Category Archives: News

Big Easy Covent Garden launching on 17th March

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Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Crabshack: the evolution

A new 300-cover, American Bar.B.Q restaurant and bar in Covent Garden

the big easy covent garden

London’s Chelsea institution, Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Crabshack will open a new restaurant in Maiden Lane in March 2014. Taking inspiration from its King’s Road sibling it will offer a serious evolution of the beloved ‘crabshack’ in a more urban West End setting. The new venue will provide the most authentic, American fresh-smoked Bar.B.Q, seafood, cocktail and drinks offer in the UK.

 

In the kitchen taking the coveted and key role of Pit Master will be Pete Daversa, former pit master at Hill Country Barbeque Market in New York. Pete has also worked at Blue Smoke BBQ (NYC and opened in Hong Kong). Big Easy Founder, Paul Corrett’s design vision has been overseen by industry heavyweights Macaulay Sinclair.

 

The site has a formidable history: it is located in a former electrical power station built in 1883, owned by the Gatti Brothers and first used to light their own restaurant, ‘The Adelaide’ on the Strand. On the back of their success in the electricity business , the Gattis’ then formed the Charing Cross & Strand Electricity Supply Company and the site went on to power the first bright lights of the West End. The interior will honour the building’s original heritage, retaining many authentic features, such as copper conduits, brickwork, and steel and concrete girders, complemented by industrial lighting. Exposed timber beams and lots of Big Easy appeal – neon lobsters, Americana and nautical touches will add to the charm – set over three floors and 10,000 sq ft, forming an awe-inspiring space.

 

A central feature will be the striking nine metre theatre-style kitchen situated on the lower ground floor. Focus will be on a ‘wall of fire’, comprising two, 2.5 metre Argentinean-style parilla charcoal grills as well as a two-metre rotisserie spit that will roast whole hogs, and a huge 2.5 metre wood burning oven. A dedicated Bar.B.Q pit area will house two, 1.5 tonne J&R wood burning smokers imported from Texas where meats will all be freshly smoked on the premises using a variety of woods, including Oak, Hickory, Apple and Cherry, for up to 18 hours to impart their unique flavours.  Diners can keep an eye on what has just come out of the smoker via the restaurant’s website and social media.

 

The menu itself will be based around the finest Bar.B.Q pork and beef cuts, rare-breed British steaks and freshest local seafood.  In addition, carefully sourced beef including Wagyu and USDA and traditional-breed pork will be showcased together with what Big Easy is also renowned for – the very best and freshest lobsters. The lobsters will be sourced all year round from Nova Scotia for their consistency, flavour and quality. A specially designed 1500kg lobster tank has been constructed on the premises to house almost 2,000 live lobsters with sizes ranging from 1 to 10 lbs. As always Big Easy’s ever popular daily-changing specials will continue to ensure unparalleled value for money.

 

Big Easy Covent Garden are getting serious about their drinks offering too: situated on the ground floor, will be a jaw-dropping, nine-metre bar, boasting over 500 bottles on nine levels with a focus on domestic and imported premium and American whiskeys, as well as rare tequila, rum, liquor and French and Spanish brandy. Imported, purpose built cocktail machines will dispense frozen Margaritas and other well loved cocktails as well as Manhattans and Old Fashioneds on tap. The bar list will also include ‘Boozy Juices’ and milkshakes with an alcoholic twist and a great list of craft beers including exclusive brews on tap.

 

Big Easy will continue to boast live music seven nights a week with two to three sets a night featuring some great musicians, with perhaps a few stars of the future making an appearance.

 

 

Big Easy Covent Garden
12 Maiden Lane
London

@bigeasylondon #thebiglaunch

www.bigeasycoventgarden.co.uk

Shuttlecock Inc. presents: Rumble: Part Deux

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18th – 22nd & 25th – 29th March 2014

rumble 2Shuttlecock Inc. return to London in March with a Gallic spin-off of their sell-out pop-up, Rumble At The Deli… Rumble: Part Deux.

An off-the-wall parody of France’s rich gastronomic tradition, Part Deux will be fronted by Shuttlecock’s latest comedy creation, Arnaud Hérouville-Saint-Clair-Escoffier: great–grandson of culinary legend, Auguste, and chef/proprietor of Parisian institution, La Constellation – so named for its unrivalled string of Michelin stars.

Putting their reputations on the line, Part Deux will see chefs from both sides of the channel battle it out for the chance to scrub the great man’s oven with a toothbrush.

In the line-up of so far are Shuttlecock’s very own Ollie Templeton (Moro), defending champion Max Pasetti (Bocca di Lupo, Trullo), Tom Stracker (The Walnut Tree, The Ledbury, The Dorchester Grill, Heston’s Dinner), Tom Forster (St John, Bocca di Lupo, Trullo, Roberta’s, Chop Shop, Clamato, Septime), Freddy Money (El Bulli, The Dorchester Grill), James Knight (Moro, Barrica, Copita, Quality Chop House) and Ellen Parr (Moro, The Art of Dining).

Once again, the rules are simple:

Three rounds of no-holds-barred culinary one-upmanship

Two guest chefs

One winner

Inspired by some of Arnaud’s most famous recipes and using three key ingredients bought from the market that morning, the two challengers will create their own three-course menu for the evening’s diners, with each course going to a vote when the plates are cleared. Best of three: starter, main, pudding.

The winner soaks up the applause, the loser washes up the pots and pans.

Shuttlecock Inc. are four cousins from the creative Templeton family: Anna, Ollie, Will and Ed who share a wealth of experience from the event, theatre, culinary, cocktail, music and advertising worlds. Last year was their busiest yet, with a string of sell out events including immersive pop-up dining experiences, Mile High, Vieux-Québec, The Great Indian Peninsula Railway and Rumble at The Deli. Following Part Deux they will take their unique travel-themed concept to New York this April.

Allez allez!

Rumble Part Deux
16 Hoxton Square
London
N1 6NT

Tickets can be booked via the following website:

www.shuttlecock-inc.com

@shuttlecockinc

18th – 22nd March
25th – 29th March

£55 tickets for six dishes (three courses from each of the evening’s two chefs) and an apéretif on arrival

M&S To Launch Childrenswear Pop-up ‘Kids Shwop Boutique’ For Oxfam

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clothesMarks & Spencer to open first-ever charity Kids Shwop Boutique at Marble Arch store

Shwop Boutique to sell the best childrenswear items donated to Shwopping campaign
A host of celebrities including Joanna Lumley, Abbey Clancy, Rochelle Humes, Peaches Geldof, Alex Gerrad and Zoe Ball have donated items that will be sold
All money raised go to charity partner Oxfam as part of their Mother Appeal initiative
Over 1,000 shwopped childrenswear clothing will be on sale over three days

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is set to open its first-ever childrenswear pop-up store when a three-day Kids Shwop Boutique opens to the public this March in aid of Oxfam’s Mother Appeal.

Open from Thursday 6th – Saturday 8th March at the retailer’s Marble Arch store, the one-off secondhand store will sell the best childrenswear items donated to M&S and Oxfam’s sustainable fashion initiative, Shwopping by the UK public and a host of celebrity donations.

All proceeds raised from the Kids Shwop Boutique will go towards Oxfam’s Mother Appeal campaign – which is being supported by M&S – that aims to raise £10 million for projects that help mothers around the world lift themselves and their families out of poverty for good.

Shwoppers will be able to pick up once loved childrenswear items from Britain’s top style icons and celebrity mums including Abbey Clancy, Peaches Geldof, Alex Gerrard, Zoe Ball, Rochelle Humes, Sarah Story, Mel Giedroyc and Shwopping ambassador Joanna Lumley. And, thanks to the UK government, every pound raised for the appeal will be doubled. *

Each celebrity-donated item will include personal words of wisdom stitched into the fabric of the item allowing advice to be passed onto the new owner.

Entry to the Kids Shwop Boutique is free, but visitors will have to shwop – hand over an unwanted item of kids clothing, using old or unused clothes as their ticket to the exclusive sale.

M&S has asked the public to donate childrenswear items to support the Oxfam campaign through its joint Love, Mum initiative. All other items of clothing donated will also go towards the appeal.

The public can show their support by Shwopping items in any M&S store add their words of wisdom on social media mentioning @shwopping and the hashtag #LoveMum.

M&S and Oxfam’s Shwopping collaboration urges shoppers to donate – or ‘shwop’ – an unwanted item of clothing that will go on to be re-sold, re-used or recycled by Oxfam, cutting waste while raising much-needed funds for the charity.

Since its launch in April 2012, Oxfam has received 6.9 million items of clothing thanks to Shwopping, worth £4.5 million for the charity. All money raised by Shwopping is used to support Oxfam’s projects around the world working to alleviate poverty.

Shwop Boutique

Where: Marks & Spencer, Marble Arch, 458 Oxford Street. London. W1C 1AP
When: The Kids Shwop Boutique is open from 10am – 9pm on Thursday 6th March and 8am – 9pm on Friday 7th and Saturday 8h March 2014
Entry: Free with a shwopped item of clothing

For more information on Marks & Spencer and Oxfam’s Kids Shwop Boutique visit www.marksandspencer.com.

 

Jessica Ennis-Hill Is Top Inspiration For UK Under-25s

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Jessica Ennis-Hill is top inspiration for UK under-25s

  • Olympic champion heptathlete scored above leaders from politics, business, arts and entertainment
  • Inspiration Index dominated by Generation X reveals millennial generation’s respect for elders
  • Over a third of most inspirational figures are female
  • Hard work and integrity top admired leadership attributes for young people

 

Jessica_Ennis wins 2012Jessica Ennis-Hill has been voted the most inspirational figure by under-25 year olds in the UK, leading a list otherwise dominated by the over-40s.

 

The Inspiration Index is published to coincide with the launch of Starbucks Youth Action which supports young people to carry out a project benefitting their community. The research crowd-sourced nominations for inspirational figures from more than 1,000 16-24 year olds, rating them for inspirational qualities and leadership characteristics, such as: integrity, effort, judgement and having a positive impact on society.

 

It features over 100 public figures from politics, business, sport, the arts and media.  Showing respect for their elders, 89% of under-25-year-olds surveyed admire the achievements of the over-40s over those of their own age group.

 

Among the top 25 role models, more than a third (37%) are women. Ellen DeGeneres, Dame Judi Dench, JK Rowling and Rebecca Adlington all rank highly, with respondents acknowledging their hard work, dedication and genuine approach.

 

Rebecca Adlington, the only under-25 year old nominated in the survey (ranked 24th out of 100), commented on the findings:

 

“It’s exciting to see so many successful women viewed as inspirational to the youth of today. It’s also interesting that our younger generation chose these women as role models, above more popular names – it shows how highly they value hard work and genuine personalities. These are all high achieving women who have shown commitment to working hard to reach their goals, whilst continually learning and developing their trade to build and maintain a career.”

 

The poll shows the characteristics most revered in a leader are hard work and being results-driven e.g. Richard Branson (91%); being genuine, e.g. Mo Farah (92%) and acting with integrity, e.g. Nelson Mandela (88%).

 

Charlotte Hill, chief executive of UK Youth, partners in Starbucks Youth Action said:

 

“The success of Starbucks Youth Action projects demonstrates that young people can make a vital contribution to society and gain valuable leadership skills.  They learn how to pitch their ideas, manage a project and handle a budget while they turn their ideas into reality. We’re incredibly proud of the young people and projects we’ve supported so far, and looking forward to seeing this year’s applicants achieve their aim. ”

 

To find out more and to apply for Starbucks Youth Action 2014 please visit http://www.starbucks.co.uk/responsibility/community/youth-action

 

Applications close on 17 March 2014.

 

The research, which required respondents to nominate people they found inspirational before rating them according to key characteristics, revealed the top 25 to be:

 

1.             Jessica Ennis-Hill

2.             Nelson Mandela

3.             Martin Luther King

4.             Gandhi

5.             Steven Hawking

6.             Ellen DeGeneres

7.             Stephen Fry

8.             Will Smith

9.             Mo Farah

10.           Sir Richard Branson

11.           JK Rowling

12.           Marie Curie

13.           David Attenborough

14.           Bill Gates

15.           Eddie Izzard

16.           Claire Balding

17.           Oprah Winfrey

18.           Professor Brian Cox

19.           David Beckham

20.          Steven Spielberg

21.           Jamie Oliver

22.          Steve Jobs

23.           Sir Winston Churchill

24.          Rebecca Adlington

25.           Dame Judi Dench

 

Gravity Picks Up 6 Honours At The EE British Academy Film Awards 2014

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British Film Gravity picked up six awards at the EE British Academy Film Awards and it also picked up four other awards for Best Visual Effects, Cinematography, Sound and Original Film Music while Gravity Director, Alfonso Cuarón, won the Director Award. 12 Years a Slave received the award for Film while Chiwetel Ejiofor won Leading Actor for his role in the film.  Other winners included Cate Blanchett who won Leading Actress for her role in Blue Jasmine, Jennifer Lawrence who was named Supporting Actress for her role in American Hustle, Captain Phillips star Barkhad Abdi won Supporting Actor and Philomena won Adapted Screenplay. Dame Helen Mirren was awarded the Academy Fellowship, BAFTA’s highest accolade, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to film.

BAFTAs 2014 BAFTAs 2014 BAFTAs 2014 BAFTAs 2014

Champagne Taittinger, official Champagne Partner to the British Academy for the 12th year running, once again added extra sparkle to the proceedings.   Special BAFTA labelled Magnums and 75cl bottles of Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve were produced for the Awards. A bottle was also included in the gift bags, given to all nominees and presenters.  Taittinger is one of the few premium Champagne houses to remain owned and actively managed by the named family.  It is proud to support the work of BAFTA to acknowledge and encourage the highest achievements in film and television.

 

As New Zealand’s most awarded winery for more than 30 years, Villa Maria makes a very fitting Wine Partner to the Academy.  Guests at the glamorous Awards dinner enjoyed the delicious Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013 which perfectly complimented the Smoked Loch Fyne Salmon and Dorset Crab starter and the Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 which made a mouth-watering match with the main course of Fillet of Aberdeen Angus and Braised Short Ribs.

 

other winners included:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY                                              ANIMATED FILM

American Hustle                                                         Frozen

 

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE                      PRODUCTION DESIGN                        

The Great Beauty                                                        The Great Gatsby

 

MAKE-UP AND HAIR                                                   EE RISING STAR

American Hustle                                                         Will Poulter

For the full list of winners visit: www.bafta.org

 

Syria: Humanity in Conflict

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8 February – 14 September 2014, WaterWay Gallery,  IWM North

Free Entry; Donations Welcome

 ‘The reason I do it is because first and foremost I am Syrian and I can’t stand to see my people suffer.’ Hamza, Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer, December 2011

IWM-North-Exhb-Syria-civilians_0 IWM-North-Exhb-Syria-first-aid_0 IWM-North-Exhb-Syria-funeral_0 IWM-North-Exhb-Syria-SARC-volunteers_0

Photographs by an award winning Syrian photographer that reveal the impact of conflict on humanitarian volunteers in the country, are being unveiled at IWM North, part of Imperial War Museums, in Manchester.

 

The powerful images explore the experiences of Syrian civilians and humanitarian volunteers who place their lives on the line, almost three years since the outbreak of conflict in March 2011.

 

Created in association with the British Red Cross, this small, emotive display at v shows images by Syrian – Italian photographer Ibrahim Malla.

 

The free display features the comments of local volunteers for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), reflecting on their motivations to become a volunteer and the risks they take as they stay in Syria to respond to the current conflict and humanitarian crisis.

 

The British Red Cross and SARC are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network.

 

Malla is currently working in and around Syria for the International Federation of the Red Cross. This free display contains his most recent work. Malla has previously photographed many humanitarian crises. He has exhibited in Syria, Italy, Madrid, Paris, London, Geneva, Sydney, China, Germany and Scotland and won six international awards during his career.

 

SARC volunteers have been at the front line of the humanitarian response in Syria since fighting erupted. Many SARC staff and volunteers have been killed; many more have been injured, kidnapped or detained. Ambulances have been fired upon or in some cases stolen.

 

Across the country, thousands of SARC volunteers continue to provide essential assistance to those affected by the crisis.

 

SARC volunteers and staff are delivering a wide range of life-saving aid to almost 3 million people each month: food parcels, blankets, mattresses, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, first aid and ambulance services, fixed and mobile health clinics, psycho-social support services for children and their families, water and sanitation. They also support temporary shelters in schools, offices, and public buildings.

 

Visit www.iwm.org.uk for more information, follow @I_W_M #IWMNorth, or like facebook.com/iwm.north

 

Ibrahim Malla said: “My photos show the tragedy of the conflict with a message of hope – showing the hard job that the Red Cross and the Red Crescent volunteers are doing, always helping everybody in respect of our principle of neutrality. This is the message that I started to carry around the world, to let everybody know and see the bravery of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers. I feel this is my duty to honour my friends who sacrificed their life.”

 

Graham Boxer, Director of IWM North, said: ‘From images of aid distributions to the evacuation of 2,000 people from a besieged town in October 2013, Malla’s images portray the role, dedication and bravery of these volunteers in Syria today.’


Channel 4 commissions Benefits Street live

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After only one episode Benefits Street became one of the most controversial television shows, sparking debate and a slew of articles. After the controversy (which included a petition for Channel 4 to stop broadcasting the show attracting 17,000 signatures after only one episode, so much for free speech), Channel 4 has commissioned a live debate.

BenefitsStreet_logo_wChannel 4’s Head of Special Programmes, Ed Havard, has commissioned Mentorn Media to produce a 1 x 60 live debate around the issues brought to the fore by the observational documentary series Benefits Street. This series, filmed over the course of 12 months, documents the reality of life on a street in Birmingham where the majority of households are dependent on benefits and in an area of Birmingham that has had the highest rate of unemployment in the country for the last eight years. It has attracted a great deal of attention – generating tens of thousands of responses on Twitter, press headlines and questions raised in parliament.

Channel 4 Head of Factual, Ralph Lee, says: “This is a series which reflects the reality of day-to-day life for some of the residents of a single street who, for the most part, rely on benefits to survive. It does not and never has set out to reflect the experiences of every person who receives benefits yet it has triggered a national debate about state welfare at a time in which further welfare reforms are being proposed. We feel it is timely to provide a forum in which these issues can be raised and discussed.”

The programme will be live and interactive allowing viewers to submit questions; it will be chaired by broadcaster Richard Bacon. The panellists will be confirmed closer to transmission but will represent the views across the political spectrum – and crucially those who claim benefits.

It will be broadcast at 10pm on Monday 10th February, directly after the final episode of the five-part documentary series airs. The Executive Producer is Mentorn Media’s Director of Current Affairs Hayley Valentine, she says: “It is vital that voices on all sides are heard, and we are pleased to be providing a forum for both public figures and viewers to debate the series that has brought a pertinent political issue to life so vividly.”

 

Pitchup.com Launches Interactive Tour de France Map

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cyclingFollow the Tour de France route and stay in holiday parks and campsites along the way using Pitchup.com’s new interactive route planner
Outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com is gearing up for this year’s Tour de France with a new interactive Tour route planner on its website. The planner details the 2,000-mile route the Tour de France will take, as well as a comprehensive list of bookable campsites, holiday parks and lodges for every stage of the race.

 

The route planner covers all 20 stages of the Tour, beginning with the Grand Départ in North Yorkshire, on Saturday July 5, right through to the finish at Périgueux, on Saturday, July 26.

 

The interactive planner is in the form of a map, with the Tour route stages clearly marked. Users can click the map anywhere along the route to find details of each stage, the dates they take place, the nearby towns and the route itself. Clicking on the map will also give details of up to 10 nearby holiday parks and campsites along the way, which can be booked on Pitchup.com.
Users simply need to click the name to go to its listing page, add in the dates they want to stay, pick their accommodation and book – all done!
The map also has a ‘Find out more’ section for a lowdown of other attractions in the vicinity.
Stage No 1: Leeds/Harrogate. Saturday July 5

Campsite directly on the route – £12 per person per night

 

Spen House is a family-run site in the village of Minskip, two miles from Boroughbridge, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire and is directly on the Tour de France route. Bookings are coming in quick, but there is still plenty of space on the farm’s second field, for caravans, motorhomes and tents not requiring electricity. The owners will charge batteries at no cost. Dogs are welcome and there’s an off-lead exercise area. There is a combined shower/toilet block with hairdryer and shaver sockets, ladies-only shower, separate washing-up area with hot water and a fridge/freezer for campers’ use.

Price: £72 per pitch for three nights (July 4-7), based on two adults, which works out at £12 per person per night.

 

Stage No 20: Périgueux. Saturday July 26

Holiday lodge with swimming pool and breakfast delivery – from £19 per person per night.

Camping L’Hermitage des 4 Saisons is set in four acres of countryside, surrounded by the forest and farmlands of Périgord Vert in the Dordogne, 13 miles from the Tour de France’s finish town, Périgueux. Accommodation is in two-bedroom holiday lodges, which sleep up to six. There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, pétanque court, table tennis, archery and pony rides on site. During high season the owners organise Perigoudin meals, barbecues and local produce tasting sessions. As an added bonus, breakfast is delivered to your door.

Price: Two weeks in a two-bedroom lodge for four people costs £1,069 (£133.75 per person per week/£19 per person per night).