Sofia Coppola and Elle Fanning team up for Suntory’s Roku Gin They will, they will, Roku. Cough. The “they” in question are filmmaker Sofia Coppola and actress Elle Fanning, who have come together for Suntory’s ‘Come Alive with the Seasons’ which, as the name suggests, is an invitation to gin drinkers to experience the best of every season. Roku Gin is, we’re told, an articulation of the Japanese concept of shun, defined as “the moment when nature is at its peak in vibrancy and vitality.” Not so surprisingly, that’s demonstrated in the botanicals used to flavour Roku, a mix of eight traditio ..read more

Italy’s “Silver Coast” and the Merrama region of Tuscany remain relatively unknown but that, thinks Judith Baker, is probably about to change… Oozing Italian chic, Argentario Golf & Wellness resort is found in the relatively undiscovered Merrama region of Tuscany, between Mediterranean beaches and dramatic rolling hills. Loved by golfers for its first class course, the resort will be on the map next year as it will be the host venue for the Italian Open on the DP World Tour. From above, the Argentario Resort resembles a giant dragonfly with wings reaching out over the stunning green groun ..read more

Toyota’s compact city car gets a (literal) fashion makeover. Neil Davey takes the Aygo X Undercover for a test trip There is a moment of panic after I accept Toyota’s offer of an Aygo loan. As the regular reader of these eccentric motoring ramblings may recall (and evening, mother), our regular vehicle is an ageing Auris which generally serves our London-and-occasional-trips-outisde-the-M25 needs. On service days, we are occasionally offered a loan vehicle and, one year, this was an Aygo… And I couldn’t get into it. I’m not a small chap but I’ve driven Smart cars, I’ve driven Fiat 500s, I’ve ..read more

Lusso’s Judith Baker explores the Melbourne Lodge at Brocket Hall… The Brocket Estate in Hertfordshire is home to the imposing Brocket Hall, one of the country’s loveliest stately homes. It was visited in the 1500s by Elizabeth 1 while she was under house arrest at nearby Hatfield House.  She would stroll down the banks of the River Lea to chat with John Brocket, her confidante who she knighted when she came to the throne. These days you are more likely to run into golfing royalty who flock to the Estate’s two Championship golf courses, The Melbourne and The Palmerston, a Golf Academy an ..read more

Seeking a simpler life? The Caribbean island of Nevis may be just what you need… The tiny unspoilt Caribbean island of Nevis is linked to two 18th century nautical legends. Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and father of the U.S. Coast Guard, was born in Charlestown’s Low Street and British Naval Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was stationed on Nevis as a young captain, and met and married Nevisian Frances Nisbet there  in 1787. You can still see the magnificent cotton silk tree under which the couple are said to have tied the knot. It sits in the grounds of the lo ..read more

The London Oyster Championships return to Bentley’s in September Congratulations are in order to both Richard Corrigan – the chef who’s hosting the return of the London Oyster Championships – and, frankly, to us. Why? Because we’ve all resisted the urge to refer to it as the Shuck Off. I mean, it’s right there, isn’t it? Anyway, Richard didn’t and nor did we. So well done us. The London Oyster Championships are assuming the mantle from the ‘Tabasco British Oyster Championship’ which ran for over 25 years. The event, which celebrates the return of the native oyster season (September-April, yo ..read more

And several of them will be the guests at Cosme Cosme, the Luxury Collection Resort, nestled in the heart of the Cyclades on the picturesque island of Paros, has announced two new elements. First up is Vrosi, a private dining concept celebrating the heritage of Paros and the flavours of traditional Aegean cuisine. Think open air garden, a communal table, and renowned Chef Yiannis Kioroglou doing his classy thing in the spirit of Greek hospitality with the finest of local produce and all prepared in the wood-fired oven. And after dinner… The other new element is the stargazing terrace, which ..read more

The people behind Kutir are opening a new Mediterranean / Asian grill restaurant on Beachamp Place  From Amalfi to Asia… While it sounds like the tagline for a new series of The Trip, it’s actually the “culinary journey” promised by Geode, a new restaurant from Arrow Hospitality, whose portfolio also incudes Kutir and Manthan. As that heritage suggests, Geode promises to be a slickly designed, stylish affair, a stripped back interior, softened by low mood-lighting, with dynamic furnishings and fixtures, not to mention a jagged hole on the backlit wall behind the bar, where diners will b ..read more

Allbirds’ M0.0NSHOT is the world’s first net zero carbon shoe We don’t often talk fashion at Lusso Towers but there is something of an addiction to Allbirds. Maybe it’s a sign of getting older – or simply more confident in who we are? – but we’re all about the comfort and, well, Allbirds tick that box. As a bonus, the company – dreamed up in New Zealand, launched in San Francisco, and using natural materials to create the world’s most comfortable shoes – has long been one of the most ethically-minded out there. And yeah, we know, we also like a bit of hunting, shooting and fishing, not to men ..read more

Well, for the grouse, we mean. We suspect La Poule au Pot and Maggie Jones’s will carry on beyond August 12… It’s nearly August 12 and carnivores, and gun owners, the country over know what that means: it’s the start of Britain’s grouse shooting season. And, as ever, that day – The Glorious Twelfth – will be celebrated by several of the country’s leading restaurants, including London’s Maggie Jones’s and La Poule Au Pot. Both will be adding grouse, covered in bacon, with vegetables and game sauce to the menu from 14th August 2023 because, well, the birds need a little time to get from The Yor ..read more