HTSI editor’s letter: summer hosting come rain or shine 

What are the chances that your outdoor picnic will be deluged with rain this year? In the case of planning our How To Host It summer special, gales, hail storms and drizzle were among near-constant threats. Planned and shot throughout one of the wettest springs on record, our alfresco moments invariably required temporary awnings, shelters and – in one case – an outdoor stove.

Were they any the worse for it? I would argue that the thrill of spontaneity added to the charm. When a summer barbecue at Rita’s became victim to a downpour, the resulting indoor get-together was arguably more delicious for its unpredictability and joy.

That’s the fun of summer feasting: you need a watertight contingency plan. Even those people planning picnics in more obliging climates can be derailed by sudden outbreaks, whether in Tuscany or Mumbai. With that in mind, however, I want to send huge thanks to all those involved – Amber Guinness, Fiona Golfar, Skye Gyngell, Rose Chalalai Singh, Samyukta Nair, Aditi Dugar, Missy Malik-Flynn and Gabriel Pryce – for hosting us this time around.

Hydra has forever been a byword for a certain brand of boho chic. The Greek island captivated Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell and Leonard Cohen, and has further established its art credentials with a host of initiatives in recent years. Like others seduced by its folklore, Josh Hickey moved there several years ago with plans to grow the island’s literary scene. His Hydra Book Club, on the top floor of the Historical Archives Museum of Hydra, has become a home for locals and visitors seeking books from near and far. For this issue he has put together a guide for those in search of more than just blue seas and sun: a list of exhibitions, residences, happenings and individuals that make “the rock” so culturally rich.

Long-time readers of HTSI need no introduction to Nick Foulkes. The watch, jewellery, cigar and fashion expert is among our most prolific contributors, and a man who embodies the essence of an aesthete. His passion for Marbella is one that knows no bounds. He first visited in the 1990s and, he writes, “I have been coming back ever since: it cast a spell on me. It has a magic to it – and like the best magic, I have no idea how it is done.”

Nick has attempted to understand his long bewitchment in a new book, Marbella Sol, published this month. So it seemed only right to ask him to write about his beloved Spanish sanctuary in our How To Spend It In… slot this week. Needless to say, his list of must-sees include antiques troves, cigar shops and the garage that annually attends to his decrepit Mini Moke. It’s a delightfully eccentric itinerary – and quintessentially Nick. 

@jellison22

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