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BBB does Edinburgh in style

On Thursday 7th February, BBB were invited on a day trip to Edinburgh by private terminal experts Signature Elite Class. Not only was this to be a chance to experience the airport service first hand, but the itinerary included other treats such as a tasting at Glenkinchie Whiskey Distillery, lunch at Dalhousie Castle, a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia and afternoon tea at brand new luxury ‘floating’ hotel Fingal. It was set to be quite a day!

BBB Partnerships manager and PA Alex Popoff reports…

Arriving at Luton Airport Parkway station, a mere 30 minutes from St Pancras by rail, I was met by a Signature Elite Class luxury car and taken in comfort to the private terminal at Luton Airport – it could not have been easier. Pulling up outside the terminal building, a friendly greeting awaited me at reception. My boarding pass was taken and I was ushered straight through to a private room along with my fellow invited travellers for tea, coffee and a stunningly elegant breakfast of miniature pastries, exotic fruit plates and creamy yoghurts, topped off with Moet on ice (of course).

Spacious and comfortable, the private room was calm and luxurious in mute greys, tastefully decorated and with large windows looking straight onto the runways. Guests travelling in groups or looking for complete discretion can opt for one of 2 private rooms, or the main lounge area is equally lovely, equipped with a world-class coffee machine (and barista), time-appropriate food and drink options and in the evenings, the vibe of legendary music club Ronnie Scott’s is channelled with cocktails, dimmed lights and jazz music.

We were then escorted through the security process; any hold luggage is left at reception on arrival and taken care of for you straight through to your car on the other end, and for those of us travelling with hand luggage only, the process could not be simpler. Having separated our liquids as in standard airport procedure and walked through the scanners, we were straight through in just a couple of minutes, directly to the luxury vehicles waiting at the doors to take us to the plane.

Another impressive element to this is that travellers are taken through the security by group (as opposed to with others from the private terminal), so guests with children, with mobility issues or famous faces can pass through with minimal hassle. Guests are given the option of boarding before or after the general public, but before is advised and we waltzed onto the aircraft like it was our own private jet!

After a very easy flight, we landed at Edinburgh and were met by luxury vehicles on the tarmac to take us directly to the terminal. We were introduced to the Signature team, who told us all about their impressive private jet and air travel services, then boarded our private transfers courtesy of Sleigh to our first stop, Glenkinchie Distillery. Sleigh are a first class chauffeur and transport company who we learnt specialise in high profile clients – they have indeed been responsible for many of the Royal visits, film premieres and more across Scotland, so we were in excellent hands!

Glenkinchie was fascinating. Our guide Willie was possibly the most entertaining tour guide I have ever had the pleasure to meet! The visit was interesting, highly enjoyable and ended with a tasting! A very serious looking individual with several large bodyguards in tow was also enjoying a visit, so it’s great to see that all types of visitor are well catered for!

Next stop for the day was Dalhousie Castle & Aqueous Spa, a converted castle luxury hotel just 30 mins outside Edinburgh. Driving up to the property is breathtaking – the scenery of sweeping hills, trees and stunning architecture is wonderful. After a royal welcome on the door, we were taken to the Dungeon Restaurant where we ate first class lunch surrounded by stone walls, suits of armour and candlelight – magical!

After lunch, we viewed everything the hotel had to offer in terms of facilities and learned a little of the incredible history of the place. The various public spaces include a library bar, a fabulous chapel-esque room for weddings and parties, a banquet room and stunning outdoor grounds. We also saw the various underground passages that provide secret entrances and pathways between the rooms, meaning Murder Mystery events, surprise party performers or naughty guests are all accommodated! The rooms are what you’d expect; tasteful castle elegance with lush upholstery, muted colours and traditional art. Overall, the hotel is a great location very close to Edinburgh and would be perfect for weekends away, corporate stays, celebrations and luxury stop-overs.

Back in the car we went and off to Royal Yacht Britannia, the largest tourist attraction in Scotland welcoming over 400,000 visitors per year. The general public enter via a connection in the adjacent shopping centre, but we arrived like family and were welcomed up the royal gangway!

Our host took us behind the ropes and into the personal spaces enjoyed by the Queen, much to the envy of the visitors around us, and we learnt about the possibilities for events aboard the yacht.

Evening hire is available on an exclusive basis, you can dine in the official banquet room and enjoy drinks on the deck. Any occasion would be stunning here and truly memorable, but I can imagine wedding dinners, brand launches, entertainment industry parties and more would be ideal. The rates were less than you might imagine, so definitely somewhere I’d love to host an event in future!

Next up was the Fingal, a luxury floating hotel just 1 minute in the car round the port from the Britannia. Fingal started life in Glasgow and was the final ship built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in 1963. Her duties included sailing the storm lashed seas, bringing vital supplies and equipment to some of the most remote lighthouses in Scotland.

Each cabin on Fingal is named after a lighthouse. The specific lighthouses have been chosen by NLB due to their characteristics, location or history. Today, Fingal has been transformed, through a journey of glamour and sophistication, to provide stunning cabin-style accommodation in the form of double rooms, duplex rooms and the incredible Skerryvore Suite, with private dining area (ideal for entertaining), large living space, private outdoor deck, Super King bed and luxurious bathroom with freestanding bath. The details on board are all carefully considered, with everything from fabric design, wooden finishes and even the beautiful Italian Art Deco circular lift adding to the ambience of the boat.

The event space on board is also impressive, a wood panelled hall space with mezzanine that would be the perfect backdrop for a wedding party, a birthday or even corporate dining.

After a delicious afternoon tea in the hotel’s dining room, we set off once again for the airport and after a very fast flight back to London, were met once again on the tarmac by luxury vehicles to take us to the Luton Private Terminal. Those travelling with luggage or internationally would then have their bags brought to them in the lounge and their passports checked, all whilst enjoying a snack or some more champagne. The full benefits of the Signature Elite Class service were highlighted when we were off the plane and out of the terminal in 15 minutes, on our way back to London! To take out of the stress of the public terminal, baggage carousel, immigration etc, and save in all likelihood an hour to boot, makes this service invaluable and I’m certain will be popular amongst celebrities and busy professionals who value privacy and stress-free travel.

Personally, I never want to travel any other way again! It was a delight, from start to finish, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a good value add-on for any trip. I know the network of airports that this service is available is to be extended this year, so I have no doubt it will become a BBB favourite for 2019.

For more info, please contact the BBB team.

SPECIAL OFFER – travellers can benefit from 20% off the usual price for any bookings departing from Elite Class London Luton (the offer is valid for any bookings confirmed and paid for before 31st March 2019, travelling any time). 

To book, just email eliteclass@signatureflight.com quoting BBB.

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BBB’s Guide to LFW AW19

It’s that time of year again…. London Fashion Week AW19 is almost here! London is in the final preparations for over 250 designers to showcase their latest works to packs of influential media, bloggers, celebrities and retailers. As one of the ‘Big Four’ global fashion weeks, London is well known for spotlighting emerging talent, as well as the biggest names in the business. Events start unofficially on Thursday night this week and run until next Tuesday 19th February. Over 5000 people attend each season and orders placed during the event are said to exceed £100m! But behind all that strutting, watching, networking and champagne sipping, a huge amount of work and hustle goes on…. BBB present to you here our hot tips for the ones to watch each day, plus some of our Partners who make life easier for those attending (and those organising clients!) Thursday 14th February – Phoebe English: Inanimate, Animate. (Only) Half the Reflection. We have been fans of Phoebe for years and now it seems the world is catching up. Her cool, angular and uncompromising style has graced the red carpets and covers of various magazines on the likes of One Direction, Cilian Murphy and Alison Goldfrapp. We love the drama of her presentation and cant wait to see what this collection involves.
Friday 15th February – Jamie Wei Huang Since her graduation from CSM in 2012, Jamie has become known for her bold self-expression through her style of use of materials. Strong silhouettes, block shapes and masculine details made her previous womenswear collections unique, with clever use of metalwork and leather details. Highly contemporary and now stocked around the world, we clearly arent the only fans of her work. AW19 is predicted to have a strong nod to 90’s accessories and we have a funny feeling this will suit JWH perfectly…
Saturday 16th February – Molly Goddard Now a firm favourite amongst Instagrammers, influences and the fashion pack alike, Molly’s work needs little explanation. With a big emphasis on materials and the processes of dressmaking, Molly uses smocking, tulle and excess fabric in interesting and unique ways. She has always had a focus on wearability though, and perhaps that’s why people love her work so much, because they can wear it off the runway and feel special yes appropriate. Her presentation is also always exceptional – previous collections have seen her build stage sets in which to present the designs, and even have models dancing down the catwalk. After all, shouldn’t life be fun as well?
Sunday 17th February – Roland Mouret Little explanation is needed about this fantastic designer. Known for being a contradiction and continuing this into his work, Roland Mouret never disappoints. With international acclaim, a host of celebrity admirers and press coverage galore, our passion for Roland Mouret is probably best summer up in words from the man himself: “I love the way fabric feels. I’m known for drape and structure but I succeed, I think, when the clothes feel comfortable to you ….and perhaps through the eyes of someone else, someone you love, so you will leave the fabric looser on yourself, like after sex. We all dress up to undress”.
Monday 18th February – Supriya Lele We recently came across the work of new designer Supriya Lele, whose work is deeply rooted in the crossover between her Indian heritage and British cultural identity. Highly feminine but with a bold use of cut, colour and fabric, her surprising designs are modern, fresh and beautiful. We’re excited to see what the new collection brings…
Tuesday 19th February – Shrimps Playful is a word that well describes Shrimps. The brainchild of young London designer Hannah Weiland, previous collections have focused on outerwear, however this season sees the inclusion of accessories and RTW pieces. Fun is definitely the name of the game for Shrimps and yet her styles are wearable too. Her clever usage of pattern and texture hint at her Surface Textile Design background, so with the season’s expectation to feature statement accessories and bold angles, it will be interesting to see how Shrimps adopts this and follows trend (or will she?)
Need somewhere to stay? Coming on Eurostar? We love the Renaissance St Pancras Hotel. For guests staying in one of the awe-inspiring property’s Victorian Chamber Suites, concierge will be waiting to greet guests on the Eurostar platform, just outside of their train coach, and bring their luggage straight from the train into their suite. The only hotel with access through Eurostar’s terminal, St Pancras Renaissance’s new ‘Seat To Suite’ experience provides guests with a seamless transition from their carriage to lavish suite. The VIP experience ensures journeys to Europe are equally effortless, with guests offered exclusive fast track and last-minute check in through Eurostar, typically accessed only for Business Premiere travellers, allowing guests to check-in just 10 minutes before departure. With baggage being taken through security by concierge straight onto the train, guests can luxuriate in their suite for as long as possible, safely knowing it will be a smooth transition to their carriage seat. Book your room via BBB  and get a complimentary welcome gift in your room.
If you’re coming from Heathrow, why not take advantage of Heathrow VIP? Exclusive, efficient, personalised and private, this service is the fastest and easiest way to get through Heathrow. Private lounges, food prepared by private chef, luxury transfer cars from London directly to the plane and airport fastback are just some of the benefits. BBB members get 10% off, just email us to book in or for more info. Don’t want to carry heavy luggage around? BBB have you covered with Airportr, a service that collects your bags and takes them wherever you need them delivered. Fully insured and easy to arrange, just get in touch for more info. BBB also have a selection of car services to get you to and from shows, the airport, Eurostar, meetings, dinner, wherever you need to go! Whether you need a budget transfer or a VIP service with personal security, we have trusted partners to make your LFW seamless. Email us with your requirements and we’re happy to arrange it.
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100 Years of the Negroni & World Bartender Day

As every self-respecting cocktail connoisseur knows, 2019 marks 100 years of what’s possibly the world’s most popular cocktail – the Negroni. This Sunday is also coincidentally World Bartender Day, so to celebrate, we wanted to introduce you to some of our favourite bartenders from around the BBB family and share with you the recipes for their favourite tipples…. It’s Friday night and the weekend approaches, why not see how many of these you can make this weekend?! Bar 45, 45 Park Lane – Francesco Orefici Bar manager Francesco Orefici has previously worked at the Ritz Club and One Lombard Street. Francesco has created a special Oscars Negroni cocktail, the ‘Shallow Negroni,’ inspired by the hit movie musical ‘A Star Is Born’ and taking its name from the Oscar nominated love song featured in the film. This variation of the cocktail takes influence from the Negroni Sbagliato cocktail, first created in 1972, deemed the most romantic with its vibrant red colouring and use of Champagne, providing that bitter-sweet taste. Signature Cocktail – Shallow Negroni ‘Shallow Negroni’ at BAR 45 at 45 Park Lane Ingredients:
  • 30 ml Campari
  • 30 ml Red vermouth
  • Champagne to top ( 40-50ml)
Pour the Campari and sweet vermouth into a mixing glass filled up with ice cubes. Stir the cocktail with a long bar spoon( mixing spoon). Using a cocktail strainer poor the chilled liquid into a rock glass full of ice cubes (or ice chunk if you have it). Top up with champagne, give a last stir before squeezing the orange peel over the cocktail. Twist the orange peel and let it drop into the glass…. Enjoy your Shallow Negroni!
The Century Bar at Gleneagles – Lech Silkovski Lech Silkovski first joined Gleneagles at the end of 2017 and has spent the last 7 months mastering The Century Bar cocktails – including signature cocktail the ‘Smoking Gun’. The Century Bar, refurbished by David Collins in 2016 is the beating heart of Gleneagles. Featuring approximately 170 single malts, this atmospheric space is the perfect spot to relax, unwind and sample some of Scotland’s greatest whiskies. Smoking Gun – (Makes one cocktail) Ingredients:
  • Balvenie Double Wood 12 – 40ml
  • Carpano Antica Formula – 20ml
  • Maraschino – 2.5ml
  • Boker’s Bitters – 1 dash
  • Birch Water – 30ml
Method: The ingredients are batched up ahead of time and chilled before being poured into a shotgun shell style flask. Served on a board with glass and line of cordite/gunpowder which is lit to add a sulphurous note.
The American Bar at The Stafford, London – Benoit Provost Benoit joined The Stafford in 1993, planning to stay a year to improve his English, but proved to be so popular that he never left. He became Bar Manager in 1997, replacing the late and beloved Charles, who, having served for 42 years at The Stafford, would be proud to see the high standards and buoyant atmosphere of the bar still going strong. Benoit is the utmost professional but sees his work as pure pleasure, relishing interaction with guests and building up close friendships with many regulars. He says: “We see the same guests returning year after year. It’s so lovely meeting their families, watching their children grow up…I know they feel like they’re coming home when they visit us.” Signature Cocktail – The White Mouse
  • 50ml saffron gin
  • 25ml lemon juice
  • 15ml rosemary syrup
  • Topped up with champagne
  • 10ml egg white
Place saffron gin, rosemary syrup, , lemon juice and egg white into the shaker Add ice and shake again Pour into a couple glass and top with champagne Garnish with a sprig of rosemary
No 23 Cocktail Bar at The Merrion, Dublin – Martin Pramuka Martin is from Slovakia and got into bartending at a fairly young age. He saw the hit 80’s movie ‘Cocktail’ with Tom Cruise when he was 14 years old and knew then that he wanted to be a professional bartender. He moved to London at 18, where he learned the trade from working in a number of different places including The Beaumont Hotel and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. He says the place that had the most influence on me as a bartender, and for someone who loves everything to do with cocktails and beverage, would be The American Bar at The Savoy. Lady Mornington
  • 50 ml Cork Dry Gin
  • 1 red berries tea bag
  • 25 ml lemon juice
  • 15 ml sugar syrup
Pre-batch/ Infuse the gin with tea for approx. 2 min. Then add the other ingredients and stir in the mixing glass to dilute. Strain and serve over crushed ice.
Nobu Hotel, Shoreditch – Roberto Roberto has worked at Nobu Shoreditch since the opening in 2017. He has developed a great sense of hospitality and passion for Japanese culture. The Nobu Bar celebrates Nobu Matsuhisa’s ‘East meets West’ philosophy. They are the only bar to sell premium Hokusetsu Sakes available in the UK. Hokusetsu have been making sake for more than 140 years and has exclusively supplied Nobu restaurants across the world for over three decades. Smoked Old Fashioned
  • Nikka Japanese Whisky
  • Luxardo cherry liqueur
  • Demerara sugar
  • Angostura bitters
Stirred and smoked in Japanese Cypress. Served on ice with citrus twist and cherry Morello.
The Vincent, Liverpool – Osmar Paulucci Osmar is Brazilian, 24 years old and has been a bartender for over 6 years. His favourite cocktail is the Old Fashioned. Signature cocktail: Vincent Garden
  • 30ml tanqueray
  • 20ml raspberry liqueur
  • 15 no lemon juice
  • 10 ml gomme
  • 40 ml lychee juice
  • 5 mint leaves
  • 2 slice cucumber
  • 1 raspberry
Single strain. Cubed ice Glass sling Raspberry garnish
Belmond Hotel Cipriani – Head Barman Walter Bolzonella “I began here in 1978 as second Bartender and received a promotion to Head Bartender in 1989. I express my art in the marvellous venue of the Gabbiano Bar at Belmond Hotel Cipriani. I arrived in Venice as a young man after several work experiences around the world. I found Venice to be my true school: I met great masters from whom I learned all that this job has to offer, and demanding clients who, day after day, helped me better understand their desires and ultimately succeed in making them feel at home. When I am face to face with a client, I try to divide my soul in two, in an attempt to identify with them; my goal is to perceive what they feel and then translate those emotions into something that may satisfy them. I am of the opinion that what makes a perfect bartender is the ability to convey your passion and offer a welcoming atmosphere to your guests, something that at Cipriani I always commit to do. I love my job, and this is my philosophy: a Martini Cocktail is technically always the same, but I believe that it undergoes continuous evolution, dictated by the heart. Depending on who is sitting before me, or the moment when a cocktail is requested, I pour my emotions in a blend of tastes, perfumes and colours that gloriously end up in a Martini or a crystal flute.” And a little story…. CLOONEY AND HIS CASAMIGOS It was 3 o’clock in the morning and George Clooney was at the Gabbiano Bar. Noticing that the staff was in need of energy after long hours of work, he came behind the bar, took the shaker and filled it with ice and his Casamigos tequila. He started shaking the cocktail and then poured it into all the glasses that he offered to us to recharge: much appreciated and exceptionally prepared. Buonanotte Ingredients:
  • In an old-fashioned glass, mush ½ unpeeled lime, diced into small pieces with a tea spoon of cane sugar
  • A strip of cucumber peel
  • A ginger round
  • 3 drops of Angostura
Pestle well, then add:
  • 5 cl Vodka
  • 3 cl cranberry juice
Put crushed ice inside the glass. As decoration use currant, cucumber peel and lime (see pic) Serve with a short straw
If you’d like to book in and stay at any of these wonderful establishments, to escape for a night or 2 and possibly drink a cocktail or two made just for you by these master craftsmen, just contact Anna at anna@thebbbook.com discuss dates and special BBB deals. Happy weekend everyone!
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