La Vida Londonista

Northern girl living the Southern dream

Showing posts with label Socialising. Show all posts

Turning Fables

It felt like forever since I had seen Jack, Gemma and Fi. We're usually joined at the hip when possible but since we've all had so much on recently it's been more and more difficult to find a slot to meet up. So a catch up was long overdue when I suggested we meet at one of Central London's newest offering, The Fable. And never ones to turn down the chance to critique a new haunt, or a good catch up over an even better cocktails, we agreed to give it a whirl.

However this began with problems. The bar, on the corner of Farringdon road, is a three floor maze, with an entrance on both the ground and top floor, a fact unbeknown to Gemma and I. So after an accidental game of hide and seek up and down the bar, Gemma and I finally found each other and sat down, each floor more and more packed with suits enjoying a good post work moan.

But that has to be the only complaint I have. And if the worst thing about a bar is its confusing navigation, a girl really can't have any complaints. The whole place is decked out like something from your favourite fantasy storybook, with influences from tales from around the world, and even a themed menu. Which the gang and I wasted no time exploring.

We settled on a 'rub a dub shrub', a sharing cocktail with a watermelon and champagne base, although I could quite easily have gone for the majority of the options on the menu. Each was an original twist on a classic, or just a total original, and each was enriched in a story of fun and fantasy. And when we saw it being served in a mini bathtub (yours to take away for £20) we were looking forward to it even more. The added attention to detail and the fact that we had to carry a bathtub through the bar to our seats, was both impressive and giggle-worthy, and we wasted no time tucking into our teacups of cocktail.

Any apprehension that the taste wouldn't measure up to the presentation was dispelled in the first mouthful, and we tucked in as the conversation began to flow over the news from the last few weeks.

And not content with sampling only one of the extensive offerings, we were all eager to order again, with Gemma's arriving with a whole plum inside and my gin based cocktail arrived in a sandwich bag. Complete with edible lily pads and a goldfish made out of orange peel. A first for us all.

If it's great cocktails in a great atmosphere you're looking for, then its pretty obvious there are a hundred haunts across London that will tingle your tastebuds. But this gem comes with an even rarer stone. While it may take its cocktails seriously, everything else comes with a little pinch of humour. And that is something you can't find everywhere.

www.thefablebar.co.uk

Old Friends and a Brit Award

I've known my friend Lucy for years. We discovered alcohol and boys together in our teenage years and it's bonded us ever since. She was my partner in crime when it came to a glass or five on a school night and she's always one of my first calls when I'm back visiting home. So I was ridiculously-schoolgirl excited when she cleared a few days in her schedule to come down to London to visit. I've been pestering her about staying since the day I moved and I was so excited for her to be joining me for one of my favourite nights of the year.

I greeted her at Euston with giggly excitement and we caught up on all the news from back home while journeying back to Notting Hill. Our first point of call was a cocktail so we headed round the corner to Beach Blanket Babylon. It's become like a second home to the girls and I since September. Set off a side street on Westbourne Grove and getting the right amounts of peaceful ambience and wonderful cocktails spot on, it's the perfect place for an afternoon catch up. She continued to catch me up on all the gossip from Cheshire while I updated her on all the details for the evening ahead. She'd come into town on the night of the Brit awards, and all talk through London had been of the after parties since the start of the year. So with an invitation to one of them, I was thrilled Lucy could join me.

Afternoon turned into evening far too quickly so we headed home to get ready.

With a bottle in each hand and beyonce blaring, we began getting ready like we were seventeen all over again.

Armed with a glass of champagne and wearing some of my most trusted separates, we were ready to go. And right on cue, a brand new Mercedes E class arrived to take us to DSTRKT.

I've blogged about DSTRKT before. It's one of the larger Mayfair hotspots and a great venue for celebrating birthdays. So we sipped on Vodka, and then some champagne, and then back to some more vodka while dancing and laughing away the night. The club quickly packed out and we almost forgot to keep our celeb-eye out. That was until a friend ushered us up the stairs to the back table of the club, insisting we meet someone. Wide-eyed and rather star struck, we turned around to see a smartly suited Tinie Tempah drinking champagne and chatting animatedly to the people surrounding us. We were introduced and like 13 year old schoolgirls, Lucy and I gushed over what fans we are. Playing it cool has never been our strong suit.

We all continued partying well into the early hours, with the night quickly becoming hazy from then on.

We woke up with sore heads and fond memories, laughing about our inability to hold our liquor. The rest of the trip continued with equal debauchery… but more on that another time.

Birthday Treats at Harrods

I warned you I was going to milk my birthday. I'm also going to warn you to look away now if you've carried the January diet into February because this post features an overwhelming amount of calories. But when something tastes so good, I'm willing to overlook it.

And this was the case when my blogger friend Sarah invited me for ice cream one sunny Sunday. We both had an afternoon free and with the promise of the best ice cream in London, I certainly wasn't going to refuse.

With the first glimmers of Spring and the sun shining, I headed off to meet Sarah at Harrods.

Shoes, Office: http://www.office.co.uk

Jeans, Jack Wills: http://www.jackwills.com

Gilet, Ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk

We met and headed straight to the second floor, deliberately averting our eyes through the leather and travel accessories department, to be met by a queue of around 20 minutes. That's fine we said. It meant an extra twenty minute of drooling over the delicious looking flavours through the glass cabinet, and I wasn't going to scold anyone for that. The bar is all silver and glass, with stools all around the main station where the magic happens. Theres additional seating to the side, and everything from the menu's to the chandeliers sends you somewhere not dissimilar to Willy Wonka's factory.

The parlour itself is a Morelli's Gelato concession, the only one in London and one of only a handful across the world. It's in its fifth generation of Morelli family ownership and began as a business from a bicycle basket. They've come a long way in their 106 years and are opening their first independent London store this year *hurrah*.

Fifteen minutes later we were seated at the bar browsing the menu. Sarah is somewhat of an expert at the menu, but to a fresh pair of eyes, this was gelato heaven. And an incredibly difficult choice. I eventually went for the Berry Pavlova while Sarah chose a Banoffe favourite.

We watched admirably while an animated bartender (ok so they don't serve alcohol, but ice cream is surely the next best thing) whipped up our concoctions in the largest and most fun looking sundae bowls I had ever seen.

Our ice creams arrived drizzled in sauce. Mine, layers of vanilla and strawberry ice cream with seasonal berries and whipped cream was sweet and delicious and we took well over an hour devouring our ice creams and talking fashion week, birthday week and dreaming of summer.

Our bill came to £32 which, for an afternoon in London's most famous department store, is quite impressive. And totally worth it in our eyes.

All information can be found here http://www.harrods.com/content/the-store/restaurants/ice-cream-parlour/

(Belated) Happy New Year

… and soon enough it was time to say a fond farewell to 2013. And 2013, I was incredibly fond of you. You weren't always easy, at times you made me cry and at times I didn't think you were really that great at all. But you gave me love, laughter and champagne and for that I thank you.

I said my farewells to 2013 with a party hosted by one of my bestest friends from home, Ethan, with a bunch of our other bestest friends fuelled with champagne, and memories from the year prior.

New Years kiss with the host

I'm not really one for making resolutions. I always promise to stop biting my nails, which I'm managing to do as I type, or stop drinking for January (I'm sipping on a g&t even now), but I've learnt to accept these never happen. But this year I have made a few promises to myself. I'm going to write everyday, read everyday and say yes even when I want to say no (there will be some clauses to the last one!). But Jack Kerouac wrote "Be in love with your life. Every minute of it" and I've decided to kidnap it as my mantra. Whatever adventures the next year brings, I'm already excited.

Happy 2014 all.

A Luxury London Bar Crawl

On a particularly cold Thursday evening, I braved the startling temperatures and dreadful traffic to meet up with a very old friend from home. Sarah has just moved to London to begin her fashion career and when she asked me to pick a bar to meet at... I was spoiled for choice. So I picked three.

We first met at Sketch, one of London's most up and coming bars, and once you get through the front door of the Conduit Street townhouse, you're in a world you won't ever want to leave. There's a maze of rooms to navigate, but the helpful and ultra glamorous staff round every corner will help you with that. We were directed through several themed restaurants into the small, dark room at the end where the evening bar is tucked away. We got ourselves cocktails off the incredibly menu and sat down for a catch up.

The atmosphere is perfect, full of young post-work couples and groups chatting loudly and sipping on cocktails and although there isn't a tremendous amount of seating, one usually becomes available soon. But my real wow point of this bar is the interior. From the skyline in the bar, to the pink lit pod toilets, attention to decor is really top knotch.

A five minute walk took us to Barrio Central, a tiki paradise restaurant and underground club, once again bursting with a post work party vibe and an even more extensive cocktail list. The prices are reasonable and if its cheesy music and a good time you're after then look no further.

After finishing up the last of our cocktails, we jumped in a car and headed over to my favourite most "wow" bar in London, SushiSamba. I've posted about the bar before, but time and time again it never fails to impress me with its delicious menu (the french martini isn't on there, but they'll make you the best one you've ever tasted) and even more delicious views. It's on the 39th floor of the Heron Tower. And if you're prepared to pay the prices (£12 for a cocktail, not bad considering!!) I guarantee you'll be returning time and time again.

Sarah and I sipping on our raspberry mojito and french martini while enjoying the view from the 39th floor

Autumn Style Diary

I've been meaning to do this post for a while. As Summer season has well and truly left, I decided it was finally time to bring back out my chunky knits, layered outerwear, and throw in a few new pieces for Autumn.

So the girls and I headed for Oxford Street. Something we do only when we feel particularly brave. And several hours and a sushi stop later, we returned with a topped up Autumn wardrobe.

(Clockwise from top left; Sequin top, Topshop; Shoes, Primark; Floral playsuit, Jack Wills; Jumper, Jack Wills; Marshmallow skirt, Topshop; White pencil skirt, Zara; Checked trousers, Topshop; Leather trousers, ASOS.)

Intricate embellishment was seen on catwalks across the globe for Autumn from Balmain to Tom Ford, so I had to buy this low back embellished vest from Topshop. And dare I say it will be a super piece for when the Christmas party season begins.

While florals may always have been a summer trend, the winter floral made a name for itself more than ever this season with Givenchy, Saint Laurent and Valentino all had winter florals at the core of their collections of ditsy dresses and clash print pants. And this Jack Wills playsuit is the perfect high street alternative.

Knitwear is the absolute Autumn staple and the array of choices across the high street can sometimes be a total minefield. This super soft and super slouchy lounge jumper is perfect for those cool winter days and is perfect for teaming with any colour.

Topshop Unique brought some of the funnest prints to a catwalk for AW13, so it was no surprise they carried this into their high street collection in the transitional pieces from Summer to Autumn. And nothing says fun better than this marshmallow printed pencil skirt!

Winter whites are an absolute essential for teaming with colourful pieces for every occasion. And when I saw this Zara pencil skirt, I was already teaming it with my neon knits and dark blouses before the assistant could put it in the bag.

I fell in love with these trousers the second I saw them. Combining two of Autumn's hottest trends, 90's rebellion with boy-meets-girl androgyny, the harsh symmetry, cigarette style and zipped ankle cut for a perfect Autumn trouser.

L is most definitely for leather this season, from leather dresses at Dior to leather coats at just about everywhere else, so I couldn't resist picking up a new pair of leather look trousers. Super comfortable, and a key day-to-night transitional piece!

And finally the shoes. A girl can never have too many shoes. Especially not dancing shoes. The barely there sandal has stormed across catwalks and the high street alike and these gold heeled uniform blue pair were an absolute bargain for a busy season of partying.

And that is my updated Autumn wardrobe complete. Expect to see a lot more of this lot in the coming weeks...

Fashion Icons and a little taste of heaven

Pippa and I put our dancing shoes on again last night. They're quickly becoming our favourite shoes. My best friend Jack has just moved and was hosting a house warming party to celebrate. The theme was "fashion icons" and naturally I couldn't wait to pull out my nineties Carrie Bradshaw-esque frilly skirt and nude leotard. Pippa was much more indecisive. From Julia Roberts in pretty woman, to Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra there were so many options. However she eventually settled on one of my all time favourites, Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf.

Jean Shrimpton, James Dean, Carrie Bradshaw and Cher Hollowitz catching up over a strawberry daquiri.

But unsurprisingly one daquiri became three and a glass of wine became a bottle and this morning our heads were dancing even more than our shoes had been the night before. So to cheer (and sober) ourselves up we headed for breakfast. And in London there is only one place you can grab breakfast anytime of the day, the aptly named Breakfast Club.

The decor is simple and warm and the second you walk in its like walking into the family kitchen. The tables are dressed in ketchup, sugar and tabasco for all your saucing needs, but it is the food that has people queuing out of the door for sometimes in excess of two hours. The menu varies from Pancakes to eggs florentine to a cheeseburger, but today was definitely a full monty kind of day. And less than ten minutes after ordering, my full monty arrived. Bacon, scrambled egg, black pudding, sausage, tomato, potato cakes, mushroom beans and toast, washed down with a hearty english tea and all my hangover woes were gone. The only negative? Finishing that plate is truly impossible.

Before...

... and after!

Summertime Sadness

I'm finally ready to admit it, now I've brought my favourite cream scarf out, summer is finally over.

It's been an interesting one, but a perfect way to finish an incredible year of highs and lows, and England even treated us to a spot of sunshine. I hope your summers have all been as incredible as you had hoped. I've got a hectic few months ahead that I can't wait to share with you, as the girls continue our adventures in the bright lights.

But with September approaching, I have decided to dye my hair (pictures to follow), start a new diet (that doesn't count on days ending in "y") and begin my "new year" resolutions all over again. From now on I'm going to blog more, stop biting my nails and, within reason, say yes to everything.

But for now, I leave you with some of my favourite memories from this summer as we wave goodbye to those hazy, lazy days...