Chilly Chuuuunes!

 

Wondering how to celebrate this Christmas week?  Why not try Somerset House's Club Nights?  They're not just any old club nights.....they're on the ICE!!  Big name DJs and iconic clubs, including Ministry of Sound provide the soundtrack for open-air partying.

It's a very atmospheric place to grab a mulled wine and sip cocktails galore before (or probably more sensibly, after) taking to the ice.  Sessions are in hourly slots from 20.00–21.00, 21.15–22.15 and 22.30–23.30.  Tickets are a hefty price of £17 but I reckon its worth it - what better way to get festive, catch up with friends and don those skates to show off those moves on the ice (or not!)?!
 

Drink and be Merry!!

As it is the season to be merry, I thought I'd share a quick and easy recipe for Christmas in a glass - delicious mulled wine full of Christmassy spice and a kick of sloe gin!  This one is courtesy of BBC Good Food with a few McWhinney tweeks again!  The big day is in less than a week so relax, grab a glass and GET FESTIVE!!!

Ingredients:

- 2 bottles of red wine (Good ol' Jamie recommends recommend Chianti or another Italian red wine)

- 120g demerara sugar

- 2 cinnamon sticks

- 6 cloves

- grated nutmeg

- 1 orange, sliced (or whole with the cloves studded into it)

- 1 dried bay leaf

- 60 ml sloe gin

- peel of lemon

- 1 whole vanilla pod, halved (optional)

Method:

1. Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bay leaf, spices, lemon peel and vanilla
2. Heat gently until all the sugar is dissolved.  Taste to see if you want the wine sweeter, and add more sugar to taste.
3. Take the saucepan off the heat, and stir in the sloe gin
4. Strain into heat proof glasses and serve - drink and be merry!

"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear"

Now I know we're all still weak at the knees over Michael Bublé's (or Bauble as I like to call him) Christmas crooning sending us into festive oblivion BUT here is a musical number that's a little different to brighten up your Christmas lead up!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and what better way to celebrate than with a glass (or 5) of mulled wine, a cheeky mincey p (or 6) and a festive screening of the 1947 original of Miracle on 34th Street?

After the success of their previous film screenings, Midsummer Night Screen are getting festive and taking over The Nave for the second time this year to host a 1940’s themed evening of cinematic festivities on Wednesday, 21st December. With mince pies, mulled wine, hot mulled apple cider and mistletoe galore accompanied by DJs playing 1940s records before the film kicks off at 8:30pm, I’m not sure there’s a better way to get into the festive spirit?!

All profits will be going to Crisis to support their Christmas meal scheme for the homeless. Tickets are £6 in advance and £8 on the door. 

I thought getting cosy, getting merry and getting festive all for a good cause was definitely something worth shouting about!

Tickets are available here!

Bitchy and the Beast!

Oxford and Regent Street all to ourselves!

Picture credit: André Atty

It's that time of year again, and Oxford Street and Regent Street will be completely vehicle free this weekend (10th and 11th December).  Although the cars will be gone, shoppers seem to flock in their thousands to peruse the shops for some last minute gifts, so I would recommend either going early or late.  So go forth and shop til you drop!

Christmas Wednesdays!

Columbia Road is hosting a late night Christmas shopping fiesta, every Wednesday until Christmas.  All the independent boutiques stay open from 5-9pm every festive Wednesday!  So get away from the chains, bright lights and big crowds of the West-end, and head East as an alternative solution to last minute shopping.  The unique, one-off shops offer anything from vintage clothing and home-ware to contemporary artwork and jewellery.  With seasonal drinks, food and music galore, your festive wishes should all be fulfilled!