Click to explore the locations
Click to explore the locations
The Zebra Riding Club sits at the back of Birch, a soaring barn with arched beams rising to the roof. Rattan lamp shades cast a soft glow on diners in booths who choose from a menu sourced by Robin Gill from the farm and surrounding woods. We dined on scallops with potato and buttermilk soup, butter confit brill and plaice baked in fig leaf. And, after the Electrified GV70 was plugged in for the night, we sampled the imaginative cocktail list at leisure, and raised a glass to the Genesis Electrified GV70, and the sustainable, electric motoring it stands for.
Eating at Birch
Surrounded by wildflower meadows and pigs rootling in the grounds, Birch is a rural haven, part hotel, part member’s club, part shared working space. Yet it’s just half an hour from London. We left the confines of the Big Smoke behind as the Electrified GV70 swept silently and rapidly northbound, out of the capital. Ensconced in the heated leather seats, Apple CarPlay streaming our playlist through the Lexicon speakers, surrounded by luxury, we were almost reluctant to pull into the sweeping driveway where, even though we’d barely touched the Electrified GV70’s 283-mile range, we plugged it into one of Birch’s chargers for a top-up.
Staying the night at Birch
Stepping out of the Electrified GV70 and into the elegant store of Rejina Pyo provided a beautiful continuous blend of Korean craftsmanship: both Genesis and Pyo are steeped in their Korean heritage but both brands have translated that into a relevant global design language. Pyo’s store is dotted with carefully curated books, stone circles, kitten-heeled slingbacks and stunning oversized, pale trench coats with bunched sleeves. It’s a peaceful environment in which to browse or take a closer look at the organza silk shirts from the autumn collection. All the time, the Electrified GV70 sat outside, patiently waiting for our escape to the country.
Shopping at Rejina Pyo store
There’s something very satisfying about driving a zero-emissions electric car through a city, knowing that you aren’t contributing to air pollution, or noise levels. Parking the Genesis Electrified GV70 right in the heart of London also couldn’t have been easier, thanks to multiple parking sensors and cameras, the light steering and the car’s compact footprint. It’s even more satisfying when the car in question is so tranquil inside: our Electrified GV70 had black leather seats with contrasting cream pillars and ceiling, and acres of space for four adults. The result was a spacious, light, contemporary lounge vibe, which was a welcome release from the hustle and bustle of Soho.
Street near Rejina Pyo store
Our next stop on our town and country road trip was the Korean Culture Centre UK. A grand building on Northumberland Avenue, the centre currently houses Jinjoon Lee’s “Audible Garden” exhibition in a space submerged in emerald-green light. One large wall painting depicts data as a scatter plot, encouraging visitors to look at the relationships between the physical and digital worlds, and how we interact with both. Genesis has created a similar experience with its new breed of electric SUVs, especially the Electrified GV70, which immerses you in a world of tactile, luxurious, traditional materials that have been carefully cut and stitched, alongside futuristic digital tech, displayed on a large, glossy glass screen.
Korean Culture Centre
