Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Meat
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos

Review: One Aldwych Hotel

by Jeanne Horak on September 4, 2015 5 Comments in Hotel reviews, UK

OneAldwychHotel

When last were you a tourist in your own town? It’s funny how we are always off being tourists in other towns and cities, eagerly getting to grips with new and unfamiliar metro maps, learning how to order a beer or a coffee in a foreign language, or marvelling at the architecture of a foreign city.  And we never find it an annoying chore – it’s always charming and exciting. But tell a Londoner that the Jubilee Line is closed for engineering work on a Saturday and that they have to use the Tube map to figure out an alternative route; or that nobody working in their favourite coffee shop is a mother-tongue English speaker; or to look up at the lovely buildings all around them rather than angrily at the pavement, and I can assure you that you will be met with morose annoyance.

But the truth is that there is no better way to rekindle your love for your city than to play the role of a tourist – and that’s precisely what I did when I stayed at the One Aldwych hotel, slap bang in the middle of London’s theatreland.  Instead of spending a Saturday afternoon doing the grocery shopping, washing the car or doing the laundry, we packed our overnight bags and headed down to the western end of the gentle smile of a curve that is Aldwych, specifically where it meets The Strand.  One Aldwych is a boutique hotel and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World affiliation, and the grandness of the building itself  is the first thing that strikes you. Designed and built by Charles Mewes and Arthur Davis, the Anglo-French partnership responsible for the Ritz hotels in London and Paris, it was originally commissioned as the home of the Morning Post newspaper and was completed in 1907.  Its distinctive features include curved corners (notably the one at the corner of Aldwych and The Strand), female head carved keystones, a coppered cupola dome and a very Parisian mansard roof of Westmoreland slate. Subsequently the building housed the headquarters of Illustrated Newspapers Limited, the Prudential Assurance Company and Lloyds Bank and it is a grand banking hall that springs to mind when you enter the impressive high-ceilinged, light-filled lobby. You are also immediately aware of the hotel’s impressive 400+ piece private contemporary art and sculpture collection which includes Boatman with Oars (a large-scale bronze by André Wallace in the Lobby Bar),  and the ‘Beano’ dog (a chicken wire frame covered in plaster and pages of Beano comics) by Justine Smith who greets you at the reception desk. There is also a piece of original art in every guest room.

 

OneAldwychCard

 

OneAldwychLobby2

 

OneALdwychBeano2

 

OneALdwychArt

 

ACCOMMODATION

The hotel offers three types of rooms (Aldwych and Executive both at 24-27 sqm; Deluxe at 34-36 sqm) and three types of suites (Studio at 48 sqm on the rounded corner of the hotel overlooking Waterloo Bridge; Executive at 65 sqm with a sitting and dining area, views along Aldwych, and the option of 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms; and 3 Deluxe at 72-74 sqm, with private gyms and some with private roof terrace).  We stayed in a Deluxe room overlooking The Strand which featured a small sitting and desk area; king-sized bed; and a large bathroom with separate bath and walk-in shower.  We liked the minibar stocked with London-centric goodies such as Bombay Sapphire Gin, Fevertree tonic, Luscombe juices and Tyrells crisps (although the prices for mini-bar items were pretty eye-watering).  I was also pleased with the fluffy towelling robes and slippers and made sure that I spent as much time as possible in them.  The bed was fabulously comfortable and the linen of excellent quality, and we both appreciated the nifty fibre-optic reading lights and the electrical sockets for phone charging which were integrated into the headboard.  The bathroom was stylish and understated and featured under-floor heating, mist-free mirrors, a power shower, bath products from Plantation, and even a mini-TV so that you could watch your favourite show while bathing or brushing your teeth.  Bonus points also for the full-size powerful hairdryer (coincidentally the same one I use at home) rather than one of those useless wall-mounted hotel specimens. There was no shortage of technology in the room either, from the flat-screen HD television to the Sony CD player sound system to the wireless keyboard, Bowers & Wilkins iPod docking station, digital on-demand entertainment and complimentary wi-fi. But it was the little touches that I particularly appreciated, like the cloak-and-dagger room safe hidden behind a picture on the wall (see video below!), the weather forecast card that was left in the room in the evening  so you knew what to wear the next day, and the sturdy resealable plastic bag provided for travellers who might be heading for the airport after checkout and need to bag their liquids.

 

 

OneAldwychBed

 

ONeAldwychLoungeArea

 

OneAldwychView

OneALdwychFridge

 

OneAldwychTech

 

OneAldwychDockingStation

 

OneALdwychBAthroom

 

OneAldwychToiletries

 

OneAldwychOrchids

 

LEISURE

Take the lift a few floors down (a fun experience in itself as the lifts are lined with a checkerboard of mirrors and lit in various different neon colours by day and by night – like your own private nightclub!) and you will emerge in one of my favourite parts of the hotel:  the health club. The most striking feature, given that you are in the middle of central London and space is at a premium, is the 18m long chlorine-free subterranean swimming pool.  The pool is set in a serene space with colour-changing mood lighting, underwater speakers and a projection of fish and dolphins swimming on the far wall.  There are also some very comfy loungers so that after swimming a few laps and enjoying the rain showers, you can relax in your fluffy robe. The changing rooms are also surprisingly attractive with the best-looking lockers I have ever seen, showers, towels, hair dryers and toiletries (including trusty Elnett hair spray!).  Next door is a spacious and well equipped gym with state-of-the-art treadmills, cross-trainers and Concept II rowing machines, as well as s free weights area. After gym, there is also a sauna and steam room, but I chose instead to visit the spa.

In this haven of tranquility, you can enjoy a facial or body treatment, massage, manicure/pedicure or waxing treatment.  For facials, the products used are Oskia and Natura Bissé and the Natura Bissé goal is to offer the effectiveness of medical aesthetic techniques combined with the wellbeing of an urban spa experience.  After some discussion I chose a skin-specific  Natura Bissé facial (£100 for 60 minutes), a restorative facial using vitamin C and their Essential Shock products to brighten dull skin, replenish moisture, restore elasticity and repair damaged skin. In contrast to standard deep cleansing facials, this one involved a lot of massaging with a scrub which left my skin as soft as silk, plumped up and glowing. There was actually a visible difference by the end, to the extent that I was persuaded to forego make-up and go to dinner au naturel (from the neck up, that is)!  The hotel is also home to a luxury private screening room (which I did not visit) which can be booked for private functions or visited on one of the hotel’s Film & Fizz evenings comprising a three-course dinner in Indigo restaurant, a film screening and a chilled glass of Champagne (£55.00 per person).

 

OneALdwychPinkLift

 

OneAldwychYellowLift

 

OneAldwychPool

 

OneAldwychPoolSlippers

 

OneAldwychLockers

 

OneAldwychSpaShowers

 

OneAldwychSpa

 

OneALdwychGym1

 

OneAldwychGym2

 

EATING AND DRINKING

The hotel has two public venues for eating and drinking.  Start the day at Indigo (open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner) situated on a mezzanine level balcony overlooking the lobby.  The hotel’s breakfast won a Visit Britain 2014 Breakfast Award so it’s not to be missed. Prices range from £19 for a Continental breakfast to £27 for a full English plus an a la carte menu for those who want to put together their own selection. We both enjoyed the excellent fresh juices, pastries and coffee before Nick feasted on kippers with grilled tomatoes and poached eggs (£18.50) and I could not resist my usual of eggs Benedict (£13.00) which were excellent.  Other options include porridge with berry compote, smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes or French toast with streaky bacon and maple syrup.  We did not have a chance to have lunch or dinner there, but executive chef Dominic Teague has created a fully gluten- and dairy-free menu focusing on British produce and classic dishes. Given its proximity to London’s theatreland, Indigo is also the perfect place to dine before or after a show and there is a well-priced pre/post-theatre menu available (£20 for 2 courses or £25 for 3).

 

OneAldwychKIppers

 

OneAldwychEggsBenedict1

 

OneALdwychEggsBenedict2

 

For later in the day, there is the Lobby Bar, located (unsurprisingly!) in the beautifully proportioned wedge-shaped lobby with its high ceilings, columns and double volume arched windows on three sides.  Seating is on armchairs or comfy sofas in warm earth tones and the bar occupies the apex of the room.  Dotted between the tables and chairs, and the Boatman with Oars sculpture are impressive oversize floral installations, including some on perspex boxes inside which amaryllis blooms seem to be growing upside down.  It’s a massively impressive space – with an impressive cocktail menu to match.  Nick tried the For Love cocktail of chilli-infused Babicka vodka, ginger and lemongrass cordial, rhubarb liqueur and lemon juice, served in a mini shaker (£13.50).  He loved the subtle spiciness and I loved the “smoke” billowing out of the shaker!  My choice was the Catwoman cocktail (£13.50) which was spicy and citrusy, but most importantly, came served in a quirky port sipper glass with a spout rising from its base, making it resemble a cat. Genius!  It was fabulous to sit back on our comfy sofa, side by side, sipping cocktails while watching theatre patrons pouring into the Lyceum theatre through the window on our left as red  London busses zipped past the windows on our right.  I can think of few better places for cocktails in London to really feel as if you are in the heart of the city. Although we did not try either, the Lobby Bar also serves a light menu of bar snacks, sandwiches, sharing platters and desserts; and it is the venue for the hotel’s afternoon tea offering.

 

OneAldwychLobbyBarMenu

 

OneALdwychLobbyBarRoom

 

OneALdwychForLoveCocktail

 

OneAldwychCatwoman1

 

OneALdwychCatwoman2

 

OneAldwychBar

 

Before I visited One Aldwych, all I had heard about it was that my high-flying corporate American friend who used to visit London regularly for business refused to stay anywhere else – and now I know why. In a world of faceless chains and cookie-cutter middle-of-the-road hotels, One Aldwych is a boutique hotel on a grand scale.  Staff were all super-efficient and professional; the food and drink we had was excellent; the rooms were plush and spacious; the health club and spa were an oasis of calm; and the location can’t be improved. Whether you are a visitor to London or just wanting to be a tourist in your own city for a night, One Aldwych is the perfect place to stay for a bit of urban pampering.

PRACTICAL INFO

The nearest tube station to the hotel is Temple.  Deluxe rooms like the one I stayed in start at £665 per room per night without breakfast (Aldwych rooms from £540) but the rooms become cheaper per night if you book more than one night.  As it is predominantly a business hotel, there are also discounts to be had over the weekend (Deluxe rooms from £580 or Aldwych rooms from £455).  The hotel also runs various seasonal sales and festive discounts throughout the year so good deals are often available – keep your eye on the website.  Off-site car parking is available offsite at £47 per night – please allow 10-15 minutes for the car to be brought to the front entrance.

Here are some other hotels that I have reviewed:

  • One&Only The Palm, Dubai
  • Hotel Icon, Hong Kong
  • Sofitel San Francisco Bay

DISCLOSURE:  I enjoyed my stay as a guest of One Aldwych but received no further remuneration to write this post.  I was not expected to write a positive review – all views are my own and I retain full editorial control. 

One Aldwych Hotel
1 Aldwych
London
WC2B 4BZ

Tel:  +44 (0)20 7300 1000
E-mail: reservations@onealdwych.com

Let’s keep in touch!
You can also find me tweeting at @cooksisterblog, snapping away on Instagram, or pinning like a pro on Pinterest.  To keep up with my latest posts, you can subscribe to my free e-mail alerts, like Cooksister on Facebook, or follow me on Bloglovin.

More deliciousness for you!

  • Tibits – a vegetarian restaurant with a twistTibits – a vegetarian restaurant with a twist
  • Feast, famine and Ferran Adria – and a challengeFeast, famine and Ferran Adria – and a challenge
  • The ghost of Christmas past – and that perfect roast gammon recipe againThe ghost of Christmas past – and that perfect roast gammon recipe again
  • Chocolate orange trifle in a glass – and a Bluebasil brownie giveaway [closed]Chocolate orange trifle in a glass – and a Bluebasil brownie giveaway [closed]

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« Le Brunch at The Balcon @ Sofitel St James [CLOSED – now Wild Honey]
Spicy harissa coleslaw with pomegranate »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Elizabeth says

    September 7, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    What a superb hotel! I love playing tourist on my own island (but I kind of have to as it costs so much to leave and takes so long to get anywhere!).

    Reply
  2. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

    September 7, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    What a lovely hotel! I love my indulgent stays in central London.

    Reply
  3. kate @veggie desserts says

    September 7, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    That pool! That bar! That room! What a lovely review and so many great pictures. I loved being a tourist in my own town when I lived in London. Now that I’ve been away for a few years I’d love to go back and feel like a half-tourist. What a great base for a holiday.

    Reply
  4. Alex says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    What a great idea to experience your own home town as a tourist! You normally never appreciate what it has to offer. And the hotel looks awesome! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Maggie says

    December 23, 2015 at 4:45 am

    Wow it Looks amazing!! Excellent pictures, I would like to appreciate your idea to see city as a guest.I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Aldwych hotel looks great and seems worth visiting. Thanks for Sharing your Experience.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Enter your address to subscribe via e-mail

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Discovering the wines of Pays d’Oc
  • Cranberry pistachio Bircher muesli – a Pret-a-Manger fakeaway
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
  • Myristica Grenadian supperclub
  • 8 favourite Singapore food experiences
  • Sticky spiced plum upside-down cake and 16 years of blogging
  • IT restaurant
  • Plum and peach flapjack crumble [GF]

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
How to sautée Brussels sprouts
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential
Beef, broccoli and udon noodle stir fry from "The Japanese Larder" by Luiz Hara

Featured on

Also available on

Ready for a wine tasting? 🍷 [Press trip] Back Ready for a wine tasting? 🍷

[Press trip] Back before Covid put our lives on hold, I spent a few days in the Languedoc-Rousillon wine region of France learning about (and tasting!) Pays d'Oc IGP wines. 

Want to learn more about the region's wines? Read on, swipe through the images (remember to  bookmark this post to refer back to later) - and click the live link in my bio for the full blog post! 

🍷 The Languedoc-Rousillon region is the largest wine producing region in the world, and produces about a third of all French wine. Pays d'Oc IGP is a classification region within Languedoc-Rousillon, with vineyards that take up over half the total vineyard area in the Languedoc-Rousillon region. Pays d'OC IGP wines account for about 20% of the total of all French wine produced.

🍷IGP stands for Indication Geographique Protegée, meaning it is a protected indication of origin and wines must be made only from approved grape varieties that must be grown entirely within the region's geographic boundaries.

🍷 Most French wines are named for their region (Bordeaux, Chablis, Champagne) but you won't see the name of the grape variety on the label. In response to consumer demand and the New World trend to label wines with grape varieties, rules were changed in Pays d'Oc in the late 1980s and Pays d'Oc wines now account for 92% of French varietal wines (e.g. labelled Chardonnay, Syrah, Viognier etc.).

🍷 There are 58 grape varieties that are allowed to be planted in the region but the Pays d'Oc IGP varietal wines to watch out for include Chardonnay, Rolle (another name for Vermentino) and Viognier among the whites; and Syrah, Mourvedre and Pinot Noir among the reds.

🍷 All wines labelled Pays d'Oc IGP are sampled and approved in a blind tasting by a panel of professionals, meaning the label is a guarantee of quality to the consumer. 

🍷 Producers that you should look out for include Gerard Bertrand, Domaine Gayda, Les Jamelles, Les Yeuses, Paul Mas and Domaine Aigues Belles.

First 📸: @everyglassmatters
New year's resolutions: waste of time or the way f New year's resolutions: waste of time or the way forward?

I have mentioned before that I don't really make new year's resolutions. There is always so much pressure to make them BIG lofty goals and this is essentially what dooms them to failure. Instead, for the past few years I have made a list of... affirmations? Mantras? I have yet come up with a word that does not make my toes curl 🤣

These are essentially reminders rather than goals - presets, if you like, for the year ahead. I keep them in a handwritten list next to my computer and when I don't know how to react to something or how to shake a mood, I read them and there is usually an answer in there somewhere. 

Given the bruising year last year was, and how 2021 has so far proven itself to be not much better, I really wanted to add something practical to this year's list to lift my spirits on days when I am down. And for that I borrowed shamelessly from the wonderful @gretchenrubin:

🌈  ACT THE WAY YOU WANT TO FEEL 🌈

And this photo is a reminder of how I want to feel on so, so many levels: hanging out with friends; dancing in the sunshine; wearing my favourite red dress; travelling (this was in Carouge, Switzerland); and surrounded by a rainbow of colour. I can't travel and I can't see friends, but I can dance in my kitchen, singing at the top of my voice wearing my brightest clothes. 

What strategies do you use to lift your spirits? I'd love to hear! 

📸 by @tasteofsavoie
If you, like me, are mssing your Pret-a- Manger Bi If you, like me, are mssing your Pret-a- Manger Bircher muesli during lockdown, you will want to bookmark this post right now! 🔖

I have learnt a few things during lockdown. I have learnt that I am more comfortable spending long periods alone than I had ever imagined; that I suffer a lot more from FOMO (fear of missing out!) than I would like to admit; and that pre-Covid I spent rude sums of money on commuting and barista coffee...! 

I also learnt that although I miss travel and social events and meals out, it is often the smaller things that you miss most acutely - the freedom to call up a friend you haven't seen in a while and inviting them over. Hugging (or even seeing) my family. And grabbing a macchiato and a Pret Bircher muesli on the way to work. Don't ask me why, but it became a small obsession of mine to create a fakeaway Pret Bircher during lockdown - and I think I have succeeded! Here's how:

For 2 servings you will need:
100g rolled oats
200ml milk or water
1 Tbsp sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds 
1 Tbsp shelled pistachio nuts
1 Tbsp dried cranberries 
2 small apples
175g plain yoghurt
Honey
Pomegranate rails

Mix the oats, seeds, nuts and cranberries together then add the milk/water and a pinch of salt. Mix well, cover and refrigerate overnight. 

When ready to serve, grate the apples and mix them in with the oats and yoghurt (add a little extra milk to loosen if needed). Stir in honey to taste and serve topped with pomegranate arils and pistachios. Full recipe and more photos are available now on the blog - click the live link in my profile.

Did you try any fakeaway recipes over lockdown? Please let me know in the comments - I would love to hear about it!
Me, turning around and walking out on 2020 like a Me, turning around and walking out on 2020 like a bad romance...

And while we are on the topic, can I still get a refund on the first week of 2021? Not sure it was fit for purpose... 🤣 Either way, I am putting on my brightest dress, fixing my eyes firmly on the future and walking purposefully towards it (bottle of wine optional but always welcome!). 

I don't make resolutions at new year, but I have been thinking about what positives I want to carry forward with me as I walk away from the car crash of a year that was 2020. For me, some big positives have been:

* Working from home, in terms of increased flexibility, increased productivity and increased visibility - I definitely hope never to have to work in the office 5 days a week again. 
* Better and more regular exercise. I ran 585km in 2020, probably as much as in all previous years put together - let's see what I can do in 2021!
* Better connection  and more video calls to faraway friends and family. Why have I not always made video calls?? 

I don't think we need to even mention the many negatives of the last year, but I am curious to know if you took any positives away from 2020? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Onwards and upwards!
One last look back at the kettle of crazy that was One last look back at the kettle of crazy that was 2020 before we dive headlong into 2021... 

I am guilty of not posting as much as I would have liked to in 2020 but as it turns out, I find it hard to be on social media much if I am not in a good headspace. Who knew... 😜 A lot of my posts were memories of previous trips but a huge thank you to you all for indulging my travelstalgia (if that is not a word, it should be!), coming along for the ride, liking, commenting, and sharing your thoughts. 

So I give you my #topnine2020 posts, in order of most likes over the past year. Left to right, starting top left, we have The Shard in London; my sesame ginger Brussels sprouts; Keukenhof garden tulips; Christmas at London's Spitalfields market: Carcasonne; my sticky plum upside-down cake; Singapore shophouses; Grenada harbour; and a raspberry & hibiscus G&T.

Here's to making new memories in 2021, and wishing you all a year of abundance x
So how was your Christmas day yesterday? In this So how was your Christmas day yesterday? 

In this year that has been so hard on so many people,  I hope you had somebody to share it with; enough food to feel replete; and warm place to eat. I know it was  not the Christmas that we all wanted, but it was definitely the Christmas that reminded us to count our blessings. 

One of the blessings at my table was one of the best Brussels sprout recipes I have ever had - roasted sprouts with chorizo, hazelnuts and thyme - and with only 4 ingredients, so simple to make! Trust me, you want to bookmark this one 🔖

For 4 people you need:
* 500g trimmed Brussels sprouts 
* 75g chorizo, chopped
* 15g hazelnuts
* sprig of thyme
* vegetable oil

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Halve each sprout lengthways and toss the sprouts in enough oil to lightly coat. Arrange on a baking sheet, cut side down. Roast for 15 mins or until outer leaves start to brown, then turn over and roast till cut sides just start to colour (about 10 mins). 

2. While the sprouts are roasting,  toast the hazelnuts in a large dry pan over medium heat till light brown, remove and roughly crush.

3. In the same pan, fry the chorizo  till it starts to release its oil, then remove sprouts from the oven and add to pan. Mix well.

4. Tip sprouts into a serving bowl and top with hazelnuts and thyme leaves. Serve hot.
"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoug "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius

I think we can all agree that 2020 was not the year that we ordered and was a really difficult year for almost everyone (other than maybe Jeff Bezos...).

I could so easily dwell on all the things I have found hard this year - being separated from my family in South Africa and no realistic hope of seeing them anytime soon; no travel since Oct 2019; the social isolation of living alone in a pandemic; having friends fall ill with Covid; and the huge anxiety brought on by the uncertainty of everything and the complete inability to plan anything (hard for a planner and control freak!).

But as the quote says, think dark thoughts and your soul ends up dark. So I have chosen to dye my soul in the bright colours of things I am grateful for instead: a rewarding job that i can do remotely; amazing friends to Zoom or call around the world; a house of my own that I love; a beautiful running route minutes from my door; and a strong, healthy body.

What colour are you dyeing your soul in this Christmas?

🎄🎄🎄
If you've visited London in the last 7 years then If you've visited London in the last 7 years then you cannot have failed to see The Shard - a striking assymetrical architectural "shard of glass" building dominating the skyline south of London Bridge. 

At 800ft and 95 floors, it is the tallest building in the UK and western Europe and houses 26 floors of office space, 3 floors of restaurants, 19 floors of 5-star Shangri-La hotel, 13 floors of residential apartments, and London's highest public viewing gallery, @shardview, comprising the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors.

The viewing gallery has now reopened after the Covid-19 lockdown and here are my 6 top tips for visitors:

🏙 Book in advance via the View From The Shard website. Walk-ins are not currently accepted. Although you can make a same day booking via the website, tickets are up to 35%  cheaper if you book 14 or more days in advance. For example, a standard adult ticket costs an eye-watering £34, but can go down to £22 if booked in advance.

🏙 Entry is timed and you have 30 mins after your allocated time to arrive or risk losing your slot. Security procedures take a while, so arrive 15 mins or so before your allocated slot.

🏙 Once you are at the top there is no time limit so take your time! Savour the views in all directions, as far as 40 miles away on a clear day. Use the enhanced reality interactive telescopes to learn more about London landmarks.

🏙 You can buy a £5 "weather guarantee" per ticket - and then if visibility is so bad you cannot see at least three of: the London Eye the Walkie Talkie, Tower Bridge,  One Canada Square, and St Paul’s Cathedral - then you can come back for free within 3 months.

🏙 No cash payments are accepted, so make sure you have a card to pay for souvenirs and refreshments.

🏙 Make sure you visit the restrooms while you are there - it's the best view from a loo you have ever experienced!
PSA: you may want to hit the bookmark icon because PSA: you may want to hit the bookmark icon because trust me, this refreshing summer cocktail is a keeper! 

Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in premium tonic waters - after all  what is the point of buying excellent, nuanced, small batch gin and smothering it in cheap tonic? 

In 2015 premium spirits brand Suntory founded @merchantsheart, a range of premium mixers designed to enhance the flavour of their spirits. The range includes plain, light; floral aromatics; hibiscus; and pink peppercorn tonics, as well as ginger ale. I have been buying the pink peppercorn flavour at Sainsbury's since last year so I was thrilled when Merchant's Heart asked if they could send me a gift box of their tonics to try. [GIFTED]

To show off the beautiful pink hibiscus gin, I made a raspberry & cucumber gin cocktail (swipe left  and turn your sound up to hear the fizzzzzz in the video!). To make 2 long drinks you will need:
🍸 50ml gin
🍸 2 x 200ml bottles Merchant's Heart hibiscus tonic water
🍸 a handful of fresh raspberries
🍸 cucumber ribbons 
🍸 ice

Muddle half the strawberries with the ice. Pour over the gin and mix, then slowly top up with tonic. Add the cucumber ribbons and whole raspberries and enjoy. The hibiscus tonic not only lends a pink colour but also a floral flavour without being sweet.

What is your favourite way to enjoy gin and tonic?
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
Plum upside down cake
plum flapjack crumble
Sesame ginger Brussels sprouts
Jersey-royals-salmon-salad2 © Jeanne Horak 2019
Beef-Udon-noodle-stir-fry-title
P2PIrelandRhubarb © J Horak-Druiff 2013

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2021 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2021 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.