Talk of the Town went down to the Isle of Wight for Ladies Day at Lendy Cowes Week this August, to watch 100 women at the helms of sailing boats at one of the world’s oldest and prestigious sailing regattas.

At first the breeze was low, but later on there were fluctuations in the wind with short showers that made for some interesting yacht racing. Lendy took us out on a 'rib' boat to check out the racing at close quarters.

Lendy Ladies Day is a celebration of the best talent in women’s sailing. this year Tracy Edwards MBE was awarded the Ladies Day trophy at an evening reception at Cowes's Northwood House in a tight field of candidates - Dee Caffari, Lucy MacGregor, Lucy Hodges and Libby Greenhalgh were close contenders.

During the day, Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, Location Location Location star Phil Spencer, The Saturdays's Vanessa White, Pussy Cat Doll Ashley Roberts and royal photographer Chris Jackson enjoyed a day sailing the Solent.

In the Evening, Phil Spencer told us the secret to his relationship with Kirstie Allsopp's long term relationship was that it is platonic. ‘Kirsty and I have been together for 18 years, longer than most marriages.' he said. 'The secret to the long lasting relationship is we don’t sleep together.’

Talk of the Town was also lucky enough to meet Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts in the Lendy hospitality tent, who told shared a tip for a good marriage - building a shed.

'Building a shed was cheaper than a divorce' he said. 'My wife said “it’s get all that stuff out of here or I’m off mate.” I’d recommend highly that before divorce people consider getting a shed.’

Local MP Bob Seely told us how Lendy Cowes Week was democratic - because everyone can take part. He was planning to go sailing later in the week

Earlier in the week, Princess Anne visited the Royal Yacht Squadron for a dinner, where guests included the UK's richest man, Jim Ratcliffe - in the week before he announced he was moving his wealth offshore to Monaco.

Later in the week, Zara and Mike Tindall looked loved up as they were snapped walking arm in arm along the dock. All in all, a successful week's sailing.

By Stephanie Takyi for The Mail On Sunday

Earlier this month saw the return of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the world’s largest flower show.

Some of the VIP guests at this year’s affair included Charlotte Hawkins, Bear Grylls and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman.  

Guests were treated to gorgeous gardens, fabulous floral displays and fantastic shopping in an unforgettable setting.

Amongst all the flora and fauna was a dash of stars and stripes, as the Great Gardens of the USA display showcased The Charleston, South Carolina Garden and The Oregon Garden, which were both designed by Sadie May Stowell.

So why Oregon and why Charleston?

Well as we found out, both are leading destinations for exquisite flowers and world-class gardens.

With that said it’s as if they are America’s best-kept horticultural secrets and have been tucked away from the glare of international horticulturist.

Oregon is situated in the Pacific Northwest, where the climate is cool and rarely freezes or get scorching hot. So the state benefits from being able to grow a huge variety of plants, crops, flowers, trees and ornamental gardens.

Meanwhile, Charleston is on the far right of the thermostat with its humid and sweat-inducing temperatures. One thing that is apparent in the low country is its strong connection to its past which is evident in its architecture and its gardens being a pivotal part of its history.

My west to east coast garden adventure began in Silverton, Oregon where I started things off at the Oregon Garden in the Willamette Valley.

The Garden, which opened in 1999, is an escape for locals and tourists alike who want to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Portland.

Behind the big wooden Oregon Garden sign awaited a stunning 80-acre botanical garden featuring more than 20 speciality gardens. It’s a place filled with natural adventure and exciting displays waiting to be discovered such as its Sensory Garden, where the sounds of waterfalls will be music to your ears.

As night dawned on this botanical wonder I slept in the Oregon Garden’s resort hotel. The lodge like room fits perfectly with its surroundings with rustic decor and your own personal garden. Guests can also find a bit of tranquillity at the resorts spa or by taking a dip in the pool.

One of the perks of going on a horticultural adventure in Oregon is being able to able to explore the Willamette Valley.  With all of its plentiful lush fields and vineyards it can be quite overwhelming attempting to explore this on your own.

I joined Lois Moss from Garden.Tours on her Williamette Valley Garden tour. The two-hour and a half scenic drive took us through the rolling hills of the valley and the preened uniform fields of hazelnut and berries.

As the saying goes it’s not what you know but who know and Lois is a great asset to have on this tour because of her local expertise and insider connections.

Our pit stops included the Sebright Gardens, which is one of the largest garden nurseries in North America that specialises in hostas, which is a big leaf and hardy ferns. 

One of the perks of going on a horticultural adventure in Oregon is being able to able to explore the Willamette Valley.  With all of its plentiful lush fields and vineyards it can be quite overwhelming attempting to explore this on your own.

 I joined Lois Moss from Garden.Tours on her Williamette Valley Garden tour. The two-hour and a half scenic drive took us through the rolling hills of the valley and the preened uniform fields of hazelnut and berries.

As the saying goes it’s not what you know but who know and Lois is a great asset to have on this tour because of her local expertise and insider connections.

Our pit stops included the Sebright Gardens, which is one of the largest garden nurseries in North America that specialises in hostas, which is a big leaf and hardy ferns.

Portland is often nicknamed the City of Roses, and this city has long been an incubator for the scented beauties.  Near to the Portland Japanese gardens is the International rose test gardens, another garden of amazement, which I could smell from a mile away even before reaching the entrance.

Walking through the beds of roses was an immense experience as I was hit by a riot of colour of deep blood reds, mellow yellows and softly fragrant pink blossoms. With more than 10,000 rose bushes representing more than 650 rose varieties, there were endless photo opportunities for me to capture my rose infused moments.

Nearby is Mt.Tabor Park a hot spot for Oregon’s locals which has an extinct volcano within its mist. I went on a gruelling hike on to the top of the park, which ended up being worth it as I had a clear view of the majestic peak of Mount Hood, a dormant volcano in the Cascade range.

I ended my whirlwind Oregon garden tour at the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a walled oasis occupying an entire city block in Old Town Chinatown. The name Lan Su Chinese Garden represents the relationship between Portland and Suzhou, the city’s sister in China’s Jiangsu province that is famous for its beautiful gardens.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is identical to an authentic Suzhou-style garden. It incorporates the five elements of a traditional Chinese garden, and features more than 300 plants species, water (Lake Zither), stone, architecture and poetry.

The beauty of visiting the Lan Su Chinese Garden is it’s much more than another beautiful garden, a visit here will leave you enlightened on Chinese culture, history and their way of thinking.

Entering this courtyard of tranquillity was like entering a spiritual utopia filled with serpentine walkways, ponds, bridges, sculpted shrubs and the mesmerizing sound of distant rushing water. After having this taste of the eastern side of the world in Oregon it was time to head to the USA’s east coast.

No two cities in the States are the same and that can be said of Oregon and Charleston. The South Carolina port of Charleston can make any traveller feel like they’ve stepped back into a 17^th century Britain.

My introduction to Charleston wasn’t the American aesthetic I was expecting as I was taken back in awe by the cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, pastel coloured houses and the whimsical backdrop of Spanish Moss trees.

At one point in Charleston’s history it was known as the most European city in America and this is not by chance as this city had an immense love for aristocracy, which are all tied to their gardens.

In Charleston you’ll find the oldest landscaped gardens in the country at Middleton Place. The garden is internationally acclaimed for its distinctive historic and horticultural significance.

It epitomises the high level of taste and culture, the grace and grandeur that were the hallmarks of the 18th century and 19th century South Carolina rice planting society. The plantation spans two miles of waterfront that lie along the Ashley River approximately 20 miles upriver from Charleston.  

The story of the Middletons is integral to South Carolina's evolution and is a microcosm of United States history beginning well before the revolution.

Henry Middleton, a president of the First Continental Congress and colonial legislator, and his son Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, both turned the garden into a distinctive and horticultural mark of significance.

Henry inherited his family's love of the land and developed a lifelong interest in botany. He was a friend of Andrè Michaux the famous French botanist and followed his strict rules on how to make a formal garden.

Middleton Place is truly the place to visit if you want a glimpse of the palaces of Versailles in Charleston. It’s a garden with a clear structure, geometric shapes and a symmetrical north and south layout.

Andrè also gave the Middletons some of the first camellias to be planted in an American garden. That historic camellia tradition is still a strong presence in the garden today, and the gardens are currently home to more than 4,000 camellias, many of which are over 200 years old.

Among the 4,000 camellias, there remains one of the four original Michaux plants, which is known at Middleton Place as the ‘Reine des Fleurs,’ or ‘Queen of Flowers’, which I was able to witness in all its glory.

 The standout must-see in the garden is the Middleton Oak, the Constitution tree of South Carolina, which is aged between a staggering 900 and 1000 years old.  Its 37ft in circumference making it the largest tree trunk east of the Missippi River.

Across the Ashley River from Middleton Place is the Magnolia plantation and gardens, which has been owned by the Drayton family since the 1670s.

It has been open to the public since 1872 and is the last surviving nineteenth-century romantic garden of it size in America, and it is where the largest and most ancient azalea and camellia collections in America were developed.

The Magnolia plantation and gardens breaks the rules of a formal and manicured garden such as Middleton Place and made for a breath taking contrast for me to see.  The name of this garden’s game is preserve rather than restore.

Fallen azalea petals colour a path red beside a big cypress lake. The water is still but I’m told it is home to alligators which become more active as temperatures increase. The largest is Bubba, a fourteen-foot male weighing more than a thousand pounds. I’m secretly happy we didn’t cross paths during my visit.

The Magnolia plantation and gardens is also home to The Long Bridge which with its sleek lines and trellised handrails is one of America’s most photographed bridges and in my books is probably one of Charleston’s most romantic spots.

As my tour wrapped up, Tom Johnson, Director of Gardens at Magnolia Plantation couldn’t help but re-iterate the value of Charleston’s garden worldwide.

“It’s the blending of the gardens and the history and you don’t get that anywhere else,” he said.

“Magnolia was actually designed by slaves and Middleton is an extremely French garden that they brought in. There is so much rich history in Charleston and that bleeds over into the gardens.  It still blows my mind and I’ve been a horticulturist my whole life.”

I may not have Tom’s expertise but my mind was certainly blown by Charleston’s labour of love for their gardens.

Visit The USA

For further information on inspiring holidays in the United States, visit Brand USA’s consumer website VisitTheUSA.co.uk and follow Visit The USA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Oregon

For more information on Oregon please visit traveloregon.com

Charleston

For more information on Charleston please visit www.ExploreCharleston.com

For more information on South Carolina please visit South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism www.SCPRT.com  

Belmond Charleston Place: www.Belmond.com/hotels/north-america/usa/sc/charleston/belmond-charleston-place  Cost: Deluxe Room starting at $319 per night

America As You Like It

Inspired by The Charleston, South Carolina Garden, America As You Like It has launched South Carolina Discovery. The package offers 12 nights in South Carolina from £1,295 per person. Price includes flights, car hire and accommodation. For more information or to book, visit americaasyoulikeit.com or call 0208 742 8299.

Inspired by the Oregon Garden, America As You Like It has launched Oregon's Glorious Gardens and Scenic Byways. This package offers 14 nights in Oregon from £1,920 per person. Price includes flights, car hire and accommodation. For more information or to book, visit americaasyoulikeit.com or call 0208 742 8299.

There’s a hot new bag brand being worn by celebs and fashionistas. For those who need to transport a lot of gear without having a shoulder bag busting out of the seams, the stylish option is a backpack with multiple compartments. Tiba + Marl are dominating the scene and their Elwood backpack is what a Birkin is to Hermes or an Alexa is to Mulberry.

Fearne Cotton, Izzy Judd and Giovanna Fletcher are some of the women about town carrying these versatile (and deceptively big) backpacks to lunch dates and shopping trips. Made from top quality leather, they’re also appealing to men and I have seen Harry Judd and Tom Fletcher rocking the bag when their wives have had enough of carrying it. What gentlemen! Then I checked out the brand’s Instagram and saw Greg Rutherford and Wayne Bridge sporting it. Clearly, this is the bag to get if you want your man to lug your stuff around for you.

Tiba + Marl first came to my attention when I was researching baby changing bags for my upcoming maternity leave but there’s so much more to the bag than having compartments for nappies, bottles, changes of clothes etc. I haven’t had my baby yet and I’m finding the bag useful for my daily life. A typical day for me will include a workout, the office, a lunch date and an evening social or party and that means I need outfit changes, appropriate footwear and inappropriate killer heels, a water bottle and snacks for the day (pregnancy makes me very hungry!) I’ve tried and not succeeded to use a shoulder bag which ends up being so heavy that it leaves me lopsided or ends up in something falling out on the tube because the bag’s too full. You can fit trainers, sportswear and a party outfit in a Tiba + Marl bag without worry that something will bust out at the wrong time. Even better is that you can put them in different zipped compartments so you don’t need to worry about a sweaty trainer smell emerging from the bag when you’re out at dinner or a party.

As the bags are made from 100% PU / faux leather, they’ll last for ages. I’m told that when the baby arrives it means I can wipe them clean and I’m finding that feature useful already from taking them to events where Champagne spillages are an occasional hazard.

Tiba + Marl founders Anna Tizard and Lydia Barron are both mothers as well as trailblazers in the fashion world. Anna, a former Bag Buyer for Urban Outfitters and Topshop, and Lydia, a Footwear and Accessories Designer for Kurt Geiger and Sigerson Morrison, together create the ultimate team.

I will post another update once the baby arrives, talking about my favourite products and I already know that Tiba + Marl will be in it. Part me from this bag at your peril! I've also got my eye on a weekender bag from the SS18 collection but that's a whole new story.

Here's a selection of the coolest Elwood colours and textures:

See the full range and shop online on the Tiba + Marl website

By Daisy Collingwood for The Mail on Sunday

Last weekend it was straight up to the glossy plains of Norfolk for Latitude Festival, where we were kindly hosted by Russian Standard Vodka in a luxury bell tent as part of their Raise Your Standards festival experience – simply the only way to camp!

Forget muddy pop ups, freezing sleeping bags and rock hard roll mats, after a late night exploring the site and drinking one Russian Standard mule too many it was back to the reassuring comfort of beds, blankets and electricity before a big Saturday ahead.

We rotated between stages in the blistering sunshine, catching Mo Gilligan, the Modern Love panel discussion with Dolly Alderton and Joel Dommett, and Shappi Korshandi back at the comedy stage, who revealed her awkward run in with Jeremy Corbyn.

‘When I was 23 I was giving a speech at an annual conference of youth affairs for people who had become homeless. Jeremy Corbyn was my local MP and had assumed that I too was a homeless person, I didn’t realise until I was chatting to him and he took me aside and said gently ‘do you have a bed for the night?’. Everyone knows at that age you get hit on all the time by older men and I was over awed he was an MP so I brushed his hand slightly.’ she said.

‘He panicked and said we were at crossed purposes and went and got me a pamphlet about shelters for the night and gave me a stack of 10p coins. I took the pamphlet and the 10p coins and still didn’t tell him otherwise. Fast forward a few years and I find myself on Question Time with Jeremy ‘elephant memory’ Corbyn. He instantly remembers me. He said ‘so you’re on the panel with us I gather, it’s marvellous to see you doing so well.’

Before long it was back to the Russian Standard tent, what better way to re-hydrate than Watermelon Coolers all round? We glittered up in preparation for a night full of music, and it was onto the main stage for the gorgeous Jessie Ware, The Vaccines and the Killers. All eyes were on Liam Gallagher when he stormed the stage midway through the Killers set – yet left Brandon to power through Acquiesce alone.

With the confidence that only a handful of Russian Standard espresso martinis could give you we tried our hand at late night Rave Karaoke, leaving us with sore throats and even sorer heads the next day, before heading back to London and back down to earth!

By Daisy Collingwood for The Mail on Sunday

It’s that time of year again! We were lucky enough to join Champagne Lanson in celebrating their 41^st year as the official Wimbledon sponsors last week, where we treated to a decadent champagne Lanson paired lunch, Roger Federer on Centre Court and an equally fizz-filled afternoon tea.

We kicked off the day with a Q&A from AELTC Club Director Martin Guntrip who wowed the room with his encyclopedic knowledge of Wimbledon. He let slip that we could expect the new Duchess of Sussex to make an appearance at some point over the fortnight, but of course remained tight lipped on exactly when we’d be seeing her in the Royal Box.

Next it was onto a king prawn starter before a summer buffet spread and berries and cream for dessert. Each course was paired with a different Champagne Lanson, we sampled the Green Label Brut Organic, Extra Age and the delicious White and Rose labels which are perfect for a summer’s day.

I then swished straight onto Centre Court in my Boohoo maxi dress for an afternoon of tennis. I accessorised with  Champagne Lanson hats to shelter from the blistering heat and kept hydrated with some miniature black label bottles. We caught up with BBC News at Ten presenter Huw Edwards on his staggering three stone weight loss, which he’s achieved through a combination of boxing sessions and cutting out chocolate biscuits. Luckily Champagne isn’t off limits!

He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I haven’t cut out alcohol but I have had to cut out chocolate biscuits, which are always doing the rounds at the BBC, they’re what I miss the most. I do a couple of boxing sessions a week which is what’s made the weight drop off.

‘Fred from First Dates goes to the same classes as me, he’s an animal. Very strong. I wouldn’t box with him properly, I’m not nearly that strong.’

By Daisy Collingwood for The Mail on Sunday

Sixty of London's most famous fitness enthusiasts descended onto Victoria last week for the glamorous launch of the fifth 1Rebel studio in the capital.

1Rebel is the latest in boutique fitness, a gym for those who hate gyms. They offer a variety of no contract, high intensity classes ranging from full body workout spin classes to intense reshape sessions which promise to push you through 'mental and physical exertion.'.

Caprice, Laura Pradelska, Noelle Reno, and gold medal Olympic champion Louise Hazel turned out to enjoy Europe’s first 3D sound system and multi-colour lasers, set over three stories of bikes.

Louise Hazel dished the dirt on what really goes on at the Olympic Village, revealing the party starts with Ussain Bolt who personally DJ’s a unique mix of reggae, hip hop and grime over barrels of alcohol and McDonalds. Sounds like our sort of bash!

We couldn’t wait to hang our heels up for the night and get down to try our hand at their ‘Ride’ spin class. It’s 45 minutes of high intensity, high fun exertion and the darkened room combined with booming speakers are akin more to that of a night club than they are a gym.

As a first time spinner, or ‘rider’ as it’s referred to at 1Rebel, I was nervous taking to the bike but instantly your thrown into the workout and all you have to focus on is yourself and the beat. Sarah, who was leading the session, was as much DJ as she was trainer, and worked her way round the class keeping everyone’s vibes up.

Be prepared to sweat!

by James Heale

Celebrity and motor racing came together on Wednesday night as petrol heads and personalities mingled at the annual black tie Grand Prix Ball.

Set in the 42 acre splendour of the world renowned Hurlingham Club, we were among the guests sipping champagne flutes and admiring the array of legendary sports cars from eight decades of Formula One racing.

Spotted amongst the McLaren and Lotus models were not one but three Love Island stars as Kendall Rae Knight, Rosie Williams and Zara McDermott took to the red carpet. Having been rejected by fellow Love Island contestant and serial heartbreaker Adam Collard, the trio appear to share a love of fast men and fast cars, with all three shooting envious looks at the gleaming new Vantages on display.

Prior to dinner attendees were treated to a display by British racing stalwart David Coulthard with the scream and smell of burning tyres filling the ears of the race-loving spectators. The National Anthem was performed with the revving of an Aston Martin engine before Coulthard was joined by fellow F1 legends Mark Webber and Simon Lazenby.

Lazenby made a speech to guests, who enjoyed a stellar three course feast before the charity auction in honour of Wings for Life.

Britain's Next Top Model star Victoria Clay told us of her fear of losing her Liverpudlian accent since moving south whilst sports presenter Jonny Gould joked about his declining career prospects, recently described by his son as being “the key presenter of shows that nobody watches, at times when no one is awake, on channels that no longer exist”.

After dinner, guests took to the dance floor to the tunes of racing icon Eddie Jones and his band ‘Eddie and the Robbers’. Cheers of illustrious appreciation greeted the quartet as Jones on his drumkit whipped the crowd into a music-fuelled frenzy before a bevy of taxis enabled the party to continue at Raffles Chelsea.

Here are a selection of images from the event:

To Westminster for a wine dinner made by top chefs and accompanied by perfectly paired wine.

The Roux at Parliament Square restaurant invited Talk of the Town to enjoy their hospitality at a five-course meal.

An offspring of the legendary Le Gavroche which boasts star-studded clients, The Roux is run by chef Michel Roux Jr.

Few venues are so remarkably well situated and it boasts six exquisite private dining rooms, and The Pembury Bar which provides a relaxed and welcoming space for drink.

With no fewer than six types of wine the restaurant had paired each course with a red wine.

Legendary chef Michel was joined by French winemaker Jean-Dominique Videau to explain to  a packed restaurant the great lengths the pair went to compose the menu.

Costing £150 per person, the dinner included everything from pig trotter risotto to roast turbot, hen of the woods and chervil.

The Chateau Branaire-Ducru Wine Dinner was introduced by the foodie pair and Masterchef Professionals star and head chef Steve Groves.

Branaire-Ducru is situated in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, and with vines planted over 60 hectares, all grapes are harvested by hand.

Dedicated to producing wines that bring pleasure with food, the Château seeks purity, fruit and freshness in every vintage.

The great attraction of Roux is that you never know quite who you’ll bump into at the exquisitely restored and fully updated home of British cuisine.

Whether it’s restaurateurs reminiscing about Mick Jagger and Michael Caine in the 1960s or wine experts discussing the finer points of a French grape.

Roux, in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster, blends contemporary influences with the building’s historic Georgian style.

The innovative menu designed by Steve was prepared by a team that was applauded by guests at the end of the night.

Sitting alongside other eaters on communal tables each course was specifically matched with a red wine vintage by Branaire-Ducru.

Beginning with Duluc de Branaire Ducru, 2010, guests followed on with Branaire Ducru, 2012,  Branaire Ducru 2003 and Branaire Ducru 2000 before finishing off with Branaire Ducru 2010.

The charming Michel kept guests laughing as they drank by regaling them with the finer points of cookery.

If you want to experience the best of British cuisine Roux at Parliament Square regularly host these food and alcohol paired dinners.

For more information check out http://rouxatparliamentsquare.co.uk/.

By Zoe Griffin for The Mail on Sunday

As regular Champagne drinkers, we know our bubbles and Champagne Lanson is a brand we trust. Whether it’s a rose, or their black label or a special vintage, you can always expect to feel more energised and more satisfied after a glass of Lanson. So, when they invited us to be their guests at Chestertons Polo in The Park at The Hurlingham Club in London, we cleared the diary. If anything could beat sipping a glass of Champagne Lanson, it would be sipping it while in the background were gorgeous polo players showing off their bravery on majestic polo ponies.

Upon arrival at the Hurlingham Club, it became clear that we had fantastic access to the pitchside action. Lanson sponsor Polo in The Park, picking this event as the place to launch their campaign #ThePerfectStart, which means their presence is everywhere. Their Champagne garden, which is open to everyone, started buzzing at 12 noon on the Friday and didn’t stop until 8pm on the Sunday. It’s the largest Champagne bar in Europe but there wasn’t a spare inch of bar space because there were so many guests trying to get their hands on a bottle of black label, white label or rose label. On the first day, two methuselahs were sold before 4pm. Clearly, it’s not just us who appreciate the taste of Champagne Lanson. 

#ThePerfectStart is all about starting the summer season in style. In Ibiza, all the big nightclubs have opening parties to start off the season. In London, our spectacular event to kick start summer that’s decadent, glamorous and guaranteed to make your Instagram followers envious is Polo in The Park. When you start the season of BBQs, picnics, weddings, christenings and garden parties in style then it’s a good sign that the rest of your summer is going to be as indulgent as you deserve.

As guests of Lanson, we got to start the day in style with a pre-match lunch. As we walked into the tent, we were handed a cold glass of Lanson Black Label and a selection of delicate canapes. I was introduced to some interesting people with cool stories to tell like Rory Heron, the MD of Sportgate who organise the Polo in the Park event, and Paul Beavis, Champagne Lanson’s MD.

I was lucky enough to sit next to Paul, which meant the Champagne was free-flowing. With our smoked salmon and mango starter we drank the light and fresh Rose Label – a perfect compliment to the fish. However, the Champagne that we drank with the main was my absolute favourite. Lanson Gold Label is a 2008 vintage and utterly more-ish. Everything about this Champagne – the size of the bubbles, the colour and the crisp taste – felt luxurious. It matched red meat perfectly.

After a dessert of crème caramel accompanied with Rose Label champagne it was time to watch some polo action and wander round.

One of the best things about Polo in the Park is that it’s a chance to do some shopping and find brands that you wouldn’t get elsewhere. I mean, where else would you get to buy a McLaren or even stand close to one? Penny, Champagne Lanson's glamorous PR supremo, looked right at home next to it.

Penny has an eye for picking out the best stalls and led us to the Boadicea Perfume stand. This luxury perfume, which is made in Britain, is stocked in places like Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Their new Fortitude blend, to celebrate 100 years of women having the vote. According to their experts, it’s resonating with steely inner strength and intense longevity it brings together the dynamism of bergamot and cassis with precious sylvan undertones and a courageous heart spilling over with ravishing florals and mysterious ylang-ylang. Presented in a bottle emblazoned with the symbol of the female.

The £260 price tag means that you can guarantee it wouldn’t be a common scent at parties. We do like to stand out, almost as much as we like a photo opportunity. This stand didn’t just have a flower wall, it had a floral chariot, which complemented the floral design of my Boohoo dress.

At the Taylor Morris stall, the key attraction was former Made In Chelsea star Hugo Taylor himself. Hugo is getting marred later this month to model Millie Mackintosh but took a break from the prep to have a hands-on role on shifting sunnies. He told me he’s a lucky man to be marrying what he describes as his ‘Boomerang Love’. He explained: ‘Millie and I were together when we were a lot younger, then we parted and we were both drawn back to each other. That’s special. That’s boomerang love.’ His face lit up whenever he talked about her, giving us the hope that this marriage would last longer than Millie’s last marriage to rapper Pro Green.

The pretties stall had to be that of Olivia And Rose, which is re-inventing the humble pearl in a seriously stunning jewellery collection. The price tags won’t blow the budget but they will have all your friends asking: ‘Where did you get that?’

After all that walking and shopping, the bar called so we popped into the VIP area of the Mahiki tent where we bumped into man about town Henry Conway with Sky Sunrise host Sarah Jane Mee. She let us into a little secret that her dress was from H&M and that by shopping on the high street, she could save up to splash out on accessories like Tom Ford sunglasses. We admired her sunglasses and her dress. There’s a big H&M next to our office, so you may well see it later this summer.

Afternoon tea was taken back with Champagne Lanson in the hospitality suite. Despite being thoroughly fed and refreshed all day long, we still found room for a few more delicacies. With a menu like this, it would have been rude not to.

Each day, the action finishes at 8pm with the choice of continuing the party afterwards or returning hope to get some beauty sleep. Guess which one we chose?

By Daisy Collingwood for The Mail on Sunday

It's rare we get a spare window in the usual hectic showbiz calendar, so when we do it is almost always filled with sweet treat based recuperation. 

This week we hung up our heels and parked our champagne glasses for an evening and headed over to Doughnut Time in Shaftesbury Avenue to try their new Doughnut Academy. For those of you who haven't heard of the latest cult store or spied snaps of their decadent, Nutella filled offerings on Instagram, the Aussie artisan company - which first started as a hole in the wall - opened their first London store in October 2017 and have since popped up in Notting Hill, Shoreditch, Victoria and London City Airport. 

We joined head baker Lara at the flagship store who guided us through the process of making four of their most popular doughnuts. We started with the Hans Rolo, using piping bags to slather the doughnut in milk chocolate and caramel glazes before dusting it with dark chocolate flakes and Rolos.

Next it was on to the signature It's Always A Gay Time. We used a chopstick to carve a hole through the middle of the doughnut and piped it full of honeycomb custard until it was set to burst. Next, we smothered it in a bowl of digestive biscuits and golden caramelized crepes. 

Lara showed us how to make two more of their classics before we were allowed free reign of two blank doughnuts ourselves, letting loose on colourful glazes and an entire wall of pick and mix sweets to decorate. 

For those who haven't been lucky enough to make it down to the Doughnut Academy this week, why not mark the occasion with one of their indulgent new mega doughnuts instead? We sampled the Donatella Versace - a gigantic, 18cm diameter, Nutella filled showstopper with Kit Kat, Oreos, M&Ms, brownie and a golden caramel Freddo stacked on top! A steal at just £22 and available to pre order online here: doughnuttime.co.uk/megas/