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We joined the Broken Clock Vodka team at the Ivy Chelsea Garden along with the Botanical Boys to celebrate the launch of the new British brand of lingering vodka.

We were treated to a night of sights, smells and delicious vodka inspired by traditional Georgian gardens and cookery books. We were all sitting comfortably in the beautifully decorated private dining room at the Ivy Chelsea Garden with colourful prints and floral artwork, perfect for an evening of botanical cocktails and re-connecting with nature.

The story of Broken Clock Vodka started in 1816, when Leon Kuhajewski invented the world’s first astronomical watch. Two hundred years later, a relative of his decided to honour his invention by creating Broken Clock Vodka. After three years of testing and tasting, the recipe was finally complete, taking inspiration from the surrounding English countryside.

The delicious spirit is made in a traditional copper pot still in Cheshire, and is then infused with slow ripened apples from the garden at Shandy Hall in Coxwold, Yorkshire. The result is a particularly smooth spirit with a fruity edge that’s perfect for vodka-based cocktails.

The bespoke cocktails that we sampled during the evening included the below:

Summer Apple Vodka Tonic

  • Broken Clock Vodka
  • 30&40 Double Jus Calvados Liqueur
  • Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic

Made In Chelsea Coupe

  • Broken Clock Vodka
  • Lychee juice
  • Rose syrup
  • Lemon juice
  • Egg white

Ivy special Vodka Tonic

  • Broken Clock Vodka
  • Lavender
  • Cucumber
  • Lime
  • Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic

Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Coupe

  • Broken Clock Vodka
  • Bepi Tosolini Expre Coffee Liqueur
  • Freshly pulled espresso
  • Salted caramel syrup

The Botanical Boys made the evening interactive as we created our own garden in a terrarium each with their own unique personalities, while sampling their cocktails. We were reconnected with nature, just like we were reconnected with old crumbling country houses and beautiful English gardens fresh in bloom in the story of Broken Clock Vodka.

We each got a bottle to take away with us and to share with friends and family. Each unique bottle has an English rose emblazoned onto it. No garden is complete without a rose and now no cocktail is complete without Broken Clock Vodka.

It can’t just be #TeamCoco who find swimsuit shopping nothing short of a nightmare?

Today we speak with Jade, founder of The Mermaid HQwho designs swimwear for real women, crafted from eco-friendly and recycled fibres. Could The Mermaid HQ be the answer to all our beach day prayers? We certainly think so…

HOC: Hey Jade! Great to meet you. Let’s start with the trickier one, what’s your elevator pitch for The Mermaid HQ?

Jade: First of all, WOAH. On the spot?! Here I go.

My name is Jade and I am the founder and creator of The Mermaid HQ.

Revenue in the Sports and swimwear industry alone (for Australia) amounts to US$1,219 million in 2019. The market is expected to grow annually by 1.0% (CAGR 2019-2023)

Did you know that there is actually a gap in the Australian market for active swimwear? I’m not talking about swimwear created for queens of Bondi. Neither am I talking about swimwear for the already fabulous to look even more stunning in. I am talking about active swimwear. Swimwear for the rest of us, people who want to make that walk from the changing room to the pool or beach in pieces that make us feel confident.

The swimwear ad campaigns over the decades have provided the subliminal message that on-trend swimwear is available for one body type and one body type only.

I want to start a revolution to validate and elevate real women, of all ages, shapes, colours, and sizes, in trendy eco-friendly and sustainable swimwear. At The Mermaid HQ, we create swimwear made of eco-friendly and recycled fibres sourced from discarded fishing nets, and recycled ocean plastic. In doing so, we deal with the marine pollution problem and use less virgin materials designing swimwear for real women, of all ages, shapes, colours, and sizes, who are also conscious of their environmental impact.

As an already established brand, my label is poised to move into bags, clothing, towels, jewellery and so much more. I want to offer you an opportunity to invest in my revenue-positive brand, that is well-positioned to secure a strong foothold in a $20 billion dollar global swimwear market. I am asking for $100,000 dollars for 10% equity.

Help me, start a revolution.

HOC: Sign us up, what a great pitch! Can you tell us about your personal background and your journey to running your business?

Jade: Of course, I’m a 23 years old undergrad from Fiji, currently working on finishing up my double bachelors degree in Art and Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Interior Architecture at the University of Canberra. To be honest, I had thought a lot about starting my own business years ago, but I never really had the capital to invest into any venture, neither was I able to narrow down what service I could supply that was already in demand. I was also very afraid of failing.

It wasn’t until a friend of mine suggested that we start an online store, that I had begun to share the ideas and visions I had kept to myself till then. So, in September 2018, we started a clothing label, and our main focus was providing festival go-ers with their get-up for their music fest du-jour.

It didn’t really work out, I felt that we both had creative differences and so we decided to part ways, and dissolve the label. But, I still wanted to make my visions a reality. So I dove into another business venture that I had been mulling over for about 3 years. Swimwear. Specifically bikini sets that weren’t sold separately, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg to own.

As a university student, working as a part-time waitress, spending $70 on a bikini top seemed absurd to me. If I wanted a matching bikini bottom, that would be another $70 or $80.

So I decided to start a swimwear label, targeted towards women around my age, who don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of money just to look good for a day at the beach. To keep it simple, uni-students who wanna look good without breaking the bank. I did my research, sourced my manufacturer, and set-up my website on my own. I designed my logo on my phone using the Canva App, during one of my lunch breaks at work!

After 3 months of working out the kinks, gathering different designs, I officially launched my swimwear label, The Mermaid HQ. The swimwear label for mermaids in training. Women who love to live freely and feel confident in their own skin.

HOC: We love this bootstrapping story! We know you grew up in Fiji, Indonesia and Timor-Leste ; has this had an impact on your designs?

Jade: Absolutely. Having spent the majority of my formative years in those countries, was the main reason I wanted to start my own swimwear label.

When you think of Fiji, you think of our white sandy beaches and sipping cocktails by the shore. My fondest memory of Indonesia was the dawn that I witnessed the birth of, what felt like, dozens of tiny little turtles. Hiking along Timor- Leste’s Areia Branca, up to the Statue of Christ replica, is still my favourite memory of living there.

Each country had a tropical climate, and each had their own unique island vibe. When I look at prints for my swimwear, I gravitate more towards the blues that remind me of Areia Branca, the leaf prints that make me think about the vendors that would sit underneath coconut trees with their carts, cutting open coconuts for their water, for locals and tourists. In my mind’s eye, I keep in mind the people in the places I grew up in, and I think about the colours I associate with those places, and whether or not they would wear a particular design.

HOC: You self funded your business launch through part-time work, how was that for you?

Jade: Honestly, it wasn’t easy. Apart from inventory, I had to think about everything to do with my business myself; things like shipping locally, and internationally; taking into account the rates, custom taxes. Packaging was another issue I had to tackle. What packaging am I going to use? Wrapping paper? Where will I put my logo?

Then came all the work to do with having a presence like making sure my label’s instagram and facebook accounts were active and posting often. I wanted to ensure that potential customers who would come across the label’s social media pages would have recent content to look over.

So many little things, that all came together to make a bigger picture! It was tough, especially since I decided to launch my label a month before University exams. It was very hard, juggling working in the mornings, classes and tutorials in the afternoons, and then working on my label at night.

Keeping my energy up was the easy part, I guess. I work in a cafe, so coffee was a constant factor. I also work with a fantastic crew. They made coming to work a highlight. The constant banter kept me sane. At Uni, I took classes with my friends so it was easy to dive back into that because I knew I wasn’t alone, I was always able to ask them for help.

Sleep was the hardest thing to come by. I’d be so wired from my long days, that it was easier for me to funnel my restless energy into doing something I love. Which in this case was building a brand. I had learned so much from failing at my first attempt at running a label, and I used that information to help me build The Mermaid HQ.

HOC: What makes The Mermaid HQ different from other swimwear brands?

Jade: In a nutshell, it’s a swimwear label, founded and run by a female international university student, from the Pacific Island of Fiji.

I decided to name my label, The Mermaid HQ, because the definition of a mermaid, symbolically speaking, revolves around the divine feminine energies, and the true power of the female spirit. When I was trying to figure out the name of my label, for some odd reason I was drawn to the word “mermaids”. In my research, I read that “to have a connection to a mermaid, is to have goddess energies, is to have intuitive abilities, is to be a healer of the heart and of the ocean.”

I wanted the women who wore my swimwear to feel like they were mermaids, to be attuned to divine feminine energies. When they wear my label, I want them to feel like women who love to live freely and feel confident in their own skin. “Healer of the heart and of the ocean” spoke to me because of my ambition to expand into making sustainable eco-friendly swimwear made from fabric that was a by-product of recycled ocean plastic. So I wanted to create a Headquarters (HQ), where these women could connect with their divine feminine energy, become mermaids in training. And there, I had my brand. The Mermaid HQ, for mermaids in training.

HOC: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Jade: My list of things to-do! Ever since I got my first sales, 2 days after the label launched, it’s been incredible. I’m a full time undergrad, with a cafe gig. I hate to say it but those are 2 main reasons I kick myself out of bed. However, ever since my label has gained traction, my to-do list has been filled with getting in touch with models, and photographers, organising photoshoots, sourcing more materials for my swimwear, as well as creating ad and marketing campaigns.

You have no idea how addictive it is to dive into all this work. I find it so exciting, and I lose myself in my work.

HOC: If you weren’t running The Mermaid HQ, what would you be doing?

Jade: I’d be finishing my degrees, and working at the cafe. So not that much of a difference. I’d be focusing more on sending out internship applications. If I didn’t have my swimwear label, I think I’d still be working on my festival line. Attending start-up expo’s in my free time. Figuring out how to get my festival line out there.

Besides work, school, and side-hustling, I like to take advantage of travelling around Australia. Doing mini-road trips with my friends whenever we have days off. I like attending concerts, going out of town to see the Vivid Light Show in Sydney, or taking trips down to Melbourne to see what exhibitions the Melbourne Museum has to offer. Those are just some of the things I’ve done. Typical 20-something activities!

HOC: What resources did you find useful on your journey to launching your own business, you mentioned being inspired by some other female founders?

Jade: Oh definitely. I find Interviews with entrepreneurs, specifically Jane Lu, the founder of Showpo very inspirational. Showpo had made around $30 Million in 2018, 7 years after Jane Lu founded the company. She started out almost like me.

It was comforting to know, that it doesn’t matter how I start, or how small it is, what really matters is whether I have to stamina to keep going and keep pushing forward even when faced with obstacles. Her interviews on Youtube were particularly interesting, and I found her Showpo Video addressing the fact that she and her employees had “stuffed up” regarding issues with the business. I found this admirable, and it galvanised me. Making mistakes is okay, as long as you work on providing a solution. I took that and I ran with it.

Iyia Liu was an entrepreneur that I discovered on Instagram. She has many successful ventures under her belt and she is a business woman I aspire to be like some day. Her venture, Girls In Business, was a resource I found helpful. A community of entrepreneurial females who offer support to other females wishing to grow their empires. The great thing about the digital age, is that there is so much content available online. All those hours spent doing research for homework in the last decade really came in handy!

HOC: Swimwear season can often be a source of upset for many of our readers who don’t live the beach life year round. What advice would you have for them choosing the right swimwear and feeling badass?

Jade: I don’t think House of Coco readers should base their swimwear on whether or not they live the “beach life” year round. But I do understand that with the seasonal change, many would not have the chance to wear them as often as they probably see insta-baddies do.

I have personally paired bikini tops with high-waisted jeans, shorts, skirts, for a night out with my friends, to attend a music festival, and attend a concert!

My advice to your readers would be, Step 1. choose a bikini that compliments you, your figure, and your skin tone. Step 2, ask yourself, what in my closet right now, would I be able to wear this with. Do not limit yourself to only wearing your swimwear to the beach.

Have a mix of swimwear that you can adapt into your everyday or going out looks. An upside to this, is that you’ll know which pieces of swimwear still fit you once it’s summer again.

HOC: That may be the best piece of swimwear advice I have ever heard, thanks Jade! Finally, what’s your ambition for the rest of 2019?

Jade: I have recently begun using biodegradable mailing packages. My goal is to steer my label, make it greener, more sustainable. My ambition is to slowly integrate SEAQUAL fabric as the main material for my swimwear.

SEAQUAL is a certified, earth-friendly polyester yarn, made from recycled materials, including post consumer plastic bottles and more importantly plastic captured from the sea. They also ecological dyes and finishes based on saving water and energy. I would use this fabric to create my Plus-size swimwear collection.

Seeing as I am from Fiji, another ambition of mine is to have more people of colour not only model my swimwear, but be featured in all social media platforms regarding my label. I want to use my platform to contribute to my community. My message is to create swimwear for women who love to live freely and feel confident in their own skin. This extends to women in everyday life. Real women, everywhere. Women who not only look like my friends, but women who also look like my mom, my aunties, and my grandmother. I want to design swimwear that truly embraces women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colours.

View Jade’s collection at TheMermaidHQ.com

Follow along for all your swimwear inspo @TheMermaidHQ

Photo Credits:

Photo of Jade, Mark Goina Jnr.

Maddi Iliff-Courtney, in The Mermaid HQ swimsuit Maslin One Piece, Mike Frakes.

Located in East London’s Andaz Liverpool Street, Miyako is an intimate and unassuming Japanese restaurant serving deliciously fresh sushi. The restaurant specialises in simple, authentic dishes and its definitely got #TeamCoco’s vote.

The 28-seat, friendly restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine from maki rolls to temaki rolls and sashimi and hot dishes, including chicken teriyaki, pork gyozas. If we were to choose a winning dish, it would be a close shave between the scallop sushi, pork gyozas and seabass sashimi (it’s that good we can’t choose).

Head Chef, Sakamoto, works closely with local suppliers to hand pick high quality and ethically sourced fish to deliver a menu, which is made fresh by hand every day. The menu has been designed to eat in or takeaway. The sake menu is particularly impressive with a range of hot, cold and sparkling sake on offer.

There is no pretentiousness and it isn’t fussy but it does seem miles ahead of other Japanese restaurants in the city. The staff are attentive and efficient but reflect the restaurant’s subtlety and unassuming vibe.

Excitingly, the restaurant has launched a series of monthly sushi and sake experience master classes, designed to take guests on an authentic culinary journey into the art of sushi making, led by Japanese-born Sakamoto. Priced at £79.00 per person, guests will enjoy a hands-on three hour session learning the top tricks and techniques of rice cooking, preparing their own Maki, Temaki and Inside-out rolls as well as how to select the best fish and ingredients and serve Sashimi. The Sushi & Sake experience, includes a sparkling sake on arrival, and sake tasting— guests will sample a range of sake wines.

Bookings: The sushi masterclass is available on 17 August at 3pm and is priced at £79.00 per person.

Miyako also serves a bottomless menu, featuring Gyoza, Sushi, Tempura, Teriyaki and many other favourites. Priced at £18.00 per person, the menu is available to eat in Monday to Friday, 2.30pm – 5.30pm.

Summer is the absolute perfect time to experiment with new drinks and delicious cocktails, so when #TeamCoco heard about the launch of leading port company Graham’s Blend No5 White Port, we instantly wanted to find out more, I mean, who even knew that port could be white!

This exciting launch means that for those of us who aren’t really into the current gin craze we can adopt our very own sophisticated drink, and let it be Blend No5 White Port by Graham’s with a little cheeky tonic. It’s got a certain ring to it don’t you think ‘I’ll have a Graham’s Blend No5 and tonic please’?

The first thing we find out about this new product by Graham’s is that this white port has fresh citrus tones with a touch of orange blossom amidst the flavours, and it’s a refreshing low ABV alternative to a gin and tonic. A special blend of fine white port designed to create the perfect port & tonic.

The stunning bottle has been designed by renowned Portuguese fashion illustrator António Soares, who has previously collaborated with FENDI, Karl Lagerfeld, and Chanel. It’s a really beautiful bottle, and perfectly suited for an all-important Instagram pic.

If you fancy making your own cocktail then try the following:

Port & Tonic

1/3 Graham’s No5 Blend White Port
2/3 Tonic (Fever Tree recommended)
Fresh Lemon
Fresh Mint
Served ice cold on the rocks

A little taste of Northern Portugal’s Porto in a glass.

Priced at £24.99 per bottle (75cl), available from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, and Master of Malt.

The Silo Hotel

Situated in the heart of the Mother City, The Silo Hotel combines a fascinating array of art and design with extreme wow factor. Located in a historic converted grain silo which also holds the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, The Silo commands impressive views across the V&A waterfront. The opulent interior design of the hotel and inclusion of pieces of art from key African artists throughout the rooms, suites and public areas creates an Aladdin’s cave of treasures to admire. Works by fascinating artists including Athi-Patra Ruga can be found in both The Silo and The Zeitz Museum, meaning you may find yourself loitering in the hotel corridors for an unusual length of time. Setting a new standard for luxury in Cape Town, pillowed glazing panels give an immediate contemporary feel to each of the rooms and don’t forget to stop by and appreciate the sunset from the multi-level rooftop terrace. theroyalportfolio.com/the-silo

Tintswalo Atlantic

Tintswalo Atlantic is a haven, designed to satiate cravings for tranquillity and privacy, blink and you will miss the turning as you snake your way towards Chapman’s Peak Drive. An all-suite hotel with impossibly beautiful views over the Atlantic Ocean and Sentinel Mountain Peak, Tintswalo Atlantic is oceanfront chic at it’s finest, with every suite unique in its theme and design. Tear yourself away from some of the most beautiful views Cape Town has to offer to spend some time on the private pebbled beach. Alternatively relax in the expansive lounge area with an Amarula iced coffee in hand, surrounded by the beauty of the Table Mountain National Park. tintswalo.com

Bordeaux on Britannia Villa

The newly opened Bordeaux on Britannia Villa offers a fantastic beach front location on Golden Mile, just out of the hustle and bustle of Cape Town, but within easy reach of the action. Hit the surf or simply enjoy the beach directly in front of the villa. Lovingly designed and constructed, the laid-back beach chic vibe has been curated by the owners who took inspiration from Morocco and Greece, with the inclusion of key pieces from Marrakesh and even a skateboard half-pipe. With a driver on hand, take advantage of the incredible selection of restaurants available locally, including no less than Wolfgat, which has been awarded World Restaurant of The Year from chef Kobus van der Merwe. In a charming touch, the wine loving owners have created their own blend of Red Bordeaux named Maiden, which you can find stocked in the private wine cellar at the villa. bordeauxonbritannia.co.za

The Belmond Mount Nelson

The grand dame of Cape Town, Belmond Mount Nelson is a rich and storied property, counting John Lennon, Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill as previous residents. Painted pink in 1918 to signal the coming of peace, this is an oasis of calm within the city. Extensive gardens surround the property in which to enjoy afternoon tea and meticulously renovated rooms maintain an air of old-school grandeur. For a unique stay, opt for one of the cottages which come complete with a small English country garden and white picket fencing. Step back into modern day Cape Town with a visit to either nearby Kloof Street or Long Street which offer a selection of lively and artistic cafes, shops and galleries. Belmond.com

A yoga course can provide you with the mental clarity and physical improvements needed to return home fully refreshed.

Yoga retreats are a great way to reset and recharge the mind, here’s our round up of our top five places to experience yoga, relax and reclaim yourself.

Rebalance the mind and body in Tuscany

Nestled in Tuscany is Grotta Giusti, one of the world’s most unusual wellness offerings; yoga in a millennial thermal cave with natural therapeutic steam baths. The historic Tuscan spa retreat is home to an ancient Grotto – a millennial thermal cave and a thermal underground hot spring lake – which famed composer, Giuseppe Verdi, regarded as “the eighth wonder of the world”.

In this ancient wonder, the hotel now offers thermal yoga classes with a qualified instructor. Yoga practiced in the natural warmth of this underground labyrinth amplifies sensations, aids concentration and raises body temperature whilst guests benefit from the therapeutic effects of the cave’s thermal vapours.

The water running through the Grotto is rich in salt, sulphate, and alkaline earth and comes out of the ground at around 34°C. Its vapours generate a steam bath that provides effective treatment for respiratory, circulatory, osteo-muscular, nervous, and skin complaints.

Classes can be booked individually, or guests can book the hotel’s two night thermal yoga experience. This special package includes a choice of scuba diving or floating therapy in the underground hot spring lake; floating therapy is a deeply relaxing and highly effective treatment for relieving pain and combating stress. Grotta Giusti is the only hotel in Europe to have an underground thermal cave and hot spring lake within its grounds and there is no experience quite like diving into its warm, thermal waters. The thermal yoga follows the floating therapy or scuba diving, with the once-in-a-lifetime experience topped off with an Ayurvedic Massage.

Guests booking the package will also enjoy full access to the hotel’s thermal hot spring swimming pools and bioaquam circuit, fitness centre and guided morning hike. Finally, dinner is included both nights, one a la carte dinner and one special and very indulgent tasting dinner.

Rates for the two-night thermal spa package start from €664 (£576*) per person based on double-occupancy. Rates include two nights B&B, one a la carte dinner at the newly refurbished La Veranda restaurant, one tasting dinner, thermal swimming pool and bioaquam circuit, a 50-minute thermal yoga class, 90-minute scuba diving or spa floating and a 50-minute Ayurveda massage. For further information or to book please email booking@grottagiustiapa.com or call +39 0572 90771. *Price in pound sterling accurate according to today’s exchange rate.

Unplug in India

Ananda in the Himalayas is a world-renowned wellness retreat, located at the foot of the Himalayas in India. Their group yoga retreats are the ideal place relax and find balance. Set among 100 acres of virgin forest, Ananda enjoys views of the mountains, the valley of the holy town of Rishikesh and the river Ganges.

Each morning opens with a two-hour yoga practice, including Asana, Pranayama and Mantra chanting. Daily theory sessions will address Yogic philosophy and concepts, while meditation sessions will assist in the relaxation of body and mind. Yogi enthusiasts can enhance their practice with personalised yoga sessions, yoga nidra and Pranayama. The delicious Ayurvedic cuisine (with menus personalised according to your dosha or body type) ensures successful weight loss or healing and rejuvenation. Beyond the destination spa itself, explore the Himalayan foothills with mountains treks, guided nature walks and white water rafting.

Group Yoga Retreats cost from $2,700pp (*£2,154.60), based on two sharing. For enquiries and bookings, visit www.anandaspa.com *Price in pound sterling accurate according to today’s exchange rate.

Declutter your mind in the Maldives

The Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru – the first to introduce AntiGravity yoga, a Yoga Energy Trail, and Panchakarma to the Maldives – is the world’s first Resort to offer Yoga Therapy Courses: personalised condition-targeting programmes devised in conjunction with S-VYASA, the world’s first “university for yoga” and pioneer of yoga therapy through scientific research.

Each three or five day programme begins and ends with consultations – including comprehensive questionnaires – to help align each course to individual needs and lifestyle. Daily 60-minute sessions then teach bespoke breathing techniques and postures designed for each ailment, aim, injury or intention.

Starting modules target specific common ailments and lifestyle diseases – Stress Management, Diabetes Care, Spinal Care, Thyroid Health, Men’s Health, Women’s Health and Addiction Management – across Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Guests are invited to consult with the Resort’s Yogis to tailor a programme to suit other symptoms too, as well as any combination of the above. Follow-up care and support come in the form of personal video conference sessions, as well as on-site access to complementary Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat treatments, classes and cuisines.

The course starts at $650 (£518) + 23.2% taxes for a 3-day programme per person. For more information visit www.fourseasons.com

Get Mindful in Morocco

Escape the daily grind and restore and replenish your mind, body and spirit. Set in a charming riad on the beach in Essaouira, this three-night stay combines yoga, meditation and wellbeing workshops guaranteed to leave you coming away feeling refreshed and reset. This really is a mini mind break, the programme is run by a yoga teacher and wellbeing coach who have designed a retreat to disconnect, change habits and redesign your mindset. Start your day with meditation on the roof terrace followed by breakfast. Following breakfast your days are filled with a range of wellbeing activities from yoga, wellness workshops to surfing and mindful walks on the beach then wind down at the end of the day with the option of a relaxing massage and dinner.

Feast on all the flavours of Morocco during your stay and experience fresh, locally sourced traditional food in this chilled out setting right on the beach.

Bookings now open for 2020. Rates for three-nights package start at £565 pp including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Spa and surf experiences are an extra cost and booked on arrival. For more information visit www.frenchyogagarden.com

Combine yoga and forest bathing in Japan

Head to Japan for a retreat with top London yoga teacher Adam Husler. Your break begins in the beautiful forested Chūbu region, staying at a tranquil health farm surrounded by the highest mountains in Japan, including the glorious Mount Fuji. Here immerse yourself in a powerful combination of dynamic yoga, meditation, forest bathing and hiking. Then travel to a charming mountain village in Nagano region to explore temples and lakes, eat traditional Japanese food and soak in the local onsen.

For a four night stay prices start at £1,995 pp for more information visit www.reclaimyourself.co.uk

Yes yes and yes to World Gin Day! As you know #TeamCoco are not shy of the occasional drink, whether it be a cocktail or a super luxe gin, and we’re all over this weekend’s shenanigans with it being World Gin Day.

Saturday 8th June is the date for your diary, so why not check out some of our ideas below for homemade cocktails, a simple G&T, or visit a London bar or distillery that specialises in gin. Whatever your decision, enjoy your gin responsibly indoors, outdoors or with friends on World Gin Day.

Classic Pink Gin, with Angostura

The Pink Gin Cocktail came to life in a perfect storm of elegance, high-seas and life or death drama. The simple, yet potent drink is traditionally a mixture of Angostura®aromatic bitters with gin, and modern variations include adding tonic, prosecco or summer berries. There are so many possible flavours, that Angostura have launched a summer long campaign, working alongside some of the most delicious Gin brands so that you can enjoy all the variations at home.

Recipe: Classic Pink Gin
60 ml gin, 2 dashes Angostura®aromatic bitters.
In a mixing glass, stir the ingredients with ice to chill. Strain into a small old fashioned glass and serve.

Angostura®aromatic bitters are available in Morrisons stores nation-wide, £10 (200ml) at 44.7% abv. Visit www.morrisons.com to order.

The King of Soho, Soho Pink Fizz

Distilled in the heart of London using traditional methods, The King of Soho is crafted with 12 botanicals to a unique recipe. The bold and colourful design of the bottle embodies the characteristics that make Soho unique; a celebration of the Soho spirit. Fresh strawberry and floral chamomile lead on a wave of soft juniper with a suggestion of citrus in the Variorum Pink Gin.

Recipe: Soho Pink Fizz
20ml King of Soho Variorum Pink Gin, 10ml Blue Curaçao, Dash Orange bitters, Topped with Rosé Champagne.
Mix the first three ingredients in a shaker with ice and fine strain into a chilled Champagne flute. Top with the rosé Champagne by pouring gently down a bar spoon. Garnish which a slice of strawberry and serve.

The King of Soho is available from numerous outlets and via online, simple search for The King of Soho. Priced at around £30 per bottle (70cl). Visit www.kingofsohodrinks.com for more info.

Hayman’s Old Tom

Since 1863 five generations of our family have acted as custodians of the True English Gin style – providing an unbroken lineage dating back to the original gin boom. Throughout this 150 years, we have been proud to distil True English Gins, using family techniques and processes handed down through the generations.

Today, in an era where most gin producers have focused on what’s new, the Hayman’s family remain committed to championing the True English Gin style, protecting the classically balanced styles that lie at the heart of most classic gin cocktails.

Recipe: Martinez
50ml Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, 15ml Sweet Rosso Vermouth, 15ml dry Vermouth, 5ml Maraschino Cherry Liqueur, 1 dash Angostura Bitters, 1 dash Orange Bitters.
Chill a martini glass, stir all the ingredients in a mixing glass or tin, strain into chilled martini glass, garnish with a twist of orange peel or a Maraschino cherry and serve.

Priced at £27 (70cl), available from www.haymansgin.com or via Ocado.

Caorunn Highland Strength

Ahead of their upcoming 10-year-anniversary and in celebration of World Gin Day, Caorunn are launching their highest strength gin yet: Caorunn Highland Strength.

Crafted at Balmenach Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, Gin Master Simon Buley has expertly handcrafted Caorunn Highland Strength at a bold 54% abv to enhance the traditional Scottish botanicals that distinguish Caorunn Gin.

This stronger version of Caorunn Gin utilises Scotland’s unique natural resources by infusing five locally foraged Celtic botanicals and six traditional gin botanicals in their Copper Berry Chamber to create a flavour that deserves to be savoured.

Highland Strength enhances the dry, crisp, taste of Caorunn to create a peppery, fruity and herbaceous gin with a strong juniper character and is best served with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, built over ice and garnished with red apple slices and orange oil twisted over the surface.

The higher abv percentage of Caorunn Highland Strength lends itself perfectly to mixed drinks and cocktails and so, just in time for Summer, Caorunn recommends cocktail lovers enjoy the new gin with Dry Vermouth and Cocchi Americano, garnished with fresh lemon zest to create a Pale Highland Negroni.

Caorunn Highland Strength retails at £40.00 (70cl) per bottle and is available to purchase from 8 June from Independent & Specialist Retailers.

Visit www.caorunngin.com for more info.

Hayman’s Gin Liqueur

Hayman’s of London has launched a Gin Liqueur, with the recipe adding just a touch of sugar to the classic Hayman’s blend of ten botanicals to create a juniper-forward gin with the sweetness of a liqueur.

Hayman’s Gin Liqueur developed something of a cult following in warm weather markets such as Spain, where it proved to be a refreshing serve under the hot sun – most often enjoyed neat over ice or as a play on a classic gin and tonic.

Just 6,000 individually numbered bottles of Hayman’s Gin Liqueur have been created. They are available to buy from the Hayman’s of London Distillery in South West London, with an RRP of £39 and online at www.haymansgin.com

City of London Distillery, Gin Experiences

The City Of London Distillery marks the very first distillery to open in London’s Square Mile for almost 200 years, as every single one closed due to famine, government regulations and taxation in the 18th century. The distillery offers a number of experiences to choose from including:

City Of London Distillery Gin Lab Experience (priced at £125)
You can learn how to distil first hand, get to grips with the different botanicals and have the opportunity to design your own recipe before distilling your very own personalised bottle of gin (70 cl) to take home and enjoy.

City of London Distillery Tour with optional tasting (priced at £15 or £25)
You can take a guided tour of the distillery to discover the history of gin in London and learn about City of London Distillery’s gin making techniques, with an optional three-flight gin tasting at the end.

And after all that education, you can enter the distillery’s speakeasy-style bar to enjoy some of the very best gin cocktails London has to offer, while overlooking the impressive copper stills.

For more info visit www.cityoflondondistillery.com

Bombay Sapphire, London Pop-Ups

In the lead up to World Gin Day, gin-lovers across the UK can celebrate their favourite tipple with help from the world-famous BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® has curated a ginspirational line up of creative cocktail events across the country.

Mr Fogg’s Gin Journey* [Various Mr Fogg’s Sites] – From 5-9 June, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® invites ginthusiasts to join the ultimate gin journey through six of the famed explorer Phileas J. Fogg’s London bars. Adventurers will sample a selection of delicious and unique gin cocktails made with either BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® or the new BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Limited Edition: English Estate gin. Guests at each bar are encouraged to get creative by adding the final garnish to their cocktail themselves. Cocktail highlights include the Jasmine flower-infused Silk Sojourn and the Darjeeling tea infused An Elephant’s Progress. Tickets for this limited-edition gin journey include six cocktails, one at each of the bars. Participating Mr Fogg’s Bars include; Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals [must be first stop to collect map], Mr Fogg’s Residence, Mr Fogg’s Tavern, Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration and Mrs Fogg’s Maritime Club & Distillery. £40 per person. Available via eventbrite.

Wright Brothers Gin Journey – Available on World Gin Day, Participants will visit three Wright Brothers venues (Battersea, South Kensington and ending in Soho) for signature BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® cocktails and Wright Brothers snacks from the critically acclaimed seafood experts. In true Gin Journey style, guests will be accompanied by a Gin Guardian in the form of gin expert, Leon Gallaway, as they cross the city in their very own Gini-Bus. At a special one-off price of £25pp plus booking fee, guests will receive a total of five cocktails and three gin tasters. Available via eventbrite.

London Cocktail Club, Oxford Circus – Cocktail drinkers can unleash their inner artist with a masterclass inspired by founder and owner of London Cocktail Club, JJ Goodman. Attendees will create and elevate their own take on JJ’s surrealism and fairytale-inspired cocktail, The Daydreamer. Book directly with London Cocktail Club from 10 June throughout the summer. £22pp, available in London Cocktail Club, The Studio @ Oxford Circus. Experience includes 2 cocktails and a gift.

Dean Street Townhouse English Estate Afternoon Tea – From now until the end of June, guests at can enjoy a bespoke afternoon tea menu including a Coriander and Cassia Bark Cake and Gin and Tonic Cucumber, Cream Cheese Sandwiches. The menu is accompanied by three specially curated BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Limited Edition: English Estate cocktails, including the Afternoon Fizz (Bombay Sapphire English Estate Gin, prosecco, lapsang tea, mandarin, lemon, orange bitter), Chelsea 75 (Bombay Sapphire English Estate Gin, champagne, jasmine tea, italicus, lemon) and Three Roses Negroni (Bombay Sapphire English Estate Gin, Sacred Rosehip liqueur, Rose Vermouth, atomized rose water). Book via Dean Street townhouse – £32pp.

Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen, 40 Bermondsey Street SE1 – From 8 June for eight weeks, guests at Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen can watch live illustration sessions by acclaimed street artist INSA, whilst enjoying a selection of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® cocktails including the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Paint Collection G&T, customisable Canvas Cocktail, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® DIY G&T, Bombay Sapphire Limited Edition: English Estate Secret English Garden and more. Customers who order the Canvas Cocktail can edit their own drink with a range of edible sprays and garnishes before snapping the perfect picture of their serve in one of the Instagram booths.

Marbs is shaking off its reputation as a TOWIE hotspot and quickly becoming a cultural destination with more to offer than designer shops and overpriced bars. The emerging art scene driven by the presence of some of the top art galleries and museums and the annual Art Marbella Fair is firmly transforming this city into a destination for art lovers. Art Marbella will once again be bringing together some of the finest global talent at Palacio de Ferias, Congresos y Exposiciones between July 30 and August 3, 2019. The fair is the largest contemporary art exhibition on the Costa del Sol and will feature 45 stands exhibiting modern art works and the latest trends in international contemporary art. One of the main areas of the fair will be the spaces curated by Violeta Janeiro and Mariela Velasco. Another new initiative will be the Young Acquisition Award, which the fair will grant for the first time to the most representative work by a young artist. The award seeks to recognise the merits of young artists exhibiting at the fair.

Embracing the art scene is Amàre Art, an impressive programme of art exhibitions exhibited around the Amàre Beach Hotel close to Marbella Old Town, a great destination for art lovers.

The annual programme, now in its fourth year showcases photography, fashion, design, sculpture, video-art and paintings around the reception, restaurants, lifts and stairwells, bringing creativity to the heart of this luxury beachfront hotel.

There are two exhibitions each season and currently Amàre Art is exhibiting works by Anna Schellberg and Paula Vincenti.

As a German artist, Anna uses her work to portray stories to her audience, expressing destroyed dreams, lost hope and broken identities whilst intertwining the past, present and future. Anna focuses on well-known faces, documenting urban life through the medium of street art. Heavily influenced by her past work as a news journalist, the paintings use her emblematic technique of strategic blots and intentional stains to capture the profound elements of her subjects’ souls. This continuous contact with people has allowed her to develop a particular technique making the audience question what they really know about other people and reminding us that there is no single truth.
Born in Buenos Aires, Paula has spent her life being inspired by the reflections of water and what she sees in the mirror. Through delicate composition, Paula’s work reflects her personal life experiences, woven into artworks with papier mâché, recycled cardboard and Chinese ink. She aims for her audience to confront and question their own emotions through her bold canvases where characters appear with an almost photographic vision.

Guests and locals have the opportunity to admire and revere the works hung around the hotel and if any of it catches your eye you can buy it.

Reached in just two and a half hours from the UK and with daytime temperatures exceeding 20 degrees from April to October, Marbella is a perfect short haul break to enjoy sunshine, the beach and unique art.

Team Coco travelled to Marbella courtesy of Amare Beach Hotel Marbella. For more information on Amare Art visit www.amarehotels.com

I have an admission to make, I love this time of year, spring has well and truly sprung and the blossoms are in full bloom. From the incredible display of colours in the parks to the unexpected delight of wandering into a side road to be greeted by rows of pink and white beautiful petals cascading down from blossom laden branches, London has never looked more beautiful.

These incredible signs of spring are of course not limited to the UK but seen all over the world, most famously in Japan where Sakura or cherry blossoms are celebrated with abandon. From Sakura festivals (Hanami) in the street to every type of blossom flavoured items from pastries to tea, Sakura fever takes over. The blossoms are symbolic of fleeting beauty as they only bloom for such a limited time, this acknowledgement that nothing lasts forever has been celebrated for thousands of years and London is now also in the grip of Sakura fever. So if you are a cherry blossom lover, give these limited edition events a try this spring.

Chotto Matte, Soho

Already well known for its delicious light Nikkei cuisine boasting a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavours, Chotto Matte is effortlessly cool and has upped its game this cherry blossom season with an incredible floral menu. Blossom brunching has never been easier with Ebi Blossom Tempura, Hiroshima Spring Maki and even Raindrop Jelly complete with edible flowers and Cherry Ripple Ice Cream. Available from 31st March 2019 – www.chotto-matte.com

Nobu Hotel, Shoreditch

Get outside and make the most of spring with Nobu Hotel, Shoreditch. Head for the terrace and dine under a canopy of pink blossoms. Nobu has something for every cherry blossom lover and has partnered with The House of Suntory to create a selection of cocktails, afternoon tea and an a la carte menu. From Samurai California Roll to Sushi Rice Pudding with Pecan Candies, these delicious bespoke dishes can be enjoyed with exclusive cocktails. Try a Kinto cocktail which features Old Java Kinto Brew Coffee to put an additional spring in your step! Available from 5th April 2019 – www.nobuhotelshoreditch.com

Zuma Restaurant, Knightsbridge

For a bar fit to burst with blooms try Zuma in Knightsbridge which has transformed its already fabulous sake bar to celebrate the Sakura season. The speciality cocktails feature spring botanicals such as the Kyushu Fizz and Frozen Hana with plum sake. Artist Ivvo Zerou has created a beautiful real blossom tree for the central attraction which sets the scene perfectly. Available from 31st March 2019 – www.zumarestaurant.com

It’s time to make sure our mums are treated like they should be, with lots of fabulous gifts this Mother’s Day (Sunday 31st March).

The #TeamCoco gals have been mulling over boozy gifts and foodie gifts, so we’ve compiled a dinky list of our faves; some are super-duper healthy for the mum who is into serious health and wellbeing, some are indulgent for the mums with a naughty streak, and others are just gorgeous tasty treats for all the gorgeous tasty mums out there.

Happy Mother’s Day shopping!

Chocolate Delight Box by Diablo Sugar Free Confectionary, priced at £4.99, available online from Diablo Sugar Free.

Containing 12 pieces of sugar-free chocolate treats including Noir, a dark chocolate ganache, White Chocolate and Raspberry which balances the sweetness of white chocolate with the tang of the raspberry and Forest Fruits. As well as containing no added sugar the Chocolate Delight Box is also gluten free. A perfect gift for the mum who is GF, or has stopped eating sugar.

Explorer Box by B.Fresh, priced at £20.25, available online from B-Fresh.

This is the best gift a duper healthy mum could wish for, an Explorer Box by B.Fresh, which contains eight bottles of goodness. The box includes three bottles of Watered Up (hydrating combo of water and pure juice), Strawberry Shines (packed with Vitamin C), Get up and Glow (intense defense), Green Warrior (beautifully balanced), plus Green Guru, and Berry Boss (super smoothies with active cultures and fibre).

Happy Mother’s Day Sleekster by Hotel Chocolat, priced at £22.95, available from Hotel Chocolat online or via Hotel Chocolat high street stores.

The Happy Mother’s Day Sleekster contains 27 delicious chocolates including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and Hotel Chocolat’s intensely creamy high-cocoa white. The box includes Eton mess, champagne truffle, caramel cheesecake, cherry deluxe, mousse au chocolat, raspberry smoothie, fudge sundae, going nuts, supermilke Caesar, peanut praline, billionaire’s shortbread, carrot cake, Florentine Isabelle, the brownie, and dizzy praline.

Belgrove Hazelnut Rum, priced at £37, available online from Belgrove Rum.

For all the rum drinking mums out there, Belgrove Rum is distilled from pure Demerara sugar cane grown on the mineral-rich banks of the Demerara River in Guyana. The rum is infused with notes of toasted hazelnut as the predominant flavour, accompanied by notes of Madagascan vanilla and undertones of chocolate, to create a blend that is perfect on the rocks, as a rum Old Fashioned, in an Espresso Martini, or even just with a diet coke.

Unicorn Tears Raspberry Gin Liqueur, priced at £39.99, available online via Very.co.uk.

Simply swirl this magical pink shimmery raspberry gin liqueur into a cocktail and enjoy the flavours of raspberries, sour citrus and juniper berries; an ideal gift for a gin loving mum.