The June R.E.P.O.R.T.
A whole load of new recommendations.
This is the Salad Days R.E.P.O.R.T. It’s the thing that started this whole Substack!
We know you love recommendations, want to discover more independent brands and are keen to hear about cool things to do in London, so we started writing our monthly R.E.P.O.R.T. It covers everything we’re reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending and treating ourselves to. We hope it will make for useful and interesting reading, and we send it out once a month.
This content is exclusively for you, our gorgeous subscribers, and we’ll strive to fill it full of top tier suggestions every time. It will always remain free and all past issues are available here. Thank you so much for being here 🌷
Do you drive? I don’t (I hit another car in my driving test back in 2008 and luckily for South London haven’t been behind the wheel since) but I love the kind of Cotswolds overnight stays that you usually have to drive to. Which is such a pain! I wanted to book somewhere nice for my boyfriend’s birthday but didn’t want to involve him in renting a car, so took to TikTok to find a place that’s accessible by train but still has the same cosy countryside vibe. TikTok assured me that Boys Hall was the place to go. I was sceptical because it’s in Ashford, which seemed a bit random, but found no other options so went ahead and booked it! We went a few weeks ago, and it was sooooo nice.
It’s really near Ashford International Station so super easy to get to without a car, but, set away from the town on beautiful grounds, still delivers that calming feeling that you’re really getting away. This 17th century Manor House has been taken over by a family who now run it as a hotel and restaurant; you can tell it’s privately owned because of the attention to detail and lovely touches everywhere, like the amazing rose garden out the front that our waitress told us is looked after by the owner and her mum. The service was so friendly, the interiors were plush and the beef roast I had was soooo good. Can’t wait to go back. Defo on the pricey side so was a treat for a birthday and our engagement!
EATING: THE ALMA IN CRYSTAL PALACE
We’ve talked about this place before, but now it’s summer and peak pub time have found ourselves here a lot! And it just gets better and better. I truly believe this is one of the best food pubs in London. I’m never let down by it, and never regret spending the money. It’s not cheap pub grub, but it is comforting, always delicious, and has an actually nice dining experience that’s casual and easy (I don’t like those more pretentious food pubs like The Devonshire! A pub should still be a pub! I really don’t like tablecloths) They recently took their most famous item, the fried cauliflower, off the menu which we were gutted about, but they’ve replaced it with loads of new things that are all 10/10. I never don’t want to go here. Also it’s a good place to go both indoor, and outdoor, so is a good option whatever the weather, which I don’t think is true of most places.
PLAYING: NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
Are you watching season 2? I am OBSESSED and I think it’s even better than season 1!!! Nicole Kidman returns to the kind of role that really suits her; as a mysterious, wealthy, beautiful but ultimately flawed woman and I can’t get enough of it. She is just made for these kind of big budget shows, even more so in this season because it’s set in the frosty Austrian Alps, I find that kind of cold weather just seems to suit her icy cool persona. As well as an interesting plot that has just started to cleverly come together, it’s just such a pleasure to watch because every character has such great styling. Like what was so fab about the White Lotus or Succession, each person has been given real thought and padded out so perfectly with just the right make-up, accessories and outfits so they are totally believable. As well as former nun Agnes who somehow makes me laugh at literally anything she says, her delivery is just hilarious, my fav so far is Victoria, below. A seemingly hateable character with a much younger boyfriend (or is he?) I’ve looooved seeing all her ultra glam Alp-wear. Proper costumes!! Proper TV!!
OBSESSING OVER: NEW DRESSES FROM UP FROM A DREAM
I wrote a Substack before where I worked out my three style words, the theory being that it helps you create better outfits that align with who you are and how you want to portray yourself, and discovered that mine are chic, girly and handmade/creative. So you can see why these new dresses, part of Up From A Dream’s new summer drop, are on my shopping list! They tick all three. I love it when an item manages to do that, in just one swish you’ve got a complete outfit that’s easy, comfy but still helps you feel the best version of yourself. Especially on hot days when I tend to veer towards troll from the dungeon status.
The white one is the Beatrix Dress. It cleverly ties at the side allowing you to choose how cinched you go. I also like that it has a simple round neckline so I can layer necklaces over it, something I’ve been trying and failing to do with my other clothes. The brown one is called the Nina Dress, handmade using an OEKO-TEX stripe cotton seersucker so it’ll still look good even if it’s been squished into a suitcase. Most of my outfits begin with either a midi skirt or a midi dress and so I know these will be worth the investment. They drop this Sunday 22nd June at 10am.
READING: DAISY GOODWIN’S SUBSTACK
I’ve not read any excellent books the past few weeks, so for this R.E.P.O.R.T. I’m reading a Substack that I’ve been enjoying so much. My lovely acupuncturist Claire recommended English screenwriter, TV producer and novelist Daisy Goodwin’s Substack, and I’ve been so thankful for the suggestion. She writes on lots of different topics, but the posts that start “What I learnt when…” are the ones I enjoy by far the most. Delving into a different personal topic each time, they’re heartfelt and introspective, sharing personal details about different parts of Daisy’s life. I like that Substack pings my phone when she drops a new article so I can easily read them on the go, and each one has been equally heartbreaking, interesting and captivating.
TREATING OURSELVES TO: A BAG CHARM FROM BY NELLE STUDIOS
I know I say this every time and I probably sound so trite but the line-up for our next market on the 5th and 6th July is honestly spectacular. I’m besides myself thinking of all the things I want to buy, but top of my list is a handmade bag charm from By Nelle Studios. She first took part in our market a few months back at The Hoxton and I was so busy getting things organised I forgot to go to her stall - and she sold out by the time I did! She handmakes each adorable miniature food charm from clay, handpainting them to life herself. The little croissant! The little pancake stack! It’s a no brainer and I must have one. She’ll be at our market on Sunday 6th July at Gipsy Hill Brewery Taproom alongside 27 equally other amazing small brands.
