Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour Review

Mention the word 'gin' to people and their response falls into the following 3 very specific camps:
1. "I remember when gin was really old-fashioned and no one drank it and now it seems to be really popular". We call these people 'old'.
2. "I've always liked gin way before it became fashionable and everyone started drinking it" *shudders delicately with disgust*. We call these people 'dicks'.
3. "I just like drinking and gin seems to be everywhere". We call these people 'heroes'.
And gin bars are indeed sprouting up everywhere and it was around last year when Mr Fogg's (you know, the one with the hot air balloon casually suspended in the corner) expanded his ventures from Mayfair to Covent Garden with a gin parlour boasting an inventory of 300 varieties of gin.

Circus Restaurant Review

Once upon a time when Southern Rail and the RMT Union were hanging out and being cool, I went into London quite frequently. Then they had the mother of all spats and now the children are crying and tea isn't on the table anymore so it halted my London jaunts for a while. But in between the plate throwing, I went to Covent Garden to have dinner and drinks at Circus.

Drink Shop & Do Bar Review

If these aren't life rules up there, then I don't know what they are

My bestie often jokes that when we're (includes our group of mutual friends, not just us making a Thelma and Louise pact) old, we should buy a giant mansion and live a kind of commune existence. I am well up for the idea of this girly commune (I'm in the "no boys allowed" camp like some sort of walking, talking David & Goliath ambassador) and in my mind I picture this commune to have sections - like an OAP Crystal Maze if you will - with one of the sections like Drink Shop & Do.

Happiness Forgets Bar Review

Cocktails come in many alluring guises. It can be sophisticated and elegant, quirky and experimental or just lively and good fun. If Happiness Forgets was a person, they'd be fun Bobby.

Hard Rock Cafe Brunch Review

I believe you when you say you love eating healthily as much as I believe you when you say you woke up like that. You lying fabulously svelte individual. No one loves eating healthy food; you love your reflection when you look fit AF following a diet of instagram worthy avocado and poached eggs, seeds of some variation and the obligatory nutribullet / juice phase. Well thankfully throughout April Hard Rock Cafe's Rock N Roll brunch is the anti-avocado bringing fat and order back in the world.

Where To Eat And Drink in Rotterdam Restaurant And Bar Review

City trip tactics; get a map and hit the streets. Rotterdam is easily covered by foot - or a somewhat choppy water taxi if you like your life and don't want to lose it crossing the Erasmus bridge (there was an exchanged look of support and sympathy as you passed each brave fool who decided to walk across it on one of the windiest days I've experienced this year). Other than that, Rotterdam is creative, individual and quite beautiful. The Beautiful South were so wrong; there is no way you could ever think that Rotterdam was just like any other place but you still can't help but sing it when you're there. Damn them and their catchy song.

100 Wardour St Cocktail Bar Review

Downstairs bar of 100 Wardour St

I've been living a frugal lifestyle lately and my friends - and anyone who had the misfortune of wandering into my eyeline - have been forced to listen to how hard I'm finding it not spending money ("oh so this is what it's like to be poor". Even I'm surprised no one's slapped me across the face. Yet.). This does therefore mean that when I do have social plans I like to make it worthwhile. This weekend I allowed myself an "entertainment" entry to be made in my spend tracking app as me and my bestie had a quick cocktail in 100 Wardour St whilst waiting for friends.

The Alchemist Cocktail Bar Review

One night a while ago I was already in my pyjamas probably watching videos of funny cats and dogs on my phone when I was then sent a photo from my friend of a bartender making a drink with the message "we have to go here - dry ice everywhere!". "Here" was The Alchemist. 

Once Upon A Wigwam Queen of Hoxton Cocktail Bar Review

So me and my friend were recently reminiscing about the time we went glamping a few years ago. It was a huge 2 bedroom tent, with a 4-poster bed, roll top bath (bloody better than my own bathroom at the time), fairy lights, flickering candles, Cath Kidston inspired decor and a log burner. We stayed there because we got a deal which was available during November and that = cold. Despite the FREEZING temperature, there was something really nice about being huddled in a tent. And that's kind of what it felt like when I recently went to Once Upon a Wigwam atop the Queen of Hoxton rooftop.

Alcoholic Architecture Breathe Responsibly Cocktail Experience Review

I care not if FOMO is something that should be left in the dusty remains of 2015. I'm dragging it along 2016 until its legs stop working, then I'll drag it some more until its pulse slows down and then when it drops dead I'll accept it would never have survived past March. FOMO is in my (much alive) blood and as such, there was no way I was going to miss out on going to the Alcoholic Architecture in London Bridge's Borough Market.

Where to drink (& dance) in Mexico Cocktail Bar & Restaurant Review

This day a month ago I was waiting at Mexico City airport about to fly back to the UK after 2 weeks of gorgeousness in Mexico. Now I'm using my blanket to wrap me up like a sausage roll as I type this. 

Bloody hell what a difference a month makes.

Wahaca Day of the Dead Festival Review

It might just be me but I think as a country we've recently become a lot more interested in Mexico. Of course I am because I'm going this week (which I may have mentioned several thousand times) but actually I've seen a lot more tourism advertising Mexico as a country to visit, there was the Tequila & Mezcal festival I went to recently in Spitalfield markets and now the Wahaca Day of the Dead festival at the Tobacco Dock in Wapping.

The Gingerline Secret Dining Review

We all have a friend who does this - 

Friend "Oooh, I've got a REALLY good piece of gossip"

Me/you "What is it?"

(So-called) friend "Aaaah, I shouldn't really say anything actually. Ignore me"

And yes you want to punch them in the face for bringing up something you weren't even bothered about. Unfortunately I am being that so-called friend when it comes to talking about the Gingerline.

Lounge Bohemia Cocktail Bar Review

Did you all enjoy London Cocktail week this year? Unfortunately I was out of the country for work to enjoy all the activities so when I came back, I decided I better make up for it by going somewhere totally awesome like Lounge Bohemia. 

The Blind Pig & Social Eating House Cocktail Bar Review

You got style, you got class. You got style with a bad ass, You got all dat along with the The Blind Pig; the kind of place where you can get all dressed up and end up walking through a door with an opticians sign above it and drinking a cocktail out of a takeaway milkshake cup.

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town Cocktail Bar Review

As with all English people, I respect the queue. The queue reduces the likelihood of glares and (at the very least) violence by 46%*. However I'm not fond of a "hype queue" - a queue commonly formed around hipster / latest hype venues. This is why I still haven't been to Meat Liquor and The Breakfast Club. This was also the case for The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town but as we were around the area Saturday afternoon, I was finally able to step through the SMEG fridge.

Made in Brasil Boteco Cocktails

I am breathtakingly assertive at times. My ability to make every agenda into my agenda is something politicians should take note of. However I do love surprises and I love things being planned for me. The bf moved like a ninja when I said I didn't have anything specific I wanted to do when we both had a day off to celebrate my birthday so he booked Made in Brasil Boteco.

Tequila & Mezcal Festival Review

I recently suggested to the bf that we should go to the Tequila & Mezcal fest. Hardly an innocuous statement yet there are a few variables that may change the context. I really dislike Tequila. It just doesn't make me happy. It makes me deeply unhappy. The smell, the taste...I feel ill thinking about it now.

Cocktails at the Sky Garden London

Summer in London hasn't been awful but it hasn't been great either. It's just one of those meh years where we get a few great days, some really awful days and mediocre in between. What's been really exasperating is that we've had a lot of those mix of weathers in one day which is exactly what happened the day I went to the Sky Garden. 

Cocktails at Bourne & Hollingsworth Building

It's a bit of an old person thing to say (hey I'm comfortable with my age...now) but I love a good conservatory. It's nice to be warm and feel the sun on your face without the downside of bumblebees and insects. The B&H Buildings is kind of like a grand conservatory making it a super venue as we head into the summer. Please do not buy me a rug for my knees. OK, maybe...that does sound kind of cool if it was in pink tartan? Cool thanks.