Tuesday 26 April 2011

You'd be a mug not to enter...

You've only got a few days left to enter our fantastic Big Tomato Mug competition! 


For your chance to win up to 6 gorgeous English Eccentric mugs (either of your own design or from the existing range) simply tell us what you'd like to see on a pair of modern 'his and hers' mugs. 

We've had lots of really great suggestions but we still need more, and with the main prize of six mugs in addition to a pair of mugs each for three runners up, you've got a great chance of winning.

See the website for more information on how to enter, and good luck!

(Competition closes at midnight, April 29th 2011)

Thursday 21 April 2011

Happy Easter



Yes, Happy Easter to you all from the team at The Great Date Guide, and what a fabulous weekend it looks like it's going to be! Whilst Easter may traditionally be a family time, we say you've got four whole days of holiday so share yourself around and squeeze in that bank holiday date!

If you're in London for the weekend, why not check out our guide to the best picnic spots (we're thinking lazy afternoon in the sun, tartan rug, hamper, a bottle of fizz…) or London's best roof terraces?

Whatever you're up to, enjoy!

Miss Mary xxx

Friday 15 April 2011

WIN WIN WIN

We've got not one but TWO fabulous competitions on the go at the moment, so hurry along to The Great Date Guide and scoop up some fantastic prizes!



With wedding memorabilia (aka tat) now flooding our high streets, we figured we'd like to come up with some rather better quality William and Kate inspired memorabilia. So, to be in with the chance of winning the fabulous prize of your choice of 6 fantastic Big Tomato mugs, we're asking you to tell us what you'd like to see on a pair of modern 'his and hers' mugs!

Head to our website for details on how to enter…




"Step aboard the love boat for the stories they didn't want you to hear, see the sights they visited themselves and feel part of the on-going city celebrations"




With their brilliantly ridiculous Will and Kate Royal RIB Ride, London RIB Voyages are offering you the chance to take a fun, exhilarating and regal trip through central London… and we've got a free pair of tickets to give away! (Redeemable from Monday 25th April until Friday 6th May 2011)

Simply send us an email, tweet or facebook post with the words 'I would like to win a Royal RIB Ride' by midnight on Wednesday 20th April 2011 for your chance to win. See the website for more information.


Thursday 7 April 2011

Wedding Fever

April has dawned, the sun is shining and royal wedding fever is all around us. Hooray for a really great reason to get out and enjoy our wonderful London with a healthy dose of good old fashioned national pride and flag waving to boot. Sounds perfect to us!

To get fully involved in the whole shebang (and lets face it, these events don’t come around every day…) how about a specially themed trip with our old friends London RIB Voyages? Yes it’s true, even The Thames has succumbed to the Royal Romance and London RIB Voyages are there to immerse you fully in it (not literally we hasten to add…). More’s the point, they’re offering Great Date Guide fans a special 10% discount!




“Step aboard the love boat for the stories they didn’t want you to hear, see the sights they visited themselves and feel part of the on-going city celebrations.”


Visit www.londonribvoyages.com for more information and remember to quote The Great Date Guide when booking for your 10% discount.

PS… watch this space… we also have one pair of Will and Kate’s Royal RIB Ride tickets to give away - competition details coming soon!

Monday 4 April 2011

The Day We Got Engaged!


"Before I begin, I must confess I can take no credit for this rather inspired itinerary of great London dating hotspots. This marvelous medley was collated by my then boyfriend (and since fiancĂ©!) Jim, who handpicked each and every one as part of his grand plan to woo me into being his wife." Hannah.







It all began the night before my 30th Birthday. I was instructed to arrive at Green Park tube-station on Piccadilly at 6pm on the dot and to bring with me an overnight bag complete with regulation ‘smart’ outfit. Without going into too many gushy details, what followed was the most fantabulous 36 hours of my life, after which I didn’t need much persuading to say ‘I Do’.

So, this is what we did...

A Room at the Ritz: I love old school glamour and the Ritz on Piccadilly has to be one of the best places in the world to experience this. We stayed in a gorgeous suite with a giant comfy bed, huge marble bathroom complete with our own little living room. The best bit about staying in such a legendary establishment is the brilliant level of service you experience – to me, this was returning at the end of the night to find the sheets turned down and our slippers delicately lined up by the side of the bed!

Supper at Scotts: after a few cheeky martini’s in the Ritz’s Ravoli Bar it was off to Scotts on Mount Street, my FAVOURITE restaurant in the world. I thoroughly recommend booking seats at the bar for, as well as being superb spots to people watch, they seem to have the best availability too. Traditionally a fish restaurant, all the food at Scotts is fantastic - my favourite indulgence being the Bannockburn rib steak with bĂ©arnaise sauce & chips followed by classic treacle pud & vanilla custard. Despite being one of the best restaurants in London, Scotts is not at all stuffy - the friendly staff and art deco interior speak of a style & sophistication of times gone by creating a really special atmosphere.

Drinks in the Ritz Casino: end the night with a cheeky night-cap and (in our case) a rather disastrous round of roulette in the members only Ritz Casino, sneakily hidden in the beautifully ornate series of rooms in the basement of the hotel. Guests of the hotel can apply for free membership of the ‘Ritz Club’ which allows you to return and enjoy this exclusive part of the hotel for a full year! 

Breakfast in the Ritz Dining Room: waking up in our giant bed in the Ritz was not a bad way to start my first day as a fully paid up member of the 30’s club and breakfast in the wonderfully opulent dining room was the icing on the (birthday) cake. It was here, over perfectly poached eggs that Jim dropped to one knee and asked me to become Mrs Needham... After screeching ‘YES!”, floods of tears (from me) and a few cheesy photos ensued before we headed off into the sunshine to mull over our new status in the stripy deckchairs of Green Park.

Lunch at Cecconi’s: a few hours and a number of excited phone calls later saw us heading to Cecconi’s for yet more indulgence. A little slice of Italy in the heart of Mayfair, this is an uber glam proper old school family run affair serving up fabulous food 7 days a week. Supping fizz and gorging on fresh spaghetti was certainly a pretty nice way to celebrate the start of a new exciting chapter. 

Prancing round Piccadilly: after a slap up lunch, the obligatory potter round the jewelers of Bond Street followed.. Tiffany’s (pah..), Boodles (brilliant service and gorgeous diamonds  - thank you Tilly!), Cartier and De Beers.  To finish up, Milkshakes in The Parlor at Fortnum and Mason marked the perfect end to the perfect day. One I will most certainly remember for a very long time to come. 


Hannah runs This is Your Kingdom, an insider’s guide to lovely local things to see and do. 

TIYK

If you would like to find out more about TiYK’s quest to ‘bring local back’ and be in with a chance of winning a weekend 'glamping' in style in a luxury dome courtesy of the lovely fforest  make sure you take a peek at the site and enter their brilliant writing competition


To enter, simply tell them in under 250 words about your favourite local place to 'eat, drink, walk, think, potter, ponder, snuggle, shop or sleep.' Even if you don’t win, each lovely entry will be featured on the site with an accreditation to the author and a link to their website!  All entries must be received by midnight on 15 April 2011.