“So Fondue You” by Bedford & Strand. A Sure Fire Hit. Run, don’t Walk!

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Posted on May 22, 2013 by shinesquad

This is one of those gems that I have been loathe to share. It’s perfect in every way. Ticks every box that makes eating out in the West End of London a pleasure. Right in the heart of Theatreland it has theatrical in its genes. You might think of Bedford & Strand as vaudevillian greats – The Sunshine Boys, if you like. Blink and you’d miss the doorway. It’s on the crossroads of Bedford Street and The Strand. That’s just a gentle growl away from The Lion King, and most certainly a golden ticket from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. As you descend the stairs you are thrust into the warmth and limelight of a long-running hit show.

Read about Bedford & Strand’s Fondue Menu here.

For just a one-act meal you will do no better than the Cote de Boeuf (£20.50). It’s by far, the most expensive thing on the menu and well worth it. You’ll get a three course lunch or pre-theatre dinner here for £18.50. It’s a rib-eye on the bone, perfectly grilled and rested on the pass by talented Head Chef Tim O’Brien. The sizzle of the steak comes from chef’s use of spices and herbs, not seasoning. A sprinkle of white pepper tickles the tongue and nostrils – black pepper would be far too harsh – then delicate mace, thyme and the butter compound with finely shaved fresh garlic garnished with pea shoots sets the steak off nicely on a reliable Churchill plate. Rounded off with a rich Malbec and a round of applause.

juicy cote de boeuf

It’s a much more sophisticated palette pleaser than you’d expect with a simple steak and chips.

Bedford & Strand is a wine-bar and bistro serving traditional British and French dishes

The all-star team behind Bedford & Strand is restaurant connoisseur Jonathan Willy, Adrian Fillary of Lovebox and now married to Jade Jagger, Pernod Ricard’s Claire West, spirits entrepreneur Stuart Ekins, Havana Club Global Brand Manager Nick Blacknell, the very talented British chef Tim O’Brien, combining his Michelin star training with his west country culinary roots and last but not least, impeccable manager Kate.

With over 100 years of premium hospitality experience between them, it’s no surprise they have attained the success and growth they have year on year. Bedford and Strand really is a Covent Garden gem, that’s the heartbeat of the strand that will be around for many years to come.

Don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended.

The a la carte menu here

ADDRESS: 1A BEDFORD ST, LONDON, WC2E 9HH

TELEPHONE: 020-7836-3033

EMAIL: hello@bedford-strand.com

A LA CARTE MENU

Monday To Friday: 12 noon until 3pm and 5pm until 10.30pm

Saturday: 5pm until 10.30pm

Bedford & Strand – run, don’t walk!

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The Hoxton White Horse Rides Again

Posted on May 24, 2013 by shinesquad

The refurbished Hoxton White Horse Pub launches on 6th June as a modern take on a traditional East End pub. Think British craft beer (especially London beers), an unrivalled juke box and delicious and wholesome Pieminister pies.

For the last three months the pub has been through a refurbishment inside and outside, bringing this 19th Century pub in line with some of London’s finest modern cask pubs. The transformation brings vibrant spaces, bright white tiles and an aged oak bar top.

The launch will also see the arrival of the hidden Bolt Whisk(e)y Bar in the basement – a stylish dive bar with booths and a killer selection of vintage rums and whiskies.

A full roster of cask ales, beers and spirits are on offer, Meantime Brewery the award-winning brewery based in Greenwich will be the house brewery, serving London Lager, London Pale Ale, London Stout and a seasonal variation.

Other notable additions are the Curious Brew from Kent’s Chapel Down Winery a cleaner, fresher, lager beer made using East Anglian malt, saaz and cascade hops, then re-fermented using Champagne yeast before adding a “dosage” of the rare and fragrant Nelson Sauvin hop, before cold filtering this unpasteurised beer into bottle.

Fordham Copperhead American Craft beer ads an international take on the back bar along with London Fields Wheat Beer brewed in a classic German-style Hefeweizen and finally for those summer months ahead Aspalls Suffolk Cyder for those of a sweeter palate.

The pub gives a nod to its traditional nature, offering a range of London’s beer as standard, guest ales from around the UK each month, and an ever-changing line up on the pumps. Even as a regular there will be an element of discovery each time you walk through the door. Look forward to later additions from the Hackney Brewery, London Fields Brewery, Moncada Brewery, Redemption Brewery and ELB in the coming months.

The music offering is also important to owner Simon Griggs who spent a couple of months listening to and buying some incredible music for the eighties neon-lit jukebox. This dream juke box has everything from classic pub music through Eric Clapton, Woodstock, rock bands’ live albums, and even Prince in some of his incarnations.

“The new era of the Hoxton White Horse is about fine ales, good times and good people. We’ve recognised what makes an East End pub truly great and brought it into the present day.The rejuvenation of the Hoxton Market is underway, and the launch of the Hoxton White Horse will further add to the credentials of the area. From the lunch time and after work crowd, through to evening revellers we have something for everyone,” promises Simon Griggs.

The Hoxton White Horse is the modern East End done right.

Address: 153 Hoxton Street, London, England

Telephone: 020 7729 8512

www.hoxtonwhitehorse.com

Check them out here www.facebook.com/whitehorsehoxton
and twitter @HoxWhiteHorse

Ford Looks to US & Emerging Markets after Announcing it will close Australia Manufacturing Operation

Posted on May 24, 2013 by shinesquad

After 88 years of manufacturing in Australia Ford announced it will cease production there in 2016. Global strategy expert Michael Mol believes Ford’s decision to close its Australian operation shows it is honing its strategy on emerging markets and its American home market.

Ford Australia president Bob Graziano said that the company’s car plants in Victoria’s Broadmeadows and Geelong would be shut down by 2016, resulting in the loss of 1200 jobs.

Professor Mol, a Professor of Strategic Management at Warwick Business School, UK, says the car industry is undergoing a transformation with more emphasis on emerging markets.

“Since the financial crisis struck in 2007 the car industry has been badly affected and is looking to the emerging markets to re-stimulate growth,” said Professor Mol.

“Shutting its Australian manufacturing operation is very unfortunate for that country, but it makes strategic sense. The production costs are high and demand in Australia is falling so it makes sense to move this elsewhere.

“The day before this announcement Ford also revealed it was increasing production in North America by 200,000, showing its continuing commitment to its home market. This is the kind of large-scale operation that car manufacturers need now, so they can scale up or down quickly to respond to demand.”

Professor Mol also believes there is a change in consumer demand that Ford is responding to.

“The shift to emerging markets also brings it a demand for different models, ones Ford Australia is not producing,” said Professor Mol. “In emerging markets like China the demand is for high-end luxury brands or at the other end of the scale for cheap, small cars, these are the two growing areas, not the mid-sized range.

“Cost is a big part of the decision by Ford to shut down its Australian operation, but also Australia, just like Europe holds an ever-decreasing skills advantage over emerging markets. Countries like Thailand and China have upgraded the skills of their workforce over the last few years and when that is combined with the strong Australian dollar and the increasing production costs, it made Ford’s decision inevitable.”

“Historically the car industry has looked at national markets, but these days it takes a global outlook. The car industry has gone through substantial change over the last few years because of the financial crisis. There has been a major shift of focus towards Brazil, China and other emerging markets.”

Bespoke Bikes from Mango

Posted on May 23, 2013 by shinesquad

Mango allows you to custom-design your bike, choosing from hundreds of colour and component variations. Its bright, high quality, customisable chassis lets your personality speak or shout very loudly; depending on your colour-ways.

Mango Bikes

Mango Bikes was founded by two university housemates who, very uninspired by what the marketplace had to offer in terms of fashion conscious, affordable bikes, decided to set up their own company providing desirable, high quality bikes without the price tag. It didn’t seem right that you could buy a car exactly to your spec or shoes to your design, but that bikes were only available in a few dull, pre-selected colours. They took things a step further and decided to let the rider design the bike: Mango Bikes was born.

Mango bikes deliver something exciting and unique to customers’ doors and offers a lot of superior bike for a lot less than you would expect. The bikes are made-to-order and at around £300 for a fully customised design, Mango’s bikes are affordable. Choose the components and colours using the www.mangobikes.co.uk website to create a tailor-made bike.

With Mango, beauty is more than skin deep. All aspects of the bikes have been carefully engineered. They are light (a typical models weighs in at about 10 kg) and built to hold their speed and provide an easy ride.

For more information on Mango Bikes www.mangobikes.co.uk

Afternoon Teas with a Twist

Posted on May 23, 2013 by shinesquad

Afternoon tea has been an English institution since the mid 1800s, when the tradition was begun by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7^th Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey.

A golden ticket to delicious teatimes at the Chesterfield Mayfair

This month, The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel is launching a new afternoon tea inspired by Roald Dahl’s much loved book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens as a new stage musical in London this summer. Already famous as one of London’s best places for afternoon tea, having received the Tea Guild’s Award for Excellence for an ‘Outstanding Afternoon Tea’ three years in a row, The Chesterfield Mayfair’s new offering takes guests on a journey through the sweet, colourful and chocolatey world of Charlie and friends! Upon arrival at the hotel guests are welcomed with a shot of a Fizzy Lifting drink to set the scene with a lingering sparkle on the tongue. Guest can then choose from 8 loose teas, including a special Willy Wonka tea. To end the adventure each diner finishes off with an everlasting gobstopper, a candy cane and lollipop – the ideal selection of sweets to eat your way home! Available until September, the afternoon tea costs £32.50 per person, plus service charge.

For more information, visit www.chesterfieldmayfair.com

Say it with flowers – floral afternoon tea at One Aldwych

Step into spring with a Floral Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych. To celebrate 100 years of the Chelsea Flower Show, One Aldwych has put a fresh and fragrant twist on the quintessential afternoon tea. Spend a leisurely afternoon catching up with friends and family and sample creamy vanilla panacotta with violet leaves, light white and dark chocolate marquise with orange blossom jelly and flavoursome jasmine smoked salmon on a bridge roll. Priced at £26.50 per person or £35 per person to include a glass of Champagne or a Floral Martini.

For more information, visit www.onealdwych.com

Coronation-themed tea at Fortnum & Mason that’s fit for a Queen

After the Tea at Fortnum and Mason – this one was delicious!!

To mark the 60^th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation, Fornum & Mason (The Queen’s official grocer) is offering a special Coronation Afternoon Tea until 9 June, featuring some of Her Royal Highness’ favourite treats. Spoil yourself rotten in their Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, where you can choose from a range of teas selected by Fortnum’s tea taster. The afternoon tea menu includes finger sandwiches, scones and cakes from the Highgrove Cake Carriage. You can request meat, fish, dairy or gluten-free options. The new afternoon tea is priced at £80 for two.

For more information, visit www.fortnumandmason.com

Tea with a slice of politics at the Houses of Parliament

This summer sees the introduction of afternoon tea as an optional add-on to the popular ‘Blue Badge’ guided tours of the Houses of Parliament. Tea can be taken in the elegant surroundings of the Pugin Room in the House of Commons, a historic room with fine views over the River Thames. The House of Commons chefs have created a tempting array of savouries including citrus marinated Scottish salmon with cream cheese, lemon curd and chive on a mini bagel, and free range egg mayonnaise with watercress on wholemeal bread. Room should be saved for the sweet course which includes sultana scones with strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream, and Valronha chocolate delice. The afternoon tea option is only available as an add-on to selected guided tours on Saturdays between 1 June and 24 August, and on the first four Thursdays and Fridays in August. There are three sittings, at 14:00, 15:45 and 17:15.

Bookings can be made by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1672 or by visiting www.parliament.uk/visiting

High(est) Tea on the 32^nd floor at Paramount

High tea is taken to a whole level at Paramount, the restaurant and bar at the tip of Centre Point. Ascend 32 floors and enjoy its all-new high tea – the highest in London, no less – with 360-degree views of the capital. Whether with leaves (£28) or with bubbles (£42), high tea at Paramount is a welcome respite from the buzzing, chaotic streets below – take a quick pit-stop between shopping or enjoy a more languid, all-afternoon affair. Paramount’s range of teas and coffees is extensive, with nine varieties to complement its afternoon fare, including Jasmine Pearls – hand-rolled and scented with fresh jasmine flowers for a rich, round taste – and Organic Bohea Lapsang, with its smoky, liquorice-tinged flavour. Those that want to toast at the top can do so too with a flute of Champagne. For more information, visit www.paramount.uk.net

Tea, Cake and Rockin’ Rolls at The Royal Horseguard

From the 24 – 30 June 2013, embrace your inner rock star and celebrate The Rolling Stones 50^th anniversary and the beginning of the music festival season with the ‘Rolling Scones’ afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards in London. The tea includes savoury ‘rock n’ rolls’ and sandwiches, ‘brown sugar’ pecan pie and ‘angie angel cake’ and ‘rolling scones’. Taking centre stage will also be ‘Keith’s coconut macaroons’, ‘babylon babas’ and ‘lickin lips cakes’ based on the band’s famous logo. Priced at £35 per person.

For more information, visit www.guoman.com

Hit an ace with Wimbledon themed tea at the Royal Garden Hotel
Park Terrace Restaurant at the Royal Garden Hotel will be marking the arrival of the world’s most famous tennis tournament with a Wimbledon Afternoon Tea, featuring ‘Murray’s mint macaroons’ and ‘Chocolate blueberry roulade’. The Wimbledon Afternoon Tea is available 24 June to 7 July from 2 – 5.30pm every day at £24 per person, or £34 with a glass of Champagne.

For more information, visit www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk

Join a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at The Sanderson

Tumble down the rabbit hole and enjoy the wonderful world of Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. Menus are hidden inside vintage books, and napkins wrapped with riddles, while teapots adorned with kings and queens and sandwich plates featuring zebras, birdcages, carousels and ticking clocks play host to wondrous fare. Dainty sandwiches on homemade bread including the smoked Cumbrian ham with wholegrain mustard on sun dried tomato bread; and cucumber and chive cream cheese on spinach bread. There are classic home baked savoury and sweet scones with herb butter and fruit preserves. Available daily between 12:30 – 5:30pm, £35 per person.

For more information, visit www.sandersonlondon.com

To discover more English delights, visit www.visitengland.com

The South Wales Valleys Are Alive With The Sound of Music

Posted on May 23, 2013 by shinesquad

Standing on top of the mountain, arms aloft after you conquer the hike, there’s nothing more satisfying than bursting into song. Forget Maria and her wimple. What tunes come to mind in the stunning countryside of South Wales? A place of rich musical heritage, Love The Valleys has compiled the first official playlist to be offered to tourists visiting the South Wales Valleys – and you can add to it too.

Afan Forest Park in the Valleys

Each of the acts is from The Valleys; from Only Boys Aloud, The Guns, Manic Street Preachers, Racing Cars, Funeral for a Friend and of course Sir Tom Jones. Tracks have been chosen to match mood and activities. It weaves through pop like the Stereophonics for upbeat, adrenalin fuelled activity like mountain biking or rock climbing. There are soaring vocals courtesy of tenor Stuart Burrows, baritone Geraint Evans and soprano Margaret Price to add the music backdrop for a stunning view, hilltop walk or ambient drive.

It’s a collaborative playlist, so Valleys visitors as well as people living in The Valleys can submit their own tracks. The act has to be from The Valleys, and like the destination itself, family friendly. An additional playlist on YouTube includes videos and inspiration, like Bonnie Tyler from Neath as well as up-and-coming acts like Climbing Trees.

The official Love The Valleys Playlist features;

Dakota, Stereophonics. One of the most successful bands ever to come out of The Valleys the rock band is from the Cynon Valley and is regarded as one of the best live acts in the world. High tempo designed for an adrenalin fuelled ride, like those downhill at Cwmbran or Afan Valley.
Mikado, Sir Geraint Evans. The baritone from Cilfyndd is most famous for his Mozart performances. This track from the Gilbert and Sullivan opera is the ideal soundtrack for a beautifully scenic walk through The Valley’s industrial heritage, like The Iron Mountain Trail around the Blorenge Mountain.
This is the Day, Manic Street Preachers. This track makes you feel like you’ve conquered a mountain. Rock Summit UK at a former drift mine close to Merthyr Tydfil is pretty close. There are 180 climbing routes at the site. The Manics are originally from Blackwood and are another iconic act from The Valleys.
The Green, Green Grass of Home, Sir Tom Jones. Sir Tom is The Valleys. This song can match heading to his home in the Lynfi Valley, restoring a little yin and yang by getting closer to the earth with a little foraging and glamping at Cwm Tawel.
Gordons and Lemonade, The Guns. You want something heavy and hardcore as you push yourself to the limits. We’ve mentioned going downhill at Cwmbran. The Valleys is numero uno for mountain biking. Anyone looking for a high-octane activity weekend need look no further. And this track (along with the rest of the album With The Guns) from the boys from Abertillery should be in your ears.
Calon Lân, Only Boys Aloud. Welsh Male Voice Choirs are at the heart and soul of The Valleys’ music tradition. Only Boys Aloud brought a patriotic tear to the eye of many a Welshman when they appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. It is an inspirational track that deserves a stunning vista to go with it. The view from the table mountain of Pen Pych is perfect; it’s a six-mile circular hike to the head of the Rhondda Fach.
Mama Told Me Not To Come, Stereophonics and Sir Tom Jones. Two of the finest flavours of The Valleys come together. Which makes us think of another great taste from The Valleys, Penderyn Whisky from the Penderyn Distillery, the first in the principality for 100 years.
Motorcycle Emptiness, Manic Street Preachers. This track matches a rambling pace. One of the wonders of The Valleys is the proximity of countryside to town. A classic example is Dare Valley, just a mile from Aberdare where there are 500 acres of countryside to explore including impressive views, lakes, streams, mature upland woodlands and a network of waymarked footpaths.
Don Giovanni, Stuart Burrows. The former teacher from Bargoed soared to fame as an international tenor singing Don Giovanni. This track is best to have lined up for when you’re driving through The Valleys, you turn the corner and the perfect vista comes into view.
Le Nozze de Figaro, Margaret Price. Another classical voice, this time the soprano from Blackwood. Head to the town for a candle making workshop at Gelligroes Mill with David Constable, who has a Royal Warrant to make candles for the Prince of Wales and has also lit of film sets like Pirates of the Caribbean. The Mill was also the home of Archie Moore. The first to hear the Titanic’s distress call onshore. Price is the perfect soundtrack to your visit.
History, Funeral for a Friend. Historic villages are found throughout The Valleys. Two of the finest are Llantrisant and Llangynwyd both set in beautiful countryside. Use this track from Bridgend’s finest Funeral for a Friend to match the mood.
Superman, Stereophonics. The Valleys is somewhere where you can feel like Superman. You can be at the top of a mountain or at the bottom, having just zoomed down on the back of your bike. You could have climbed a wall or foraged your own supper. Whatever you’ve done, this is the tune to match.
They Shoot Horses Don’t They? Racing Cars. A slightly sombre seventies hit to match the journey home. Reminisce over a great 48 hours in The Valleys with this track from the band who hail from Rhondda.

Subscribe to The Valleys Playlist and add your own suggestions. Search for Love The Valleys on Spotify.

Read more about the musical heritage in The Valleys http://www.thevalleys.co.uk/news/the-valleys,-always-in-fine-voice.aspx

Here’s a great documentary on Tom Jones coming home to perform

www.thevalleys.co.uk

Read More: Cast from MTV’s The Valleys Launch http://shinesquad.me/2012/09/24/cast-from-mtv-the-valleys-get-a-bit-sheepish-at-new-reality-show-launch/

and about an eco-friendly cuddle pod The ‘The Cwtch’

What’s your song?

Telstra – What Happens When Archival Data Goes AWOL on the Internet

Posted on May 23, 2013 by shinesquad

Commenting on the latest data leak of customers’ information from Australian telecoms giant Telstra – with personal details of thousands of customers searchable on the Internet – Varonis, data governance software specialist, says this appears to be an all-too-common case of an organisation losing track of what is happening with all of its data at all times.

According to David Gibson, VP with Varonis: “Spreadsheets are used every day to analyse information that’s stored in a database. People export a group of records, and then sort, search, pivot, and analyse. Organisations need to understand where these spreadsheets are stored and what they contain, make sure only the right people have access to them, and monitor who is using them. This is more easily achieved than it has ever been, due to the availability of automation software that identifies sensitive data that is accessible to too many people, audits its use, and flags potential abuse.”

For most companies, about 70% of information is stored in unstructured file formats. Such files can be thought of as the gateway to the brain—they are the first place you record a thought or an idea, and they are the intermediaries between people and databases as usually data is exported into a spreadsheet to analyse it.

“Spreadsheets are created constantly by many employees, and often contain high-value information – which is what this latest leak of data from Telstra appears to center around. They are not easily trackable without automation. It’s better to find them and make sure they are protected before they turn up online,” he said.

“In a survey we conducted, we found that senior management in 67% of organisations do not know where all their company data resides. We also found that 74% of organisations reported that they do not have a process for tracking which files have been placed on third-party cloud digital collaboration and storage services,” he added. The survey’s findings are detailed here: http://bit.ly/17yLkgC

In Varonis’ in-depth reports, says Gibson, researchers found that only 39% of organizations use automation to identify sensitive data, and only 9% of respondents’ companies have a process in place for authorising and reviewing access to cloud repositories in place, with another 23% still developing their access policies.

“I’m sure that Telstra has mounted a full investigation into what exactly happened with this latest client data leak. The good news is that the telco quickly took the files offline after being notified. This is a classic lesson to all businesses what can happen when archival data goes AWOL on the Internet,” he added.

David Gibson’s tips for secure collaboration are:

Create an inventory of your most used collaboration platforms to get an overview where data lives, who has access to it, and who is using it.
Identify data owners for each data set and have owners perform a preliminary entitlement review to see if data is stored in the right place and if the right people have access to it.
Remediate any exposures, such as data that is accessible to too many people or regulated/sensitive content that is stored in the wrong place.
Monitor access to all data – this will help easily identity data owners and identify unused data and abuse.
Put a process into place that provides secure collaboration for remote employees – including synchronization, mobile device support and extranet functionality – that works within the existing enterprise servers and infrastructure.

For more on Varonis: www.varonis.com

yoo Retreats with ila spa

Posted on May 22, 2013 by shinesquad

The Lakes by yoo has launched yoo Retreats, the first of which will be in association with renowned beauty and well-being brand ila. yoo Retreats at The Lakes offer a moment of respite and reflection, set against the backdrop of the stunning British countryside.

The Lakes by yoo is a luxury second home development set within a 650-acre private estate in The Cotswolds, only 90 minutes from London. Russian larch houses with floor-to-ceiling glass are located around six tranquil clear-water lakes, providing the perfect location for a weekend escape. Prices at the development range from £900,000 to £4 million, with homes built to buyers’ specifications and from four to six bedrooms.

There are eight yoo Retreats scheduled for 2013, with each retreat being based around a theme, and season. Themes include relaxation, health, nutrition and well-being. Each retreat will run over a period of four days (Sunday-Wednesday). Dates below.

The next retreats will be brought to life by Denise Leicester, founder of ila, with days spent practising a blend of energising exercises and receiving calming treatments such as ‘Rainforest Renew Face treatment’ and the ila ‘Adreno Restore treatment.

The Lakes by yoo Rainforest Renewal Face treatment by Ila

Four different types of yoga will be practised; yoga Asana which is practised sitting down, Pranayama which focuses on the art of breathing, yoga Nidra also known as ‘yogi sleep’ and Nada Yoga, an exercise invoking the union of music. These will take place in the Bird Hut, providing unspoilt views across the water.

In addition to yoga, guests can breathe in the country air during Nordic walking, cleanse their thoughts through ‘morning pages’ – a stream of consciousness writing exercise first thing in the morning, and a raw food cooking class using organic produce picked from The Lakes’ grounds.

www.thelakesbyyoo.com

Address: Coln Park, Claydon Pike, Gloucestershire GL7 3DT

Telephone: 01367 250 066

yoo Retreats Dates: June 30 to July 3; July 21 to 24; August 25 to 28; September 22 to 25 and October 6 to 9 2013

Prices range (for all three nights) from £1,250 for a single room to £2,100 for a largest master suite.
Read a review here in the FT’s How To Spend It by Spa Junkie

And relax…

Heart in the Park – Lionel Richie & Jennifer Lopez on 14th July

Posted on May 22, 2013 by shinesquad

Put your ceiling-dancing shoes on and get ready to say hello as July 14^th is officially set as the date for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time’s Heart In The Park.

AEG Live, The Royal Parks, Barclaycard and Heart announced the legendary Lionel Richie will close the show and superstar Jennifer Lopez will dance again as a headline act, playing on The Great Oak Stage on the 14^th July.

The party will kick off on the main stage with British girl group STOOSHE and continues with the return of ELIZA DOOLITTLE. Before Jennifer and Lionel take the stage, there will be a performance from outstanding Daft Punk collaborator, NILE RODGERS who will be fronting his seminal dance outfit, CHIC.

Tickets for July 14^th go on general sale from 9am on Friday 24^th May at www.bst-hydepark.com. Barclaycard Unwind customers will be able to purchase tickets from the Barclaycard Unwind website from 9am Wednesday 22^nd May.

But the party doesn’t end there. Non-stop action will be spread over 3 other stages - The Village Hall, The Barclaycard Unwind Theatre and The Bandstand, which has been aptly renamed The Funkstand for this one day.

The Funkstand will go wild with INCOGNITO, LIGHT OF THE WORLD and PIGBAG - forerunners of the late seventies /early eighties British jazz/funk movement.

The Village Hall will feature young, urban artists –CHARLIE BROWN, VINCE KIDD - star of The Voice - and hotly-tipped artists, SMILER and AMPLIFY DOT.

The Barclaycard Unwind Theatre will see the seven-time Grammy Award-winning American jazz singer, AL JARREAU perform some of his greats as well as Queen of British soul music, BEVERLEY KNIGHT plus DELILAH and ANGEL.

The music begins on Friday 5^th July with Bon Jovi headlining, followed by the world’s biggest rock band, The Rolling Stones on Saturday 6^th July and Saturday 13^th July. Plus Elton John, Ray Davies and Elvis Costello. A full line up for each day, across 4 different stages, brings together world-famous and up and coming artists.

For more information, go to www.bst-hydepark.com

Tickets for July 14th with Lionel Richie and Jennifer Lopez are on general sale from 9am on Friday May 24th at www.bst-hydepark.com. Barclaycard Unwind customers will be able to purchase tickets from the Barclaycard Unwind website -barclaycardunwind.com - from 9am Wednesday 22nd May.

Prices:

£59.50 – £299 plus booking fee.

Backstage Bar upgrade: £40

For VIP Hospitality packages from £199.50, contact AEG Hospitality Team on 0207 757 7563 or hospitality@aeglive.co.uk.

Tickets still available for Bon Jovi on 5 July and hospitality packages are still available for The Rolling Stones 6 and 13 July at www.bst-hydepark.com

Customers can choose to add a 50p donation to The Royal Parks Foundation when purchasing their ticket, via Pennies the electronic charity box, and help maintain the magic of 5,000 acres of green space in Central London for everyone to enjoy.

Bedford & Strand – where dropping your bits in fondue leads to drinks and kisses

Posted on May 22, 2013 by shinesquad

Covent Garden is one of the hottest dining spots in the country with some of the world’s greatest restaurants taking up home in the area. After a hugely successful seven years Bedford & Strand is fast becoming an institution for locals and theatre-goers; from lunch until late the restaurant is packed.

The latest addition to the menu is fondue. The fondue dish was first noted by the Swiss in 1699, although the first recorded dish with the modern recipe comes from the French in 1735. Bedford & Strand’s own recipe is an authentic mix of Rhea cheese, raclette cheese, cheddar, Dijon mustard, white wine, served with charcuterie meats, crusty bread and new potatoes.

Those with a sweet tooth can look forward to the sweet fondue dish of chocolate (70% cocoa chocolate powder) and single cream mixed together and served with ripe strawberries, oranges and marshmallows.

The traditional way of eating the fondue states that if a man loses his bread in the pot, he buys drinks all round; if a woman does, she must kiss her neighbours – that might explain a lot.

Choosing the right drinks – with the cheese fondue try the South African chenin blanc – dry white with tropical light and crispy fruit notes (GLASS: £4.25 / CARAFE: £12.75 / BOTTLE: £17.00) or Oloroso Sherry – dry notes for a sweet sherry that complement the charcuterie (£10.75 100ml / £32.50 375ml). For the chocolate try Kirsch – a grape brandy infused with cherry or a typical eau de vie from the Alsace region if you are partial to firewater.

Fondue evenings are every Saturday, though you can book a week night one with 24 hours’ notice.

Not dining? The deli-counter and kitchen serve charcuterie boards, artisan cheeses, meats, patés and other dishes to share at any time.Try oysters with champagne, hearty steak tartare or a side dish of home-made pork scratchings.

Read a review here.

www.bedford-strand.com

ADDRESS: 1A BEDFORD ST, LONDON, WC2E 9HH

TELEPHONE: 020-7836-3033

EMAIL: hello@bedford-strand.com

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