A new five-hour Mamma Mia!-themed show, featuring a three-course Mediterranean dinner and an ABBA disco, is coming to the 02 London this August. Created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! The Party is set in a taverna on the island of Skopelos, where scenes of the first film were shot. Nikos and his wife KateContinue reading “Mamma Mia! The Party: a new immersive theatrical and dining experience is opening in August”
Tag Archives: inspiration
Misato’s chicken katsu curry is better than Wagamama’s
The long queue outside Japanese eatery, Misato, suggested that the food must be good, yet, looking inside, my confidence waned. Diners were crammed tightly together on basic wooden tables and chairs, and the plain beige walls lining the small space desperately needed some cheering up. It seemed to lack ambience, especially for a ChinatownContinue reading “Misato’s chicken katsu curry is better than Wagamama’s”
Pick your own lavender in Hitchin
As the wind blows, the calming scent of lavender pours in through the open car window. We’re close. We drive a good few metres forward and then we see it. A gigantic field speckled with the colour purple. Rows of lavender roll on for miles. It looks even better than the pictures on Google. We’veContinue reading “Pick your own lavender in Hitchin”
Munch on Indian tapas at Talli Joe
Cast aside everything that comes to mind when you think of an Indian restaurant – i.e. piles of poppadoms, giant pots of curry and stacks of naan – because Talli Joe is nothing like its counterparts. Specialising in small plates (read: Indian tapas) and cocktails, this Shaftesbury Avenue restaurant does things with a twist. InContinue reading “Munch on Indian tapas at Talli Joe”
Cook your own dinner at Hot Pot in Chinatown
A new restaurant dedicated to the ancient Chinese communal dining activity known as ‘hot pot’ has opened in the heart of Chinatown. The appropriately named Hot Pot, a Bangkok-based chain, has opened this first London outpost on Wardour Street. Hot pot is a process of cooking ingredients in a boiling broth, then seasoning them with aContinue reading “Cook your own dinner at Hot Pot in Chinatown”
Mercato Metropolitano: the Italian-themed foodie space in Borough
Pictures don’t do Mercato Metropolitano any justice. Neither does its website. Nor does its unassuming entrance, which is merely lit up by a string of fairy lights come nightfall. You’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there… And that would be a shame. What is it? Mercato Metropolitano is an Italian-themed casual foodie space slash indoorContinue reading “Mercato Metropolitano: the Italian-themed foodie space in Borough”
Build your own cheeseboard at Vivat Bacchus
If cheese makes you happy, you need to try the ‘Cheese room experience’ at South African steak restaurant and wine bar, Vivat Bacchus. At its two branches in London Bridge and Farringdon, you can go into the special cheese room with an expert and build your own cheeseboard (from £14.90). What makes this experience so great isContinue reading “Build your own cheeseboard at Vivat Bacchus”
Tired of adulting? Head to the grown-up ball pit bar BallieBallerson
When you feel tired of adulting in London, there’s an amazeballs place you should go. It’s where you’ll find all the big kids (note: actual kids aren’t allowed), and it involves a DJ, retro-sweet-themed cocktails and, most importantly, a ball pit for grown-ups… Very fitting for a #throwbackthursday, this bar and underground ball pit goes byContinue reading “Tired of adulting? Head to the grown-up ball pit bar BallieBallerson”
On cloud nine with candy floss and ice cream in Covent Garden
After the hype of ice cream cookie sandwiches (Blu Top, Chin Chin Labs) and ice cream macaroons (Yolkinmacice), now Londoners can get soft serve ice cream – basically posh Mr Whippy – served in a candy floss cloud, thanks to new dessert cafe Milk Train. Located just behind Covent Garden, Milk Train offers three flavoursContinue reading “On cloud nine with candy floss and ice cream in Covent Garden”
Beer and Buns in Liverpool Street
Japanese beers (and sake) and fluffy buns (and wings) are the order of the evening at Beer & Buns. And they come with an extra side of fun – foosball and pinball tables… and sake bombs. Sake bombs (pictured left) require a little bit of explanation – a shot of sake arrives balanced on chopsticks aboveContinue reading “Beer and Buns in Liverpool Street”
Refuel at Pump Shoreditch
Popcorn chicken, bubble waffles, chilli cheese fries… street food is made seriously fun at Pump Shoreditch. The mini street food market square, which is housed on the site of a disused petrol station on Shoreditch High Street, sees vendors rustle up tasty and eclectic delights from small colourful huts all day (11am-11pm). Fill your arms with all theContinue reading “Refuel at Pump Shoreditch”
Winter exploration: a day trip to Bristol
The biting, chilly winter winds have arrived in full force, work Christmas parties are fast approaching and the festive hype is beginning. It seems about the right time to slip into the Christmas spirit – and that I did, while outdoor ice skating this weekend in the city of Bristol. One of Bristol’s festive attractions,Continue reading “Winter exploration: a day trip to Bristol”
Beside the seaside: a day trip to Hastings
The last time I uttered the word “Hastings” was when I was aged 13 and bored silly in a history class at school. You guessed it – I was studying the Battle of Hastings, which, I only recently discovered didn’t actually take place in Hastings – it took place several miles away, in Battle (HastingsContinue reading “Beside the seaside: a day trip to Hastings”
Roof walking: climbing up the O2 arena in Greenwich
“Nobody likes a cry baby,” jokes Ross, our climbing instructor, “so if you feel nervous, just hold it in, OK?” We’re about to clamber over the roof of the O2 arena in Greenwich, and Ross, our Scottish accented, bearded guide, has us chuckling from the off, which pretty much sets the tone for the next eightyContinue reading “Roof walking: climbing up the O2 arena in Greenwich”
Hydro-spinning in Chelsea
Working out at the gym fills me with dread. I’m a self-conscious person, so the idea of exercising in front of others – while trying to look semi elegant as sweat drips down my forehead – really makes me cringe. So when I was invited to Chelsea’s Hydrofit spa, which offers an aqua spinning workout inContinue reading “Hydro-spinning in Chelsea”
Ballin’: a pop-up ball pit for adults in Hammersmith
I’d always hoped that someone would invent a soft play area specifically for adults – you did too, right? Well, the clever folk over at creative agency Pearlfisher have sort of answered our prayers… They’ve created a ball pit for adults in London to frolic in. The 30-person pit is somewhere you can relive your childhoodContinue reading “Ballin’: a pop-up ball pit for adults in Hammersmith”
A blissful Ayurvedic massage at Ayurveda Pura
The feeling of hot oil being trickled all over your body is like no other. The only comparison I can make is that of a chunk of Galaxy caramel slowly melting in your mouth. Mmm. It is in an ayurveda abhyanga (sorry for throwing these two words at you so soon – I’ll explain inContinue reading “A blissful Ayurvedic massage at Ayurveda Pura”
A day in beautiful Bruges
Romantic cobbled streets, narrow lanes, little bridges and canals greeted us as we arrived in the charming little medieval city of Bruges. It was easy to see why Bruges is often known as the ‘Venice of the North’ after ambling the canal paths, and it felt like we’d stepped back in time as horse-drawn carriages navigated theContinue reading “A day in beautiful Bruges”
Icing with the experts at Biscuiteers
When you hear the word ‘biscuit’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A digestive? A cookie? Perhaps a good old HobNob or gingerbread man? I’d always thought of the humble biscuit as a comfort food, something to satisfy my sweet craving or to dunk into my tea, but when I discovered Biscuiteers, aContinue reading “Icing with the experts at Biscuiteers”
Fun bachelorette and hen party games: tried-and-tested!
A few months ago, I took on the responsibility of organising my sister’s hen/bachelorette parties. Yes, I used the plural – ‘parties’ – because the madam decided that she’d have one hen party abroad (for those who could make it to another country) and one nearer to home (for everyone else who couldn’t) – apparentlyContinue reading “Fun bachelorette and hen party games: tried-and-tested!”
/// The Curious Londoner 