LEE SHARROCK – HIDDEN LONDON
Lee Sharrock, is a writer, curator and creative publicist. She’s an Arts Contributor for Forbes, editor of Culturalee and I contribute to several other publications including IRK Magazine.
Why London?
Lee Sharrock: I lived in London for over 25 years after moving there to study at University College London (UCL). Although I recently relocated to Brighton, the Capital will always have a special place in my heart. This is due to its dynamic, multi-cultural, eclectic mix of arts, culture, and cuisine.
Best Restaurant in London & Why?
📍 The Wolseley 160 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EB. The Wolseley is an iconic restaurant with a buzzy atmosphere and a big sprinkle of glamour at any time of day. Whether it’s for a breakfast meeting, a long lunch, or an intimate dinner, it’s ideal. With high ceilings, ornate mirrors, and Parisian-style waiters, the menu is in the European Grand Café tradition. It features some of my favourite decadent dishes such as Jersey Rock Oysters and The Wolseley fishcakes with lobster bisque sauce. Housed in a former Wolseley Motors car showroom dating back to 1921, the interiors are furnished in a 20th-century neo-classical and art deco style.
Mount Street Restaurant, Mount St, Mayfair.
My favourite (relatively) new restaurant in London is Mount Street Restaurant. It is a temple of culinary art, craftsmanship, and contemporary art. As an art lover it’s my dream place to dine, surrounded by a world-class art collection. It includes works by Freud, Warhol, and Matisse. Even the smashed tile floor is an artwork–a special commission by American artist Rashid Johnson. The Paris-based design and architecture studio Laplace are behind the beautiful interiors. Additionally, the staff wear uniforms designed by Savile Row tailor Kathryn Sargent.
Art seeps into the menu in the form of a delicious sorbert inspired by Frank Bowling’s abstract painting Shallowtrench, echoing the colours of the painting. Executive Chef Jamie Shears has designed a menu inspired by artworks displayed in the restaurant. The food is perfection and all ingredients are sourced from the freshest British produce. My favourite dishes are the melt-in-your-mouth Orkney Scallop scampi and Dover Sole with brown butter hollandaise. Dining at Mount Street is the perfect combination of culinary excellence, amazing service, and contemporary art & design.
It’s Date Night where can you be found?
📍 Broadwick Soho My ideal date night would involve dinner at Dear Jackie, the intimate Italian restaurant in the atmospherically styled basement of Broadwick Soho Hotel. Dinner would be followed by drinks on the terrace and a stay overnight in one of the beautifully designed rooms.
Where’s your Favorite Bar & Pub?
📍 The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy on The Strand. The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy is the epitome of 1920s glamour, blending vintage elegance with modern luxury. Located in the heart of the iconic Savoy hotel, the bar’s Art Deco interior features dramatic lighting and a black and gold colour scheme. It nods to the glitzy speakeasy culture of the 1920s. The intimate atmosphere, expertly crafted cocktails, and attentive service make it a special occasion.
📍 The Audley Public House on South Audley Street in Mayfair.
Lee Sharrock: The Audley Public House is a charming blend of a traditional London neighborhood pub and contemporary art space. Carefully restored to maintain its classic charm, it offers a welcoming atmosphere where history collides with contemporary creativity. The pub’s art collection includes works by renowned British artist Phyllida Barlow, while the menu delivers perfectly prepared classic British pub food. I recommend the fish and chips!
Lee Name an Area of London You Love & Why?
Lee Sharrock: I love Portobello Market in Notting Hill and Golborne Road for the market stalls and vintage finds.
Name One Art Gallery You Always Go To in London.
Lee Sharrock: 📍 Bowman Sculpture in St. James’s, Mayfair has an interesting exhibition programme ranging from magnificent Rodin sculptures to exciting contemporary sculptors. These include artists such as Hanneke Beaumont and emerging talent Joanna Allen and Massimiliano Pelletti. The gallery’s young Director Mica Bowman has a really good eye for rising talent. She will curate a Graduate Sculptor show for the second time this autumn.
Which is your Favorite Museum in London?
Lee Sharrock: 📍 The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London recently reopened with an impressive rehang and redesign of the Sainsbury Wing. This coincides with its 200th anniversary. Some of my favourite paintings are on display there. These include Seurat’s Bathers, Caravaggio’s Supper at Emaus, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne.
Favorite Boutique/Shop?
Lee Sharrock: 📍 GANNI on Beak Street in Soho. I love the designs by this Danish brand founded in 2000 by gallerist Frans Truelsen in Copenhagen.
Where Can You Be Found on a Saturday Night in London?
Lee Sharrock: My ideal Saturday night would involve a visit to the Theatre followed by dinner at Broadwick Soho. If I could choose any play it would be Kyoto at Soho Place. I saw it earlier this year and it’s the most electric theatre I’ve ever witnessed.
It’s Sunday in London. What Do You Do?
Lee Sharrock: Go for a walk in Regent’s Park through the beautiful Rose Garden and end up in Primrose Hill. There, browse around the shops, or walk to Camden and wander around the market.
Where Do You, Go for Some Peace and Quiet in London?
Lee Sharrock: Firstly, a walk over beautiful Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House never fails to calm and reenergize me. It’s my happy place. Alternatively, if I was in search of wellness and relaxation, I would visit the new Damu Spa at The Mandrake Hotel off Oxford Street. The Spa is named after Damu, the Sumerian god of healing and transformation. The Damu Ritual, immersive Origin Pool, and massage treatments are all incredible.
Name One Thing You Have to Do When You Come to London.
Visit the South Bank and see an exhibition at Tate Modern or a play at the National Theatre. You can take an Uber boat along the river from Tate Modern to Tate Britain, or get off at Battersea Power Station and look around the shops.
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I’m a Brighton-based curator, writer and Editor of Culturalee, an arts platform celebrating the rich global tapestry of culture. I am also an Arts Contributor for Forbes covering art, design, film, photography and theatre, and I contributes to several arts publications including Artlyst, Artplugged and FAD Magazine.
I also work as a freelance curator and communications consultant for artists, creatives and galleries. I was Head of Global Creative PR for Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide for 7 years before going freelance. I travel regularly to cultural destinations to interview artists and curators and write about exhibitions, art fairs, Biennials and cultural destinations. I studied at Norwich University of the Arts, UCL in London and l’Universita di Bologna in Italy.
Follow me on @culturalee_ or @leesharrock.
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