Spring is almost here — and it’s cause for celebration to see snowdrops in the ground and buds on the trees. Here in the City we’re already beginning to relish the longer days and lighter evenings. And the new season brings with it a particularly important celebration. That’s right, with Easter just around the corner, The Royal Exchange can kit you out with everything from dining extravaganzas to delightful gifts — and yet more competitions! Spring it on!

Win A Sunday Roast For Two At The Libertine

Our competition spree continued this month with the chance for you and a pal to win a Sunday roast for two from our good friends at The Libertine. Why? We don’t think we needed a reason with ingredients this delicious: local veg, especially-sourced meats, Yorkshires, roast potatoes…the mouth waters! The competition launched on our Instagram here — look out for more in the coming weeks. Of course, this means (yes!) the very exciting news that: The Libertine is now open weekends. Alongside these hearty Sunday lunches, the hangout is mixing cocktails late into Saturday night. See you there.

Spring Into Action On Mother’s Day

For Mother’s Day, Ladurée released a special macaron with the day embossed in pink on the shell and a hamper including a Napoleon pink box of eight macarons, a jar of organic strawberry jam, a luxury chocolate gift box, and a box of Marie Antoinette loose tea. And you could spoil your mum rotten with a “Champagne Breakfast Box” hamper from Fortnum & Mason: complete with Smoked Salmon, Cacklebean eggs, Seeded Sourdough, Strawberry and Champagne Preserve, Shropshire Creamed Honey, Breakfast Blend Tea, Colombia El Jordan Estate Ground Coffee and Fortnum’s Brut Reserve Champagne N.V. There was no better (or more decadent) way to start the day! 

Hatching Plans For Mother’s Day Gifts

Though the day itself has passed, perhaps you still need a gift — and not just any old thing. If so, why not spoil the old girl rotten with a bit of luxury from our boutiques at The Royal Exchange? Whether it’s jewellery, perfume, or other accessories — this is the best stuff money can buy. And doesn’t she deserve it? 

Boodles’ special collection of Mother’s Day jewellery is the perfect way to show your appreciation. Fitted with rare, sought-after gemstones or dazzling, bright diamonds, these necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings are stunning works of craftsmanship that will last a lifetime — just like a mother’s love. 

For something seasonal, Jo Malone London has recently released its limited-edition Blossoms collection. This imagines a city of fragrance — with both hustling, bustling centres and quiet green spaces — all filled with the scent of blossom, branch and evergreen. Springtime notes for a fresh, modern perfume: perfect for welcoming back the sun. 

Or maybe she’s chasing it? For those mums with wanderlust (or just a trip planned), Tumi’s 19 Degree collection offers the perfect companion for a holiday escape. And you can feel good about it too — the brand has teamed up with charity “1% For The Planet,” where 1% of proceeds from this collection will go towards “Waves for Water,” a scheme providing clean water for those without access to it. 

Over at Montblanc, you can find a gift “for the woman who thinks of it all.” Whether, that’s the world’s finest writing gear — fountain pens and chic notebooks — or luxurious artisanal leatherwork, it’s guaranteed to spell something a bit different. 

Get Cracking On Easter Dining

The arrival of spring means it’s time to get ready for one of those all-important dates on the calendar. Easter is fast approaching and you don’t want to get caught running down your local mini-mart the night before. So get planning! Fortnum & Mason and Ladurée have a beautiful selection of releases for the occasion. Take a look. 

Ladurée has an impressive menu to be reckoned with. Allow us, first of all, to introduce you to its selection of chocolate “Lala” bunnies inspired by the Easter hare, and based on bronze castings by renowned French sculptors Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne. Second up it’s the truly decadent “Easter Desert” with a crunchy hazelnut praline base, 65% Indonesia chocolate whipped cream, and a semi-salted butter caramel and dark chocolate shell. And no, we’re not forgetting — the Easter eggs themselves! With these, Ladurée looks back to a tradition that ranges from the royal courts of the renaissance to that of Louis XV —where “eggs painted by French artist Lancret or decorated with French painter Watteau’s rural landscapes were exchanged.” Referencing these origins, the brand offers a selection of pink, green, ivory, milk and dark chocolate eggs embossed with a seasonal take on its iconic laurel wreath design. 

Fortnum’s, too, has risen to the occasion with a selection of Easter treats. Wake up to a cup of F&M’s new “Easter Tea” in celebration of the coming of spring. Black, low-grown Ceylon is punctuated by elderflower and orange blossom along with the freshness (and colour) of marigold and cornflower blossoms. Or try one of Fortnum’s quintessential hampers — perfect for a spring picnic. In “The Easter Hamper,” you can dive into a cornucopia of springtime delicacies: from teas to spreads to chocolate eggs. All you need now is the blanket (and the weather!)