​Neighbourhood bistro Salt & Honey has been on the restaurant scene since August 2015. Sister to Fulham’s Manuka Kitchen, Salt & Honey resides in north London on Sussex place, just north of Hyde Park between Lancaster Gate and Paddington. The location itself isn’t one that I’d readily associate with fine dining, rather gated classical-style mansions and wealthy, exclusive individuals. Here is a place where life goes on behind closed doors, not out in the open community, leaving much to be said about any real sense of a neighbourhood at all.

That doesn’t stop Salt & Honey creating their own neighbourhood vibe. With a homely feel, the intimate bistro is brimming with charm and warmth. Owned by chef Tyler Martin and connoisseur of wine, Joseph Antippa, Salt & Honey is true to its name, with flavour key to the dining experience. As the friendly waiter explained, the Antipodean-inspired menu created by New Zealander Martin himself, uses local produce, along with meat sourced from Scotland’s Buccleuch estate and Earl Stoneham Farm in Ipswich. Here is a place where taste is the key ingredient - from selecting the finest produce to seasoning with sea salt and manuka honey throughout, the devil really is in the detail.

Less of a pop-up and more of a stay-put, The Little Yellow Door is celebrating its six-month lease extension this Spring. Renowned for infamous house parties, retro gaming nights, supper clubs and Thursday takeovers, the fictional flat share, which began in 2014, is keeping its roots firmly in the heart of Notting Hill. 
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With new American ‘housemate’ Hank, the bar-cum-living-room-dining-room will continue to open its door four days a week for the foreseeable future, from Wednesday through to Saturday. I headed down there last Wednesday to celebrate the lease renewal and see what all the fuss was about.

The Little Yellow Door (TLYD) kicks off each week with Supper Club on Wednesdays. Last weeks celebratory special consisted of a four course meal enjoyed with fellow guests - strangers and friends - and washed down by a range of cocktails.

This week London officially became the urban beach capital. Three beaches opened in time for the return of the sun on Saturday: Beach Park East (Olympic Park), Camden Beach (Roundhouse) and the Urban Beach (Royal Docks). These add to an already extensive list of sandy summer retreats, including beaches in Chiswick Park, Brent Cross and the National Trust’s Westway beach to name but a few.

A more alternative - albeit more exclusive - beach experience can be found at Gordon Ramsay’s Beach Hut. Situated in the courtyard at the rear of his famous Camden gastropub, York & Albany, the hut is available for private bookings and comes complete with sand, starfish, shells, nets and deckchairs to set the scene, along with speakers to play your own tunes. The main event, however, was the selection of classic British seaside-themed cocktails and miniature nibbles.