Weekly News

AQUA KYOTO CELEBRATES SPRING WITH JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOM

The Cherry Blossom season is now in full bloom at aqua kyoto restaurant throughout May. With the sun shining and aqua’s roof terraces- it’s the ultimate place to be this month to celebrate spring’s arrival and Japan’s cherry blossom season. To reflect the beauty of this season set atop ones of London’s most iconic buildings, the former Dickins & Jones department store, aqua Kyoto restaurant will transform their rooftop terrace with stunning Sakura cherry blossom trees to capture the taste of floral Japan and is the ideal destination to experience the first cocktail of Spring.

aqua kyoto have created a delicious cocktail and a selection of Japanese dishes to compliment this enchanting festival. On offer for a limited time, the menu will include blossom pink tempura, a cherry blossom sushi platter, pink and white scallops cooked in lobster coral as well as some other beautiful dishes that embrace this symbolic season.

www.aqua-london.com

ALAIN DUCASSE AT THE DORCHESTER LAUNCHES FRESH FLORAL TEAS FOR SUMMER

Launching on the 24th May, the restaurant’s iconic after-dinner herb trolley will be transformed with a bloom of fresh flowers including British Rose, English Elderflower, Sweet Jasmine and Calming Calendula.
The highly skilled maitre d' presents the sweet smelling infusions trolley after dessert and the delicate flowers are freshly cut at the table. The teas are served in beautiful glass teapots to optimize the aromas and allow guests to watch their chosen flower infuse. The tea trolley will be available throughout the summer months.

http://www.alainducasse-dorchester.com/

Metro, the free urban national newspaper, launches Venture Candy 2011 to find the businesses and entrepreneurs of the future.

Launching on Wednesday 4th May, the Metro campaign invites aspiring business owners to submit applications online, to win a host of prizes that will enable their businesses to grow.

The aim of Venture Candy is to provide budding enterprises with the exposure, profile and support they need to transform themselves into the talked-about brands of the future.

This is the second year of Venture Candy and is an opportunity for Metro, as the newspaper of choice for young urban professionals, to champion emerging new talent.

Metro will drive entries through in paper and online promotions beginning with a cover wrap on Wednesday 4th May. Entrants will have two weeks to submit their applications across 5 categories: Design & Technology; Fashion & Interiors; Food & Drink; Health & Beauty and Green. A panel of judges, including Stuart Trevor, Sarah Beeny, Piers Linney, Jo Malone MBE, Tyler Moorehead and Richard Reed, will then select the best 3 from each category, from a list of the top 100.

The top 15 will then be featured editorially in Metro throughout a week, allowing its urbanite readers to vote for the people and products they want to see succeed. The winners will be announced on 20 July.

The five winners will receive a host of valuable business assets that will give them the business foundations they need to grow:

• £50k minimum ad campaign per category winner (£250k in total) in Metro
• Marketing and branding advice
• Ad campaign creation
• Exposure to high profile panel of successful entrepreneurs
• Business club membership
• Cloud based unified communications solution

Linda Grant, Managing Director, Metro, said: “As one of the UK’s most innovative media brands, Metro is proud to present a competition that celebrates entrepreneurship and creativity and offers readers the opportunity of a life-time to turn their business into a reality. We are looking forward to receiving entries from across the UK that have the potential to become the business success stories of the future.”

Sarah Divan, Head of Brand Extensions, Metro, said: “Following the success of last year’s Venture Candy, we are delighted to launch the competition for the second year. Our judging panel is made up of some of this country’s most successful business people and our urbanite audience will once again have the final vote to decide the five ideas to be awarded the impressive prize package. We are delighted that Metro will continue to champion the great British tradition of invention and creativity and invest in the next generation of budding entrepreneurs through this competition.”

Thursday, 19 May 2011
Theatre Royal Haymarket
Talk | 3:00 pm
Afterclass Tea | 4:00 pm
Join the Theatre Royal Haymarket’s Masterclass programme for a special afternoon with acclaimed actresses Sienna Miller and Sheridan Smith, currently starring in Trevor Nunn’s Hit production of FLARE PATH.

See Sienna and Sheridan in conversation with Matt Wolf, followed by an exclusive Afterclass tea, in the stunning Theatre Royal Haymarket’s Stalls Bar. The tea will be provided by the team from the Wolseley Restaurant, with flowers donated by McQueens.
Talk & Reception | £60
Talk, Reception and best stalls for FLARE PATH | £110*
(*Ticket offer to see FLARE PATH is for Thursday, 19 May only)

To book click the link (http://www.masterclass.org.uk/fundraising/)
or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.masterclass.org.uk
In aid of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust

TECHNOGYM® LAUNCHES BOOTCAMP AT SOFITEL LONDON ST JAMES
London, April 2011 – Sofitel London St James, a five-star hotel and luxury spa located in central London, has partnered with Technogym® for the launch of their new luxury bootcamp starting in May. The bootcamp, run by Technogym’s Master Trainer, follows a comprehensive multi-million refurbishment programme which included the launch of the new So FIT by Sofitel gym, equipped with Technogym’s cutting-edge equipment and luxury So SPA by Sofitel, offering massages, pedicures and manicures.

Regarded worldwide as the best choice for sporting professionals and luxury home wellness, Technogym®, with its expert combination of state of the art equipment, workout support and training guidance, will provide Sofitel St James with a Master Trainer, who will be instrumental in creating a unique bootcamp training experience for guests. The Technogym bootcamp will take place in St James’s Park, a stone’s throw away from the hotel. Guests will first be briefed on their session, followed by a power walk or jog to the park where a variety of exercises will be undertaken. Sessions will last an hour and the pace will be set according to the speed of the group. Following the session, guests will be given the opportunity to enjoy a luxury treatment at Sofitel’s lavish spa.

“Technogym was the partner of choice, in launching our Bootcamp allowing our guests to combine their trip with an extensive workout whilst enjoying the breath taking sights of London. We have also introduced a So Luxury Bootcamp to add relaxation to the drills with a choice of treatments in our award-winning spa”, Denis Dupart, General Manager at Sofitel London St James remarks.

The luxury bootcamp will be available for guests as well as for people outside of the hotel, including local businesses, who want to experience a new way to get into shape. It will also allow for groups involved in specific events such as team building or hen weekends to experience something new and exciting along with everything else the hotel has to offer.

Technogym® is an Italian company which has always been a leader in the field of wellbeing. It is renowned globally for its advanced designs and technology when it comes to fitness equipment and the quality is recognised by champions of sport, major football clubs and A list stars alike. Technogym® equipment can be found in more than 50,000 fitness centres, hotels and private homes throughout Europe, Asia and South America. Eminent hotels have been quick to choose Technogym® equipment for their high tech and beautifully designed gyms.

Prices for the Bootcamp start from £80 per person and for the Luxury Bootcamp start from £105 per person including a 30 minutes treatment of your choice in So SPA by Sofitel.
Please contact So SPA by Sofitel on 0207 747 2204 to sign up for the bootcamp or for further information.

What do Joanna Lumley, Jodie Kidd, Celia Birtwell and Alex Monroe all have in common? The desire to save the UK’s Honey Bee.

Burt’s Bees has worked closely with the four celebrities who have designed beautiful limited edition bee hives to be auctioned this week (3rd-10th May 2011), with all proceeds going to The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) Adopt a Beehive Campaign Programme.

Adopt a Beehive is a fundraising programme run by the BBKA and sponsored by Burt’s Bees. Funds raised fund research into honey bee health, and essential education for beekeepers.

‘BUY ME’
Joanna Lumley has designed a honeycomb hive which incorporates the diverse and interesting life of one of Britain’s best loved actresses. From the iconic Patsy, to the sunset scenes denoting Joanna’s love of travel, this brightly coloured bee hive will be available for the public to purchase in the ‘Buy Me’ section of the special BBKA auction. http://www.britishbee.org.uk/burtsbeesauction Whether it’s to put in a garden or even to have as a fantastic talking point inside your home, this will be a statement piece for any household.

Joanna Lumley says: “It has been dismaying and frightening to read of the declining bee population and how this will affect all aspects of life on earth; so when I was offered a chance to get involved with the Burt's Bee's Design a Hive Campaign to raise money for the British Beekeepers Association I seized the opportunity. Not only does this campaign encourage and educate bee keepers, it helps raise awareness and funds for applied research in to the health of British honey bees. I hope someone enjoys owning the hive as much as I did designing it. Please visit (website address still to be confirmed) now to bid for my lovely hive online.”

Jodie Kidd’s quintessential English country garden design depicts her love for nature, horses and the honey bee. Jodie’s bright and cheerful hive will also be available for the public to purchase in the ‘Buy Me’ section of the BBKA auction website http://www.britishbee.org.uk/burtsbeesauction. Not only will this be a gorgeous limited edition keepsake - its purchase will help an incredibly good cause and be the best ‘feel good’ buy of the year.

Jodie says: “I am excited about the Burt’s Bees Celebrity Beehive Campaign. My love of the British countryside stems from my childhood and I have always spent a lot of my free time outside, enjoying nature. When I heard about the declining bee population and the impact this can have I was keen to find a way I could help. The work the BBKA does is wonderful and if this campaign can raise money which they can use to help the UK’s British bee then I would be thrilled that I have been able to make a difference. “

‘ADOPT ME’
Style icon and the name that launched a thousand prints – Celia Birtwell has used her trade mark style to bring her bee hive to life. Celia’s hive will be available to adopt in the ‘Adopt Me’ section of the BBKA auction website from the 3rd May. The public can adopt Celia’s hive of bees which will be in an artist's garden in south London and looked after by a member of the London Beekeepers association'. The ‘owner’ of the hive will be updated on the hive’s progress each quarter, and will even be sent them a jar of honey, from the hive itself.

Celia says: "We have kept bees for about two years, and I have developed a real taste for home-produced honey. I love learning how to keep my charges happy, and want to encourage anyone with an interest to get started. They are such fascinating little creatures, and it's so sad that they are just in trouble, so increasing awareness of their plight to help them thrive is a top priority. I hope that by contributing my hive design, I might encourage others to take honey bees seriously."

Nature has always been British jewellery designer Alex Monroe’s greatest inspiration and this has been reflected in the poppy field scene he has designed for his hive. Alex’s hive will also be available in the ‘Adopt Me’ section of the BBKA auction website. As with Celia’s hive, the public can adopt this hive and be updated quarterly on its progress as a working hive in Alex’s own private allotment, and they will be sent a jar of honey from the hive itself.

Alex comments: “I think we should give bees a break. These little fellows work so hard for us, making honey and pollinating our food crops. This is about the little guy, buzzing about doing his thing, never complaining and us, the big guys, all take and not much give. Modern farming techniques, pesticides and pollution aren't helping. And they're cute as anything and they make our summer what it should be. What's not to like? I have a hive at home and was keen to get involved with the Burt’s Bee’s Design a Hive Campaign raising money for the British Bee Keeper’s Association. The campaign encourages and educates bee keepers and will help with research in to the health of British honey bees. I hope whoever wins my hive enjoys it as much as I did designing it. Check out (website still to be confirmed) now to bid for my hive online!”

The ‘Buy Me’ and ‘Adopt Me’ hives are now available at http://www.britishbee.org.uk/burtsbeesauction. Bidding will close on 10thth May, and the highest bidders will be announced online.

More than just a sweet treat, honey has long been renowned for its health benefits. Naturally anti-inflammatory, a powerful antiseptic, soothing and moisturising it is no surprise that the unique properties of honey should be harnessed for use in a range of products from skin care to natural remedies.

However the hardworking, humble honey bee is under threat. In the US the bee-per-hectare count has fallen nearly 90 per cent since 1961, and in China some crops are now pollinated by hand using feather brushes because there aren’t enough bees to do the job.

Brian Ripley, Chairman of the BBKA said: “The situation isn’t quite this extreme in the UK but we can’t be complacent. Winter is always a hard time for bees; three years ago more than one in three of the UK’s honey bees died. The situation is improving, our bees are getting healthier, but they are still not out of intensive care yet.”

Bees are central to our food supply with one third of all crops relying on pollination. No one knows the exact reason why bees are suffering, but loss of habitat, disease, the use of pesticides and even vehicle emissions could all play a part. What we do know is that the impact of bees on our eco-system is critical and direct action is required to protect our environment.

To help raise money for the protection and conservation of the British honey bee, natural skin care brand Burt’s Bees has teamed up with four celebrities who have designed their very own beehives, which will be auctioned off to make as much money as possible for the BBKA. The four wooden hives were kindly donated by Maisemore Apiaries www.bees-online.co.uk

For more information on the British Beekeepers Association and how they are helping with the conservation of the British Bee, please visit www.adoptabeehive.co.uk or www.britishbee.org.uk

125 YEARS OF HAPPINESS IN A BOTTLE
Coca-Cola celebrates seminal anniversary!

On 8th May 2011 Coca-Cola, arguably one of the world’s most iconicbrands, celebrates its 125th anniversary across the world.

Coca-Cola will be celebrating this significant milestone the only way Coke can, thanking consumers, employees and partners for their continued loyalty with exciting, innovative, cultural events and exclusive collaborations launching in 206 countries where it is sold.

The Coca-Cola story began on 8 May 1886 when a pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton carried a jug of Coca-Cola syrup to Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta, where it was mixed with carbonated water and sold for five cents a glass. To this day, the secret formula remains a closely guarded secret within the vaults of a bank in Atlanta. From these humble beginnings in the Deep South 125 years ago, the brand remains as relevant today as it was then - Coca-Cola has grown into one of the world’s most recognisable brands, loved by consumers and celebrities alike.

The brand has strong cultural relevance and has become woven into both history and popular culture throughout the 20th century. From Andy Warhol’s iconic pop art interpretations, through to setting up production in Europe during World War II to ensure American troops were refreshed.

Coca-Cola has always been at the forefront of innovation, redefining advertising as we know it and has been responsible for famous timeless classic slogans from ‘I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke’ through to ‘Can’t Beat the Feeling’ and the Polar Bear Christmas classic – ‘Always Coca- Cola’.

Such is the appeal of Coca-Cola that Hollywood royalty such as Clark Gable, Aretha Franklin and The Supremes during the 30’s and 40’s, all appeared in the star studded advertising campaigns. Even Santa Claus appeared in the iconic advertising campaign, as legend has it that Coca-Cola helped create the modern image of Santa.

The brand’s most iconic asset, the famous glass ‘Contour’ bottle was created in 1915 and has become a design classic. The contour bottle, was created to distinguish from leading competitors and was so distinctive, that it could be recognised in the dark. It remains a design classic across the globe and has been used as a blank canvas by credible designers and celebrities, through numerous innovative collaborations.

Over the decades the brand continued to innovate with the introduction of Diet Coke; in the 1980’s women across the planet accessorised their legwarmers with the biggest selling low calorie drink in the world. The launch not only catapulted Diet Coke as a leader in low calorie soft drinks, but also paved the way for the global success of Coke Zero in 2006 - great Coca-Cola taste and zero sugar.

Zoe Howorth, Market Activation Director for Coca-Cola Great Britain, explains: “2011 is a significant milestone for Coca-Cola, as we will be celebrating 125 years of happiness in a bottle. This year we would like to thank our drinkers and partners, who have madeCoca-Cola the iconic brand it is today in Great Britain.”

The bottle contour may have changed but the trademark and secret formula remains the same. As Andy Warhol said "What's great about this country is America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you can know that the President drinksCoke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke too. A Coke is a Cokeand no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking.”