsored listing | | Join the Royal Shakespeare Company this winter as it returns to the Barbican with an exhilarating new take on a beloved classic myth of love, loss, redemption – and pirates. Follow Wendy as she journeys far from the safety of the Darling’s nursery, taking centre stage in her quest to find the key to her parents’ forgotten happiness – the child they once lost, and discovers how the power of just one happy thought can set flight to newfound joy. With Peter Pan, fairy Tink and Tiger Lily as her unlikely allies, Wendy gives the Lost Boys a run for their money as she takes on Captain Hook in this ‘spectacular’ (Guardian) staging and ultimately learns what it really means to grow up. With breath-taking sets from designer Colin Richmond, flying, sword fighting and more than a sprinkling of fairy dust, Ella Hickson’s darkly witty retelling of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan is directed by Jonathan Munby and features Lolita Chakrabarti, Daniel Krikler, Charlotte Mills, Hannah Saxby and RSC Associate Artist Toby Stephens. Wendy & Peter Pan is playing for five weeks only from 21 October to 22 November.
An unforgettable journey for all the family; for more information and to book your tickets click here. To meet the cast, watch this.
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|  | |  | | | Kudu Marylebone | | Wining and Dining | | Around town | | Where We Want to Go
Carbone! Tout de suite. And, surprisingly, to us, Punk Royale also looks fun.
Just Opened
Louie has now become the House of Louie, with three offerings: the izakaya Wani Tzuki, French dining at Louie, and music and cocktails at The Alligator Bar. Aki London, a Kyoto-inspired farm-to-table, has opened in a Grade II-listed building in One Cavendish Square. Kudu has opened in Marylebone and it looks incredible (congrats Kudu!); Luso, the contemporary Portuguese, has arrived in the space that was Nuno Mendes’ Lisboeta, with Leo Carreira at the helm; and The Hart is a new pub in Marylebone by the Public House Group (The Pelican, The Hero, etc).
Coming Soon
Motorino is another one from Jonathan Downey, with Stevie Parle (and Luke Abearne, ex-Luca) in the kitchen and this time, it’s a London-Italian (interested to see how that translates) in Fitzrovia. Poon’s is opening soon at Somerset House, joining Aram’s Syrian café and the riverside music and arts restaurant, Setlist. Renowned sushi chef ‘Masa’ Takayama, who holds three Michelin stars at his restaurant Masa in NYC, will be opening Tobi Masa at The Chancery Rosewood soon, with a bar, counter, and main dining room; and southern Italian neighbourhood restaurant, Casa Felicia, is opening in Queen’s Park on 14 October.
Transfers
Paris’ Il Bambini Club, the Italian Trattoria, is now at The Hoxton, Shoreditch; Barrafina is going to Dubai (2025); and The Palomar is going to Sydney (opens soon!).
Events
The excellent NIJŪ will have the talented Ollie Dabbous and his executive chef Chris Golding in the kitchen to collaborate for one night only, on 16 October, as part of their Four Hands Series. Miller Prada from Humo (and ex The Ledbury and Endo at the Rotunda) is at Carousel until 11 October, and there’s a new monthly market the first Saturday of the month at Mason & Fifth, with a curated selection of market traders and fun (every month will have a different theme and cultural curator), on from 12-6PM. Save the date for November!
HOT HOT HOT
Continuing on the trend of drinks with lower % alcohol is Future Château, which we’re hoping will be good! It’s a wine with 5% ABV, launching at Selfridges tomorrow. There will be a syrah grenache, a sauvignon vermentino, and a sparkling.
And lastly…
KOL’s turning five! And to celebrate, they’re putting together an all-star cast of chefs from restaurants including Noma and three other World’s 50 Bests for a party. Tables and chairs will be cleared, and there will be five stations, one for each taco creation, with the party continuing on to their mezcalaria. Tickets for the 8PM entrance here.
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|  | |  | | | Hotel News | | The Shelborne – Miami, South Beach Strip is Hotting Up (Again)
For a while there, Collins Avenue was feeling dead. No Shore Club, no Delano, no Raleigh… but slowly, it’s coming back! And the first relaunch to note is The Shelborne. Now called The Shelborne by Proper, it recently reopened after a $100m renovation, and there are now five different dining spots led by Michelin-starred chef Abram Bissell, featuring Miami flavours and dishes such as a Caribbean-Latin American menu at restaurant Pauline, and grouper club sandwiches by the pool. For locals, a membership grants access to their serviced beach, gym, workspace and curated events. Stay tuned for more on Collins, as the Delano is set to open soon and The Shore Club in 2027.
SOSEI – New Brand
Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the couple who created luxe brands Soneva and Six Senses, sold a majority stake in Soneva earlier this year, and are set to launch a new brand, Sosei. Meaning “rebirth”, Sosei will focus on Japanese wellness and luxury, and will be in diverse global locations including Japan, the Arctic Circle, European mountains, and other parts of Asia, with boutique urban properties, too.
Moonlight Basin – Montana, Opening November
One&Only’s first alpine location, this property will be located in the mountains of Big Sky, and will have rooms, suites, and cabins, with snow sports in the winter and outdoor activities (hiking, fishing, kayaking, golfing, mountain biking) in the summer. It’s also close to Yellowstone and several lakes – seems like it will be a great option for some luxe-outdoorsing.
Nobu Beach Inn – Barbuda, Opening 2026
Nobu Beach Inn will be a new concept on the Eastern Caribbean island, Baruba, and will have solar powered bungalow-style villas, a spa, and, of course, a Nobu. We’re impressed with how varied the destinations are, that Nobu are choosing to open in. From their Barcelona location, which is next to the historically dodgy Sants train station (and is now a hip hood, though it wasn’t when they first opened there), to this new Caribbean location (the island was supposedly Princess Di’s fave), they’re keeping things interesting.
La Badia – Orvieto, Opening 2027
This one’s still a ways away, but if it’s not on your radar yet, it should be: La Badia, from Pellicano Hotels, will be opening in the Umbrian countryside near Orvieto in 2027. It will be an ancient abby re-imagined, and we can’t wait to see what they do with this one.
*The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 awards are on 30 October.
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| | |  | | | Clarkston Opens in the West End | | Sponsored listing | | On a journey West to rediscover himself, Jake meets Chris, a kindred soul hiding in a night shift at a Costco in a rural American town…This is a modern frontier story about a chance friendship full of adventure, acceptance, love and the hope of new discoveries. Written by Samuel D Hunter (The Whale) and starring Joe Locke (Heartstopper), the Telegraph calls it ‘funny and touching’ ★★★★. Clarkston is on for a limited run at the Trafalgar Theatre until 22 November.
★★★★★
‘CLARKSTON IS THE COOLEST SHOW IN THE WEST END AT THE MOMENT’
CityAM
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|  | |  | | | Portugal News | | | The Standard is going to Lisbon, meaning that there might finally be a happening hotel in the capital. A bit further, fashionable Lisbon brand JNcQUOI (owners of a Beach Club, a number of glossy restaurants, a hip deli with a few rooms, a fashion boutique, and members’ club) have launched a chic community with homes in Comporta; expect more of this! And lastly, Na Praia, from the founders of the much loved inland property São Lourenço do Barrocal (who are also, like JNcQUOI, making global waves), will be a new 113-bedroom property (42 rooms, 3 suites, 63 houses, and five villas) located just after Comporta, opening in 2026. Expect pines, dunes, and the Atlantic breeze.
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|  | | | Frieze 2025 | | | This year, Sessions Arts Club returns to Frieze with an immersive pop up restaurant – they say ‘think Basic Instinct interrogation scene and prehistoric caves’, with a seasonal menu; sounds perfect. Rita’s is also back, with juice and sweet treats in the AM and tacos and cocktails by day/night. There’s so much on – download the Frieze app to keep up – and take note of the other art-ings around town, like the art walks (east, west, Bloomsbury) and sculptures in The Regent’s Park English Gardens (now until 2 November).
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| | |  | | | The Palomar x The End | | | Two of London’s favourite brands, as you likely know by now, are owned by the same brother-sister duo, Layo and Zoe Paskin, and on 9 October they’re celebrating both brands – it’s The Palomar’s 10th (ish) and 30 years of The End – by throwing a party. Book in for dinner at The Palomar or Evelyn’s Table (which will have a special menu from The Palomar for one night only) and carry on at KoKo, where 10-12 October will be a three night residency of their legendary nightclub (RIP) The End. Happy Birthday L&Z! With their Sydney Palomar opening on the same night too, we can’t wait to see where else these two go.
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|  | |  | | | Ruinart Commission | | | As the official Champagne of Frieze, Ruinart’s yearly commission of contemporary artists to pay tribute to the Maison’s legacy through art is an annual fair highlight. This year, three renowned artists explore Ruinart’s commitment to biodiversity, continuing their Conversation with Nature series. See American artist Sam Falls’ works, King’s Crossing and Rewilding, created at the Taissy vineyard in the Champagne region, at the Ruinart Art Bar during Frieze.
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|  | |  | | | Electrolytes | | | Is it us, or are you too being targeted by just about every influencer around, promoting the Ancient + Brave health brand for all things wellbeing in powders and potions? Well, we drank the Kool-Aid and now have a True Hydration en route. Always on the search for electrolytes that work and aren’t all sugar, we also hear LMNT is quite good, too.
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|  | |  | | | Gleneagles | | Autumn Getaways | | | Again, sorry to be mentioning the h(olidays) word already, but you know… And now seems to be the time to plan one last October/November getaway before you know what. Possibilities on our radar include Barcelona to stay at an old school fave, the Neri Hotel, Barcelona’s only Relais and Châteaux that’s now owned by Anima Hotels. We also have wine harvesting festivities on the mind; October is getting late in some places, but it’s the main harvest month in Tuscany, so we’re looking at Castello di Vicarello. For something active, at Langdale Chase hotel, guided Lake District walks are bookable with local expert Steve Watts MBE – looks beautiful. And lastly, Gleneagles in autumn really feels like the best time to be there: white tablecloths and roaring fires, whiskies, and wellies, YES PLEASE.
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