Edible flowers look beautiful next to the red velvet cupcakes, strawberry & champagne jellies and lemon & elder flower tarts. It’s hard to choose a favourite out of the handmade petit fours…but for us it might just have to be the rose water and white chocolate macaroons.

Our florist Yan has created stunning displays in our lobby for the week of Chelsea Flower Show. Everyone is loving the creative and colourful designs!

It was a fantastic event, with nail-biting games of Monopoly and delicious Monopoly-themed cocktails. In a letter of support for the Mayfair is Missing campaign, Mark Field MP commented:

As the Member of Parliament representing much of the City of Westminster the traditional Monopoly board is dominated by places in my constituency, the most famous and iconic of them all being Mayfair.

There cannot be many adults living in the UK who did not at some stage in their childhood revel in placing a hotel on Mayfair or experience the despair of a rival snapping up both Mayfair and Park Lane!

Campaign chairman, Colin Exton, and Mayfair estate agent Peter Wetherell are pictured below enjoying the famous board game.

Mayfair has always been a mainstay of Monopoly, iconic as the destination you pass just before reaching Go, but now an upmarket usurper has replaced it. In an unexpected roll of the dice in July 2011, Mayfair was voted off the board. For years avoiding a heavily housed or hoteled Mayfair has been the aim of every pseudo -property tycoon.

Synonymous with style, heritage and history Mayfair has been at the luxury heart of London for centuries. And boasting some of the capitals most exclusive hotels, restaurants, shops and clubs, a visit to fashionable Mayfair is the place to see and be seen.

Please show your support and sign the petition here www.mayfairismissing.co.uk. Let’s get Mayfair back on the board, together!

Horniman Museum

May half term is fast approaching and with it comes the decision of what to do and where to go in London to entertain the kids. With the weather as uncertain as ever, we’ve picked out some suggestions of fun family days out for a rainy day.

There are plenty of fantastic child friendly museums to explore to fill up your half term short break. Here’s our pick:

Horniman Museum
This fascinating museum is one of the most child-friendly museums in London. It provides plenty for families, including a nature trail, weekend workshops and a hands-on area where children can explore museum objects. We can recommend the Amazon adventure exhibition, the worlds largest and biologically diverse river!

V&A Museum of Childhood
A lot of thought has gone into making this museum child friendly. You’ll find stations in each area with activities using Lego and Stickle Bricks. Additionally there are kids activities on the weekend and other summer holidays. Up until the 01st September an eclectic room installation of mini museums looking at the private world of collecting.

Geffrye Museum
This museum is like time travelling without the Tardis. The May half term break brings hands-on workshops for all ages. There are many family days in the events calendar that will spill out into the glorious gardens (weather permitting, of course!). This museum boasts a walled herb garden and has beautiful period gardens for parents to enjoy too.

These museums offer lots to discover to make for a great day out for all the family. Even more appealing, these museums are free admission for you and your family making your half term family break easy on the wallet.

At Flemings we have a special family package which includes a copy of our exclusive childrens book as well as a selection of welcome goodies.

Buckingham Palace

The exhibition displays over 60 of the Royal Collection’s most famous paintings as well as rare surviving jewellery, garments, accessories and armour, showing how clothing conveyed important messages about wealth, social position, marital status and religion.

Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I enforced laws which dictated the fabrics, colours and types of garments that could be worn at each level of society. Paintings in the exhibition show the most valuable fabrics of the time as worn by the monarchs or their highest courtiers – such as gold cloth, ermine fur and most expensive of all, purple velvet.

If you’re hoping to visit London and Buckingham Palace, Flemings is just a gentle stroll away from Buckingham Palace, on the other side of Green Park. Get in touch with our reservations team for any bookings advice on 0207 499 0000 or reservations@flemings.co.uk.

In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor & Stuart Fashion
Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
10 May – 6 Oct
Tickets from £9.25
Last admission 4.30pm
Book tickets here
 

Hi Yan! What are your top tips for people going to Chelsea this year?

When choosing what to see, always go for the new concept to see cutting edge designs. The Fresh Gardens are a must. On the last day look out for different designers selling off items from their displays – it’s usually a bit of a scramble but worth it! The things you usually buy are often creatively produced specifically for the show.

Did you know? On the Saturday before the show, all the fresh flowers are delivered and then the Queen gets a private tour around the show before anybody else.

For visitors, wear very comfortable clothing and shows as it’s very busy and you’ll be on your feet all day. From the comfort of your home, follow the BBC coverage – they have a great 1 hour slot every evening.

Tell us about your experience at flower shows…

I’ve been in two Chelsea Flower Shows, and amazingly won in 2010 with the cupcake design for Flemings. My first ever show was at Hampton Court – a great experience which lead me to go on and win at Chelsea. One day I would love to be on the other side and judge!

Yan’s cupcake display at Chelsea in 2010

What’s your own garden like?

I would say…simple and a work in progress. My original idea was to use my garden for my small clients and supply their flowers directly from my own garden but I’m not able to do this all the time. I find flowers are more exciting when they first come through; when they are in bloom I am already thinking about the next design bulb to be planted.

Where do you get your ideas? 

My ideas always start small and develop – it’s all about experimenting, some work and some don’t! I love creating displays for Flemings, I am always experimenting with new ideas and designs. Every job is so different, for example I might design a display for the lobby in Flemings one day and then a dinner for Rihanna the next.

And one last thing…what’s your stance on gnomes?

Gnomes are allowed at Chelsea Flower Show this year for the first time in 100 years. I think it’s a good idea – it should be kept as a novelty for one year and I hope everybody has fun with it.

Are you looking for a hotel near Chelsea Flower Show? Come and stay at Flemings and enjoy Yan’s stunning creations around the hotel during your visit, making Flemings one of the best hotels for Chelsea flower show. If you have missed out on tickets this year, why not come and get a taste of Chelsea at Flemings with a display and enjoy an afternoon tea.

Flowers from Yan’s garden