‘Chelsea in Bloom’ is now officially London’s largest free flower festival – an annual fixture for the summer season that attracts huge numbers of international visitors while bringing the local community together. It creates a unique cultural experience enjoyed by thousands throughout the week, with a phenomenal reach on social media making London centre stage and driving footfall and spend for many great British luxury brands.
Josie Rourke, Theatre and Film Director
Josie Rourke’s debut feature film, Mary Queen of Scots, starring Margo Robbie and Saoirse Ronan, was released earlier in 2019 to enormous critical acclaim. Until April this year, Rourke was artistic Director of The Donmar Warehouse: the first woman to take charge of a major London theatre and a tireless agent of change, not only addressing gender imbalance in theatre itself, but also by opening up the Donmar to a more diverse and younger audience. She has been nominated for Olivier and BAFTA awards, won the Olivier for her revival of the musical City of Angels, while Mary Queen of Scots was nominated for three BAFTAs and two Academy Awards.
The Macallan Visitor Experience
The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million Distillery Experience on its Speyside estate in 2018, which marked a new chapter to increase investment in its renowned single malt whisky, warehousing and in the brand’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks. The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, recognises the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and signifies an exciting evolution of the luxury single malt as well as creating an exciting, vivid visitor attraction, with visitor numbers expected to top 50,000 a year. Image courtesy of @Magnum Photos.
Pitzhanger Manor: Anish Kapoor Exhibition Pitzhanger Manor, built 1800-1804, is the newly-restored country house of Sir John Soane, one of Britain’s most influential architects. Pitzhanger aims to inspire future generations with art, architecture and design, juxtaposing Soane’s genius as an architect and designer with ambitious contemporary art exhibitions at Pitzhanger Gallery. Pitzhanger opened with an exhibition of mirror sculptures by British artist Anish Kapoor, sponsored by Coutts.
Victoria and Albert Museum: Christian Dior – Designer Of Dreams
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is the latest in the V&A’s series of major fashion exhibitions and the largest exhibition ever staged in the UK on the House of Dior. This blockbuster show included over 500 objects, 200 rare Haute Couture garments and became the V&A’s most visited exhibition ever, attracting a record-beating 594,994 visitors.
