Arts and Culture

Featuring Buy the book: 10 books for the best-dressed coffee tables

A Luxury Scottish Escape: High-end in the Highlands

Given that good weather in Scotland is never guaranteed, there’s a lot to be said for leaning into the dark nights and visiting in winter. For one, this is the time of year you’re most likely to experience the magical aurora borealis, and as the only Dark Sky Park in the UK, Galloway Forest is a great location for stargazing. January is also peak mussel and scallop season, delicacies for which Scotland is world-renowned. And where better to enjoy the finest malt whiskies by a roaring fire? Scots certainly know how to make the most of the longer nights and, having recovered from their Hogmanay celebrations, turn their attention to Burns’ Night at the end of January. Nowhere does so in greater style than The Fife Arms, a relatively new addition to the Scottish luxury hotel scene in its current incarnation. Nestled in the spectacular grandeur of the Caringorms just 15 minutes from Balmoral, the landmark Braemar hotel was comprehensively renovated by a team of architects, artisans and artists in 2018. Each of the 46 bedrooms is dedicated to a local place, person or event, meticulously researched and decorated to tell the story of the area. If their Hogmanay was anything to go by – at which Dame Judy Dench was spotted carousing at the piano with Sharleen Spiteri of Texas fame – Burns’ Night will be an extravagant affair.

What We Learnt from Art Basel - Miami: Art & Tech are...

At Art Basel, art and technology come together spectacularly. Attendees can explore breakthrough art and technology through interactive displays, installations, and performances. From virtual reality experiences to 3D-printed sculptures, Art Basel provides a platform for art and technology to mix and mingle in ways that are both innovative and inspiring. Attendees can also experience installations and digital artworks that engage them in ways that traditional art forms can't. Visitors can explore the works of renowned and emerging artists and get a glimpse of the possibilities that technology brings to the art world. The perfect place to see how art and technology blend to create something new and exciting; AB was a pure hit! From new ways of viewing the artwork, virtual reality experiences, 3D-printed sculptures, and creating fashion to the endless possibilities of creative expression.

Inspiring Destinations That Captivated Literary Greats

For many, travel is an integral part of life, offering a chance to escape the mundane and seek out new adventures. Reading, too, can serve as a wonderful source of inspiration; stoking our imaginations and allowing us to envision experiences beyond the scope of everyday life. Here at The Sybarite, we're passionate about connecting interests in arts and culture with tangible experiences that one can cherish and remember for all time. Below, we explore some of the greatest destinations that have inspired literary masters, from the hotels and resorts where they stayed to the cities and landscapes that inspired their work. Whether you're a lover of literature or simply looking for some travel inspiration, these destinations are sure to captivate and inspire you.

Prince Harry & Meghan Spill the Tea on the Royal Family

With Harry & Meghan, an unprecedented six-part documentary series, lighting up screens the world over on Netflix, there’s certainly no turning back for the couple and those in their close circles now. In just the first episode, truths were revealed about both Harry and Meghan’s battles from within and outside of the Royal Family, referred to at times as “The Institution.” “This is about duty and service and I feel as though being part of this family, it is my duty to uncover this exploitation and bribery that happens within our media,” he says to the camera. “This has always been so much bigger than us. No-one knows the full truth. We know the full truth. The Institution knows the full truth and the media knows the full truth, ‘cause they’ve been in on it.”

Review of The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre

There is no doubt that this is a children’s Christmas classic, I remember watching it as a child and now I’m all grown up and taking my own two little people! After a magical walk looking at the Christmas lights, we headed to the theatre in the heart of London’s West End; full of excited children, nostalgic parents and many cuddly snowmen. The Snowman is directed by Bill Alexander and features music and lyrics by Howard Blake, including the famous song ‘Walking in the Air’, spectacular design by Ruari Murchison, magical lighting by Tim Mitchell, and amazing choreography by Robert North.

In Conversation with Gregory Batsleer, Artistic Director...

Designed specifically to appeal to both lovers of classical music, and those who are new to the artform, Handel’s Messiah: The Live Experience at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, is open for one night only (Tuesday 6th Dec 2022), to launch a new style classical music concert experience. This first installment is centred on one of the most famous works ever written and the most chosen piece of music ever on Desert Island Discs - Handel’s Messiah. With world-class musicians and innovative and imaginative lighting design, visual effects, choreography and staging; the event promises to immerse audiences in a powerful and theatrical new setting for Handel’s much-loved musical telling of the story of Christ and its universal human themes of birth, hope, joy, suffering, sacrifice and redemption. Niamh Walsh sat down with the visionary thinker behind this mammoth project, Gregory Batsleer, to learn more. As the Chorus Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, and the principal conductor of the National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait Choir, Batsleer has been described as one of the "leading choral conductors of our generation", and it's not hard to see why!

Women Who Launch: Ofelia Botella

Making a career out of your passion isn’t always as straightforward as one might think. Despite the clear enthusiasm that comes with getting paid to do what you love, the path is often far from being sustainable. “Growing up, I fell into this narrative that I’d never be able to make a living as a creative and would instead need a ‘serious job’,” says artist and illustrator Ofelia Botella. This mindset pushed her to study business and put her knowledge into practice by working in art galleries, museums, and auction houses in London, Paris, and Shanghai. “After a while I realised that as glamorous as that life sounded, I wasn't feeling very fulfilled simply working in art but not being a creative myself,” she shares. She then left the art industry and entered an entirely new space—the world of technology, whilst still maintaining her art as a hobby on the side. Botella tells me that the pandemic was a real turning point for her, where she found herself painting daily. It was also during this time that she made her first sale, which encouraged her to pursue this new channel further. She then started selling more of her work, making bespoke wedding stationery and illustrations, doing murals in private homes, and hosted her first exhibition. The biggest leap of all came this year when she decided to officially take some time off from her tech job to dedicate to her new business. “I haven’t looked back since!” she says.

Featuring The Rise of Rishi: Britain's Richest Prime Minister

The UK's 3rd Prime Minister in 2022, Sunak is a relatively new figure on the political scene, emerging back in 2020 when he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Boris Johnson. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was popular by the standards of British politics, described by one analyst as having "better ratings than any politician since the heydays of Tony Blair", his recognition accumulating in 2022 when he participated in the Tory Leadership Race against Liz Truss. Although losing out for the role of PM originally, the following terrible 6 weeks of governance by Truss and her cabinet meant that after 49 days, Sunak was finally given the keys to No. 10. Described as the "British Establishment's version of progress", today we're taking a look at Rishi Sunak's rise to power.

Featuring Black History Month: 1-54 & The Modern African

Hosting 50 international exhibitors across 17 countries, the distinction and multi-faceted quality of art within Africa is astounding. Featuring 3 different artists from 3 different countries, I hope to illustrate to our readers the profound variety of cultures, influences and creatives that have spawned from Africa and it's diaspora; spotlighting Hassan Hajjaj (a Moroccan artist), Kenrick McFarlane (a Chicago-born, Jamaican-American artist), and MoXC4 (a Brazilian artist).

Inside the Private World Suite of VistaJet’s Frieze guests

VistaJet - the first and only global private aviation company - has partnered with Frieze London to provide guests with VIP access to the exhibition with private tours by leading art curators and intimate dinners. Together with Savills Private Office, VistaJet has opened a Regent’s Crescent property as a Private World Suite which members can access throughout the course of the art fair. It’s here we chat to VistaJet’s Chief Marketing Officer, Matteo Atti, about how they’re catering to guests’ Frieze London experience, what goes into curating the services VistaJet travellers benefit from onboard and on-the-ground, and what their plans are for the future.

Celebrating UK Coffee Week: The Coffee Politik

Since the 17th century, coffeehouses have been central to British cafe culture, depositing political importance due to their popularity as places of debate. Known as "penny universities", the crowds that they attracted were synonymous of scholars and students alike, and anyone with a penny could enter and sit in on a lecture or have access to books or print news. Coffeehouses boosted the popularity of print news culture and helped the growth of various financial markets including insurance, stocks, and auctions, as they became arenas for culture and politics.