Skye McAlpine, best known for bestselling cookery books — A Table for Friends, A Table in Venice and A Table Full of Love – has a new pop-up shop in Belgravia.
The Sunday Times recipe columnist is best described as a kind of wholegrain It-girl. Take, for example, her Instagram feed. There's pictures of ruby-red rhubarb lined up neatly on sheets of pastry near a bunch of miniature daffodils; strawberry-patterned teacups dangling from hooks above a sink the size of a small bathtub, filled to the brim with flowers; enough floral-patterned midi-skirts to clothe a small, and extremely fashionable, army. It’s a digital buffet of wholesome luxury.
Underneath one of the posts, someone has commented: 'It's like you live in heaven', so it's easy to understand why people might be eager to buy a slice of McAlpine’s life.
The chef's Tavola brand sells ‘tableware for the everyday, for parties, celebrations and those deliciously long lazy lunches with friends'. Born in London, but brought up in Venice from the age of six, it is McAlpine's love letter to Italy, combined with her British roots.
The pop-up is open now until June 7, 2025, on 48, Elizabeth Street — in between Sloane Square and Victoria Station —and stocks Tavola’s full collection, alongside a selection of antique homeware, including vintage wicker picnic baskets, sourced by McAlpine herself. There's space too for some C.Atherley products — the new scent and bodycare brand from Cath Kidston Padgham, the undisputed Queen of florals.
McAlpine has also designed the interiors — and it's like stepping inside a dollshouse. Potted plants line the entrance where some of the first customers through the door were greeted by McAlpine proffering iced-coffee, tea and an array of cakes, pastries and fresh fruit.
One of McAlpine's aims going into this pop-up was to ensure that the collection felt summery and my favourite pieces are the quirky ice-coolers — vintage and shaped like various fruits. 'I think we talk a lot about celebration in winter — Christmas, New Year's Eve, Thanksgiving — but actually summer is such a celebratory time of year,' she says, highlighting how special a long lunch in the garden is to her. A tablescape set with fresh flowers and plates each adorned with pale yellow and pink petal detailing — 'ice-cream colours' — illustrates her point perfectly. 'I like colour because it lifts my mood. I would love it to lift people's moods.'
Unsurprisingly, McAlpine is a self-confessed 'more is more person', but admits that the charm of making everyday meals magical may have worn off on her nearest and dearest —her husband struggles with their ever expanding plate collection.
Tavola dates for your diary
- May 10: A children’s art workshop by sustainable childrenswear brand Forivor
- May 23: A floral design seasonal tablescaping workshop with Skye McAlpine & Minnow and Wolf
- May 25: A watercolour workshop to paint your own floral menu cards with Imogen Partridge
- May 27: Spring menu planning and table decoration led by Skye McAlpine
- June 1: A menu card illustration design workshop with Imogen Partridge
- June 3: A panel discussion hosted with the interior designers Salvesen Graham
Plenty of the shop's products are exclusive to the pop-up and not available online and it will all be part of the upcoming Belgravia in Bloom festival — part of Chelsea in Bloom — which kicks off on May 19 to complement the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show. If you are in any way a wicker aficionado or a fan of chintz and beautiful blooms, we think a trip which be highly worth your time.
Tavola is open until June 7, 2025, from Monday to Saturday, 11am-6pm, and Sunday, 12noon to 6pm
The Country Life 'Outdoor Drawing Room' is at stand PW210 at the Chelsea Flower Show from May 19 to 24 May. For more information, visit the Country Life Chelsea Flower Show hub or the RHS website
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