At Locke, we love to open our spaces to artists, creators and chefs, helping to foster a sense of community, creativity and connection throughout our properties. Each space is designed with flexibility; log-on spaces in our co-working space, collaborate with clients or make one of our event spaces your own.
Last December saw chef, creator and curator of some of London’s most in demand supper clubs, Xanthe Ross host an intimate festive gathering in Locke at Broken Wharf, bringing the space to life with delicious food and conversation.
We caught up with Xanthe on her top tips for a productive day and how to smoothly pull off a successful supper club.
After six years in London working in the food marketing industry, Xanthe’s growing interest in sustainable farming and food led her to quit London and move back to her parents in Wales.
"After spending months working with them in their hospitality businesses and growing my own vegetables. I went off to cooking school in Ireland specialising in organic farm produce.
"Returning to Wales, I continued to work for my parents' pub and farm shop in Wales whilst starting to run my own supper clubs. I documented my journey on social media and everything has just built from there.
"Now I’m back living in London working on various projects and continuing to run my supper clubs."
After you wake up what’s the first thing you do?
Journal! Towards the end of last year, I was suffering with quite bad anxiety and since then I’ve put quite a few rituals into my daily life that help me manage this. One of those things is three pages of journaling every morning when I wake up.
What are your top 3 must haves for a working day?
Tidiness, I can’t work in mess. Alongside, a good list, I need to write everything down before I start working otherwise, I forget. A constant stream of herbal tea is a must this weirdly keeps me focused, and warm, I’m always cold.
What does a working day look like for you?
I mainly work from home, mostly alone, which I quite like. My days are quite mixed. Often, I’ll start with some laptop work and then some cooking later in the day. I have a small office at home, but I sometimes like to use the kitchen as my office too. But having places like Locke is great because they are centrally located but provide a quiet, tranquil space to get your head down. However, I do like being at home where I can wear my slippers, burn a candle, and put some good music on.
What’s your three top tips when it comes to hosting supper clubs?
1. Go simple with the menu. You don’t need to try and demonstrate that you’re a Michelin-star chef. Remember that people are coming for a different experience than that of a restaurant.
2. Find your own unique style of food and decoration. This may take some time, but experiment with different things.
3. Ask for help, Supper clubs take a lot of work, so bring a team. If you can’t afford to pay people at first, ask your friends and family. I’m sure they’d be willing.
After a long day at work what’s your go-to recipe for un-winding?
Pasta puttanesca, it’ll always be my favourite.
Locke at Broken Wharf.
With spacious, leafy co-working, Riverside views and a calming atmosphere, check out Locke at Broken Wharf, the perfect spot to get your head down for the day.