Dancing till Dawn to the sounds of DJ Dan Browne

If you have been on a dance floor in West London and felt that euphoric elation as song after song and remix after remix is played, each infinitely better than last, you were probably listening to Dan Browne. Dan Browne has the ability to blend the most contemporary remixes with sublimely infectious beats and mould any dance floor into a hub of activity, electric with energy. Combine Dan’s X factor with what is arguably the most established and well loved nightclub in West London and an instant recipe for success is formed.

We jumped at the chance to head to W8 and sample some of Dan’s magic in the luxurious and sexy surroundings of Kensington Roof Gardens last weekend. No other club suits a summers evening better and following a hot London day it was the coolest place to be in London that night, in both senses of the word. Kensington Roof Gardens is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this month, an impressive feat in London; a city known for having a high turnover of re-branding and ever changing faces in terms of nightlife. Is it Crazy Larrys, is it Public, Mamalanji, Tuatara....it’s sometimes difficult for an SW6 girl to keep up on where she needs to be. However, Roof Gardens has always been a reliable constant and with the injection of Dan’s expertise it just raised its game again.

With 2 girlfriends in tow, Jess and I spent the evening glued to the heaving dance floor like sweaty drug addicts getting our fix. Every time we felt the need for some fresh rooftop garden air another inspired remix of a chart topping anthem would come on, enhanced brilliantly by Russ Cowie’s proficiency on the drums. We eventually succumbed and accepted that even if we should leave the dancefloor to avoid severe dehydration, we didn’t want to because we were having the time of our lives. As a double act Russ and Dan worked the crowd like Richard Branson himself working another business deal...Branson may own the club but the boys undoubtedly owned the night.

Another reason why we champion Dan is that he is a SW6 local and loves all things Fulham. We grilled him not only about his life as a super cool DJ but also about his existence as a Fulhamite and were surprised with some of the responses:

What inspired you to start DJing?
Ha ha everybody always asks this question. Music aside. The honest truth was when I was 15 I thought it would make me cool. Everybody needs a DJ at a party and it was the perfect way to avoid ever having to expose the fact that I was an awful dancer. No one judges a DJ on his dance moves.
Which other DJ's in the industry do you respect/love?
I'm a massive fan of Pete Tong. I always listen to his R1 show on a Friday. (well normally on demand, during the week because of work) A true pioneer of new music.
Why do you like DJing at Roof Gardens?
Roof Gardens is like no other club in London for obvious reasons. Over the past year the management and promoters have worked hard to get a really cool crowd in each week, which makes for a great party and in turn gives the club an amazing energy! In fact I'm struggling to think of a night I haven't enjoyed working there. I guess that’s why it’s been around for 30 years.
How much do you adapt your set throughout the night depending on the atmosphere/crowd response?
My set is constantly changing as new tunes come out and old ones get over played. It's the same on the night. I work really hard to keep my set sounding fresh with new tunes and remixes. Sometimes things you think are going to work don't and you have to flip the set to keep the party going. That’s all part of reading the crowd.
Where do you love to eat out locally?
I love Sophie’s steak house on the Fulham Rd, you just can't beat it! I am also really looking forward to having dinner at Megans next week, I hear the food is amazing. And if your ever looking for a good curry in SW6 KishMish on Fulham Broadway is delicious.
What's your favourite SW6 spot to relax during your down time?
Eclipse in South Ken is great little bar. Amazing cocktails and really great atmosphere. The bar tenders are incredible and will make up drinks on the spot if you tell them what flavours you like.

Check out Dan’s latest mix here: http://www.mediafire.com/?1kmztl2cv98z8y5

And more information about him here: http://www.djdanbrowne.com/London-DJ/

http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens

A glimpse of riverside living in SW6

So we have been telling people for months and it seems that others are finally coming round to our way of thinking, Fulham is trendy again. Ok so it’s never going to be Shoreditch and it’s unlikely to become home to super cutting edge bands and artists but it is offering more and more great pubs that are worth travelling for. A prime example is the newly refurbished ‘Waterside’ pub in the super swanky Imperial Wharf complex. The development is becoming increasingly more convenient with a selection of restaurants and the overground rail service with an extended timetable at weekends. There is also the holy grail of conveniences...a Tesco Metro with a cashpoint! Ok so maybe we would have preferred to see a local family run supermarket emerge but one cannot deny that it is very handy.

Anyway back to The Waterside, there is nothing more civilised than sitting by the water on a summers evening sipping something cold and enjoying an alfresco experience, especially when it is in sw6 and two minutes walk from home. Last Thursday saw just this happen when we headed to The Waterside post work for their launch party. The space itself its vast and is split on varying levels with multiple bars and a Moroccan themed decor as you enter. It is also worth noting that this is not a few dirty, sticky pub benches outside- there is some very funky outdoor furniture and a selection of canopies creating a contemporary yet comfortable space . We were treated to a refreshing cocktail and grabbed a pew outside by the river to enjoy the sunset and general buzzy ambiance, slowly winding down from the day at work.

As with all post work parties once everyone has had a drink the appetites kick in and people dive on the canapés like vultures with tactical expertise. Thankfully we were not left hungry and all felt extremely satisfied thanks to the sizeable selection and efficient delivery of canapés. A feast of miniatures from their menu were handed round which ranged from the classic burger and fish and chips to the more sophisticated foie gras on toast and crusted French onion soup.

The location is really exceptional, so much so that I returned on Sunday evening for a drink in the sunshine and saw the Sunday lunch menu in full swing which was appeared to be doing a roaring trade. Jess and I will no doubt be returning to experience their dinner menu and report back on the experience but so far so good in my opinion, we are thrilled to have such a great local.

http://www.watersideimperialwharf.co.uk/

Namaste P.Green!

With summer basically already here and holiday season also well underway, Sarah and I decided it was time to stop using the blog as an excuse to drink and eat constantly and see what the area had to offer in terms of stripping off a little excess 'wobble'! We both try our best to hit the gym regularly but had realised we weren't really flying the local flag in our exercise choices. So, as part of our new local 'sweat and tone' SW6southwestsix initiative, we were pretty smug when we stumbled across Manuka, on the New Kings Road.

Those of you who have already discovered your inner yogis might recognise Manuka as the brand that has been selling yoga and pilates gear in John Lewis (and many other retailers) for the past few years, and their products have developed a healthy following. Sarah and I were fairly oblivious to all this (I'm a bit more  Primarni than Peter Jones) but we were drawn to the shop for it's simple but comfortable designs. Everything looked easy to wear and flattering and the fabrics were soft to the touch. I also love anything with an eye catching layout, and the mannequin in the window doing gymnastics in a suspended hula hoop certainly got my attention!

Manuka's flagship store at 275 New Kings Road also offers yoga and meditation classes (timetable at the bottom of this post) and so we decided it was time to discover a little local inner Zen and signed up for an hour's class. Like I say, I do try to exercise regularly but I must preface this post by saying that I have always been hideously inflexible - even my Grandmother can touch her toes, but I seem to have stretch and physical range of an ailing elephant. Hence, I've always found yoga it's own slow, aching, special kind of torture and only remotely considered it after reading in the Daily Mail (don't judge!) that Gisele Bunchden does it daily!

However, I can honestly say that whilst I still ached and strained throughout the class, this time I really enjoyed it. Manuka's studio is small, softly lit and intimate - Sarah and I's class only had one other participant. All the products, from the mats to the seating blocks (actually plush thickly stuffed cushions) and stretchy bands felt pretty upmarket and the relaxing playlist hit all the right notes. Colby, our teacher for the class (you can follow her on Twitter at @kineticlondon), was hugely upbeat and enthusiastic about all the benefits of yoga, and she was constantly on her feet correcting our postures and encouraging us to stretch that little bit further. She was really involved, totally down to earth, oozed personality and made the class really fun. It all meant that I got so much more out of it than I have when I've tried yoga before and I definitely found myself stretching more - even during those painful 'hip opener' exercises! Previously I have found yoga classes all too serious (and perhaps a little preachy on the whole accompanying philosophy thing) but Colby was great on explaining the physiological benefits, which do all make sense - I even found myself Ohhmming without feeling too silly!

Anyway, we left feeling really relaxed, a little longer, a little leaner and totally refreshed - we even skipped the planned recovery glass of wine in the White Horse (very virtuous), and picked up a few Manuka products to get our little yoga bunny on back at home. I thought the yoga towel (a thinner textured yoga mat) was really cute (great colours too, with good grip) and the wooden massage roller and eco hand massage balls came home with me too. A percentage of profits from everything in the Manuka eco range go to help plant clean bio-fuel producing Jatropha trees in Mozambique (and Manuka currently has a sale on!) so all these gains were totally guilt free!

Whilst the classes at Manuka certainly aren't bargain basement, I think paying a little extra for the smaller class size, the extra attention, and the beautiful, relaxing surroundings is definitely worthwhile. Yoga is all about relaxing, getting the postures right and coming out feeling stretched yet totally content, so I think all those things really count to getting the most from the experience - at least, it really made a difference for me. I'll definitely be going again - Gisele Bunchden watch your back!

Wandsworth Bridge Road Summer Fete

There is nothing that us SW6 girls like more than a street party and enjoying some festivities with our neighbours and local businesses. In conjunction with ‘Celebrating Fulham’, which takes places from 25th June- 3rd July, the local businesses of Wandsworth Bridge Road have got together to organize a Summer Fete this Saturday 25th June. The active residents and patrons of this much loved road are backing the concept of a ‘Big Society’ and in particular highlighting the importance of the local high street. If this local cause wasn’t worthy enough they have also organized a raffle with a selection of exciting prizes to entice locals and will donate all the proceeds to the ‘Help a Capital Child’ charity.

The day will be kicked off by the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Cllr Frances Stainton at 11am and go on all day until 5pm. There will be a variety of activities and entertainment on offer to suit all tastes and ages including wine tasting, live music, food tastings , dancing, pottery demonstrations, face painting, cupcake girls, stilt walkers, clowns, cheese tasting, food stalls, children’s treasure hunt, a beer tent and flamenco dancing.

Many of the local shops will have discounts and special offers on the day for visitors and residents to take advantage of while having the opportunity to get to know the face behind the eclectic variety of businesses that the road has to offer. From Harringtons Children’s boutique and Circus Circus Party Store to Randalls the local butcher and Karma Dental Care the local dentist, everyone is going to be rolling up their sleeves for some good old fashioned community spirit and fun.

The BBQ will be fired up and fingers crossed the sun will be shining making for a thoroughly enjoyable day out in SW6 which promotes not only a great local cause but also donates money to charity. Jess and I will be there flying the SW6 flag so hopefully we will see some familiar faces! Please see http://wbr2011.com/ for more details and find them on twitter @WandsworthBR and Facebook @ Wandsworth Bridge Road.

Feeling some JuJu magic

About a month ago, we received a fun little request from local mag DV8Fulham: visit the Kings Road haunt JuJu, sample a range of cocktails, and interview sexy head barman Christian for their Barman of the Month segment. Having been to Babushka's (way back in the day - I realise JuJu has been there a while!) we had long been intrigued by JuJu, so as you can imagine we didn't really need to be asked twice.

From the outside, JuJu does look a little like your typical Kings Road swanky bar (read: expensive, with a high possibility of being pretentious). Although it is pricey, I would argue that the cocktails are probably worth the money, and there is also a little club downstairs to boot, and they also serve a variety of pan-Asian food so you can make a pretty complete evening of it.

JuJu has a dark, atmospheric interior which is pretty spacious. The cocktail list is extensive, and for the most part very inventive. Christian, the head bartender, received the Outstanding Mixology award at the London Bar and Club Awards 2010, and most of the menu is his own design. He's also more than willing to go off menu and seems to delight in quizzing punters on their favourite tastes and tailoring a new creation to suit. On the day we were there he had been experimenting with Hibiscus and had made his own liqueur - we tried it with champagne and the result was delicately sweet and unusual. I was a fan, although Sarah did find it a little sweet for her tastes. Still - top marks for trying, and Hibiscus certainly makes for a fairly original "home brew" (especially as the closest I've ever got to making my own alcohol is shoving a packet of skittles in a cider bottle aged 14 - the result was fairly revolting!).

Between us, Sarah and I tried the Strawberry Haze (Strawberry puree, Bulldog gin, Strawberry liqueur and Veuve Cliquot champagne) and the Heaven of Earth (jasmine tea mixed with Bulldog gin, and a passion fruit slice, topped with Veuve Cliquot champagne). Whilst the former was definitely one for those with a sweeter tooth, the puree provided a pleasant velvet texture whilst the dryer taste of the champagne went a long way to counteract the sugary strawberry.

The Heaven of Earth was the true success of the night: it was beautifully delicate and aromatic (albeit a bit girly: I defy the rugby lads amongst you to order it without a slight blush!). The passion fruit and underlying tea flavours provided each other's perfect counterpoint and it came served with a beautiful edible flower (told you it was girly). Apparently Christian created it for Magnum ice creams, as part of their latest 'rainforests' campaign - and his skills were not wasted.

As we attended on a Wednesday evening (and the venue was closed to the public for a shoot - more on that later!), we can't really vouch for the atmosphere and general clientele. With the location and price point, it could be that it's frequented by a certain Kings Road "type" (if you know what we mean) but it always seems to be doing a good trade on the weekends, and for these cocktails it's definitely worth the visit.

However, the clientele on the evening we visited were a pretty exciting bunch indeed. As mentioned earlier, the venue was closed to the public that evening for a photo shoot: with the Made in Cheslea cast no less! Sipping champagne cocktails with Francis Boulle certainly added an extra, shall we say, "dimension" to the evening and it was really interesting to chat to the producers and get the behind the screens low-down.

Though we can't promise you'll be rubbing shoulders with Spencer and the gang (whether that's such an attraction or not is debatable anyway!), we can promise you a mean cocktail - and you should certainly go and put Christian to the test and see if he can whip you up your perfect cocktail!

JuJu
316-8 Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5UH.
http://www.jujulondon.com/

Fulhamites do it better

Following the lovely Jack Rutter’s kind invitation to the Fulhamroad.co.uk launch party, a local get together which took place last Wednesday, I had to chuckle when he divulged the chosen venue. The Durell Arms on Fulham Road used to be a weekly haunt during my sixth form days at Latymer, subsequent to turning eighteen naturally. Many a night was spent playing pool with the boys and drinking too many glasses of house white wine until closing time. It was at this point that my best friend's mum would be waiting diligently outside in her car to collect us and politely ask if we had had a nice time, tactfully ignoring the stench of Marlborough Lights masked with cheap perfume.

Anyway times have changed we are older and hopefully a little wiser but The Durell Arms is still a great local pub and the perfect location to host a party hence Jess and I were thrilled to be invited. Fulhamroad.co.uk is a contemporary and slick website paying homage to everything local while continually providing all the latest news, offers and reviews that any resident could need. To celebrate the success and growth of the site Jack and Jonathan (of kingsroad.co.uk) decided to host a party for the local businesses, residents and general enthusiasts to meet, mingle and wax lyrical about all things Fulham.

We were greeted on arrival with a glass of fizz and a large screen projecting the live twitter feed #frlaunch. This caused great excitement as we tweeted and twitpic’d to each other across the room whilst trying to decipher the faces behind the twitter profiles. The room soon filled to capacity and the party guests relaxed, enjoying the buzzy atmosphere and their Fulham themed cocktails. Once everyone had arrived and posted a few tweets Jack took to the mic to say a few genuine words regarding the importance of hyper local support and community (the same thing we are always harping on about!) which was lovely.

As the drinks flowed Jack and Jonathan deftly organized introductions which included an interesting man called Paul who owns Kettal on the New Kings Road, a lovely girl called Leila who manages the PR for Sophies Steakhouse and the West London Wine School. We were then treated to live music from local singer, Yusef, which enhanced the lively atmosphere and promoted the post work Wednesday night merriment amongst the party attendees and patrons of The Durell Arms.

Great venue, superb hosts, fun guests = Fulham does it better!


http://www.fulhamroad.co.uk/
http://www.kingsroad.co.uk/

The Princess of Fulham, move over Kate

Royal fever seems to have revved up a notch since the big wedding and every time I open a newspaper there are birthdays, parades and Garter Day Celebrations splashed across the pages with images of Kate Middleton looking gorgeous, elegant and poised in a variation of headgear.

Jess and I decided one morning while pottering around the Fulham Palace Road Garden centre (review here) that we would see the renovations that had been occurring  further down Bishop’s Avenue at the actual ‘Fulham Palace’.

This stately Palace fell into the hands of Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the Fulham Palace Trust when the Bishops ‘moved out’ so to speak in 1975. Apparently I was pushed around the beautiful grounds by my dad as a newborn baby while I was wailing and mum needed a break but unfortunately I have no recollection of this beautiful building and estate. The building itself is like a mini Hampton Court Palace accessible via a bridge over the moat and is set in a combination of landscaped grounds and woodland.  

The council and trust are claiming that “Fulham Palace will be known to all, available to all and loved by all who use it. It will be a special and distinctive place for pleasure and education.” From the mere 20 minutes we spent poking around we discovered a lovely art gallery, a sophisticated restaurant and a beautiful garden and lawn with a BBQ and families enjoying the sunshine.

It really is a very unique and charming sanctuary in the heart of bustling Fulham which by all accounts will only continue to improve. I probably shouldn’t say this for fear of boyfriend panic and meltdown but both Jess and I left saying what a wonderful place it would be to get married! We felt quite the Fulham Princesses in the cobbled courtyard and were enchanted, now only to find Prince Charming who also happens to be an SW6 enthusiast..... 

http://www.fulhampalace.org/

Thai on the Green

Everyone loves a Thai- the spicy flavours to perk up a cold winters evening, the sharing platters to devour while catching up with friends and in Fulham’s case, the outdoor terrace overlooking Parsons Green to while away a summers evening.

The Thai on New Kings Road has been a firm favourite of mine for quite some time, mainly for a Friday night takeaway but occasionally to soak up the romantic candlelit atmosphere and watch the sun setting on Parsons Green.  

Last Friday night I had been to the Polo in the Park (review here) with my friend Jonathan and we were ravenous and chilly while strolling back along the Kings Road so decided to find an easy spot for some dinner. The Thai is part of a group with franchises dotted around South West London generating a large fan base of locals eager for a good quality Thai with service to match.

The restaurant is cosy and festooned with candles, roses and Asian style gold chandeliers. The front garden is decorated with twinkly lights and plants with a prime position to spy on all the Kings Road comings and goings. Once Jonathan had expertly chosen and tasted the wine with ease we shared my personal favourite to start (Jonathan didn’t have much choice), Ka Nom Jeeb (dim sum). They were light and delicious in my opinion but Jonathan didn’t appear as enthused as I was so maybe they were just good.  

Still feeling a little shivery from a typically British June evening standing outside watching Polo I opted for the red curry to warm me up whilst Jonathan chose the Pad King with beef . Both dishes were served promptly, if not perhaps a little too promptly, but hit the spot perfectly. It is also worth noting that the prices are very reasonable compared to some of the other Fulham/ Chelsea Thai restaurants. It is not in the same league as my all time favourite Thai restaurant, Patara, which is much more eye watering in terms of cost, but it is a failsafe reliable good quality dinner with great service. 

www.thaitho.co.uk/ThaiParson  

Cartier for Fulhamites- MINT Polo in the Park

There was no better invite to receive last week than to MINT Polo in the Park. The weather in SW6 has been glorious and the streets of Fulham are filled with twentysomethings revelling in the heatwave. The last week has seen the local pubs overflowing with fulhamites enjoying a glass of Pimms and the lazy long summer evenings.

I was thrilled when my friend Jonathan, a fellow Fulham advocate, said he had a spare ticket for Friday’s Polo in the Park at the local Hurlingham Club. There could not have been a more pleasant way to spend a Friday evening after work than in the sunshine watching an exhilarating match of Polo and soaking up the weekend atmosphere.

Not too au fait with the regulations and etiquette of Polo myself I was pleased to be with Jonathan who had been to this annual event before and knew the best places to get a drink, sit in the stalls and generally mingle. With an icy cold Bulmers in hand and healthy dose of people watching completed we retreated to our prime seats in the stalls to watch London versus Buenos Aires.

Polo in the Park is as glamorous as it is fun; the Aussie commentator had the spectators in stitches with his satirical quips targeted at the posing Argentines and slightly useless Londoners during the match. The first half saw Buenos Aires take a lead of 8 goals to zero, something of an embarrassment for our home team but with some English resilience we managed to claw it back to a slightly less humiliating defeat of 10-4.

In true Polo style the socialising is as much a part of the day as the matches. The toss up is whether to hang out in the British chino and loafer quarters at The Punch Bowl sipping pints or whether to glam it up Euro style at the Mahiki tent drinking Pina Coladas from pineapples. Either way you’re bound to have a great time and stagger back to Parsons Green tube smiling. 

http://www.polointheparklondon.com/

Little Brother Manson you still have some growing up to do....

Manson has been open 18 long months and I have only eaten there once, always favouring its older brother The Sands End when it comes to the Sunday lunch decision making process. Now I don’t need to bang on about how much Jess and I adore the Sands (review here), it is our local and has never failed us, but its younger brother offers a great Fulham Road location and if they share the same blood it must be good right? Sort of.

Manson has all the right ingredients in place; the cool zinc bar with veg boxes as wine racks, brightly coloured fresh flowers contrasting with contemporary muted grey walls, a lot of oversized ‘indoor plants’-however, I have to be honest, it misses the soul and atmosphere that makes The Sands End so special. Manson is much more restaurant than gastropub and having briefly spoken to some of the team they obviously take themselves quite seriously, a quality shown by the hotel lobby lounge music that echoes round the room (not my cup of tea for a Sunday lunch).

Anyway rant about the decor and lack of personality over, the food was very good- expensive but good. They source all their veggies from a local allotment down the road in Bishops Park, for me this is a big tick as we all love supporting the local community and the 'personal touch'. With our local SW6 farmer in mind we went veggie mad and opted for two courses each that certainly hit our five a day quota.

                 

I started with a tomato, asparagus and sardine shavings salad- it appeared like a rainbow before me and was delightfully fresh, crunchy and flavoursome. My mum opted for an asparagus and pea salad with quails eggs, again the presentation was colourful and creative and the dish simple yet delicious.

                  

For my main course I went for a rather expensive piece of plaice with herb coated potatoes, saffron and baby shrimps. It was the perfect Summer Sunday lunch dish; nutrient filled, delicious, satisfying and washed down with some excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Mum chose the smoked trout with a potato and chive salad and said the trout had obviously been smoked locally and very well- I will take her word on this! All in all we enjoyed the food very much, however, the bill was on the gulpworthy SW1 side and the atmosphere was lacking a certain buzz. Sorry Manson, The Sands End will always be our number one! 

One afternoon, amongst the Palace gardens...

Living in the Sands End, I admit that the Fulham Palace Road and Bishops Park area is not one Sarah and I are particularly familiar with - despite the fact that Sarah's mother swears she frequently took her around Bishops Park when she was a small child. In fact, so poor was my knowledge of the area that I'm afraid I didn't even know that there was an actual Palace that gives the Fulham Palace Road its name.

Nonetheless, we were pleased to head on over to pastures new, in the name of gardening of all things, and we ended up having a really eye-opening afternoon! We went along to check out a local business that has been part of the community for donkey's years, but most importantly, is constantly giving something back to that community, and many others. The Fulham Palace Garden Centre is allied to Fairbridge (and more recently, the Princes Trust). All their profits go towards helping kids from disadvantaged areas, and shortly the centre hopes to offer apprenticeships via the Princes Trust too - meaning that they'll help several youths a year learn and productive and rewarding trade. So, safe in the knowledge that any pot-plants/barbecues/soft furnishings/ornate garden tables that we might indulge in would be totally guilt-free, we were more than happy to go and check it all out.

The centre aims to "offer everything for the town gardener", and to my (non-expert) eyes, I'd say they pretty much hit that target, as well as providing everything for the town barbecue enthusiast, interiors obsessive and much more besides. As well as your garden essentials like seeds, trellising, and chicken poo (yes, there was plenty of that, much to our infantile amusement), the shop also sells the most gorgeous cushions, candles, baking sets, and all sorts of other beautiful (quite girly) things. All of it was displayed in a really creative and appealing manner, making the Fulham Palace Garden Centre as much a gift and interiors destination as it is a gardener's delight, and I'm sure we'll be back to check out the shop fairly often.

As you might have gathered, Sarah and I are not huge gardening experts, but we loved pottering amongst the flowers and fruit trees and enjoying the view (look at sexy Garden Centre assistant Alex - I'm sure many an old lady has swooned as he's helped them with their herbaceous perennials, Sarah certainly did!). The day we were there, they were also doing a barbecue demonstration - and I can assure you that plant shopping in the sun with a glass of sangria and a barbecue cooked Blondie (white chocolate and raspberry brownie) in hand is certainly a Bank Holiday activity that I could get used to!

Fulham Palace Garden Centre
Bishops Avenue
Fulham
SW6 6EE
Website here.