CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Ready or not, Christmas 2021 is just around the corner, and we’re pulling out all the stops at The Royal Exchange to make up for lost time. Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of our Christmas campaign, coming on Monday 22 November. As well as the usual festive gift guides featuring luxury product ideas for your loved ones – all available to buy at The Royal Exchange – we’ll also be hosting in-person masterclasses, fascinating interviews with Londoners on how they spend the festive season, and the return of our Christmas Instagram giveaway. Also launching later this month is the first in a duo of wreath-making workshops with Shilpa Reddy Flower Design, hosted in our mezzanine, to encourage busy City workers to get crafty. Christmas 2021 is going to be a cracker…

Click here to book your spot on the wreath-making masterclass

SEASON’S EATINGS

And with the arrival of Christmas comes a plethora of festive new treats from Fortnum & Mason. Even the most ardent bah humbug will be utterly charmed by Fortnum’s delightful new season goodies, which include everything from speciality tea and biscuits to Christmas-ready homeware and whimsical decorations. Perfect for stocking up on presents for friends and family, or if you’re getting ready to deck your halls.

Discover new Christmas buys in-store at Fortnum & Mason boutique page

THAT’S THE SPIRIT

It’s always exciting to welcome new retailers to The Royal Exchange, and this month we’re delighted to announce the opening of whisky investment company Tomoka Casks. Tomoka’s first standalone boutique is a stylish and intimate space that will welcome clients to talk about investment opportunities and explore different bottles and varieties in-store. We caught up with Tomoka Casks founder Jass Patel, who has been in the luxury spirits business for over 20 years, to talk about the enduring appeal of whisky and bringing Tomoka to the City. Click here to read more.

Tomoka Casks is opening at The Royal Exchange in mid-November. Click here for more details

STITCH UP 

Nordic Fisherman Sweater, £345, and Discipline Sport Pour Homme, price TBA, Ron Dorff

Generally speaking, men aren’t always the easiest to buy Christmas presents for. Ron Dorff has come to the rescue with a range of stylish yet practical new season buys. Our highlight is the brand’s sophisticated twist on the classic Swedish fisherman jumper, crafted from a mix of premium wool, alpaca and a touch of acrylic. It also features a clever Swiss-made anti-tear zip on the shoulder as a fashionable added detail. Cute and cosy, it will last well beyond the office Christmas party. Also new for the festive season is Ron Dorff’s debut fragrance. Created in partnership with the acclaimed Scent Beauty Inc, Discipline Sport Pour Homme is a masculine yet elegant scent composed of zesty citrus and Nordic pine with lingering, intoxicating woody notes. Pop into The Royal Exchange store today to sniff it out today.

AROUND THE WORLD

Istanbul and Venice rings, POA, from the Travel collection, Boodles

We may not have been able to travel as much as normal recently, but luxury British jewellers Boodles are transporting us to faraway lands with new additions to their exquisite Travel collection. The Travel range takes inspiration from former Boodles chairman Anthony Wainwright who, in 1962, set out to travel around the world in 16 days to source diamonds, pearls and precious gemstones. The collection today features beautifully crafted rings bearing extraordinary stones, inspired by the cities and places of interest he visited. New for November and available to view at The Royal Exchange are one-of-a-kind rings that evoke the waterside locations of Big Sur, Venice and Istanbul.

TRUE ROMANCE

Pearl and Knot Ring, £450, Pearl Ear Jackets and Knot Stud Earrings, £780, Knot Rings, £290, Vashi

In other jewellery news, bespoke fine jewellers Vashi have just revealed a romantic new season campaign, Made with Love. The company was inspired by their core belief that, when you have a hand in the making of your piece of jewellery, you can immortalise the emotion behind it. To bring this ethos to life, Vashi is shining the spotlight on meaningful relationships: an athlete navigating her biggest milestone to date, a pair of artists who found love in lockdown, and a mother and daughter celebrating their reunion. Founder Vashi Dominguez commented: ‘Vashi is a brand built on the foundation of human emotion, and we wanted to bring this to life through stories celebrating modern love in all its forms.’ Discover the campaign and new season pieces by going online and in-store at Vashi at The Royal Exchange.

DAILY GRIND

As well as reopening its branch at The Royal Exchange recently, cult London coffee brand Grind has just published its debut book. Grind – A Modern Guide to City Living was written by Grind creative director Teddy Robinson and is described as a ‘collection of humorously useful guides to modern city life’ along with short stories and recipes. A fitting homage to and celebration of the City and the daily rituals of London life.

 Grind – A Modern Guide to City Living costs £16.99 and is available for pre-order from linktr.ee/grind

The Royal Exchange celebrates its 450th anniversary this year. We look forward to welcoming you for a considered shopping and dining experience in spectacular and historic surroundings. Please visit our boutiques, dining and services pages for regular updates on our retailers’ opening information and hours, as well as details about reservations, personal appointments and click and collect services.

Visit our 450 Years and heritage pages to discover fascinating facts and insights about The Royal Exchange’s past and present as we commemorate this special milestone.