The Telegraph

'A country pub in London' 

It's fair to say when choosing a pub in London, you're spoilt for choice. It's also fair to say that some pubs are quite simply better than others. I love finding great British pubs (perhaps a strange statement for a 25 year old women!? But lets not go there) and this one is a gem. 

On the approach, the Telegraph on Putney Heath, emerges from behind trees and stands with a grand yet reticent manner. The wooden shutters add an authentic countryside taste and the large hanging baskets enable the pub to blend nicely with its green, peaceful surroundings. I love the chosen black and ivory paintwork resembling a large Tudor house. The Telegraph certainly has character and up-close it’s filled with great touches blending modern day Britain, with old school English countryside. They've made an eccentric decor of cow-skin and antlers look classy, and have combined quirky lighting with natural woods, achieving an amusing yet sophisticated feel. 

It’s a masculine, well varnished bar with a good selection of Real Ales and Lagers. It’s great for group bookings, chilled drinks with family or a casual date. It has private function rooms upstairs, a comfy bar area, a modest restaurant area and a beautiful large garden outside to enjoy the British sunshine. A fine selection of pub grub, this pub is effortless and quintessentially British. 

   I have a soft-spot for these fabulous benches!

   A very content Father

Vagabond Wines

Wine on Tap... Literally. 

Vagabond is fast becoming a treasure of South West London. A badly kept secret, it’s now fully booked weekends and most evenings. Vagabond stole my heart through its charming and quirky décor, and it’s relaxed and avant-garde ambience; not to mention the obvious, it being a wine tasting bar! 

With their concept being ‘try before you buy’ the walls are lined with 100 different wines, including whites, rose and reds. Prices start from 50p a sample or £4 a glass, using a oyster-type card you load on your desired balance and away you go, like a kid in a candy shop... browsing has never been so dangerous!    

  

The lighting is warm, the music is soft and the staff are friendly. Vagabond’s atmosphere is seductively comfortable and time ticks away unnoticed. The shop-turned-bar has such character with wine boxes stacked in every corner, old wine crates used as tables, lanterns flickering from surfaces and old arm chairs bulging with their stuffing peeking out. However, don’t be completely fooled by the staff’s laid-back approach. They’re experts in their field and certainly know which Cheeder goes with what Malbec.  

Each wine comes with a description card, informing you of the drink’s heritage, level of dryness, tasting notes and even ‘pairing ideas’- ranging from ‘Cucumber sandwiches’,  ‘Thai Food’ or ‘Linguine con Vongole’ (clams and pasta to you and me!) Their selection is from all over the world including Argentina, Chile, Italy, New Zealand and the UK! A five minute walk from Fulham Broadway station, it would be rude not to pop your head in to sample these beauties.

Best Rooftop Bars in London

Don’t settle for ground level... Go Sky High. 

I have a deep love (bordering obsession) for finding rooftop bars in London. The skyline of our beloved town is next to nothing and admiring it with a chilled glass of wine in hand is, in my opinion, heavenly. Now the sun is finally getting his groove on here are four of my favourites… 

Bar Vista, The Trafalgar Hotel

This bar is, without a doubt, my most favourite London spot of all. The view is sensational. The typical views of London- Big Ben and the London Eye- are in sight, but also Trafalgar Square and St Paul’s which elsewhere seem to get dwarfed by modern giants. The service is fantastic and the selection of wines and bubbly is pleasing to vineyard enthusiasts. The décor is modern, very clean and very chic, yet you’re made to feel warm and welcome with quilts and cushions to snuggle into, fairy lights glittering from within shrubs and flowers, and tea-lights winking at you from table tops sprinkled with occasional rose petals. This is a place to take your most beloved companions. If you’re looking for a ‘Sex and the City’ esq night or a special romantic evening, this is the place. It has the WOW factor and you’ll happily set up camp, drinking there for hours… Trust me, I have the card receipts to prove it! Eek!     

 

 

 Kensington Rooftop Gardens

A favourite of mine for many years; I’ve had some wonderful nights and days spent here. The gardens still take my breath away at first glance; they ooze such beauty, culture, class and elegance and even have occasional flamingos pondering about just to show off! Go on a Friday night when they have live music and make sure to wander around the whole rooftop as secret gardens loom around corners. Brilliant DJ’s man their decks and exquisite food lines their plates. This rooftop is exactly what you’d expect from Richard Branson and his Virgin Limited Edition team.  The perfect place for classy drinks in stunning surroundings with dancing and partying to follow... Don’t expect to have a quiet night at Rooftop.

  

  

RADIO at the new ME London Hotel, The Strand 

Opening in January of this year, the ME London hotel arrived on the Strand. It’s view is so impressive and looks directly out over the stunning Somerset House. The bar is very modern but maybe a tad too cool and sleek for my liking however, perhaps on a glorious summer’s evening (I went on a particularly cold March evening!) it will come into its own… I’ll be returning soon to put this thought to the test! 

The Smart Alex, Wimbledon

A cheaper and cheerful option outside of the London Smoke, The Alex rooftop bar is really coming into its own. After a makeover last year, the bar has a new quirky vibe enticing guests with their squashy comfy chairs, summer themed music and scattered twinkle lights (not to mention lots of patio heaters!) Perfect for a cheeky mid-week drink to catch up with friends and spy the sun going down. 

Crepe Affaire

I’ve begun a deep love affair with Crepe Affaire in Wimbledon! The atmosphere inside is welcoming and unimposing. The light from the large neon heart soothes the wounds of abandonment from our English sun and bathes the inside of the bakery with a golden warmth. On a rainy, grey day I believe that treating oneself to a warm, rich and indulgent (and in my case, dripping in carbs) delicacy is not just fair, but utterly essential and completely logical behaviour. 

Crepe Affair has a selection of savoury, sweet and vegetarian crepes, waffles and other pastries. I opted for a sweet crepe (of course!) and chose the ‘I’ll have what she’s having’- fresh strawberries, Nutella, whipped cream and an ice-cream scoop of your choice (I went for caramel ice-cream). Marc opted for a more masculine choice (!) and demolished a ‘Chicken Supreme’- marinated chicken, cheese, tomato, mushrooms and spinach. Other options that caught my eye were ‘The Londoner’ (naturally!)- scrambled egg, cheese and bacon or sausage, and the ‘Apple Crumble’-  apple, cinnamon, sultanas, crumble and butterscotch.     

Prices are reasonable, service is quick and friendly. No fuss, just food therapy!

 

I now just need one of these to deliver to my house... everyday!

GOLD Restaurant by Dolce and Gabbana, Milan

The power of the brand is constantly growing, developing and evolving in our modern day society. As a marketer, it’s an idea that intrigues me particularly when explored in relation to events and hospitality. So a restaurant built with a concept to combine a luxurious fashion brand with Italian cuisine is in my opinion, worth jet-setting for.    

In 2006, Dolce and Gabbana opened ‘GOLD’ a multi-purpose restaurant, bar, bistro and nightclub in Milan. “We’re not about minimalism, we’re massimalismo,” is the opinion of Stefano Gabbana and in this instance he cannot be argued with. True to its name, everything (and I mean everything... toilet seats included) is gleaming gold. GOLD oozes luxury, beauty and classicism. The presentation of their vintage Sicilian menu serves fashion on a gold platter. Cutlery, menus, glasses, chocolates... everything is branded with their platinum D&G GOLD  logo. A dinner for fashionistas, dine here knowing you’re in glamorous company, the Beckhams, Ana Wintour, the Kardashians, Scarlett Johansson and Claudia Shiffer have all rested their derrieres here. I went along with my own bella italiana and fabulous friends, and had an truly unforgettable evening. 

Ti amo Milano e ti adoro Gold!