Heckfield Place; Secret Cellar Cinema

Having just been named one of the top 10 UK Hotels by the Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers Choice Awards for 2022, Heckfield Place is a true hidden gem for local villagers of the area. Alongside the highly acclaimed Marle Restaurant headed by famous chef Skye Gyngell, also the lady behind Petersham Nurseries and Spring at Somerset House London, Heckfield Events welcomes members of the public to enjoy an exciting programme of activities around the grounds nestled in the quaint Hampshire countryside.

The Dolby Atmos Screening Room located underground by the manor house of Heckfield, hosts talks and cinema screenings of old school movie classics as well as new releases. With tickets priced at £18 per adult, this is an affordable alternative to your usual cinema visit and worth the extra few pounds for such an exclusive, premium cinema experience.

Last weekend we managed to get tickets to see the only screening of the latest blockbuster release Don’t Worry Darling staring Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine, to name a few. I kept my outfit comfy yet stylish wearing my Grenson boots, denim jeans, a knitted polo-neck, gold jewellery and check blazer layered with my new H&M wool-blend cream trench coat, which I’m loving right now.

With the film starting at 7:30pm, we decided to grab a curry beforehand at our favourite local Thai The Spice Merchant. It was the perfect Sunday night hearty dinner for two, packed full of nutritious veggies and those delicious creamy Thai flavours, it never fails to impress.

Arriving on a stormy, dark, autumnal evening at Heckfield Place, the atmosphere was very fitting for this psychological thriller film. Drinks acquired from the bar, we found our seats and made ourselves at home in the plush sofa chairs ready for the movie.

I’m not usually one for watching horrors and following this film I remember why. It was fantastic and I thought Oliva Wilde was a brilliant leading lady supported by Harry Styles, but yikes did I have some scary nightmares that night!

Regardless, it was another fabulous movie experience at the Heckfield Place secret cinema. We’ll definitely be back again this winter season to cosy up in front of another film in superior style. I’m thinking a lighter hearted movie is in order next time as well as a couple of cocktails from the bar beforehand too. ❤

Festive Feels; Deck the Halls

So I’m not usually one to get excited for Christmas so early, however with such limited celebrations in 2020 due to Covid, I can’t wait for the festive season this year! It will be the first Christmas in our new home which is why I was so eager to get a head start on decorating this weekend.

With our gorgeous frosted artificial tree, I decided to keep it simple with all white and gold baubles complete with cute lights. I love the white and gold aesthetic, the only key element missing at this point is the star to go on the top of the tree. Not to mention there will of course be more sprinkles of Christmas decs added around the house as we head into December, but I’m already feeling super excited with our tree up and glistening every night!

We continued our festive weekend with cosy drinks and dinner at a local pub, where we kicked back in armchairs by the fire and enjoyed some delicious burgers. Back home we then watched our first Christmas movie of the year Serendipity – a charming old classic Christmas romance story. I do love the holiday season as an excuse to get together with friends and family as we all wind down for the year together in good spirits ❤

Winter Date Night; Cheese Platter Goals

It’s always fun to mix things up when it comes to date night and being in the events industry, there’s nothing I love more than playing the part of hostess of course! Taking a cosy corner of my bedroom, I lay down a fluffy throw, scattered plenty of cushions, setup my fairy lights, lit some candles, got the chilled tunes playing on Spotify… and voila, the cutest setting for an evening with the boyf. ❤

Whether it’s a night with the girls, entertaining family at Christmas or relaxing with your partner, a cheese board is the perfect winter essential to share and enjoy amongst friends and family.

Having had plenty of practice making numerous grazing platters on the weekly at my old PR agency in Australia, I have become quite the pro at putting together a good spread. The concept is pretty straight forward – take your board and ensemble starting with the basics: a variety of cheeses of your choice, crackers and biscuits, chutney, fresh fruits including grapes, dried fruits such as dates, olives, pickles and a sprinkling of nuts.

Now the benefit of doing this at home is that you can personalise everything to your taste, so feel free to swap and change accordingly and embellish your board however you wish. My favourite cheese this time of year is the Wensleydale with Cranberry and I’ve also recently discovered the delicious combo of honey with cheese, a must if you have a sweet tooth! The key is to fill your board as much as possible and then have extra little bowls or platters for anything which doesn’t quite fit on.

Our wine of choice had to be a French red Cotes Du Rhone to perfectly pair with all the cheese. We felt super cosy and festive as we sipped our wine and indulged in the wonderful platter packed full of so many different tastes to savour.

So grab your boyfriend, housemate, sister or whoever you live with, and treat them to the ultimate night-in together featuring wine, cheese, nibbles and even a snuggly den for those aesthetic goals.