Thursday 26 January 2012

It's deal o'clock

It's January, we're heading for a double-dip recession and lets face it, money's tight. Well, if I've succeeded in depressing you with my very first sentence, let me lift your spirits with news of some tip top nightlife deals, courtesy of our pals at designmynight.com. Design my night are all about finding you a perfectly tailored night out for the right price and with the launch of their 'deals' section, you'll get all this with a fabulous discount too!

Take this week's special deal. Head for some serious deep South fare at Shaker & Company, a wonderful New Orleans inspired cocktail bar near Regent's Park.  Enjoy two delicious shaker cocktails, brought to you by some serious cocktail experts, in combination with a vast array of true American soul food, all for just £15. Yes my friends, that's a 50% discount... for nothing!
So if you're in need of a night out and you're after some info on London's best bars, pubs and nightlife, head directly to designmynight.com, and let them, quite literally, 'design your night'.



Thursday 19 January 2012

Free Cinema Tickets!

By now you should know that we love the Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch. Well, what's not to love? Intimate atmosphere, comfy velvet sofas, blankets, friendly staff, Cowshed products in the loos, bottles of wine at your seat... all finished off nicely with an inspired and eclectic programme of films from quirky art-house to action packed blockbuster.


Having read the above (and our Aubin Cinema review here) we can't think of any reason why you wouldn't want  2 free tickets!       

So, in order to help you beat the January blues, the lovely team at the Aubin Cinema have given us a pair of tickets to give away. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning them is to answer this simple question:

Which actor or actress would be your ideal
movie date and why?

You can post your answer here on our blog, on our facebook or twitter page, or you can drop us an email.

However you decide to enter, make sure you do it before midnight on Tuesday 31st January 2012 as that is when the competition closes!

Good luck,

Miss Mary xxx


Thursday 12 January 2012

Balham dinner date...

So, a little punchier than our usual reviews... this one comes curtesy of the ever cynical Frank, of Dead in Balham fame, who took his long suffering girlfriend (SallyServesItUp) for dinner at Lamberts in Balham.


Here's what he has to say about it!

"On learning I live in Balham, everyone – taxi drivers, colleagues, the homeless – says that it’s a dump. Or they put on a cod American accent and talk about the “gateway to the south” (a completely non-hilarious radio sketch performed by Peter Sellers). But they don’t know, do they. They don’t know about Balham’s proximity to Nappy Valley, and its wide open tracts of common land, and its excellent transport links and its fine period housing stock. And – because of all of that – its selection of fine dining establishments, as demanded by the sharp-elbowed hipsters of deepest south London.

There’s Harrisons, and Dish Dash, Gazette and a host of excellent curry houses. And there’s McDonalds and a host of dirty chicken shops for those bereft of tastebuds. But the jewel in Balham’s firmament, the brightest star on the Northern Line and the best place to take a date in the SW12/17 postcodes is clearly Lamberts. A restaurant which is a fixture on the scene amongst local gastronauts, and is guaranteed to be busy – even to the extent of a second evening service – any time you fancy popping along. Lamberts is handily placed for the tube (on the off chance you want to escape Balham’s delightful environs), so there’s really no excuse. Sal and I popped along just before Christmas for a bit of a seasonal jolly. I had an expertly-mixed and suitably-dry gin martini (the ultimate test of any barman), and moved swiftly through the menu, sampling an excellent crab starter (black pudding for me), ox cheek and pork belly respectively, rounding off with creme brulee. Why not? We waddled home, sweating.


The dining room is big and bustling, but carefully lit to ensure success of all but the most furtive of dates; ask for a corner table to ensure complete anonymity. And at £30 for a three course dinner it’s extremely good value, especially as all the top-notch grub is seasonal, locally-sourced (where possible) and the sort of heritage variant, traditionally reared produce that the upwardly-mobile of Balham demand (to confirm, that’s a father in the City, a mother who plays at PR and a Polish nanny looking after two blonde under-fives).

If you’re in the area – or even if you live the other side of London - and want Chez Bruce style food and atmosphere – without the price tag – then this is the place to be."

Thanks Frank!

p.s. I'm presuming that you're downwardly-mobile?!?



Thursday 5 January 2012

It's January!

Happy New Year from all of us here at the Great Date Guide!

January always feels like a bit of a let down after Christmas and New Year so we thought we'd let you know about a few great things going on in London this month that are worth getting out of bed for...


On until the end of the month, La Soiree is one of our favourite winter nights out in London. Full of cheeky humour and jaw dropping acrobatics this is a January must!

Lots of London's ice rinks don't close until mid January so, if you didn't manage it before Christmas, get your skates on and book tickets! Click here for our guide to the best rinks...

If you fancy something a little bit different then maybe you should check out the London Mime Festival, taking place on the Southbank between the 11th and 29th of this month. A good excuse if you're lost for words on your date!

So, to beat the January blues, we suggest taking a look at the website for a full guide to what's on in London this month and, as usual, let us know if we've missed anything out!

Happy 2012.

Miss Mary x