INSANITY workout - review

A couple of months ago, I began to hear whisperings - around SW London and beyond - of a workout so tough it left even regular marathon runners trembling in their trainers.

The INSANITY workout, which began as a DVD sensation, was created by Shaun T - a man so bulging with muscle that he makes Hercules look like Rodney Trotter (American, obviously...) - and pushes participants to their very limits to hone the body and improve fitness levels. 

INSANITY has now well and truly reached British shores, and as well as the DVD workout taking the UK by storm, live classes have been popping up nationwide to help us Brits battle the bulge.

The lovely Tanya got in touch with me back in July to let me know about classes starting in Putney, Fulham and Hammersmith, and asked me if I fancied coming along to a session to give it a go.

Her very kind invitation happened to coincide with my lovely boyfriend popping the question, so what better time to kick-start the bridal body regime and give something new a go?!

Off I trundled to St Mary's Church hall in Putney at 7pm on a Monday evening, completely clueless about the 'experience' that lay in wait.

Tanya reassured me on arrival that I would be absolutely fine, but several references to the need to 'dig deep' and '100% effort' had me thinking otherwise...

I was right.

INSANITY does exactly what it says on the tin. IT IS INSANE.

But, I LOVED it!

The website tells you with  confidence that 'you'll be dripping with sweat, you'll be gasping for breath, your heart will be pumping out of your chest, and you'll wonder if you can keep going'. 

They are absolutely spot on. 

INSANITY is a variation of high intensity interval training (HIIT); you get your heart rate up as much as possible through a series of high impact moves for two minutes at a time, with a 30 second recovery in between. 

Each class starts with a 'warm-up' to get your heart rate up, which consists of six different moves that are repeated three times.

As a fairly regular gym-goer and a big fan of cardio classes like Body Attack and Body Combat, I was flummoxed - to say the least - at having to indulge my inner dweeby asthmatic and reach for my puffer after just this section alone.

Once the warm-up had really gotten the blood pumping, it was just a 30 second break before we were into the first of three 'blocks' of interval training. 

Starting with more cardio (god help me) before moving onto balance & agility and strength, each block consisted of four moves of 30 seconds each, followed by a 30 second recovery period.

For each move, there's a lower intensity option you can take if you're really struggling. I was reassured to see that even the super fit members of the class were resorting to these every once in a while (phewph). 

As Tanya encouraged us from the front of the room, it's all about how many reps you can do and keeping perfect form & technique. So long as you're working at 100% effort, it doesn't matter whether it's the higher or lower intensity option that you're taking. 

By the end of block three I thought I might quite possibly keel over / vomit / cry, but I just about managed to make it through to the final abs and stretching sections.

After a much needed towel down and glug of water, I even mustered the strength for one last diamond jump for a picture. (In the bright pink).

It may have been the most difficult workout class I've ever done, but it was also the most rewarding. Afterwards, I was knackered, but buzzing! 

Six weeks down the line and I'm just about to sign up for another batch of classes, having completed my fifth week of INSANITY workouts on Monday.

I've certainly slimmed down as a result, and - according to my heart rate monitor - am burning up to 650 calories in each 50 minute class!

Tanya is currently running three classes each week:

Putney: Monday, 7pm, St Mary's Church Hall

Hammersmith: Thursday, 7pm Westside School

Fulham: Wednesday, 7pm, Vanstone Place Community Hall

Give it a go, SW6ers - it's a workout unlike any other!

Plus, your first class is only £5!

For more information, check out the website: http://www.londoninsaniacs.co.uk/ or send Tanya an email: londoninsaniacs@gmail.com 

Fabulous Facials on Wandsworth Bridge Road

Usually, walking through the doors of the dentist fills me with dread. But last week, making my way into Fulham dental surgery, Karma, I felt anything but.

Tucked away at the top, above all the drills and general horror that goes along with a trip to the tooth doctor, is a very different experience indeed.

A real hidden gem amongst the more obvious beauty salons and treatment rooms dotted along the Wandsworth Bridge Road, Karma Well-Being  offers a wide range of fabulous treatments at highly competitive prices.

The incredibly charming and friendly Ellie Blair, who works her magic providing all sorts of treatments from Swedish Massage to Reiki, invited me along to try a brand new kind of facial: Face the World.

Unlike more traditional facial treatments, Face the World incorporates music and massage from all corners of the globe, providing you with a holistic experience that really revitalises. From a cleanse and tone inspired by the rainforest, to a neck and shoulder massage using Tibetan pressure points, this treatment really is unique.

The founders of the Face the World have come up with their own range of delicious smelling products to go along with the treatment, ensuring you leave feeling fresh faced and relaxed.

Ellie really is a fantastic therapist, and I left the little treatment room with a face smoother than a baby's bottom, and feeling truly zenned out. Plus, with a complimentary 8 minute mini-treatment and neck & shoulder massage incorporated, I felt well and truly pampered.

At £35 for an hour, this treatment is really fantastic value.

As well as the Face the World facial treatment, Karma Well-Being also offers:

Swedish Full Body Massage (60 min) -£40
Reiki (30  min - 1st and 2nd degree) - £35
Head/Neck/Shoulder Stress Reliver (30 min) - £25
Kansa Vatki Ayurvedic Foot and Leg Massage (45 min) - £35

I'll be booking in for a full body massage for Ellie to work her magic as an Easter treat!

Karma Well-Being
c/o Karma Dental Care
144 Wandsworth Bridge Road
Fulham
SW6 2UH

0207 736 0876

www.karmawell-being.co.uk
wellbeing@karmadentalcare.co.uk

Valentine’s Day, the SW6 way

Cardboard cut-out hearts loom over the ready meal aisle in every supermarket, Paperchase has turned pink overnight, and boyfriends everywhere (well, at least in my flat) are complaining about the 'racket' that is the 14th February set dinner sharing menu, which has replaced the normal selection in all our favourite restaurants.

It can only mean one thing. Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and SW6 is about to be divided into its two traditional camps for this time of year: Smug Couples and Singletons.

If romance makes you run for the hills, the good folk of London’s bubbliest borough have got a wide range of ideas to make sure you spend the day in style.

Single and ready to mingle? Why not try…

Honk it you're horny this Valentine's Day at Honky Tonk

This year join the singles party on 14th February at Honky Tonk Chelsea & Honky Tonk Clapham and Honky If You're Horny!

Each table will have a very special cupids horn on it and when you see a certain someone who catches your eye, give it a good squeeze and let them know that they could be your valentine's this year!

Power ballads and lover's rock at Maggie's 

Maggie's 80s club in Chelsea will be dedicating their decks to Power Ballads and Lover's Rock for Valentine's. The dress code with be appropriately themed 'denim and big hair' and to really get the party started, the first fifty lovers will get a 'love is the drug' shooter on arrival.
Then, in homage to the only calendar eve of the year when 'Smooching Selfies' are 'totes apropes' Maggie's will be running a competition to see who can tweet the best kissagram with the winner receiving a complimentary fishbowl cocktail sharer.

Valentine's Day Toga Party at BungaBunga

This year BungaBunga in Battersea will be harping back to their Roman roots, in celebration of one of history's greatest love affairs, between the infamous Cleopatra and Mark Anthony with a Traditional Toga Valentine's Party.

The dress code will be titillating toga attire, of course and the night will see guest enjoy not just a feast fit for emperors but also an array of amphitheatre worthy entertainment in the form of love song karaoke.

Start the Transition

TRX. HIIT. What the ****?

Sarah and I will try most things in the spirit of getting fit losing weight, so when we got an invite from the lovely Claire at Transition Zone to find out what on earth these mysterious acronyms were all about, we leapt at the opportunity.

The brainnchild of Claire Finlay, a bubbly and expert trainer with over a decade's PT experience under her belt, Transition Zone is a Fulham gym with a difference. Set in a light and airy space on Sulivan Road, Claire encourages her clients to mix up their workout through a series of 30-55 minute classes, most based on the principle of high intensity interval training. Based on the oh-so-true insight that most of use tire of the same old workout routine (how many times have you heard that same spinning soundtrack?) and consequently let ourselves slip, Claire has devised a range of classes to challenge you and keep you on your toes (and off them!) and let you get the same results in just half an hour as you would having spent an hour bored silly on the X trainer. What's more, all the classes are in small groups (3-4 maximum) so you really reap the benefits
of the extra level of personal attention.

Transition Zone offers Power Plate, boxing, dynamic yoga, Pilates chair, personal training and the mysterious TRX - and Claire promises she's got plenty in the pipeline to keep her clients' workouts interesting. In for a penny, in for a pound, Sarah and I opted for the intriguing TRX/yoga fusion. Claire specialises in a dynamic style of yoga that really gets into you moving, stretching deeper and working those muscles. Being a fan of bikram and power yoga, I appreciated the more active style - you get the best of both worlds: feeling a little more limber AND like you're torching some calories. It's in situations like these, too, when the small class sizes really come into play. As you move from posture to posture quite quickly, it's essential that someone is able to keep an eye and spot check your postures to ensure you're getting the most out of the workout and not doing yourself any damage.

Half an hour, and just a small amount of perspiration later, we moved onto the TRX portion of the class. So, it turns out TRX is a suspension-style workout performed with a series of straps attached to a large metal frame. Battling against our bodyweights, Claire had us squat, stretch, dip, balance and bounce. With the focus on core strength, stability and flexibility this workout seriously packs a punch but the focus is very much on long and lean rather than bulky - plus, turns out throwing yourself around using a suspension system, lots of straps and the force of gravity is pretty fun!

Our session made Sarah and I (committed monotonous runners and spinners both) really think again about the way we exercised, and Claire is full of handy hints and advice, coupled with a deep and genuine passion for fitness. Transition Zone offers a fresh take on training, and offers something quite unique for the area - I'm sure it will be making plenty of other Fulham exercise zombies rethink their workouts over the coming months too.

If you'd like to try out Transition Zone for yourself, why not take advantage of the 10 day TRI? For just £50 you can try out unlimited classes for 10 days. Alternatively, all evening classes are currently just £15. You can book online here.

Transition Zone
Broomhouse Studios
Unit 1, 50 Sulivan Road
London SW 6 3DX
www.transitionzone.co.uk

So very Thai Spa

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a massive beauty buff. Sure I'll slap some mascara on in the morning, but I bite my nails, rarely get my haircut and can't remember the last time I had a mani-pedi (if ever!). However, after years of torturing myself with an epilator, I have recently begun to treat myself to salon waxes, and it's opened up the whole beauty salon world to me.

So, it made sense to get to know the places on my doorstep, starting with So Thai Spa on the Wandsworth Bridge Road. So Thai manages to strike the balance perfectly between cheap and cheerful (just £25 for a full leg, that's good, right?!), whilst maintaining  a semi day-spa feel through the use of great Asian decor, lots of dark wood, incense and music. The space is light and airy, with the treatment rooms arranged across the ground-level and off the mezzanine, leaving a gorgeous double height reception that gives a clean and sunny feel to the place. The welcome is with a cheery smile and the service is really swift, although still super-friendly.

Although my waxer for the day gaily referred to me as her "new wictim!" there was really nothing to fear - she was a total pro. Within just 20 minutes, both legs were as smooth as a late-night Jazz FM mega-mix, and I had (almost) enjoyed myself chatting away about our shared love of Thai cuisine and penchant for fried chicken (don't ask!).

So Thai provides a little Asian sanctuary right in the heart of Fulham, with gap year prices to match. Since it's just a hop, skip and jump away from my home I think I may have found my place! Perhaps I could get into this beauty malarkey after all...

So Thai Spa
118 Wandsworth Bridge Road
London SW6 2TF
http://www.sothaispa.co.uk/
0207 731 6543

Veggie Vegan-izing

One of my favourite Saturday morning rituals is to make the walk from the Sands End to the North End Road, and spend a few hours picking up my groceries from the fabulous local market they have there. This is no posh farmers market (although there is a fabulous cheese stall, a place with oils and olives, the odd food cart and an excellent fish stall) - we're talking good, honest and super-cheap bowls of veg, real local traders and no frills. The queues are long but I like this way of shopping because it's an experience, you feel like you're helping the community and the slow pace and social atmosphere beats a trip to Sainsbury's hands down.

But I digress.... the point is, whilst I'm off feeling a bit eco, a bit community-spirited, super-duper healthy (I am, after all, lugging cart loads of vegetables about in resusable canvas bags - indulge me), I always feel a renewed impetus to try and act a bit more healthily in general. Then last week, I made a truly serendipitous discovery. Having ventured a few blocks further down the road, avidly plotting my new Gwyneth Paltrow-like existence, I came across 222 Veggie Vegan. I've never really considered going vegan, but those who know me well will remember various short-lived health fads: an obsession with quinoa, smoothies containing algae, a period through which I drank quite absurd amounts of green tea.

222 is absolutely nothing fancy at all - and I don't mean that in a pejorative sense. The space is small, the decor very plain, the food served from a small and crowded metal buffet bar (although, I understand that in the evening the candles come out and you can go a-la-carte). However, with an all-you-can-eat vegan lunch buffet at £7.50, you can't exactly expect white table cloths and atmospheric plant-life. And my goodness, this food was not the vegetable mush and abundance of tofu you might expect (and fear) of vegan cuisine, this is the sort of food you guzzle more and more of. I filled my boots three times over, and best of all, it was totally guilt free. Vegan food is super healthy, right? Not a hair on an animal's head harmed in the making of this lunchtime feast. We had carrot tart, we had aubergine and faux-mozarella bake, we had an awesome chickpea salad: all the while imagining ourselves taking on increasingly glowing hues and fizzing with vitamins - a bit like Super Mario when he eats his magic mushrooms.

A vegan menu might not be for everyone, but this little place offers cracking value, and the food may just surprise you. You often pay through the nose for health-food, but this joint offers delicious, low-key, wonderfully nutritious and guilt-free grub at incredible prices. Next time you feel like giving your insides a little TLC, I highly recommend you check it out.

222 Veggie Vegan
222 North End Road
London
W14 9NU

Heavenly hammam

I can't pretend to be an expert on beauty treatments. Whenever I've been lucky enough to have been treated to a massage or facial I've always loved it (waxes are to be tolerated as a necessary evil, I suppose), but they're just not one of those things I feel I can justify splurging on. The results are ephemeral, that blissful feeling of being preened and pampered over within the hour. Nonetheless, when I escaped from the practically baltic streets of SW6 last week into the steamy, scented halls of Moroccan Beauty (with a Groupon voucher, no less!) I felt I'd struck onto a winner.

Based around the concept of the Moroccan hammam, this ladies only spa makes for a delightfully different spin on beauty. Whilst they offer the usual waxing, facials, massages, the atmosphere is different from the usual bundles of mini luxury: it felt exotic, yet unpretentious, super friendly and welcoming. My voucher entitled me to the hammam ritual, a full body mask and an express facial - 2 hours worth of warm, pampered sanctuary from the freezing cold. As part of the hammam ritual I was shown into a traditional Moroccan steam room, amazingly humid (I was pouring with sweat within minutes) but I was kept comfortable with frequent cups of water and the showers at one end. After my first rinse, a thick eucalyptus soapy wax was applied to my whole body, and the steam came back on to allow it to absorb right into my skin leaving me slick and incredibly smooth. After rinsing again, I was thoroughly ex-foliated (as it turns out, winter skin is INCREDIBLY dry - I felt like a snake shedding what seemed like an entire layer) and a full body mask applied.

You can spend as much time in the steam room as you like, so after another blissfully sweaty 15 minutes, and yet another hot shower, I donned my fluffy slippers and padded my way into the treatment room for my facial. After a quick skin analysis (still dry, a compound of winter weather and perhaps a little sweaty hammam over-enthusiasm) I settled into an amazingly relaxing facial. With two applications of organic cleansers (all their products are 100% natural), toner, an amazing mini facial massage, finishing off with an intense moisturising mask, this facial may have been 'express' but it felt incredibly thorough, whilst being gentle enough to send me almost to sleep.

After a cup of traditional Moroccan mint tea, it was time to drag myself back into the cold again. My little sojourn at Moroccan Beauty truly felt like a mini-holiday - and definitely a different and welcome addition to the Fulham beauty scene. With these arctic conditions set to stick around for the next few weeks at least, it might be worth booking yourself a micro-break sometime soon.

Moroccan Beauty
780 Fulham Road
London SW6 5SL
www.moroccanbeauty.co.uk

All photos taken from the Moroccan Beauty website

Countdown to Christmas 2012

Love it or loathe it, with Halloween and Guy Fawkes well behind us, the gallop towards Christmas has well and truly begun. Personally, this is my favourite time of year, so even if you're feeling a bit more Scrooge than Santa hopefully this run-down of all the fun we'll be having in Fulham over the next month will get you into the spirit.

December sees party season really kicking off in earnest, and this year there are PLENTY of options to choose from.

If you just can't wait until the advent count down begins, you can get into the spirit early with Tales Under The Tree at Barts. This location is the perfect cosy hideaway for mulled wine, warm cider, carols and of course a bit of Christmas culture with the speakeasy's book club. Once story time is over, join the regulars in Secret Santa and an Xmas team photo. It all kicks off from 7:30 on November 28th.

Next up,  on Saturday December 1st, the Brompton Bar and Grill have teamed up with Bloodshot Vodka to host the Bad Santa Brunch. Your £10 ticket will keep you entertained from 12-5pm, with DJs, live acts, a christmas gift market, and a very merry Christmas feast followed by carols in Santa's grotto. Don't forget the dress theme: anything that glitters and glows.

The Brompton Bar & Grill
243 Brompton Road
London SW3 2EP

If you're looking for a truly kitsch Christmas, there's only one place to be and that's celebrating Buon Natale with Bunga Bunga. Throughout December, there'll be karaoke carols, turkey pizzas, fiery Italian mulled wine and potted Christmas tree cocktails to get you feeling festive - plus guests can send complimentary cheesy Christmas postcards to their friends - much better than the usual M&S fare!

Throughout December

Bunga Bunga
37 Battersea Bridge Road
London SW11 3BA

It may be pretty frosty outside, but that's all the better when you're visiting Elk Bar's Winter Wonderland. They've transformed their garden into a veritable mini Lapland, replete with icicles, Christmas trees and even a few of Santa's reindeer friends. They'll be serving up a special festive menu from the smoke pit (the venison Deer Porker sounds delicious) to be washed down with some wintry cocktails such as the Butterscotch Schnapps Hot Chocolate. Sounds like an ideal way to ease yourself into those cold December nights.

Elk Bar
587-591 Fulham Road
London SW6 5UB

If memories of last year's office party have got you off the sauce throughout December, there are plenty of low-key festive options in the borough for shoppers and culture vultures alike.

I can't think of a location more suited to traditional Christmas cheer than the beautiful Fulham Palace. They've got a full schedule of events to look forward to including a pantomime performance of Sleeping Beauty on December 9th, a Carol Service in the Chapel on the 14th and kids can visit Santa in his Grotto on the weekend of 1-2nd December. The grade-1 listed Palace also provides the perfect picturesque backdrop for a traditional Victorian Christmas, from 7pm on December 11th. There will be carols, 19th century songs and a traditional Mummer's Play - the forerunner to the pantomime. Good, old-fashioned fun for all the family!

For some unique last-minute gifts and a much more civilised shopping experience, pop by the Andara Christmas Fair being hosted at The Durrell on December 17th. From noon to 9pm, entry is complimentary, and inside you'll find a carefully curated selection of beautiful gift options from up and coming businesses, ranging from handmade home accessories, to gorgeous jewellery, fashion, lifestyle and pantry items.

And finally, if even the thought of the C word is making your skin crawl, you can still pass a perfectly pleasant evening without being subjected to fairy lights and over-sung carols. Del Aziz are continuing their Thursday jazz  and bossa nova evenings, for example. Settle in with one of their legendary tagines and listen to the warm and soft tones of Mel Pashova as she sings jazz standards mixed with a hint of Latin on December 6th, or perhaps take in some authentic Brazilian flavour with Jandira Silva on the 20th. On the 13th, Helen Burnett graces the stage with a mix of recognisable and lesser-known jazz tunes, whilst for some post-Christmas cheer you can pop in to see Josephine Arthur on the 27th. Her voice has been described as like 'bathing in chocolate' - the perfect thing to enjoy with Del Aziz's beautiful selection of desserts then!

Del Aziz
22-32 Vanston Place, nr Fulham Broadway
London SW6 1AX

Back to Wax

Having abandoned waxing in my impoverished, straight-out-of-uni days in favour of chronically slow, painful but, most importantly, cheap hair removal with my not-so-trusty Braun epilator, I had long been on the look-out for an inexpensive wax bar in Fulham. There are loads of flashy options out there, but the prices always far exceeded what I had been used to paying at my small-city university (isn’t it always the way) and I’m afraid I balked at paying £40 at more for a leg wax when I knew I could do it for free, if painfully and imperfectly, at home.

But home hair removal is a pain, isn’t it? The wax strips don’t work, epilation is painful (and patchy), and shaving and veet creams are just too short-term. Going to a salon is quick, easy and despite the pain you feel like you’re being pampered, and when you get into a good natter with the beautician time just flies. I was reminded of all the beauties of salon waxing when I visited the Wax Bar Fulham last week. 

Haseena, the warm and chatty beautician, has been practising around Fulham for almost a decade and a few months ago set up her cosy salon on Jerdan Place. Tucked away above a male grooming parlour, stepping off the cobbles it’s a mini sanctuary from the bustle of daily life. A real wax enthusiast - Haseena also teaches beauty students locally, so she’s a bit of an expert – my legs were as bald (and soft) as a baby’s bottom before I knew it. The environment was warm, clean and cosy and Haseena is incredibly easy to get along with, as well as being very professional. She makes sure you’re comfortable, gives you lots of friendly advice on aftercare and generally makes you feel pampered. Wax Bar Fulham also offers eyelash and eyebrow tints, so Haseena can cover many of your beauty needs in one appointment.

Best of all, the prices are incredibly reasonable – a full leg wax is just £25 – and for SouthWestSix readers your first appointment is 25% cheaper again! Just quote the code SW601 when you make your booking. For a full price list visit www.waxbarfulham.com.

Wax Bar Fulham

1^st Floor

19 Jerdan Place

Fulham

London SW6 1BE

To make a booking you can get Haseena’s contact details here.

SW6 Fright Night

The evening's are getting darker, the temperatures have plummeted, and although summer never really arrived, winter is most definitely here. But, instead of getting depressed and hibernating, the run up to Christmas gives us lots of opportunities to party. First up: SW6 gets all spooky for all hallows eve. Here's a run down on some of your options for the freakiest day (make that week) of the year.

The folks over at Bikeminded RKBC are putting on another one of their much acclaimed cycle tours on Wednesday the 31st itself. This time they've teamed up again with Exquisite Folly theatre and invited us to solve a creepy mystery in their wartime whodunnit, whilst cycling around Notting Hill by moonlight. If the last cycle theatre tour I went on is anything to go by, this should be an entertaining and original way to spend Halloween itself - the acting is always surprising and engaging, and it's a fantastic way to explore the borough, whether you're an expert on your wheels or a teensy bit wobbly. Just don't forget your costume! Tickets available here. The early bird price is just £5, going up to £7 is a few days time.

The Brompton Bar & Grill have teamed up with Bloodshot Vodka to offer a suitably gory "Bloodshot Brompton Brunch" on Saturday the 27th October, from 12-5pm. With a personal 'bloodbath' on each table (it's a DIY Bloody Mary Bar, so much less hideous than it sounds!!), live music, top DJs and all sorts of delicious and devilish snacks available, the £10 ticket is worth every penny - plus there's plenty of time to continue the party afterwards! Bloodshot eyeball eggs, anyone?

The Brompton Bar & Grill
243 Brompton Road
London SW3 2EP
www.bromptonbarandgrill.com

Once you're suitably warmed up, there are plenty of options to give yourself an authentic fright night. Notting Hill's supperclub, for example, can always be relied upon for a decadent party. On the 26th and  27th, guests are invited to visit their Disco Slaughterclub, where the whole venue will be turned into a haunted house, full of spooky surprises and gory scenes. Explore if you dare, or simply lie back on your bed and let the disco maids and butlers serve you the "bloody corpse" menu whilst you dance to the beats of DJ Sancho Panza (Friday) and Femi Fem (Saturday). Tickets are available here

Supperclub
Halloween: 26th-27th October
12 Acklam Road,
W10 5QZ
http://www.supperclub.com/

If the journey to Notting Hill makes you quake in your boots, Maggie's Monster Mansion is a ghoulishly great options (sorry!) closer to home. Staying true to their 80s theme, Maggie's is promising a 'hair raising halloween fancy dress party with a retro twist'. Hosted by Beetlejuice, there will be ghostly girl dancers, deadly decor, toxic cocktails and a "Dead and Buried" dress code to match (No prizes to guess which recently deceased celebrity will feature most heavily!).  Entry is £20, and the night goes on until 3:30am.

MAGGIE’S
Saturday 27th October 2012
10:30pm – 3:30am
Entry £20
Maggie’s, 329 Fulham Road, London, Greater London, SW10 9QL
www.maggies-club.com

If you're still not inspired, the Barts Gruesome Twosome might get your beetlejuices flowing. Champagne will be the poison of choice at the Bart's Yelloween Party, on Saturday the 27th October. In association with Veuve Cliquot, this promises to be a decadent evening of dramatic décor  creepy costumes and fantastic fizzy deals.

On the night itself, head back to SW3 for an evening of twisted tales and spooky secrets. The Barts Book Club have hooked up with Roger Clarke, the author of 'A Natural History of Ghosts' for a reading, shocking tales of history's most gruesome hauntings and some bedtime stories certain to give you the shivers. With a Waterstone's voucher for the guest with the spookiest story to tell, you could give yourself nightmares all the way through November. 

BARTS GRUESOME TWOSOME

Barts
YELLOWEEN
Saturday 27th October 2012
FREE
6pm-1:30pm

TWISTED TALES AT BARTS
Wednesday 31st October
FREE
6pm - 1:30am

www.barts-london.com



If good old fancy dress and some devilish deals on Halloween grog is more your idea of a night well spent, the celebrations at Elk Bar could be just the ticket. Kicking off the festivities early, you can get the Green Candy Floss mojitos in for just £2.95 this Thursday, whilst the best fancy dress costume wins a bottle of champagne - guaranteeing that frightful feeling will last well into Friday morning! If you can handle it, head back on Saturday 27th for the big event. This time, your costume skillz could win your a £50 tab, and with a whole host of cocktail and shooter specials, free entry, and DJs from 8pm, the night will not only be great fun, but wickedly good value.

Elk Bar 
587 Fulham Road
London SW6 5UA

If the only thing giving you nightmares is your love life, Halloween at the Bluebird can help you find romance amongst the cob webs with their Halloween themed Speed Dating night. With plenty of punch and other spooky treats, even if you meet more Frankeinstein's than Prince Charming's you're guaranteed a great night. Tickets are £25 each, and include a complimentary glass of bubbles. Grab your entry now by emailing emilyb@danddlondon.com before they sell out!

The Bluebird
http://www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk/
350 King's Road
Chelsea SW3 5UU

Lastly, but definitely not least -you can always rely on The Jam Tree for a good party. Their Halloween bash is taking place on Friday 26th October, when DJ Greggy G will be on the decks for an evening of house music, frightening fancy dress and ghoulishly good drinks. Entry is free all night and the beats go on until late... Definitely a brilliant start to a big weekend

The Jam Tree
541 Kings Road
London SW6 2EB

Whatever you get up to, we hope you have a great night! Let us know how you get on....

On Virgin Ground

Whoops! Who ate all the bruschetta...

For someone who fancies themselves a bit of a foodie - if only for the amount I eat, as opposed to any real  expertise - living within easy reach of the World's End is definitely a plus, as the last year or so has seen a range of openings, switcharounds and more on the restaurant scene. When Rosso Pomodoro shut, it left many of its fans disappointed, and the site lay empty for quite a few months... seemingly the recession's ubiquitous calling card, the empty shop front, had finally hit Chelsea. So it was as much relief as curiosity that I felt on seeing the builders move in to develop the World's End latest Italian venture: Terra Vergine.

Inspired by the Abruzzo region of Italy, the emphasis is on quality, natural and pure ingredients. The menu is diverse, although not too long, following the traditional structure of starters and pasta (normally a first course in Italy), followed by a selection of meat or fish dishes, and sides chosen separately. They definitely sit on the pricey and more sophisticated end of the spectrum, although the dishes are not overly complex or adventurous - the emphasis is on quality.

Sitting outside on one of August's rare sunny afternoons, I was certainly struck by the freshness of the vegetables adorning my bruschetta: set off with a crisp white wine, and a good dose of sunshine, I definitely felt a blissful Mediterranean vibe. Having whet our appetites, a generous helping of garlic and white wine seafood linguine (packed full of our sea-dwelling friends) and some lobster spaghetti managed to transport us almost completely - only the rattling of the number 11 bus going by managed us out of our reverie. Rounding off with a traditional Italian affogato (amaretto, espresso and vanilla ice-cream), we'd enjoyed a meal as good as you'd find anywhere on the Italian coast. However, we'd also spent a fair few pennies. Whilst Terra Vergine is not Chelsea's priciest Italian, it's not your cheapest option either. Definitely one for a date, rather than a wallet friendly option for a group of friends. It will be interesting to see how it fits in amongst the many other Italian options in the immediate area.

Terra Vergine
442 Kings Road, London SW10 0LQ

Dates for your diary: late August & September

The weather's perked up (for now, at least) and it seems at long last a slice of summer may have arrived. Here's our run down on the top Fulham events that will help you make of the Bank Holiday and beyond.

Take in some basement bar blues in the infamous absinthe bar at the elegant Brompton Bar and Grill, this Thursday 23rd of August. In collaboration with Nova Music, the wonderful Heard and Story will be performing a soulful mix of jazz, blues, soul and funk. With performances at 10pm, and 11:45pm, entrance is free, meaning many more pennies and pounds for champagne, and absinthe... if you're brave enough.

Drink, dine and dance the night away in style with a weekend of Carnival Chaos at supperclub, Notting Hill. There are 3 nights of top DJs, risque entertainment, and dining on decadent day beds, on Friday. Saturday and Sunday, and tickets from just £15. This is definitely the classy way to finish a day at Carnival. For more info and to get your tickets click here.

Get a double dose of culture, and enjoy the balmy late summer evenings (fingers crossed) and take in a movie at the beautiful Fulham Palace. The Nomad Cinema is bringing their 'Love in the garden' series to Fulham's most historic and picturesque venue throughout September, with open air showings of the classic Casablance on September 6th, Romeo + Juliet on September 13th, and The Artist on September 20th. Tickets start at £8.50, and don't forget to pack a picnic! For more details and tickets click here.

Many of you will have already been to one of the amazing Dayzed and Confused rooftop parties at Broadway House. We thought they might be done for the summer, but due to popular demand they've squeezed in one more event on the 8th of September, promising more balearic beats, plenty of champagne and a true holiday feel. With their two beautiful roof terraces high above SW6, Broadway House is an ideal location for a day long party, and not surprisingly tickets are selling out fast. Make sure you grab yours here.

Close your eyes, take and bite and you could (almost) be in Morocco. The tagines and Mediterranean fare at Del Aziz, in Fulham Broadway, are gorgeous, and taste even better when accompanied by live music. Thursday is the night to drop in for an evening's entertainment, and supper on the cobble stones, as each week a different artist treats diners to an eclectic mix of world music. This Thursday Aimee Penman treats us to easy listening pop, whilst on the 30th Helen Burnett shows off some vocal jazz. Artists featured in September include Josephine Arthur (smooth and classic jazz) on the 6th, and Jandira Silva (bossa nova) on the 13th.

Comedy Chops is the fab monthly comedy night hosted at The Hurlingham pub, and after a summer hiatus the session on September 6th promises plenty of belly laughs. There are usually 3/4 acts, live music and plenty of food and drinks deals to boot. The entertainment starts at 7:30, so sit back with a drink, tuck into their traditional pub grub, maybe have a game of ping pong (my favourite thing to do at the Hurlingham) and prepare to have a good giggle.

If, like us, you've been feeling just a little inspired by the Olympics, but this late onset of summer has caused you to somewhat overindulge, Lush Escapes may have just the thing for you. On September 2nd they're hosting a 'Raw Food and Yoga for Athletes' workshop in Parsons Green. From 10:30am you'll enjoy a blissfully relaxing day full of stretching, smoothies and scrumptious raw food recipes and nutrition lectures to help kickstart your training programme the healthy way. Hosted at the beautiful Cupcake Mums, the session costs £95 and tickets are available here.

If your business is hosting an event this September, or you think there's an event you think our readers would like, don't hesitate to drop us a line.

Pilates with precision

For some people, it's not exercise unless they're panting, dropping in sweat and aching all the next day. As far as I'm concerned, that all has it's place, but sometimes it's the minuscule things that make all the difference.

Housed in a little brick mews just off the Munster Road, The Pilates Room is a compact but really well equipped studio that offers both group and private pilates sessions 7 days a week. Group sessions are in really small class sizes, the maximum I ever had was of 4 people, and you'll use a range of specialist equipment - the chair, cadillac, and reformer bed - as well as the floor, pilates rings, bars and ropes to stretch whilst reducing the impact on your joints.

To a casual observer, pilates can seem like a pretty lazy excuse for "exercise". Apart from the scary torture-rack style beds you practice on, the movements are gentle, slow and controlled. But as I learnt through my several sessions at the studio, that's exactly why it's so tough. With pilates, it's all about the precision. When the moves are done properly, you're moving with control and balancing just so, you REALLY feel it in the muscles. Although sessions at felt too 'easy' to have an impact at first, the instructors have got an eagle eye for the slightest clues in your posture that you're not doing the moves exactly right, and the smallest adjustments make all the difference. After 5 or 6 sessions my stomach and thighs really did feel 'sculpted', and I could really feel the difference as I learnt the minutiae of the postures. Pilates is definitely not as easy as it looks!

Although pilates will never be the only form of exercise I do (I like a good sweat occasionally!) it was amazing to notice my body stretching further, and just the smallest of stomach muscles emerging, as I continued to attend classes. The sessions at The Pilates Room offer loads of personal attention, essential for beginners, as you do need be very precise with your practice to reap the benefits, and I hadn't been able to practice on the chair or cadillac at other studios I had visited, so that was great to do. Sessions are quite expensive, but what pilates studio isn't. This gets a thumb up from me.

The Pilates Room
9 Filmer Mews
75 Filmer Road
London SW6 7JF

The Pilates Room also has a Putney studio located at 22 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6TG

Dates for your Diary: June and July

Although it may not feel that way, summer is upon us and there's plenty of fun to be had in Fulham over the next 6 weeks or so. Here's our round up of events you won't want to miss.

Eurovision madness at Bunga Bunga - from 22nd June:

The excitement of Jedward, the Dink and all at Baku may feel like a distant memory, but you needn't wait for Stockholm 2013 for your next Eurovision fix. Bunga Bunga, best known for its exquisitely kitsch Italian theme, is opening up its second floor to host the The EDC - Euro Disco Club, an entire nightclub dedicated to the world’s most kitsch competition: The Eurovision Song Contest. The walls will be covered with memorabilia from this annual institution, including gold discs, photographs of Jedward and Terry Wogan, and oversized blinds embossed with Abba, Scooch and other Euro Hall of Fame legends. 

Open each Friday and Saturday from June 22nd

Bunga Bunga

37 Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11

                              

Jazz nights at Del Aziz - Thursdays and Del Aziz Fulham Broadway

Thursday nights at Del Aziz are fairly eclectic. Whilst you chow down on their legendary Middle Eastern fare, treat your earbuds to their live performances of global pop and jazz. On June 21st, Aimee Penman will take to the stage to show off her versatile voice, with an act comprising of easy listening pop, folk, jazz and and classic. On June 28th, it will be Mel Pashova's turn to perform, with her act of jazz standards and modern classics. 

                                            

Celebrating Fulham Festival - Saturday June 30th to Sunday July 8th:

A whole week dedicated to celebrating our favourite borough, what could be better? Highlights include:

‘Elizabeth to Elizabeth’ - Tuesday 3 July, Great Hall, Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, SW6, 7.30pm

Concert trio ‘In Voice and Verse’ celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Actor Lance Pierson, soprano Belinda Yates and pianist Heather Chamberlain present a pageant of readings and music from across the centuries to celebrate the Nation’s Monarchs and highlights of our history.

The music includes pieces by Handel, Beethoven, Purcell, Holst and Britten, as well as ‘Rule Britannia’ and the National Anthem. The words will include poetry by Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, Milton, Tennyson and John Betjeman. Tickets £12.00 available from the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, 0871 22 11728,or http://www.lyric.co.uk/whats-on and view Events Elsewhere or type Fulham Palace into the search box.  Further information  020 3080 0655 or info@fulham.society.org

The Fulham Swish  - Thursday  5 July, Durell Arms, 704 Fulham Road, SW6 5SB, 6.30pm

Swishing is a fantastic way for you to breathe new life into your outfits for free and involves a group of people together to swap unwanted clothes. 

Bring between one and five items of clothing, pairs of shoes, bags or accessories. Items must be clean, good condition and something that you are proud to hand on. No children’s clothes please. Booking is required as places are limited. Email  swishing@lbhf.gov.uk 020 8753 1888

Fair on the Green, Saturday, July 7,  12 noon to 5pm

A fabulous day out for all the family. Two live stages of music and entertainment, over a hundred stalls, a food court, bouncy castles, Punch and Judy, carousels,  magician’s, climbing frame, fun fair,  and much much more. Call 020 7731 3964 for more details

Paggliaccio Cup, Sunday, July 8, South Park, Fulham

This youth football tournament is free for youngsters between the ages of five and 16. For more information 02073715253, www.paggs.co.uk

Bat Walk, Sunday, July 8 Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, SW6 6EA, 9.00 pm

Bat Walk around the Gardens of Fulham Palace, led by John Tovey of the London Bat Group.  Meet at the pedestrian entrance to the Palace Grounds. Wear solid footwear and bring a torch! Please ring 020 3080 0655 to confirm your attendance. This is a free event but donations to the London Bat Group are welcomed.

                                    

Concours D'Elegance - The Hurlingham Club, 4th/5th.6th July

This yearly event is pretty much Fulham's most glamorous luxury event. If you like champagne, powerboats, helicopters and sweet cars, Concours D'Elegance will more than likely float your boat (excuse the pun). Enjoy the Hurlingham's beautiful gardens, attend lectures from the world's leading style authorities and learn about the heritage of these fine goods whilst you browse, and maybe even treat yourself. Buy your tickets on their website here.

                                                      

Dayzed and Confused at Broadway House - Saturday July 14th, from 3pm - 10pm:

Held on the roof terrace of members' club Broadway House, soak up the sunshine (hopefully), New York vibe and plenty of champagne whilst you party to the sounds of DJ duo LIV3 RAT (billed as DEAD MAU5's evil twin) and DJ Optimus Times. May's event was a massive success, so July's event is sure to sell out quickly: snap up your ticket here before they're all gone.

                                     

Alice in Wonderland, cycle theatre tour - Chelsea, 18th to 22nd of July

RBKC Bikeminded have already brought us a plethora of interesting cycle tours, themed around things as diverse as Bond, Music and Cupcakes. This July they have teamed up with the Exquisite Folly theatre group to create an innovative and interactive storytelling concept. Follow Alice's adventures around Wonderland (aka Chelsea) on your bike and rediscover Lewis Carroll's classic tale in a way you won't have seen it before. Tickets available here.

Blue Elephant Revisited

It was a sad day indeed when the legendary Blue Elephant shut its doors in Fulham Broadway (our previous glowing reviews are here and here). It had been long known for its excellent food, served in extremely exotic surroundings (it had a Koi river, people!) and was a bit of an institution. However, a collective sigh of relief was breathed when they reported they weren’t closing down, but simply moving premises, to a riverside location in Imperial Wharf, conveniently, for me at least, just a stone’s throw from my face. Obviously, I had to go check it out.

The new venue has a totally different vibe from the last. What was once dense jungle, dark woods, scattered flowers and flowing water is now much more slick, elegant and pared back. The ambience is undeniably exotic, and very Thai: you still feel like you’re on holiday (there’s plenty of light, and although no koi river, the actual Thames is right outside), but you feel more like you’re in a 5 star restaurant than a rainforest.

The looks may have changed, but in substance the Blue Elephant is just the same as ever. This food is expensive, but it is top notch, expert and creative Thai cuisine, full of delicious, fresh and surprising flavours and the cocktail list is the perfect exotic complement. We kicked off proceedings with the fantastically refreshing (and fairly potent) Golden Ice Tea and the sweet ‘n’ sharp Passionfruit Mojito, before cleansing our palates with the complementary Tom Kah Soup amuse bouche. I always find an amuse bouche a nice touch (particularly when you’ve spent a fortune on the main) and the soup did not disappoint. Although not the most inventive soup, it was coconut smooth, yet sharp and zingy – you can buy this as a starter dish, so I’d definitely recommend it.

The starters were certainly adventurous: we ate wild catch tiger prawn and crispy catfish and mango salad. The prawns were really spot on, and the chilli mango element of my salad was really delicious, however, there seemed to be a bit much crispy and not enough catfish for my tastes. Still: in principle a gorgeous dish, and I hope I was just a bit unlucky.

But if I didn’t get enough fish in my starter, my main certainly made up for it. My Pla Rad Prik (deep fried whole seabass topped with garlic, chilli, sweet basil and red curry paste) was huge, packed with meat and flavour. Although it didn’t come with any accompaniments, there was enough flavours and textures in that dish to set you up for the evening alone. The boy’s lamb chops with red rice stir fry, wild basil, garlic and black pepper was also quite an exciting dish: very spicy, but full of contrasting and interesting tastes.

The bill did come in at rather a lot, but the Blue Elephant still serves the finest and most exciting Thai food I’ve tasted in West London. The riverside location feels elegant and gracefully luxurious (even if it lacks the wow factor of the previous premises), and for a special occasion I can still give it a wholehearted thumbs up.

The Blue Elephant 

The Boulevard

Imperial Wharf

Townmead Road

London SW6 2UB

www.blueelephant.com/london