We love a good whisky, and even more than that, we love a good whisky cocktail. Other things we love include good music, good burgers, and parties in a giant crate. So you can understand our excitement when we heard about Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky’s Cutty Cargo London party.

On Thursday September 12 2013, the hottest talent from across the city will be brought together in one place for one night, inside a giant reproduction of a wooden cargo crate, used to smuggle Cutty Sark whisky into America 90 years ago.

Performances taking place inside the Cutty Cargo crate include: (Are you ready for this?…)

• South London born soulful songstress and Mercury Music Prize nominee, Jessie Ware. Jessie will return to her London roots as she headlines Cutty Cargo, singing tracks from her outstanding debut album Devotion.

• London based DJ and producer Duke Dumont. The man behind the popular house hit Need You (100%) will be dominating the dance floor with a high-energy set.

• Pioneers of the current London restaurant scene, MEAT Liquor and creator and star chef, Yianni Papoutsis will be serving up their famed burgers. The hottest restaurant in central London will be in attendance giving people a diner-style treat, which is hugely popular among the capital’s foodies and celebrities.

• London’s hottest cocktail bar, situated in north London, 69 Colebrooke Row, will be creating Cutty Sark bespoke 1920s inspired cocktails in the secret Speakeasy in the Cutty Cargo crate venue. The UK’s pioneering drinks creator Tony Conigliaro, founder of the bar, has developed the cocktails, using the latest Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky ‘Prohibition Edition.’

• Performances will take place from Burlesque sensation Miss Polly Rae, best known as the star and creator of West End and international burlesque cabaret extravaganza ‘The Hurly Burly Show™’.

• London based international music photographer Tom Oxley will be showcasing his groundbreaking exhibition of moving video portraits of prolific musicians. Each moving portrait is accompanied by a music track chosen by that artist. The exhibition will allow the audience to get up close and personal with influential artists including Liam Gallagher, Jake Bugg and Azealia Banks.

• Art lovers can marvel upon an installation of mini Cutty Sark crates that have been customised by a collective of up and coming artists recommended by ‘It’s Nice That’, a leading online blog magazine dedicated to modern design.

• The Shanty Theatre Company, a group of famed storytellers who are regulars on the London theatre scene, will take the audience on a fantastical journey as they perform a bold, love tale laced with iconic images. Mysterious twists will dazzle the audience as well as immersing them as the plot unravels.

• Flat-e, a London based design studio, will be utilising the latest developments in technology and realtime programming as part of their immersive light installation. Their design will stretch across the roof of the wooden cargo crate creating a unique visual display unifying the creative space.

To find out more about the Cutty Cargo London event and how to attend visit www.facebook.com/CuttySarkWhisky

The sight of a magnificently worn beard is an everyday occurrence and expectation within the confines of our busy barbershops.

When such a glorious presence occurs in an alternative cultural industry however, we reserve a deserving amount of pride.

Andre Villas Boas is arguably the most well-groomed man in football and deserves our attention and appreciation. With a level-headed approach to management and an excitable side to his touchline manner, there’s little to not like about this man’s aspiring presence in the game (Arsenal fans aside.) He is one of the leading lights of the smart brigade, the men who team beard with suit and keep it neat and tidy. (A brigade that Jeremy Paxman has recently joined.)

With the new Premiership season just around the corner, we’re ready for our annual fix of AVB’s well-groomed image and the sighting of further individuals upping the level of dapperness in the sport.

This September we’ll be popping up to cut hair, trim beards, shave stubble and style ‘tashes live from the lobby at the Hoxton Hotel – Shoreditch establishment since 2006, the same year we opened our first shop in the area.

The pop-up takes place over four days from Wednesday 25^th September, right beside the fireplace in front of lobby’s huge windows. Opening at 9am each day the pop-up salon will offer express cuts – perfect for lunch hour slots, beard trims, wet shaves and moustache trims to the masses. There will also be a range of Murdock London signature shaving products available to purchase.

Anyone booking an appointment will also be offered a 50% discount on food and drink from the Hox Grill when they sign up to the Hoxton friends mailing list, make like a man and check out the pulled pork bap or juicy burger. Advance booking is advised by emailing customerservices@murdocklondon.com and appointments are available from 9am – 5:30pm.

Price List

- Haircut: £35 (45 mins)

- Moustache Trim: £15 (15 mins)

- Quick Beard Trim & Condition: £16 (15 mins)

- Traditional Wet Shave: £45 (45 mins)

Opening times

Wednesday 25^th September – Sunday 29^th September, 9am – 5:30pm

Hoxton Hotel, 81 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU

www.hoxtonhotels.com

An ad for Sloppy Joe’s from the 50s. Courtesy of  Florida Keys Public Libraries

50′s Havana provided a glamorous level of escapism and tranquillity for wealthy travelling Americans and their acquaintances post-prohibition years.

With the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Gary Cooper among the list of famous visitors and patrons even decades before this, iconic locations such as Sloppy Joe’s and El Floridita provided an appropriate setting for the masculine romanticism behind smoking cigars and drinking whisky and cocktails.

Our Bright Leaf cologne – a bold, sweet and sultry fragrance similarly represents and captures the air of this romanticism. When you apply a spray of the cologne, you are opening a box of antique cigars and revelling in the distinct smell of masculinity. You are sat, alongside Hemingway at the bar with a whisky airing and the glorious Cuban heat drifting through the room. You have left the stress and hurriedness of working life behind you and earned this moment of sincere enjoyment. You may have entered the bar alone, but you are soon to attract new acquaintances and like-minded individuals.

Sloppy Joe’s in the 50s 

Ernest & Mary Hemingway with Spencer Tracy at El Floridita

Hemingway fell in love with this environment and actually lived there for over two decades. He frequented Sloppy Joe’s to the point of essentially becoming a silent partner, bringing friends and colleagues along to experience some of the unprecedented vintage glamour. This level of passion can only be drawn from such a unique and quintessential environment.

Despite his recorded strong attitude towards keeping off the drink when working, Hemingway did enjoy a regular tipple wherever his travels took him. With his drink of choice acknowledged as being a dry Martini, that was by no means where his range of taste stopped. In 1921 El Floridita created a variation of a Daquiri cocktail in his name – notably sugar-free, just as he preferred.

Hemingway actually lived outside of Havana’s exotic and glamourous appeal in the modest town of San Francisco de Paula. His house was called ‘Finca Vigía’ which translates to ‘Lookout Farm’. The quiter location provided the environment that he required to complete several of his most famous novels; For Whom The Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea.

Havana was such the place to be seen that it even hosted a Grand Prix in 1957 and 1958.

The Cuban Grand Prix was a briefly run event, with a street circuit on the beachfront of Havana that intended to attract wealthy tourists to the area. Initially everything went to plan, with the ’57 race proving a popular success. The following years however saw revolutionary intervention and the deaths of several spectators.

Gary Cooper spectating and Hary Schell racing at the Havana Grand Prix 

For decades, the interior environment of a barbershop has been used as an iconic setting for film scenes. From messy slapstick to refined drama, the authentic nature and charm of barbering culture and traditional men’s grooming has an incredibly broad cinematic appeal.

Alongside this, the process and graceful nature of traditional wet shaving has also made for compelling viewing. No matter what the genre, grooming can always justify its relevance.

We’ve picked out some of our favourite grooming scenes from films that within their own context, relay the art of shaving and the significance of barbershops. This significance, of course is representing a place for a dapper gents to come and think, talk, relax, have fun, cherish, improve themselves, escape reality, ‘handle business’ or all of the above…

The Untouchables

This beautifully shot scene sees Robert De Niro’s character being pampered to within an inch of his life. Surrounded by reporters, one nick of the cheek fills the room with tension. Playing the tough guy, this is soon shrugged off and turned into a convenient analogy.

Wrestling Ernest Hemingway

As Robert Duvall compellingly takes over barbering duties for Richard Harris, we see these two men begin to form a friendship based on their dignified connection.

High Plains Drifter

Back when a shave and hot bath would set you back 90 cents, Clint Eastwood strikes fear into his barber with little more than a glance. Before the razor’s edge can even make contact with his face however, he is forced in to a quick and easy shootout. With his barber escaping from the scene, a wipe across the face sees the bearded Eastwood leave as he was.

Mississippi Burning

After a swift changeover in barbers, this client is left in a highly vulnerable position. Staring at a cut-throat blade against his face at the hands of an untrained man, it’s not long before he’s out of the chair and thrown around the whole room.

Key Largo

Johnny Rocco is the proud gangster receiving some treatment here. Asking for his shave ‘not too close’, he boasts about his precedence as his barber smoothly runs over his face with the cut-throat. It certainly takes a confident man to continue talking as the razor is in action.

Cosmopolis

Robert Pattinson sees his world turned upside down and inside out. All in the name of driving across Manhattan in order to get a haircut.

Eastern Promises

The opening scene of this movie sees a late trip to the barbers soon take a gruesome and gritty turn against the client in the chair. Wince away at your will.

Get Shorty

Not a single hair is actually touched in this scene. We simply witness a ‘business discussion’ between John Travolta and some associates in the fantastic traditional environent.

Sweeney Todd

Little needs to be said about this legendary character and his manner with a cut-throat razor. It’s tricky to look at one without taking a historic mental trip down Fleet Street.

Rio Bravo

Despite a look of concern from Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson provides a straight shave in vintage hollywood glory.

North By Northwest

Using the disguise of shave cream to cover his identity from police, Carey Grant is forced to shave with a miniature double edge razor as the gent stood next to him makes confident strides with his cut-throat.

Last Tango In Paris

Marlon Brando showing how it’s done in one of the most acclaimed shaving scenes for realism in film.

The Big Shave

A fear that every man can relate to is portrayed viciously in this Martin Scorsese short. Preparing to take the time to shave properly in his bathroom, this gent uses a double edge razor to sharpen up. All appears fine until a line of blood can be seen running down his cheek. Effective spatters soon begin to hit the sink’s rim whilst he continues to shave seemingly unfazed and allowing the blood to flow from every pore. This is the stuff that barber’s nightmares are made of.

We’re incredibly excited to announce that our Shoreditch shop will soon be displaying specially created works by our new artist in focus Mr Donald Urquhart, who is a fantastic talent with ink and acrylic and has been featured at Maureen Paley in Herald Street.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

Before we introduce you to the man behind the work however (keep your eyes peeled for the following interview), we took the time to have a chat with Maureen – the creative drive behind the gallery itself – to offer you a little more overview about her extensive career within the art industry and the development of her project space…

Tell us a little bit about your background in art and how the gallery has come to be?

I opened my gallery in London’s East End in 1984 having moved here a bit earlier and have been committed to the area ever since. Next year will mark the 30^th anniversary of the gallery. When it first began it was a project space and it has evolved ever since.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

Did you ever foresee yourself in such a role professionally?

From a very young age at school I was interacting with art. Not just being asked about my own work, but also be asked to offer my comments on others’. I was always as interested in other people’s work as any of my own. It’s what I enjoy doing and feels very natural and creative to enable art to exist in the world.

The gallery appears to feature many different styles of artistic personality and the respective work. Does your broad taste in art influence this?

I’m attracted to artists who don’t have a unified style. I’m interested in people who have an outstanding level of commitment to their work. We display a variety of mediums and encourage diversity which I think is a healthy thing.

What can visitors expect to take away from a visit to your gallery?

We are committed to presenting work with a level of depth and intensity. Our visitors can expect an atmosphere more representative of a lab rather than a shop space. From October the 14^th, we are showcasing Wolfgang Tillmans’ newest work and it’s going to be very exciting.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

What was it about Donald that really caught your attention?

Donald has a very distinctive approach to drawing. He also has a wonderful writing ability. He is very theatrical and inventive and is currently living in Paris.

What kind of impact do you feel having such art in shops like ours can achieve?

Murdock struck me in particular as not just being a shop, but a place where there is activity. Where there is an entire concept and an awareness of design. It’s more of an environment and I really like that. I think the art shown can complement the situation it is shown in.

Do you have any advice for young people looking to push their art within a professional landscape?

As an artist you must endeavour to be as true to yourself as you can be. You must really know what you want to do and be willing to be dedicated to an often very singular and specific lifestyle. In many ways, this is the deepest commitment. Creative people in general have many different options and areas of work to engage in. As an artist your personal viewpoint is what will define you.

You can visit Maureen Paley at 21 Herald Street, E2 6JT. Opening times are Wednesday to Sunday 11.00 – 18.00 and also by appointment.

As many of you will have already read, we are incredibly excited to be hosting a private art viewing next Thursday in our Shoreditch branch.

The evening will be unveiling and showcasing the unique work that has been provided to us courtesy of the highly talented Donald Urquhart and in association with Maureen Paley.

We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

Don’t forget to R.S.V.P. to themurdockman@murdocklondon.com

As previously announced, in association with Maureen Paley we are pleased to soon be able to display an original selection of art by Donald Urquhart in our Shoreditch branch.

It’s safe to say that Donald has had a vibrant career within the art world. Primarily using print and ink, his compelling work features bold visuals and a tone that causes instantaneous intrigue.

We will be hosting an opening evening for Donald’s work in Shoreditch on Thursday 12th September, and anticipate a fantastic response. (Don’t forget to RSVP to themurdockman@murdocklondon.com if you would like to attend!)

In advance of the event, Donald was able to answer several questions that were burning on the tips of our tongues and reveals plenty more about his creative mind and methodology:

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

There is a familiar artistic style throughout your work, however the pieces also appear very isolated and individual from each other. Do you work very solely focused on one idea at a time?

It is all about focus. I have quite an actressy approach to my work, sometimes there is a lot of research and rehearsal – I do not have a strict method, however. That would bore me. Often I surprise myself and I hope that I can surprise others too. Frankly I dread drawing at times, all that fiddling about with tiny brushes and pots of ink. It isn’t fun, but people have this fantasy that I enjoy it. I enjoy the results. As for having one idea at a time – I am sometimes putting a lot of very complicated ideas together in a seemingly simple image, so no. There can be a whole orchestra of sounds going in to the making of a single chord.

The ideas behind the work appear almost stream of conscience-like? What triggers you to run away with a specific idea?

I’m nutty as a fruitcake, darling. I have few boundaries and hold on to the dangerous notion that I am normal. Of course I am not. I am one of the maddest and wildest people I have encountered in my life. Some of my work reflects my pretensions or delusions of sanity. Other pieces really let the cat out of the bag. There are three of us. There is the Donald who cooks and cleans and tries to keep things from falling apart. There is me, the same person I was when I was a child, the one very few people get to meet. Then there is the creative abstraction – the scary one. I once summarised this as a ‘Holy Trinity’ (during a blazing row with a boyfriend) – you know. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Of course they all have a hand in the drawings.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

Could you talk us through your planning and creation process? 

Not really. Sometimes I plan things for so long that I don’t get around to doing anything. The planning is satisfying enough. At other times I just get an idea in my head and pick up a brush and put it on paper. The alphabets are hard work. Nailing something or someone in 26 images. The Joan Crawford alphabet was the easiest one – she had a lot going on – I read every book and watched every film I could. In fact I have made two Joan Crawford alphabets and could possibly rise to a third. The alphabet of Belgium was a different matter entirely. Actually I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about it, which is just as well.

Who/what generally inspires you?

The Mary Poppins books. Watching birds pecking with great precision at seeds. Muriel Spark. Bob Fosse. Anyone I have ever fallen in love with – apart from one of them who destroyed me. You know what? I think I should take acid again. It really has been years and years and years. I had a really extreme trip once in Paris with Lady Miss Kier at a Thierry Mugler party. I was staying in a flat just around the corner from where I live now in Montmartre, so I saw and felt Montmartre on acid. Of course you don’t have to take acid in Montmartre to get tripped out. There is just something going on here. I can see why the Celtic Druids hung out here. My garden is full of hemlock, which I like to think has been here since their times.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

Do you intend to leave a lot to people’s interpretations with your work, or is there a distinct message behind each piece?

Oh they can think what they like. Everyone sees with different eyes. Some people see things that I didn’t intend. Who knows? I’m no psychiatrist. It is my greatest pleasure when someone does ‘get’ my work. This doesn’t happen so often, but when it does I just about pass out.

Do you have a preferred method of work, or enjoy being open to many art forms?

I really want to snap my brushes in half and set fire to them, then become a photographer. That is my dream. Of course I love the theatre, I love acting and singing – I really would ‘play the maid’ to be in a Broadway show.

At the moment I’m seriously thinking about doing some theatre work when I go to Scotland this autumn. I just did some artwork for the Guild of Players at the Theatre Royal Dumfries. I appeared on stage as Jerome in South Pacific – blacked up in a sarong – when I was eight there. Well, they’re doing Cinderella and I would love to be a part of it – I’d be happy to play the footman who carries the glass slipper on a cushion. But really I think the Fairy Godmother is much more what I have in mind.

I’ve been making a film, bit by bit. It has been a long project and I feel it is coming together now. It came right out of the air. It started with a conversation about Loie Fuller with my friend Mr Pearl and it has literally taken wings. I’m hoping to get Dita Von Teese involved when she comes to Paris. The costume I hand painted and dyed involves 33m of silk. I adore it. It is coming with me wherever I go. I thought I would like to be buried in it for a moment but I really could not be that selfish. It deserves to fly forever.

You’re living in Paris right now. Is there anything particularly special about being where you are?

I can exist anywhere. Throw me in jail or shove me in the nut house. I think I’d be just dandy. Of course I love living in Paris. Who wouldn’t? The least special thing about where I live (Montmartre) is the lack of real shops. I have to go all the way down hundreds of stairs to get to the local supermarket and then come all the way back up. Everybody says it is great exercise but it is even greater exercise restraining myself from punching their lights out. They don’t have to do it every bloody day. I came here because I was attracted to Muriel Spark’s idea (which James Joyce shared) that an artist functions best when living in exile. It is true. To be honest I really couldn’t stand living in London. London stifled me creatively. Now I feel liberated and restored. I’m ready for my fifties.

© Donald Urquhart, courtesy Maureen Paley, London

How do you think your work will convey in our Shoreditch barber shop?

I like beards. I like beautiful beards like I like beautiful hair-do’s. I love the Three Musketeers’ beards and the beauty that is Matthu Andersen. When I looked at the Murdock website I was temporarily reminded of my unwarranted phobia, but then I saw a very elegant moustache that looked like something I had drawn. That is when I grasped that Murdock is there to spare people like me (if others exist) from bad beards. It is bad beards, like bad art that I really cannot suffer. I should really have been a hairdresser. Well I’ve cut a lot of people’s hair and dressed many a wig. It is that attention to detail that makes all the difference, along with an aesthetic sensitivity. I think that my work will be like a missing jigsaw piece in Murdock and you will not want to take it down.

I am also excited to be showing my work out of a gallery environment. I didn’t go to art school so haven’t been trained to make objects designed to be displayed in a white walled gallery or museum space. Let’s face it – I used to be happy showing my work in the filthy cellar of a pub – as photocopies. For me, the work should just be seen through someone’s eyes and go into their brain. In public spaces the work can become a conversation starting point.

Our Donald Urquhart exhibition in Murdock Shoreditch is up! We’re extremely excited about the five ink on paper illustrations we have hanging in our Redchurch St shop and think they’re well worth a visit. What with this being the internet and all though, you may well be reading this in another dapper corner of the globe, unable to make the trip to London town, so we’ve hung them on this little wall space of the world wide web for you to admire. You can also read our interview with Paris based artist Donald here.  

Hot, 2006, ink on paper.

Diamond Digger, 2006, ink on paper.

 Turbans 1, 2013, ink on paper.

Turbans 2, 2013, ink on paper.

Turbans 3, 2013, ink on paper.

If you are interested in any of Donald Urquhart’s work, email maureen@maureenpaley.com

This week, as part of the London Design Festival and the Shoreditch Design Triangle, our Redchurch Street branch is displaying a fantastic ceramic shaving set hand-crafted by Central Saint Martins graduate Charlotte McLeish.

Offically running between the 14th-22nd September, the London Design Festival is now in its 5th consecutive year. The event brings together a fascinating collection of designers, stores, galleries, studios, cafes, bars, brands and one-off events for a week of design-led festivities.

We caught up with Charlotte as she brought along her work to find out more about her creative path so far and what taking part in the festival means to fellow professionals:

You began working at your family’s jewellery business and then turned your attention towards ceramic design. What made you decide to change fields?

The shop was in Birmingham and I didn’t feel like I was really going anywhere and I just wanted a bit of a change. I really wanted to move to London and I’d already been down this way at university before. I did ceramics at Brighton and always missed it. I just had a mad Sunday of deciding to go back to uni, acknowledging that I needed to have a change and just going for it. I’ll go back to jewellery eventually, but this is what I want to be doing right now.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your work with ceramics so far?

The collection that I am displaying is very male oriented. I’ve never been a massive girly girl, and have always been drawn to more masculine style. I wanted to make a set of something and over the last few years male grooming has become huge, so it all came quite naturally.

How was your time at Central Saint Martins and the experience that you gained?

I absolutely loved it. They were the best three years of my life. Moving to London and going to uni was the best idea. The course was so great and the tutors to match, I can’t fault it at all. It was just a great experience.

How has the transition between student and working professional been for you?

There’s a lot to think about all the time. I’m currently juggling a part-time job and this. It’s strange when people suddenly start to recognise you for your work not as a person though, It’s great! There’s a lot to juggle – especially with Design Week, I would love to dedicate everything to my ceramic work and turn it into my full-time job officially. I’ll often be in the studio until midnight with people assuming that I must sleep there, so I think I’m on the right track.

There’s a distinct masculine tailored quality to your work – is this a significant intention for you?

I have had a lot of people approach me looking for me to make a women’s items, but I really want to get the men’s performing perfectly and working well before changing over. That’s where my interest really lies, in men’s accessories.

You draw a lot of inspiration from historical artefacts and antiques. How do you go about accessing such sources?

I’ve always been really interested in antiques, and working for the National Trust allowed me to look after a house and plenty of artefacts. It’s just always been a really keen interest of mine, and to sit down and look back on my work, it’s clear that loads of things have influenced me.

Do brands like Murdock draw a different kind inspiration?

The more traditional men’s tailoring theme ties into my interest with style from the 30s and 40s. It’s nice to see a modern take on such a strong concept, which for a contemporary brand is definitely interesting.

Talk us through your creation process. What kind of equipment is involved and where do you work?

I work in a studio in Bermondsey, but am soon to move further east soon which will be a new and exciting venture. I do everything on the wheel and all of my work is handmade. It’s a time consuming process but interesting work is created as a result.

How do you think your work will fair being on display in our barbershop?

It will be quite strange to have the work laid bare, with people looking at it without any explanation on my part, so it’ll be nice to get feedback and hear what people think. Being female, it’ll be interesting to gain some masculine opinions.

 A sneak preview of Charlotte’s ceramic work within the Murdock environment.

Tell us more about The London Design Festival. How do people get involved and is it mainly young artists being featured?

It’s really quite a broad event actually. It’s really nice timing because it’s a few months after people have graduated. That does draw in a lot of young people, usually from universities. It’s definitely not just young people though; it’s for all ages really. Whatever kind of design you’re into, there’s something for everybody.

Generally the exhibitions I’m in I’ve been approached for which is quite nice. I’m fresh in people’s minds from graduate shows currently, but over time I’m probably going to have to start looking for the work! My graduate show was just amazing; everyone had really good feedback and people from the industry were there that you only ever know by name. Suddenly you’re talking to them which is just amazing.

You’re taking part in another exhibition for design week too. Could you tell us more about that project?

There are nine of us from Central Saint Martins. One girl did jewellery and the rest of us are ceramicists. We’re in The Do Shop in Covent Garden, who approached us to do a little exhibition on the trail. It’s nice to see how other people have progressed from university within a couple of months. They thought our graduate exhibition was great and said ‘why don’t you do something for us as well?’ It’s being labelled ‘The CSM Invasion’ as we’re taking over the bottom half of shop.

You can read more information about the event here and view Charlotte’s ceramic work at our Redchurch Street branch from now until the 22nd. Tonight is the festival’s late evening, and we will be staying open until 9pm.

The annual London Cocktail Week begins today and runs until the 13th October.

The atmosphere around Seven Dials is already beginning to buzz as stalls and pop-up shops prepare to provide some fine cocktail tasting in its masses.

As of this afternoon, we are providing our Monmouth Street clients with the opportunity to sip and enjoy a Langley's Gin & Tonic as they receive their luxury grooming services for the event duration.

As Cocktail Week participants, we are also keeping our doors open on Thursday evening until 9pm to host a Gentlmen's Gin evening to enjoy two amazing gin cocktails being showcased by Langley's No.8.

Langley's are an authentic British gin company with a passion for quality and tradition in both production and flavour. This causes their gin to be a totally understated and sophisticated choice of tipple.

For more information and insight into Langley's Gin, see our interview with brand founder Mark Dawkins. In the meantime, cast your eyes and attempt to restrain your tastebuds as we reveal the two cocktails being served at our Monmouth Street branch this Thursday...

The Ultimate G&T:

The perfect G&T is a classic creation and the right ingredients are vital.

Starting with a chilled highball glass, we fill with ice cubes and pour 50ml of Langley's® No.8 over. After listening for the crack, we then top the glass up with fresh sparkling tonic. Next we gently squeeze a little bit of lime juice into the glass and then drop the whole wedge in. One final stir and you have the definitive G&T to savour and enjoy.

Pouring 50ml Langley's No.8 and 12.5ml of Dry Vermouth into a cocktail shaker, we add ice and stir slowly to mix and create a dilution. The mixture is then strained into a chilled martini glass and a peel of lemon is twisted over to garnish. The Martini is then ready to serve & be enjoyed.
For more information about London Cocktail Week and to purchase your wristband, you can visit the website here.

Our event is guestlist only, however Cocktail Week wristband wearers may queue outside for entry.

As we celebrate London Cocktail Week from today until Sunday in Seven Dials and host a private Gin Evening in our Monmouth Street branch on Thursday, we thought it only essential to provide you with some insight into our spirit providers, Langley's.

First and foremost, Langley's No.8 is a unique gin, made with a secret blend of eight botanicals. Hand crafted and distilled, the gin is blended using only 100% English Grain Spirit, delivering a smooth and rounded finish as a result. Quintessentially English, Langley's No. 8 provides an elegantly well-rounded taste.

We spoke to Langley's founder Mark to understand more about the history behind the brand's making and what makes their gin such an appealing and stylish spirit to drink...

Could you tell us a bit about the brand’s history and legacy?

Langley's No.8 was 18 months in development. The balance of botanicals, choosing the right grain spirit and getting the strength right were the main stages of getting our recipe perfected. Langley's Distillery was the natural choice for us to partner to develop our unique recipe; they are the oldest independent/family owned gin distillery outside of London, they still only use traditional, small batch, hand-crafted methods and they were as passionate as us at working to perfect our recipe with us. We launched our brand 6 months ago when we bottled our first batch. The name of our brand comes from the distillery, of course and, the No.8 part comes from the batch number we signed off. We tasted 12 final strengths/versions of our gin and the 8th one of the 12 was the one signed off.

What do you think is influencing modern gentleman to drink more gin?

Gentlemen have been drinking gin since it was originally founded. In previous researches, every gentleman on our panel was a gin drinker and they are a huge part of UK gin consumption. The increased awareness & interest in gin in recent years, driven by more artisan brands coming onto the market, has driven this consumption further.

How have images and the portrayal of gin changed through time and how have Langley's been a part of this?

The recent gin renaissance has been largely down to the more boutique, artisan and micro-distillery gins coming onto the market, made with more passion, care and enthusiasm. That said, however, I think most gin brand owners would have to agree that the catalyst for all of it starting some years ago was largely down to Hendricks.

What makes Langley’s No 8 gin unique?

Every gin is unique and it is easy to get different flavour profiles because one can use unique and different balances of botanicals to get different flavour profiles. Ours is a unique recipe in terms of the balance of botanicals, the English grain spirit we use and the strength (ABV %). In terms of our positioning and strategy; we are the first gin to specifically target the discerning gentleman.

Could you tell us about the atmosphere of the distillery? Is it a place that oozes a sense of history and authenticity?

It is like going back in time about 100 years. Copper and original oak dominate the distillery where it all happens, it is in the heart of the industrial origins of The Black Country. The botanicals are stored in hessian sacks with the botanical names stamped on them which again gives it a feel of times past. Our recipe is stored in a very old safe which you can see on arrival.

What are the unique values of gin that alternative spirit options lack?

Gin is perceived as quintessentially English and there is a huge amount of history given that London gin houses have been around for more than 300 years. It is a spirit deemed for the more affluent, traditional consumer in the same way as Malt Whisky and Cognac. When you compare it to other white spirits, it appeals to a broader age range and a more affluent consumer. It is easier to drink and more accessible for the younger consumer than whisky and cognac too.

Do you think that the grand establishment of Gin & Tonic overshadows the broader range of possibilities with gin? Is this predominately an English concern?

G&T is actually a global thing. 99.9% of gin is probably drunk in this format but, in more upmarket establishments, The Martini has a disproportionate share of voice. Langley's No.8 is also excellent when consumed neat or over ice, as a digestif. This isn’t something I see catching on, but it is a great way to get the full-flavour profile of any gin and, with ours, it particularly shows off the smoothness and length, something which a lot of gins do not deliver.

Are there any unusual or perhaps unexpected gin combinations that you would recommend people give a try?

I was at a function the other night and someone was drinking it with Ginger Ale (not my personal recommendation!) Cocktails continue to evolve and basil is becoming very popular amongst bartenders. We have created a cocktail using fresh whole basil leaves and this, along with Elderflower, fresh lemon juice and fresh apple juice, delivers a fabulous cocktail. You will be able to see this recipe on our website soon.

Similarly to the Murdock ethos, you ensure that Langley’s gin is ‘as quintessentially English as possible’. How much of a distinct value do you think this description puts upon your product?

A lot. We use only English Grain Spirit to distil our botanicals and we still use a copper pot that was made in England in 1960 (a lot are made overseas and imported these days). Gin, both here and in export markets, is deemed as being English as Whisky is Scottish so it is important, in our opinion, to stick to these traditions to give the brand longevity and a classic, timeless feel.

This Thursday our Monmouth Street branch will open until 9pm serving up Langley's gin cocktails to private guests. For more information, please see our event post.

Last night, our Master Barber Alex Glover and King St Head Barber Matt Hughes were on styling duty at the Savile Row Bespoke Launch. This was an Autumn/Winter showcase held at the Sartoria restaurant.

The Savile Row Bespoke Association is dedicated to protecting and promoting the practices and traditions that have made Savile Row the acknowledged home of the best bespoke tailoring and a byword for unequalled quality the world over.

Brilliant beards were likewise sharpened and trimmed to compliment the high standards in clothing.

 When strong, lengthy beards and short, sharp buzzcuts collide, outstanding outcomes are achieved.

Last weekend, The Evening Standard Magazine's cover article looked into the rise of male grooming and the feminine perspective on the contemporary industry change.

As part of the feature, written by Men's Health Style Director Dan Rookwood, Murdock London is highlighted as being a member of the grooming surge forefront, and Managing Director Brendan is also quoted regarding his views on what's caused the boom:

"Men are absolutely more developed in their tastes. That's reflected in the growth of British menswear brands such as Oliver Spencer and Sunspel, and a re-emerging market for bespoke suits and handmade British shoes. My brand caters both for the slick City banker and the heavily bearded Shoreditch creative. What they all appreciate is individual service and the masculine environment."

How did you fair in comparison to Dan's active daily grooming routine and attitude to looking after himself as a modern man?

Pride Of Place: Murdock Beard Moisturiser as part of the Mighty Beard Box.

As the London Film Festival comes to a close this weekend, we've taken a look back at the astounding array of films that have been presented at this year's showcase.

The vast selection of films being debuted - from small, charming independent numbers to potential box office toppers span seemingly every possible genre, but our focus here are the movies that both represent and feature key MurdockMan qualities. From slick and dapper leading men to intelligent themes and stylish settings, let us present you with our nominated highlights and favourite picks:

Saving Mr Banks:

As one of the most publicised and featured films on the Festival's calendar, John Lee Hancock provides his account of the true story behind Mary Poppins' journey to the big screen. Packed with emotion, humour and depth in storytelling, a fantastic cast is lead by Emma Thompson as PL Travers, joined by Tom Hanks looking the classic, dapper, gentlemanly part as he portrays Walt Disney.

Captain Phillips:

Tom Hanks has naturally become a figurehead for this year's festival, playing his part in two of the biggest films on the bill. As Captain Richard Phillips, we see the same man that fits so gracefully in Walt Disney's sharp suit with a slick haircut provide audiences with a much rawer shade of masculinity. Rugged, earnest and in a desperate situation, this intensified side of Hanks is sure to steal the show in Paul Greengrass' dramatisation of the 2009 hijacking of a US container ship.

The Double:

Richard Ayoade's directorial talent brings us Jesse Eisenberg's beat down and directionless character who sees his confident, more successful doppelganger join the same company as him and effortlessly work his way up the ladder. Ayoade's brilliance in dark humour, bold irony and emotive impact collide with Fyodor Dostoevsky’s celebrated novel to provide a distinctly contemporary update of a literary classic.

La Belle et la Bête:

Jean Cocteau’s Gothic fantasy has been digitally restored to mark the 50th anniversary of the director's death. Having access to the diary kept by Cocteau during filming, this updated version has taken accurate notes from the director to complete the originally intended look and sound of his film. Pivotal Gothic elements within this classic convey a truly deep and dark tale from a director affected by attention to style throughout all of his work.

Parkland:

Approaching the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination, Journalist Peter Landesman’s debut feature re-creates the events of the day and the period that followed from the perspectives of the working people directly involved. Not just sharp suits and slick haircuts, but immense character performances and truly broad detail complete this dynamic portrayal.

As I Lay Dying:

This year James Franco has appeared to have been creatively busier than ever - if such a thought is possible. Intelligence, filmmaking craft and attention to detail provide an accurate cinematic take on William Faulkner's 30s novel that is set to provide some immense visual inspiration for men worldwide.

Inside Llewyn Davis:

The Coen Brothers look to provide as true and honest a portrayal of the early 1960s folk era as possible, and it appears they have achieved just that. A splendid cast meet fantastic music production and the end result is an intimately attractive account of a young musician trying to make it as a solo artist.

Kill Your Darlings:

Daniel Radcliffe plays a young Allen Ginsberg in John Krokidas' feature, as we see him desperate to escape from his academic prison and figure out the man he wants to be. Appearing stylised to a tee, this looks like a film fit for wardrobe inspiration as much as pure cinematic pleasure.

The Last Impresario:

Labelled as 'the most famous person you've never heard of', Gracie Otto's bio-documentary of Michael White puts the spotlight on the man who produced over 300 shows (Rocky Horror..) and movies (Monty Python's Holy Grail..) over the last 50 years. Interviews with close friends spanning Anna Wintour and Kate Moss, as well as speaking to White himself provide the most open insight into the life and career of the man who irrevocably shaped the cultural scene of 1970s London.

Hello Carter:

Making his directorial debut, Anthony Wilcox presents an alternative take on the rom-com format. Lead character Carter has had a bad year to say the least, and upon attempting to turn things around, events take a wild, spiralling turn and spread across the capital.

Locke:

Formerly publicised MurdockMan Tom Hardy makes his screen return in Steven Knight's tale of a structural engineer's car journey to London from Wales. The footage was entirely shot over 8 days and focuses on the evening before a seminal step in Ivan Locke's (Hardy) career. As one mistake leads to a complete breakdown in control of his life, the atmosphere of the film is tightly concealed within the interior of the car, providing an undeniable level of cinematic intensity.

All Images © BFI

In this evening's Deluxe ES Magazine - an issue that features particularly beardy gentlemen models throughout and also has a wonderful Interior segment based in Jeremy Hackett's late-Georgian cottage - some of our finest grooming products have been featured.

Having curated the interior of a bathroom cabinet to suit the needs of both bearded and fresh-faced chaps, our recently released Cedarwood and Peppermint Shaving Soap is met on top by one of our white straight razors, with both hovering above Wild Berry Beardsley Shampoo and our top-selling Beard Moisturiser.

These fantastic items from our grooming arsenal can be purchased online and across all of our London branches.

Here's to a merry weekend of inspired grooming.

One of the world's leading art fairs, in which certified masterpieces are put on public display came to Regent's Park last week, and we paid a visit to view some of the fantastic work.

Over 1000 of the world's leading artists are featured at the event, and with the option to browse and even purchase some of the most prestigious art known to man, the bespoke setting truly opens the art world up to everybody.

Here were some of our favourite sights from Frieze 2013:

A proud sighting: Current Murdock Shoreditch artist Donald Urquhart.

 John Stezaker - Untitled, 1990

Derek Jarman - Untitled (Wilsonian), 1986 

 Rob Pruitt - hmmm. 2013

Alighiero Boetti - Alternandosi e dividendosi, 1989 

Marcin Maciejowski - Bar at Wilkinson Gallery II, 2013

We can proudly announce that as of today, our extensive range of grooming and lifestyle products are available to buy at Harvey Nichols.

Here is a shot of the elegant and appealing space that we have created within the Knightsbridge branch.

To coincide with the introduction of our products to the Harvey Nichols assembly, we are also hosting a launch event in the Menswear Department tomorrow evening.

If you would like to attend and enjoy some personal Murdock grooming whilst sipping on Langley's gin cocktails and potentially winning some fantastic Murdock prizes, you can RSVP to events.rsvp@harveynichols.com.

Actor and model Jack Guinness is taking his place behind the decks on DJ duty this evening, as we celebrate the launch of Murdock London at Harvey Nichols with a Movember party.

The event is taking place in the Menswear Department at Harvey Nichols Knightbridge, and you still have time to RSVP to events.rsvp@harveynichols.com

In anticipation of the event, we took a few moments to speak to the handsomely bearded chap as he prepares to fuel the night with the perfect mix of tracks.

Hello Jack, you've got a great, full bodied beard, how proud of it are you? Would you be most likely to shave it off for love, money or to change your identity whilst on an international espionage trail? (Or for another reason?) 

I suppose I'm quite proud of it?! I can only be grateful to puberty! I suppose it's strange to be proud of something I have nothing to do with. I just let nature take its course. Would I shave it off? I am rather attached to it. People get horrified (and I mean HORRIFIED) at the idea of me shaving it which always makes me laugh. It'll just grow back. I think it's my Irish genes that make it grow so fast- I get a five ‘o’clock full beard. I grew it because I was too lazy to shave years ago - it's funny it seems to be such a fashion statement at the moment. I love the idea of the bearded community growing (sorry, I can't stop making terrible puns).

A lot of the shoots you do as a menswear model are suited up for tailors? Do you think that wearing a suit with a full face of facial hair gives a different type of edge to a suit? And vice versa, do you think that the suit shines a different light on a beard and perhaps some people's perceptions of a bearded man? 

Sometimes guys in suits can look a little over-polished. It's always a good idea to do something to rough it up a bit... grow a beard, have shaggy hair, or leave you flies undone. I've done all three and I must say that a beard works best. A few years ago the only famous bearded men were Mr Twit (read: cornflakes in beard) or Santa (read: fat, but generous old man). Now they're everywhere. I was once waiting outside a bank and a sweet little girl walked by and handed me twenty pence. She thought I was homeless. It happens. I suppose if I'd been wearing a suit she may have just walked on by, or just made it ten pence instead.

You also act, where did you start?

I remember playing angel Gabriel in nursery. I guess all that attention flicked a switch in me I haven't been able to turn off since. Kind of pathetic really.

What future roles do you have coming up?

Lots of exciting projects - but I can't say too much because I don't want to jinx them.
I've started making lots of funny little video clips and writing more- they're all up on www.jackguinness.com. I like the speed of making stuff and getting it out there quickly without having to rely on a team or waiting for someone else to give me a job. I'm also going to making some documentaries soon which should be a hoot.

Do you prefer acting in stage or film?

They're both so different. The immediacy of stage is brilliant. Film has its own rewards. The flow of theatre and the presence of the audience however make it pretty unbeatable.

If you could have been anyone else in the history of the world who would it have been?

Um.. Not sure. Probably Grizzly Adams - Google him. He's a real man's man.

 ©Allposters

You're djing the launch party of Murdock at Harvey Nichols, what music do you like to play at events like this?

Whatever gets the crowd going. Hard.

And when you're chilling at home, what do you like to listen to?

The sound of the rain against the window pane and my tears. And Northern Soul.

Movember is about to start. Who has your all-time favourite moustache?

Tom Selleck in Magnum PI. A perfect synergy between man and moustache- they both mean business.

©DigitalSpy

The doors to Dapperland are now officially open and we extend an invitation to welcome you to our winter lodge at Somerset House. 

Overlooking the spectacular ice rink at one of London's most popular winter attractions, our lodge is located within the elegant Christmas arcade, the premier pop-up mall featuring the very best of British brands and independent artisans.  We will be in residence until the 4th of January. 

Reflecting the glamour of 1950s French and Swiss ski resorts Chamonix, St Moritz and Gstadd, we worked with designer Andres Ros Soto to create a truly unique christmas shopping destination.

Central to the space is the Murdock Lodge showcasing our extensive selection of grooming products. Alpine tree wallpaper encloses the space and vintage ski posters, memorabilia and accessories help to complete the truly inspired and stylish winter environment. 

We have also launched several new products for our Christmas gift range, including dapper mugs with skaters, skiiers and hockey players, chocolate and raspberry moustache lollies made by Coco Loco and our jaunty ski socks.

Our barbers will be popping up within the space to help prepare gentlemen’s beards and moustaches for the ice, so if you would like to enquire about booking the space, please contact tom@murdocklondon.com

In the meantime, enjoy your skate and absorb the warm, cosy atmosphere of our winter dapperland.

Also keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming MurdockMan event. More info to follow!