The right ingredients

Just ten minutes from Portobello Road market sits a neat, sweet mews house with a truly delicious interior. The urban retreat of a food writer, Scampston Mews is very much a case of the best possible raw ingredients combining to create something utterly irresistible. This home is a study in textures; from raw concrete to aged leather, every surface invites your touch. Quiet, stylish and well-connected, Scampston Mews is that rare dish that’ll suit almost every taste.

Your chef

Your hostess is an eminent cookery author whose books adorn the shelves of foodies all across London. She, and her partner, the founder of one of Sri Lanka’s most eminent yoga retreats, spend much of their time in the beautiful Devon countryside. But when they are in town, they adore entertaining, and living that enviable Notting Hill lifestyle.

Good enough to eat

The first thing you’ll notice about the hallway of Scampston Mews are tall south Asian wood panels that shelter the guest cloakroom. Move past them and into the living area, where the industrial aesthetic is softened by the raspberry red sofa and the chocolately wood floor. The olive green kitchen is, naturally, filled with all sorts of handy gadgets, and when dinner’s simmering, hunker down with a book on one of the battered leather chairs, or throw open the doors and let the neighbours get a whiff of what’s on the hob.

The master bedroom, with its king sized bed and antique mirror, is up on the first floor, as is the modern bathroom. Before you head upstairs to the attic, take a moment to regard the book case upon the landing. Upon a push, you’ll discover that it swings out to reveal a spacious guest bedroom. The top floor houses a cosy double with its own en suite and some romantically sloping ceilings.

Dessert?

Notting Hill is a glutton’s paradise, from the cupcakes of the Hummingbird Bakery to the Michelin-recognised fare of The Ledbury, you’ll never go hungry. You’ve shops, cafes and bars all around, and Holland and Hyde Parks are some of the capital’s best spots for a picnic. And if you need to get into town, perhaps for a quick trip around the food hall at Fortnums, you can be there, by tube or cab, in around twenty minutes.