Thursday 30 April 2026.

Thursday 30 April 2026...7pm to 10.30pm... FORTNUM & MASON Food and Drink Awards 2026 at Fortnum & Mason , The Royal Exchange , Bank, London EC3. This well known historic store dates back to 1707. This was their 14th year holding these awards.I have been to several of them. Up until a few years ago it was held in their flagship Piccadilly store , but now it's in the City. A big crowd as must be around 500 guests here , in this lovely venue with its huge central island bar. Several faces from TV cooking shows are here , including tonight's two presenters ANDI OLIVER and ANGELA HARTNETT , along with JAY RAYNER, JOHN TORODE , SI KING, MATT TEBBETT and OLLY SMITH. The awards started at 7.45pm and lasted for 30 mins. Visit their website for the winners list. A DJ was playing tracks either side of the awards. Complimentary Fortnums champers , gin cocktails , wines and very nice Fortnums food including canapes , quail scotch eggs , a seafood counter that included mini lobster rolls , two oysters stands , caviar and desserts including ice cream . All guests got a small goodie bag on departure with three Fortnums items inside. A box of 20 flavoured tea bags , 340g jar of Seville Orange and Passion Fruit marmalade and an 80g bar of Honeycomb Chocolate. -------------------- -------------------- Wednesday 29 April 2026...7pm to 9.30pm... NIGO : FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE - private view - Design Museum , Kensington , London W8. Around 300 folks on the guest list tonight. It is held in the area where that great Blitz exhibition was until recently. Nice surprise to see PHARRELL WILLIAMS here. Oddly , he arrived riding a three wheeler electric trike , that looked like a mobility scooter , but I was told he is very involved with a company in New York that produces electric bikes and trikes. Pharrell Williams is the Men's Creative Director for Louis Vuitton, appointed in February 2023. A cultural icon spanning music, art, and fashion for over 20 years, his vision focuses on innovation and luxury streetwear. His debut collection was revealed in June 2023 during Paris Men's Fashion Week. Also here were DANIEL LISMORE , WAYNE HEMINGWAY and STEVE DAGGER ( Spandau Ballet manager) . At 7.30pm we had a couple of speeches. NIGO and PHARRELL WILLIAMS posed for photos together . Complimentary Nyetimber English Sparkling Wines , wines, beers , cans of Matcha Soda and nibbles. See my Facebook page for a couple of videos and photos from the event. ---------- About the exhibition...which is a paid ticket for admission... From the back streets of Harajuku, Tokyo, to the global stage, this is the first-ever museum retrospective and exhibition outside of Japan that will chart the career and life of the Japanese creative director, NIGO, one of the first creatives to bridge the worlds of streetwear and luxury fashion. Over a 30-year career, NIGO has helped define some of the most influential trends in contemporary fashion, successfully crossing fashion, music, architecture and interior design. Open from 1 May 2026, this landmark exhibition will feature over 700 objects, with highlights including a recreation of NIGO’s teenage bedroom, rare designs, ceramics hand-thrown by NIGO himself, and a life-size glass tea house made especially for the exhibition. His work draws on influences spanning vintage Americana, streetwear, hip-hop, traditional Japanese craft and growing up in 1980s Tokyo. Working across street style, fashion, music, and more, NIGO has been behind some of the most influential designs, ideas and trends in recent streetwear and fashion history. From founding his first fashion brand, A Bathing Ape, in the ‘90s to his current role as artistic director of KENZO, his impact remains as wide-reaching and relevant as ever.

Posted 29th April 2026