Category Archives: London Gems

IWC Schaffhausen Hosts Private Screening In Celebration Of The British Film Institute

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Thursday 15th October saw a host of British talent and London influencers, gather together for a Champagne reception and private screening hosted by IWC Schaffhausen.

                Held in celebration of The British Film Institute, guests enjoyed a Champagne and canapé reception hosted at The Langham Hotel, before being escorted to the iconic Regent Street Cinema for a private screening of The Lobster – a London Film Festival featured BFI funded film, introduced exclusively on the night by Clare Stewart, Festival Director of the BFI London Film Festival.

                 The evening saw attendance from a host of rising British talent, including Fresh Meat’s Zawe Ashton, The Tudors’ Tamzin Merchant and Penny Dreadful’s Harry Treadaway – all seen enjoying Laurent Perrier Champagne in The Langham Hotel’s Palm Court before being led theatrically by lantern-light to the Regent Street Cinema. Fellow actor Sam Hoare was also overheard on the night expressing how much he had enjoyed this year’s London Film Festival – especially following the recent success of his wife, Romola Garai, in Suffragette.

                    Distributed by Picturehouse and released to the public on Friday 16th October, The Lobster features an all-star cast including Colin Farrell, Rachel Weiz, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw and Olivia Colman, and won the Jury Prize at the 68th Cannes Film Festival.

VIP attendees included: Zawe Ashton, Tamzin Merchant, Harry Treadaway, Charlotte Wiggins, Sam Rollinson, Lady Kinvara Balfour, Sabine Roemer, Sam Hoare and Sarah Ann Macklin

The guests dines on gravlax, honey-mustard dressing and pumpernickel, Scotch beef tartare, truffle and rocket, Cauliflower mousse, piquillo peppers and capers, Ticklemore sable, Crisp confit duck pancakes and cinnamon, Five spice pork belly and pickled cucumber, Cèpe arancini and parmesan cream, Crisp blue prawns with coconut and lime accompanied by Laurent Perrier Champagne and Moscow Mule cocktails

 

About IWC Schaffhausen & The British Film Institute

For the second year, IWC Schaffhausen is supporting the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® as Official Time Partner. The 59th Edition of the Festival will run from 7th to 18th October 2015. A highlight in the UK’s cinematic calendar and a globally recognised event which draws some of the most celebrated talent from the film industry; the BFI London Film Festival previews a selection of the greatest offerings in film for the year ahead. The partnership with the BFI London Film Festival follows IWC Schaffhausen’s long tradition of supporting film-making projects – a tradition which is evidenced by its established partnerships with the Tribeca Film Festival, the Zurich Film Festival the Dubai International Film Festival and the Beijing International Film Festival, and which demonstrates IWC’s passion for film.

Head over to Chicago Rib Shack for some ‘Scrum-‘tious’ #ribsandrugby

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The Rugby World Cup is well under way and if you weren’t lucky enough to nab yourself a ticket, hot-foot it down to Chicago Rib Shack and treat yourself to a sensational side of Ribs with your Rugby!

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The Chicago Rib Shack was born from a delicious dream, the owner, the late Bob Payton had over 30 years ago. He wanted to bring the most authentic American BBQ restaurant to Europe and boy did he. Since then hundreds of restaurants across London have followed suit trying to replicate this All-American BBQ style but none with as much determination and passion as Chicago Rib Shack. The first Chicago Rib Shack opened in Knightsbridge to a glowing reception however after Bob Payton died the restaurant sadly closed. Just three years ago, Chicago Rib Shack re-opened and boasts a menu curated with as much love and soul as when Bob had his dream all those years ago.

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We were privileged enough to try out their mouth-watering menu and cocktails whilst enjoying a game of footy on the TV. Naturally the Ribs were my top option all round, but as I was dining with a Veggie, opted for the Baby Back Ribs instead of the Ribshack Top 4 which also includes Beef Ribs… next time for sure. The Ribs were succulent, tender and melt in your mouth delicious with a side of Sweet Potato Fries and Mac n Cheese all three complimented each other just right. The portions were generous but the food was so delicious I could have easily had more out of pure appreciation for the treats they had to offer. We also ordered a portion of Mac and Cheese bites, I must confess I am a Mac and Cheese connoisseur so if this is on the menu, it’s getting ordered. The Mac and Cheese side order also comes with optional Jalapeños or Bacon but we chose to get it plain. My favourite thing about it was the sauce was just the perfect balance of creamy and light, not too stodgy like some, not overly salted like a lot of other restaurants, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The Mac and Cheese bites were like little Arancini balls filled with yummy Mac and Cheese, again the perfect consistency without the excessive salt and stodge, served with a delicious tomato jam. Alongside the Ribs, these complimented perfectly with yummy tender meat. For the Veggie option we opted for the Veggie Stack Burger which is a Grilled Courgette, Sweet Potato and Aubergine topped with Red Pesto, Goats Cheese and Rocket. This could only be described as the most delicious tasting Veggie option which we’ve ever had and trust us, we eat out a lot. As well as just Ribs, Chicago Rib Shack offer a range of Salads, Grilled Chicken and Fish Cakes just in case you don’t fancy any Ribs but to be honest, major food envy will consume you and once you’ve had a taste you will be making your way back here to try all of the other options on the menu.

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The overall ambience of the place is laid back and in true American style, welcoming and friendly. We dined at the Clapham branch and being set under the arches, the interior was enough to create a relaxed atmosphere but still special enough for a date night or special evening out. The staff were every bit as wonderful as the food and went above and beyond our call of duty, even letting us order cocktails off menu even though the selection was more than ample!

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Chicago Rib Shack have branches in Clapham, Westfield Stratford, Twickenham and Leeds. They also run a host of other deals; see below for our favourites. So fear not if you don’t manage to get down for Ribs and Rugby, make sure to check them out regardless because you would be ‘Rib’-iculous not too!

Mondays – 50% of all food after 5pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 2 for 1 on all Cocktails
Thursday – Burger Day, Burgers, Fries and a Drink for a tenner

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http://www.thechicagoribshack.co.uk

New Favourite Hangout… presenting No. 11 Pimlico Road.

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Londoners rejoice, we’ve found you a bar and restaurant which is every bit as sexy in their menu as they are in their décor and ambience and the best part is, it’s no pop-up, it’s here to stay.

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Independently run, No. 11 Pimlico Road oozes style and cosiness and we mean cosy as in your new home from home. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you could pretty much make it your second home with its epically cool ambience and stunning decor. So roll up and make yourself at home here at No.11 Pimlico Road. They will do all the hard work, serving up their expertly crafted cocktails with a food menu which is every bit as delicious and made with love.

Frost were lucky enough to enjoy a cocktail masterclass with No.11 Pimlico Road’s head bartender, Elvis, and it’s certainly evident why their cocktails are of such a high standard after you’ve seen the passion which goes into crafting them. Not only did he take us through a step-by-step guide of how to make them, but we also got a little cocktail history on rums, tequilas and setting fire to oranges… yes there’s an art to that too. After getting a little historical run down on our favourite drinkies, we had the pleasure of trying out a few of the cocktails, made by our own hands with a little support from Elvis himself.

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Their latest addition to the cocktail family and my personal favourite, is the Peanut Butter Rum. This hug in a mug is the most indulgent and delicious warmed alcoholic beverage i’ve ever tasted and I will go as far to say that it is worth the journey to No.11 Pimlico Road solely to taste this festive mug of joy. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter this is exactly what one would imagine a butter-beer to taste like, well an adults version. With it’s vanilla fused Rum, Cointreau and actual Peanut Butter, this is guaranteed to warm up any chilly night and will leave your tongue wagging for more.

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If you’re a fan of the traditional cocktail, which we learnt is a composition of sugar, spirits, water and bitters, in other words, The Old Fashioned, well fear not as Elvis has taken the traditional and infused it with a little innovation to come up with The Tequila Old Fashioned. The result, a really clean, fresh take on an old great.

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Coming soon… The Passion Fruit Mojito. So, if there’s any reason to wish this summer months back, it’s to try this summery creation and it was while trying to master this cocktail where you really notice the level of hard work and effort which goes into making and creating these cocktails, so next time you’re wondering why your cocktail order takes a little longer than other drinks, it’s all about quality and attention to detail.

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As a testimony to any great bar I naturally ordered a Dirty Martini being a classic but hard to get the balance right, i’m happy to say No. 11 Pimlico Road passed with honours. It’s plain to see that everyone in the No.11 Family have a deep passion and love for the business and once you’ve visited, we’re sure you’ll be in love too. The upstairs area can be rented out and unlike many hire out rooms in bars today, there is a soul to No.11 which is bound to bring a unique magic to any event hosted here. The theme of this place is relaxed and light so kick back order that Peanut Butter Rum and thank us for it after.

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Location:

11 Pimlico Road

London SW1W 1NA

http://no11pimlicoroad.co.uk

Celebrate Alice in Wonderland’s birthday with Chambord Pop-Up

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Fancy venturing down the Rabbit Hole to try out something new?

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In the same year that Queen Elizabeth II celebrates becoming the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Lewis Carroll’s infamous Alice in Wonderland turns 150 years old and from today, Chambord are hosting an end of summer croquet and cocktails pop-up. Chambord Chapter Eight: Games will give the public a chance to put their croquet skills to the test while sipping on a delicious Chambord cocktail and sampling the delights French-American burger legends, Le Bun, are serving up. Best of all, you get to enjoy this experience on a transformed rooftop terrace in London Fields fit for a Queen, and did we mention Flamingo Mallets…? So if you fancy trying your hand at your best ‘Aspinall’ Peel or Forward Balling technique the party will be in full swing from 10th-13th September.

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Grab your tickets here

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chambord-chapter-eight-games-tickets-17937705159

Tickets are five pounds and include complimentary Chambord Cocktail and Flamingo Mallet hire for Croquet so grab some friends and have a FlaminGO

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Chambord Chapter Eight: Games

Proof, Field Works, Martello St, London

Franco Manca Southfields

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Living in such a nice little community here in Southfields its great to have so many cool places to eat. This amazing pizza restaurant gets a big thumbs up from us as its totally delightful and serves up exceptional and unusual dishes. It was the first time we have come across sweet potato pizza. Yep you read that right…Sweet potato slices nestled on top with bubbling mozzarella made this possibly the best pizza I have ever had. We will totally be recreating this at home.
We ate amazing freshly cooked food and drank perfect coffee. Sat and chatted about work, social media and all the new and exciting projects lined up for 2 Boxes Photography. We have some rather brilliant events coming up, and we are getting very excited about shooting at Chester races for Chi Chi London this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for a rather fabulous article coming next week!
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One last feast before a diet starts to slim into those stunning dresses….Just take a look at that beautiful pizza. Have you ever seen something so delightful? And yes I ate the lot! I really can’t tell you how delicious it was. I am going to have to avoid this place for a while if I want to get into my wardrobe! Buffalo mozzarella and cheese ravioli was incredible. I was way too busy with my amazing pizza to even try it sadly. One reason to go back don’t you think…but not too often as I really could be busting out of my skinny jeans!!

If you live near Southfields Francos is well worth a visit and we are sure you will leave very satisfied and keen to go back time after time.

Visit their website www.francomanco.co.uk for more info.

Holi One 2015

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As you all may know I’m a Professional Photographer and work with my husband at 2 Boxes Photography. Well we went to Holi One 2015 recently and here are a selection of our favourite shots from the day. We partied and painted Wembley arena all shades of the rainbow.

Holy One is a festival of colour that celebrates each and every one of us as equals. By the time you leave this amazing festival you will be the same skin colour as everyone else. Its quite frankly one if the best days out you could possibly imagine. Messy but serious fun.Holi One 2015

If you are a fellow partier please remember that your camera could be a little stressed out by the end of the day. We took our Canon 1D bad boy with us. He’s a tough cookie and water, dust, bomb and Holi One proof!! If you do decide to take some snaps make sure you wrap your camera securely in a clear plastic bag before you enter.

Here is an idea of what a day at Holi One is like in pictures. We feel that sometimes (nearly all the time) images speak louder than words!

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For more information regarding our photography services from Weddings, portraits or events please visit www.2boxes.co.uk, email contact@2boxes.co.uk or call 07792852233.

Bleach London To Open New Salon In London’s Soho

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11856533_960934037303864_2371061869811885591_oFollowing the success of its Dalston Store, hair salon Bleach London has announced the opening of its new SOHO salon, opening tomorrow (13 August) at 2 Berwick Street.

Bleach was founded in 2010 by hairstylist to the stars, Alex Brownsell, and best friend Sam Teasdale in Alex’s kitchen, who have an extensive celebrity client list including Lily Allen, Georgia Jagger and Pixie Geldof. Bleach specialises in the bold and bright dye-job that built their reputation.

Colour in-store costs £80 and a cut and blow-dry £60.

Customers can also get their hair styled at a price of £1 a minute or purchase one of the brand’s Do-It-Yourself products including Dip Dye kit, a salon-standard Total Bleach and a White Toner for removing yellow tones from blonde hair, as well as wash or paint-in colour creams.

With late night opening hours (until 11pm), the space can be booked for private “Colour” parties – open seven days a week.

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition… Closing Soon

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Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

8 June-16 August 2015

The largest open submission exhibition in the world

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Held without interruption since 1769, the Summer Exhibition displays works in a variety of mediums and genres by emerging and established contemporary artists.

The works are selected and hung by Royal Academicians, and entry is open to all artists.
In 2013, nearly 70% of the exhibits were by non-Academicians, £70,000 worth of prizes was awarded and over 5,000 works were sold.
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An unusual mix of celebrities –  Una Stubbs by Grayson and Measles, Harry Hill by Damien Hirst and Simon Cowell by Jenny Samtula
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The staircase and the Central Hall are alive with colour, enticing the visitor in.
Dominating the Central Hall is Matthew Darbyshire’s  Captcha No.11 (Doryphoros)  with Liam Gillick’s Applied Projection Ring.
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Grayson Perry’s amazing supersized tapestry, Julia and Rob.
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Jim Lambie’s kaleidoscopic stairs lead you up to the Main Galleries

 

At one time the show was known simply as ‘The Exhibition’, where the likes of Gainsborough and Reynolds, Turner and Constable sharpened their skills against each other.

Nowadays, although there’s a plethora of art fairs, commercial galleries and contemporary exhibitions to choose from, the galleries at Burlington House make an unrivalled setting for artists to display and sell their artworks.

For all of the works displayed, the artist is the seller of the work and the Academy takes a 30% commission on all ‘Offers to Purchase’, the proceeds going towards the RA Schools and their diverse programme of exhibitions.

The array of works and the celebratory atmosphere of the exhibition make for an unique experience where visitors can browse, buy and discuss the works on show.