Sally Shalam's Britain

Gimme shelter – on a cigar terrace

sallyshalam — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:37:21 +0000

Do you remember Rainy Night in Georgia by Randy Crawford? The song with the line, ‘it feels like it’s raining all over the world’? Feels like that right now in England. Last night I came home in driving rain, from … Continue reading →

Strictly festivals

sallyshalam — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:01:09 +0000

The same week I discover Bruce Forsyth is to appear with his big band at the Hop Farm Festival, news lands of another festival with attitude. It is a full 10 years since Joe Strummer died, while out walking his … Continue reading →

Wagons? Baroque and roll

sallyshalam — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:26:36 +0000

Chintz drapes, Pucci-esque wallpaper, wooden floor, burgundy walls and period furniture … you could be forgiven for thinking the picture above is a room at a boutique hotel. You’d be wrong though. It is a gypsy caravan. The bad news … Continue reading →

The wonder of woollies

sallyshalam — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:20:12 +0000

I’ve just received news of an exhibition which I desperately want to see. Has an unseen Turner turned up? Or another Saxon hoard been uncovered? Nope, this is an exhibition devoted to the wonder of woollies. Pillar of Scottish textile … Continue reading →

Pro chefs pop-up at Herefordshire supper club

sallyshalam — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:12:08 +0000

Last year I reviewed a pop-up hotel. ‘What on earth is a pop-up hotel?’ said all my friends. Well, there is company offering custom-made tented suites at festivals and outdoor events (called, aptly enough, the Pop-up Hotel), but it wasn’t … Continue reading →

American icons gather in Kent

sallyshalam — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:09:35 +0000

The announcement last week that Bob Dylan will headline the Hop Farm Festival (29th June to 1st July) reminded me of another iconic American symbol. Less than half an hour from the Kent festival site in Paddock Wood, is a … Continue reading →

How to have fun without a drink

sallyshalam — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:47:09 +0000

When you live in a city you don’t have worry about how to get home. The options are varied and none involves driving. In the boonies though, it is another matter and Club Soda just won’t cut it for booze-free … Continue reading →

British Designers Collective pop-up arrives in Oxfordshire

sallyshalam — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:59:35 +0000

This week the annual collaboration between the British Fashion Council and Bicester Village shopping outlet brings its unique fashion pop-up, the British Designers Collective, to Oxfordshire. Running only for a limited period, it was launched on Wednesday by Alexa Chung. … Continue reading →

Come Stein with me

sallyshalam — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:38:15 +0000

Last night I had dinner with Jack Stein. You may have heard of his dad, Rick. It was a six-course meal which started with canapes of tiny roasted tomato and red onion tarts, and quails egg and bacon mini-breakfasts, moved … Continue reading →

Teashop pitstop in Swaledale

sallyshalam — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:58:08 +0000

If my mother or I lived in Yorkshire, this is where we would be going on Mothering Sunday. I have stopped in the village of Muker two or three times now, driving across the Dales from somewhere such as Richmond … Continue reading →