Queen of Hoxton

We sent the lovely beauty blogger, B Byrom off on a date to Queen of Hoxton to review it for The Great Date Guide... here's what she made of it!

To start your date, meet on Shoreditch High Street and pop into The Foxcroft and Ginger (which is left out of Shoreditch station above the end of the new row of shops on the high street) where you can sit under umbrellas and look down on the world below whilst enjoying a pre dinner drink. It’s then just a short walk across the high street and down a few back streets to Queen of Hoxton. 

On arrival you are presented with quite a dark room, lit by exposed light bulbs intertwined with ivy.  The walls are covered with graffiti with what looks like images of 80s or 90s computer games, which is appropriate as there are various games strewn around; a pin ball machine, foosball table and real computer games too.   These childhood games are a perfect icebreaker at the start of the date whilst sipping on one of the deliciously grownup cocktails on offer.

After your cocktail head up to the roof garden to get some more drinks, and order your food. Several flights of stairs later the roof opens out onto patches of fake lawn covered in a variety of styles of picnic benches and tables! Flowers, bunting and fairy lights are hung all around making the place look absolutely magical. There is a really buzzy atmosphere up on the roof, plenty of people come here even on a weeknight, so it’s a good idea to arrive early and get a good spot. There is also the option of queuing for a set of wireless headphones to watch a film on the large projector screen, details of what is showing can be found on their website. 

At the far end of the garden is a BBQ and bar where food and drinks can be ordered. The menu is small but well chosen for the time of year, as well as being easy to eat should you find yourself perching on a bench! The burgers are a bit mean, but the halloumi salad is highly recommended. The staff are very helpful and friendly and no one seems to wait long for food despite the fact it’s always quite busy.

At the start of the film tables are quickly and efficiently put to one side and rows of chairs set up, if you aren’t staying for the film you will be asked to leave the roof which was a shame but this could be an opportunity to check out what is happening on in the basement - a wide variety of DJ's and events are on offer depending on the night.

Don't let the fact that it is open air put you off should you be planning a trip later on in the year, they erect a huge wigwam in the winter and the food is changed accordingly, there is even marshmallow toasting and hot chocolate, great for cosying up with your date!

This place is ideal for a fun, informal, early date. There is plenty to entertain you if you’re stuck for conversation and the location is great, even if you don't live east, as it is so close to the station.

P.s. Click here to read the official review on our website...

Ditch the Fancy Dinner...

Miss Mary has asked her friends at TasterLab to give her their suggestions for a fun and frugal alternative to the typical Valentine's dinner... Take a look at what they have to say!

The idea of Valentine’s Day immediately conjures up images of candles, white tablecloths and a dozen red roses... Something about all of the hearts and red and pink stuff feels a little, well, clichéd and maybe just a bit boring, right? It’s doubtful that years later you’ll turn and look lovingly into your man/woman’s eyes and say, “Darling, remember that tender moment we shared over a plate of meatballs on Valentine’s Day?”  

While this ubiquitous Valentine’s celebration is the old standby and usually goes over pretty well - why not make this year an occasion you’ll never forget?

One sure fire way to make certain the time you spend with your significant other will be remembered forever is to try something new together - you know, mix it up a little. This is what TasterLab is all about - encouraging Londoners to get out there and do something different. 

Clearly attending a cocktail making class and whipping up some delicious creations together is a lot more memorable (unless you enjoy the cocktails a little too much!) than just being served a bottle of wine in a stuffy restaurant. 

Beyond the hilarity that could ensue from trying something together for the first time, it doesn’t get more exciting or thoughtful than surprising your partner with something completely unexpected like a romantic evening of tango or a private cooking class for two. 

So in honour of discovering something new and perhaps something new about each other in the process, below are some of TasterLab’s best experiential tasters to share with your other half in celebration of the most romantic day of the year.

And for those of you without a specific Valentine in mind this year, we also have arranged a special TasterLab event at Open Kitchen where you’ll get to wine, dine and learn a few things about cooking up an amazing meal all in a room with 19 other lovely singles (10 guys and 10 girls). And just maybe you’ll meet someone to share one of these amazing experiences with next year? Click here for more info.

1. Piazza Martini St Valentine’s Lovers’ Cooking Lesson for Two / £175 - 50% Off / Your Home

Don’t just eat a meal - learn how to create it and all the techniques involved so you can do Valentine’s dinner as many times as you like. Two experienced Italian chefs will come to your own kitchen and show you all the tricks to making a delicious meal - a starter of Vegetable Crème with Scallops, homemade Taglioteli with seafood Al cartoccio and a dessert of spicy mousse of black chocolate. A bottle of white wine is included. 

2. Tango with Rojo y Negro / £5 - 50% Off / Queensway & Farringdon

Tango is absolutely the most sensual and passionate of all the dance styles. While it might sound a little intimidating - this group beginner’s class means you won’t be the only couple stumbling around. And even if you discover that you aren’t the next world champion ballroom dance couple, it is really nice to have a laugh together, right? Plus, the classes take place in two excellent venues - one of which, the Union Tavern, doubles as a gastropub stocked with more than 80 wines. So if it takes three to tango (you, your partner and a glass of wine), the option definitely exists.

3. Two-Hour Group Cocktail Making Class / £10 - 80% Off / Central London

Why go out and spend a bunch of money on drinks when you can spend just a little and learn how to turn your own home into a lovely drink destination? Celebrate Valentine’s a day early (classes are on Mondays) with a cocktail making class with your significant other. One of London’s leading mixologists, Dan Thomson, will lead you and the rest of the group in learning everything you need to know to create everything from the classics to a delicious original creation of your own. 

4. Two-Hour Paddleboarding Session followed by a Two-Course Meal for Two / £69 - 48% Off / The Thames

Rather than the ubiquitous Valentine’s Day gifts of flowers or perfume, give your partner the gift of an adventurous experience with you on the Thames. Active 360 has put together a lovely couples’ package of a two hour paddleboarding lesson followed by a romantic meal for two at one of several delicious restaurants including traditional British, French and Italian options. This couples’ class can be redeemed any time before the 31st of October so feel free to wait until the weather is a little more favorable for outdoor activities. 

London Cocktail Week

Cancel your plans, find yourself a date and tell the boss you're going to be late – London Cocktail Week is back!

London Cocktail Week is designed to encourage Londoners to try new things – taste different cocktails, visit bars they’ve never heard of and maybe even try their hand at cocktail making too. Sounds to us like the perfect recipe for an inspired date...  and frankly, it doesn't take much to persuade Miss Mary to have a cocktail or two!

Head over to our website to find out more about London Cocktail Week 2011.

Bottoms up!

Miss Mary x

New Look Bar at Sam's Brasserie!

As of yesterday, Sam's Brasserie in Chiswick has a new bar - take a look at the pictures below to see what they've been up to over the past week...

... and don't forget, if you want to see the bar for yourself then you should enter our competition to win a meal for two (including a free bottle of wine) at Sam's Brasserie.  For full details of the competition click here.

But remember, you don't have to win our competition to go to Sam's Brasserie. Why not head down to the bar for a cocktail (or three) this weekend? Or maybe some brunch to soak up the excesses of the night before...

Actions speak louder than words...

This week our guest blog is written by journalist Kerry Wiatt - who reckons actions speak louder than words - so she's suggesting some brilliant "activity dates" from all around London. From go karting for the sporty, to cocktail making for those that enjoy a more alcoholically based date... Enjoy!

The hard work is done. You’ve approached someone and not only have you got on famously but you’ve secured their phone number and a date for the weekend. Now it’s time for the grand finale – the date itself. What to wear, how to smell and choosing the right time should all come secondary to one of the most important factors – location, location, location.

No, we’re not talking Kirsty and Phil hunting out the perfect countryside forever home for you and your new beau; perhaps wait a few dates for that, but picking the right location for your first date is imperative.

In one of the most vibrant cities in the world, a lunch or dinner date seems, well, just a little dull for your first time meeting. Low-lighting and romantic music is far too intense whilst crowded, bustling restaurants will make it hard to converse easily. Thankfully, with miles of original, creative and quirky places to go, London does the work itself. All you have to do is pick and choose. And that’s what we’re here for.

My suggestion would be to get interactive. Remember the old saying actions speak louder than words? They absolutely do and show an awful lot about who you really are. Pick a pursuit that will see you learning a new skill, getting your hands dirty or competing as a team. Not only will you have something to chat about throughout your whole date, but it will encourage fun, laughter and conspiratory behaviour as you join forces and learn something new!

The Gaucho chain of restaurants in London runs a fabulous series of workshops for couples. The Chocolate and Malbec Masterclass at Gaucho Smithfield allows guests to make their own chocolates whilst attempting to pair them with the perfect wines. The Cocktail Masterclasses, meanwhile, offer an interactive group experience that incorporates five classic cocktails with a twist. Paired up, you will make your drinks as the Masterclass leader talks you through each one, with a ‘taste off’ competition for the best drink of every round. This will culminate with the two highest-scoring teams taking part in a final ‘shake off’ with a surprise drink and, of course, a prize for the winners.

If food is more your bag, why not try making Ceviche, a mouth-watering, traditional South American delicacy made by marinating raw seafood in citrus juices. Tutored by Gaucho’s Head Chef, the 45-minute Ceviche Masterclass shows you how they are made and then helps you to recreate them. Perfect for summer; couples can also book a place on the Sweet and Sticky Masterclass enjoying an afternoon of Argentinean ice-cream making.

And if the date goes well? You can slip off somewhere quiet and scenic to enjoy your delicious creations and mull over your new culinary skills.

Of course, some of you city types like to live life in the fast lane. For you, head to Mile End Outdoor Karting Track London, which offers 650 meters of outdoor, floodlit track with a brand new fleet of karts able to reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. Get competitive and show your date what you’re made of before ending the evening with a moonlit onsite BBQ. Remember, you’re not Lewis Hamilton and your date won’t appreciate a broken nose or cut lip after you slam them into the track walls. Take it easy and have fun!

There’s something terribly sexy about casinos even if you’re playing for pennies. Dim lighting, cocktails, risky decisions, kissing dice for luck, doubling down on Black Jack and coming away with a pocket full of cash; it’s all very Indecent Proposal and makes for a great first date. Set yourselves a cash and time limit before you arrive to ensure the evening doesn’t become tedious. Napoleons in Leicester Square is my favourite: quiet, sultry and exclusive.

I’m almost loathe to tell you about my final location as it really is one of the best kept secrets in London. Maybe the name in itself will put you off but I sincerely hope not as this truly is one of the most camp and quirky places you could ever take a first date. Bethnal Green Working Man´s Club hosts a free to attend Game Night every Friday. A weird and wacky mix of bingo, karaoke, dancing and cabaret with the most eclectic range of guests, there is never a dull moment and you can even order takeaway to your table. Guaranteed to have you in stitches, the drinks are cheap, the games are hilarious and I’ll put money on you having one of the best, random nights of your life.

Written by Kerry Hiatt

For more of Kerry’s tales visit her blog http://kerryhiatt.com/blog/