By Amira Hashish
All aboard the British Pullman for a train journey like no other. Iconic film director Wes Anderson has joined forces with Belmond to create a carriage inspired by his signature style and we are all invited to step into his wonderfully wacky world.
The visionary behind movies including The Darjeeling Limited, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch, was given free rein to reimagine the Cygnus carriage. You could be mistaken for thinking that you had stepped onto one of his fantasy film sets. He has teamed opulent green fabrics with a pink ceiling, symmetrical lines and art nouveau design alongside two new private coupés. It is the Instagram stuff of dreams.
From long lunches and sumptuous afternoon tea experiences to special dinner packages, journeys depart throughout the year from London Victoria Station and there is some last minute availability pre-Christmas. ‘
The train’s high profile fans include Adwoa Adobah, Emma Bunton and Holly Willoughby who have been spotted enjoying festive celebrations on board recently.
Speaking of the collaboration Anderson said: “I love trains. I have often had the chance to invent train compartments and carriages in my movies so I was immediately pleased to say ‘yes’ to this real life opportunity, and very eager to make something new while also participating in the process of preservation which accompanies all the classic Belmond train projects. They are keeping something special alive; igniting this endangered species of travel into a new golden era.”
His interiors feel refined with a typical playful twist and he has paid careful tribute in his dream-like storytelling to the origins of the 1950s carriage. Named after the Greek God of Balance, Cygnus is often personified as a swan and immortalised as one of the most recognisable constellations in the night sky. Detailed reference to the myth and legend can be found throughout Anderson’s design in the intricate waves and swan detailing in the marquetry. From the meticulously positioned silver leaf on the ceiling that reflects like water, to the swan shaped champagne coolers – the carriage is a tribute to the majestic swan.
As the journey continues you will no doubt keep noticing the little touches that make all the difference.
For a very exclusive option, there are two new private coupés. The intimate space, with 360 degree carefully handcrafted marquetry, can be booked for up to four people. The train manager personally greets coupé guests with priority boarding and ensures free flowing champagne is available throughout the trip.
Group bookings are also possible with entire carriages available for celebrations of up to 26 people.
Winding your way through the English countryside in delightful surroundings is always a joy and there is no more luxurious way to do so than with the British Pullman.
Pullman Dining by Wes Anderson starts from £400 per person. The Pullman coupé by Wes Anderson starts from £1,800 per coupé. The full carriage hire price is available on request. To book or for more information email nicola.price@belmond.com.
BBB’s Guide to Gifting Etiquette
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
‘Tis the season to gift and be gifted, and with that comes a cinnamon-scented cocktail of gifter-panic, giftee-grimacing and of course, however rarely, some good old wholesome, festive gratitude. It’s true that the best gifts are thoughtful, often personal and increasingly locally sourced from independent makers, but there is an unspoken language that underscores the entire cultural choreography of gift-giving. It’s formed not of nouns and verbs, commas and colons, but of gift wrap and pricetags, timing and manners. While we may have the basics down (never arriving at a soiree empty-handed, opening the card before the gift, and so on), it certainly won’t hurt to brush up on some of the more complicated subject matter at hand. And while I won’t be able to teach you how to wrap your presents like a pro, I can give you a few hints when it comes to tackling some of those harder-to-buy-for occasions.
Festive Party Gifts
If your diary looks anything like mine each (COVID-dependent) December, your evenings will be largely dedicated to spending time with friends and family in a series of festive gatherings that, by New Year’s Eve, will have blended into a candle-lit continuum of teacups of mulled wine and mainly sourdough-centric lockdown reminiscences. When it comes to a gift for your hosts, keep it classic. Considering the sheer volume of these events over the Christmas period, opting for bespoke, personalised or particularly expensive gifts isn’t sustainable for the many. Bring a good bottle of wine, a seasonal bouquet or a tin of biscuits to hit the mark perfectly, but don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any of your edible or imbibe-able gifts again that evening. It’s important to remember that your gift is just that, a gift, and not a contribution to the evening’s revelries.
Buying for Your Boss
Finding the perfect gift for your manager or your employer is a tricky business. It is a matter of choosing a gift that shows your appreciation and respect in a friendly, informal manner, artfully combining the professional and the personal. It makes sense to ground your gift ideas in a hobby or interest of which your boss has made you aware, such as cookery, entertaining or gardening. Artisan salts for their kitchen island, a stack of design-led coasters or a stylish set of pruners could be great places to start, resulting in a gift exchange that feels thoughtful and considered but very low risk.
Wrapping
Even the simplest and most generic of gifts (think candles, house plants, bottles of wine) can be elevated with some creative gift wrapping. A bottle of wine in a patterned bottle bag topped with tissue paper will give the exchange more of a sense of occasion, while some lengths of colourful ribbon tied in a generous bow around the lip of a vase of flowers will add a thoughtful flourish. You don’t need to be a dab hand with wrapping paper, matching pattern repeats along the creases and binding corners with velvet ribbon. Simply marking out an item as a present with a gift bag, a tag and some simple paper will bring a bigger smile to the receiver’s face.
Thank You Notes
From giving gifts to gratefully receiving them, the power of a thank you note is immeasurable. A handwritten note in the post is a rare and beautiful thing, especially when its contents is rich in gratitude and personality. You can buy beautiful packs of thank you cards from various online stationers or in local independent book shops, or you can set aside some time to craft your own with a vintage printing block to create unique letterhead paper. This is a wonderful time of year for little projects like this, and coincides with the perfect excuse to begin them. Keeping a list of all of the gifts you receive (from threshold offerings to Christmas Day show-stoppers) over the festive season is invaluable, allowing you to you easily reference the exact bottle of Champagne, candle fragrance or box of chocolate truffles the gifter chose for you in your note.
So, go forth and gift, traversing the treacherous terrain of the etiquette surrounding the ancient practice. Over and above the gifts you choose, be sure to note the swell of emotion between friends under the same roof, or families reunited. Gifting is really only a vehicle for the most fundamental, sensible touchstone of the festive season: meaningful connections to the most important people in your life.
Festive Table Laying Tips
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
Never have we known a table richer in expectation or weightier in tradition than the Christmas dining table. From the jolts of nostalgia to the eye-stinging gratitude it brings, the sight of the Christmas table positively shuddering under the weight of its cumbersome contents is a touchstone many of us simply won’t do without. Whether you’re laying a festive table for just one household or are welcoming guests this year, make sure to set a memorable, joyous table that brings those you love together. Even if you’ve eaten far more meals around the table together over the last two years than you may have expected, seeing the table dressed and ready for the big day will bring a little more festive cheer to the season.
Start With the Basics
Especially if you’re welcoming multiple guests, making sure your proportions are generous involves a little calculation and rearranging. Work on the basis that each guest should have at least a 40 centimetre setting along the table. Of course, much of the joy of a large Christmas gathering is the jostling of shoulders around the table, but if you can, provide as much table space per guest as possible.
Another calculation you may wish to make is whether you have enough of the correct cutlery for each course you plan to serve. A quick, pre-Christmas audit of your cutlery drawer will pay off, and as you’ll read, it doesn’t matter if you need to supplement with a new set or two.
Glassware will play an expectedly large role over the festive season and you’ll be surprised by quite how many glasses guests accumulate between arrival and Christmas dinner. Between reception bubbles, wine pairings throughout the meal, water and digestifs, ensure there is enough room around each place setting for each receptacle. A handy tip is to serve Champagne in flutes rather than coupes as these take up less space on the table and are far less prone to spilling.
Layering Up
Consider the festive season your ticket to full-blown maximalism. Your Christmas table should be filled with colour, pattern and texture to create a memorable, inviting and expressive scene. The best way to achieve this look is through layering pattern and colour from the tablecloth, up, adding highs and lows, textures and points of interest along the way.
So, begin with table linen. A patterned table cloth can be a real crutch to lean on if your crockery is plain, but can also act as a foil for more decorative plates and bowls. Often, you can purchase napkins in the same print or in contrasting colours to make a style statement. Vintage napkins also make a lovely addition, bringing some eclecticism and history to the table.
Placemats are delightful additions to the table and provide the opportunity to bring in a new layer of texture. Rattan or jute options are particularly popular at the moment and bring an unexpected dress-up-able texture to your layering.
Layering up your charger plates will bring more of a sense of occasion to mealtimes like these, and although they can give a more formal feel, you can opt for quite contemporary – or even novelty – styles. The rest of the plates should be stacked at each setting according to the courses you’re serving. This makes for a more impressive table as guests arrive and also encourages a more intimate, ‘hands-on’ approach to dining. Serving pre-plated courses feels fussy and overdone. For example, soups should be served at the table from a tureen, and then the bowls removed after the first course to reveal the next plate and to signal the arrival of new serveware filled with the next, delicious items on the menu.
Finally, don’t be afraid of mixing and matching cutlery. In metallic finishes, they serve as little glinting accents amongst the rest of your table. Using a mix of brass, silver and even gold with enamelled or scrolling, antique detailing adds character and personality to each setting.
Florals and Table Decorations
An honorary part of the layering up of the table indeed, but a sub-heading in its own right, is the Christmas floral arrangement. As integral as it is divisive, greenery on the table can make or break a table setting, so be sure to get it aesthetically – as well as logistically – right. When it comes to the look and feel of your table florals and foliage, keep it seasonal. Spring blooms on a Christmas table looks particularly jarring, so why not opt for sprigs of rosemary, pine or eucalyptus dotted around the table. Clusters of oranges also work well to bring colour and fragrance to each setting. Where possible, source greenery from your garden, or ask your local Christmas tree seller for some off cuts.
From a practical perspective, it’s important to keep any displays low to stay out of guests’ eyelines as taller, larger arrangements can obstruct conversation. It may also make sense to remove any larger or wider florals, foliage or ornaments before it’s time to eat to clear space on the table for your serveware.
Magical Moments
Little, magical moments around the Christmas table lodge themselves in the minds of children and adults alike, forming memories to last a lifetime. So, this Christmas, imbue your table with considered details and thoughtful flourishes. Super-size pepper mills are hugely popular at the moment, bringing a smile to each face at the table with every grind of the turnplate. Personalised crackers and menu cards will also give your table an enchanting feel, bound with velvet ribbons.
Finally, there is nothing more magical or festive than the glimmer of candlelight between the bulging dishes and elegant stemware. Choose a mix of little votives, chunky pillar candles and some taller candlesticks to put the proverbial cherry on the top of your Christmas table, adding the qualities of luxury and cosiness that only candles do.