January

Happy New Year! We love this time of year! With a fresh start and renewed optimism, we have a feeling 2019 is going to be even better than 2018. As we wrap up the festive season and get stuck into winter, we have some great suggestions of what you can get up to. Whether you’re off the booze for dry January, looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle or you just want to explore some new spots we’ve got some great ideas for you.

Secret Cinema

Secret Cinema - Sign up quick

We love secret cinema - their lastest offering is Casion Royale. The first round of tickets might have sold out but they’re releasing more in the new year. So sign up to be the first to get your hand on them. Not sure what to expect ? Well …

The world of espionage has changed and they need your help more than ever. Should you accept, you will receive your mission briefing, including; alias, target location and further classified information. Are you ready to enter a world of high stakes, sophistication and deception? Operate in the shadows or be in the heart of the action where the risks are great, but the rewards are greater. The time has come to find out if you have what it takes.

Lino

Lino - New spot to check out

Housed in a converted Linoleum factory in the square mile, Lino are taking a new approach to drinking and dining in the city. They re-use, re-love and re-imagine. From salvaged light fittings to sustainably sourced materials – they give overlooked pieces a chance to shine. They bake, ferment, pickle and cure onsite. They mix old classics and shake up new combinations. They make the most of seasonal shrubs, herbs, fruits and veg - everything they serve is inspired by what’s available.

Alcotraz

Escape Alcotraz

Inspired by Hollywood Movies and TV that have brought to life America’s most infamous prison, Alcotraz is London's first immersive theatrical cocktail bar. From the orange jumpsuits upon entrance, to the real metallic cells, Alcotraz becomes the perfect backdrop to enjoy a drink within an epic yet intimate environment. When convicted to Alcotraz, inmates are taken into an exciting world of mischief as they are instructed by notorious bootlegger, Clyde Cassidy to smuggle-in liquor to be used to make delicious, bespoke cocktails. You won’t find a set menu of drinks here…after all, it is prison! Alcotraz creates a range of tailored cocktails every night based on the liquor you bring and your tastes. Just make sure The Warden doesn’t catch you. Luckily, our Guards are on your side and have creative ways of hiding contraband.

Lose your mind in a million balls

The incredible Ballie Ballerson is like no other bar you’ve ever been to. A world famous venue featuring over ONE MILLION balls, it will magic you right back to the fun of the playground like a ball pit time machine. Whether you’re being a baller in our VIP section, drinking Dibbie Dabbersons on the dance floor, or making a name for yourself in one of the ball pits, it’s an experience that will keep you smiling for hours and have your Insta feed begging for more.

The nudge

Open fire realness

Nothing beats an open fire at this time of year. And if you don’t have one of your own, why not head out and explore some great pubs that have roaring fires at the ready. The Nudge has put together a list of pubs across the capital to check out. Find the perfect spot to warm up in after an afternoon walk in some London’s parks. A couple of our favourites are Richmond Park and Primrose Hill.

Design Museum

Learn a new skill - how to make fermented and naturally preserved foods with artist and food-designer Inês Neto dos Santos.

Can eating bring us closer to our bodies? Can it help us engage with the world? What can it teach us about who we are, where we come from or where we’re going?

Led by artist and food-designer Inês Neto dos Santos, this one-day workshop provides a hands-on introduction to the art of fermentation and other natural preserving methods. Over the course of the day, you will be introduced to the history, health benefits and methods of these techniques, before using a range of ingredients to create your own edible stories to take away at the end of the workshop.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Design Museum’s current exhibition Home Futures and to learn more about Inês’ ongoing project Fermen-Tour.

Pscyle

Get in gear for 2019

Psycle is a premium boutique fitness brand that offers a collection of class based workouts across London. Their immersive, energetic workouts are designed to help clear your mind and transform your body alongside a passionate community of like-minded individuals. With four different workouts and a team of highly knowledgeable instructors, Psycle classes harness the transformative power of movement to help every individual optimise their fitness and wellbeing.

December

Let the silly season commence….. The skies are sparkling with Christmas lights, ears are ringing with sleigh bells jinglin’ and best of all it’s time for Christmas parties and overindulging. And with the final countdown of 2018, here is our round up of what to squeeze in to the rest of the year before we ring in the New Year.

Cosy up in an igloo on the South Bank

Jimmy’s Lodge is Back! This time with a bigger, sleeker and chicer upstairs covered dining room, the cosiest winter warmer bar on the river and the return of newly customised private dining glass igloos! Situated on the river along the Queen’s Walk, Jimmy’s Lodge offers the perfect place to soak up the festive atmosphere!

Watch a Christmas Classic.

The UK's #1 Open Air Cinema. Luna Winter heads inside for a festive season in London and Liverpool this December.  The ultimate festive cinema experience, bringing Christmas classics to the big screen in some stunning indoor (heated!) spaces. From Elf, Love Actually (which turns 15 this year) to classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th street there is something for everyone.

Winter rooftop fun

Back for good with a brand new high up in the sky Pergola rooftop location, in an incredible new venue! Never before has the historic Olympia London had a venue built on its roof, until NOW.... Explore their new botanical bolthole located on the top of Olympia London. Drink, dine and escape the city with us amidst the lush vegetation of their new home! And don’t worry it’ll be heated and fully enclosed for the winter months, with a clear roof so you can see the sky without the plummeting temperatures. 

Dance the night away on a Christmas rooftop.

Come party the night away under the heated covered terrace (so no chance of freezing). On the 15th December Byday Bynight reach their final show in Brixton this year and welcome back their friend Maxxi Soundsystem to headline the main room and sprinkle festive cheer and Deep House goodness on a busy main room. With a plethora of huge releases under his belt over the past decade, Maxxi has developed a solid reputation of ensuring dance floors stay filled with deep grooves and pumping disco.

Explore the Christmas lights at Kew

As twilight falls, the magic begins. Now in its sixth year, Kew’s 2018 winter trail will be bigger than ever before, with over a million twinkling pea-lights and thousands of laser beams. Walk under welcoming arches into a world festooned with seasonal cheer and wander beneath unique tree canopies drenched in Christmas colour.  

Winterville - London’s Alternative festive experience

A completely different festive experience! Expect live DJs, comedy, musical bingo, roaming magicians, kid’s raves, Mexican wrestling and a family Christmas show on a double decker bus.

Elsewhere in our pop-up town you can skate on our outdoor Ice Rink, enjoy sensational food from Street Feast, lose yourself in Backyard Cinema’s Christmas maze, catch club nights in the Roller Disco, play crazy golf on a UV-powered course, ride the Big Wheel, enjoy cocktails and craft beer in themed bars and find unique gifts in Solo Craft Fair.

Looking for something a bit different to do this New Years Eve ?

Channel your inner-party animal and send off 2018 by dancing beneath the largest creature ever to have lived, at the Natural History Museum. Hosted in collaboration with experiential events company It's Unknown. We're not lying when we say this will be an unforgettable night, packed with animal-themed activities. Pick up your complimentary drink before trying your luck at Musical Bingo, sampling edible insects, or having a hoot in the silent disco. There will be the opportunity to make animal masks, roam free in the galleries, submit a song request to the Love Cats, or simply dance the night away with the Massaoke band and DJs.

We hope these give you some fun ideas to round off 2018.

Have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

x

November

Get festive with some fun and sparkle this month. Bonfire night kicks things off and Christmas lights start to glow, lighting up cities and towns across the UK. Ice rinks and Christmas markets begin to pop-up and encourage even the biggest ‘bah humbug’ to get excited for what is just around the corner. Here is our round up of what to get up to this November.

Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November…

There is nothing we love more than a hot toddy, lighting sparklers and watching the sky light up bright with an amazing show. Wrap up in cosy layers and head out to watch your local fireworks display, we’ll be heading out to the Battersea Park Fireworks. But If you want to watch the celebrations, but don't want to deal with the crowds, don't worry. You have options. Head up to the top floor of Heron Tower to watch London light up from the confines of the Duck and Waffle. Visit the Shard's Oblix for a cocktail at their Lounge Bar and an uncluttered view of the festivities. Or, head down to Tattershall Castle, the pub on the Thames for a view that's a bit more down to earth.

Photo by Zuza Gałczyńska

Miss out on Halloween?

Did you miss out on dressing up for Halloween ? Well fear not, how about unleashing your inner pirate, step aboard The Hidden Spirit this winter, and join the undercover crew! Take your share of the world’s finest collection of precious metals & jewels, liquors & liqueurs and enjoy some delicious cocktails on board to make the journey and time at sea all that bit richer. Set on board a real ship docked in London, those willing to join Captain Jack Cassidy’s undercover crew will be taken on an epic journey of mischief as they steal the hidden treasure in this unique immersive cocktail experience.

The Hidden Spirit

Movie hit list for November  

It seems a waste to go to the Cinema when the weather is so gorgeous out. But now the nights are darker there is something indulgent about watching a good movie with a tub of your fave ice cream. Plus with the Oscars not too far away there are some great releases coming up over the next few months. So here is our hit list of what is new this month and what we want to try and catch asap.

5 movies to check out this month

1.     Bohemian Rhapsody

2.     Widows

3.     A Star is Born

4.     The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

5.     First Man

Eat and Drink at Cattivo

Brixton’s latest offering from the team behind Martello Hall and Canova Hall (our second office) has just opened up and we can’t wait to try it. If their interiors are anything like Canova Hall were in for an industrial but cosy treat. From liquor clubs, gin masterclasses and showtime brunches it’s not your usual bar/restaurant there seems to be something extraordinary happening all the time.

cattivo Instagram

Autumn Adventure to Elmley

Looking to do something a bit different and explore a new area why not check out Elmley. Elmley is a 3,200 acre estate based on an island in the Thames, situated away from the bustle of North Kent, just an hour from London. A vast wilderness. The spectacular landscape, soul stirring skies and breath-taking wildlife provide a truly inspirational escape. It is a very special place, and provides an extraordinary setting for a weekend escape or simply to immerse yourself in nature for the day.

Elmley Nature Instagram

Explore the Best Christmas Markets

With the season nearly upon us, bringing with it the aroma of mulled wine and spices, carol singing and cascades of sequins and tinsel. It’s time to get out and explore the streets of Bath, Manchester and Edinburgh, to the banks of the Thames and the grounds of Blenheim Palace. Here are the best Christmas markets in the UK to brave the chill and start your seasonal shopping.

Blenheim Place

Apres Ski

Winterland London returns in style this festive season with a brand new theme to match. Taking inspiration from the slopes of the Alps in the 80s and 90s, Winterland will transport guests back in time to a cosy, festive winter playground. Jimmy’s Lodge will be on hand to serve delicious fondues and schnitzels, best enjoyed in the warmth of a heated winter lodge and washed down with some mulled wine and winter warmer cocktails from our Moose Bar. And for those more playful Alpine explorers, a karaoke booth, curling lanes, beer pong, putting pong, table tennis and more can be found within Fulham’s very own ski resort.

Winterland London