Tag Archives: bar

Applebee’s Fish Pop-Up: Seaside at the Southbank

Applebee’s loves fresh fish, that’s for sure. And if (like me) you’re already a fan of the light, crispy fish and chips and succulent rock oysters served in Applebee’s popular Borough Market restaurant, then their newly opened summer Pop-Up at London’s Southbank will be excellent news. Continue reading

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Secret Adventures Farmyard Cinema: Unbranded

Secret Adventures put on a one of a kind cinema experience for an award winning film, Unbranded, and I had the pleasure of going along to the the viewing. Located in a city farm located in one of the most unexpected places, you would never have guessed that you were in the heart of Waterloo. Continue reading

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Dinner at Harry’s: Living La Dolce Vita

In 1960, London moviegoers flocked to see the groundbreaking  La Dolce Vita and experience Marcello Mastroianni’s search for love, happiness and ‘the sweet life’ on the exuberant streets of Rome.  Nowadays one need not look further than its newly-opened namesake in Knightsbridge, Harry’s Dolce Vita restaurant. Continue reading

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Best London Cafes of 2017

My look at the best of 2017 continues with a shot of the tastiest coffee and preferred coffee purveyors in London. Continue reading

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Cornish Bounty and a Scenic View of the Thames at Northbank

Head Chef John Harrison finds delicious inspiration in the bounty of the Cornish coast and brings fresh flavour to the modern British menu at Northbank Restaurant and Bar near St Paul’s. Continue reading

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Ask for Janice

This casual bar and restaurant is a welcome addition to the cluster of food and drink options around Smithfield Market. I loved sipping my Beast of Bourbon cocktail (Woodford Reserve, sweet vermouth, crème de mure, £9). The stout salt squid (£8) was pretty yummy too as was most everything else I nibbled. I wasn’t too sure about my grenadine-y seasonal pickles (£3) though. Continue reading

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Restaurant Review: The Cavendish, Marylebone

Newly opened The Cavendish sets a dual tone for a night out. The downstairs bar (which was absolutely jam packed the Tuesday evening I was there) offers casual drinks with upscale air while a more subdued if rather swish upstairs dining room promises a more formal experience (though still quite far from stuffy). Whether it be a quick drink, bar snacks with cocktails, or a full-on feast – The Cavendish is a worthwhile venue to keep in mind next time you’re seeking a suitable place to enjoy food and drink in Marylebone. Continue reading

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Best Bars (Everywhere Else) – 2014

A blogger walks into a bar … and has an amazing time! No joke! Here’s a quick write up of some excellent places to have a drink in a handful of awesome destinations I had the pleasure of visiting this year. Continue reading

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Speed Date an Engagement Ring Designer with F&L Designer Guides

Here’s a first: a “Speed Date a Designer” event “to help you meet and get inspired by a collection of independent, friendly and imaginative engagement ring designers in one fun evening.” Got questions about “popping the question” and want to make sure you get everything right when you do? This unique opportunity hosted by F&L Designer Guides might be a perfect for you, potentially saving you loads of time and money. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading

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Toro Gordo: Stylish Tapas for Hammersmith

Spanish bar and restaurant Toro Gordo brings piquant panache to West London. I had a fantastic time tasting my way through its menu of contemporary and stylishly presented tapas and reckon if you’re in the area you could do a lot worse. Indeed, for drinky drinks and scrumptious nibbles with a convivial vibe that’s just a short stroll away from Hammersmith Tube (not to mention Ravenscourt Park) you’d be hard pressed to find a better venue. No bull! Continue reading

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The Bonneville: Fantastic French Dining in Clapton, E5

So nice I’m going twice! A recent visit to Clapton’s newly opened French eatery, The Bonneville, resulted in such a lovely experience for Kemey and me that we’re heading back ASAP for a repeat – this time with another couple in tow to whom we’ve raved about the place. Continue reading

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Win a £50 Voucher for Circus Cocktail Bar and Cabaret, Covent Garden

A cocktail bar, restaurant and cabaret, Circus offers a Pan Asian dinner menu alongside an enticing cocktail menu. Designed by British Tom Dixon, the surrealist interior is the perfect setting for wild cabarets, with actors performing on tables and vanishing in between courses. Following dinner and the performance, the West End venue turns into a dance space. Fun place, right? Thanks to a team up with online restaurant discovery guide, Zomato, I’m offering one lucky reader a free voucher worth £50 to spend at Circus. Continue reading

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High Spirits Afternoon Tea at Paramount, Centrepoint

A boozy and panoramic double entendre, Paramount’s High Spirits afternoon tea yields a civilised chance to catch a lofty buzz while taking in some of the best views of London. Continue reading

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I Survived the Suicide Wings Challenge at The Back Room Bar, Hyde Park Corner

I laughed. I cried. I lost my voice a few times. But in the end I succeeded and met The Back Room Bar’s Suicide Wings Challenge. In all honesty I was about 30 seconds behind the 15 minute time limit but that was really more because I was chatting and just having fun than not being up to the task. I did let a girl beat me though and that kinda burned – but not nearly as much as my mouth did after eating ten majorly hot wings! Continue reading

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New Cocktail Menu at Grand Union Bars

A couple of weeks back I was invited along to sample the new cocktail menu at Grand Union. I Unfamiliar with the London based group of eight bars (and possibly growing) but intrigued when I took a quick look at the drinks I would be offered to try. I’m happy to report I was not disappointed and found GU’s Farringdon bar to be a smart and cosy spot to keep in mind the next time I’m out and about and hankering a drink. Continue reading

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Stacks Poutine at Birthdays, Stoke Newington Road, Dalston

In a Canuck-ibly delicious kitchen collaboration with Birthdays bar in Dalston, Stacks Poutine presents a gourmand’s salute to one of Canada’s most satisfying creations along with a line up of other equally nosh-worthy bites. Poutine, in case you haven’t had the pleasure, is a dish of Quebecois origin consisting of fries, gravy and cheese curd. It’s mega yum and the Stacks version yields a damn fine example. Here are some notes from a recent foray through its menu. Continue reading

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Win a G&T Experience for Two at The Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel

A month or so ago I had the pleasure of sampling the new gin and tonic menu at The Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel. Created by Tanqueray mixologist Tim Homewood and Polo Bar manager Elias Yiallouris, the new G&Ts are part of a “Botanical Brew Experience” collaboration between Tangueray No. TEN gin and Fever-Tree tonic water. All feature the quadruple distilled gin and the premium tonic along with an intriguing array of fresh ingredients. And – just in time for the height of summer – here’s a chance for one lucky reader and a guest to do what I got to do and sample a couple of these fantastic drinks for free. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading

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New Gin and Tonic Menu at The Polo Bar at The Westbury

An invitation to sample a newly launched gin and tonic menu at The Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel presented an excellent opportunity to discover a fine place to have a drink. Continue reading

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Portugal Please: Coimbra

Capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages with a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site university established in 1290 (making it the fifth oldest in the world), Coimbra is a city steeped in age old tradition yet imbued with a youthful spirit. Continue reading

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Portugal Please: Amarante Quickie

Halfway between Provesende and Porto (or at least that’s how it seemed riding around in the press trip van), is Amarante. Like so many of the places I visited in Portugal, Amarante was sweet, cosy and somewhat kitsch without ever crossing over into being twee or cloying. With the others in my party needing to catch and flight (and me with a tight road trip itinerary of my own), I was really only in Amarante long enough for a short walk and (of course) a tasty snack. However, I saw enough to know I would love to return and reckon if you’re thinking about visiting Porto or the Douro Valley, you’d be wise to consider a stop in Amarante too. Continue reading

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25% Off Food and Drink at Punch Tavern, Fleet Street EC4

Yep, that’s right. There’s no typo in the title you just read. I have teamed up with Fleet Street’s historic Punch Tavern to offer you folks a sizeable discount on some properly yummy pub grub. How do you get a quarter of your food and drink bill sliced away? Just tell ’em tikichris sent ya! Continue reading

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Nicos & Philthy’s Three Nights of Reef ‘n’ Beef, 27-29 March at Cambridge Heath Railway Arches

I am so bummed that this grubalicious pop-up conflicts with dates I’ll be out of town. But just because I’ve gotta miss Nicos & Philthy’s Three Nights of Reef ‘n’ Beef in Bethnal Green doesn’t mean you have to! Check … Continue reading

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Proper Pies and Great Pub Grub at Punch Tavern, Fleet Street

In addition to the great food and drink, Punch Tavern has a singular air about it and is a lovely spot to find yourself. There’s gorgeous natural light streaming in from a glass ceiling in the main bar area, a working fireplace, and original features from 1897 such as marble bar, dark oak panelling, and a series of original Punch and Judy themed paintings. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or take a bite out of – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Elephant … Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Sweet Shoals Music

Before our visit to the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama, I never would have imagined the music of Aretha Franklin could resonate even more with me than it already did. Goosebumps on top of goosebumps – how’s that gonna happen? But there I was standing in Studio A of Fame Studios in humble little Florence, Alabama where the mighty diva recorded such classics as Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, and something clicked in a deep and soulful sort of way. In the few days since Kemey and I checked out the Shoals, listening to Aretha’s songs has been coupled with an even deeper and more satisfying feeling than before. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: When in Rome … Georgia

The wedding of my old friend Jack and his lovely fiancée Beth was the main reason prompting my and Kemey’s visit back home and a big factor behind the design of our Dixie Detours itinerary. The wedding was held in Rome, Georgia where Jack had attended university. Yes, that’s right. I went to Athens one day and Rome the next – all without leaving the great state of Georgia! Continue reading

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Augustus Harris, Venetian Style Bàcaro in the Heart of London’s Theatreland

An uncomplicated menu of pronounced northern Italy flavour; an equally concise and decidedly Italian list of wine and drinks; a stylish wood and copper bar that’s as cosy as it is elegant – there’s a lot to love about Augustus … Continue reading

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Restaurant Review: Rocket Bishopsgate

A crowd pleasing menu at a convenient location with funky décor, Rocket Bishopsgate is a safe bet decision if you’re looking for a quick bite or a night out near Liverpool Street Station. Continue reading

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Restaurant Review: Flesh & Buns … and Rock ‘n Roll

Carnivorous gnashing to a heavy metal soundtrack? Yee-aye-uh! Who knew going out for Japanese comfort food could provide such a rawkin’ good time? The folks behind Flesh & Buns apparently. Continue reading

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Twelve Days of Christmas Afternoon Tea at the InterContinental London Park Lane

It’s no secret. I’m a big fan of the fine foodie offerings InterContinental London Park Lane. With Executive Chef Paul Bates calling the palate pleasing shots (not to mention chef Theo Randall doing his own tasty thing with onsite upscale Italian restaurant), I’ve never never even come close to having a less than ideal dining experience here. So an invitation to try the hotel’s limited edition Christmas afternoon tea was one I greedily accepting. This was my second time to enjoy an afternoon tea at the InterContinental and it did not disappoint. If anything, my expectations for a high level of quality and service were exceeded. Continue reading

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Mamounia Lounge Mayfair Reopens: Swish!

About a year ago, I paid a visit to the then newly opened Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge. Just as it was launching, its sister outlet in Mayfair was closing down for a refurb. Last month, Mamounia Lounge Mayfair re-opened. With both Mamounias up and running, Londoners now have two swank reasons to enjoy a night out in Arabian style. Here’s a quick report from my recent visit to the re-opend Mayfair venue. Continue reading

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Christmas Menu at Bedford & Strand

A recent opportunity to sit in on a tasting of Bedford & Strand’s Christmas 2013 menu also served as a chance to sample the creations of new Head Chef Joseph Dean. Thumbs up to Dean for taking the same-old-same-old standards and adding just a touch enough pizzazz to enliven what otherwise might have come across and yawn-worthy stodge. Continue reading

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Excellent Steaks and More at Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar, County Hall

A recent visit to Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar at The London Marriott Hotel had me enjoying finely crafted cocktails and tucking into an amazingly satisfying mega-steak dinner. Here’s a quick report on what made my meal so special along with details on how you can dine with a discount if you tell ’em tikichris sent you. Continue reading

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