Winter Warmers

With the nights drawing in and the jumpers going on it's time for some winter warmer date suggestions!

Fancy a cosy date in the pub? Then may way suggest the lovely gem of a watering hole, The Bobbin in Clapham with its roaring open fire and delicious food.

Or maybe you'd rather be outdoors? In which case a perfectly planned winter picnic would make a great date option for any occasion... just make sure you wrap up warm and remember that it gets dark early!

Wonderful all year round, but especially cosy in winter is the gorgeous and scrumptious Bleeding Heart Restaurant, nestled in a quiet courtyard at the end of a cobbled alley.

Enjoy!

Spring Is On It's Way!

We're already feeling seriously enthusiastic about spring! These brief moments of sunshine are lifting our mood here at the GDG and getting us very excited about the next few months... London is simply stunning in the spring - so full of promise.

Whilst we're eagerly looking forward to spring, we're also feeling nostalgic towards last year. For our small team this past year has meant weddings and babies galore! I've been having a look through our archives and have dug out this piece that I wrote for the fabulous (and always cheerful!) Heart Home Magazine.

Although it's from a year ago all the suggestions are still relevant and perfect to get you inspired for spring in London.

Enjoy!

Miss Mary xxx

p.s. there are also some great new bars and restaurants opening this spring (like Bird of Smithfield) so keep an eye out on this blog and the website for more details.

Top 10 London Date Venues

Thanks to a well timed tweet we discovered this fab list of great date venues from Looking for Love in London and had to share it with you! 

"Despite having had more than my fair share of shoddy date venues over the years (Cattle Grid was just one of many!), I have also been taken to some lovely places too. My most recent fave was Four O Nine which I’ve already talked about on the blog, so here are 10 other places which I recommend (in no particular order)…" 

1. The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields

This may not look a very exciting choice at first glance, but this has to be one of the most memorable date venues I’ve been taken to – there are a few Breakfast Club’s around London, but I’m specifically talking about the one at Spitalfields. I went here on a first date about a year ago and was slightly confused when the guy picked a place more suited to a breakfast/brunch date as his venue of choice for after work drinks. Once we got there and he went up to a waitress and told her “We’re here to see The Mayor” I thought he was definitely off his rocker!! But this was, in fact, the code that meant she then opened up a ‘Smeg fridge’ in the café and lead us through it(!) and downstairs to a funky hidden away cocktail bar called The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. (They ask you to leave through a different door so as to not spoil the Smeg fridge secret.) I think it’s a really fun gimmick for a first date and definitely helps break the ice…and now you know the code, go and try it out!

2. Callooh Callay

Talking of gimmicks, the entrance to the lounge bar at Callooh Callay is in a similar vein to the Smeg fridge door. This is a fun, quirky bar in Shoreditch which I went to a couple of years ago now (on another first date!). To get from the main bar to the lounge bar you go through a huge old-school Narnia-esque wardrobe. All the furniture/décor is retro too so again it makes for a first date venue which is a bit different to the norm.

3. Aqua

From one extreme to another, Aqua is just off Regent Street and is much sleeker and more modern. It has two restaurants – a Japanese one (Aqua Kyoto) and a Spanish/tapas one (Aqua Nueva) but I’ve only ever been there for drinks at Aqua Spirit. There is an ok indoor bar area (nothing too special), but what I liked about it was the outside rooftop terrace, which is perfect as we’re heading towards Summer and (hopefully) some sunshine! The drinks are pretty pricey but it’s nice for a pre-dinner drink/yummy cocktail. My first experience of it was slightly tainted by the fact I was with Mr Baileys (and yes, he drank Baileys on a sunny rooftop!), but the fact that I still loved it means it must have been good!

4. Gordon’s Wine Bar

I’ve been taken to Gordon’s Wine Bar by FOUR different guys, meaning it’s clearly not the most original recommendation to make. It's just by Embankment, and with a cosy atmosphere and copious amounts of wine, I see it as a pretty fail-safe date venue (as clearly so do a lot of guys!) It's also the oldest wine bar in London, don't you know! Although there is a small outdoor area, I think it’s much more of a Winter place, especially as it has an ‘underground’ feel to it and lots of candles, which makes it feel uber snug when it’s freezing/raining outside.

5. Vertigo 42

As Vertigo 42 is a champagne bar at the top of Tower 42 in the City, the main draw to this place is the view! I got taken here by a bit of a knob if I’m honest (a guy with a serious case of short man syndrome – maybe that’s why he picked a venue at such a great height!!) but I can’t deny that the views were pretty awesome. If you’re feeling extra flashy there is also Gary Rhodes’ restaurant, Rhodes 24, in the same building which you could then go on to for some food…I’ve been there for dinner with a friend though and we weren’t massively impressed!

6. Bluebird

I’ll admit I didn’t really know much about Bluebird until it appeared in pretty much every other episode of Made in Chelsea. When I then started dating a guy who lived just off the King’s Road, he said he would take me there as he was also a big fan of the show (a bit weird, I know)! We went for dinner and it was actually really lovely and much less pretentious than I imagined – the food and cocktails were both yummy, and I’ve been back again since just for drinks. There is a bar, restaurant AND café, so whatever time of day your date is, this is the perfect venue…and there’s also the added bonus that Hugo and Spencer might be sat at the table next to you (although other people might not be as excited by this prospect as me!)

7. Nopi

This was another place chosen by Mr Baileys – what he lacked in choice of drinks, he made up for in choice of date venue! Nopi is tucked away off Regent Street so I would never have known about this place. The food was ‘tapas style’ in that you order a bunch of small dishes to share, which did traumatise me slightly as he insisted on ordering (and forcing me to try) rabbit – I had a pet rabbit when I was a kid, so it just felt wrong!! However, I see from the website that rabbit now appears to be off the menu :) The food and ambience was really nice but as we’ve now discovered, I like a gimmick and this has a fab one…just look at the toilets!! Best not to tell your date and then leave it as a surprise for them to discover (and try to find their way back out of)!

8. The OXO Tower

This one is a bit of a cheat as I’ve actually only been to the OXO Tower for lunch with my parents, but I remember thinking that it would be a fab date place. We went in the Summer and were sat on the outside terrace with great views along the river of all the London landmarks that the Southbank has to offer. It is split into the more pricey ‘Restaurant’ and the more reasonable ‘Brasserie’ – we went to the Brasserie and the food was gorgeous and beautifully presented so I would say save your pennies and go there!

9. All Star Lanes

Some people might scoff at the idea of going bowling on a date when you are approaching the age of 30 but I think it can be great fun, especially if you get to the point where you think there may be issues of awkward conversation pauses if you go for dinner again on the next date. Also, I must point out that I’m not suggesting you go and hang out with the teenagers at Hollywood Bowl but instead that you do ‘grown-up bowling’ (as I call it!) at All Star Lanes. There are a few around London and they’re cute and retro themed…and have proper bars (alcohol is always a plus)!

10. The Avalon/The Windmill

I think a great fourth/fifth date idea is a good old Sunday pub lunch – I say fourth/fifth date as you have to be at the point where you feel comfortable enough with the guy to (a) not need vast quantities of alcohol to be involved, and (b) be able to scoff a full-on Sunday roast in front of him! Obviously there are tons of good places around London for this but a couple which I love in my neck of the woods are The Avalon and The Windmill on the Common. 

Sorry, that turned into a bit of an essay…but do go and try them out if you’ve not already been! :) 

Thanks so much Looking for Love in London, keep up the good work!

A 2012 ‘I Will’ Action List:

Attractions & distractions for a happy, healthy and productive 2012 

We’re only a month or so into the New Year but if you’re already struggling with a rather miserable list of ‘I will not’ type resolutions then help is at hand. The lovely ladies at ‘This is Your Kingdom’ have put together a marvellous compendium of favourite ‘sober’ things to see and do in London; the perfect distraction from sworn abstinence and all the inspiration you need to ‘eat, drink, walk, think, potter, ponder, snuggle, shop and sleep’ your way to a happy, healthy and productive year ahead!

SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE IS  YOUR "I WILL" LIST FOR 2012

  

Make & Create: A fun, relaxing and productive way to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends. Best of all, you come away with something truly bespoke and personal to you, much better than a hangover we thinks.

From constructing wigwams in East Sheen to dressmaking in Clapham, shoe crafting in Hackney and bunting making in Balham there are plenty of fantastic independent craft venues across the capital at which to get those creative juices flowing.

Potter & Ponder: London is full of lovely, little high streets lined with unique independent shops. How about cupcakes and collectables in Crystal Palace, brunching and browsing in Muswell Hill, grocery shopping at the Royal Hill lovelies in Greenwich or unearthing trinkets on Northcote Road in Clapham? Dip into a new part of the city and do your bit to support independents and the passionate, creative locals who run them.

Explore & Discover: The city is dotted with gorgeous green spaces, beautiful buildings and hidden secrets and the best way to get out and discover these is on foot or (our preference) by bicycle! Find pelicans in St James’ Park and discover secret snack spots in Chelsea. Feel the wind in your hair as you cross Walthamstow Marshes and marvel at the views from the lawn at Kenwood House in Hampstead.

  

Snuggle & Sleep: Cosy nights at home in front of the fire are the best way to get through the winter months but it’s important to get out once in a while so snuggle up at this cosy cinema in Shoreditch instead, take in a play at this small stage with big performances in Notting Hill or catch the Sunday film night at this eclectic café in Waterloo.

Indulge & Enjoy: We’re all for partaking in some serious scoffing to counter-balance the lack of boozing and London has a whole host of fabulous foodie destinations not to be missed. Take vintage tea in Hammersmith, find fine fayre on Maltby Street, seek out the yummiest coffee in Chelsea and master the sweet things in life at this unique cookery school in Queens Park.

Weekending Away: One of the best things about the city is that it’s ever so easy to escape for a weekend away. Take the train to Brockenhurst in Hampshire for gastro dining and luxury rooms at The Pig, tootle off to Cambridge (bicycle in tow) for city living mixed with gorgeous countryside or take a trip to the great British sea-side for fish and chips and market mooching.

Embrace Rurban Living: You may be in one of the world’s largest cities, but London has plenty of ways to forget where you are tucked up its sleeve. Take a trip to one of the many ‘city farms’ in Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Vauxhall or explore the many waterways, open spaces and growing gardens on offer to each of us across the capital.

Try a New Hobby: From open air swimming, to outdoor trapeze or Bolshoi ballet for beginners, there are plenty of weird and wonderful ways to challenge your mind and body across the capital. We thoroughly embrace the ‘try everything once’ mentality, though usually reward ourselves afterwards with a nice piece of Victoria sponge.

Get a Caffeine High: Substitute alcohol with caffeine and spend afternoons cosied up in coffee shops catching up with friends. If like us you are a bit of a coffee snob (just the right strength, not too hot, milky or frothy) have a peek at these TiYK recommended spots in Hampstead, Hackney, Hither Green, Brixton, Deptford, Hammersmith and Battersea.

And after you've said "I will" to all of the above...? Catch your breath! 

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

Dinner at Harrison's

Last month one of our lovely writers, Sally from Sally Serves It Up, popped over to Harrison's in Balham to sample its culinary delights... here's what she had to say about it:

"Harrison's is definitely considered one of the cooler haunts of Balham. The celebrity connection (it's co-owned by Sam Harrison - of Sam's Brasserie fame, and fish guru Rick Stein) means that you absolutely have to try it once. Perfect for first dates and old fashioned date nights alike, it provides the ideal balance of sleek date setting (note perfect dim lighting) with a more relaxing location than hectic central London. 

Start the evening off with a bang by ordering some of the Colchester Rock Oysters. There are show-stoppingly good. Alternatively, there's also a sharing board - perfect to have with your date. The crunchy fish and chips (boy) and smoked chicken salad (girl) tasted how they should but it was the well chosen and affordable wine list that was impressive – go for the South African De Wetshof Estate Chardonnay, it was fantastic. For pudding, share the Chocolate Marquise with hazelnut ice cream - indulgently good and worth every calorie..."

Click here for Sally's full review of Harrison's and, if you like the cut of her jib, then click here to go to her brilliant blog, Sally Serves It Up, which is full of fantastic recipes that are easy and inspirational all at the same time!

Thanks Sal,

Miss Mary xxx