Nov 2013

As you descend the precariously steep steps into this somewhat concealed cocktail bar, you’ll feel as if you’ve somehow walked into your Grandma’s living room. Flowery wallpaper, vintage furniture, weathered black and white photographs, tasseled lampshades and potted plants fill the den-like room. It would not surprise me if there was a doily or two in there as well!

It may give the impression of Grandma’s living room, but unlike the typical Grandma living room the Bourne & Hollingsworth also houses a sizable bar and DJ, plus an array of carefully crafted cocktails, mixed, shaken and stirred by skillful bartenders.

Enjoy the quirky surrounds and soak up the 30s prohibition style atmosphere, while sipping gin concoctions from fine china tea cups and fruity cocktails from old mason jars. I recommend the Honey Berry Bison (£8.50) – a pleasant mixture of Zubrowka vodka and berries, shaken with lemon, honey and egg white. It’s smooth, sweet and delicious!

Bourne & Hollingsworth also holds a varied range of events: live bands, film screenings, poetry readings and the like.

Posted by Jess Fleming

Nov 2013

With outstanding service, an elegant yet casual atmosphere and more importantly perfectly cooked steak, it’s no wonder the Hawksmoor is often hailed as “the best steak restaurant in London”.

From the moment you walk through the large double doors the ambience of the Hawksmoor warmly welcomes you. An ambiance created by the restaurants stylish interior of exposed brick walls, wooden flooring, dark leather swivel chairs, hanging chandeliers and impressively candle lit dining hall.

You will most likely need to make a reservation for dinner, but even so I suggest turning up a little early so you can enjoy a cocktail at the gorgeous bar, before heading into the main dining room. Once seated you will see a series of hanging black boards highlighting what individual cuts of meat are on offer that night, as well as larger cuts, which are intended to be shared among groups.

Once you’ve chosen your steak don’t forget to choose your accompanying sides, such as: triple cooked chips (a must), beef dripping chips, mash with gravy (amazing), creamed spinach, buttered greens and much, much more!

Expertly seared on a grill, just the way you like it, the Hawksmoor’s steak will melt in your mouth and make you question why you’ve never been here before.

Not only does the steak taste great but the restaurant supports sustainable agricultural practices and locally sources all their meat and seafood. So you can take great comfort in the fact that there is no mystery meat here!

Take my word for it, this is not the type of place you want to go wearing tight jeans, as you’ll be left feeling absolutely stuffed (in the best possible way) by the end of your meal.

Having said that, make sure to leave room for dessert. The sticky toffee pudding is divine, as is the salted caramel ice cream.

It’s also worth noting that the Hawksmoor offers an ‘Express Menu’ throughout the day, which is served until 6:30pm. 2 courses for £23 or 3 courses for or £26.

Posted by Jess Fleming

Nov 2013

Located atop of Herron Tower on the 40th floor, Duck & Waffle is a rather fancy-schmancy restaurant and bar offering unparalleled views of Central London as well as breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and late night menus.

Dishes at the Duck & Waffle are designed to be shared and sampled. And as you might of guessed the signature dish is indeed, Duck and Waffle, which is served with a perfectly cooked fried duck egg and a small bowl of mustard maple syrup.

Other specialty dishes include: whole roasted shropshire chicken with ratte potatoes, wild mushrooms and truffle, backed sea bass with lemon and rosemary, grilled tiger prawns with a pickled fennel salad, among other equally sumptuous dishes.

There’s also an extensive drinks menu, which the staff are just as enthusiastic to tell you about. The drinks are then poured and mixed by bartenders behind a sleek and modern bar.

In fact the entire floor is modern in design with simple yet stylish features like, a wooden paneled ceiling, marble top tables and rounded booths.

Useful Info

As you can imagine this place is incredibly popular so it’s best to reserve a table beforehand, which you can do over the phone or via email.

Dress code is smart casual. Check website for the kitchens opening and closing times.

Posted by Jess Fleming

Oct 2013

Whilst I absolutely loved living in London and the exciting pace of life it offered, taking a day trip to a quieter, more relaxed town was always a welcomed break.

One of my favourite places for such an escape was the seaside town of Brighton.

Located on the southern coast of East Sussex County, Brighton is a charming seaside town and is for the most part exactly how you would imagine an English seaside town to be.

A quaint village on the edge of a nippy sea, a pebbly shorefront dotted with stripped deck chairs, giant squawking seagulls, a long promenade lined with fish and chip kiosks, sun kissed locals and sunburnt holiday makers.

Indeed English holiday makers, in their droves flock to the coastal town once summer hits, determined to enjoy Britain’s often fleeting warm season.

While the warmer months bring with them a troop of sun seeking day trippers, Brighton actually sees a steady stream of visitors throughout the entire year.

Apart from the beach, Brighton also offers visitors a chance to wander through the town’s quaint and often narrow passageways, which are lined with an assortment of lovely independent shops. As well as the opportunity to dine at a wide range of fantastic, locally owned cafés, pubs and restaurants.

Furthermore visitors can take pleasure in strolling along the seafront boardwalk, breathing in the salty sea air, as well as finding amusement on the iconic Brighton Pier, which houses countless games and rides.

On my visits to Brighton, I particularly enjoyed walking along the wooden planks of Brighton Pier, posing for photos behind the life size carnival photo cut outs, swapping money for tokens, chancing my luck on arcade games and lapping up the fun fair type atmosphere.

As well as the pier I always made a point of wandering through Brighton’s charming historic quarter, The Lanes. A myriad of quaint, narrow alleyways overflowing with boutiques, antique dealers and other specialised stores.

Time and again I would find myself returning to Sweet Williams Homemade Fudge as well as to the Angel Food Bakery, both tucked away in The Lanes for sweet and delicious treats. Always with the best intention I would stow these goodies in my bag to eat and share once I returned to London, however inevitably I would eat them all on the train journey home. Oops!

When it comes to eating something more substantial in Brighton, there are no shortages of places to go. In fact there seems to be some sort of eatery on practically every street! However, I suggest heading over to the The Fishbowl, for a tasty and relaxed meal.

My friend Laura and I stumbled upon this brightly coloured pub by chance. And boy were we glad we did, as we were served the most delicious and over-the-top pub lunch. Seriously the portions were HUGE!

We shared a ‘Batter Platter’, which included thin fillets of fish in a selection of the kitchens special flavoured batters (slightly spiced, lemon and black pepper, toasted herbs and garlic on this occasion), and a pile of homemade chips.

Usually before heading back to the station to take a late afternoon train to London, I would walk over to The Royal Pavilion and stroll around the idyllic Pavilion Gardens. Not only because it was extremely pretty but also because it was a great way to ‘walk off’ overindulgent lunches.

My keen interest in how previous generations used to lived (Royal folk or not), meant that I also enjoyed popping into The Royal Pavilion to snoop around the impressive collection of Royal rooms on show. Each room in this former Royal residence, which was built in the 18^th century, is like a work of art, thanks to the extravagant and often-flamboyant decorative styles chosen.

At around 5 o’clock, when the sun began to dip, that would generally be my cue to make my way back toward the station. Then, as I sat on the train bound for London, I was always left with that lovely feeling of having had a mini seaside break.

Posted by Jess Fleming

Sep 2013

Sunny days in London are best spent lying on the grass in Regent’s Park – reading, picnicking, people watching or simply gazing at London’s surprisingly blue sky. In summer, or really whenever the sun is out, the park is a flurry of activity, with people playing cricket, sun bathing, frisbee throwing, walking, jogging, bike riding and so on.

If you happen to find yourself in Regent’s Park, make sure you take the time to walk around the beautifully manicured lawns and tranquil gardens, where in the springtime an impressive display of tulips and other flowers paint the park a myriad of gorgeous colours. If you don’t feel like walking you can always rent a ‘Borris’ Barclays Bike and cycle leisurely along either the inner or outer circle park roads or on one of the many bike paths.

Also, make sure to check out the beautiful and somewhat secret garden of St John’s Lodge, located within the park’s Inner Circle. This serene and rather fragrant spot is the perfect place for a catch up picnic with friends.

Posted by Jess Fleming