Category: LONDON

London’s National Gallery celebrates Sorolla Spanish Master of Light exhibition with new menus

Sorolla National Gallery 1

The National Dining Rooms and The National Café right in the middle of London are celebrating the Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light exhibition at The National Gallery with a special menu hailing all the way from Spain thanks to restauranteur, Oliver Peyton. It’s all going down from 18 March to 7 July, and has been inspired by the stunning work of Spanish painter, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastidas. Think tapas style starters of smoked ham, manchego croquettes with pimento aioli, for instance. Then you’d move onto the likes of hake fish in romesco sauce and almond olive dressing, vegetable paella with sprouting broccoli, asparagus, padron peppers and saffron. Dessert looks something like a bit of crema catalana or tarta de Santiago served with clotted cream and it all kicks off for £19 (about $40) for two courses or £24 ($50) for three. Complete with artwork by the artist themselves, comprised of vivid seascapes, garden views, and bathing scenes for which he is most renowned, the Sorolla exhibition features more than 60 works spanning Sorolla’s career. It – and the restaurants, obviously – are worth a visit. See more at the Peyton and Byrne website. Find them here: The National Dining Rooms Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN The National Café East Wing, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

Where to stay in Covent Garden, London: The Nadler boutique hotel

The Nadler Covent Garden - Exterior daytime

Any visit to London isn’t complete without a visit to Covent Garden. The site of music, food, fashion, entertainment for decades, its got its own long list of reason to visit, other than hospitality, but it’s definitely the latest hotel on the block, The Nadler Covent Garden, that gives any tourist – first timer or veteran – a reason to pay it a visit. The Covent Garden establishment is the latest in a long list of Nadler hotels around London, making it the fifth jewel in a crown of striking hotels in the city that really put London on the map – even more so – as a must-visit and must-stay destination; museums aside. It overlooks the Strand, right in the heart of Covent Garden and is perfectly situated for exploring one of London’s most schmick districts. The hotel is unique, other than its stunning aesthetic, because of a few touches they’ve gone with for guests that really set the joint apart from the regular hum drum that might be on offer in other parts of town. Each room comes with a mini kitchen, direct access to the Royal Opera House (currently showing Frankenstein and Juliet & Romeo), champagne tastings at Champagne + Fromage, to exclusive discounts and perks at luxury shoe store, Oliver Sweeney, the hotel’s specially trained front of house. The Nadler in Covent Garden really lets you live as a local, right in the centre of London – which no one can afford otherwise – putting the best of life, right at… Read More

6 reasons to visit the new Vivi Restaurant and Bar in London

Vivi London food

If the 60s were your decade of choice, you like quality bevs and fancy a new joint to visit, right in the middle of London, then the new Vivi Restaurant and Bar at Centre Point is for you. Complete with flair bartending, an all-day menu and a quality range of decor, the new venue – by the folks who brought us the famed London Skygarden – offers up a fresh new six reasons to pay it a visit. And then keep coming back. The dining room Open from brekkie to brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, head chef Arnaud Delannay will be pumping out signature dishes that focus on bold flavours and fresh seasonal ingredients. He’s kind of made a name for himself by turning out twists on the old classics such as Keen’s twice baked cheddar soufflé; chicken kiev and mash; and duck à l’orange and all the desserts you need. 2. The bar Vivi has really made its mark with the whole nostalgic thing. By working with a drinks menu that celebrates old school bartending with imaginative, quality cocktails, they’ve carved a niche out for themselves that really hits the mark when it comes to justi what you need. Drinks like Wild Honey on the Beach of Bulleit rye whiskey, pimento dram, lemon thyme infused honey, lemon and The Beach Boys, The Weeping Guitar of gin mare, Italicus rosolio di Bergamotto, cucumber, elderflower, lime, tonic water, everything they make is quality. 3. The gallery This is where Vivi-goers comes to people watch, gawk,… Read More

London’s newest, flashest entrepreneur’s club: Home Grown opens in April 2019

London Home Grown club restaurant

If there’s one thing London does well, it’s their clubs, bars and private members’ hideaways, perfect for the sneaky drink, refined surrounds and general chilled awesomeness of what it means to be a member. Home Grown is for high-growth entrepreneurs and from 3 April, will be open on Great Cumberland Place in Marylebone, right in the middle of London. Home Grown is for fast-geared people with a business mind and drive to work, never stop and never take a break. It’ll be comprised of a carefully selected membership of entrepreneurs and investors will join a star-studded group of business to create a unique new community, designed for individuals who not only work to live, but live to work. The founders of exciting brands such as Not on the High Street, Seedlip, Planet Organic, Larsson & Jennings, Pleesecakes, Duke & Dexter and Blondie’s Kitchen along with ambassadors including Daniel Priestly, Jenny Tooth OBE, Julie Devonshire OBE, Lex Deak, Camilla Dolan, Andy Yates and Stephen Page are just some of the dynamic individuals getting ready to make Home Grown their second home. Why? The new pad will be dedicated to growing businesses thanks to its networking opportunities. What will Home Grown offer? For members after a bit of benefit to their membership, it’ll host: Expert ‘How To’ talks ‘Sweatworking’ – a HIIT workout, and networking event where barriers to building better connections are broken down through exercise ‘Breaking Bread’, intimate monthly dinners with leading experts in specialist fields which will include debate, discussion and delicious dishes. Health… Read More

Worth a visit: The Royal Opera House in London has been redone

Royal Opera House

Three years after the Royal Opera House in London was overhauled, it’s open and the result is exactly what you’d expect of the city’s finest arts and culture venue. It comes complete with all the bells ‘n’ whistles of the old opera house, just a lot nicer, newer and with a whole new feeling entirely its own. With inviting new entrances, extended foyers and terraces and a new café, bar and restaurant, together with an extensive programme of ticketed and free daytime events, the Royal Opera House is now open to the public every day from 10am. You’re welcome to wander in, check it out, have a coffee and take a tour, but for those die hards, there’s a full program of oeratic wonderment that is absolutely worth a ticket. See their full line-up here. The whole project was spurred on by the Linbury Theatre; a new space, which takes the spot as the West End’s newest and most intimate theatre. The new space will let The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and other special artists all perform in the same space. Check out the Royal Opera in Covent Garden and the new space with any production at the Opera House any time. Have a look at their website.

Brexit be damned, Eurail lets you train it to England for cheaper

Eurail France

Eurail turns 60 in 2019 and to celebrate, they’re changing how you do Europe when you next travel. By sucking up the UK, Macedonia and Lithuania into their connected rails, Eurail has cast its net far and wide for everyone who’s wanting to go from the east to the west of Europe and beyond from now on. Oh, and it’s cheaper now, too. The updates to the Eurail portfolio mean there are now three different passes that include the Greek Islands Pass which lets travellers explore up to 53 different Greek Islands. In a nutshell, the changes mean tickets are significantly reduced for Global Pass fares, new countries are accessible with a Global Pass, and if you’re old, get excited because there are extend discounts to senior travellers. For the last 60 years, EurailPasses have enabled convenient, borderless rail travel across Europe. With over 1.7million Australians travelling to Europe each year, and of those 40,000 experiencing the diversity of Europe via one of the flexible rail passes, Eurail remains as popular today as it was in 1959. Eurail train passes can be bought from eurail.com.

British Airways are doing 100 acts of kindness this 2019

British Airways NYC

British Airways has created some extra special Christmas magic for a group of kids by taking them on the trip of a lifetime to New York City. They were taken to ‘live like Kevin’, a concept inspired by the story of Kevin in Home Alone 2. British Airways is all about Christmas and Chrissy surprises this season and they’ve even documented the whole shebang in two videos they’ve produced of the fun times in NYC. A little bit American movie-style, a little bit cute, they’re worth a watch: The second video is a longer chronicle of their adventure and is equally as cute. it was a three-day trip to NYC, where British Airways pulled out all the movie-style stops, with a stay at the iconic Plaza Hotel, ice skating in Central Park, a visit to the Rockettes show at the Radio City Music Hall, toy shopping in the newly re-opened FAO Schwarz and an ice cream feast in the Plaza Hotel’s most exclusive and prestigious guest room, The Presidential Suite. See more about the program and how you can go into the running to win a little bit of magic this 2019 thanks to British Airways at their website.

Christmas has landed in London all along Oxford Street

London Christmas Oxford Street

Emerging musicians Novelist, Ray Blk, Kara Marni and Isaac Waddington and more kicked-off the festivities in London as they switched on the Christmas lights along Oxford Street. And it was pretty. Oxford Street officially kicked off Christmas in the capital as the iconic lights were illuminated along London’s world famous high street. Along with Capital XTRA – the UK’s leading national urban radio station – Oxford Street turned the traditional switch-on on its head with a night of in-store performances and a heap of other stuff. Over 90 stores joined in the celebrations making it the biggest Christmas shopping event London has ever seen with extended opening hours, offers and experiences showcasing the unrivalled festive offering available, across fashion, food, fitness, tech and more. The night time switching on of the lights kicks off the start of a seven week campaign at Oxford Street which will see its retailers delivering a series of seasonally themed in-store activations and shopping experiences, including 50 ‘surprise’ Christmas shopping treats. Check out more at the Oxford Street website.

10 things to do this summer in London

London Shard Bridge

London really comes alive in the summer. The whole city is absolutely teeming with life and activity, which brings in people from all over the world to enjoy the vibrant buzz of the town. The streets of London are one of the best places to be during the warming months and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how to fill your free time. So, if you’re wondering what the best of the best things to do in London this summer are, Base London have put together a top ten. Whether you’re hanging out with friends at the weekend, planning a first date or you’re just visiting with your family, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 1. Movies on the River , Tower Millennium Pier, Aldgate, Until 18 August The perfect choice for a romantic date night, you can watch a movie whilst floating down the River Thames at sunset. With amazing views and a brilliant atmosphere, this summer night time activity is not to be missed. Depending on when you decide to go, you can choose from a massive range of films including Jaws, Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman, The Shape of Water, Get Out and more! Just make sure you’re equipped with a pair of rubber-soled shoes so you’ll be looking dapper and feeling sure-stepped on the boat. 2. Underbelly Festival, London’s Southbank, Until 30 September This year’s Underbelly Festival is celebrating its 10th Birthday and is the biggest one yet! There are so many exciting acts to enjoy… Read More

Talking women in business with Isabelle Dubern, co-founder of The Invisible Collection

Invisible Collection couch

The Invisible Collection is an e-commerce outlet selling bespoke pieces crafted by renowned interior designers – and well! – But it’s the way they sell their furniture online that sets them apart from the rest. They have a very curated offering, bespoke sourcing services to industry and private clients and strong links with their artists and designers, acting as agents to organise pop ups and events worldwide, all the while creating strong and sustained visibility to all the talents they live to showcase. We had a chat with Isabelle Dubern, the woman behind the work, about it all. How do you explain the success of The Invisible Collection, pioneer on the e-commerce market of collectible furniture, after a year of existence? Just like music and fashion, the furniture industry is a cultural business. With The Invisible Collection, culture is a prerequisite for the purchase of furniture pieces. If our customers did not have this cultural knowledge, they would not buy pieces at the prices we practice on the site. The Internet has fundamentally changed the way culture is conveyed, music is the best example, and the same lessons apply to fashion, art and decoration. Art has already largely begun this shift: one out of two clients that participate in auctions online at Christies is a new customer for the auction house. Moreover, the furniture pieces of the interior designers we present are luxury products, both from the craftsmanship and the creativity that go into them. According to Mac Kinsey, online luxury sales will triple in… Read More