Cocktails – MISS HOLLY P

misshollyparish Cocktails Piccadilly, London

HIDE Set Lunch Menu

London, the city of endless surprises, doesn’t just have a rich history and a buzzing culture; it’s also a playground for food enthusiasts like me. Recently, I had an amazing lunch at Hide Restaurant, right in the heart of Piccadilly. Let me tell you, it was an experience that turned dining into an art. With one Michelin star to its name, Hide offered not just a meal but a journey through elegance, aesthetics, and exceptional gastronomy.

The Ambience, Cool Vibes and Artistic Decor

From the moment I stepped into Hide, I was captivated by its aesthetic charm. The restaurant exudes an air of sophistication, with a décor that seamlessly blends classic and contemporary elements. But what truly caught my eye was the stunning carved wooden staircase that spirals gracefully, connecting the various levels of the restaurant. It leads upwards to private dining rooms and downwards to an underground cocktail bar, promising an array of experiences within the same venue. Even the restrooms at Hide hold an element of luxury, with Le Labo toiletries that add an exquisite touch to the overall experience. Attention to detail is clearly a hallmark of this establishment.

An Exceptional Dining Experience

The highlight of my visit, of course, was of course the food. Hide’s set lunch menu, priced at £54 for three courses, and presented a delightful range of options. To begin, I opted for the Burrata with Caramelized Figs and Pistachio Pesto. The combination of creamy burrata and the sweetness of caramelized figs, with the nutty richness of pistachio pesto, was a true testament to the chef’s artistry. My friend chose the Lamb Tartare, a fresh and flavourful dish enhanced by the addition of mint and broad beans. Sharing this starter was a wise decision, as it allowed us to savour a variety of flavours in one course. Moving on to the main course, I had the pleasure of indulging in Poached Cod. The delicate flavours of the perfectly cooked fish were complemented by a symphony of accompanying elements. My friend savoured the Veal, which was equally impressive in its preparation and presentation. To end our culinary journey on a sweet note, we both opted for the Peach Melba Sundae, a dessert that embodied the essence of summer. The fruity, creamy indulgence was the ideal conclusion to a sumptuous meal. Hide’s wine list is extensive, with options ranging from £60 to £500 per bottle. A sommelier guided us in selecting wines that perfectly matched our meal preferences and budget. This thoughtful service ensured that we enjoyed wines that enhanced our dining experience without breaking the bank.

Sippin’ on Dreams

After our exquisite meal, we descended into the underground cocktail bar, where I enjoyed one of the finest martinis of my life. The skilful mixology and attention to detail carried through into the bar, reaffirming that Hide’s commitment to excellence extends beyond its dining room.

In conclusion, my visit to Hide Restaurant was nothing short of extraordinary. It offered not just a meal but a symphony of sensations – from the captivating décor to the impeccable service, and, of course, the outstanding cuisine. So, if you’re in London and seeking an unforgettable dining experience, Hide is a destination that promises to leave a lasting impression. It’s a place where culinary artistry and aesthetic perfection come together to create an evening you’ll cherish for years to come.

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Gyre and Gimble Bar and Distillery

Have you heard of Gyre and Gimble? Gyre and Gimble is a cocktail bar, gin academy, distillery and now has its own house brand of gins and spirits. Situated above The Strangers Tavern and right by the historic Strangers Hall, Gyre and Gimble takes is name as a nod to the weird and wonderful world of Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carrol and with the ‘strangers’ location, it seemed a fitting title! Curiouser and curiouser!

Duo team Craig and Rory have transformed the former Gin Palace (which also had a brief stint being called Door Eighteen) into one of the newest hot spots on the Norwich cocktail scene. With exposed brick, botanical accents from draping plants and industrial fixtures the décor is perfectly fitting to the trends we are leaning towards and will suit all tastes and styles. The team are currently operating an offer of ‘Drink out to help out’ with a selection of £5 cocktails every Wednesday evening and serving up grazing platters to enjoy while you drink. Their cocktail menus have a host of different drinks, they have the largest spirit selection on offer in the city and they are always working on new drinks to surprise and delight. Look out for the next menu launch which is focused around sustainability and no waste

There is an on-site ‘Gin Academy’ which you can book to enjoy a gin making experience where you will learn about the history of gin, the process of how to make and the chance to design, create and take home a bottle of your very own gin! The session last’s for 2.5 hours and you will enjoy cocktail tastings during your distiller for a day experience and all of this is £85. A great treat and lovely gift too.

With all of this at their fingertips and with the teams knowledge and expertise they have now branched out and developed their very own brand of gin and very special it is too! They have developed 3 blends and have a strong mission of sustainability at the heart of their brand, with bottles being 95% recycled glass (most have a max of 60%), wax seals so no plastic lids or seals, and recycled paper labels, the journey of the development is about as green as it gets.

The 3 different blends are all inspired by Lewis Carrol….

Callooh Callay Coastal Gin- 45%- blended with samphire, seaweed and Norfolk Lavender. The most gorgeous illustrated walrus and carpenter logo label and a percentage of sales go to Friends of Horsey seal protection charity. Inspired name from The Jaberwocky

Nohow- This is a classic London Dry coming in at 42.5%, with notes of aromatic pink pepper, citrus and spices, Nohow is named with a nod those crazy twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Queen of Hearts Cherry Gin- 40%- A cherry gin which a rich and layered deep taste of cherries throughout. The colour and label is inspired by the famous Alice in Wonderland character, The Queen of Hearts.

These are all available to buy now and available in the bar by the glass!

All the labels of the gin are bold and bright colours with strong typeface and illustration logos, which are reminiscent of the ever growing world of craft beer.

So what are you waiting for? Go and visit Gyre and Gimble! You can eat, drink, chill and create!

Thanks for reading,

H x

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Cocktail Delivery Services

In lockdown we have seen some great things came out of small businesses. As most of you know I am a seasoned cocktail lover and occasional low key alcoholic (joke) and many cocktail delivery services have become available so I’ve put together a list with some short roundups of what’s available in and around Norfolk and many nationally too!!

With the 10 pm curfew putting people off either going out at all or making it very difficult to carry on the party, organisation is key these days if you want to get your groove on past 10:15pm. You can find out below where you can get your favourite cocktails premixed with fresh and quality ingredients and deliver to your door so you can carry on your party all night long with top quality, bar grade drinks.

Arboretum- The weird and wonderful Norwich bar/ antique shop with dead and living animal menagerie are offering selections of the unique, old world cocktails for collection, local and national delivery! Locally delivery can be the same day if ordered before 6pm- for the spontaneous among us. To collect this will be organised during opening times of the bar, be careful as you may leave with more than anticipated as everything in this crazy place is for sale, so a penchant for antiques and taxidermy might get you shopping! These guys offer the service Tuesday-Saturday. Your drinks menu comes in select boxes, choose from…. gin box, scotch box, sour box, mixed box, sweet box, Navy rum, English vodka, berry, floral, wine and non-alcoholic. 3 x 200ml bottles of curious drinks to be consumed within 3 days. Prices start at £14 per box! Huzzah- check in our here.

Tipsy Jar- The lovely team of Laura and Ellie have created a lovely business of mixologist designed and premium quality cocktails which deliver locally and national. With a menu which is constantly being updated with fresh ideas and flavors to suit the seasons, the loyal and regular customers will never get bored if you like to mix it up and try new things! The design of the concept is that you receive you jar and your garnishes, including ice, you shake in the jar and serve to perfection in your favourite glass. The national format differs slightly where your liquid will be in a sachet and of course ice would melt in the post but these gals have thought of it all, whether you are drinking locally to Norfolk or further afield. They aim to ship all orders with in 2 working days, expect delivery within 3-4 working days. Any orders placed after 12pm Thursday will be shipped Monday to maintain freshness and delivery nationally in £6.50. If you are local, local being post codes NR1-NR14 then delivery is just £2.50 to your door! Tipsy Jar are operational Tuesday to Saturday and you can even order up to 5pm for same day delivery! As soon as you’re ready to drink follow the instructions and enjoy! Drinks can be stored for up to 7- 14 days! I have sampled many and I love the twists on the classics for a signature style. Fancy this one? Tip use code 3FOR30 Browse and order here

Edmunds- Edmunds are a stunning Suffolk based brand, with a belief that you can enjoy a top quality cocktail from home with minimal effort. These are available nationwide for £3.95 delivery. Pick from 1 litre of your fave cocktail for a party or night in, a mixed box of 6 x 100ml bottles or 6 of the same! These babies are bottled and made with sustainability at the forefront of their ethos and at £23.95 for a box of 6. You get the garnishes in the beautiful little box with the drinks, all you will need is a cocktail shaker and ice! Because of how this brand is packaged I really feel it would be a lovely gift, it’s extremely tasteful with a neoclassical design and looks really artisanal. Click here to take a look!

The Globe Trotter – This team started off with their beautiful horse box bar which is available for event hire and to be honest were probably the first people I came across locally offering fresh, mixologist quality cocktails, made ready for home consumption. They offer a selection of classics and originals in variable sizes from 500ml all the way up to the big daddy 5 LITRE – GIMME GIMME- If orders come in for Uk deliveries they send out the next day after ordering and that usually is a 4-5 working days delivery time, although next day can be an option. Local deliveries can be booked in and often they accept same day deliveries if placed in the morning. Locally there is a £5 delivery fee on anything Nr14 and further. The super strong cocktails over 20% you can keep for up to 30 days unopened and the lower % drinks up to 2 weeks, drink within 4 days once opened, posted Mon-Sat (the following day after you place the order), local delivery is Thursday – Sunday! I sampled the Vanilla and Passionfruit Martini which is delicious and also the super strong Lychee Martini which was must to my liking at 22%. Thirsty? Order here

Cocktail Canaries- Another great local business which I’ve not actually had the pleasure of trying personally but I have gifted to a friend, these guys offer a local delivery service of fresh bottled cocktails from 6 classics and 1 Norfolk special with a delivery radius of Norfolk (NR1-NR14, NR24-NR28 Surrey (KT1, KT10, KT12, KT13) which the heritage Norwich canary as their namesake, but this team have now branched out into bottled cocktails for national delivery and postbox cocktail pouches too! I’m loving the sound of the Jaffa Cake Negroni and the Honeycomb Old Fashioned! delivery from £3.50 for standard and more for next day and guaranteed and local delivery is free!!! Boom- get it here!

So who loves cocktails? They make a night right? So whatever tier you’re in, get an order in and plan you next great night in!

Thanks for reading,

H x

*Tipsy Jar, Arboretum, Edmunds and The Globe Trotter previously provided PR Samples to try not connected to this article.

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Girly East Anglia Staycation

In the current climate when travelling is so uncertain and loaded with potential issues staying a little closer to home has been the best option.

Whenever I get time off work I always want to get as far away from home as possible (usually by plane) and that leaves lots of places super close to home left unvisited!

Being a bit of bargain hunter and with so many businesses offering great deals at the moment to entice customers back in, I managed to plan a luxury, jam packed itinerary for some great prices!

We started our adventure in Cambridge on Tuesday! Cambridge- stunning architecture, great shops, lovely food, punting, history, museums and culture! There’s a lot to offer!

We parked at The Grand Arcade which until the end of October is £1 per hour! So super cheap in the shopping heart of Cambridge for the whole day! The Grand Arcade is such a lovely, modern shopping centre with a huge selection of shops. We were really lucky to have picked a gorgeous sunny day so walking around was so pleasant. Outside you’ll find the market square which has daily market from 10am-4pm selling a huge range of goods and food and then arts and crafts on Sundays!

Coffee is always a must when you’ve had a little road trip and I had read and heard endless rave reviews about Bould Brothers Coffee! These guys now have 2 locations in Cambridge due to their success and I can vouch it is bloody nice coffee AND the team are REALLY nice! Great to see them using Strangers coffee which is local to Norwich.

Cambridge is hugely famous for punting; punting is a guided river tour of Cambridge by water, you can do it in groups, privately or have a go at chauffeuring the punt yourself! We went with the AMAZING Let’s Go Punting who kindly gifted me the experience for my first time with my mum! We had a shared punt which is divided by clear Perspex screens to keep people distanced safely with new Covid measures. I absolutely loved the experience, being on the water is so tranquil, the knowledgeable chauffeurs regale you with facts and information about your surroundings on the tours, all whilst your eyes feast on the backdrop of architectural grandeur of the iconic colleges. You glide under historic bridges, surrounded by wildlife and absorb all the beauty Cambridge has to offer. I can’t wait to visit again when it’s chilly and wrap up warm with a hot drink and see the colours of a new season. This experience was so special with my mum but would be great for a date or a group trip (up to 6) and I saw lots of doggies enjoying the punting on my travels too!

As a real foodie I always do my research of where I’m going to eat when I go away. I don’t like to visit chains and want to know we won’t be disappointed (yes I am a control freak), after a few recommendations I decided on Six which is located on the sixth floor of the very trendy Varsity Hotel and Spa and to my delight when I booked on their website they had extended the Eat Out To Help Out concept and offered 50% off food up to £10 per person! We requested an outside table which is on an a terrace with panoramic views over the rooftops of Cambridge and hanging colourful flowers overhead as you look up to the sky, there is also a retractable cover to protect when required from the elements so your experience is never interrupted!

They have such a gorgeous bar in this restaurant and a huge range of gin and cocktails that I would love to sample but I didn’t because my mum was driving and I didn’t wanna be an annoying drunk on the way to Newmarket!

There is a truly varied menu with something for everyone, we shared the scallop and smoked salmon starters then I had baked cod and mum went for the king prawn and chorizo skewers, we each had a soft drink and an alcoholic drink and after discount the bill was £73.50.

On the very top floor there is another large roof terrace space with a bar where you can soak up the sun or wrap up under the stars. I would definitely love to stay here!

Our day in Cambridge had come to an end so we hopped in the car and took the journey down to Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa in Newmarket. We booked their ‘Gourmet Getaway’ offer, which for £220 which included room, usage of the leisure centre (not the spa which is separate), £30 per head towards an evening meal in the award-winning Squires restaurant, a bottle of house red or white wine and breakfast the following morning.

It’s a beautiful and impressive venue with lots of racing memorabilia around to earmark its location and history. The hotel public areas are well maintained and very clean and so was our room. We booked a twin room and due to Covid restrictions it was still nice to see the inclusion of robes, Molton Brown toiletries and lovely tea and coffee facilities as I know some places have decided to remove these amenities for safety but I feel that would definitely have impacted the feel of the stay (please note if you want to use leisure facilities you need to take towels from the room and the showers are not open). The weather was just lovely so we went and sat outside for some drinks and the atmosphere was great as there was lots of people and a lovely buzz!

We had wine, champagne and cocktails and just had a giggle until our meal in the restaurant. I carried on my fishy theme and had a prawn cocktail and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, the food was really lovely and the restaurant has a modern décor with dimmed ambient lighting which creates a nice mood. We finished the evening off with an espresso martini outside before hitting the hay.

Go to sleep full and wake up for more food, that’s what it’s all about right?

These days there is almost an awkwardness to know what’s what and in a hotel with a continental and cooked breakfast option its a bit like “Ooooh, what am I allowed?” So, I’m sure this will be the situation in most places, the continental options are available to order and you can have as many as you choose- like a buffet, then you have the cooked breakfast option of which you choose one. It was a lovely breakfast. Great coffee, my fave oat milk too! They have a signature green ‘Bedford Lodge Smoothie’ which was fresh and contained wheatgrass for a pick me up. We shared some Baron Bigod cheese and ham charcuterie off the ‘continental’ menu and I had the Bedford Lodge Full English and mum went for the sourdough toast with avocado and poached eggs. Breakfast was exceptional as was the service and it’s always a pleasure to see a venue sourcing as many local ingredients as possible.

The spa at Bedford Lodge is in a separate building to the main hotel and unfortunately is not open Mondays and Tuesdays so we couldn’t use it but we did go and have a look around before heading off on Wednesday morning. This is a PROPER spa, finished to an extremely high standard, lovely main areas in the hydro pool, an extensive treatment list, a lovely seating area where you can enjoy light bites and beverages and the staff were so welcoming and accommodating despite only looking around. They open evenings too for twilight deals so if this sounds up your street have a look at their offering here.

The ‘Gourmet Getaway’ deal is only on for September but do keep a look out as given the world at the moment; businesses are definitely having to adapt with deals for a new clientele.

From Newmarket we moved onto Bury St Edmunds, Bury is a short and simple drive from Newmarket and is a beautiful town rich in history with a lovely shopping centre.

We parked at Ram’s Meadow which set us back only £2.30 for the whole day in a large open air car park so one to remember if you plan a visit.

We headed straight from there to the beautiful Abbey Gardens ‘the abbey was once one of the richest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England. Its remains are extensive and include the complete 14th century Great Gate and Norman Tower, as well as the impressive ruins and altered west front of the immense church.

The relics of the martyred Anglo-Saxon king St Edmund, whose remains were moved to this site in 903, and his shrine became a place of pilgrimage. The abbey itself was founded in 1020 and grew in power and wealth up until its suppression in 1539.’

When I was a little girl I wanted to be an archaeologist so ruins are always a huge treat for me! The gardens are kept immaculate by volunteers and they were in the process of changing over to the winter plants!

Even after a long walk we were still full from breakfast so we tried to get as many steps in as possible before our lunch which was booked for 2 at the gorgeous Angel. We explored the grounds of the cathedral and found a nature reserve walk with lovely little goats! We then headed to The Arc shopping centre and rummaged through the sales and got some bargains then on the way down to lunch we hit every charity shop too! I managed to get a lush black Hugo Boss blazer for £9.99! The Angel is a hotel and has a bar and restaurant and is a stunning and huge ivy covered building in the heart of Bury. The Angel are still extending their Eat Out to Help Out too for September which was a bonus when booking but we were still so full we couldn’t manage a full meal which also meant no Lottie’s waffles after either!! The restaurant is just stunning though, I adore the decor with different touches of modern art and the colour palette in this room. We just had soft drinks and shared a lovely antipasti board for 2 which was just enough! The perfect end to a lovely 2 days!

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Top Tips for Travelling from Gatwick Airport- South Terminal

Going to the airport can feel like a real chore sometimes, get up at an ungodly hour, sit in the car for ages and then spend a few hours in a crowded airport feeling restless to reach your destination! I hear you! That’s how I usually feel too but this time round I made sure that was not the case and my unwinding and relaxing started the second we arrived on the airport tarmac and I want to share my top tips with you guys too!

Before your trip download yourself the Gatwick airport app, it’s free to download and has so many handy features from where to eat and shop, live flight updates and reminders like on the day when its time to head to the gate so you don’t have to keep checking the boards, it has exclusive offers to take advantage of in and before the airport and links to book other airport services too!

I’m a bit of an obsessive planner as I hate stress and things not going right so I’m always one for being super organized when going away. I booked my parking way in advance and even got a discount code too. There’s often codes in the Gatwick app for parking discounts, allowing you to get the best parking for the best price! Of course we went for valet parking so all you have to do is drive in, drop off your car and jobs a good ‘un! It literally could not have been any more simple! Leaving the car for valet parking for 8 days and an add on of premium security only cost £62 with our discount code which I think was amazing value, so, top tip one- book in advance and look for discounts before booking anything- do your research! Ease and luxury does not need to break the bank when you’ve already shelled out for a holiday and if you are like me will be watching the pennies!

As I previously mentioned we added premium security as an add on in advance, for £5 per person we do this every time we travel anywhere, you can book this beforehand or do it on the day at the airport though if you just are not sure, you get more private and separate fast track lanes with little to no queue, it is much more swift and slick than normal security! An absolute must for the impatient and easily restless! There is also the option to do this for fast track passport control on the way home too so you can make an efficient airport experience go full circle. This too can be booked on the app and often has an offer active!

So once you’re through security what’s next? For some people its grabbing those Duty Free bargains, this airport has some lovely shops and shopping options with all the usual airport classics, Boots, Dune, Superdry and even a mini Harrods, but more me it’s getting a bite to eat and something to drink! There’s some kind of time/space continuum in the airport when you feel like you have no boundaries and anything goes regardless of time, all those travelers from over the world, it’s deffo 5 o’clock on someones watch! 6am, glass of wine? Totally acceptable.

You have your choice of eateries and watering holes here in the South Terminal, I had to narrow it down to a top 3 out of Nandos (they do a brekkie in the Airport alternate universe and it sounds awesome), Caviar House and Prunier (oysters and champagne are always a good idea) but I opted for pic number 1 – Grain Store. They have a really big and varied breakfast menu with so many options which spoke to my nutritionally conscious, gym bunny soul that I’m leaving on British soil so we decided to give it a go! NB- For all those ‘Spoons fans, the Wetherspoons app for table service works in the airport too so no queuing!

The service was amazing and the decor is lovely! It doesn’t feel like you’re in an airport with the rustic decor and low lighting! Add 2 Bloody Mary’s to the mix and we were feeling positively relaxed! (Just to add this was 44 minutes after pulling in to the car park! That’s how speedy a morning it was)

To eat I went for mushrooms on toast with poached eggs and J had the full english with added chorizo, the food came out really, really fast and was nicely presented and very tasty! I would recommend for a great spot to eat!

With all of our express services in tow and a 3 hour check in requirement we had quite a lot of time to kill so it was my good girlfriend to find my travel buddy and trusty chauffeur a good spot to rest his eyes so I went a did a little exploring or the airport lounges. I’d not used them before as I’m not usually traveling long haul but there are several different lounge options available for a charge and they a like a little piece of cosmopolitan luxury behind the scenes of the airport hustle and bustle. We looked at the No1 lounge and Clubrooms which has a couple of different options of £40 and £50 (less in advance online) and you get drinks, a beautiful setting, food and more, as we had already eaten this seemed like a waste on this occasion but the decor was extremely tasteful like boutique hotel bar and the Clubrooms brunch sounded lovely so this will be on our to do list for next time. Check out more info here

Instead we went to the My Lounge which was in a different area and had a little of a more relaxed vibe, with its scans-hygge style, it was cheaper which mades sense as we were using mainly for relaxing as we had full tummies and had a big empty squishy sofa with Jamie’s name on it. This one was £30 and you get to help yourself to a lovely breakfast buffet and bar, full equipped with the necessaries for Bloody Marys and Aperol Spritz’ in addition to all the classics from wine by the glass, draught beer and premium spirits to serve yourself with. I settled in with a cocktail and browsed the complimentary copy of Grazia and waited for my Gatwick app to tell me when it’s time to head to the gate!

Overall this was the most stress free airport experience I have ever had, easy parking, amazingly efficient service from the baggage check in with BA, speedy and security with a smile, a delicious meal, a morning washed in vodka and finished in the luxury of a premium lounge. If you have a holiday booked and you are traveling from Gatwick I hope some of these top tips help make you special experience start earlier and even more memorable.

Thanks for reading, safe travels and happy holidays, H x