Near & Far Cocktail Bar, Peckham

Tonight’s the night! Near & Far, the newest venture of the team behind one of London’s most beloved and magical spots, The Magic Roundabout in Old Street, is opening its doors in the upcoming area of Peckham. Located on the 6th floor of the converted car park you enter a lovely bar with quirky decor and a mouth watering list of yummy cocktails served by a dedicated team. Top this off with feel good house and disco tunes and lots of happy people and you have all you need for a fun Saturday night!

Head down to Peckham from 6PM tonight and please arrive early as they’re expecting to reach full capacity. Also, it’s free entry! 🙂

 

 

The Pineapple Pub, Kentish Town

The Pineapple Pub, although hidden away in a backstreet and mainly known to locals, was voted Best Pub in Kentish Town by the Londonist and that already speaks for itself. If you’re lucky enough to stumble upon this gem then you won’t be disappointed. The pub is cosy with a well equipped bar featuring a huge selection of local beers and ales at the front and a nice conservatory in the back. For hot days there’s a lovely little beer garden which is home to special events and beer festivals – and on cold days you can warm yourself at the fireplace. On Mondays there’s a pub quiz and live bands and comedians are invited on a regular basis. On top of that they’re serving some of the best Thai food you’ll ever find outside of Thailand and all at a very reasonable price. Plus they have two pub cats 🙂

Erdinger Oktoberfest @Greenwich

Get a taste of Germany’s most famous festival in a picturesque London location. Overlooking the river and Canary Wharf, a large tent with adjacent beer garden has been set up selling authentic German beer and specialities such as sausages, sauerkraut and pretzels. The whole experience is complete with cute little souvenir shops and a funfair. The festival is on every Thursday to Sunday until 22nd October. Ticket prices start from £5 and can be bought here.

Sunday Roast @The Pig & Butcher, Angel

Yesterday we’ve been to the Pig & Butcher in Angel to try their famous Sunday Roast and we can honestly say we’ve been blown away. The pub is known for their amazing cuisine and the roast was indeed marvellous. Everything on that plate was just super delicious, from the high-quality and super tasty meat to the roasted potatoes and vegetables bursting with flavour and the massive Yorkshire pudding.The portions were so big that we couldn’t fit in a dessert – which is a shame because they were probably just as good as the main!

Although the pub was buzzing with customers the service was quick and very friendly. We were lucky enough to get a table in the back of the restaurant where it’s a lot quieter and less busy than in the front. Our meal was accompanied by a couple of beers from their outstanding selection of ales and lagers and we would have loved sampling more drinks – if we hadn’t been so stuffed from the meal! There’s not much left to say apart from we’ll definitely be back and can seriously recommend this pub!

Street Food @Tottenham Social

Since June 2015, Craving Coffee in Tottenham is inviting the best street food places in London to open 3 night pop-ups in their cafe. Every Thursday to Saturday from 6pm onwards, you can enjoy tasty and diverse meals from all over the world while sipping special themed cocktails or your favourite craft beer. The atmosphere is super laid back so pop over for yummy food and a relaxed evening.

Future Pop-Ups:

• 17th-19th August – Hanoi Cà Phê – Vietnamese, More Info
• 24th-26th August – Division 194 – Creole, More Info
• 31st Aug – 2nd September – Shelly Belly’s – Caribbean, More Info
• 7th-9th September – Tot & Ham x Vnited – Vegan Chinese – More Info
• 14th-16th September – Vito Bio – Regional Italian (Calabrian) – More Info
• 21st-23rd September – Young Vegans – Vegan Pie & Mash – More Info
• 28th-30th September – Pink Cactus – Mexican – More Info
• 5th-7th October – Chale Let’s Eat – Ghanaian
• 12th-14th October – Joginder’s Supperclub – Punjabi
• 19th-21st October – Wine & Rind x Lord of the Wings Collab – Cheesy / American
• 26th-28th October – Teochew Kitchen – Singaporean
• 2nd-4th November – Caracas Baby – Venezuelan
• 9th-11th November – Capo Caccia – Regional Italian (Sardinian)

 

Wimbledon – Fabulously British!

At this time of the year, the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world is taking place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Currently in its 115th year, which makes it the oldest tennis tournament in the world, we have decided to brave the masses and pay the renowned courts a visit.

Competition for tickets is fierce and if you haven’t been lucky enough to score a ticket in the lottery then you will have to go there early in the morning and queue for hours hoping to get inside. We arrived at 5.30am on Monday and joined the queue at numbers 3989 and 3990 respectively. Rumour has it that a maximum of 6000 people is able to gain access on the day and there are many people camping by the gates the night before – even a few days in advance – in order to get a ticket. Luckily it was a warm and sunny morning on Monday so we stretched out on blankets on the grass, had coffee and breakfast and spent our time chatting away with the other people in the queue. Behind us more and more people turned up and I am almost certain not all of them were able to enter the courts in the end.

Around 9am the stewards started moving us towards the actual entrance gates and the only real queuing of the day began. Slowly but steadily we made our way closer to the entrance and security screening and at just after 11am we had entered the courts.

#Wimbledon

Order of Play at Mega Monday in Wimbledon

What followed was one of the nicest days out you can imagine. We had a quick look around the fan shops and got the obligatory strawberries & cream and prosecco, then watched a brilliant double match between Marcus Willis and Jay Clarke against Mate Pavic and Oliver Marach and went on to have a sneaky peak at Courts 1 and 2. Finally we sat down in the grass on the hill next to centre court to watch Andy Murray playing Benoît Paire and Rafael Nadal versus Gilles Muller.

Marcus Willis

Court 2 during the Kerber vs. Muguruza match

Court 3

Everyone at Wimbledon, be it the stewards, staff, players or other guests, was just super relaxed and such a pleasure to deal with, which made the whole day a fantastic and very memorable experience. In the beginning I had been a little worried – queuing for hours just to watch some tennis just didn’t sound like my idea of a well-spent day – but I am so glad I gave it a shot and I would definitely go to Wimbledon again.

 

 

The Thirsty Bear, Southwark

For a whole lot of reasons this pub is one of my favourite places in London – located close to Waterloo and London Bridge station it’s always in easy reach and a great destination after showing the city to visiting friends, the burgers are absolute top class and the best in London (probably among the best in the world!) and if that wasn’t enough already they also serve quality beers and ciders – and the taps are right on your table so you can pour your own pint! Furthermore the staff at the Thirsty Bear pub are always nothing but lovely and very helpful, there are massive screens showing the footy (and various other sports) and the usual pub games, table football, pool and dart, are not missing either. This place is perfect to stop by at after a sightseeing tour or a stroll along the Southbank for a nice, filling burger and some great beers among friends. There really isn’t much more to say apart from – go and check out what all the hype is about!

The best burgers in town!

Beer taps to draw your own pint.

The Carpenters Arms, Fitzrovia

The Carpenters Arms in Fitzrovia, conveniently located just off Tottenham Court Road in-between Warren Street and Goodge Street station, is a very British pub with all its ups and downs. They sell a nice selection of ales and lagers as well as some decent wines and cocktails. The food menu is clearly aimed at students from nearby UCL with meaty and filling pub dishes and a very reasonably priced sandwich menu for lunch.

To put some icing on the cake, The Carpenters Arms has a lovely roof terrace tucked away from the buzz of Tottenham Court Road so you get to enjoy some peace and quiet here. Patio heaters make sure you don’t get cold during your night out but make sure you arrive early as the place gets pretty packed once the clock hits beer o’clock.

Of course none of this is particularly new or groundbreaking but if you’re in for a solid British pub serving traditional pub grub and an excellent selection of drinks then this is for you.

Sunny Day in Richmond!

I’ve used the brilliant weather these days as an opportunity to explore a part of London that I haven’t visited much before, the picturesque town of Richmond in the southwest of London. Summer is the perfect time for a stroll around Richmond and to explore the cute little shops and cafes in town. You can then walk along the river to Richmond Hill and the famous park.

 

 

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If you get hungry along the way then there’s numerous pubs and restaurants right by the river that let you enjoy a nice little nosh and an ice cold beer overlooking the Thames. I went for Stein’s pub, a German beer garden with a nice selection of Bavarian beers and traditional German food.

 

 

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Since it gets incredibly busy on the weekends and moreover there’s a chance of trains and whole tube lines being cancelled, I would highly recommend making your way to Richmond during the week.

10 FREE Summer Activities in London!

London can be a daunting experience for our credit cards and most of us only survive life in this city by desperately trying not to spend more money than absolutely necessary. And of course, there are lots of cool activities that don’t cost a thing – visiting the various free museums alone could keep you busy for weeks! But with summer on our doorstep we have compiled a list of 10 summery activities that let you enjoy the warm weather without having to sacrifice your last valuables or skip dinner for the next few months!

1. Check out the world’s oldest dinosaur sculptures at Crystal Palace Park.

   

2. Relax in one of the picturesque parks where you’ll find ponds, nature trails and cute cottages. On Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath you’ll have one of the best views of the city!

   

3. Go deer-spotting in Richmond Park! Richmond by itself is a beautiful little town and well worth a tour on a sunny day.

   

4. See real farm animals at one of the various city farms, for example at Mudchute or Vauxhall.

   

5. Scroll along Southbank and take in the street artists and performers.

   

6. Visit Buckingham Palace and watch the Changing a Guard ceremony.

   

7. Wander about Camden Market and the Stables Market and breathe in the atmosphere.

   

8. Spend a lazy afternoon with live music and coffee & tea at Daylight Music at the Union Chapel.

   

9. Head up to the Sky Garden for panoramic views of the city!

   

10. Take a spooky walk along the monuments of Highgate Cemetery.

 

The National Pet Show @ London Excel

The sun’s out, the weekend is near and for all those animal lovers out there this is a big weekend – The National Pet Show is coming to London!

The next two days at the Excel Exhibition Centre in the Docklands will be filled with furry friends and lots of fun activities for young and old. If you’re popping by to find the perfect pet for you or do your pet-related shopping or simply to have a great day out with the whole family, the Pet Show is definitely worth a visit! Tickets are £18 per person with concessions for students, seniors and families. You can buy your tickets here

Akita Inus

A Bedlington Terrier

Longhaired Sausage Dogs

A Papillon

A Pug

A Welsh Corgi Pembroke

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Voices of The Movement

An exciting art exhibition and piece of theatre in Finsbury Park next Sunday, 7th May.

Robert Czibi

Dear Friends,

Please join us for an event of group exhibition and a vibrant piece of theatre
comprised of artists, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who is challenging the stigma associated with displacement.

I am glad to contribute to this movement with some of my original artworks and a brand new piece inspired by the show.

Date:
Exhibition opening on the 7th of May, Sunday, at 4pm.

Book tickets for the theatre show: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/voices-of-the-movement
1st show: at 5pm.
2nd: at 7:30pm.

Venue: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/your-visit/getting-here
Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace Finsbury Park London N4 3JP.

I hope you can make it.

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Vaisakhi Festival in London

On 29th April 2017, the traditional Sikh festival of Vaisakhi is celebrated in Central London. Expect fun activities, such as turban tying, dance performances and music sessions, as well as lots of food stalls and activities for kids. More than 20 million people all over the world are celebrating Vaisakhi. So if you have nothing planned for this beautiful spring Saturday then join the festivities today from noon onwards in Trafalgar Square in London!

 

 

 

Hitting classic games @Pimpshuei

Until last night I had only a very vague idea of what an arcade bar was like – and no desire whatsoever to find out if my idea was right. Arcades were nothing but grim, insufficiently lit halls to me where sad, lonely old men gambled away their time. Luckily one of my friends was persistent enough to actually drag me to one of those places – and surprisingly (or not!) I actually had an absolute blast!

We went to Pimpshuei in Clerkenwell, a dive bar tucked away in a basement in an alley. There’s no way you would ever find yourself here by mistake, no, you must know about the place. Pimpshuei is a martial arts themed bar decorated with cool film memorabilia and lots of old VHS cassettes. They play classic kung fu movies on large screens, make kickass cocktails you will never find anywhere else and, most importantly, have different vintage gaming machines. The bar staff is super friendly and laid-back and the atmosphere in the bar is more like at a house party in someone’s basement than in an actual bar.

There’s no point in writing a novel about it – Pimpshuei is a brilliant place and one of the coolest bars in London! Check it out if you’re looking for a quality night with lots of cocktails, games and lovely company!

 

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The Bull & Last, Kentish Town

I’ve been living in Kentish Town for 4 years now and go for a stroll in Hampstead Heath almost every day. Yet to the present day I have never managed to check out the Bull & Last. This gastropub, located conveniently just opposite the Parliament Hill entrance to the Heath, has one of the best reputations in the area for its seasonal menu, drink selection and fantastic service. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that you have to wait a couple of weeks to book a table at the weekend…

We were lucky enough to get a table this weekend and after a night out partying we made our way there for a well deserved, hangover curing Saturday lunch. Breaking news first? The lunch did in fact cure my hangover.

The Bull & Last is a lovely venue with a real pub feeling to it.The bar is well stocked with a good selection of ales and ciders from small, independent breweries, the walls are decorated with stuffed animals and tankards and the whole place has a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Although we arrived early at 12pm most tables were already taken and the place was buzzing with families and children, dog walkers, couples and groups of friends.

We started off the meal with a Bloody Mary and this Bloody Mary was, I kid you not, the best drink I’ve had in a long time. An aromatic, spicy drink, neither too strong nor too bland, garnished with some pepper and celery. We went on to try some of the ales and cider to go along with the food. We went for a pretty standard choice, beef burger and fries and fish and chips. The vegetarian choices are limited, especially if you don’t like fish. The food was tasty and the service was super quick. Our waitress was absolutely lovely, very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu but at the same time super easygoing and joking away with us as if we had known each other for a long time.

To sum this up, we had a lovely lunch and felt well looked after at the Bull & Last. I was more impressed by the laid-back atmosphere and the outstanding service than the quality of the food but I’d definitely be willing to give the grub another try. The food is quite pricey with mains ranging from £15-£30 but the portions were huge and they only use fresh ingredients, which you can definitely taste. Altogether, I can definitely recommend this place and if it’s only for a quiet pint after a long walk at the Heath.