In the lead up to International Women’s Day on Wednesday 4 March, The Barbary Notting Hill will be hosting a lunch with OBE Recipient Mary Portas interviewed by comedian and cultural critic Viv Groskop.
The conversation, An Open Letter To My Younger Self, will offer a lifetime of professional wisdom to future generations, with donations going to The King’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life. We’re putting the event on your radar in case you’re working on a March What’s On guide or pulling together any International Women’s Day round-ups in the coming weeks.
Restaurateur (and co-founder of The Barbary Notting Hill), Zoe Paskin, will open the restaurant to bring together a group of women across all industries for a conversation with the inspiring stalwart, Mary Portas. Nicknamed “Queen of Shops”, Mary will offer a reflective look at her leadership and career as a renowned businesswoman, broadcaster, activist and author, who has spent decades reshaping how we think about retail.
Ahead of the talk, from 12pm, ticket holders will be greeted with a welcome drink, followed by a lunch with signature dishes from the restaurant’s menu inspired by the vast culinary landscape of the Barbary Coast. Delicate raw plates such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Brown Butter and Pistachio and Burnt Tomato Salad with Ricotta Salata, as well as heartier plates of Whole Sea Bass with Chermoula and Coffee Rub Chicken with Delica Pumpkin. Alongside signature plates will be pours from dynamic and ever-evolving grape varieties to reflect the season’s best from both exciting regions and lesser-known growers.
To reserve a space, go to The Barbary’s website, with a minimum £20 donation encouraged, to go towards The King’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life campaign, supporting young women with the resources, confidence and opportunities they need to achieve their ambitions and build a brighter future. The chosen charity, as well as the spirit of the event, is to encourage greater collaboration and kindness, and help one another rise up.
On the event, Zoë Paskin says, “In recent months, I’ve been leaning into peer groups (WPO) and realising how much support – even solidarity – there is. Through connecting with other women whose paths have been both similar to and very different from my own, I’ve really experienced the value of collaboration. I want the event to encourage all of us to lean into this more, either by fundraising directly or, more immediately, within our networks and organisations.”
Website | Book (£20+ donation HERE)
What: IWD Event with Viv Groskop & Mary Portas
When: Wednesday 4th March, from 12pm
Where: The Barbary Notting Hill, 112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
