Hi Everyone,
I thought I would let you all know that this year I will make several appearances on QVC UK. Jac and I are very excited to make the trip and we are planning a mini vacation before the show takes place. I will be appearing on QVC UK on March 20th, and I will have two shows that day. If you have any friends in Great Brittan be sure to let them know I’m coming!! The clothes will be exactly the same clothes that we sell here in the US…..absolutely no changes….We plan on taking in all the sights and doing a little antiquing. We already have tickets to two shows, “Ghost” and “Hay Fever” a Noel Coward play. If you have been over the pond recently and have any suggestions about restaurants, nothing formal, that would be very much appreciated. The UK staff has already suggested many wonderful places to eat but all suggestions are welcome. This trip we will be staying at the Dorchester. Jac wanted to stay there because that was Elizabet Taylor’s favorite hotel….however…. we will not be staying in her suite! We have three additional trips planned this year so it’s going to be very hectic. We would love to make each one a mini vacation. If you have any friends there, maybe they can order you things that you missed out on LOL. They will not be carrying the jewelry line…..yet!…. but I will work on them!!……………much Love, Louis
UK BOUND!!
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If you go to Bath there’s Sally Lunn’s tea shop and Sally Lunn bread. The original house. If you go as far north as York there’s Betty’s. In the basement there is a mirror where Canadian RAF etched their names plus some Americans in WW2.
Never been out of the States; but, wishing you and Jac safe travels, lots of fun times, and sell-outs on everything. Leave them wanting more!
Much success
Sherry in KS
Louis,
What a delicious opportunity for you and Jac to get away……London is a favorite…my last big batch of Anne Klein in the early 80’s was bought at Harvey Nichols in Knightbridge…spent a bundle one afternoon…out of the batch the two favorites were two suits… a short sleeve safari jacket and matching skirt in a khaki cotton twill and a black cotton sateen blazer (cut within an inch of its life) and its matching skirt.
A couple of favorite great food spots in London…
Nonna’s
127-129 Parkway
London NW1 7PS
+44 (0) 20 7255 9254
Nonna’s is a little Italian deli connected to Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany, which is right on Regent’s Park. You can order from their picnic menu, order a pizza from York & Albany, or drop in to pick up a few salads and treats, and take them right out to the park.
Trullo
300 – 302 St Paul’s Road
London N1 2LH
+44 (0) 20 7226 2733
Yummiest… super seasonal Italian food….my former assistant is British and lives in London…she took me to this wonderful little restaurant.
The Albion Cafe at the Boundary–this is Sir Terence Conan’s Hotels
Entrance in RedChurch St.
2-4 Boundary Street
London E2700
+44(0)207 729 1051
(I was taken here… great place/food….try the terrace, it is open year around
Have a great time…and I hope you sell out!
Haven’t been in a long, long time but loved my visit there with my mother when I did go. I’m trying to stay “young” so I can go with my daughter when she finishes college in about two more years. I loved visiting everything I could. The subway (tube or underground) was a wonderful experience. And definitely have tea at Fortnum & Mason’s as well as shop there. Her Majesty is going to have tea there in March with Prince William’s bride, Kate, and Camilla, Prince Charles’ wife. Maybe you could be there that same day! Have lots of fun!
I like the Grosvenor House by Speakers Square. It’s very historic and has a great high tea. I’m trying not to be jealous of having to share you with the Brits, mainly because QVC doesn’t keep enough of your chic clothing in stock to meet our needs here, much less internationally. I’m trying to be magnanimous, though!
Hi Louis —
I encountered a blog malfunction. My earlier post, which included two restaurant links, said it was “in modification” or something like that. I’ll try to re-create w/o links and apologize in advance for duplication if my earlier post shows up.
In any event, congratulations! How exciting! If you and Jac visit the British Museum, you may wish to try the Court Restaurant in the center of the museum. The caesar salad is to die for. Also, if you’d like to try an upscale English pub, I recommend Thomas Cubitt on Elizabeth Street in Belgravia. It’s great fun, great neighborhood, but don’t forget to ask your concierge to make a reservation. You can view the menus by visiting their respective websites.
Also, since you’ll be in London . . . you may wish to visit Paris by taking the chunnel train (2+ hours). If you’re so inclined, I’m happy to share my Paris restaurant list with you! As my husband says, I can’t visit Europe without visiting Paris! You’re so close; its worth a trip even for a day!
Enjoy!
TourEiffel
Congratulations to you both! This is a huge step for you and we wish you the very best.:)
How much fun for you both!
You’ve gotten some great recommendations for food and things to see…enjoy.
I agree the Beeton exhibit at the Victoria and Albert is a must see. I also have recently found a scarf I got at the gift shop there that looks great with your aubergines this winter.
Have a great time.. I’m sure you will.
Those lucky Brits~!
How exciting. I’ve wanted to return since I was there in 04 as part of a tour. Everyone’s suggestions sound wonderful. I remember eating at Ye Olde Chesire Cheese which was rebuilt after the The Great Fire. 1667 I think. It was a Monday night and the 2 of us were lucky to get in having no reservation. Loved walking through Kensington Gardens. That though was late April not March. Just wait till the UK sees your fashions.
We’ll be watching from here on the UK QVC live feed. Look for us waving from across the pond!!!
Louis, Will you be doing a blog for the Q in the UK? They don’t have message boards per se on their web site but one can leave comments on the blog. If they would permit us here in the US do so of course. We can be your advance team!
The Dorchester looks very Colefax&Fowler-esque. Do you know who did the interiors? They are beautiful….
There’s a wonderful Cecil Beaton exhibit of all his photos of the Queen on at the Victoria & Albert Museum. You need tickets but can do that online – I think it’s a don’t miss – I’m going in April! You might add it to your itinerary. Love the Dorchester! and also- Afternoon Tea at Brown’s Hotel is a once in a lifetime treat- you will think you’ve time-traveled back except for the Japanese tourists! ENJOY!
Have to second the tea at Brown’s! So excited for you!
I feel like you’ve graduated and are going to college! Hope we’re not left with an empty nest here! And don’t let all those Footballers Wives buy out all our gear!
If they get more jewelry than we do, there will be a riot with pitchforks and torches in PA. That’ll be a live show rhey won’t soon forget.
Congrats, grad!
crdlb
Hi Louis — That’s fabulous! Congratulations! If you and Jac visit the British Museum and/or want to try a fine English pub, you may wish to try:
1) The Court Restaurant in the British Museum — delicious Caesar salad — http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/eat/court_restaurant.aspx
2) The Thomas Cubitt in Belgravia (on Elizabeth Street) is an upscale English pub, fabulous menu and interesting venue — http://www.thethomascubitt.co.uk/
You also may want to consider taking the chunnel train to Paris (2+ hours) for the day. (My husband says I can’t go to Europe w/o going to Paris!) If you want Paris restaurant recommendations, I’m happy to share my list!!
Enjoy!
Tour Eiffel
Leave it to the Brits to support classic clothing. We’ve got a thread on the Q forum about a ‘Need for Tweeds’ – I bet our UK counterparts would agree!
My sister has lived in the UK off and on for the past 10 years. I love it there. Great cabs, lovely people, and heaven for a tea drinker like myself.
For food:
Indian – Moti Mahal in the West End. Warm and lovely. They have a Grand Trunk Road menu, the result of the chef’s travels from West Bengal to North India. The menu is an homage to the spices and cuisines of each stop on the road. I loved the Sagar Rattan – seared scallops with sesame seeds. My sister raved about Thatee Ka Gosht, a butterflied leg of lamb seasoned with cinnamon(!), bay leaf and green chiles. With our tea, they served tiny soft pancakes dusted with sugar and sandwiched together with a bit of apricot preserves. I’m making myself hungry.
Chinese: Kai in the Mayfair section. This is our default cozy restaurant. We always have a good meal here. It has won a lot of awards, but I like it because the food is great and it’s not too full of itself, if you know what I mean.
Have a wonderful trip.
Well, CONGRATULATIONS! Here’s my 2 tips, from our trip 2 years ago, keeping in mind you said “casual”:
Best food in London, hands down and also the most fun: Borough Market under the ramps to London Bridge. Like a giant farmers’ market, with shops, food stalls, samples of EVERYTHING … and the best grilled cheese sandwich on the planet; look for the little stand 🙂 So much fun!
Best food OUT of London, and WORTH the bit of a drive: The Lamb Inn, Burford in the Cotswolds. Burford is a charming little town, with gorgeous little shops and pubs; the Lamb Inn is a collection of old townhouses dating back to the 1400’s, put together to make an inn; about one block off the main street. There’s a lovely more formal restaurant, but we had the MOST fun (we were staying at the Lamb), sitting in the “shabby chic” sitting rooms or a corner of the bar area, by a roaring fire, and ordering from the Pub menu. Sometimes there’s a waiter/waitress, and sometimes not; if not, you just ask the publican/bar tender for the pub menu, find a good spot to study it, take it back and place your order … the restaurant staff will then bring your food to whatever cozy spot you’ve chosen. Walter says have the Shephards’ Pie, and whatever hot, cream drenched dessert he had … still makes me dizzy to think about it LOL. I recommend the afternoon Tea in the little walled garden; have the Scones with Clotted Cream; worth the calories, and the big blackbirds who come for the crumbs afterward 🙂
Now, are the Crepe Jackets being sold, and who do I know in UK who can order me a 2X in NAVY to go with my fabulous skirts?!? Seriously, I’m delighted for you and Jac, and you’ve earned a little mini vacation; congratulations!
Cathy in PA
P.S. If you are interested, there’s a wonderful website for Borough Market at: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk
You can read about The Lamb Inn Burford at: http://www.cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/lamb
Cathy in PA
WOW…you have me drooling!!!and YES….they will have the navy jackets and the sand and black crepe pants and the black sweater with the lace. Actually they don’t buy every style in every color….yet, but they have a good assortment…
……………………Louis
Oh, don’t MISS Borough’s Market; you can graze your way through just on samples; we were staying at a hotel a block away; DANGEROUS LOL! The Grilled Cheese stand is famous around the world, although we didn’t know that when we stood in line … Walter’s favorite food. Special British heirloom heritage cheeses, with the addition of leeks and green onions, on a sourdough/artisan bread … I thought Walter was going to faint!
If you can swing a bit of time off on one of the trips, and make it up to the Cotswolds, the FLOWERS, oh those little BLUE FLOWERS everywhere … if you see those, you’ll be bringing us clothes with them on … we were on a gardens tour trip and there was a private estate with woods, a secret path covered over by tree branches, and a walkway of bluebells as far as you could see, and the sunlight coming in on them … I’ll send you my photo if you like …
Burford is the cutest village, really nice little shops, but the combination of Pub food, roaring fireplace, and interesting local “gentry” at the bar chatting with the “tourists” was just the best, and so delicious! I’m sure you and Jac will have a fabulous time.
My Khaki Zipper Trim Brushed Cotton Jacket is absolutely Perfect in 3X but the Navy Crepe is a bit too big in 3X and sold out in 2X and of course I love it and would order in all colors if only it were available … the Crepe Trumpet Skirts (navy and red home to me; ivory on waitlist) are just wonderful! I may have the Navy Jacket tailored rather than give it up 🙂 Thanks for bringing such nice things for us again; on my recent unexpected trip to Texas due to the death in our family, my Linea was right day after day. Only home for 2 days to do printing and then off to a trade show at Atlantic City and NO time to even think about what I needed, and again; Linea all the way. Wore the Asymmetrical Suede Jacket in purple, and have NEVER had so many compliments; everyone from security guards to salespeople to customers and vendors were stopping me and asking where and “who” that jacket came from; they all wanted to touch it LOL!
Cathy in PA
They are in for a great treat! Congratulations! I’m sure everything will be a sellout! I look forward to your travelogue and pictures!
Congratulations!!! Now you need to get QVC Italy.. 🙂 I wish you both all the best!
I recommend staying at Montague on the Garden which is within walking distance of the British Museum. It has a bed and breakfast feel about it in its dining room and the rooms are spacious, daily high tea is quite nice and has cozy seating. The staff were quite helpful at the concierge desk.
How wonderful! They’re going to love you over there! We’ll have to see if there’s a UK Q forum and give them a heads up on the treat that’s in store for them!
Super exciting! Have you sold on QVC UK before or is this something new?
Believe it or not….brand new….it took them 11 ans 3/4 years to discover me!
Who else by LDO would have a brand that is actually hotter today than even when it was launched? Way to go!