The Steeple Times

Category: Events

  • Reader Event – An Evening with Steven Berkoff: An Acclaimed Actor Who Walks Against The Woke

    Reader Event – An Evening with Steven Berkoff: An Acclaimed Actor Who Walks Against The Woke

    Matthew Steeples invites you to a discussion-dinner with ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and ‘Rambo’ star Steven Berkoff in London on Wednesday 26th November

    Matthew Steeples invites you to PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie in London for an evening where he and Steven Berkoff will converse not only about an astounding career that began in the 1960s that has seen this “go-to villain” appear in  Octopussy, Rambo, The Tourist and The Krays, but also one of a “baddie of umpteen blockbusters” who’d actually like to be remembered just as “a man who walked against the tide.”

     

    Always a disruptor and anything but timid, this actor, writer and producer’s views on everything from his fellow thespians to the #MeToo movement will be visited. Steeples will ask Berkoff about when he played Harvey Weinstein in a one-man show and delve into the darkness and satire of Greek and East; there will be exploration of Berkoff’s life growing up in London’s East End after the Second World War and a tour of his time at the heights of Hollywood and more recently in  hits such as The Vikings and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

     

    On 26th November at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie – following on from rip-roaring evenings with amongst others Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York author Andrew Lownie and Manhunt and Crime Suspect host Peter Bleksley – you will get to enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner after 45-minutes of conversation and questions with this taboo-breaking actor best known for his “Berkovian theatre” style. Of one thing be certain, this will be a night where there’ll be nothing ‘woke’ on the menu either literally or figuratively.

    Tickets are priced at £85 per person and include a glass of Prosecco on arrival and half a bottle of either red or white wine per person also with dinner.

     

    Taking no prisoners: The wise words of Steven Berkoff against woke wazzockery…

    • “We are becoming people who have everything and feel nothing.”
    • “I like evil people… I’m like a surgeon who is happiest when working with a very diseased body.”
    • “When I write about working class people I do so in ways that reveal them at their absolute magnificent worst.”
    • “Now on a Saturday night it’s Strictly Come Dancing… Sometimes I look at it and there is something in it that actually turns my guts.”
    • “Pubs should stay open… People should be meeting, communicating. People need somewhere to love each other, talk to each other. The one cultural outlet is the bloody pub.”
    •  

    Booking

    TIMINGS

    • The event is to be held on Wednesday 26th November 2025.
    • Arrivals for Prosecco in a private setting on the first floor of PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie from 6.30pm.
    • Matthew Steeples in conversation with Steven Berkoff at 7pm prompt with audience questions to follow for 45 minutes.
    • 3-course dinner with wine, with options for those with particular dietary requirements, to follow. Guests will have the opportunity to chat with Steven Berkoff and Matthew Steeples during the dinner.
    • After dinner, guests will be welcome to continue discussions downstairs at the legendary PJ’s bar for further cocktails and conversation.

     

    ADDRESS

    • The event is to be held at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, 52 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 6HH.
    • The nearest London Underground station is South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines); it is located just 5 minutes away on foot.
    • The event is to be held on the first floor of the building; access is by staircase only.

     

    PAYMENT FOR TICKETS AND BOOKING QUERIES

    Deadline for booking – Wednesday 26th November 2025 at 12 noon; tickets can only be purchased in advance and guest names must be supplied for allocated place settings.

    Tickets can be purchased at a rate of £85 per person. Please make payment by bank transfer to:

    • Bank: Barclays Bank
    • Account Name: Longreach Publishing Limited
    • Sort Code: 20-90-74
    • Account Number: 63608697
    • IBAN: GB13BUKB20907463608697
    • SWIFTBIC: BUKB
    • Please reference payments “BERKOFF” and include your surname and the surnames of any guests also to aid our record keeper.

    Should you have any queries of questions, please contact Jane Monckton at [email protected]

     

    SET MENU – 3 course dinner, Wednesday 26th November 2025

    The ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, ½ a bottle of either red or white wine per person and a choice of one of each of the following:

    STARTERS

    SEARED TUNA wasabi & avocado purée, toasted sesame seeds, yuzu and soy dressing

    SCOTCH BEEF CARPACCIO wild rocket, parmesan, mustard dressing

    BURRATINA shaved truffle, baby plum tomatoes, rocket, toasted focaccia

    CRISPY FRIED ARTICHOKES caper and herb mayonnaise

    MAINS

    THE PJ’S BURGER 8oz patty, mature cheddar cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce, pickle, smoked crackling mayonnaise, fries

    CHICKEN MILANESE wild rocket, artichoke & Reggio cheese salad, toasted sesame, tahini honey dressing

    GRILLED SEABASS FILLET French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives & pesto

    ROAST CAULIFLOWER STEAK chickpeas and roasted red pepper, chipotle hummus, chimichurri

    PUDDINGS

    CLASSIC CRÈME BRULEE

    BELGIAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

    CHOCOLATE & VANILLA CHEESECAKE white chocolate sauce, mixed berry compote

    SELECTION OF SORBETS & ICE CREAMS three scoops

     

  • Reader Event – Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?

    Reader Event – Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?

    ‘The Steeple Times’ invites you to a discussion dinner with ‘The Truth Will Out’ filmmaker Amanda Eliasch, filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and actor Ron Destro on Thursday 23rd October 2025; the question proposed will be “Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?”

    • Join Matthew Steeples of The Steeple Times on 23rd October for a conversation with Amanda Eliasch, director of the forthcoming feature documentary The Truth Will Out.
    • Also on the panel will be the filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro, an actor and founding director of the Oxford Shakespeare Company.
    • A discussion and questions focused on “Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?” shall be followed by a 3-course dinner at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, London, SW3.

    Matthew Steeples invites you to PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie in London for an evening where director, writer and producer Amanda Eliasch, filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and actor and founding director of the Oxford Shakespeare Company, Ron Destro, will discuss two enduring myths crafted to serve political and cultural agendas: that of the virginity of Queen Elizabeth I and the true authorship of William Shakespeare’s works.

     

    Amanda Eliasch is an English artist whose career has spanned photography, poetry, film and theatre. She champions the theory that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford authored Shakespeare’s works and explores such in her forthcoming documentary film The Truth Will Out. Eliasch’s fellow panellists for this event, themselves both respected experts in this field, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro, will join her to discuss the ‘elephant in the room’ that has intrigued many for so long; did William Shakespeare actually pen the plays attributed to him or was the real writer hiding under the radar?

     

    On 23rd October at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie – following on from evenings with amongst others Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York author Andrew Lownie and Manhunt and Crime Suspect host Peter Bleksley – guests will get to enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner after 45-minutes of conversation and questions about the enigma best known as the ‘Bard of Avon’. The £75 per person ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival and half a bottle of either red or white wine per person also.

    Amanda Eliasch with Peter Bleksley at ‘The Steeple Times’ discussion dinner with Peter Bleksley in November 2024; Matthew Steeples.
    Amanda Eliasch with Peter Bleksley at ‘The Steeple Times’ discussion dinner with Peter Bleksley in November 2024; Matthew Steeples.
    Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro.
    Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro.

    To book your tickets…

    TIMINGS

    • The event will be held on Thursday 23rd October 2025.
    • Arrivals for Prosecco in a private setting on the first floor of PJ’s from 6.30pm.
    • Matthew Steeples in conversation with Amanda Eliasch, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro at 7pm prompt with audience questions to follow for 45 minutes.
    • 3-course dinner, with options for those with particular dietary requirements, with wine to follow.
    • After dinner, guests will be welcome to continue discussions downstairs at the legendary PJ’s bar for further cocktails and conversation.

     

    ADDRESS

    • The event is to be held at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, 52 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 6HH.
    • The nearest London Underground station is South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines); it is located just 5 minutes away on foot.
    • The event is to be held on the first floor of the building; access is by staircase only.

     

    PAYMENT FOR TICKETS AND BOOKING QUERIES

    Deadline for booking – Wednesday 22nd October 2025 at 6pm; tickets can only be purchased in advance and guest names must be supplied for allocated place settings.

    Tickets can be purchased at a rate of £75 per person. Please make payment by bank transfer to:

    • Bank: Barclays Bank
    • Account Name: Longreach Publishing Limited
    • Sort Code: 20-90-74
    • Account Number: 63608697
    • IBAN: GB13BUKB20907463608697
    • SWIFTBIC: BUKB
    • Please reference payments “SHAKESPEARE” and include your surname also to aid our record keeper.

    Should you have any queries of questions, please contact Jane Monckton at [email protected]

     

    SET MENU – 3 course dinner, Thursday 23rd October 2025

    The ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, ½ a bottle of either red or white wine per person and a choice of one of each of the following:

    STARTERS

    SEARED TUNA wasabi & avocado purée, toasted sesame seeds, yuzu and soy dressing

    SCOTCH BEEF CARPACCIO wild rocket, parmesan, mustard dressing

    BURRATINA shaved truffle, baby plum tomatoes, rocket, toasted focaccia

    CRISPY FRIED ARTICHOKES caper and herb mayonnaise

    MAINS

    THE PJ’S BURGER 8oz patty, mature cheddar cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce, pickle, smoked crackling mayonnaise, fries

    CHICKEN MILANESE wild rocket, artichoke & Reggio cheese salad, toasted sesame, tahini honey dressing

    GRILLED SEABASS FILLET French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives & pesto

    ROAST CAULIFLOWER STEAK chickpeas and roasted red pepper, chipotle hummus, chimichurri

    PUDDINGS

    CLASSIC CRÈME BRULEE

    BELGIAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

    CHOCOLATE & VANILLA CHEESECAKE white chocolate sauce, mixed berry compote

    SELECTION OF SORBETS & ICE CREAMS three scoops

  • Previewing Salon Privé 2022

    Previewing Salon Privé 2022

    Matthew Steeples takes a look at what will be on offer at Salon Privé 2022 at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea from 21st to 23rd April – a showcase that will include the world’s first commercial flying car

    Established in 2006 and having most recently been held at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Salon Privé 2022 debuts in London tomorrow.

     

    Running from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April and featuring both the latest supercars as well as classic cars and motorbikes, amongst the more exotic offerings will be a PAL-V Liberty – lauded as “the world’s first commercial flying car” – and a Prodrive Hunter – which is marketed as “the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.”

     

    A highlight of the show will be the global, European and UK debuts of eight new cars and also the showcasing of Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ new Range Rover SV. Said to “provide customers a new level of craftmanship as well as greater functionality,” these opulent creations can be equipped even with electrically deployable tables, fridges and Dartington Crystal glassware even.

     

    Tickets are priced from £50 for Saturday entry to £75 for Thursday and Friday and can be purchased by clicking here. Hospitality packages start at £150 and catering is being provided by JKS Restaurants, Bao, Gymkhana, Brigadiers, The Cadogan Arms and The George.

     

    Open each day from 11am, what is dubbed as “London’s most exclusive automotive party” remains open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday and until 5pm on Saturday.

     

    Pictured top – The ever-cheerful Chelsea Pensioners, pictured here with a trio of Minis in a promotional shot for the event, will no doubt be on parade during the three-day showcase.

     

    As well as enjoying a spectacular selection of things automotive, the event has dining options as well as a shopping village.
    Event 1
    Aside from many new cars from manufacturers including Automobili Pininfarina, Bugatti, Genesis, Jensen, Lamborghini, McLaren, Morgan, Overfinch and Porsche, classic cars displayed will also be on offer for sale.
    Aston Martin Rolls-Royce
    The ultimate in 4x4s will be presented by amongst others Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce.
    Land Rover Range Rover SV 1
    Land Rover claim that their Range Rover SV will “provide customers a new level of craftsmanship as well as greater functionality” and of it, show director David Bagley remarks: “It’s fitting that the new Range Rover SV should make its UK event debut alongside us in the capital for Salon Privé London, and we’re delighted it’ll be the first time our guests can receive a guided tour of the personalisation options available when crafting their perfect Range Rover. Its very name has epitomised luxury and capability for half a century and, while it remains true to the marque’s roots, this new car creates a distinct identity for the future.”
    Land Rover Range Rover SV 2
    The car to be presented at the show is a a new Range Rover SV P530 LWB. Of it, the firm remark: “As shown at its world debut in October 2021, it is finished in a special Icy White Gloss paint,contrasted by SV Serenity exterior accents and contrast roof in Corinthian Bronze, its interior featuring SV Serenity Caraway Near-Aniline and Perlino Semi-Aniline leather with Gloss White Ceramic controls and a Natural Light Wenge veneer with Mosaic Marquetry. It also includes the SV Signature Suite – a fixed full-length centre console with electrically deployable table and cup holders, fridge, Dartington Crystal glassware and 8-inch rear seat touchscreen controller.”
    PAL-V Liberty
    Dutch firm PAL-V will be showing what they call “the world’s first flying car.” Of it, they remark: “Inspired by nature, engineered by man and evolved over time, the PAL-V Liberty is a groundbreaking product that inaugurates the age of the flying car. The PAL-V Liberty is a marriage between safety and fun, designed to satisfy the most demanding customers.”
    Prodrive Hunter
    Oxfordshire based Prodrive, which makes amongst other things racing simulators and folding bikes, will be presenting what they call “the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.” Of this 600 bhp and four-wheel drive vehicle, they share: “It has an unrivalled ability and performance across any landscape. Born out of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by nine-time World Champion, Sebastien Loeb, to compete on the toughest motorsport race in the world the Dakar, it thrives in desert sand, dunes and rough mountain tracks. Indeed, this Hunter is even more extreme than that driven by Loeb, with a 50% increase in power from the 3.5 litre V6 twin turbo engine and more suspension travel to absorb the harshest of terrain. But while the car is even faster and more capable than the race car, it is also more refined. Ian Callum, who styled the exterior of the original competition car, has returned to the project to create a new interior more in keeping with every day use than racing. A digital display gives the driver all the important information they need, while the centre console houses the more traditional controls found on a road car.”
    Event 3
    Guests will be able to experience the most opulent vehicles on the market in a most convivial setting.
    Event 2