If you want to start 2016 with a little more decadence than usual and you don’t want to be stuck in the cold with all the drunk revellers queuing for the club then we have just the party for you. The latest soiree from party aficionados Bourne and Hollingsworth is The Midnight Ball. A magical, majestic affair taking place in a secret, renovated church hidden in amongst the skyscrapers guests will be welcomed by a horse drawn carriage that will giving rides around the abandoned square. Inside you’ll be met with a candelabra-lit, marble-lined grand hall, the perfect setting for […]
We all know that drinking whisky is supposed to help a cold and that a G&T is a really good way to cure a headache (if it’s of the hangover variety of course). Ok, it might not be quite what the doctor orders but this certainly is. Opening on Friday is First Aid Box, a new bar in Herne Hill from the duo behind drinks consultancy Salts of the Earth and Brixton bar, Shrub & Shutter – Chris Edwards and Dave Tregenza. Throughout the day they’ll be serving up Alchemy coffee and fresh juice and come the evening they’ll be […]
If you know what Calçotada is then we’re very impressed. We’ve got to say we had no idea but extensive professional research means we can enlighten you too; the calçotada is a Catalan winter food festival celebrating the harvest of calçot (giant spring onions). A festival involving food, we’re interested. A good old Spanish excuse to eat, drink and celebrate with friends, Calçotada tends to get messy. Giant spring onions are chargrilled and dipped in Romesco sauce and along with red wine, poured into guests mouths from a height – cue laughter and messy faces. Such an authentic celebration can […]
The Handbook has teamed up with L’Ortolan, Reading’s only Michelin star restaurant to offer one lucky winner a meal for two, from their Gourmond Menu plus a glass of wine each.
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We love everything about Christmas but you can’t argue with the fact that shopping till we’ve dropped and endless drinks parties take their toll on our bodies. Whether you’re in need of a pre-party polish or a morning-after lifeline read on to see our pick of the best festive spa treatments to keep you going till January.
I lived in Melbourne for a while and it’s no secret that they know their coffee. They also know their brunch so every time I stumble across an Aussie-esque brunch in London I am delighted. Whilst I’d happily grab a takeaway flat white from Shoreditch Grind if I was in the area, I was new to learn of their brunch offerings so one Sunday in December headed east, relying on the Grind to build me back up after the silly season had ground me down. I needn’t have doubted them. Whilst I had never actually stepped inside I was familiar with […]
2016 was a great years for many, and saw many fantastic new musicians and actors make their way into the limelight. This begs the question “who should we keep an eye out for in 2017?”. Well the fortune-tellers here at The Handbook have put their heads together to come up with this list of 2017’s ones to watch! From Star War’s John Boyega to up-and-coming star Halsey – here is our list!
2015 has been the year of healthy eating: we all know someone who has now become a ‘certified’ nutritionists (reality – they read a few blogs), you ordered a NutriBullet, made chia seed porridge and wore your gym kit most of the weekend, even if you were just going for coffee. 2015 has also been the year for Vietnamese food in London, which coincidentally is a lighter, healthier alternative to other Asian cuisines and has seen openings such FOLD, Pho & Bun and House of Ho. So when we found ourselves in Holborn we decided to ignore the 263 Prets* […]
2015 has been the year of healthy eating: we all know someone who has now become a ‘certified’ nutritionists (reality – they read a few blogs), you ordered a NutriBullet, made chia seed porridge and wore your gym kit most of the weekend, even if you were just going for coffee. 2015 has also been the year for Vietnamese food in London, which coincidentally is a lighter, healthier alternative to other Asian cuisines and has seen openings such FOLD, Pho & Bun and House of Ho. So when we found ourselves in Holborn we decided to ignore the 263 Prets* […]
Boxing Day is almost as good as Christmas Day itself. The stresses of maintaining your best ‘gift-face’ when opening presents is behind you, awkward reunions with old Aunt Linda are done and there are enough leftovers to provide turkey soup and turkey curry for weeks to come. After 48 hours of family duties we think it’s acceptable to let your hair down. For Boxing night only, Creche are returning to BL-NK, the venue on Curtain Road, joined by DJs Alexis Raphael, Cozzy D and Johnny Mikes (bonus points if you know all 3). The Chrimbo Limbo (those days between Christmas […]
Combining two of our favourite things with Christmas and afternoon tea, is the festive themed tea inspired by the Playboy Club’s new “Around the World” cocktail menu, and Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese’s globetrotting adventures. Salvatore’s Bar is situated inside one of our favourite London venues, the Playboy Club, which oozes old school glamour and sophistication and we love any excuse to pop down. The suitably festive and boozy afternoon tea offers a selection of traditional gourmet sandwiches like a delicious egg cress sandwich, made more interesting with a touch of garlic, and smoked salmon blinis – vegetarian options instead of […]
Now while we know that Christmas is more than the commercial side of it, with a real focus on spending time with family and loved ones, we’d be lying if we said that we didn’t love presents. Giving, receiving, we love them – and it turns out that we are not alone as The Wellesley is hosting their own 12 days of Christmas which will see the Knightsbridge hotel handing out a series of indulgent surprises to guests. The Christmas cheer begins on the 14th December with a complimentary surprise revealed in the turndown service every evening. Prizes will include […]
With The Ivy Café only opening last month and The Ivy Chelsea Garden opening in the summer, you thought maybe they’d take it easy over Christmas, put their feet up , tuck into some mince pies and look back over their success. Well you’re wrong, nope they’re opening up The Ivy Kensington Brasserie next Tuesday. You’ll spot it almost as soon as you walk out High Street Kensington tube making it ideally situated to drop in to during the day, as like The Ivy Café they will be holding back half of their tables for walk ins, they’ll also be […]
