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!

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 fiancé!) Jim, who handpicked each and every one as part of his grand plan to woo me into being his wife." Hannah.

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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 béarnaise 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. 

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

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.

The Proposal Date - Part 1

You've finally summed up the courage and made the wonderful decision that you're ready to go down on one knee. 

But we're guessing there's another question weighing heavily on your mind alongside 'Will you marry me?', and that is 'Where on earth, and how on earth am I going to do this?!'

So, if you've decided to mark the occasion with more than just a Big Mac, here's Part 1 of our advice on how to perform the perfect proposal!

(Please note: Given that it's still commonplace for a gentleman to ask his lady for her hand in marriage, we're going to stick to this assumed norm when referring to the proposer (he) and the proposee (she). If there are any soon to be Mr and Mr's, Mrs and Mrs or very brave girls about to ask their man the question, please do not be offended…!)

1) At home or abroad?

Whilst we'd usually start with 'find yourself a hot date', we're sort of hoping you've got that one covered this time. That being the case, we'll move swiftly on to picking the right location.

First things first, you need to decide whether to do the deed at home or abroad, and there are of course pros and cons to both. Popping the question on holiday gives you the bliss of time away to really soak up the excitement of the engagement (as long as you PROMISE not to leave it until the last day… if the love of your life has even the slightest suspicion of what you're about to do, every day 'sans-ring' will be torture). On the other hand, you're perhaps more likely to take your beloved by surprise if there are no grand holiday plans to accompany your proposal. For the best of both worlds, how about proposing the day before you go off on holiday? That way you'll catch her by surprise and still have the joys of an 'engagement-moon'.

2) When and where?

Perhaps the most important rule of the proposal date is that it can NEVER be too romantic. Yes boys, it's time to reach out to your inner woman and get sentimental. So if the timing's right (please don't wait a whole year just for effect!) ask her on the anniversary of the first time you met or the first time you kissed (…apparently there are people out there who remember such dates...). Perhaps you could take her to the bar where you had your first date or to a place that has a special importance in your relationship. 

Think about the timing too, as this can also help to achieve an element of surprise. What about a proposal over breakfast - sure to be unexpected and with the added bonus of having the whole day ahead to enjoy your new status (although it will require a follow up celebratory lunch and potentially dinner too, so this could be an expensive option!).

3) Activity and budget

Everyone likes an unusual engagement story, and given that you will be inundated with requests to repeat a step by step account, you may as well make it interesting! There are of course plenty of big budget options to wow your intended, from hot air balloon rides to a trip up the Eiffel Tower but you can be equally impressive on a small budget too. A romantic picnic in her favourite London park, a never-to-be-forgotton walk to the top of a hill, a hired boat and a bottle of Champagne…

Tell us all about your own engagement story, or great stories you've heard from friends, by leaving a comment below… we'd LOVE to hear them!

Keep an eye out for Part 2 including advice on "accessories" (yes that includes the ring!), getting creative, and what happens after you've popped the question. If you can't wait until then, check out the full article now on www.thegreatdateguide.com

'Bullseye'

Ooooooh, we've just heard about the latest addition to Cambio de Tercio's London empire… Capote y Toros on Brompton Road. Opening on the 8th April 2011, this Ham and Sherry bar is going to be an awesome spot for a date and we just can't wait to try it out! Feast on delicious Spanish Iberico pork and other sumptuous tapas, whilst sampling over 100 different varieties of finest sherry (…we'd like to see you try…!)

If it's anything like as good as it's sister restaurants (and if you don't trust us on this one, trust one Rafa Nadal, who apparently eats at Cambio de Tercio every night during Queens Tennis Tournament), this is going to become a GDG firm favourite…

Five Quirky Places to Grab a Snog With Your Date!

The Queen of Quirky, Miss Em Bell, has given us her favourite 5 weird and wonderful date suggestions for the best places to grab a cheeky snog with your date... Have a read and let us know what you think!

The Grange Park Opera

If you feel like being a bit old school romantic, and don't mind a wee road trip to get there, then the perfect (yet pricey!) choice is The Grange Park Opera. Based in Northington, Hampshire, it is truly spectacular and if you're a fan of the opera, it's an absolute must. Based in the gardens of the most stunning house in the world, you actually feel like you are in Pride and Prejudice and if you are going to spend money to listen to people sing, then I would definitely go here.

Now, so far so good, but if you are really wanting to get a snog, then prepare a scrummy picnic for the evening and book a picnic spot. You can then lay out your rug, drink your bottle of bubbly, nibble on cucumber sandwiches and enjoy the voices of angels. You have to book in advance but believe me it's worth it. Grab your birthday suit and a ticket and get your butt there.

Dans Le Noir

What better way to feel up your date, than in a completely pitch black dining room. It's utterly perfect. Even if you have a bit of extra squidge from Christmas or a massive spot on your face, you can hide behind the cover of darkness, not to mention your hysterical chat… Based on Clerkenwell Green in East London, it really is one of the weirdest nights out and with your eyesight compromised you literally have no idea whether you are eating fish, meat or vegetables. I also lost my knife and fork in the first five minutes so I wasn't looking so peachy when I stepped into the light again.

The food isn't much to write home about and in the dark they could be serving you anything but go for the surprise menu and it's a great way to get drunk, flirt, and work out what the blooming heck is on your plate. It's great. They even run speed dating nights there so it obviously works for everyone, especially people wanting their date to see their inner goodness?!

Woolacombe

One of my favourite spots in the WORLD is a place called Woolacombe and boy is it great. Well it kind of better be if it’s one of my favourite places in the world! Summer or winter, rain or shine. I truly love it. Now, overlooking the rocking town of Woolacombe is a wee camp site with its own personal ocean view, filled with wooden surf cabins. With these you get a radiator, mini plasma television and a beer fridge. Seriously what more could you want. In the winter, you can hang out on the cliffs, drink cider looking at the waves and eat a scrummy fry up in the local cafe. In the summer you can have a bbq on your deck while the sun goes down, surf the waves and dance your butt off at the Morisco Disco. And the best thing about all of this is that it only costs £20 a night. Screw the normal B & B rates; this is the coolest place you will ever stay with a five star view. So pack up your car with a lot of duvets, movies and food and get yourself down to Europa Park in Woolacombe. Bet you a fry up you will go back again…

ninetyeight bar and lounge

If you want to eat sweeties all day and jump up and down... Well so do I. Sounds way more fun than sitting at a desk, which is why you should get your tooshie to one of the most scream, shout, stamp your foot and pull your hair like a child destinations around. The ninetyeight bar and lounge in Shoreditch is utterly cool. And to make you feel even cooler, it was a member’s bar until 13 weeks ago so get your butt there before everyone else finds out about it. You’ll feel like you’re walking around Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, there’s a guy wearing a bowling hat on the door and you can nibble on strawberry sherbet until you are bouncing off the walls. It’s like PG fun with alcohol. I love it. Totally brilliant. I feel all giggly and silly already…

Mushroom Hunting

Now this is random but completely brilliant, especially if you want to release the inner hippie in you. There's a dude called Matthew, who has been mushroom hunting for 15 years, and hand in hand with your date, he will show you round the forest and help you select the ultimate mushrooms for your supper. The courses start at 10am at Sadgrove farm for coffee. You then head off into the surrounding woods where Matthew shares his identifying and preserving techniques. I mean after this you could live without Tesco and your local corner shop, hand in hand with your neighbour and your vegetable patch. There is nothing cooler these days. You then forage for about three hours and head back to cook two dishes from the food you have gathered. How manly and prehistoric. I love it. So get back in touch with our ancestors and get yourself booked in for a course. It's £150 and I would definitely call you my boyfriend after this.

Thanks to Em Bell, the weirdest woman we know, for sharing her tips on quirky dates. You can read more about Em’s weird and wonderful life on her website….


http://www.embell.co.uk/

Classic Mini Tour Around London!

Do you love London? Do you love the quirkiness of the iconic Mini Cooper?

If you've answered yes to both these questions then not only do you think like us (!) but you'll also love our latest featured date: Classic Mini Tour.

This is a great date for a special occasion (we're thinking birthday, anniversary etc.) but it's equally good for a spontaneous weekend date. The guys at smallcarBIGCITY are incredibly accommodating so ring them up, talk through your plans and then sort out a trip that works for you.

You'll be picked up from the location of your choice (home, a hotel, train station etc.) by a classic Mini Cooper complete with a charming driver! Feel free to ask for a bit of peace and quiet if you want but we'd recommend quizzing your driver on his London knowledge as you weave your way around town - some of the facts at their fingertips are amazing and will certainly give you and your date something to talk about afterwards!  We would also suggest giving your driver a bit of an itinerary. If the date is a present for your man what about London's famous sporting sites? If it's a gift for the lady in your life then how about famous romantic scenes from films?  Whatever your taste make sure you tell smallcarBIGCITY in advance as they will tailor the tour to your specific requirements.

Click here to read the full review of Miss Mary's Classic Mini Cooper date....

What is flirting?

Have a squiz below at an extract from a GDG guest blog commissioned by the lovely people at Flirtomatic… For the full article, click here!

WORDS OF WISDOM

What is flirting, why is it important and how often should we do it…?

BY TRISHA ⋅ FEBRUARY 17, 2011

FILED UNDER  FLIRTING, FLIRTOMATIC, THE GREAT DATE GUIDE

Hello to all you lovely Flirts from The Great Date Guide! Our friends here at Flirtomatic have kindly given us this opportunity to share our thoughts on the great flirting debate, so here we are!

Well, in our humble opinion, flirting is both a crucial and brilliantly fun part of the dating game and life would be very dull without it. Yet how often have you, or someone you’ve known landed in deep water as a result of the seemingly innocent flirt? Have you ever been irritated by someone who flirts too much, or hurt by someone whose flirting did not mean what you hoped?

Read more…!