A month in the life of our editor – November

The best meal of my life, monster making and a trip to a deconstructed hotel.

THE REVEAL OF FENWICK CHRISTMAS WINDOW

We started off November with a bang at the launch of the Fenwick Christmas Window.

Northumberland Street was closed off to serve hot chocolate and let guests enjoy a festive show – and an appearance from Santa – before the big reveal of the new Narnia window.

Henry had a lovely time and even came away with his own Aslan toy. Suuuuper cute.

A NIGHT AT THE TAWNY

We headed down to rural Staffordshire for a mid-week stay at celebrity favourite hotel The Tawny.

This deconstructed hotel offers the ultimate privacy as all of the rooms are individual lodges and treehouses dotted around the grounds.

The bar and restaurant overlooks the estate, and there’s also an outdoor heated pool if you’re brave enough for a winter dip.

They also have hot tubs in most of the rooms, which is where we stayed having the ultimate chill out drinking prosecco and watching Married at First Sight in bed.

THE LAUNCH PARTY FOR HANNAH LISTER ART

We love supporting small businesses and new venture at HLN. Rosie, Molly and I popped along to celebrate the launch of Hannah Lister Art at Hidden Heights Creative Studio in Gateshead.

Inspired by her other business as a florist, these art pieces are gorgeous mondern takes on floral paintings.

The catering was also incredible – I’m still thinking about the white chocolate daisy biscuits from All Day Cake.

A WORKING BREAK AT NORTHUMBERLAND NOOK

I’ve often romanticised about taking myself off to a lodge for a couple of days. No distractions, focus on work, switch off and relax.

So when I saw Northumbrland Nook – a recently opened stargazing staycation spot just outside of Belsay – I decided to pack up and take Henry for a couple of nights.

With only alpacas, sheep and chickens for company (and no TV), I got SO much work done and also had time to relax in the rooftop wood-fired bath. Heaven.

BRUNCH AND MONSTER MAKING AT KILN

I celebrated my friend’s birthday with a boozy Saturday brunch at Kiln in Ouseburn. The brunch menu is so tasty – I had warm banana bread with cherry jam to start, followed by Turkish Eggs, a bloody mary and lots or cocktails.

It was the Ouseburn Open Studios weekend so we paid £5 to make clay monsters. An unexpectedly wholesome activity in the middle of a day drinking session but I can’t wait to get my little guy back once he’s been fired and dipped.

VINNY’S/HJEM COLLAB DINNER AT OPHELIA

The best dinner I think I’ve had this year. 

On a rainy Monday night, I went with friends to the Vinny’s and Hjem collab dinner at Ophelia in Gosforth. The vibes were flowing thanks to the super fun team both front-of-house and in the kitchen.

Cocktails were perfect and the food – literally every bite was incredible.

I can’t wait to go back and try Ophelia properly, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next collab dinner which I think are pretty regular.

If I could only eat out in one place for the rest of my life – this would be the place.

If you like what you see, you can follow me on Instagram: @editor_high_life_north.

• Share: