On a recent trip to Sydney, I had the pleasure of paying a visit to the newly opened White Bay Power Station. In terms of history and design, White Bay has many similarities to our own Battersea Power Station – and holds a similar iconic status within the local community – but has taken a very different approach to commercial use.

Rather than a retail and F&B hub, extensive remediation and conservation works have repurposed the site as an arts, cultural and community space. Currently used as a gallery, I was fascinated to note that much of the original machinery remains in situ, offering a unique backdrop to the exhibition – the only Australian power station to retain equipment from pre 1950s. For me, that brought a different dynamic to the experience which could never have been found in a purpose-built space.

As a public building, the need for a return on investment will be measured in more than just financial terms; allowing for a long-term view, which is not always possible in the commercial world.  However, large mixed-use developers or Estate may benefit from the approach adopted at White Bay – using culture to drive footfall and adopting a ‘less is more’ approach to redevelopment. By allowing the building’s history to be celebrated in a sympathetic and cost-effective way, a unique atmosphere has been curated that will live long in the memory for its visitors.

When Mercado de San Miguel first opened its doors 100 years ago, it was as a wholesale food market.  Today, this beautiful old building has become one of the world’s main gastronomic markets and one of Madrid’s treasures.  If you want to get a flavour of every type of food Spain has to offer, then this is the place to come – just make sure you don’t eat first!

Comprising more than 20 different stands the attention to detail and commitment to really fine, high quality food is exceptional.  From the finest Iberian ham and freshest fish and shellfish brought in daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes and the most exquisite cheeses from Castile, Asturias and the Basque Country, the whole of Spain is right here, just waiting to be tasted.

The market is open every day until midnight and until 1am at weekends – perfect for a proper dose of Spain’s night culture and they also have a brilliant array of activities to choose from;  from masterclasses in specific types of food, to talks on nutrition, cheese and wine tasting and cocktail making – it really is a fantastic destination for a delicious night out.

With a capacity of 62,062 it is the largest Premier League stadium in London,  but what really makes it stand out is the attention to detail.  Every element of the stadium has been designed to the most intricate level, with an aim of creating the highest level of fan entertainment.  The south-stand, which is the largest single tier stand in the UK features acoustics similar to a concert hall, the result?  A breathtaking wall of sound that is nothing short of moving.  The hospitality is so luxurious that corporate guests could be forgiven for thinking they were dining in Mayfair, with two Sky Lounges on the top floor offering Michelin star dining and a world first ‘Tunnel Club’ that allows its members to observe the players as they walk from the dressing room to the pitch through a glass-walled tunnel.

For those less pampered fans (such as myself), the offering is equally impressive and yet still more affordable than other clubs.  The food offering is spectacular;  some 60 outlets put together in one glorious foodhall – a great nod to London’s buzzing street-food scene.  The stadium boasts the longest bar in Europe, solving the dreaded half time queues.  Here draft beers are poured from the bottom up (fast pour technology) increasing the speed and reducing bubbles.  Beavertown Micro Brewery is in situ, brewing beers on site and The Tottenham Experience is a whole fleet of shops which together make up the largest retail space of any European club.

The whole stadium is cashless and features state of the art Wi-Fi and beacons which send special offers and news to those who have the Spurs app.  Oh, and let’s not forget the environment.  Everything is recyclable here – all cutlery is wood, bags are string (and you’re charged for them) and drinking vessels are recycled by a facility in nearby Edmonton.

This amazing development has elevated the area as well as the club, setting a new standard for sports stadia worldwide and most importantly it has cemented the fact that North London definitely belongs to Spurs.

Just in time for the dark days of December, Richard Caring’s sparkling Brassiere of light is a sumptuous combination of Selfridges and Damien Hirst. What’s not to like? Located on Selfridges’ first floor, opposite St Christopher’s Place, Caring’s latest venture is the epitome of its name with floor to ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The elegant, art deco design, created by Martin Brudnizki will make you feel like an extra in an Agatha Christie film, evoking all the glamour and sophistication of the Orient Express.  The central bar is well-placed for sipping cocktails or afternoon tea (which arrives amongst a trail of smoke!) True theatre!

Headed up by chef Emanuel Machado (formerly of Covent Garden’s Balthazar), the menu offers British classics and internationally-inspired dishes.  His signature dish is Spaghetti with lobster but we also highly recommend the Pegasus Pie served with a yuzu coconut cloud for dessert.  The cocktails are equally as eclectic and specially created for the restaurant.  The Queen of Time (an all-English interpretation of a Kir Royale, which takes its name from sculpture that sits over the main entrance) and Est. 1909 (a gin and prosecco cocktail inspired by Selfridges 109th anniversary) were particularly palatable.

However, for the real wow factor, you need to look to the vast double height space in the centre of the restaurant.  Here, in true Selfridges’ style, Damien Hirst’s glorious, 24 ft. crystal encrusted Pegasus soars above your head, with hooves lifted, chasing the stars across the sky.  Every aspect of the restaurant is enjoyable, and once you’ve finished staring at the ceiling and need to focus on the more mundane, the washrooms are equally as impressive!  Perhaps inspired by the 1970s Bond movies, they are  riot of baby pink with marble trimmings galore.  Love them or loathe them they are bound to be an Instagram sensation before the party season is out!

As a company we are forever seeking out the latest trends, innovation and unique concepts which we can take inspiration from, this we partly achieve through regularly visiting other cities and countries around the world.  Most recently, our travels took us to Lisbon; Portugal’s coastal capital and one of the oldest cities in the world, predating London, Paris and Rome.

One of the oldest cosmetics stores in Lisbon; Benamôr, was founded in 1925 earning the reputation of being one of Portugal’s most beloved beauty brands, yet is still relatively unknown to the UK.

The store itself is unassuming from outside. Its solid stone frontage and large window are beautiful, but it isn’t until you take a look inside where you appreciate its modern, monochrome interior, rustic wooden pillars and historic arches, reflecting the simple yet warm feeling of Lisbon.  The black and white patterned tiles, work in harmony with the white wooden cupboards, white marble worktops and pendant lighting. The store is full of colour but it is the products that create this, cleverly using the monochrome interior to showcase and enhance its products.

Since adopting its art deco branding from conception, its iconic style, bright colours and patterns which adorn its packaging have remained the same. Commonly, brands try to evolve their cosmetics to fit with the ever-demanding consumer, but Benamôr have always had belief in what they offer and many of their products remain the same as when they were first created. The brand offers a refreshing contrast to ever-changing clinical brands we know too well in London.

Ask a lot of people what they think of Camberwell and the only answer usually involves Danny’s famous Camberwell carrot (because it was invented in Camberwell and it looks like a carrot……duh). But change is definitely afoot, at least to the non-Withnail generation. Perhaps it started with the brave opening of a fine and authentic tapas bar on camberwell’s “prime pitch”. Angels and Gypsies was a revelation when it opened its very Spanish doors. Success has been deserved and extensive; booking is essential, which is not something many imagined would happen amongst the usual dining establishments of Camberwell Church Street, which tend to cater to the walk in (from a bus) and walk out (to a bus) crowd.

Set in the shadow of Gilbert Scott’s monumental church (way too big even then for the deeply unreligious congregation surely) its decoration is sparse but ecclesiastically fitting with hams hanging in the window against the stained glass murals. The food is never short of excellent, familiar enough to tapas lovers but individual enough to be special (they don’t do patatas bravas, preferring their own unique version). Since it opened, along with the boutique hotel above (more words rarely relevant to Camberwell) it has fostered the u turn that was so desperately needed to meet the needs of the metropolitan mix-up of local dwellers. The south london gallery, a few hundred yards towards Peckham has been a favourite ever since we met Michael Landy there with his “art bin” – although we had no idea we were talking to the artist himself until a rather loud American interrupted our conversation (“oh my god! Michael! I can’t believe you’re actually here!).

They have recently reimagined their spaces with 6a architects, to create among other things a rather on-message london cafe/bar/restaurant. This perhaps doesn’t quite appeal to the art college students next door, but it is always full even though there are now 2 other quirky independent coffee bars on the street (beards, rolled up tight jeans and a fixie being the minimum entry code). The areas restoration must now be coming someway towards its peak, with the recent opening of the Camberwell Arms, a sister (or brother?) to the excellent Anchor and Hope in Waterloo, and with the same excellent quality food and ingredients and indeed the buzzy convivial atmosphere. Oh, and we’ve also now got a Costa, whoopee.

Chefs from Jerusalem’s coolest restaurant Machneyrda have not disappointed with The Palomar at 34 Rupert Street, London. Following its opening in May 2014, this restaurant seems to have received nothing but positive praise. The modern Jerusalem menu and the creative, crazy environment is inspiring and the non stop showmanship, theatre and energy must be motivated by its Israeli born owners who previously ran a night club.

The restaurant is tiny with just 16 seats around the kitchen arranged at the front of the restaurant, a tiny holding bar/corridor and a dining room which seats just 40 at the rear. It’s cramped, its hot and the kitchen is compromised operationally but boy is it good. The tiny open plan kitchen serves some of the most exciting combination of flavours I have ever had, all beautifully presented. The menu is focused on sharing plates encouraging dialogue and wonderment at what combination of ingredients are contain in each dish. Whether the food comes from the Raw bar, Stove, Jasper or Plancha, it is all faultless.

Often a restaurant will win on its food but it is let down on its service but Palomar wins on both fronts, its staff can only be applauded. They look like they are truly having a ball, with quirky hats and a detailed  knowledge of each dish, it is all backed up by the biggest of smiles and lots of laughter. I’ve not experienced Tel Aviv’s party scene but if Palomar is an example of what its like, I’m booking my flight now.