Balancing on a tightrope seems impossible at the best of times, but imagine doing it bobbing around at sea while on a boat. Well, for the talented artists at Cirque du Soleil, this is exactly what they have to contend with, with the company’s newest shows taking place on the water. The Montreal-headquartered firm has partnered with MSC Cruises to offer exclusive shows on board a new fleet of passenger liners. We gained behind the scenes access at the colourful Cirque Du Soleil HQ, to see how these special productions are designed from start to finish. There are currently two Cirque d...
Read more →Sadie Whitelocks 9
Marylebone is a refined area with classic London architecture, boutique stores and it’s also become one of the hottest neighbourhoods to hang at night thanks to the addition of the bustling Chiltern Firehouse (opened in 2013). Rooms at the fabled hotspot start from £520, but if you’re looking for something a little more affordable and away from the thong, No. Ten Manchester Street is located a hop and a skip around the corner. The small boutique hotel, which has 44 rooms, offers a slice of cosiness and quite calm. Thanks to an elegant interior design job, the period rooms boast a contempora...
Read more →If the thought of a standard Christmas dinner bores you slightly, then head on down to London's Pedley Street Station. There, thanks to Funicular Productions' latest offering The Greatest Snowman, you'll board a train and get whisked away on a festive journey to remember. The production company is pioneering a new form of immersive dining in the city, and like the other productions I've seen, its newest number promises to please. I don't want to give too much away, but on board the Arctic Express you'll embark on a ride peppered with laughter, lots of Christmas spirit and a range of high ji...
Read more →Decked out with dolls-house like furnishings - think lengths of velvet and soft pinks and greens - Millie's at The Ned promises to charm. I checked out the British brasserie on a Tuesday night after a perfectly poured martini over at the Library Bar (a must-visit for champagne and martini-lovers). One thing that immediately struck me about Millie's was how much space there was. Nowadays so many London restaurants ram as many tables as they can into a venue leaving you almost playing footsie with your neighbour. However, at Millie's the tables were well spaced, which added to the sense of i...
Read more →With the cold weather drawing in, what better than a punchy cocktail to warm the cockles. On a recent trip to Polpo in Notting Hill I was transported to the dreamy haze of Italy as a sipped on one of the eatery's Venetian-inspired libations. The great thing about all of the Polpo venues around town (six so far), is that they're warm and inviting, with a buzzing atmosphere to boot. 'I didn't even know there was a bar here,' my friend exclaimed as we perused the drinks menu. That's one of my favourite things to do at Polpo - stop by for a drink. You don't necessarily have to be booked int...
Read more →I always find it tricky to find a decent spot to eat around Bond Street, but that problem has now evaporated thanks to the addition of Harry’s Bar on James Street. Stepping into the venue on a Friday night, it proved to be a sophisticated old school oasis and a safe haven from the flurry of tourists and shoppers swarming the streets outside. Jazz music was playing, the lighting was low and I could see that my friend Ralph had ordered me a vodka olive martini with one of the white-suited bar men delicately shaking it into a sippable blend. Before dinner we opted for a drink at the bar. Unli...
Read more →This month St Giles London announced the return of its zany bed, breakfast and abseil package. Over the weekend guests took on the daring feat of abseiling off the roof of the property in an effort to raise money for the St Giles’ Hotels with Heart Foundation, and their partner Centrepoint - a leading youth homelessness charity, committed to giving young people a future. The St Giles London hotel is located in the heart of the historic West End, which is steps away from the British Museum, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and many other major attractions. Last year in December, staff and g...
Read more →The Vaults, housed under Waterloo station, is one of my favourite spaces in London and it’s always producing surprises. The venue, which is known for its wacky immersive productions, is currently hosting a brilliant show titled Divine Proportions. It instructs guests to ‘wine, dine and celebrate life’ and the steamy atmosphere of the place certainly enables this. I popped to a showing on a Friday night and everyone nervously waited in the bar area for the show to unfold. To ease the nerves, I delved into the fabulously themed cocktail list. A smokey rum twist on an old fashioned and a whi...
Read more →I've walked around this little nook of Soho a few times and never stumbled across this gem. But if you get a chance, I can't recommend Sophie's Soho enough. Housed inside a former sex cinema and nightclub, the venue is pretty spectacular. Think high ceilings, raw red brick, pipes showing and a buzzing atmosphere. This is the kind of place you could base yourself for the day, hanging out to do work, seeing friends grabbing dinner and dancing in the speakeasy club downstairs come nightfall. On walking into the venue, there is a cosy conservatory area at the front, and then you immediately g...
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