Many of the best conversations and connections happen over good food. That simple truth combined with a passion for fresh food cooked from first principles inspired Raj Darji to quit the corporate life and start Scratch Cook Social in 2023.

Based in Leamington, he now provides restaurant-quality food for private and public gatherings, either through the venues’ own kitchens or from his own food truck. His goal is to surprise, delight and foster connection.

I encountered Raj’s brilliant cooking at the first Mazon Interiors dinner party - his inventive dishes inspired by his North Indian heritage exactly achieved those goals. And so I was fascinated to talk with him about his life, his food, and how you can get a taste of Scratch Cook for yourself.

Website: http://www.scratchcook.social/

Mazon Dinner Parties: https://www.mazoninteriors.co.uk/scratch-cook-dinner-party/

Wander around Leamington and there’s a good chance that you’ll encounter one of the extraordinary murals that adorn many of our buildings. Together they are curated as the Leamington Mural Festival, a year-round celebration of this vibrant street art.

I met festival curator Tim Robottom - who is also a professional street artist himself - and wasted no time in tapping his expertise on the process of creating street art, his recommendations on the best art to explore, how to get involved in this urban cultural phenomenon and, of course, his take on Banksy.

Tim also leads walking tours of the festival collection on the first Sunday of every month from April to October.

Tour tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leamington-history-group-walks-brink-street-art-walk-of-leamington-tickets-1983948627752/

Info: https://merciamurals.org/leamingtonmuralfestival/

If you need special tools for a DIY project, are planning an event and need some extra catering equipment, are looking for some new hobbies to try out or are just keen to avoid buying and storing things that you only need occasionally – then the Library of Things is worth a look.

Founded by Maurice Herson, the library which is co-located with the Eco Hub in Bedford Street has a growing and diverse inventory of items for hire, and also has potential opportunities for volunteers who would like to get involved.

Website: https://leamlot.myturn.com/library/

Email: libraryofthings@makeleamington.co.uk

Anyone with a taste for quality artisanal chocolate will probably know Cenu Cacao in Regent Street; the passion project of Rosemary Ndukuba, who turned her own love of chocolate into a Leamington treasure. In this episode she explains how she got started, which movie is a constant source of inspiration for her, her own favourite chocolates and how her recently opened café in Lillington is heralding a new chapter of parties, workshops and wellbeing.

https://cenucacao.co.uk/

Tucked behind a discreet doorway on Bedford Street is a luxurious beauty and wellbeing centre with more than 25 years of expertise and ten tranquil treatment rooms. I stepped inside for my very first facial treatment before sitting down with Managing Director Gurdip Chatha and founder Amy Selby-Hammond. We talked about how beauty therapies have evolved over the years, why more men are now discovering the benefits, and the best place to start if you’re completely new to the world of beauty and wellbeing treatments.

https://www.esquebeauty.com/

Whether you fancy a different sort of competition with your friends, want to develop a latent talent or just need to feed your inner Viking, then a spot of axe-throwing might be just what you need. Enter AJ Janney who started his axe throwing venture in late 2025 and is welcoming would-be throwers from age 8 and up. In this episode he explains the joys of axing a bullseye, how he helps novices safely hit the targets and what sort of people can't resist burying that hatchet!

https://axethrow-leamingtonspa.co.uk/

Since 2022 a group of Leamington-based volunteers has been fundraising to procure, equip and send ambulances to Ukraine – originally through the Polish Centre and later through a specially formed Community Interest Company, Belveder. In this episode, Dawid Kozlowski explains how this remarkable initiative got started, what’s involved in sending ambulances and other supplies to Ukraine, and how to support or get involved.

Donate: https://gofund.me/04e576fc4

Drop offs at: Harbury Lane Army Surplus

Contact: info@belveder.co.uk

An intriguing arrival in Leamington town centre is The Spicy Librarian, a bookstore specialising in all flavours of romantic fiction, where in addition to buying and browsing, you can also get a coffee, cake, cocktails, wine or beer to complement your reading experience. I met D, the Spicy Librarian herself and best-selling dark romance fiction author J Rose to understand the inspiration behind this elegant and welcoming space, and why the adult-only hybrid cafe/bookshop concept works so well for both romance readers and writers.

https://thespicylibrarian.co.uk/

© Copyright 2026 Tim Bishop. All rights reserved.