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This week we caught up with Larry Walshe – Founder of Larry Walshe Studios and Bloom Tell us a little about Larry Walshe Studios and when did you decide you wanted to be a florist? I was working as a wedding planner, and I became frustrated by what was being offered in the marketplace and felt like wedding design should be treated in a similar vein to interior design. When you commission someone to transform your home, you receive a full design service – when you are creating wedding florals, you get an A4 piece of paper with some text and numbers on it – occasionally, pictures if you were lucky. I didn’t feel this was right and wanted to offer a full design service experience to my clients so I felt that if I thought I could do it better, I would put my money where my mouth was and give it a go…! That was 8 years ago now and I am thrilled that in that time, we have become one of the most revered and established floral design companies in Europe, travelling consistently over 3 continents to produce some of the most discussed celebrations in the world. What are your most memorable installations? I will always remember winning gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I was walking with my friend throughout the show grounds, about to go for dinner when I received a message with my result. I squealed aloud and really felt that in that moment, I had made it! I have also remembered each and every wedding that we have created. I always feel incredibly privileged when someone invites you to help create the most special day of their lives so whether it is large or small, I remember each one. You have worked with a number of Royal households and celebrities, what was that like? Exactly like working with every other client – just usually with some added security!  It is always an honour to create work for high-profile individuals and usually, you are enabled to be creative, push the envelope and sometimes be given a world stage upon which it will be seen.  As a designer, you want the world to see the work you create so to have this opportunity is an honour. When did you have the idea to start up Bloom? During lockdown when weddings were banned, places of worship where closed and we couldn’t operate, we sat as a team and asked ourselves what we should do with our time. I felt it was our responsibility to keep busy – after all, the worst thing you can do to an overthinker is give them time alone!  As we started to look at the retail side of our business which had, until then, been remarkably undeveloped, we realised there was an opportunity to spend time that we would never usually have into researching and developing a truly sustainable and meaningful response to sustainability.  We are very proud to have launched the UK’s first 100% plastic-free and sustainable online florist. Is there anything exciting you are currently working on? We have a number of weddings and celebrations taking place across Europe this summer so are spending more time in the air and in the sunshine. For us, travelling abroad brings a new set of challenges which keeps it incredibly interesting for us. We are also building a private members club in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert later in the year which is another exciting challenge! What would your ideal day in London be like? Well, if it is a hot day like today, I would start with breakfast at the new Cedric Grolet café at The Berkeley, get an air-conditioned ride across to Holland Park and walk through the grounds. Then, pop along to Westbourne Grove for lunch and shopping before heading over to the latest Anya Hindmarch pop-up store for ice cream. I would likely pop home for a quick change and then be back out again for drinks with friends before dinner at one of my favourite west London haunts, The Shed. For more information Larry Walshe Studios visit: www.larrywalshe.com For bloom visit: https://www.bybloom.co.uk Photography courtesy of Larry Walshe #larrywalshe #LarryWalsheStudios #florist #flowers #bloom

This week we caught up with Cathy Moseley – Founder of Boundless Activated Snacking, to talk about what inspired her to create Boundless Activated Snacking, the challenges she came across and much more. What inspired you to create Boundless Activated Snacking? I started Boundless Activated Snacking for a variety of reasons, but semi selfishly the first “prototype” (if you can call it that considering they were just snacks made in my kitchen to fuel me!) was down to the fact that I’m both gluten & lactose intolerant. I was fed up of the lack of choice of genuinely good for you snacks that didn’t taste like cardboard, and gut health had always been a priority of mine due to my dietary requirements. After getting a feel for activation myself, I knew it was something that anyone and everyone like me deserved! I wanted to make products that really looked after your health, made people feel included and that weren’t out of everyone’s price point. Did you come across any difficulties when creating Boundless Activated Snacking? Ummm… LOADS! My first major milestone was getting a manufacturer to take a risk on me; there were so many difficulties on this journey, but the two that stand out the most are making sure they wouldn’t change the product to make it “commercial”  (aka losing all nutritional value) or making me sign my life away to a huge MOQ I just couldn’t reach launching such an out there product! Finding a manufacturer who believed in the vision & could fulfill it took me almost 2 years to do; it began to feel like it would never happen, but if you know me you know I won’t take no for an answer! I knew I had something special going, so just had to keep on pushing, and I’m glad I did. What has been your biggest achievement to date? I don’t think I ever really let myself take in the achievements as I am always pushing on –  typical entrepreneur there! I could say listings or product development, or even getting investors to part with their money & believe in you – and of course I’m extremely proud of all of those things! – but really my biggest achievement is my team. Finding them and choosing them has been the best thing I have ever done. Surround yourself with good people What has been the best piece of advice you have been given? Get comfortable with being uncomfortable – that’s the nature of being in a start-up and being a challenger brand. If you struggle with that then you need to get on board! There will always be multiple plates spinning no matter the stage of growth you’re in… but to me that’s the whole thrill of it. What would your ideal day in London be like? As a Londoner, this is a tough one! Right now I reckon it would be to see some old friends along the Regents Canal, hang out in the local pub, some good food (obvs!) and just chat the evening away  – what’s better than that!? For more information on Boundless Activated Snacking visit www.weareboundless.co.uk Photography courtesy of Boundless Activated Snacking #health #CathyMoseley #healthy #BoundlessActivatedSnacking #healthysnacks

This week we caught up with Pei Chan – Founder of Inmispace to talk about what inspired her to start up Inmispace,the power of breath and why being vulnerable can be life changing. Can you tell us when you started Transformational Breath® and how it transformed your life? It started in summer of 2017 when I stumbled upon it and thought it was a meditation workshop. It was transformational for me. It was the first time that I let emotions out this way. I grew up in an environment with domestic violence which I have suppressed mostly. My dad passed away when I was 13, and I was told to be strong, not to be weak and not to cry. I did not cry during the funeral. I did not grieve. Life continued and I would have the strongest facade, so no one would know that we are in pain on the inside. I numbed the pain and ran away by overachieving and pushing myself to my limit constantly. There I was in my early 30s, successful in my own right and yet I felt a complete void. I was completely burnout, paralysed with fear and anxiety but no one would know. I didn’t think I could justify still being impacted by my dad’s passing over 20 years ago, I thought it was absolutely crazy. I tried so many modalities and was constantly searching for an answer to my emptiness. In the end, it’s my simple breath that allowed me to integrate with these childhood traumas and experiences. I realised how restricted my breath was in order to protect my heart and not to show my vulnerabilities. It was terrifying in the beginning to be so present within myself, I realised I was running away from my own emotions and myself. I thought I broke the code and ‘healed’. A job loss in 2019 unsettled the dust again and triggered all my insecurities with abandonment, financial security and personal identity. I was completely broken and lost. I went back to my breath. I picked myself up piece by piece and reconciled within using my breath, I started to show my vulnerabilities and shared my experience. The heaviness within shifted when I did, and that was the start of my journey to become a facilitator to help. The simplicity and the power of the breath has been life-changing for me. What inspired you to start Inmispace? I knew I didn’t want a brand name that is associated with my name or myself. I also knew that it would be a brand/business that would work with different modalities. Breath is my biggest love 100%. However, it may not resonate with everyone. I do Rapid Transformational Therapy® and Reiki on top of breathwork. I have a childhood dream which always comes up in my visualisation meditations, that I want to create a space where all my friends and family can come together. It’s virtual at the moment, and one day it will be a physical space. I am manifesting it! I thought about my journey from when my dad passed, I was chasing after something to fill the void constantly. I was constantly looking for external validations to be acknowledged and to fit in. When I realised something was wrong, I started a quest to find the best solution through meditation, therapy, light grids, sound therapy, body works etc.. Even when I started doing breathwork, I was in disbelief as I thought I had to spend a fortune to make myself feel better. I didn’t believe it could be this simple. Using my breath to go within, to stay present with myself has been challenging. It is also the most empowering and powerful way of reacquainting with yourself and reclaiming your innate power and confidence. We are born with it and along the way we suppress them deep within us. I truly believe that all the answers are within ourselves, we have the power to heal ourselves. Breathwork and Hypnosis both tap into our subconscious mind which is so powerful. The breath helped me rediscover this magic in me. I want everyone to know that their magic is in them, waiting to be excavated. If it’s inmi, it’s in you. I want to make Inmispace accessible and relevant for modern society. What has been your biggest achievement since starting Inmispace? Being vulnerable. Sharing my experiences on social media and in workshops in front of total strangers has been tough. I grew up not showing any emotions and showing a perfect facade. I never used to share any emotions or photos in public. It took me a long time to get over it and start being comfortable being on social media. I didn’t like the idea of looking like a fool, exposing myself, and showing the other side of my life. The strangers on my personal journey who shared their pain and experiences gave me the courage to share my own and it opened the space I had sealed off for most of my life. I hope this will give someone else the courage and strength to know that it is okay not to be okay. This also gives me compassion for people in my life whom I would normally dismiss as being rude or not a nice person. Everyone has a story, what is their outer persona telling me? It’s not easy to set up a business whilst having a full-time job. It is difficult to let go of perfectionism and wait for the right moment when I have the right ideas. I have to remind myself that I built my professional career over 15 years and this will take time and will not happen overnight. How can someone book a session with you? They can book a breath and/or a hypnosis session via my website. https://www.inmi.space/book-breathwork-session Do you have any events coming up? A few workshops are coming up at The Other House in South Kensington. 3rd September 2022 – 11am -12:30pm – Deeper Within You Transformational Breath Workshop, which you can book here. 8th October 2022 – 2-4pm – Imperfectly Perfect Sensory Transformational Breath Workshop, which you can book here. There is another event in November combining Japanese Calligraphy and Breathwork. It is going to be beautiful as we are setting intentions with principles of Japanese Calligraphy and bringing that into the breath session. It is in the making at the moment and will be published very soon! What would your ideal day in London be like? A spin class @ Soul Cycle Catching with friends over good food. My current favourites are Sumi and Zephyr at Westbourne Grove/Nottinghill. A spa day at Beaumont Hotel. Trying out a new workshop – be it sound, reiki, breath etc.. London has so many options, it’s incredible! For more information on Inmispace visit https://www.inmi.space Photography courtesy of Inmispace #breathing #inmispace #peichan #TransformationalBreath

This week we caught up with Damien Byrne – Co-Founder of HUX, to talk about the inspiration behind HUX, a new product they are working on and the best seller! Can you tell us a little about HUX? HUX Health is a supplement company created to be a trusted health partner for everyone, from waking up to going to sleep. Fully science-backed, highly effective supplements to allow you to get on with your life and find your daily edge. What inspired you to start up HUX? We grew increasingly tired and disappointed in supplements that were confusing, ineffective and boring. Random pouches shoved away in the cupboard. It just doesn’t have to be that way. We saw an opportunity for nutrition to be complex in how they are made, but simple in how they are expressed. Something that you would want to have on your countertop or in your bag, and for them to become part of your daily ritual. Are you working on anything new that you can share with us? We are working on a knockout product for gut health. What are your bestsellers? Superfoods Vanilla is our best seller. What has been the best piece of advice you have been given? What you hope ever to do with ease, you must first learn to do with diligence. What would your ideal day in London be like? Early morning walk around London Fields, a gym session, then I’ll hit up one of the street markets for lunch, like Broadway, Exmouth or Leather Lane. An afternoon along the Thames and then in the evening, exploring a new restaurant, followed by a gig. For more information on HUX visit https://huxhealth.com Photography courtesy of HUX #health #heathy #HUX

This week we caught up with Anna Fairhead – Co-Founder of Funkidory, to talk about what makes Funkidory the bar to visit, what Sunday Tipple Sessions are and much more. Can you tell us a little about Funkidory, and what inspired you to open Funkidory? Sergio and I were already working together in the hospitality industry and living in Peckham. We had fallen in love with the area and its community spirit. We wanted to open a bar that was the type of place where we would like to hang out; somewhere that was local, promoted a sense of community, played the music we liked and where the drinks were on point. Did you come across many challenges when starting up? Aside from having no money and no idea what we were getting ourselves into… We did have a watertight business plan (something we worked long and hard on) and a clear vision. It helped us to see the light at the end of the tunnel when things got scary and a bit hopeless, especially during the build and all the bureaucracy stuff. We had to hustle hard and push through to get to the finish line. Why do people flock to Funkidory, what have you got going on at the moment? Our mission was to create a space that was inclusive, that offered premium cocktails and service, within a laid back neighborhood bar setting. I think we succeeded in achieving that. Best piece of advice you have been given in the drinks industry? If someone says you can’t do something – do it anyway. Is there anything you are currently working on? Once a month we are hosting our Sunday Tipple Sessions, which are intimate live music gigs. We are working with some amazing talent; the session completely sold out and was a big success! Where is your favourite bar to have a cocktail and unwind in? These days, going central is not easy, due to a combination of juggling a very energetic 2 year old and running Funkidory. There are some great places here in Peckham we recommend: a martini at Larry’s e.g., but Peckham Cellars or Forza Wine are also great for cocktails and wine. When we do find the time to go into town, we enjoy places that combine a music element, a guaranteed great playlist with quality cocktails. Satan’s Whiskers and Seed Library are probably two of our favourites for that. What would your ideal day in London be like? An easy Sunday off, spent with the family messing around in the park or a nice walk somewhere followed by a date night out in a great bar! It doesn’t get better than that! For more information on Funkidory visit: https://funkidory.com Photography courtesy of Funkidory #barsinpeckham #funkidory #peckham #southlondon

This week we caught up with Nathan Eades, Executive Chef at fine-dining, award-winning restaurant, The Terrace at The Montagu Arms Hotel. Can you tell us what inspired you to become a chef and your journey in becoming a chef? I really fell into cooking if I’m honest; I originally wanted to be in the RAF but that didn’t work out for one reason or another. I started pot washing at my local pub on the weekends whilst doing my A-levels and a chef didn’t turn up one day, so I got involved and the rest is history really. Plus, when I was a child, I can remember making mince pies with my Nan at Christmas. She has just turned 90 and still makes them for us every year! When it comes to my background and training, I did an apprenticeship at Worcester College of Technology for two years and after that it was really going in/around kitchens and learning on the job. It wasn’t until I went over to Canada in my early twenties that I joined The Wedgewood Hotel, where Lee Parsons was Executive chef, who now runs his own restaurant in Arundel The Parsons Table (ex Claridges & Le Manoir aux quat’saison). Lee really understands food and can turn anything into pure magic on a plate; it was infectious and really inspiring. From there, I managed to go to several places spanning the UK, most recently as Head Chef at 1M* Simpsons in Birmingham and Lady Bamford’s pub, The Wild Rabbit in Kingham. I’m delighted to now be Executive chef at the award-winning fine-dining restaurant, The Terrace at The Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, New Forest. For those who haven’t eaten your incredible food at The Montagu Arms, how would you describe it, and what dishes can guests find on the menu? Having trained in French classical cooking, my menus focus on British home comforts reimagined in exciting ways whilst using traditional techniques, resulting in modern but unpretentious dishes. Guests can expect big, bold and defining flavours as well as delicate and refined choices that evoke nostalgia linked to comforting classics that are elevated with modern twists and surprises. The menus also champion seasonality and fresh hyper local Hampshire ingredients. The Hampshire larder is one brimming with fantastic produce which is great when it comes to creating a dynamic menu using ingredients from the hotel’s own kitchen garden. I can’t wait to use the Pannage Pork this Autumn and have enjoyed utilising the best summer produce off the Isle of Wight. There are plenty of great producers and wholesalers in the area too such as our friends next door, Bellord & Brown. It is a chef’s dream! Some of my favourite dishes on the menu include Hampshire Beef Fillet & braised cheek, with spinach, pommes anna and black truffle; my signature Old Winchester Cheese Tartlet with Roscoff onion, pickled walnuts and yeast flakes; and the Crispy Duck Egg with English peas, smoked bacon and Montagu chard. Are you working on anything new, that you can tell us about? I have a few things up my sleeve but at the moment, we are focused on showcasing the very best of what’s in season and focusing on preparing and finalising our Christmas menus. Do you have any culinary heroes? Legendary Alain Ducasse is my favourite chef of all time. He shows a huge respect for seasonal ingredients and knows how to elevate them whilst maintaining their integrity. Lee Parsons is also one of my culinary heroes as he taught me a lot and then of course, my nan who inspired me from a young age, and still does. What advice would you give someone who is training to be a chef? Never give up and be persistent. It’s a cliché but honestly for me, when I am in the hiring process, attitude and commitment are two attributes that will always trump skill. You can be the Lionel Messi of the kitchen, but if your attitude stinks, no one will want to work with you! If you had a free day in London to do what you want, where would you go? If I had a free day, I’d probably visit my favourite city, Birmingham but London really isn’t very far away and I do love visiting my friends there, so no doubt I’d be catching up with them over some delicious food with a few pints too. For more information on The Montagu Arms Hotel visit: www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk Photography courtesy of The Montagu Arms Hotel #chef #NathanEades #TheMontaguArms

This week we caught up with Krisi Smith, Founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co. Can you tell us where the idea to create Bird & Blend came from? Before launching Bird & Blend, I had been in 52 jobs and either hated them or got sacked from them! I didn’t want to get caught up on a typical graduate training scheme so I escaped to Canada to be a ski instructor while I figured out what I wanted to do. While working as a ski instructor with my business partner Mike, who I had met whilst studying Politics at university, we knew we didn’t want to come back to the UK and return to 9-5 jobs working for someone else. So we decided to create our own business with our own rules and with a mission to be as ethical and eco conscious as we could. At 23 years old and with no business degree or formal training, I learnt on the job and through a lot of reading and researching I decided to use my background in the tea industry to challenge the UK market and reimagine tea. We went from packing tea in our back bedroom and attending markets, building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to our ethos and values to a team of 150+, 14 high street stores & a thriving international online store. You have such a creative range of different teas available, where do you get your inspiration to create such unique flavours, so regularly? I love creating new blends, technically my job title is ‘Chief Tea Mixologist’! I’ve done the blend creation since day 1 & it’s a job that really tests my creativity! My inspiration comes from many places but I make sure that I listen to what our customers are telling me and always add a bit of flair or twist. I’ve been inspired by other trends too, like colours (we did a violet tea inspired by Pantone’s colour of the year a few years back), travel (our chai & matcha ranges are inspired by spices & flavours from my travels) & new ingredients (such as trends towards charcoal, CBD or chagra). The reason that we specialise in blended teas, and focus on unique flavours, is that it creates joy & magic that delights our customers – the smells & tastes & colours bring them into our fantastic world of tea. It also cements Bird & Blend in the leading position in tea innovation in the UK and across the globe, which is something I am really proud of. I’m passionate about the physical side of retail and being able to create consumer products which promote an engaging retail experience. The highstreet isn’t dying, a controversial opinion I know, but it is crying out for products & services that create really innovative human experiences, rather than just items on shelves, that can easily be shopped online. Are there any new teas you are currently working on? We launch seasonal and collection blends each quarter alongside our 100+ core tea blends that feature on our Wall of Tea. At the moment the big fan fave is Spiced Pumpkin Pie – a spiced autumnal chai perfect for warming lattes. These limited edition blends are often incredibly popular and true fans are always asking us when we’re going to bring certain teas back, which we sometimes do in a ‘tea vote back’ style activity for them, where they can have their say to bring a past tea back and make it permanent. Although we have over 300 blends in our back catalogue, the combinations are endless so we’re always excited to see what we create next. What has been the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given? From the very beginning I’ve consistently believed that you should never underestimate the impact people can have on your business success – getting the right people around you is the key to everything you do. They will help shape ideas & grow the business into something so much more special that you can do alone, and when the going gets tough passionate & dedicated people get you through. Someone said to me early on to remember I am leading hearts not hands, which has stuck with me. I thought I was a good ‘people person’ but leading people is about so much more than being a friendly or kind person. You have to figure out how to communicate with people in a way that they need to hear, based on their drivers & beliefs, and then on top of that learn to communicate clearly. It’s been a massive learning curve that I am still on – ten years later! Advice I’d give others would be to say yes to absolutely everything in the beginning – meet as many people as you can, take up all offers & opportunities because you never know when they will come back around later on. The other piece of advice I’d say is to figure out what the really magical & meaningful thing is to your business or brand & spend all your money on that – forget the fancy things like amazing office locations or swanky merch or whatever, invest in what matters. For us that has always been team development & customer service. Can you tell us about any of your charity initiatives? When we first launched Bird & Blend, we wanted to create a company that gave back to our local communities and more widely, the world, be this through our sustainability pushes like our *Teas for Trees campaign*, our work with local businesses or our charity initiatives.We have a ChariTEA of the Quarter programme which works with a different charity every three months, nominated by our team. We support them with fundraising and awareness raising activities as well as team volunteering days. Our chosen charities are linked to a particular blend of tea and all profits are donated to the charity during their quarter. We love getting to know our chosen charities and always use our social platforms to help raise awareness for their causes. Since it started in 2013 the ChariTEA programme has raised over £61,357.71 for local causes that are close to the team’s heart. If you had a free day in London to do what you want, where would you go? It depends on the season but I love to wander through London in the Autumn / Winter, all wrapped up with the festive atmosphere everywhere – I have two main routes I love that I can do in a day if I have loads of time, or just do one area if I only have half a day. I’d either start off at Borough Market, exploring all the food traders & taking in the amazing buildings, imagining what it would have been like to be a part of that a hundred years ago, spotting some of the locations from my favourite victorian novels. Then I’d wander down to the river, past the dungeon walls & the globe, all the way along to the southbank, checking out the street artists with a warming drink – either a chai latte from the B&B store or a mulled wine from the traders. A little known lunch spot is the beautiful Kings Arms on Roupell street. It’s a proper backstreet old fashioned pub but it serves amazing Thai food & Roupell street is like stepping back in time. It is a hidden gem of original workers cottages that has survived the blitz – highly recommended. If I had a whole day I’d visit some of the free exhibitions at the Tate before jumping on the tube to Covent garden where I’d do more wandering & exploring, making my way through the seven dials area to check out the cool indie brands & quirky shops. Have a glass of wine in the original Neal’s Yard courtyard at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels or a chilli spiced hot chocolate from the chocolate shop there. I would walk over to Carnaby Street via China Town, to grab some dumplings or noodles and then eat them whilst it gets darker outside, with the lights all twinkling along the street. Lastly I would pop into Libertys where every year I visit the Christmas shop on the top floor and spend hours collecting my favourite baubles as I go along, before choosing just one to take home & add to our tree this year. For more information on Bird & Blend Tea Co. visit https://www.birdandblendtea.com Photography courtesy of Bird & Blend Tea Co. #BirdampBlendTeaCo #KrisiSmith #tea

This week we caught up with Sam Watson, Founder of premium CBD and Wellness Brand, Dr Watson Can you tell us a little about Dr Watson and how it stands apart from other CBD brands? What makes the Dr Watson brand unique is that it embodies what the founding company, Breathe Life Sciences, does – the expertise, the knowledge, the know-how. We’re not just a CBD company, we’re all about plant based medicine as a whole, combining various different plant derived active ingredients to work synergistically to improve health and wellbeing. Whether you’re an athlete, a young entrepreneur, or a busy mother of four, Dr Watson can provide a natural solution to activate the parts of you that help you achieve more. Where did the idea behind Dr Watson come from?? Ultimately, we decided to get into the cannabis space as we knew it was the future of pharmacy. With decades of prohibition against these plant based compounds beginning to unravel, and new research shedding light on the potential benefits of these compounds, a pharmaceutical revolution has begun and our goal is to be a part of it. Regarding the name Dr Watson, it was actually my mum who came up with the idea to call our brand Dr Watson – naming it my uncle Dr Richard Watson PhD, a biotechnologist and researcher. With his scientific background and expertise, we thought why not do it together – so we named it after him but also after me and my family, so there is a lot of personality in the brand. What are your bestsellers? Our signature high strength CBD Oils, Goodnight+ and Relief+, have both been a huge success since launching them two years ago. We find oils are consistently popular with consumers and we offer an array – each with a different purpose, ensuring there’s something for everyone. We have also just recently launched a new range of Mushroom Complex & Multivitamin supplements – our first major step outside CBD and cannabinoid based wellness products but very much part of what we see as another future of medicine. Are there any new products you are currently working on? In the UK, we are about to launch our CBD Sport Relief Patches which are designed to support sore muscles and tendons, helping with recovery after workouts and sports. We are also about to release our CBD Intimacy Oil which has been scientifically formulated to support sexual wellness and satisfaction for both men and women. Best piece of advice you have been given? It may sound fairly obvious – but the best piece of advice I’ve been given is be good to people. Whether it’s your business partner, employees or customers – building good relationships with the people around you. Ultimately that’s what a company is really – a group of people coming together for the same cause and common goal. What would your ideal day in London be like? If it’s a nice day out I would probably head over to Hampstead Heath for a bit of exercise or jump in the lake for a freezing cold sunrise swim! I play a lot of paddle tennis, so I’d probably look for an afternoon game at Queens. For more information on Doctor Watson visit: https://drwatsoncbd.com Photography courtesy of Doctor Watson #cbd #cbdbrand #doctorwatson

This week we caught up with Jillian and Michael – Founders of London Meditation Centre to talk about Vedic meditation, the benefits and why Oprah Winfrey and Paul McCartney would be fascinating guests on Michael’s podcast – Speaking of Meditation. How did your journey in meditation start? Jillian: I came to Vedic Meditation in 1997, back when meditation was still quite “weird”. I had no idea what it could do for me, although I had witnessed the impact it had on a dear friend who went from full-blown insomniac to sleeping every night very quickly. I was tired and rapidly approaching burn out. And I just had a feeling I needed to do something about it sooner rather than later. I went to a talk with my soon-to-be teacher and could see very quickly that it wasn’t all brown rice and sandals, and it was going to help. One week later, I was meditating every day, and noticing big changes. Michael: I first dabbled in meditation all the way back in 1988 when a University professor told me how good it was. I didn’t learn properly but I experimented with different styles for about 10 years. Later, a friend learned Vedic Meditation, and I saw so much change in her, I got really interested. I was at a point in my life when I was working too hard and playing too hard, and I knew something needed to change. I learned, and right away I was sleeping better, feeling calmer, and thinking more clearly. There was no looking back. When did you decide to start up London Meditation Centre? Jillian: I’d been teaching Vedic Meditation in London for a few years. When Michael became a Vedic Meditation teacher in 2007, we started operating as London Meditation Centre, and New York Meditation Center also. What type of meditation do you teach at the London Meditation Centre? Michael: We teach Vedic Meditation, the oldest technique of meditation in the world, also the most scientifically studied. It’s known as an automatic self-transcending technique. That means you’re not focussing or concentrating. You’re also not trying to be mindful of anything. By silently repeating a mantra, chosen for you by the teacher, you automatically quiet the mind, and rest the body very deeply. What benefits do people get from meditation? Michael: A 20-minute sitting of Vedic Meditation delivers a level of rest that’s many times deeper than sleep. And it’s that deep rest that allows for the mind and body to release stress and come back into balance. Sleep gets better, energy levels rise, stress and anxiety reduces, you gain clarity and focus, and health improves. For the full story of the benefits of meditation, you should check out Jillian’s book, Why Meditate? Because it Works, where she explains the science behind what’s happening when the body gets such an unprecedented level of rest. Vedic Meditation is changing the brain and the biochemistry of the body, and this has a huge impact on emotional balance and physical health. Jillian: One of the most inspiring ways to understand the impact of this is to hear people’s stories — how meditation has changed their lives. Michael’s podcast, Speaking of Meditation, really showcases the impact that meditators experience. You have recently come back from a retreat in India, which sounded amazing, do you have any more retreats you are organising? Jillian: Oh yes! We offer 3-4 meditation retreats each year for our students. These are a great way to take a deep dive and accelerate your progress. India, Devon, Portugal and Upstate New York are some of the areas we like to go. Michael, who would be your ideal guest on your podcast? Michael: I can think of two people who have learned to meditate who would be fascinating to interview: Oprah Winfrey and Paul McCartney. Oprah’s so tapped into wellness and self-development, it would be really interesting to talk with her about how she sees meditation affecting aspects of her own life and the people she knows. With Paul, I’d want to talk about the burst of creativity he and The Beatles experienced when they first learned to meditate, as well as the longevity of his career and creative energy, and how he thinks meditation has affected that. Jillian, we loved reading your book Why Meditate? Because it works. For those who haven’t read it yet, what nugget of information can you reveal that will make a difference to someone seeking calm and peace? Jillian: If you have tried to meditate, and it didn’t “work”, or you didn’t feel like you were doing it right, my message to you is that you can meditate. It’s all about getting the right technique — working with the mind, rather than fighting the mind. If you can think, you can meditate. What would your ideal day in London be like? Both: We love going out for a nice brunch. One of our favourite spots is Grangers & Co. Jillian used to go to Bill Granger’s original restaurant in Sydney when she lived there. Then we’d take a walk and head over to a gallery, perhaps the Royal Academy or the Tate Modern, we like it down there on the Southbank. On a Sunday we enjoy going to a farmer’s market as a family (we have a 9 year old daughter) – the one at Herne Hill is a recent find. There’s a great spot for lunch called Llewelyn’s right by the station, and a charming bookshop to browse. For more information on London Meditation Centre visit: https://www.londonmeditationcentre.com/learn-to-meditate Jillian’s book: www.londonmeditationcentre.com/why-meditate-because-it-works Michael’s podcast: www.londonmeditationcentre.com/speaking-of-meditation-podcast Photography by Nyla Sammons #londonmeditationcentre #meditation #nottinghill #wellness

This week we caught up with Kara Rosen – Founder of Plenish. Kara talks about why her ill health led her to create Plenish, what makes Plenish nut-milks different to those on the market and much more. What inspired you to create Plenish? I was born and raised in New York City – and in my previous career, spent 10 years working at Conde Nast across magazines like Conde Nast Traveller, Wired, Men’s Vogue and House & Garden. NY in my 20’s was incredible as was all the travel I was doing for work – but flying and travelling a lot took a toll on my health. I spent several years battling infections like strep throat which I kept taking antibiotics for. Fast forward 2 years of this and I felt broken. Exhausted, depleted and had no energy to be the active, social, travelling and creative person I had once been. I started seeing a nutritional therapist out of sheer frustration with the medical system being unable to help me – and with some simple but significant changes to my diet, I completely transformed my health. We’ve all come a long way with awareness about gut health, but I was pretty naïve back then. Turns out, I had completely destroyed the delicate ecosystem in my gut by taking all of those antibiotics and it killed my nutrient absorption and immune system. No wonder I was getting ill regularly and feeling low. On the recommendation of my Nutritional Therapist, I came off all antibiotics and started juicing lots of green organic vegetables. They were high in nutrients, low in sugar and an easy way for my body to access the nutrients. I also cut out dairy which was causing further inflammation in my body. Within a few weeks I was feeling myself again and I have never been more empowered to share the new knowledge I gained during this period of illness & recovery. I wanted to live my life proactively – hence where the name Plenish was born. Using plant-based, organic and pure ingredients to fuel up for a full life so the tank never runs empty. The name Plenish and the proposition of delicious and convenient ways to nourish yourself came way before I knew which products I would launch. What makes Plenish milks different to the dairy alternatives out there? I can proudly say we are SO different and offer the best value to a consumer. Our products are uniquely organic, free from all additives, oils (I challenge you to find a plant-based milk out there without oil in it!), gums and added sugars. With our nut milks, we tend to use 2-3x more of the main ingredient like almond or cashew, which is why they taste so good. Plenish promises to be healthy for you and the planet – we source our ingredients carefully and as closely as possible and have worked very hard with the UN to become the first carbon negative business in the category. What has been your biggest achievement to date? Not giving up! It’s been one of the great joys of my life building Plenish but it’s not come without tremendous sacrifice. There have been so many times when things got tough or I had to sacrifice things or moments in my personal life and I wanted to throw the towel in – pushing through those moments to find solutions, funding, new manufacturers or whatever challenge gets thrown your way is key to keep growing and the bit I’m most proud of. Are you currently working on any new products? I sold Plenish to Britvic mid last year and as part of that sale included a pipeline of incredible products which their talented team of product developers are working on. I’m not at liberty to share yet – but yes is the short answer. Expect more organic, clean label products from Plenish very soon! What has been the best piece of advice you have been given? It’s hard to narrow it down to one, people love to give advice (I think the key is to hear it all, process it and take the advice that feels true to you!). I always pass along one piece of advice which is to stop occasionally, especially with your team and appreciate the view. Quite often, you are so busy looking ahead, trying to reach the next goal that you forget to stop and appreciate how far you’ve come. What would your ideal day in London be like? I have so many things I love to do in London and would likely not cram this all into one day, but thanks for the poetic licence to share some of my favourite activities and spots in London! Have an early breakfast with my daughters at home and see them off on their school bus. Then, I love to get moving before responsibilities start. It’s my time that I cherish and sets me up for the day. Head off to Kensington Park, with a pit-stop for a coffee at Layla on Goldborne road. If they have their tahini banana bread, I will get one for the road! I usually meet a friend for my walk, if not – an audio book. I recently LOVED “Born a Crime’ by Trevor Noah. I’m now listening to Gabor Mate’s ‘The Myth of Normal’. If I’m not walking, the weather is bad or I’m stressed and want to get out of my own head, I head to Soul Cycle on Portobello Road. The combination of great music and inspiring teachers that push you to push yourself helps change my energy and I feel amazing after! I then head home for a shower and to start my day – I have a mix of meetings for Plenish or Ocean Saver, a beautiful new business I’ve invested in which creates highly effective plant-based home cleaning products with zero plastic – just little sachets that you hydrate at home.  I also meet with a lot of Founders in the Women’s health space for investment opportunities or just helping to add value where I can through my recent experience building Plenish. Here are a few more of my local West London places: 101 West on WB grove, bagels, challah, salads, smoothies. Flowers – Scarlet & Violet on Chamberlain Road The West Village for fun T-shirts, jumpers and jewellery Farmacy for delicious plant-based fare Prezzemolo & Vitale – Westbourne grove – a great Italian grocer with the most delicious olives, antipasti and ingredients that are perfect for entertaining For more information on Plenish visit: www.plenishdrinks.com Photography courtesy of Plenish #plenish #milk #oatmilk #juices #kara #healthy #greenjuices

This week we caught up with Fashion Santa, where he discusses his iconic suit, his top gift ideas, as well as some of his favourite spots in London’s most extraordinary shopping destination King’s Cross. You’re always so well turned out in that red Santa suit, it’s just the perfect shade. Can you tell us a bit about the look? My red velvet suits are a favourite and are becoming my trademark. The velvets are all custom-made by Indochino as they have beautiful quality velvets. I usually get two custom-made suits a season with different features. One may be double-breasted or the other single with a notch lapel. This year I’m introducing a Thomas Henry Made red Harris Tweed to the collection; it’s incredible! I total, I have six or seven suits. Being in London where tailoring is so perfected, will you be adding to your collection with one of our home grown tailors? It has been a dream of mine to be fitted on Savile Row. One day I will come to London early enough in the year so I can get a new Fashion Santa suit made on Savile Row. I see Fashion Santa as a bit of a dandy so it’s only fitting “pardon the pun” that he has a Santa suit from a London tailor. The history and quality can’t be matched! What are your favourite shops in King’s Cross to buy that special gift from? I would have to say @cissywears. It is such a unique concept store that carries the most unique brands for the whole family. You won’t come out empty-handed! It’s the perfect store for the coming Christmas season – very special. Your modelling career has taken you around the globe – what has been your favourite catwalk? I can answer that in just three words: Jean. Paul. Gaultier. Just before the pandemic, Jean Paul showed the last Haute Couture show of his career. I was fortunate to close the show; the last runway show ever! It was mind-blowing to see all those industry people I grew up with, not to mention all the supermodels and celebrities that walked in the show. It was by far the best experience in my 35 years as a model. Very proud. Even Santa needs a break so what’s your favourite London pitstop? Coal Drop Yards in King’s Cross of course. King’s Cross is seeing such a transformation it’s not hard to get swept up in it. I love all the unique shops and services; plus the history and cool vibe it brings. My new pit stop will be Porte Noire…David Farber, the owner, has the best dog and the wine selection is pretty good too! Coal Drops Yard – https://www.coaldropsyard.com Photography by John Sturrock #CoalDropsYard #fashionsanta #santa #santacalus

This week we caught up with Freya Twigden, Founder of Fix8 on her inspiration in creating a kombucha brand, the branding, why gut health is important and much more! Can you tell us a little about Fix8 and what inspired you to create a Kombucha drinks brand? I was living in Shanghai when I started studying Chinese medicine and learnt the importance of gut health! This led me on a journey into fermented food – and of course, kombucha! I started drinking kombucha in shanghai and became obsessed! It made me feel so energised, I couldn’t believe this delicious fizzy drink could also be good for me when I was used to drinking just normal sugary sodas that had the adverse effect. I returned back to the UK and started to brew my own, it’s spiralled from there really! We love how colourful and playful the brand is, where did this idea come from? I looked at how Kombucha was being branded around the world and everything felt quite hippy dippy or medicinal, and that wasn’t appealing to me as a consumer! I am young, and wanted a cool sexy brand I would feel good about drinking – not want to hide it away! So I always knew I wanted the Fix8 brand to be fun, playful and stylish. I also think kombucha is such a fun, vibrant drink – so we tried to reflect this idea in the brand strategy too. Ultimately – wanting to bring healthy drinks into the modern world as something trendy, accessible and playful. Is there anything new you are currently working on to expand the range? Yes! We have some really exciting things in the pipeline for Fix8 and beyond. We are also building a sister company to Fix8 which will be launching Feb 2023. The running theme between them is gut health! We have a range extension for Fix8 launching too next year – think of something that’s quintessentially British, goes into kombucha, but is also good for your gut health – can you guess? What’s been your biggest challenge so far? I think education has been a big challenge. Kombucha in the UK unlike other drinks is not as established – compared to the USA where it is a billion dollar industry! It still needs explaining, again and again, that kombucha is pronounced ‘ kom-boo-cha ‘ and is a fermented tea drink that’s good for gut health! We won’t stop until the world knows, but it would be helpful to take over a few billboards I reckon and educate the world on how good it is for you! What has been the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given? Start with the end in mind. I remember having a poignant conversation with someone over lockdown who said to me: what is your goal, what do you want to achieve with this business, where do you want to be in 5, 10 years’ time? Start there, and work backwards. Have a clear goal, it’s so important to maintain daily focus and strive towards it. If you had a free day in London to do what you want, where would you go? I’m a big nature and food lover so this will probably dictate the day! I’d start with a nice long walk somewhere green, maybe Hampstead Heath and have a quick dip in the ponds too – rain or shine. Then a cosy brunch with too much coffee, the Sunday papers and a steamy porridge (I’m an oats gal!). A mooch along Colombia Road, some spontaneous flowers and then I could go one of two ways: treat myself to a massage and early night, or go out for a lavish Sunday roast (at the Marksman Pub!).. and always get dessert. For more information on Fix8 visit https://fix8.com Photography courtesy of Fix8