The culture list: 10 things to watch, experience and enjoy in September

As we enter ESEA Heritage month, now may be the perfect time to discover the hidden depths of Chinese cuisine. Renowned Chinese-Singaporean chef Peter Ho will be bringing traditional cooking techniques to a menu of reinvented classics and contemporary fare at brand new restaurant, MiMi Mei Fair. Set across three floors of an unassuming Georgian townhouse in Mayfair, this imagined secret residence of a Chinese empress draws inspiration from the tea houses of the Ming Dynsaty, the Qing Dynasty’s excess, and the Shanghai Jazz age of the 1920s. It is a riotous celebration of this nation’s rich heritage, created by one its premier chefs. Destined to be a firm favourite in London’s dining scene. Marie-Claire Chappet

Mimi Mei Fair, Mayfair, opens 7 September.

British Beauty Week is back and this year looks set to be bigger and brighter than ever. Powered by the British Beauty Council, expect to discover the trends re-shaping beauty today, with inspiring talks by industry leaders, immersive events and innovative products showcased. The five-day beauty playground will run in the capital’s Covent Garden between 8-12 September ahead of London Fashion Week. Bridget March

British Beauty Week, Covent Garden, runs from 8-12 September.

Flannels continues to transform the regional shopping experience this month as its doors open in Leicester’s Fosse Park. The second regional flagship from the luxury retailer (Flannels Sheffield Meadowhall opened this summer) features another world-class beauty destination. Its approach to beauty is as it is to luxury: inclusive and innovative. Think 'Beauty Changing Rooms' where you can test and trial products in private; 'Beauty Starring You' - a personal shopping and concierge service; the 'Flannels Beauty Bar' for discovering trends with friends over a coffee or bubbles, plus more. And that’s on top of the traditional beauty hall (or 'Beauty Haul', as they’ve spun it). BM

Flannels Fosse Park, Leicester, open now

Selfridges has launched Mon Vintage by Marie Blanchet, a collection dedicated to vintage pieces, which is available to shop now in store and online. Curated by Blanchet, who is the former head of vintage at Vestiaire Collective, the first collection is dedicated to the Noughties, and it will be followed by a series of exciting vintage stories and drops over the coming six months. Selfridges will also be launching a unique vintage sourcing service which will help customers who are looking for specific pieces to add to their collections. Expect one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from designer brands such as Alexander McQueen, Comme des Garcons, Chloe and Celine to be found.“As society becomes more and more conscious about the environment, more people turn to vintage,” Blanchet told us about the rise in people shopping vintage. “Also, in a time of uncertainty, buying vintage, buying unique, buying stories, is responding to consumers fatigue and their desire to make more meaningful purchases, sustainable signifiers.” A selection of Blanchet's edit is also available to shop online.

Mon Vintage at Selfridges, London

This month sees the launch of Garden House, the latest venture from restaurateur Adam Wood, formerly of London’s Perilla. It is the beating heart of the freshly opened Graduate Hotel on the banks of the river Cam in Cambridge and will thrive on Wood’s signature open-flame cooking. The menu, both seasonal and sustainable, pulls from local East Anglian produce and features such highlights as grilled Norfolk quail. Our recommendation? Try the Cambridge Burnt Cream Tart and watch the late summer evening fade by the river as you down a Garden House spritz. M-CC

Garden House, Cambridge, opens 10 September.

If you're interested in the worlds of luxury, travel and tech, then you'll want to tune into the second series of the Amex Shaping Insights podcast, a series of conversations with industry leaders who share their invaluable forward-thinking and insights, which is available publicly on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for the first time. First in this year's line-up was Ian Schrager, the legendary co-creator of the world's most famous nightclub, Studio 54. In his episode, the entertainment expert discusses everything from the future of travel to the shifts he's currently seeing across the hospitality industry. Next up is forecaster, strategist and award-winning author Lucie Greene (pictured), who specialises in cultural trends, consumer insights and brand innovation. Don't miss her episode when it lands mid-September.

The Amex Shaping Insights podcast, listen now.

The Haywood Gallery this month presents a new exhibition celebrating the rich fabric of contemporary painting, with 31 painters working today displaying pieces that speak directly to the current moment. The roster covers three generations of artists living and working here in the UK, from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, and features shining new stars Rachel Jones and Jadé Fadojutimi alongside established heavyweights like Lubaina Himid (work pictured). It is a wildly entertaining and thought-provoking curation, which aims to highlight the power of paint to be emotionally and culturally resonant, reflecting on everything from everyday vernacular to viral memes. It is a must see on the cultural agenda this autumn.

Mixing It Up: Painting Today at the Haywood Gallery, from 9 September – 12 December

The largest retrospective of the artist’s work for more than 30 years, Sickert: A Life in Art will display 348 of Sickert's drawings at the Walker Gallery, Liverpool. One of Britain’s most significant artists, he was an apprentice to the creative juggernauts Whistler and Degas, and was known for his radical and unflinching portrayal of Britain at the end of the Victorian era and the dawning of the modern age. This landmark show is a prime opportunity to discover the work of this often overlooked creative, whose career spanned an inspirational six decades.

Sickert: A Life in Art at the Walker Gallery, Liverpool, from 18 September - 27 February 2022

London’s quirkiest new hotel, Great Scotland Yard, situated at, yes, the Met police’s original headquarters, will this month introduce Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt, who will open his first restaurant outside of Stockholm on the premises. Ekstedt at The Yard will showcase Niklas’ signature style of wood fired ‘old Nordic’ cooking in the UK for the very first time, blending Scandinavian techniques with British produce. Think bold new dishes and reinvented classics that are perfect for when the weather turns colder. M-CC

Ekstedt at The Yard, Charing Cross, opens 17 September.