American in Britain Summer 2024

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

Serving the American Community in the UK

Helen Elliott

Ben Everson Taylor Swift, currently on tour in the UK

AMERICAN FINANCE & NETWORKING EVENT

Monday 9th September, 2024

You are cordially invited to come along and join us at our next American Finance & Networking Event, at The Royal Automobile Club, a Private Members Club situated on Pall Mall, London.

The event will take place from 12.00pm - 3.30pm and offers readers the opportunity to network with other Americans living in the UK, along with an hour’s useful advice on all aspects of financial management for Americans who are living in the UK.

We are delighted that Roland Sabates, Jonathan Gold and Joe Crome will again be hosting these seminars, that will cover:

Important Tax Considerations for Americans in the UK

The seminar will provide a general tax update for American Expats and outline key tax issues, including strategies to avoid double taxation, saving for retirement, home ownership, and starting a business.

Presented by Roland Sabates, Expat Legal Services Group

An Update On The Global Investment Landscape And How To Structure Your Investments As An American Living In Britain

This seminar will have three parts: - A macroeconomic update

- The difficulties Americans in Britain face for managing their global investment portfolios - Suggestions for how to structure investments effectively.

Presented by Jonathan Gold, London & Capital

Smart, Tax-Effective Giving For Dual US & UK Taxpayers

Joe Crome, Head of CAF American Donor Fund, will share insight on the best ways to give to charities in the UK, US and around the world, how to maximise the tax relief available to you, making use of the UK’s Gift Aid scheme and flexible solutions to plan your charitable giving over the longer-term.

You will also have the opportunity to meet Roberson Wines, Red Carnation Hotels and Residentialland, who are also supporting this event.

We will also be running a Free Prize Draw, where you can win a prize kindly donated by the above sponsors of this special event.

This event is only for Americans living in the UK, and is FREE TO ATTEND, so to register for this event, please email helen@theamericanhour.com with the name/s of those who would like to attend.

We look forward to seeing you there!

EATING OUT

Chutney Mary

73 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1PH Telephone: 020 7629 6688

For many years I have either walked or driven past Chutney Mary, both when they were in Chelsea and also after they moved to St James’s Street, and every time I have said to myself I really should go there as it looks spectacular, and the reviews are excellent. But, to my shame, it wasn’t until recently that I finally crossed over their threshold, and I am so disappointed that I hadn’t done so before, as I am not sure the reviews did it justice.

Chutney Mary has won countless awards, the latest being the prestigious AA Restaurant of the Year Award, and has remained a firm favourite with diners for over 34 years, as it has evolved and reinvented itself as tastes and influences have changed over the years, without ever compromising on quality.

Our introduction to our evening at Chutney Mary started at the aptly named Pukka Bar (Pukka is informal slang for excellent quality). The range of cocktails is extensive, with many incorporating Indian influences, and the Mango Chilli Daiquiri deserves an individual mention as it was a clever spicy twist on the classic Daiquiri with the addition of the chilli on the edge of the glass. In fact it was so delicious, my wife’s eyes lit up when she was offered a second, and in fact she hasn’t stopped talking about how it is now her favourite cocktail! To accompany our drinks we ordered a Poppadom Basket, and when it arrived there were four varieties of crispy poppadoms along with some exquisite honey baked kale. To accompany these, were two very different chutneys, a slightly sharper lime and chilli chutney and a smoother and milder strawberry chutney - yes, strawberry!

All of this was served in an original tray, made and carved in Kashmir, the first sign of the attention to detail that runs through everything Chutney Mary does.

Having enjoyed all that the Pukka Bar had to offer, we made our way down to the restaurant which is one of the most beautiful restaurant settings I have seen. The décor is classy, and the atmosphere serene and relaxed with a real feel of 1930’s elegance. The tables are well spaced, and when we arrived it was full of diners enjoying sumptuous food. However, as stunning a restaurant it is, and this one is truly stunning, a restaurant does not survive without serving great food that its diners would not be able to create at home, and at Chutney Mary the food really is the star.

The selection of starters is an eclectic mix of choices, offering vegetables, fish, seafood and meats and we selected the Tandoori Artichoke Hearts (£17), Tokri Chaat (£16.50), Golden Fried Prawns (£20) and the Baked Venison Samosas (£18). Tokri translates as ‘a basket’, and here the basket is a lattice of fried strands of potato packed with the wonderfully flavoursome ingredients that make up a great Chaat, namely chickpeas, ocra, potato, spicy and sweet chutneys and curd, all topped by crunchy and fruity pomegranate seeds. The prawns are large and covered in crispy batter, accompanied by a spicy mayo, and the samosas are light (because they are baked not fried) and packed with the most tasty, tender and gamey venison. The above were all great, but the stand out starter was the Tandoori Artichoke Hearts. Artichoke is such an underrated vegetable which is such a shame as its flavour is complex and its combination of herbaceous, sweet, and bitter flavours with its crunchy texture lend themselves perfectly to the addition of tandoori spice. These hearts sat on a smooth artichoke

purée delicately flavoured with garlic, and every mouthful was a foodies joy.

Mains again, offer the dinner an embarrassment of riches ranging from traditional slow cooked curries to dishes from the barbecue, and there is nothing better than the taste of large prawns grilled over a flame, and here the Wild Madagascan Prawns (£42) were meaty with just enough char to enhance the sweet flavour and firm texture. To accompany these, we selected the Butter Chicken (£32) and the Lamb Curry (£36) along with a Garlic Naan and Steamed Rice. The Butter Chicken was succulent and was bathing in a lightly spiced fragrant tomato-based sauce, perfect with the fluffy rice. The Lamb Curry was rich with plenty of body, and the lamb was so succulent it melted in the mouth and the sauce was great to mop up with the doughy naan. Both curries were a joy, with the balance of spices and the quality of ingredients on point, elevating them to a higher level, showcasing exactly why Chutney Mary has remained such a firm favourite and I can’t believe it hasn’t been awarded a Michelin star yet.

Desserts are often ignored by diners at an Indian restaurant, but don’t fall into that trap, as my Coconut Surprise was a dessert that would grace any table in the world for taste, and was visually stunning. Here Coconut Kulfi has been moulded into a half coconut shape with chocolate substituting for the skin, all sitting on a coconut crumble, providing a heady mixture of tastes and textures, and provided a perfect end to a perfect meal.

On reflection, I am struggling to remember a time when I had enjoyed a meal more. The décor is immaculate, the service attentive, but not intrusive, and the food delicious, with expert spice combinations catering for all diners’ spice tolerances, and I will certainly not take long to return again.

www.chutneymary.com

UBA

61- 67 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3HU

Telephone: 020 3995 3622

Shoreditch is one of the new up and coming areas of London, as although it is deemed to be part of the East End, it is also a quick walk from Liverpool Street and the City, and this proximity has meant that a number of fashionable hotels and restaurants have emerged in the area and it is rapidly becoming a place you must visit.

Located within the stylish Hart Shoreditch Hotel, is the latest addition to Shoreditch’s gastronomic evolution, namely UBA, which takes the diner on a gastronomic journey through Asia. The menu is inspired by the exploits of globetrotting Chef, Paul Greening, formally of Aqua and Novikov, and has a mixture of classic traditional dishes all with slight twists.

On entering the restaurant, you are met with a blast of opulence inspired by Asian mythology, with the walls and tables being rich shades of reds and golds surrounding the marble bar, lava stone tabletops and nicely spaced tables, all accompanied by contemporary music. A combination that gives that feeling of class and luxuriousness.

Having sat down, our first port of call was one of the playful well priced cocktails, all with an Asian twist. The names are all colourful, and my wife chose the Mandarin Star, a lovely fusion of Mango infused vodka and mandarin purée. I am unsure if it was inspired by the streets of Beijing as per its description on the menu, but I do know that its ingredients combined perfectly.

Dishes are a celebration of all that Southern Asia has to offer, with a clever fusion of ingredients, tastes and textures, that combine to dance across your palate. The menu allows the diner to select from a range of small plates; Sashimi Sushi, Dim Sum, Tacos and Hirata Buns, before choosing a larger dish from the Robata.

Our efficient and expert server suggested that we select 2 to 3 dishes from the smaller dishes, which on the face of it appeared a simple task, but when you look at the menu it becomes much more difficult as the choice is extensive and everything sounded

so tasty. After a period of turmoil going from one dish to another, we finally decided to choose a dish from each section to get the maximum experience. Dishes come when they are ready, so my recommendation is to stagger your order so you don’t get all your dishes at the same time, as it then allows you to give each dish the attention it deserves. Our first two dishes were the Korean Crispy Fried Chicken with Sesame and Lime (£8), and the Rock Shrimp Style Tempura, seaweed furikake and Kimchi garlic mayo (£9.75). The Korean chicken was covered in a slightly sweet and sticky sauce which played well with the nutty flavour of the sesame, and the rock shrimp tempura was a delight, as the meaty shrimps were bathed in a light batter and accompanied by a pungent, spicy and umani mayo, giving the shrimps additional flavour. Our second choices were the Salmon Ceviche, Avocado and Masago Taco (£11) and the Cornish Crab California Royale Maki with lobster miso and herbs (£14). The fresh and silky salmon combined well with the soft avocado and the crunchy taco and masago roe, and the sushi rolls were exceptional, with the delicate flavour of the Cornish crab being allowed to shine, accompanied by that unmistakable lobster taste in the miso topping surrounded by delicate sushi rice.

Our final two small dishes were the Prawn & Pork Shu Mai Dim Sum (£9.75) and Beef, Tonkatsu, Sugar Loaf and Mustard Mayo Hirata Bun (£13). Shu Mai are traditional Cantonese fare, and with the addition of mushroom, onion and ginger, along with rice wine to the pork and shrimp, it made a lovely dish. Hirata buns have a real pillowy texture, and so when added to a crunchy beef tonkatsu (the twist here is that it is usually pork that is used) and a light mustard mayo, they not only taste great, they also have a good mixture of textures.

From the Robata we selected the classic Imperial Miso Black Cod (£26) and the Crispy Skin Salmon Belly, Cochuiang Brown Butter Ponzu (£16). The flaky cod was covered by the sweet miso coating, and the salmon was perfectly cooked, and just fell apart, topped by a lovely salty and crispy skin bathing in the nutty, spicy and subtly sweet sauce.

After all that food we agreed to just share a Japanese Chocolate Forest Floor (£11) for dessert, and this was a real treat to the eyes as well as the taste buds, as it looked just like a mossy forest floor with hints of green, edible flowers, and narrow twists of chocolate looking like vines covering a smooth and rich chocolate mousse. It not only looked amazing, it tasted as good.

UBA is a welcome addition to the London food scene, and its bold decor is mirrored by the bold flavours of its dishes, and is a good addition to the blossoming Shoreditch scene.

www.ubarestaurant.com

Fatto a Mano

30 St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4ER Telephone: 020 3340 4775

Although not as popular as in America, where 350 slices of Pizza are eaten every second, pizza still is one of the UK’s most popular foods, and because of this popularity there are many restaurants offering this Italian delicacy throughout the country, so finding a good one can be problematical.

Fatto a Mano (which is Italian for hand-made) was founded in Brighton in 2015, by Rupert Davidson and Dave Sahota, where their vision was to bring authentic Neapolitan pizza in a welcoming environment, at a reasonable price. This vision has gone, rightly, from strength to strength, and there are now five Fatto a Mano pizzarias across Brighton (North Laine and Preston Circus); Hove (Church Road); and London (Covent Garden and Fatto a Mano Pizza & Beer, King’s Cross).

We visited the Covent Garden restaurant, just off Trafalgar Square, perfectly located for the museums and theatres in the area, and although it was just after 5pm the vibe was buzzy and the restaurant full of diners, both young and old, on both the ground and mezzanine floors. The décor is clean and fresh with its blues and whites making the restaurant bright and welcoming, and the mosaic tables gave the feeling of eating out on your own personal terrace.

At the back of the restaurant is the open kitchen, not surprisingly dominated by a vast copper pizza oven, where the mouthwatering pizzas are created.

The starters choices are packed with authentic Italian fare, including gooey Garlic Pizza with Mozzarella (£6.5) and Bruschetta Classica (£8), but we selected the Nduja Arancini (£8) and the Bruschetta Burrata and Pesto (£10.5). The contrast of the soft sticky rice and the crunchy outer layer makes arancini a firm favourite of mine, and when you add the additional heat from the spicy Nduja pork sausage it is delicious.

The creamy burrata also delighted as it covered the crunchy hunks of bread and was accompanied by slow dried tomatoes (the same as sun dried!) and a vibrant pesto sauce with drizzles of virgin olive oil.

Lovely as the starters were, the real treat started when we reviewed the pizzas available for the mains. The first step to make tasty pizzas is ensuring the dough is special, and at Fatto a Mano the dough is made with the best Italian 00 flour and proven for 24 hours. This combination of proving and the finest flour gives the dough a light and pillowy texture which gives extra puffy crusts and pizzas to remember. The next step to making the perfect pizza is the quality and amount of the toppings, and at Fatto a Mano the ingredients are fresh and sourced from independent Italian and British producers and generously applied. The choice is dizzying, with a large choice of either red or white pizzas (those with no tomato sauce) and along with classics like Margherita and Diavola with its spicy salami, there are some delightful twists like the Lasagna Pizza (£15) which is topped with beef ragu, bechamel sauce and smoked provola. Despite these temptations I chose the Capricciosa (£15) from the ‘red’ section and my wife opted for the Ham and Truffle (£14) from the ‘white’ section. My pizza was packed with ham, salami, artichokes and mushrooms, and my wife’s had that lovely flavour that comes with truffle.

Both pizzas were large and were cooked the classic Neapolitan way, namely quickly (approximately 5 minutes) at 450 degrees celsius, which gave them both a crisp base and fluffy crust and made them truly delicious.

After such a feast it could be easy to stop there and not have a dessert, but please trust me when I say that would be a mistake, as our two selections alone would have me returning to Fatto a Mano. I selected the Fattobon Gelato Sandwich (£8), and my wife the Scugnizzielli Nutella (£8). I thought that my dessert would be the best, as it was an ice cream sandwich where biscoti and stracciatella ice cream were sandwiched between a moreish chocolate and hazelnut biscuit, a combination made in heaven, but despite it living up to all expectations, it was not in the same league as my wife’s dessert - the Scugnizzielli Nutella. This was large sticks of fried pizza dough generously coated with Nutella (think churros on steroids!), and I cannot think of a better combination than the light crispy dough and the indulgent Nutella.

In the crowded pizzeria market it is great to find a restaurant which not only gives its diners high quality pizzas cooked in the traditional way, but also has staff that are friendly and knowledgeable, and if that wasn’t enough, it does all that at prices you won’t believe. I have found my ‘go to’ pizza restaurant now, and once you have visited Fatto a Mano I am sure so will you! www.fattoamanopizza.com

JOIA

15th Floor art’otel London Battersea Power Station, 1 Electric Boulevard, London, SW11 8BJ Telephone: 02038 338 333

For many years I have travelled into London Victoria by train, and looked across at the shell of the Battersea Power station and marvelled at its size with its art deco style and four giant chimneys at each corner. It was decommissioned between 1975 and 1983, and gained Grade II listed status in 1980. Despite a number of attempts to redevelop it, it remained derelict for many years, until finally it was redeveloped, along with the surrounding area, to a place where locals and tourists can enjoy a blend of over 140 shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues where there is something for everyone.

In the shadows of this iconic building is the Art’otel, a luxury hotel which is the home of JOIA,(meaning ‘jewel’ in Portugese), the first London restaurant by award winning Portuguese chef, Henrique Sa Pessoa. The restaurant sits proudly on the 15th floor, giving it wonderful views over the power station and the plush apartments to the Thames behind, and you can enjoy an aperitif in either JOIA’s rooftop bar (weather permitting) or their interior bar that has vast windows, rising majestically up to the ceiling two floors above, providing lots of light onto the décor, which is an eclectic mixture of fabrics and colours designed by Russel Sage Studios.

The concept of Portuguese and Spanish food is a good one as you select a number of smaller dishes so you are able to get a wide selection of different foods in one meal. Our food journey through the Iberian peninsular started with the classic Iberico Croquetas with Papada Iberica and Iberico Ham (£9), Grilled Leeks with almond romesco, rocket and hazelnut (£11), Beef Pica Pau (£22) and a Spanish Tortilla with Iberico Ham (£17). The croquetas were rich, creamy and indulgent with the soft cheesy inner flavoured with a hint of ham all covered in crispy panko crumbs, and the leeks were lightly charred and accompanied by a romesco sauce bursting with rich tomato flavours with hints of almonds, garlic and paprika, all covered by crunchy arugula and peppery rocket.

With your Spanish tortilla you can select how runny you want the egg in the centre which is a nice touch, and this was covered by a generous portion of beautifully marbled Iberico ham taken from the noble black Iberico pig. The beef pica pau is a traditional Portuguese dish and combined everything the Portuguese love. Namely simplicity, flavourfulness and plenty of sauce to mop up. The cubes of beef are lightly fried and then deglazed with white wine along with garlic and bay leaves, and then the dish is garnished with pickled vegetables which gives it a slightly acidic taste. Very tasty, but it is a shame that bread isn’t included in

the dish, to enable you to mop up the sauce (additional Sourdough £8).

For mains, having watched a recent Masterchef episode where JOIA was featured and the trainee chefs cooked this dish, my wife selected the Bacalhau A Bras (£28) and I selected the Iberico Pluma (£38). Bacalhau is a Portuguese dish made from shreds of salted cod, onions and matchstick sized fried potatoes decorated with an unbroken egg yolk (which is then mixed in) and a garland of parsley. The crispy shreds of potato give it a nice crunch and the cod has a wonderful taste of the sea as all salted cods should have. The Iberico Pluma is a specific cut from the neck of the Iberico pig, and the word pluma means feather. Although the pork in my dish was as light as a feather, the name of the dish actually comes from the meat’s featherlike shape. The Iberico pig provides tender and intense flavoured meat for this dish because of its free-range life style and a diet which is rich in acorns, providing its distinct taste, and here it was cooked quickly over a high heat and served slightly pink to maintain all that intense flavour. To accompany these, we selected a generous portion of Patatas Bravas (£9) covered in alioli and salsa brava, that were probably the star of the show. The fried and crispy golden cubes of potato were delicious, and the contrast with the smooth and creamy alioli lovely.

For our dessert we selected the Chocolate Orange Mousse (£10) and the Torrija (£9.5) with a very alcoholic Madeira ice cream.

Chocolate and orange are a classic combination and the mousse was smooth and creamy and the chocolate soil added a nice texture, but the orange sauce on the side was far too strong and bitter for me. The Torrija is sometimes called the Spanish ‘French Toast’, and here there was a nice twist where instead of using bread they use brioche, but it is still soaked in warm milk and fried to golden perfection, although it is served cold.

JOIA is a stylish restaurant which fits in well with this rapidly up and coming area of London, in the area of the regenerated Battersea Power Station. Do ensure you ask for the table by the window when you book, so you are fully able to appreciate those wonderful uninterrupted views over our vibrant metropolis. www.joiabattersea.co.uk

The Tax & Legal Services You Need As An American in Britain

Expat Legal Services Group works with American expatriate families and business owners in the areas of international taxation, immigration law, and cross border business and estate planning. With a focus on US/UK tax compliance, the firm leverages a modern suite of technology resources to deliver an optimised solution for US citizens and residents with cross border filing obligations.

Contact: Roland Sabates

Telephone: +1 816 812 6246

Email: roland@expatlegal.com

www.expatlegal.com

THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros

Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York

I’m so happy that ‘Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York’ has returned for a second time to the London stage as I missed its early 2023 Kiln Theatre run, and I would recommend that you see it too.

The title of the show practically explains the plot. The two strangers are Robin (Dujonna Gift) and Dougal (Sam Tutty), and yes they are strangers when they meet, but it turns out that Robin will soon be Dougal’s future Aunt: Dougal’s father is marrying Robin’s sister. So Dougal has travelled to New York City to attend the wedding of his very rich father, a man he has never actually met, and to book, Robin and her sister are not very close at all. But Robin’s task is to pick up her sister’s wedding cake whilst at the same time entertain (against her will) wide-eyed and first time to New York visitor Dougal. This is done via charming and funny dialogue and songs that hit the right note (light and lively and catchy - just like the show), and as their journey through New York leading up to the wedding is short and sweet, so is our journey.

The two leads are incredibly talented and perfect in their roles, and they’re both naturals on the stage. Tutty is a born actor, having wowed us in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ (winning an Olivier Award), while Gift exudes confidence with every step and song. With songs by Kit Buchan and Jim Barne and

direction by Tim Jackson (with a great set of a plethora of luggage), ‘Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York’ is heart warmingly very good, and the good news is that it has been extended to run until 31 August 2024. www.twostrangersthemusical.com

Sister Act

Sister Act is back in London again with the fabulous Beverly Knight, who can do no wrong, but it’s a show for the masses (out

of towners and tourists) with not a lot of meat. This show is definitely not for the die hard theatregoer.

The nuns are back in full force (‘Sister Act’ has played in London several timesthe first time in 2009), as is Knight’s voice - she has a magical (and dare we say holy) stage presence.

Knight is Delores Van Cartier, who has unwillingly become a nun on the run and has had to go into hiding in a convent as she witnessed a murder by her boyfriend, Curtis Shank (Lemar). Copper Lt. Eddie Souther (Clive Row) is her ‘hider in chief’, as it’s his suggestion she hide in a convent. Souther gets the apprehensive approval of the very stern Mother Superior (Ruth Jones), but Delores is a fish out of water in the convent, however, through her voice and overall niceness, all the nuns, though suspicious at first, slowly take a liking to her, and soon enough they are all singing to the same tune (pun intended), with plans to raise money to save the convent from a potential buyer. But the bad guys are still looking for Delores, and it’s no surprise that they eventually locate her, after lots of middling jokes and good songs where some of the other nuns have their moment to shine (Lizzie Bea).

It’s all played out very easily and simply, and although the fights look as fake as a fiddle, and the physical comedy is akin to a panto production, it is great fun, and you are thankful that Knight leads it all and is just wonderful to watch and listen to.

www.sisteractthemusical.co.uk

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) Brinkhoff-Moegenburg RT Press

Sister Act

Priscilla The Party

There’s a happening party in town, and its name is Priscilla. Yes, it’s ‘Priscilla the Party!’.

Based on the 1994 film, ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’, and the very popular stage show of the same name, this new version is immersive, has fabulous cocktails, (Drag Star Martini, Stiletto Fizz, and Alice Springs Sangria just to name a few), good food if you want it, and a fantastic cast in a venue as central as they come - Here at Internet - next to Tottenham Court Road.

The show has it all - sequins and make-up galore, amazing and gravity-defying costumes, songs that we all know and love, and plenty of breaks so you can refresh your drink. It’s all done tongue in cheek, and with a wink.

The story is that three drag queens band together in the outback of Australia to perform shows and encounter less than friendly locals, but all they want to do is to perform. Along their journey their van breaks down, homophobic locals rear their ugly selves, they learn things about each other along their journey, combating any miscreant who gets in their way, they cause a bit of trouble, fall in love (though not with each other), rekindle old friendships, and sing the best disco songs ever: I Will Survive, It’s Raining Men, Born This Way, Go West - and lots, lots more, that will have you dancing along, either in your seat or standing around the moving stages. There are different types of tickets to purchase, which you can read about here: www.priscillatheparty.com/#GroupsSection. They are all fabulous options!

The cast are all having a great time (as were we), and playing along with the fun every step of the way. Jokes galore, some inappropriate and all very funny, get huge laughs. Meanwhile audiences are having the best time ever, singing along with the tunes, and leaving the show on a natural high (or alcoholic high, whatever tickles your fancy).

‘Priscilla the Party’ is a fun, fun show. and I’ll go back again and watch it for a third time. www.priscillatheparty.com

MJ The Musical

‘MJ The Musical’ has landed in London from Broadway with lots of hype (which, unfortunately it doesn’t quite live up to as a show), with great singing and dancing, but not much else.

MJ takes us to the time when MJ (Michael Jackson in case you didn’t know) was preparing for his 1992 Dangerous tour amidst the trials and tribulations going on in his life at that time - money problems, sleeping in an oxygen chamber, his companion Bubbles the monkey - but the show is cleverly set a year before sexual allegations were made against him by young men, some of whom he paid off with millions and millions of dollars.

In parallel to this, the story of Jackson’s rise with his brothers and the tough upbringing he endured at the hands of a bullying father, is told to supposedly explain what made him the man he was. But questionably, the story is told through a reporter and her cameraman filming a documentary for a music television channel, asking MJ about his life and motives for songs, which forms the basis of the story. However, a story like Michael’s doesn’t need to be told like this (the camera is not even on, and close-ups of MJs face are not happening, unlike the close-ups used so well in ‘Sunset Boulevard’) – MJ’s story tells itself without

such a ploy. It’s a messy weave that at times is a bit hard to follow.

MJ is played diligently by Myles Frost. Frost nails MJ’s dance moves and high pitched voice. Although the acting in the show is obviously not what you see the show for, it is unfortunately not great, and while there are a couple of good rousing numbers (‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ in the first half which brought the crowd to their feet on opening night), these moments are rare rather than par for the course. Although young Michael (the outstanding Mitchell Zhangazha) and his mother sing an emotional ‘I’ll be There’, ‘Thriller’ - perhaps MJ’s biggest hit - is saved for the end, which is a little too late, and ‘Billie Jean’,’ which we know is part of the mega hit album ‘Thriller,’ confusingly shows up in the show out of context with the story.

Frost, as the older Michael, sure can sing and dance (not much acting is needed on his part), but it’s all show and no substance, and Mitchell Zhangazha is very memorable, whilst Ashley Zhangazha is a powerful force playing both Michael’s father Joseph and tour manager Rob, but the rest of the actors are forgetableincluding Jon Tsouras as MJ’s accountant who has to deliver bad news to Michael about his finances and the cost of the tour escalating. The aforementioned television crew should exit the show as soon as possible. Phebe Edwards as Michael’s mother is more background and is in a thankless role. The lighting and costumes and stage design are all good (most of the show, unfortunately, takes place in a rehearsal room), one would expect it to be more thrilling. MJ doesn’t end on a high like most musicals do, but it should have done, as Jackson’s music repertoire is massive (the programme lists 40 songs in the show, but not all are performed in full).

Jackson’s estate is one of the producer’s of the show (strangely Candy Spelling is too), so it should have been a sure fire hit. London critics’ reviews have been mixed at best (the New York show won four Tony Awards including Best Actor for Frost). To say MJ is a mish mash is not quite the right word to describe it, but at the same time it won’t quite meet your expectations, which is a shame, because it could have,and should have, more than exceeded expectations. www.london.mjthemusical.com

MJ The Musical - Photo by Johan Persson

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

The Potential Impact Of The Impending US And UK Elections On Future Financial Planning

While political announcements in either the US or the UK have often occurred over the years, requiring financial advisers, tax advisers and lawyers to revisit and modify planning opportunities for cross-border clients, it isn’t often that one specific calendar year can hold as much potential significance in both the US and the UK at the same time. 2024, will see contentious elections held in both the US and the UK, with the results on each side holding the possibility of large scale tax reform changes. This has created what can only feel like a greater degree of uncertainty for Americans in the UK when it comes to making financial planning decisions and taking next steps. Below we will set the scene ahead of the pending elections.

UK General Election And The Proposed Changes To The NonUK Domicile Regime

While the consensus thought the UK General Election would likely fall later in the calendar year, Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has decided that July is the ‘right’ time to hold the vote, and polling numbers seem to highlight the likelihood for the first major change in government since 2010.

Back in March, knowing that the General Election was pending, Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced a series of proposed changes to the long-standing ‘non-dom’ regime impacting non-UK domiciled individuals from 6 April, 2025. These changes would erase the existing rules along with the remittance basis of taxation and replace with a system entirely based on tax residence.

The announcement was thought to be an attempt to pre-empt Labour from having a clean slate to announce changes to the regime themselves. The proposals would introduce a 4 year foreign income and gains exemption for individuals who prior to that time were non-UK resident for 10 or more years, and include a number of temporary transitional rules for those non-dom individuals who will have already exceeded 4 years of residence but who would not yet be considered deemed domicile under the current regime. The proposals would remove the income tax protections on any trusts considered to be ‘settlor interested’ where the settlor remains a UK tax resident.

Additionally, individuals would become exposed to inheritance tax on a worldwide basis after 10 years of UK residence as opposed to the current 15 out of 20 year test.

While these proposed announcements were made, everyone knows that until legislation is published and approved, changes remain possible; even more so if there is a change in government. Following the Budget Statement, the government began a series of consultations with industry professionals, and the hope was that there would be draft legislation published over the summer ahead of any election. However, upon Sunak calling the General Election on 22nd May, the remaining ‘listening events’ scheduled between then and the end of May were cancelled, making it very doubtful that any draft legislation will be published in the coming months. While a change of government could still propose further changes, the thought is that the more detail provided on the proposals ahead of that time, the harder it would be to make fundamental changes. Now with the election happening on 4th July, this inevitably will delay the delivery of any clarity on the likely direction of travel to help us plan ahead of April 2025, regardless of which party claims victory.

Now with the election happening on 4th July, this inevitably will delay the delivery of any clarity on the likely direction of travel to help us plan ahead of April 2025, regardless of which party claims victory

US Presidential Election And The Sunsetting Federal Tax Thresholds

While there has always been clarity on the election date in the US, the outcome of the November election will likely influence the trajectory of the US tax landscape over the coming years and the time sensitivity to which any US focused planning may need to be considered.

Back at the end of 2017, President Trump announced a series of tax changes, most notably the lowering of the top income tax bracket from 39.6% to 37%, the material increase in the standard deduction for individuals who do not itemise, and the doubling of the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption to where it sits today in 2024, at $13.61 million per US domiciliary resident individual. When these changes were put in place, the legislation was set to expire after 2025, meaning that if no active steps are taken to extend the changes and thresholds, they will revert back in January 2026 to the prior thresholds from 2017. As such, it will likely require clear consensus from both the current President and Congress to take any active steps to extend the Trump tax reforms which seems all but entirely unlikely should President Biden win another term.

In fact, President Biden recently published his FY2025 budget, which includes the prospect of some tax increases, something that he has tried to garner support for over his current term. Included among his proposals are having the top rate of income tax revert back to 39.6% (something that will happen without any active action as noted above), increasing the long-term capital gains rate from the preferential 20% to 39.6% for those individuals who make $1m or more during the year, increasing the Medicare (‘Obamacare’) tax from 3.8% to 5% for individuals making more than $400k, and the desire to tax all carried interest at ordinary income tax rates as opposed to long-term capital gains rates.(1)

As is evident from the above, the outcome of both the UK and US elections are very likely to shape future planning opportunities that may be available to Americans in the UK moving forward. While no-one knows exactly how the next few months will play

out, it can be important to start having conversations with your professional advisers to understand which aspects of the potential changes may directly impact you so that you can give thought to any action steps that you may want to take as a result once further clarity is gained later this year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as though individuals will be given the benefit of time to take any active steps, so becoming familiar with the proposals and thinking through some scenario planning will be helpful should decisions need to be taken more swiftly down the road.

Pioneers of US-UK Wealth Management –MASECO (masecoprivatewealth.com).

Reference:

1) President Biden Has Proposed Tax Increases. Here Are 6 Of Them (forbes.com)

Further information please contact Andrea Solana: andrea.solana@masecopw.com

The Legal Stuff

This document may not be forwarded, copied or distributed without our prior consent. This document has been prepared by MASECO LLP for information purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax or any other type of advice

and should not be construed as such. The information contained herein is subject to copyright with all rights reserved.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of MASECO as a whole or any part thereof. All investments involve risk and may lose value. The value of your investment can go down depending upon market conditions and you may not get back the original amount invested. Your capital is always at risk. This article does not take into account the specific goals or requirements of individuals and is not intended to be, nor should be construed as, investment or tax advice. Information contained in this article is based on MASECO’s understanding of current tax law and legislation which is subject to change. MASECO Private Wealth is not a tax specialist. Your ability to benefit from any of the tax mitigation planning mentioned in this article will depend on your personal circumstances. The levels, and bases, of tax relief is subject to change. You should carefully consider the suitability of any strategies along with your financial situation prior to making any decisions on an appropriate strategy. We strongly recommend that every client seeks their own tax advice prior to acting on any of the tax mitigation opportunities described in this article.

MASECO LLP (trading as MASECO

Private Wealth and MASECO Institutional) is established as a limited liability partnership under the laws of England and Wales (Companies House No. OC337650) and has its registered office at Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London WC2R 0HS. The individual partners are Mr J E Matthews, Mr J R D Sellon, Mr A Benson, Mr D R B Dorman, Mr H Q A Findlater, Mr T Flonaes, Mr E A Howison and Ms A L Solana. For your protection and for training purposes, calls are usually recorded.

MASECO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in the UK and is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor.

WHEN IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO

Law Firm Russell-Cooke Delves Into Important Legal Considerations When Relocating To The UK; From Tax Planning, Estate Management, To Lasting Powers Of Attorney And Wills.

“When in Rome…” this timeless adage urges individuals to adapt to the customs and norms of the places they find themselves in. It’s a sentiment that rings especially true in today’s globalised world, where movement across borders is increasingly common.

Coming from the US, one might not have anticipated the true extent of cosmopolitanism within England. Despite the idyllic imagery of rolling hills and cosy pubs, England is a diverse and multicultural country, drawing in people from all corners of the globe to live, work, and build their lives here.

In recent years, there has been a surge in interest from the US in the UK. Certainly, a myriad of economic, social, and political factors has contributed to this. However, in recent times, one of the primary driving forces has been the favourable exchange rate.

For many, relocating to the UK marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Whether it’s a Hollywood celebrity following their heart to Notting Hill, an innovative entrepreneur, or an expatriate moving for work, the prospect of moving to the UK is filled with promise and adventure. Amidst the excitement, however, it’s easy to overlook important legal considerations that can impact one’s life in the UK.

Legal matters such as tax status, estate planning, and family affairs may not be at the forefront of one’s mind amidst the flurry of preparations as you look forward to those new experiences. Yet, understanding these aspects is crucial.

Tax: A Certainty In Any Jurisdiction

Tax planning is a crucial aspect to consider, especially for foreign nationals relocating to the UK. With a favourable tax regime and opportunities for tax optimisation, seeking early advice can help maximise benefits and avoid potential pitfalls.

Currently, it is particularly advantageous for individuals who have non-UK source income and funds held outside of the UK. It is possible for you to choose to elect to pay tax on foreign income and gains only once it is remitted to the UK as opposed to on an

arising basis, which UK citizens are charged on. However, keep an eye on this as changes are afoot.

In the lead-up to the Budget, there was significant discussion surrounding the potential abolition of various aspects of the UK’s tax system, notably including Inheritance Tax (IHT) and the NonDomiciled (Non-Dom) regime. However, the Government opted against outright abolition, likely cautious of unintended consequences given the significant contribution of international private capital to the UK economy.

The expected reforms to the NonDom regime will represent a substantial overhaul of an entrenched 200 year-old tax regime, and aims to simplify the tax landscape for individuals bringing overseas wealth to the UK.

Under the new residence-based scheme proposed by the current Conservative Government and set to kick in, in April next year, eligible individuals will be able to bring foreign income and gains to the UK taxfree for their first four years of residency, provided they have been non-tax residents for the previous 10 years. This new approach replaces the complex remittance-based rules. Additionally, individuals qualifying for the new Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime will continue to pay tax on UK income and gains, as is currently the case.

However, the Labour Party has unsurprisingly responded, stating they will go further if they win the next election.

FIG

For those that do not qualify under the new FIG regime, the Conservatives will be providing an advantageous grace period of allowing a oneoff 50% tax discount for non-doms who bring in foreign income during the 2025-26 tax year, the first year of the new regime. Everything will be in the net from 2026-2027.

As Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor explained, “If you are a non-dom you can still get out of paying IHT: in the first year of their policy there’s a 50% discount, we don’t get 50%

discount on our taxes”. Labour in contrast will not be providing this grace period.

Inheritance Tax (IHT)

Currently, non-doms are only subject to UK inheritance on their UK situs assets and certain other assets such as non-UK company shares whose value comes from UK residential property.

HMRC applies an artificial domicile for inheritance purposes and an individual becomes ‘deemed domiciled’ in the UK once they have been UK resident for at least 15 years. After which their worldwide assets are subject to UK IHT.

From April 6, 2025, non-domiciled individuals who have resided in the country for more than 10 years will find the net widening so that they are subject to UK IHT on their global assets earlier than the current position. There is also the introduction of a 10-year IHT ‘tail-provision’ for leavers, much longer than the ‘tail’ under current rules. This means that leavers are in the UK inheritance tax net longer than they currently are. On a positive note, UK domiciled individuals who have spent more than 10 years away from the UK may benefit under the new proposals.

Following comments from Rachel Reeves, Labour it appears will take the attack on nondoms further, stating they will “strengthen the rules to ensure that non-doms pay their fair share of tax and will crack down on tax avoidance….to bring in over £5 billion by the end of Parliament”.

Those who had transferred foreign assets into trusts while they were non-domiciled and later became deemed UK-domiciled need to be cautious. In the event of a future Labour government, these individuals face the prospect of paying UK IHT at 40%, applying to their worldwide assets, including those held within trusts. Therefore, hitting non-doms shielding foreign assets held in an offshore trust from IHT.

The fact that the non-domicile reforms are not likely to take effect until a new government takes power, also means it cannot be taken or assumed that the spirit

of the proposals recently announced will be legislated and put in place as initially intended by any successive government.

On the downside, we have a skeletal structure of a new non-dom regime and the unsatisfactory position on whether the legislative proposals and major reforms of an entrenched 200-year-old tax system will survive an anticipated General Election.

Generally, advisers and clients will be faced with a period of uncertainty around the position of non-doms.

Mental Incapacity: Lasting Powers Of Attorney (LPAs)

LPAs are crucial legal documents that provide protection in the event of serious illness or loss of decision-making capacity while residing in the UK.

If you become mentally incapable, an LPA allows you to choose personally the individuals you trust to act for you when you cannot, known as ‘attorneys’. There are two types of LPAs:

Property and Financial Affairs LPA:

This LPA gives your attorneys authority to manage your property and finances according to any of your specified instructions. They can handle tasks such as accessing your assets, paying bills, managing investments, and selling assets.

Health and Welfare LPA:

With this LPA, your attorneys are empowered to make decisions regarding your ongoing welfare and healthcare needs, including medical treatment and living arrangements. Importantly, they can only act on your behalf when you lack the mental capacity to make these decisions yourself. You can also specify whether you want your attorneys to have the authority to give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on your behalf.

By appointing attorneys through an LPA, you effectively enable them to “step into your shoes” to make those decisions that you would have made but for the fact you can no longer do so. They make the decisions and act in your best interests.

By putting in place LPAs, this ensures that if you or your spouse were to fall ill, your chosen attorneys can make decisions on your behalf without the need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order which is costly, time-consuming, and stressful. If your family need to resort to obtaining a deputyship order, your deputy appointed under the order is responsible for submitting annual accounts to the Court of Protection, settling annual ongoing Court fees, putting in place an annual insurance bond and perhaps, applying for further orders when deciding to do certain things with your estate.

Having an LPA in place provides peace of mind and ensures that your affairs are managed according to your wishes, even if you’re unable to communicate or make decisions yourself. It’s a proactive step towards safeguarding your interests and ensuring your wishes are respected during challenging times.

Having an LPA in place provides peace of mind and ensures that your affairs are managed according to your wishes

Wills

Many individuals may already have a will drafted in their home country. However, there are several considerations to address regarding its validity and efficiency while residing in the UK:

Validity:

If a will is properly executed in the country where it was made, it should be recognised and enforceable in the UK. However, if the will is drafted in a language other than English, the UK probate office may require a certified translation. Additionally, if the estate planning language differs significantly from that used in the UK, obtaining grant of probate to deal with UK assets could be more time consuming and challenging.

Tax Efficiency:

It’s important to assess whether your will is tax efficient in the UK context. Different countries have different tax laws, and what may be tax efficient in one jurisdiction might not be in another. Consulting with a tax advisor or solicitor familiar with UK tax laws can help ensure your will maximises tax efficiency. Sufficiency for UK Needs:

Consider whether your existing will meets your needs while living in the UK. Factors such as changes in family circumstances, acquisition of UK assets, or differences in inheritance laws may necessitate updates to your will to ensure it adequately reflects your wishes and protects your interests in the UK.

Having your current documentation checked can prevent problems. For example, many US citizens have a revocable or living trust. The trust should be reviewed to see how it is treated here. A trust holding UK assets is under the ‘relevant property regime’ – involving lifetime inheritance tax charges, an expensive trap for the unwary. It is best to take advice on these matters prior to arrival in the UK.

For individuals purchasing property in the UK, it’s strongly recommended to establish a UK will specifically addressing these assets. This UK will can complement existing wills in your home country and any other jurisdictions, helping to streamline the probate process and prevent delays in administering your estate.

When it comes to property ownership, the stable political and financial environment of the UK presents attractive opportunities for investment. Our property team can assist you in understanding the various options available and guide you through the process of purchasing a property in the UK. They will in a later edition guide you through the process of buying and dealing with property in the UK.

In essence, as you embark on your journey to the UK, remember to “do as the Romans do” by seeking timely legal advice and ensuring that your arrangements are in order. At Russell-Cooke, we’re here to help you navigate the legal landscape and make your transition to life in the UK as seamless as possible.

Julie Man, partner +44 (0)20 8541 2040

Julie.Man@russell-cooke.co.uk

Russell-Cooke is a full-service law firm recognising the importance of addressing these legal complexities to ensure a smooth transition to life in the UK. Whether it’s navigating property ownership, tax planning, drafting wills or preparing for unforeseen circumstances through Lasting Power of Attorney, we are here to provide guidance and support.

DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead, Surrey

Bocketts Farm is a working farm in leafy Surrey that really does provide an action-packed day out for families, catering for every taste and also every weather (which is useful as the British weather is notoriously unpredictable).

As a working farm it provides a wide range of animals of all sizes to meet and feed, and in addition has plenty of outdoor and indoor play areas, alongside a few activities to keep you and your children entertained for the whole day, at any time of the year.

We took our 3-year-old cousin Theo and his parents to Bocketts Farm a few weeks ago, and it has become one of his favourite places, as there was so much to do and he just loved everything.

Our first port of call after entering was the small animal encounters area where we were able to get up close and personal with guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas and mice, and it is a nice touch that the cages are at the right height for small children to see clearly over. Do check the daily timetable to ensure that you can get the opportunity to pet and hold the rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens with the help of the knowledgeable and engaged staff, as it wasn’t just Theo who loved holding them!

From there we rushed over to the huge Animal Discovery Barn where you can get close to pigs, sheep, goats and llamas. When we visited we had the added bonus of it being one of the lambing seasons, so we were treated to the most adorable baby lambs finding their first feet. I would suggest buying a few bags of feed at the entrance as there is nothing more satisfying and enjoyable than having some food hoovered from your hand by a goat or sheep.

Thankfully, when we left the barn, the weather had cleared and the sun had come out, so we were able to enjoy watching Theo run around one of the many outdoor play areas whilst we enjoyed a hot drink. The play area has slides of all sizes as well as trampolines and a large sand pit (Theo’s favourite place!), and parents can watch their children run around, confident in the knowledge that they are safe.

After this quick break we made our way over to the tractor and trailer ride (£1.50 per person), which is a great way to explore more of this extensive farm in the relative comfort of a tractor trailer with detailed commentary from the driver. These trips typically run between 11am and 4pm, but again do check the daily timetable for all that is on, and at what time.

I don’t know why, but one of my favourite parts of the day was the pig race. Races are usually twice a day and there is something wonderfully eccentric about selecting your favourite pig and then waving a flag with that pig’s colour, cheering it on as it runs round the track. It is great fun and the pigs seem to enjoy it, or at least they enjoy the feast they get at the end!

Bocketts Farm caters for all ages of children and so, because Theo is small, we didn’t visit the Pedal Go-Kart track or the Treehouse Towers Playground, but these are great for older children as there is plenty to explore and climb. There are also pony rides (£3) for children aged between 3 and 12 years old, or under 45KG.

The unpredictable British weather reared its ugly head again and the heavens opened, so our final visit of the day was into the heated indoor soft play area where Theo ran around the climbing areas as well as sliding down the large bumpy slide, until eventually we had to rein him in as it was time to go home.

Visitors to Bocketts Farm can bring their own food and drink if they want, but if that seems a little too much effort, there are a large number of cafés and food outlets where you can purchase anything from a cake to a full meal along with a large selection of drinks.

Bocketts Farm is located near to Leatherhead, Surrey, which is just a stone’s throw from London by train, and will guarantee all visitors an action packed day out in the picturesque Surrey countryside for families with children of all ages. As well as all the usual activities, it also runs a number of special events throughout the year, so do check the website before visiting so you can make the most of all it has to offer.

Parking is also free, which is an added bonus these days!

Bocketts Farm, Young Street, Fetcham, Leatherhead, KT22 9BS www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

TAKE FIVE Celebrate Summer! by Judith Schrut

The sun has got its hat on and the clouds are right as rain! It’s summertime in Britain, bringing you traditions like fun fairs and fêtes, strawberries and cream, fish and chips on a pebble beach and daily chit-chat about the weather. You’ll also find loads of music, art, festivals and other cracking cultural treats. Celebrate and enjoy these fabulously long days and late, light nights, with our pick of this summer’s savouries.

1. Gorgeous Gardens

Great Britain’s deep connection with nature has long been celebrated by poets, painters, philosophers and kings, and the garden holds a special place of honour in British hearts, minds and history. Medieval monasteries were famed for their kitchen herb gardens. The Plantagenets had their red rose and white rose and the Tudors their knot gardens. King Henry VIII and Shakespeare were both renowned gardeners. The Georgians followed with dramatic landscapes, while the Victorians gloried in gardens with massed flower beds, exotic colours, complex designs and the invention of the public park.

If you’d like to share in the nation’s horticultural hysteria this summer, there are an infinite variety of wondrous gardens around the country open to public view, from stately homes and castles to wildflower meadows, urban parks and neighbourhood allotments, all proud to show off their rainbow wares.

This year, historic Raby Castle in County Durham opens its doors to a stunning new visitor experience, with gardens and greenery featuring prominently. As well as its splendid Parkland and Deer Park, Plotters Forest woodland playground and High Force waterfall, visitors can explore and enjoy the magnificently re-designed and re-vitalised Castle gardens. Working in tandem with the Castle’s Lady Barnard, renowned garden designer Luciano Giubbilei has turned its five acres into an enticing outdoor adventure, filled with landscaped walkways, sculptured yew hedges, romantic walled gardens and an inventive grass amphitheatre for events and activities.

In September, Strawberry Hill House, in Twickenham, welcomes visitors to its fabulously fragrant annual Flower Festival. It’s a spectacular weekend showcasing all things floral, with flower arrangements like you’ve never seen before, displayed inside and outside this amazing 18th century Gothic Revival villa, along with talks, workshops, and a chance to meet the floral artists and growers.

As readers may know, Britain’s westernmost county of Cornwall has provided breathtaking backdrops for some of our favourite movies and TV shows. But Doc Martin, Poldark, Ladies in Lavender and Rebecca aren’t the only reasons why a visit to Cornwall is a must. Did you know that Cornwall has some of the most gorgeous gardens in the world due its unique microclimate? You’ll find subtropical jungles at

the Lost Gardens of Heligan, huge bubble greenhouses (biomes) at the Eden Project, and plentiful plant pleasures at Trelissick, Tresco Abbey and Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden, to name a handful.

A visit to Trebah Gardens is a particular joy. It’s a subtropical paradise at Cornwall’s southern tip, prized for its hydrangea valley, koi pool, water gardens with step cascades, Gunnera (giant ‘elephant rhubarb’) tunnels, a private beach and a bamboo maze called Bamboozle.

But you don’t even need to go outside to spend time in a British garden. The nation’s seemingly insatiable appetite for all things botanical extends to TV and other media.

BBC2’s hugely popular Gardeners World is in its 56th broadcasting year, whilst Love your Garden, Garden Rescue and Tales from a Kitchen Garden, are all massive hit shows. Gardeners’ Question Time has been pitting BBC4 Radio listeners against celebrity gardeners from village halls around the UK weekly since 1947. Vertical Veg, Mindful Gardening, Garden Ninja and Mr Plant Geek, are among hundreds of dedicated websites, blogs and magazines.

Further information:

Raby Castle, Gardens and Deer Park, County Durham, raby.co.uk

Nature Unbound: Strawberry Hill House and Garden Flower Festival, 13-15 September 2024, strawberryhillhouse.org.uk

Trebah Garden, Cornwall, trebahgarden.co.uk

Trebah’s stunning Water Gardens, photo credit Trebah Gardens Trust

One of the talented floral artists with her creation, Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival

2. Best Of The Fests

Summertime is festival time in Britain, with over 400 fab fests happening across the UK each summer. From established big-hitters, like Glastonbury, Latitude and Edinburgh Festival, to uber-cool newbies like Maiden Voyage and Forwards, and exotics like Boardmasters (for surfers), Big Feastival (for foodies), Bloodstock (for heavy metal fans) and the Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival (for…er…lovers of scarecrows), there’s a festival for every age, taste and fetish.

The summer jazz jewel that is Love Supreme is set for another brilliant festival at its spacious country house site near Brighton. Expect three days of fresh air, green fields, and a Sussex Downs backdrop. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz vet or a jazz’n blues youth, you’re sure to love this relaxed weekend extravaganza. Amongst this year’s headliners are music legends Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick, and hot contemporaries Jordan Rakei, Olivia Dean, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Hiromi. Other notables in the wide-ranging lineup are bassist and composer Christian McBride, powerhouse vocalist Joss Stone and Brazilian superstar, Sérgio Mendes.

Reading and Leeds Festival is a doubleheaded musical beast and the largest UK festival devoted solely to music. It returns this August with headliners Lana Del Rey, Fred-again, Liam Gallagher, Blink-182 and Catfish and the Bottleman, welcoming devoted fans to its cutting-edge new stage, The Chevron. It’s a 40,000-capacity open-air venue featuring the world’s first floating video canopy, with hundreds of thousands of programmable LED lights.

Whatever the weather, you can count on London’s Kings Cross to be one cool place this summer. Its Summer Sounds Festival is a free 12-day programme of music and performance in the vibrantly regenerated Coal Drops Yard. Look out for electrifying European folk-flavoured sounds from Unicorn Frequency, Brazilian beats from Olayá and a vibrant Songs from the Shows evening. Other tempting events include a Folk Family Arts Day, an Opera Evening and Queer Tango classes, hosted by Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum.

For classical music lovers, summer doesn’t get much better than the BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, best known as “The Proms”. A national treasure since Victorian times, the Proms roar into London’s Royal Albert Hall from mid-July for 90 concerts and eight weeks of non-stop musical feasting.

Every Prom season is imaginative and unique. This year welcomes a sonic lineup of international orchestras, conductors, choirs, soloists and over 3,000 musicians. As ever, the season culminates in the beloved ritual known as the Last Night of the Proms

Along with dozens of debut artists and sounds, star soloists include Yo-Yo Ma, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Emanuel Ax and Sheku Kanneh-Mason. There’s the first ever Disco Prom, a new Doctor Who Prom, a movie music evening, a Prom-style Carmen and three musical versions of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. American music is always well represented: there’s a Prom celebrating 100 years of American jazz, the centenary of Henry (Pink Panther) Mancini, a Sarah Vaughan special and an evening of American classics including works by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.

Ticket options include half-price tickets for under 18s and Promming (standing) tickets for every Prom at just £8. Every single Prom is also broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 Sounds, with many available too on live TV as well as BBC’s I-Player.

Further information:

The Proms: BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 19 July-14 September 2024, bbc.co.uk/proms

Love Supreme Jazz Festival, 5-7 July 2024, lovesupremefestival.com

Kings Cross Summer Sounds Festival, 15-26 August 2024, kingscross.co.uk

3. Show Time: Taking It All Outdoors

Magically set in the heart of London’s most beautiful Royal Park, Regents Park Open Air Theatre has been putting on original and award-winning outdoor entertainment for over 90 years. Many top British actors had their professional start here, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench and Damian Lewis amongst them.

For first time visitors the Theatre can be notoriously difficult to find - its semi-hidden entrance surrounded by trees only adds to its considerable charms - so do leave a little extra time for the search. Or, come early and picnic on the Theatre’s rambling lawns, or enjoy an alfresco drink beneath the glittering fairy lights of its bar, famously the longest in London.

This season has some unmissable treats, such as new versions of the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic coming of age tale, The Secret Garden. Both are sure to delight eyes, ears and hearts.

Last Night of the Proms 2023 featuring the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and BBC Singers conducted by Marin Alsop, Royal Albert Hall, photo credit, Mark Allan

Hiromi, Chaka Khan, Joss Stone: Three Leading Jazz Ladies at Love Supreme 2024, photos courtesy Baxter PR, Hiromi photo by Mitsuru Nishimura

Minack Theatre, Cornwall, with its glorious Atlantic Ocean backdrop

Look out too for remaining tickets for Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year– Live!, based on Allie Esiri’s hit book and featuring a star-studded cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Damian Lewis, Derek Jacobi and Indira Varma. It’s a one-off evening to mark 400 years of Shakespeare’s First Folio and 90 years of Shakespeare in Regents Park. Speaking of the Bard, the joyous East London Shakespeare Festival is bringing its sparkling, family friendly production of Much Ado About Nothing to parks and open spaces across London this summer. It promises sun-soaked mischief, romance, lively music and plenty of laughs.

Meanwhile, down at London Southbank’s Riverside Stage, you can enjoy the UK’s largest free outdoor festival of the arts, taking place over four packed weekends in July. There’s a top-tier lineup of live music, theatre, dance and workshops. You won’t go hungry either, as alongside events there’ll be an array of food and beverage on offer from independent food traders.

Cornwall’s glorious cliffside-set Minack Theatre hosts a broad, brilliant season of al fresco theatre and music from April to October. Many events showcase West Country connections such as the Pirates of Penzance, Jamaica Inn, and the French Lieutenant’s Woman, or present awardwinning local talent including Seth Lakeman, Fisherman’s Friends and the Porthleven Town Band.

Do come prepared for any weather since all of these venues are open to the elements, and most events go ahead whatever the heavens bring. Indeed, changing weather is an essential part of this very British experience – a total joy on a warm and sunny day, not quite so charming in a

hailstorm. Like many summer culture lovers, I’ve been through both and keep coming back for more, although I quickly learnt that sunscreen, hats, warm waterproofs and blankets are essential must-brings. Further information: Regents Park Open Air Theatre, openairtheatre.org

The Minack Theatre, minack.com East London Shakespeare, elsf.uk

4. Family-Flavoured Fun

More summer events than ever are turning full-on family friendly. With free entry for under 14s, a Children’s Parade, a dedicated World of Children zone with dozens of free activities from dawn to dusk and a relaxed vibe, WOMAD (World of Music, Art and Dance) Festival is always an outstanding choice for families.

London’s Southbank Centre has lots of family friendly appeal this summer, all part of its three month-long You Belong Here Festival. There are free weekly Youth Voices Choir for teens and ‘tweens to discover the joy of singing together, The Rig, a musical and eco-friendly children’s art zone and Rug Rhymes sessions for tots. For everyone else, there’s the return of Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms , a crazy and much-loved waterjetshooting and soaking experience located just outside the Royal Festival Hall.

No respectable family fun list would be complete without mention of birds, beasts and little fishes. Brits are renowned for their love of animals, so it will come as no surprise to learn there are hundreds of great places in Britain for close encounters with our fanged, furry and feathered cousins.

The best of these have conservation and ethics at their heart.

London Wetland Centre is a magnificent nature reserve with walkways set amongst lakes, meadows and reedbeds, and is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Battersea Park Children’s Zoo combines zoo (think otters, meerkats, mynah birds and pygmy goats), animal encounters, play areas and a café. Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a well-respected centre

for animal conservation and welfare. The Park rescues, protects and cares for some of the world’s most endangered animals; it’s a sanctuary for lions, tigers, polar bears, sealions and so on, many of which have been rescued from zoos. Also recommended for a brilliant animal day out are the Donkey Sanctuary and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary, both in Devon; the Hawk Conservancy Trust , Hampshire; the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and Hackney City Farm in East London.

The folks at UK Wildlife Trusts are passionate about getting us all outdoors and offer heaps of wild family events around the country such as bat walks, forest bathing, pond-dipping, birdwatching and Minibeast Mayhem days.

As autumn approaches, head to Buckinghamshire and join the party at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre as it fetes the birthday of the late, great storyteller and author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches and The BFG The Museum sits on the high street of Dahl’s home village of Great Missenden. Step through its Wonka Gates and giant chocolate doors, dress up as your favourite Dahl story character, enjoy workshops, storytelling and craft activities in the Wondrous Woods and visit the author’s famous Writing Hut. Further information: WOMAD, the World’s Festival, womad.co.uk

UK Wildlife Trusts, wildlifetrusts.org Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, roalddahlmuseum.org

Night Falls over Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, photo by David Jensen

Family gazing up at Rainforest Canopy, Great Wood, Borrowdale, photo Paul Harris, National Trust Images

Imagine Dragons, Main Stage, Reading Festival 2023, photo by Luke Dyson

Family Friendly WOMAD Festival, photo courtesy Borkowski PR

5. Awesome Anniversaries

Make a date with history this summer as 2024 Britain celebrates a bevy of birthdays and anniversaries.

It took its time crossing the Atlantic, but this year marks 50 years since the Big Mac landed on these shores. It hit the grill at Britain’s first MacDonald’s in Woolwich, London, in November, 1974, with cheeseburgers for 21 pence and Big Macs at 45 pence. There are now 1270 branches of MacDonald’s in the UK.

On a more serious historical note, this summer we remember an important anniversary in American and British joint history, and our much-quoted ‘special relationship’. Commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings onto the Normandy beaches began on 6th June and continue through the coming months. ‘Operation Overlord’ was the

largest land, air and sea operation in history. Over 7,000 Allied ships and landing craft set down 156,000 troops on five Normandy beaches in an incomparable feat that would eventually lead to the end of Nazi occupation in Western Europe. Beacons light up Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches to honour more than 200,000 Allied ground, air and sea forces who died or were wounded on D-Day and the ensuing Battle of Normandy, with many more memorial events taking place on both sides of the Channel.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (the RNLI) turns a memorable 200 this year. Since its founding in 1824, the charity has saved more than 146,277 live at sea – that’s an average of two saved every day for 200 years! For a genuinely moving experience, listen to RNLI’s astonishing 200 Voices podcasts, filled with true stories of bravery at sea.

This year brings birthday milestones for several stars of stage and screen. National treasures Olivia Colman and Bill Nighy

are 50 and 75 respectively, while Twiggy, the skinny kid from Neasden who became the most famous teenager on the planet and the face of the 1960s, turns a barely believable 75. Movie-making great Alfred Hitchcock would have been 125, although his classics Psycho, Vertigo and The Birds will live forever. Speaking of longevity, you will be delighted to learn that Walt Disney’s favourite fowl, Donald Duck, is a sprightly 90.

Girl Power has a major milestone this year, as it’s 30 years since Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger and Posh - the Spice Girls - hit the pop universe. In addition, there’s birthday bumps and big-girl party candles for Spicettes Mel B (‘Scary’) and Victoria Beckham (‘Posh’), who are both 50. Re-kindle those memories with Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30 , on view at Liverpool’s British Musical Experience Museum.

Last, but by no means least, it’s been 50 glorious years since ABBA took the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest crown with their British-themed megahit, Waterloodespite the fact that hosts UK awarded them ‘nul points’. The Super Troupers shot to immediate fame, and half a century later they’re still one of the world’s most successful bands. Celebrate with a trip to Stockholm’s Abba Museum or take the mindbending Abba Voyage at the purpose-built Abba Arena in East London. Described as a virtual concert, it’s a chance to re-live all the ABBA magic – the greatest hits! the sensational outfits! the blonde hair! recreated through a mesmerising mix of avatars, live backing band, digital technology and 291-speaker sound system. Further information:

D-Day, dday80.campaign.gov.uk

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, rnli.org

Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30, britishmusicexperience.com

Abba Voyage, abbavoyage.com/the-concert

‘Into the Jaws of Death’, D-Day, Normandy Landings, 6 June 1944, U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarking on Omaha Beach, National Archives & Records Administration, image public domain

Twiggy riding a moped in London, photo Ronald Traeger, courtesy V&A

AMERICAN CLUBS’ NEWS

The Junior League Of London

The Junior League of London (JLL) is a membership charity whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.

The JLL is almost entirely volunteer-run. For the past 40 years, our members have given thousands of hours of service to improve the lives of Londoners in need. Our current community focus area is breaking the cycle of poverty. Poverty continues to be one of London’s most critical issues and has only been made worse by the pandemic and the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

We are looking for like-minded women to join us in being catalysts for change in London! It’s a great opportunity to volunteer and make new friends. And, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in London this year, it’s a great time to join us as we’ll have a host of events across the year to recognise our impact in London!

Interested in learning more? Join our new member orientation on 2 July, or visit our website as we’ll be holding another one in September. We look forward to meeting you soon!

KCWC - Kensington & Chelsea Women’s Club

KCWC is a vibrant community of friendly, dynamic women from over 50 countries who enjoy London life to its fullest! Join us this Summer to fill your diary with exciting events in the company of new friends, such as the ‘Know before you go’ group prior to visits to art exhibits. We also have multiple masterclasses e.g., pairing food and fine wines, book clubs, tennis clubs etc. Our garden group has just spent the

day exploring Highgrove Gardens (with kind permission of H.M. The King). We all know exploring London’s most historic, architectural secrets with a fun group of kindred spirits makes it more fun!

You’re also invited to be our special guest at our speakers events – we just had a wonderful talk given by the Sarah Duchess of York.

And we have others coming up, with leading designers, historians and entrepreneurs such as the talented and beautiful Sophie Conran and the gloriousness that is Julie Montagu, the American girl that became Viscountess Hinchingbrooke!

Register today at KCWC.org.uk under Featured Activities - tickets are free for KCWC Members or £15 for guests, and redeemable towards a new membership. You can also view our events calendar and learn how to join KCWC, London’s premiere international women’s social club for over forty years. Now the fun and friendships start! We can’t wait to meet you.

American Women Lawyers In LondonAWLL

AWLL is an organisation of Londonbased women with ties to the American legal community. Our aim is to provide professional development support to members through educational events, networking and mentoring opportunities. AWLL has also partnered with several top companies to offer exclusive discounts and benefits to members.

Visit awll.org.uk to learn about membership benefits, upcoming events and to join our group. For more information about AWLL, please visit our website at www.awll.org.uk or contact AWLL President Eryn Hanlon at eryn@awll.org.uk. You can also connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. We look forward to seeing you!

Please email ben@theamericanhour.com to share your news and events

HOTEL REVIEW

Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland

Many hotels have names that are slightly misleading, and many of those include the word Castle when they are far from being one, but Ashford Castle is certainly deserving of the title as it is not only a Castle, it is one of the impressive one’s as well!

Ashford Castle is situated next to the picturesque town of Cong, in Western Ireland. Cong is a small village in County Mayo and is situated on a slither of land that divides Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, and its name is derived from the Irish word for narrow. Cong is a short walk through the Castle’s well-tended grounds, and as well as having a number of pubs and shops to enjoy, it is awash with ancient sites, including Cong Abbey and the iconic Cross of Cong, which isn’t a King Kong film title as it sounds like!, but is rather a gold and silver relic dating back to 1123.

Cong’s main claim to fame is that many of the scenes in the 1952 film classic, ‘The Quiet Man’, with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, were filmed there (and at the Castle), and the stars stayed at Ashford Castle.

The Castle has had a rich history, as any Castle worth its salt should have, and the first building on the site was in 1228 when

the de Burgo family built it. After they lost it in a battle with the O’Connor family in the 16th century, it changed hands a few more times, receiving a few more additions to the original building, including a French styled chateau part and two Victorian wings. In 2013, Red Carnation Hotel Group took over the ownership, and after a $75M refurbishment the Castle opened as the luxury hotel you see today, and no detail has been overlooked.

To get to Ashford Castle we flew into Western Ireland Airport (used to be called Knock) from London, but you can also fly in from a number of other UK airports, or you can also fly into Shannon or even Dublin.

We were met and whisked away by the hotel’s chauffeur service, and driven along lovely rural roads to the Castle. The journey takes 55 minutes, and as you drive through the impressive gates and wend your way past the lush and finely manicured lawns of the golf course, you can almost imagine yourself as one of the Guinness family coming back to their country residence for the Summer (they owned it during the start of this century before returning much of the land to the locals and gifting it back to the Irish Government).

The views are stunning, and once you have crossed the lovely bridge in front of the Castle, half of which is in County Mayo and half in County Galway, you pull up in front of the impressive entrance to be warmly greeted by the awaiting staff. Our luggage was taken away separately and was not seen again until we were in our room. The entrance to the Castle is exactly as you would expect a Castle to be like, with rich wooden panelling and plush carpets. After sitting down to check in we were presented with a very welcome, welcoming cocktail (so welcome we had a second! – soft drinks are also offered), and once check in was completed we were given a quick orientation of the Castle, as it is vast and is easy to get lost in.

Despite its size, the Castle only has 83 bedrooms, and these are all individually designed, and regardless of what room you choose, every one is packed with clever details and every conceivable luxury, and there are many options to choose from.

Our suite overlooked the river Cong and was full of antiques, silk lined walls and aged mirrors. What is so clever. is that although the rooms are bursting with period elegance, they are also full of technology with high speed

wifi, touch controls for the lights, underfloor heating in the bathroom and plugs for both US, UK and European devices. Our room even had a TV in the bathroom (with premium TV channels). Our bed was a vast four poster and was probably one of the most comfortable I have slept in, and if there wasn’t so much to do during our visit, I could easily have stayed there for most of the day.

Ashford Castle is perfectly located to see all that Western Ireland has to offer, but there is also so much to do in the grounds, that many who visit just stay in the grounds and enjoy all that the Castle and its amenities have to offer.

The Castle has a free 32 seat Cinema with its own popcorn machine which has a film on every night (including ‘The Quiet Man’), and also a billiards room with a full-sized snooker table if you want to hone your cue skills during your visit.

Outside activities include all that the Lords of the Manor would have indulged in for centuries, including falconry, clay pigeon shooting, archery and trout and salmon fishing on Lough Corrib, and there are also some more modern pastimes with cycling and kayaking available, as well as the nine-hole golf course, and even zip wiring for the most adventurous!

We spent a delightful afternoon cycling through the extensive gardens of the Castle discovering wonderful views at every turn, building up our appetite so that we could enjoy a guilt-free dinner!

There are a number of dining options at Ashford Castle, and on our first night we decided to visit Cullen’s at the Cottage, which is a charming thatched cottage just in front of the Castle. The atmosphere is relaxed, and if the weather had been a little warmer, we could have dined outside on the extensive patio, but we were inside and enjoyed a combination of wonderfully fresh seafood (the chowder was especially good), and a succulent chicken from the rotisserie oven.

After a truly relaxing sleep (I always sleep well when I am in the country with all that fresh air), and a traditional Irish breakfast including salmon, ham, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and black pudding, we went on one of the highlights of our Irish jaunt, namely a boat trip on the Lough. The boat trip is run by brothers Patrick and David Luskin, who have been working on the same boat here for 48 years, and what they do not know about the area frankly isn’t worth knowing, and as well as the opportunity to photograph Ashford Castle from the water, you visit a number of special places for the previous owners of the Castle and hear stories spanning the last 40 years from someone who has lived it, which brings the whole place to life.

After the cruise we decided to stay on the Castle grounds and enjoy the spa facilities which are located just away from the Castle in a building named Ealu, Irish for escape (there are minibuses that you can request to take you anywhere within the grounds),

and once we hopped out of the minibus, we checked in to the spa and relaxed beside the generously sized swimming pool. There is also a small gym, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, and a therapy room providing a holistic approach to well-being.

Our final meal at Ashford Castle was taken in the George V dining room, which is a graceful setting befitting such a grand building, with beautiful twinkling Waterford crystal chandeliers shining down onto rich panelled walls (the only other chandeliers with the same design are in the White House),

where diners can enjoy local ingredients cooked by Chef, Liam Finnegan, and his team. When it was finally time to depart it was a real wrench to leave Ashford Castle, as it is rare to go to a place where the surroundings are spectacular, the facilities second to none, and the welcome one of the warmest you will ever receive. This is luxury with a capital L, and should be on your list to visit, for either just a relaxing stay in the Castle, or as a base to visit everything the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer.

www.ashfordcastle.com

TRAVEL

Ireland is a small island that offers big experiences for travellers who love nature, culture, and history. It is known as the Emerald Isle due to its lush green landscapes and wet weather, so please do bear this in mind when you are packing for a trip here, but there are also many wonderfully sunny days as well.

Many visitors stick to the better-known destinations like Dublin in the north, or Cork in the south, and although these places are great to visit, Ireland has so much more to offer, and Western Ireland is a very good example of this.

Ireland has not only wonderful monuments and buildings, it is also home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world, and there is nowhere better than the western coast, known as the Wild Atlantic Way.

This way is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world at 1,600 miles, wending its way down the west coast, so you will need plenty of time to travel the whole trail, whilst marvelling at the power of the Atlantic ocean and visiting the picturesque villages along the way. There aren’t however, many who have that much time, so I have picked a few places along the route that I would recommend visiting, which will give you the feel for a different way of life and a real feel for the old Irish traditions.

Western Ireland

Kylemore Abbey

Built in the late 1800s, the Castle was built by a wealthy businessman for his wife, where he created an enlightened landlord/tenant relationship, until 1920 when it became the home to the Sisters of the Benedictine Order of nuns, and it still operates as a working Abbey today. The building is an architectural delight and is striking, perched alongside the water’s edge. It is a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with many lakeside walks, breathtaking views and a working Victorian Walled Garden, which only uses Victorian garden methods and seeds from the 1800s. Although you can get a shuttle bus to the garden from the house, my recommendation is, if you can, walk it instead, as you see so much more at a leisurely pace! Other delights are lakeshore walks for when the Irish weather behaves, but if it does rain, there is also a craft and design shop selling Kylemore Abbey Pottery and award-winning chocolates. www.kylemoreabbey.com

Kilmacduagh Monastery

The monastery was said to be founded by Saint Colman in the 7th Century, just outside the town of Gort. Saint Colman allegedly

picked the location when his belt fell off as he was walking through the woods, which is a strange reason for determining a place to build a monastery, but despite the strange selection method, the monastery thrived and became one of the most important in Ireland until it was ruined in the early 13th century. The ruins are today referred to as “the seven

Kylemore Abbey

Kilmacduagh Monastery

churches” even though some of the remaining buildings were not churches, and one which is of particular interest, is the Round Tower shown above (Image by Andreas F. Borchert). www.monastic.ie/history/kilmacduagh/

The Cliffs Of Moher

These are one of the most popular attractions in Ireland and are truly awe-inspiring. They rise vertically up 214m high and 9 miles long from the tireless battering of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are many bracing walks along the cliff tops that will give you lots of alternative views of these majestic cliffs. Indeed, if you turn right and head toward O’Brien’s Tower (which also gives great views) and continue along the Burren Way footpath for a mile, you reach a viewing point which gives a great opportunity to take some of the best photographs you can get of the cliffs, and if you are lucky enough to have good weather, you can get an additional view of the Cliffs by boat. www.cliffsofmoher.ie

Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise is one of the most significant monastic cities in Ireland, and is a fascinating example of early Christianity, as included in its city walls are a cathedral, nine ancient churches, two round towers and a large number of carved stone crosses and cross-slabs. The monastery survived numerous attacks by the Irish (27 times), the Vikings (7 times), and the Normans (6 times), as well as a plague, and this contributed, unsurprisingly, to its decline around the 12 century, until eventually in 1552 the English destroyed and looted Clonmacnoise for the final time, leaving it in ruins. Its importance was demonstrated when Pope John Paul II visited it in 1979 on his visit to Ireland.

This is the perfect place to witness for yourself the beautifully decorated high crosses in the purpose-built museum (replicas have been placed where they originally were located).

www.heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/ clonmacnoise-monastic-site/

Galway City

Located where the river Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean, Galway, with its charming cobbled streets, is a bustling town with brightly painted pubs, street performers and a charming Bohemian way of life.

The Galway City Museum provides visitors a full history of the city with exhibitions covering everything from the traditional Galway hooker boat to local literary figures, and one of the youngest cathedrals in the world which is also worth a visit.

Galway is also next to Lough Corrib (the second largest lough in Ireland behind Lough Neagh), which provides wonderful fishing, especially for its wild brown trout and salmon.

Another must do, is to walk the Salthill Promenade running along the sea from the Claddagh Quay to the famous Blackrock Diving Tower, and don’t forget the local tradition of kicking the wall when you’ve completed your walk!

www.galwaytourism.ie/

Westport

Westport is a charming seaside town rich in history and culture. Here you can admire the stone bridges, colourful shopfronts and elegant boulevards. It is also the gateway

to the stunning Croagh Patrick Mountain, the tranquil Clew Bay and the rugged Connemara National Park.

William Makepeace Thackeray said of Westport ‘The most beautiful view I ever saw in the world. It forms an event in one’s life to have seen that place so beautiful that is it, and so unlike other beauties that I know of’ - praise indeed!

More modern attractions include Westport House and its Pirate Adventure Park, perfect for all families.

www.theirishroadtrip.com/things-to-doin-westport/

Keem Bay

Ireland is home to many Blue Flag beaches, including Keem Bay on the Western shores of Achill Island. Its golden sand and turquoise blue waters could easily be mistaken for being in South East Asia, and in the summer it is a wonderful beach to spend the day on, although the water is invigorating! (or cold to you and me).

The beach’s fame has been boosted as it was used in the ‘Banshees of Inisherin’ movie, so parking can be chaotic, and if you find a space take it, as you may not find another one!

www.achilltourism.com/experienceachill/beaches/

These are just a few snippets of all Western Ireland has to offer, and has hopefully whet your appetite to visit what is an amazing part of the world, and one that will amaze you at every turn, with the Irish hospitality and welcome being second to none.

Happy travels!!

The Cliffs of Moher

Clonmacnoise

Galway City

Westport

Keem Bay

ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

Stories Behind 100 Years Of Iconic Royal Photographs Revealed In The New Exhibition At The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

An unseen family photograph marking the birth of four royal babies, The Queen Mother’s personal copy of her daughter’s Coronation portrait, and the earliest surviving colour photographic print of a member of the Royal Family are among the highlights of the new exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography, currently on show at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

The exhibition charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day through more than 150 items from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives. The photographs presented in the exhibition are vintage prints – the original works produced by the photographer – most of which are on display for the first time.

Alessandro Nasini, curator of Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography, said, ‘The Royal Collection holds some of the most enduring photographs ever taken of the Royal Family, captured by the most celebrated portrait photographers of the past hundred years – from Dorothy Wilding and Cecil Beaton to Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, and Rankin. Alongside these beautiful vintage prints, which cannot be on permanent display for conservation reasons, you can view archival correspondence and neverbefore-seen proofs that will give visitors a behind-the-scenes insight into the process of creating such unforgettable royal portraits.’

Visitors will see the earliest surviving photographic print of a member of the Royal Family produced in colour. It shows Princess

Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (sister-in-law to King George VI and Edward VIII) on her wedding day. The photograph was taken in 1935 by Madame Yevonde, a pioneer of colour photography and champion of women photographers.

Unreleased wartime images by Cecil Beaton are on display for the first time, demonstrating how King George VI and Queen Elizabeth used photography to project a sense of stability and hope for the nation. A photograph of the royal couple inspecting bomb damage at Buckingham Palace in 1940 shows them smiling comfortingly at each other amidst the debris, while a 1943 portrait taken at Royal Lodge in Windsor shows them gathered around the King’s desk with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, conveying a reassuring sense of domesticity and calm.

Beaton photographed the Royal Family over the course of six decades and was chosen as the official photographer for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953. Visitors will see a contact sheet of proofs from the Coronation sitting, alongside a note from Martin Charteris, the Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary, recommending to Prince Philip which images should be sent as personal mementos to the Royal Family and Maids of Honour. The photograph subsequently sent to Queen Elizabeth,The Queen Mother, signed by Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Cecil Beaton, are also on display.

Snowdon, Group of royal mothers with their babies, 1964. Credit: Photograph: Snowdon.

Cecil Beaton, Princess Elizabeth, 1942.

Cecil Beaton, Princess Margaret, 1955.

Cecil Beaton, Princess Margaret, 1949.

Alongside portraits marking official occasions are pictures capturing more intimate family moments, including a neverbefore-seen image of four royal mothers – Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra and The Duchess of Kent – holding their newborn babies. It was taken by Princess Margaret’s photographer husband Lord Snowdon as a personal token of thanks for Sir John Peel, the royal obstetrician who delivered all four babies within two months in 1964. Shown with it is a handwritten letter from Princess Margaret to her sister, asking her ‘Darling Lilibet’ to sign a print ‘as a souvenir of an extraordinary two months of delivery’.

Photographs taken during sittings to mark royal birthdays through the decades are among the highlights of the exhibition. These include Cecil Beaton’s charming 25th-birthday portrait of Princess Margaret, dressed in an evening gown with her dog Pippin in her lap, and a previously unseen contact sheet by Norman Parkinson showing the late Queen and Princess Margaret laughing and talking together during a sitting to mark their mother’s 80th birthday.

Visitors can also see Paolo Roversi’s memorable 40th-birthday portrait of The Princess of Wales, in which Her Royal Highness’s dress and pose bear a striking visual resemblance to an 1864 portrait of Alexandra, Princess of Wales by Franz Xaver

Winterhalter from the Royal Collection, which will hang nearby.

Innovations in colour and digital photography between the 1980s and 2020s revolutionised the medium, ushering in a new sense of experimentation and playfulness. Bold and colourful examples on show will include Rankin’s 2001 photograph of a smiling Queen Elizabeth II, superimposed against the Union Flag, Polly Borland’s Golden Jubilee portrait of the late Queen set against a glittering gold backdrop, and Andy Warhol’s 1985 portrait of Her Late Majesty, sprinkled with diamond dust to make it sparkle in the light.

The exhibition’s free multimedia guide, narrated by Dame Joanna Lumley, features contributions from royal photographers Hugo Burnand, Rankin and John Swannell. Visitors will hear Burnand’s behind-the-scenes account of taking the official Coronation portraits of Their Majesties The King and Queen on 6 May 2023 – from cycling to and from the Palace to avoid roadblocks and getting soaked in the rain in the process, to doing dress rehearsals right up until the moment the Gold State Coach arrived back at the Palace from Westminster Abbey. For further information and to book tickets, please visit: www.rct.co.uk

VINEYARD

Balfour Winery & The Goudhurst Inn, Kent

I think that most people know that the UK is a major consumer of wine, but what many don’t know is that over the last decade or two the UK has started to become a big noise in the wine world, with more and more wineries setting up and producing award winning wines. Wine producing in the UK has developed as the summers have become warmer and more weather resistant grape varieties have been developed. At the last count the Wine Standards Board reported that there were just over 450 vineyards producing wine throughout England, with many being in Kent, as it has a warmer climate and chalk limestone soils, and one of the best is the Balfour Winery on the Hush Heath Estate.

Although nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside, Balfour Winery is only a quick 50 minute drive from the capital down the fast A21, and is definitely worth a visit for the day, or if you want to enjoy more of what Kent has to offer, take advantage of the opportunity to stay in one of the local pubs

owned by the Winery (there are also some in London and the Cotswolds) so you can enjoy your tastings a little more!

In 2002, Richard Balfour-Lynn went to an auction of 400 acres of farm land next to his house to see what plans the potential new owner had for this land adjoining his estate and came back the proud owner! The story then goes that his wife Leslie asked what he was going to do with his new purchase and he decided to grow some vines and make wine with the premise that if it wasn’t any good then he would drink it himself!! Thus, the Balfour brand was born with 5 acres of vines, and when Balfour Brut Rose, made from the first harvest, won the gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2007, it was recognised by the wine industry.

Over the next few years Balfour created a state-of-the-art winery so the wine is pressed, stored and even bottled on site, ensuring the quality is maintained, and in 2018 the winery and tasting rooms were

also expanded providing visitors with a true experience of how the wines are made, along with a new restaurant serving tasty food!

Balfour offer a number of experiences for its visitors, from master classes where you are taken through a tasting of 6 Balfour wines in a relaxed and fun atmosphere (£30), to the tour and tasting (£45-65). We arrived for the tour and tasting, and before setting off were treated to our first tasting, the Nanette Rose, that was served on the terrace looking out at the row upon row of vines which produced it, a lovely start. The 5 acres of vines have now grown considerably and the guide expertly took us around the estate giving us a lovely mixture of wine knowledge and personal facts which truly brought everything to life.

Balfour operates as sustainable an operation as possible, so everything is done by hand. Pesticides are not used, and even keeping the birds and animals away from the grapes is a natural process (by creating more attractive wildflower meadows for

them to hunt and feed). Conservation is of paramount importance, as is the real family feeling you have around the place. It is a high tech and business environment, but at no time is this compromising the environment, and staff clearly love what they are doing and are proud to be working here, and their feel good factor rubs off on all its visitors.

Having walked the stunning orchards, vineyards and woodlands on the estate we were ready for our tasting, and after a clear and very informative explanation of the wine making process from winemaker Fergus Elias via a film, we then got to taste the wines, both still and sparkling. Every one had its own distinctive and fresh taste and I will leave you to decide which is your favourite, but I can now see why the French Champagne growers are trying to buy into

the English vineyards in the South, as each wine seemed to be better than the last. Once you have completed your tour you can eat at the new restaurant and of course sample more of your favourite wine, whilst looking out over the stunning Kent countryside, which I highly recommend.

After a wonderful afternoon we left content and very much more knowledgeable about the wine process, and travelled the short distance to Goudhurst to stay at one of the Balfour pubs, The Goudhurst Inn. The inn has 4 rooms with en suite bathrooms and smart TVs, and tea and coffee facilities. It has a lovely outdoors space, as well as an authentic interior, and serves wonderful food, including many family favourites, as well as a drinks list that includes all that the Balfour Winery has to offer, with many being named after family members. I thoroughly

enjoyed my crisp lager named after the son of the family, Jake. After a relaxing night‘s sleep, we were again fed royally with a hearty breakfast before setting off home, that included my wife’s favourite – American pancakes, crispy bacon and maple syrup.

Goudhurst village is steeped in charm with a picturesque church and wonderful views over the Weald of Kent in the heart of the Garden of England, and is in a lovely area of Kent to visit for the day, or a weekend.

English wines are now getting the recognition they truly deserve, and Balfour wines are at the forefront of this rise as they continue to pick up their fair share of international awards that their wines really deserve, and now as well as enjoying their wines you can also visit where they are blended.

www.balfourwinery.com

www.thegoudhurstinn.com

USEFUL CONTACTS

CHARITABLE GIVING

CAF AMERICAN DONOR FUND

10 St Bride Street

London

EC4A 4AD

Contact: Joe Crome, Senior Manager, CAF American Donor Fund

Telephone: +44 (0) 3000 123 150 (Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding UK bank holidays).

Email: cadf@cafonline.org

Website www.cafonline.org/cadf

With over 20 years’ experience, we are the smart, tax-effective way for dual UK and US taxpayers to achieve greater impact with their charitable giving.

The CAF American Donor Fund is a dual qualified Donor Advised Fund which can help you maximise the value of your gifts to charitable organisations. If you pay tax in the UK and the US, the CAF American Donor Fund enables you to claim eligible UK and US tax relief on your global giving, including adding 25% through UK Gift Aid where applicable.

We have a range of flexible products available, starting at one-off giving through to long-term invested funds. We accept donations of cash (any major currency); stocks and shares as well as non-cash gifts.

Whatever stage you’re at with your philanthropy journey, we can help. Our specialist team of Relationship Managers will be with you every step of the way to guide you quickly and efficiently throughout the management and administration of your giving, using our established and trusted service.

EDUCATION - SCHOOLS

TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND

Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey, TW20 8TE

Contact: Sarah Travis

Telephone: 01932 582316

Email: ukadmissions@tasisengland.org

Website www.tasisengland.org

The educational pathways TASIS England offers to day (3-18) and boarding (13-18) students include a broad-based American curriculum, AP courses, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and EAL support. Taught in small classes, every student in our diverse community from 50 nations is encouraged to reach their academic potential. Participation in co-curricular activities, the arts, athletics, and leadership programs provides balance, fosters curiosity, and develops Individual talents. With excellent exam results and one-to-one college counseling, 97% of TASIS graduates

gain acceptance to their first- or secondchoice university in the US, the UK, and worldwide. Extensive summer opportunities are also offered to students from all schools. Located close to London on a beautiful and historic 46-acre estate.

TAXATION

EXPAT LEGAL SERVICES GROUP

Website: Expatlegal.com

Telephone: +1.888.502.8579

Contact: Roland Sabates

Email: roland@expatlegal.com

Expat Legal Services Group, with its background in international taxation, offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States. We leverage a suite of modern technology solutions that enable us to bring our international expertise directly to you no matter where in the world you might be living.

USTAXFS

3 Harbour Exchange Square, London, E14 9GE

Telephone: +44 20 7357 8220

Contact: Joni Trulock

Email: j.trulock@ustaxfs.com

Website: ustaxfs.com

Twitter: @ustaxfs

With over 35 years’ experience, our US/UK expat tax specialists provide US and UK tax return preparation, planning, compliance, and expatriation as well as all US business tax services, wherever you are in the world.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

LONDON & CAPITAL

Two Fitzroy Place, 8 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JJ

Telephone: +44 (0) 207 396 3200

Email: invest@londonandcapital.com

Website: londonandcapital.com

The core of our expertise at London & Capital is managing investments for wealthy families and our clients generally share similar requirements; they have amassed wealth or capital and now need it to be structured and invested in a way that preserves and grows it for the future. We build investment strategies that are designed to be resilient and help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Many of our clients are international, with finances, business interests, property and family across multiple countries. We provide clear comprehensive financial strategies and global reporting regardless of currency or location.

US CONNECTED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

We are also one of the few wealth managers who actively welcome US clients and are both SEC (US) and FCA (UK) regulated, with a dedicated team looking after the wealth of international American families since 1989. Whether you are a US Citizen or Green Card holder living abroad, a British expat in the US or a foreign entity with US reporting, we are uniquely positioned to work you to organise your wealth into a coherent global strategy, invest with a focus on capital preservation and provide clear, concise global reporting.

MASECO LLP

The Kodak, 11 Keeley Street, London, WC2B 4BA

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7043 0455

Email: enquiries@masecopw.com

Website: www.masecoprivatewealth.com

MASECO Private Wealth gives peace of mind by providing expert guidance to US families on how to simplify their cross-border wealth management needs. We serve and care for Americans living at home or abroad through the planning and implementation of rational, practical and tax efficient wealth management strategies.

To discuss advertising or annual print & digital promotional packages in American in Britain magazine and www.theamericanhour.com, please email Helen at helen@theamericanhour.com

If you haven’t signed up to receive our free monthly email newsletters or invitations to the events we organise for Americans living in the UK, please email helen@theamericanhour.com