Tag Archives: Cocktails

Blog Club Monday!

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Hello & welcome to #BookClubMonday. While today’s blog is still all about reading, it’s more of the blog variety rather than books…

Today’s #5aday features 5 #blogs that I recommend following – talking food, fashion, fitness and more… Welcome to #BlogClubMonday!

  1. Fitness & Wellbeing from Fit Chick Tori. Follow her blog here for inspiration about running & life. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.29.35
  2. Relationships from The diary of West London Girl. Follow her blog here for amusing anecdotes about relationships. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.29.56
  3. Food from We Love Food It’s All We Eat. Follow this couple’s blog here for great reviews on restaurants in London & beyond. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.30.26
  4. Bars from Hot Bar Chick. Follow her blog here for best guide to drinking in London (& elsewhere). Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.30.38
  5. Fashion & Lifestyle from Alex Loves. Follow her blog here for super cool styling advice & inspiration. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.31.11

5 brilliant blogs covering different themes but which is the most blog-tastic in today’s #BlogClubMonday #GTopSpot?

Today’s #BlogClubMonday #GTopSpot goes to #5 Alex Loves - for down-to-earth fashion & lifestyle insight! G x

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Drinking in the View

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! We’ve been enjoying some glorious summery weather over the last few days… though sadly it’s not here to stay.

On Tuesday, Luci & I went to see A Chorus Line at the Palladium, & met pre-theatre opposite for drinks & tapas on the terrace of Aqua.

Screen shot 2013-04-25 at 12.07.33

Today’s #5aday is London rooftop/terrace bars with a view. With summer around the corner, get dreaming of where to sip those sundowners.

  1. Aqua Nueva or Kyoto on the 5th Floor, for cocktails or saké & incredible views towards Marble Arch - entrance from Argyll Street. 
  2. Madison Restaurant, Tapas & Cocktail Bar, at the top of One New Change for cocktails & a sensational view overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral.
  3. Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden (designed by the Eden Project) on the Southbank for Pimms & stunning riverside views.
  4. SUSHISAMBA on the 38th & 39th floors of the Heron Tower, Bishopsgate for champers or saké & breathtaking views of London.
  5. Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House for cocktails, nibbles & magnificent views of the Thames.

5 fabulous places to enjoy drinks & a view this coming summer… but which stands head & shoulders above the rest in today’s #GTopSpot?

Today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #4 SUSHISAMBA on the 38th & 39th floors of the Heron Tower - an exotic location for a special evening & view. (And venue for my leaving drinks tonight, I’ve just discovered!) G x

SUSHISAMBA

Go West!

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! On Sunday I featured some top eateries to visit in South West London on the Thames between Putney & Barnes.

Today I’m heading further west along the Thames to my current stomping ground & featuring 5 more must-visit places this coming summer…

Gaucho Richmond

  1. Kew – Rock and Rose – one of my favourite haunts & The Glasshouse – for something more special (one Michelin star).
  2. Richmond-upon-Thames – Gaucho & The Bingham - if you’re wanting to go all out at these fab river-side locations this summer.
  3. St Margarets – Brocca Antica – my fave Italian & Brula – for some very traditional French cuisine.
  4. Petersham – The Dysart Arms – lovely on a summer’s day & Petersham Nurseries - for an experience & one Michelin star!
  5. Kingston-upon-Thames – Jamie’s Italian – top atmosphere & Italian food & Las Iguanas Mexican - buzzing atmosphere & yummy Mexican.

5 great places out west… you must visit them all but which area receives today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot star?

Today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #2 Richmond-upon-Thames - Gaucho & The Bingham - If you’re coming upstream, push the boat out! G x

The Bingham

All Aboard the Gingerline Express!

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Welcome back to #GTime & today’s #ThursdayFriday blog post! I feel refreshed & ready for today’s #5aday after a couple of weeks of #GTimeOut! Today’s #5aday looks back to the Thursday before I went skiing & March’s #MysteryNight when I embarked on a ‘Gingerline’ adventure with my fab friend Luci…

Gingerline is a clandestine, theatrical dining experience which takes place on the East London Overground line between Highbury, Islington or Crystal Palace. The location remains secret until 1 hour before when you receive a text with instructions of where to go…

Gingerline

This is the 2nd time I’ve jumped aboard the Gingerline Express & as the current mystery dining experience continues until the end of March, my lips are sealed on the details of the theme & location. So today’s #5aday review is based around my 1st Gingerline experience from November last year.

  1. Mystery – there’s something intoxicating about venturing into the unknown. On this occasion the mystery theme was an illicit casino ‘Gingerline Royale’, entered via an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style door & tunnel. First Course
  2. Theatre & Entertainment – you can expect colourful performances from cabaret singers & actors cum waiting staff dressed provocatively and crazily!
    Second Course
  3. Delicious Food – the menu is always creatively presented, this time on a pack of cards… it did not disappoint over 4 scrummy courses…
    Third Course
  4. Cocktails – cleverly themed and presented in keeping with the Gingerline concept. My choice – always something with Gingerbeer! Fourth Course
  5. Something Different – if you’re looking to do something a bit ‘different’ this is a great place to go with a group of friends, but be prepared for a little bit of audience participation and a lot of crazy! thank you

All in all, it’s a thoroughly eclectic experience – expect the unexpected! It may seem quite pricey at £50 per head when you don’t know what you’re letting yourself into or where you’ll end up… but it’s definitely worth it… All aboard? Next stop: Gingerline! Casino Cards

So, now let’s see what April’s #MysteryNight brings. Over to you Luci! G x

Ladies Only!

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! Last Sunday the girls & I had a lovely lunch & pamper session chez Bar Galante in South Kensington.

Sunday Sanctuary For Ladies is a brilliant idea conceived by the Gaucho Group to use an otherwise quiet space on a Sunday afternoon.

Sunday Sanctuary

On arrival at the glam Bar Galante we had high expectations for the afternoon. Today’s #5aday is 5 reasons to get involved & booked in! 

  1. Enjoy a complimentary Bellini on arrival. Then choose from scrummy Galante cocktail list & some tasty canapes.
  2. Bliss Spa goody bags of slippers, soapy suds, body butter, face wash & voucher for skin consultation & brow wax at Bliss Spa salon.
  3. Indulge in a complimentary mini-mani or massage from the lovely Bliss Spa girls while sipping a bellini & nattering to the girls.
  4. Chill out while watching a classic chick flick (with headphones) such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s or in our case Friends with Benefits.
  5. Relax with your girlfriends in the beautiful, glamorous surroundings of Bar Galante while catching up on the latest gossip!

5 great reasons to unwind in comfort with Bar Galante & Bliss Spa. Sound too good to be true? Well hurry, there are only a few spaces left!

To book a place at Sunday Sanctuary each week at 12pm or 3pm, email rsvp@bargalante.com. Bar Galante is located at 87 Sloane Avenue.

G x

C is for…

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Evening! This past week has been busy with celebrations galore from Chinese New Year to the BAFTAs, NYFW, Pancake Day & Valentine’s Day.

C is for-1...

If I were to sum it up in 5 words they’d be - Chinese, Cinema, Catwalk, Crepes and Cupid… Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday theme is ‘The 5 Cs’. So whether you fancy dim sum in Chinatown or a romantic cocktail, tonight’s #5aday features places to go in London, for things beginning with C!

  1. Chinese – New World, Gerrard Place for cheap & cheerful dim sum or Yauatcha, Broadwick Street for chic-er dim sum.
  2. Cinema – Watch Lincoln at the Curzon Cinema, Chelsea or Casablanca at Curzon Cinema, Richmond.
  3. Catwalk - London Fashion Weekend, Somerset House 21-24 Feb for highlights from London Fashion Week & designer bargains.
  4. Crepes - Crepes Affaire, Spitalfields for lunch or Chez Lindsay, Richmond for dinner & cidre.
  5. Cupid - William Curley Chocolate Classes in Belgravia or Cocktails at Duck and Waffle, on the top of Heron Tower.

5 ideas of what to do & where to go to enjoy the 5 Cs in London over the coming weeks but which will claim tonight’s coveted #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday goes to #3 Catwalk - London Fashion Weekend, Somerset House 21-24 Feb. See you there #CanonFashion! G x

p.s. Happy Valentine’s Day! x

London Fashion Weekend

London Hideouts

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! Many of you are having a dry January as part of your new year, new you regime. If so, I hope it’s going well!

It may also be cold but you can’t hide indoors all winter. Instead, hide out at some of these secret & experiential London venues & events.

  1. Bar Night Jar ”Hidden between two cafes… a hidden slice of old-school glamour on the fringes of Shoreditch.”
  2. Dining in the Dark ”A sensory experience that awakens the senses… re-evaluate perception of taste and smell.”
  3. Evans and Peel Detective Agency ”An underground secret venue hidden in the depths of Chelsea.”
  4. Gingerline ”A clandestine dining experience for London’s food adventurers.” on the East London Line.
  5. Secret Cinema ”Secret audience. Secret film. Secret locations. Secret worlds. Tell No-One.” from Future Cinema.

5 London experiences which will excite and evoke all the senses but which will exult in tonight’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #5 Secret Cinema. Tell No-One. Get a taste for it with Future Cinema’s Shawshank Redemption. G x

Secret Cinema

Après without the Ski

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! Tonight’s #5aday is Après (without the Ski) in London… Enjoy the following winter-themed bars this winter.

  1. Bodo’s Schloss, High Street Ken - Newly opened Austrian Ski Lodge bar, restaurant & disco with DJ in ski gondola!
  2. Forzawin(ter), E2 - Summer rooftop supperclub has turned all wintery with rugs, mulled wine & cheese Fonduta.
  3. Montague Ski Lodge, Bloomsbury - Pine trees, snow, ski racks, fairy lights & 12 different flavoured vodkas!
  4. Piste Bar @ Archer Street, Soho - Newly opened basement bar themed with old wooden skis & snow shoes on the wall.
  5. Tom’s Skate Lounge, Somerset House - Après-Skate from newly launched cosy bar overlooking the ice rink.

5 cool yet cosy bars to enjoy Après (without the Ski) this winter season but which will be dancing on the tables in tonight’s #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #5 Tom’s Skate Lounge, Somerset House - Après-Skate is the new Après-Ski! G x

 

Stylish Stocking Stuffers

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Welcome to #TuesdayTreats! With Christmas now only 4 weeks away, tonight’s #5aday theme is stylish stocking filler ideas for under £15.

  1. Mydeco.com Eva Hand-painted bowls - Pretty bowls in 3 bright colours, hand-painted by craftsmen in Kashmir @ £6.50.
  2. Space NK Tree of Laughter Shower Gel - Good, clean fun! Bath & shower gel in Christmas Tree packaging @ £8.
  3. Rockett St George Stuart Gardiner Classic Cocktails Tea Towel - Bring the fun of Happy Hour to the kitchen @ £10.
  4. Butter London Come to Bed Red Nail Lacquer - Rock the festive look in this Christmas red colour @ £12.
  5. The Conran Shop Rococo Wafer Thins Ginger - Wafer-thin discs of organic chocolate flavoured with ginger @ £13.50.

5 great ideas for stocking fillers but which will sock it to them in tonight’s #TuesdayTreats #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #TuesdayTreats #GTopSpot goes to #1 My Deco Eva Hand-painted bowls - Beautiful & festive, yet practical. G x

Mixing up a storm…

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Happy #ThursdayFriday! Not only is it National Cake Week this week but it’s also London Cocktail Week (and National Curry Week too!)…

So in honour of London Cocktail Week, today’s #5aday features 5 new cocktail bars to ‘experiment’ this weekend.

  1. Evans & Peel Detective Agency - Prohibition-style cocktail bar behind secret entrance on Earl’s Court Road.
  2. Bounce - Sip one of the cocktail concoctions over ping pong in Holborn, the home of ping pong.
  3. House of Wolf - Experiment the theatre & taste of cocktails from the Apothecary bar on Islington’s Upper Street.
  4. B-Soho London – Enjoy pizza & cocktails in lively communal surroundings on Poland Street in Soho.
  5. Love & Liquor bar – Party late at this New York inspired warehouse-style cocktail bar in Kilburn.

5 cocktail bars with a difference but which will be mixing up a storm in tonight’s #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #2 Bounce for a competitive mix of ping ping, pizza & cocktails!