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We are so fortunate to have Bianca Maclean in our book group who made it possible for us to enjoy the author’s company on the 21st of September.
About the Book: Partying until sunrise, baptism under ice, dead bodies on the street, treachery in business dealings – everyday life for an expatriate working in Russia.
"Caviar, Vodka and Tears" recounts the joys and frustrations of life and work in Russia over the period 2008 to 2022, through the eyes of the fictitious expatriate Keller family. The Kellers establish many deep friendships with ordinary Russians, and have many extraordinary adventures.
Keller’s business ventures meet initial success but become harder as relations with the West worsen and end in treachery and apparent disaster. However, when the conflict in Ukraine erupts in 2022, his failure is revealed as a godsend, and Keller is forced to reassess his past role in developing Russia’s energy industry.
For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@kcwc.org.uk
This is the first lecture in a two part series where Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe will look at Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), one of the most celebrated painters of the 17th century.
Rubens was a man of many skills, multilingual and highly intelligent. He worked for the rulers of Flanders, Spain, Mantua and England, employed both as a painter and as a diplomat. He was often under tremendous pressure from many of his patrons to produce multiple pictures for various schemes. He ran a large studio, creating paintings in huge quantities and of enormous size, yet without compromising on quality.
His paintings overflow with an exuberance and joy in life as he turned his eye to almost every subject during his career. As court painter, he created portraits, mythologies and massive schemes for palaces, as well as creating religious paintings for churches and convents. His domestic paintings – often made for his own enjoyment – include remarkable depictions of his family and the countryside he loved around Antwerp. The lectures will also look at the social context in which he lived – the values, customs and dress, as well as the joys and fears.
This lecture on the 23rd will cover his work in the court and church. (Part 1)
The lecture on 30th will cover him as a friend and family man. (Part 2)
Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember it is a dress code at the club so please no jeans or trainers.
For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk
Join us for Latin Dance every Wednesday at 11:00. We meet in the spa at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington (just next to Kensington Gardens). Our teacher is Rafal Lautenbach who is a true professional, and we cover a range of Latin dances including Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Bachata, Samba. You don't need any prior dance experience as Rafal explains everything again when new people join us. This is not an exercise class, it is just pure dance fun.
You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in but make sure that your shoes slide on the floor - not trainers. If you decide to come on a regular basis I will let you know where you can buy dance practice shoes.
For any queries contact Event organiser Jenni Kravitz at latindance@kcwc.org.uk
Join a relaxed Italian conversation group for those who would like to practise the language in an informal setting. Each session is inspired by a short article, providing a starting point for lively discussions about Italy and its culture.
Meetings take place at a café in central London.
A basic knowledge of Italian will help participants follow the discussion more easily, and make the most of the experience.
Come and enjoy speaking Italian in good company!! ☕
Please register to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Anna Bianchi at italian@kcwc.org.uk
Come and join us for an Autumn walk in Battersea Park.
Enjoy a stroll and catch up as we make our way towards Battersea Power Station to treat the doggies and ourselves with refreshments and some browsing.
As always, everyone is welcome to join us with or without a dog.
Meeting Point: Chelsea Gate
For any queries, please contact Karen Kaldezar on +447973178737 or barkinthepark@kcwc.org.uk
Join Marcela Alatorre, founder of NOPAL®, for an engaging introduction to Opuntia ficus-indica (nopal), exploring how this extraordinary Mexican cactus has become a sustainable functional food for the future.
The experience will include a special tasting of the NOPAL® Skinny Hot Chocolate, created in collaboration with London Chocolate, one of the UK’s leading bean-to-bar/bean-to-cup chocolate makers.
The perfect pairing: NOPAL® + pure cacao
Two exceptional functional foods come together to create a delicious Skinny Hot Chocolate combining the natural benefits of pure cacao with NOPAL® cactus pad powder, providing fibre and calcium alongside the qualities of cacao.
Guests will enjoy:
- ☕ NOPAL® Skinny Hot Chocolate with London Chocolate
- NOPAL® green smoothie
- Mini chocolate tasting
- A tasting of baked goods made with NOPAL®
⭐ The award-winning NOPAL® chocolate cake, winner of Best Artisanal Food & Drink Product at the Natural & Organic Products Expo Innovation Awards 2025.
A talk about the history, benefits and potential of Opuntia ficus-indica as a sustainable food of the future.
Tickets: £40.00 per person.
Please book a free ticket here to indicate your interest and email the Activity Leader (foodies@kcwc.org.uk) for payment instructions.
A unique opportunity to discover nopal, taste its versatility and experience the delicious combination of NOPAL® + exceptional cacao in one of London’s most exciting chocolate destinations.
You're Invited to our Drop-In Coffee Morning!
Start your day with great coffee, friendly conversation and the opportunity to connect with others in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you’re a new member, reconnecting with familiar faces, or simply looking for a relaxed morning and good conversation, we'd love you to join us. Just drop in, purchase a cup of coffee, and enjoy the company!
It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, build connections and enjoy a delightful morning together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
We look forward to welcoming you for a morning of coffee, conversation and connection!
For further information, please contact the event organisers Karen Kaldezar and Maria Rologi, at dropincoffee@kcwc.org.uk
Bridge is played in a friendly and informal atmosphere, at a member's home in Kensington, using English ACOL and US 5 card major bidding systems.
Please register for your free ticket by clicking on the link below.
Please contact event organiser Katy Cooke for any queries at bridge@kcwc.org.uk
Calling all Under 35s! ⚓
Join us for an unforgettable adventure at Escape Hunt Oxford Street where we would have to join the pirate world, crack codes, and find Blackbeard's Treasure.
Perfect way to get to know more KCWC members - a fun weekend activity to bond with the crew while working together under pressure! Whether you're a seasoned puzzle-solver or a first-timer, we will have 60 minutes to collaborate, solve mind-bending puzzles, uncover hidden clues, and outsmart the mystery before time runs out. Nothing beats the thrill of teamwork and celebrating when we escape together!
We can stay for a meal in Soho if you are free after the event.
For any queries, contact Event Organiser Georgiana Fryza at georgianafryza@gmail.com
Join us for a unique behind-the-scenes experience that offers a rare opportunity to discover how contemporary art develops from the artist’s first idea to the gallery wall.
Our visit will take us to Bow Arts, one of London’s leading organisations supporting artists through studio spaces, professional development and public exhibitions. By bringing together artists, curators and audiences, Bow Arts plays an important role in London’s contemporary art scene.
A member of the curatorial team will introduce us to Bow Arts and guide us through the exhibition Bhajan Hunjan: Speaking Through Materials, sharing insights into the exhibition and the ideas behind the works on display.
Following the tour, Bhajan Hunjan will join us in the gallery to meet the group and talk about her work, creative process and the ideas behind the exhibition, with an opportunity for participants to ask questions and engage directly with the artist.
This is far more than a gallery visit. It is an opportunity to discover how artists are supported, how exhibitions come together and how an artwork evolves from the first spark of an idea to the finished work, while hearing directly from the artist herself.
NOTE: Participants are welcome to stay for lunch at the Bow Arts café after the visit. If you would like to join, please let me know in advance. Further details will be provided closer to the event.
Nearest Underground station: Bow Road (District and Hammersmith & City lines) - approx 6 min walk
For any queries, contact Event Organiser Anna Bianchi at contemporary1@kcwc.org.uk
Join us for a pub quiz at the Crabtree - it's £2 per person quiz entry fee paid directly to the quiz master on the evening.
The quiz gives you the chance to win a £50 bar tab for first place to a bottle of wine for second-to-last-place. The quiz normally starts at 8pm, but we're planning to meet from 7pm so we can grab a table and form a team or two.
Partners are bery welcome, so feel free to bring them along and test your general knowledge!
Please note: This is an established pub quiz and we're looking to form teams on the evening with KCWC members as well as partners and friends.
For any queries, please contact Activity Leader Sarah-Jane Luckhurst at eveningevents@kcwc.org.uk
For our last Hospitality lunch in Mayfair, we will be going to Maison François, a modern French brasserie inspired by the grand dining rooms of Paris and Lyon.
Lunch will be pre-ordered according to the menu which will be sent out after enrolling. We will be having a main course comprising of either meat or fish, with accompanying salads.
Each participant will be responsible for her own drinks and dessert.
Please note that our tables are booked for 1.00pm, so it would be appreciated if members did not arrive beforehand.
Please contact event organisers Mimi Rolbant & Larysa Kotsiuba for any queries at hospitality@kcwc.org.uk
Join us for this month's book discussion which will be on Kin by Tayari Jones (368 pages).
Vernice and Annie are 'cradle friends', born days apart in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both destined never to know their mothers. The girls are inseparable, bound by a friendship far deeper than sisterhood. But this is the American south in the 1950s. Black girls like Vernice and Annie have to fight for every opportunity they can, and neither one can build the future they hope for in Honeysuckle.
Gradually, inevitably, the girls drift apart. Vernice pursues her education; Annie is lured by the promise of a heady first love affair and a growing obsession with finding her mother. But her search pulls her even further into a world of danger that soon leaves her oldest friend battling to save her.
For any queries, contact Claudia on eveningbookgroup@kcwc.org.uk
Can Britain rediscover its economic confidence -- and become prosperous again?
Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tackles one of the most important questions facing the UK today. Drawing on his experience steering the economy through inflation and recession, he will explore why growth has stalled, what Britain still has going for it, and how the country could build a stronger and more prosperous future.
From Britain's world-leading universities and financial services to its thriving technology sector, Hunt argues that the foundations for success are already in place. He will share his case for optimism and set out practical ideas for getting Britain's economy moving again.
Jeremy Hunt will be in conversation with John Sergeant, the former BBC and ITV Chief Political Correspondent, bringing together two familiar voices for an engaging discussion about Britain's economic future.
TICKETS: £25 online (£20 with our KCWC discount code)
Step1 - sign-up on this KCWC site to reserve a spot and indicate your interest.
Step 2 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.
Doors open at 7pm, talk begins at 7:30pm
For any queries, contact Activity Leader Ina Messer at popup@kcwc.org.uk
Bletchley Park was once the top-secret home of the World War Two Code-breakers. For a long time it was kept very hush-hush, but now all is revealed and we are invited into the site to discover its secrets. The Mansion and various huts where the operators worked have been carefully and authentically restored to how they used to be during World War Two.
There are exhibitions, interactive displays and films which tell the story of this crucially important site. Here is where the complex machines and the brilliant people who operated them were based. There is no doubt that the favourable outcome of the War is a result of their work.
Schedule: There will be an option of a free one-hour guided tour in the grounds if there is availability. We will arrange a break for lunch on the day. There is a lot to see here, so we will not be returning until mid-afternoon.
Transportation: Train from London Euston to Bletchley takes 40 minutes. The site itself is only a few minutes’ walk from the station.
Booking Process:
Step 1: Please purchase a ticket on this site to indicate your attendance
Step 2: Book your entrance ticket online (slightly cheaper than buying on arrival) www.bletchleypark.org.uk (adult up to 64 years £25.87/ seniors over 65 years £23.62). Tickets are actually an annual pass and can be used again for free during the year.
Step 3: Buy your train ticket from London Euston to Bletchley, £18.40 return (£12.20 with Senior Railcard).
Meeting Place: We will meet at Euston in time for departure at 10.23am, return 15.10 or 15.40pm.
For any queries, please contact the event organiser Mimi Rolbant at british1@kcwc.org.uk
Calling all new members in the last 6 months. We are excited to welcome you to KCWC!
If you missed the last new members social in February, now is your chance to join us for a chat, meet other new members, activity leaders and KCWC Board members.
Complimentary croissants, tea and coffee.
It is also an opportunity to ask questions about booking events on the website and app.
Please contact event organizer Larysa Kotsiuba at members@kcwc.org.uk if you have any questions
Join the After Six Crew for a modern Italian meal a stone’s throw away from Sloane Square. Azzurra is part of the Aqua Group ( Aqua Shard) and has restaurants in major global cities. The Chelsea eatery maintains their high standards, whether it be the sustainable fresh fish or the homemade pasta, the food is delicious. The setting is equally impressive, with an elegant coastal theme running throughout, and a striking 16 metre bar as you enter. There will be a choice of two courses with ample selection of a main, and either a starter or dessert. Pre- orders will be taken closer to the date. The price includes service and table water, but all other drinks are on your own tab.
A presto or see you soon!
Please contact Activity Leaders Alison Wacker and Lisa Woodcock for any queries at aftersix@kcwc.org.uk
Keep The Date . . .
Guide: Muriel Carre
additional information coming soon!
Note: We will be meeting at 2pm sharp at the Holborn tube station
For any queries contact event organiser Geneviève Sentier at londonwalks@kcwc.org.uk
The story of migration is as old as time itself. But for Europe, the migration of thousands of Protestants from France in the latter part of the 17th century was to have a profound impact that reverberated through Europe and beyond.
Known as Huguenots, these religious refugees influenced decorative arts from silk to silver, primarily enriching England as the land to which they exited France in droves.
Nicholas Merchant will tell us the story behind this exodus and the rich artistic patrimony that accompanied it.
For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk
On New York City's Washington Square lives Catherine Sloper, a shy and plain young woman who is tyrannized by her wealthy, overbearing father. When young Morris Townsend begins to court her, Dr. Sloper distrusts his motives, believing that the young man could not possibly love his daughter.
Both lovers are obstinate in their affections; but when Dr. Sloper threatens to disinherit Catherine, Townsend disappears, leaving Catherine to humiliation, heartache, and lonely spinsterhood. Years later, after her father's death, Townsend returns, and Catherine must make up her own mind about his intentions.
This month's discussion will be on My Friends by Fredrik Backman (448 pages).
Twenty-five years ago, a group of teenagers found solace in each other during one unforgettable summer. Their friendship inspired a transcendent work of art, a painting that now mysteriously belongs to eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa.
Driven to learn the story behind its creation, Louisa embarks on a journey to the seaside town where it all began. But as she gets closer to the painting’s birthplace, Louisa learns that happy endings do not always take the form we expect.
NOTE: Tickets need to be purchased by Oct 22nd
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a historic building designed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren. It is not actually a hospital caring for the sick, as we know hospitals are today. It is the home to nearly 300 army veterans who come from various backgrounds across the United Kingdom. It has a long history as it has been their home since 1692 when it was founded by King Charles II.
For the Chelsea Pensioners, life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea is full of tradition and activity. They live in their own accommodation, known as ‘berths,’ and enjoy access to a range of facilities and services designed especially for them. They participate in ceremonial duties and public events and engage in social and recreational activities. They are active and involved members of both the Royal Hospital community and the wider society.
We will be led on a 90-minute tour of the beautiful Hospital by one of the Pensioners who will give us an insider’s view of what it is like to live in this unique place.
After the tour we will go to Heidi Bakery which is on the premises for a delicious coffee and cake on our own tab.
For any enqueries, please contact event organiser Mimi Rolbant at british1@kcwc.org.uk
The Art Ecosystem Behind the Artwork
Go behind the artwork and discover the ecosystem of people, ideas and organisations that shapes artistic practice and brings contemporary art to life.
Our visit to Gasworks will offer a unique insight into an organisation dedicated to supporting artists through its residency programme, creative exchange and the development of new work. A member of the Gasworks team will introduce us to the organisation and its residency programme, before guiding us through Disco Inferno, Paloma Contreras Lomas’ first solo exhibition in Europe. We will discover the ideas and research behind the exhibition and how her work developed during her residency at Gasworks.
We will also have the rare opportunity to meet a residency artists in their studios, gaining a glimpse into the environment where new ideas and projects are taking shape.
As the studio space can accommodate only a limited number of visitors, places for the visit will be limited.
Whether you are already familiar with contemporary art or simply curious to discover more, this visit offers a rare opportunity to look beyond the finished artwork and discover the people, ideas and creative journeys that shape contemporary art before it reaches the public.
Please join us for our annual visit to Chelsea Physic Garden’s Christmas Fair. For the Christmas Fair, the garden is transformed into a festive wonderland with over 100 stalls featuring independent businesses selling a range of gifts - from wreaths to clothing, accessories to homewares and specialty food and drink. You can indulge in festive treats, hot chocolate and mulled wine at the stalls and their cafe.
We will have a coffee/tea get together at their cafe after we’ve had time to peruse all the wonderful stalls.
Two Step sign-up process:
1) Please buy your ticket directly from Chelsea Physic Garden website for the 10:00am time slot via the link below. Please DO NOT sign up for this activity on the KCWC site until you have purchased an actual ticket as the tickets can sell out quite quickly.
https://chelseaphysicgarden.seetickets.com/event/chelsea-physic-garden-christmas-fair/chelsea-physic-garden/3707884
2) Sign-up a for a ticket here on the KCWC website so we can track who is coming
For any queries, contact Event Organiser Evelyn Jin Hipperson at GloriousGardens@kcwc.org.uk
This is a very worthwhile experience at the Institute of Cancer Research as they focus on breast cancer, multiple myloma, and prostate cancer. Their scientists will talk to us about their research and we will then visit the labs.
Members are welcome to purchase a guest ticket for a partner or friend given the breadth of research that will be discussed by the scientists.
Agenda:
11:30 - Arrive by hired coach; collect visitor passes
12:00 - Welcome and introduction to the Institute
12:15 - Presentation: The Drug Discovery Journey by senior scientists in the CCDD
1:00 - Laboratory tours
2:00 - Event closes
2:15 - Coach departs
NOTE: The £5 ticket purchased here will hold your spot and go towards the cost of the hired coach, but there may be an additional charge depending on the cost of the coach.
For any queries, contact event organizer Eve Mitleton-Kelly at Popup@kcwc.org.uk
Art, Artificial Intelligence & New Technologies
Join us for a special opportunity to explore the fascinating relationship between art, artificial intelligence and new technologies at Gazelli Art House, a leading contemporary art gallery renowned for its forward-looking programme. The gallery is particularly known for its exploration of the intersection between art, science, technology and new forms of artistic practice.
During the visit, we will be guided through AI Then and Now by Paul Luckraft, Head of Programme at Gazelli Art House. Curated by Jasia Reichardt, the pioneering curator behind the landmark Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition at the ICA in London in 1968, the exhibition brings together the work of 50 artists, rare archival material and live contributions from engineers working at the forefront of AI innovation.
Through the exhibition, we will consider how artists have engaged with technology over time and how artificial intelligence is influencing new forms of creative practice today. The exhibition also examines how these cross-disciplinary experiments may give rise to new forms of culture across the visual arts, music and literature.
The visit provides valuable insight into the ideas behind the exhibition, its curatorial vision, and the collaboration between artists, researchers and technologists exploring new possibilities for creativity.
Whether you are already familiar with contemporary art or simply curious to discover more, this experience offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving relationship between human creativity, technology and the future of artistic expression.
The gallery will kindly provide refreshments for the group during the visit.
Note: We will be meeting at 10.15am sharp at the TBA
The story of the famed Lever Art Collection began with the simplest of household items – soap. William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925) built a fortune from Sunlight Soap and, with it, built one of the biggest and most varied artistic collections of the 19th century. When his wife died in 1913, Lever created the Lady Lever Gallery in her beloved memory filling it with furniture, sculpture, ceramics and paintings.
Join us to learn about this philanthropist aesthete and the industrial wealth that fueled his passion for collecting.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is an acclaimed epistolary novel told entirely through letters and emails.
The story follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired attorney in her 70s living in Annapolis, Maryland, who is grappling with aging, declining eyesight, and a tragic family history—most notably the childhood death of her son. Over the course of a decade (2012–2022), she uses her lifelong habit of writing letters to connect with a wide variety of people
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