Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! returns for its 30th anniversary Nutcracker! follows Clara’s coming of age journey from a sad Christmas Eve at Dr. Dross’ Orphanage, through an ice-skating winter wonderland and into the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland, influenced by the lavish Hollywood musicals of the 1930’s. Although I am usually a fan of Tchaikovsky’s version […]
Crossip Rich Berry – Review
Your festive non-alcoholic mulled wine alternative The Crossip team believes that “not drinking” is not just a one-off, it’s a way of life. The founder, Carl Anthony Brown, combined his dedication to be in peak physical form, a career in cocktails and a love for a social drink to create base drinks for cocktails that […]
Lightopia 2021 Crystal Palace Review
Lightopia returns to Crystal Palace Park this year! This Christmas season, Lightopia brings Crystal Palace Park’s history back to life in stunning illumination through interactive displays, light displays and laser displays in a 1.5km trail along the park. Lightopia 2021 is a festival of hand-sculpted lanterns, cherry-picked from across the globe. These unique pieces are […]
Christmas at Kew Gardens 2021 – Review
Christmas at Kew returns for the 9th year! Christmas at Kew returns for its ninth year as a much-loved highlight of London’s festive calendar. After Christmas was cancelled last year due to COVID, I was very much ready to enjoy all the festive activities this year. If you walk around the streets of central London, […]
Festive Cocktails for Christmas Cheer
Our Favourite Christmas Cocktails. It’s that time of year when getting together with friends and family (albeit maybe virtually this year) is synonymous with making delicious cocktails and mocktails. In my household, it’s a fun, messy and slightly chaotic activity. I never have enough ice. Anything complicated and I’m likely to be missing an ingredient […]
Last Minute Christmas Essentials
Christmas Countdown 2018: As the big day hurtles towards us, I’m pulling together some of those last minute essentials that you just can’t manage without! Things to eat that make Christmas special, gift ideas for when you’ve run out of times to get to the shops and for people who really don’t need anything more and […]
Christmas comes to Carluccio’s with their Menu Festivo
Carluccio’s – Menu Festivo With one vegetarian and one gluten-free/dairy free diner in the family, we were thrilled to be invited to Carluccio’s to try their Christmas Festivo Menu. The menu has been designed with a real recognition of vegetarian and gluten-free diners and is a real treat for us with all the food is labelled […]
Festive Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester Hotel
Decked Halls and a Festive Tea at The Dorchester, Park Lane: This year’s festive afternoon tea at the Dorchester runs from November 16th 2019 to January 5th 2020. Of the hotels which run along Park Lane, The Dorchester is one of the best known. Originally the site of Dorchester House, a mansion built in 1853 […]
The Perfect Christmas 2018 Gift from Buyagift
Buyagift for great Christmas 2018 gift experiences: Imagine receiving a surprise gift that you ‘live’. It’s so much better to have an experience rather than more ‘stuff’ you probably don’t want and have to pack away to store! With the festive season approaching fast, I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to […]
Rhubarb and Custard Cocktail with Jawbox Rhubarb and Ginger:
Rhubarb and Custard – an easy and delicious cocktail: There was a time in this city when the front door was left unlocked. When the kitchen was the scullery. And in the tiny scullery stood this big sink. Clothes and dishes and weans got washed there. A lot of craic was heard around a jawbox. […]