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 

Duo's Deep Tissue Experience

Just on the corner of the Fulham road is a fitness centre and spa unlike anything else SW6 has to offer.

Duo Chelsea has been open for a few years now, and offers personal training sessions (including a free trial) and a wealth of treatments to hundreds of Fulhamites in the surrounding area.

Blaze, my fabulous therapist for the afternoon, tells me that all sorts of celebs waft through their front doors - from pop stars to princesses, Duo's appointment book is star studded to say the least. In fact, I'm told that my deep tissue massage appointment meant that a rather well known food critic was denied his usual dose of r and r last Saturday, as muggins here had snapped up the last slot!

The deep tissue massage really is 'an experience' like no other. More accustomed to the lavender oils and lapping waves soundtracks of your traditional masseuse appointment, Blaze's opening gambit of 'how's your pain tolerance?' made it clear that Champneys, this ain't.

Designed to get the blood pumping through knotted muscle fibres to release tension and strains, deep tissue massages HURT. However, the pain is both oddly satisfying, and totally worthwhile once you've experienced the results.

Blaze dutifully kneaded away at my office battered shoulders for a good half hour, breaking down the knots and taking the tension out of the muscles until they'd eased.

Even though the treatment isn't as soothing as your average massage, the deep tissue massage was fantastic. Blaze spotted exactly the areas that required more work and tailored the treatment accordingly. Though the pressure is firm, the treatment is really relaxing, and I emerged feeling like the stresses and strains of a very busy few weeks hunched over a desk had been lifted.

Also on offer at Duo are a wide range of more traditional 'beauty' treatments, from facials to foot rubs.

But, if you want my advice, be bold - the deep tissue massage may feel a bit like going 6 rounds with Frank Bruno at times, but the after effects make it all worthwhile.

Watch this space for more on Duo and their personal training offering (which will almost certainly leave me in need of another massage...!)


Duo Chelsea
2a Gunter Grove, Chelsea, SW10 0UJ
0207 352 5399
info@duoyouplusus.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

Far From The Braying Sloanes - Super Supper at The Sands End

If there is one thing that our beautiful borough is not short of, it's pubs.

From The Durell to The Duke on the Green, SW6 boasts a vast array of establishments all vying to provide the local twenty-something masses with their weekly fix of gin and slim.

But there's one pub in the area that holds a very special place in my heart.

Some plump for the Sloaney Pony (White Horse), others have fallen for The Phene, but the pub that gets the number one spot on my list is The Sands End. Every time.

Nestled in the quiet side-streets off the bustling Wandsworth Bridge Road and big sister to The Brown Cow on the Fulham Road, The Sands End is bit off the beaten track. But despite its elusive location, it's always busy; full of savvy SW6ers in the know about what this hidden gem has to offer.

When I say busy, I don't mean The White Horse busy. There's no need to get the commuting elbows out to get to the bar. Far from the braying Sloanes and the "Tobes, can you grab a Doombar for Giles, mate?" barks across the beer pumps, it's busy in the best kind of way. Enough people to gauge its popularity, without feeling like a sardine tin.

Plus, it gets right what so many other pubs in the area fail to. The food.

The food at The Sands End is absolutely fantastic.

On a recent visit, I went along with my boyfriend to sample the delights of the updated menu, and chef Olly certainly did not disappoint.

The pollock sashimi starter is an updated version of a longstanding favourite. Light and full of fresh, crisp flavours, the pollock is caught in Cornwall each morning and plated up to the masses after Olly has worked his magic on it the very same day.

Another newbie to the starter selection is the crab and scallop raviolo. A delicious parcel of perfectly cooked pasta, filled with meaty fish and covered in a creamy and rich sauce, which was devoured very happily.

Chuffed with how well we'd ordered our starters, our appetites had been truly whetted for the main course.

James went for what I can only describe as every man's dream meal: beef rib in a barbecue glaze, served with macaroni cheese and coleslaw. The meat fell off the bone, and the sticky sweet barbecue sauce was fantastic alongside the macaroni cheese. I know this, because I demanded more than one mouthful. Obviously. This dish really wouldn't have looked out of place at a far pricier Hawksmoor-style establishment.

Convinced by our excellent waiter, Fred, I opted for another new addition to the menu - risotto with hake. Without wanting to go all Gregg Wallace on you, this really was the most amazingly balanced plate of food I think I have ever eaten. The flavours were amazing.

We rounded off our dinners with a delicious, but totally unnecessary chocolate mousse. (What blogger worth their salt would be so unthinking as to not try the puddings?!)

Not only is The Sands End superb in the food it produces, it's also very reasonably priced for what they serve. Starters range from around £6 - £9, and mains start at about £15. Granted, the beef rib is £20, but you'd pay £30 for it elsewhere.

You don't even have to go the whole hog and have a massive meal either. Pop along for a pint and a bar snack! Their Scotch eggs are to die for, and their sausage rolls are pretty darn good, too.

Thanks to the team at The Sands End that made our evening so memorable. We'll no doubt be back again soon!


The Sands End
135-137 Stephendale Road
London
SW6 2PR
020 7731 7823
enquiries@thesandsend.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.

Fighting the festive flab? Grab a Slice of the action!

If you're anything like me, at this dreary time of year you'll be mid-way through a half-hearted January detox and an inch away from binning the 'green juice' and reaching for the nearest biscuit tin/wine bottle/fag packet (delete as appropriate).

And let’s face it; that’s totally understandable. The weather is miserable, we’re back at work, and the annual influx of not so fair weather fitness fans is making the average gym class studio feel more like a sardine tin.

Having narrowly avoided a black eye from an over-enthusiastic neighbour’s energetic ‘Superman’ leaping, it was after a packed out Body Attack class at my local gym that I set out to find a fun and fresh new way to exercise in SW6.

Like Sarah and Jess before me, I trundled off to discover the brilliant local business that is Slice: an innovative group-exercise concept housed in a beautiful, bespoke building in the heart of Parsons Green.

Tucked away round the corner from Waitrose, Slice offers an enormous range of exercise classes to suit every taste, whatever your fitness level.

Launched last year and growing all the time, Slice is a breath of fresh air when it comes to exercise classes. From your more traditional Yoga and Pilates, to Barre Conditioning (a Slice speciality) and Fighting Fit, there’s something for everyone.

Scanning the list, there was one particular option that I had to try: 80s Aerobics.

I don’t care what anybody says, I know it’s tacky and well renowned as ‘the decade that taste forgot’, but I LOVE the 80s. Leg warmers, Wham!, big hair. I love it all.

So it was with a spring in my step and my leopard print leggings in my gym bag that I headed in to meet the impossibly smiley Colby, our instructor for the evening.

The beauty of Slice is – as Colby explained to me - that, unlike other gyms, you get rewarded for going. Slice starts with the “Slice and Dice” card – which works as an Oyster card – giving you discounts as you do more classes.  You come because you want to! Plus, this month, you can sign up for 30 days unlimited classes for the bargain price of £40.

The studio that the class took place in was spacious and warehouse-y in feel. Obviously not alone in my 80s fandom, I was joined by about 15 other ladies all ready to strut their stuff to some of the decade’s cheesiest tunes and work up a sweat in the process.

Apart from a disappointing lack of leg warmers and not a Richard Simmons sweatband in sight, it was an excellent turnout.

A deceptively loud portable stereo in the corner blasted out a series of the 80s finest musical masterpieces. We jumped to Journey, lunged to Lionel and pranced to the Poynter Sisters in a fun, high energy cardio workout for half an hour, before it was time to hit the mats and channel our inner Jane Fonda with some good old fashioned floor work.

We leg lifted, squatted and there was hip thrusting that the girls in that Eric Prydz video would have been proud of; though in my case it was more Eric Pickles than Eric Prydz. (I blame the mince pies).

A frequent albeit reluctant attendee to Les Mills torture sessions like Body Combat and Body Attack, I was expecting 80s aerobics to be fairly tame in the difficulty stakes. What felt like several hundred sit-ups and crunches later, though, and I stood very much corrected. My stomach muscles ached good and proper the next day – always a sign of a proper workout.

So, if you’re on the hunt for something to freshen up your workout routine that’s fun, different and a great way to get fighting fit for 2014, head down to Parsons Green and grab a Slice of the action!

SLICE URBAN LIFESTYLE STUDIOS
11 Heathmans Road
London SW6 4TJ
PH: 020 7186 6007
Email: hello@slicefitness.co.uk

Happy New Year, SW6 residents!

Happy New Year, everybody!

It’s Stef here, the new writer for this blog page. I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas, ate far too much turkey and drank your body weight in champagne to celebrate in style. 

Sarah has very kindly handed me the reins of the SW6 blog on her departure for the hip and achingly edgy streets of N1.  She left us a fabulous Fulhamite, and I just hope that she doesn’t return with an undercut, nose ring and charity shop fur coat...

Choice of abode aside, Sarah has done a fabulous job with the blog up until now, so I’m very aware of the big boots I have to fill! Fingers crossed I can do her justice and keep it up to date with all the happenings and goings on in this brilliant borough.

First things first, I have a teeny tiny confession to make. I don’t actually live in Fulham. BUT before you all run for the hills, or at least go back to browsing Facebook instead of reading this bit of blurb, don’t panic. I’m only down the road in Putney.

Plus, unlike many stalwart Putney dwellers, I’m happy to travel (within the bounds of other SW postcodes. I’m not as adventurous as Sarah our new Angel inhabitant). I’ll do my very best to make sure that all areas of local life are covered on here, from Fulham to Parsons Green, and Putney to Barnes. 

Like Sarah, I too am a PR gal, and very happy for anybody and everybody to Tweet / Facebook / email me suggestions of things to cover on here. Do drop me a line with anything you think could be of interest in the coming year!

I’m currently planning a Battle of the Bulge post for later this month, where I’ll be reviewing local fitness classes in the area to combat Christmas calories. Any suggestions, do give me a shout!

That’s all from me for now, but I’m chuffed to bits to be handed this brilliant blog and hope I can carry the torch in suitably Sloaney style!

Stef x

Goodbye Fulham

I write this last blog post somewhat fuzzy headed following a fun filled festive Sunday evening at The Ship. Never disappointed by this South West London Sunday night institution, last night was no exception. A room packed with booze-fuelled 20 somethings dancing on tables, men proving their pull-up prowess on the ceiling beams and Jaeger bombs being sunk quicker than Nigella’s career, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. Sadly during this debauched twilight hour, my best friend and I fell victims to a common crime in our neck of the woods, compulsive bull-shitting.

Like the mugs that we are, we fell hook, line and sinker for an elaborate rouse by three gentlemen who shall remain nameless. But why shouldn’t we question whether the tall dark handsome one was actually a professional masters winning golfer and his two friends the subsequent agent and manager. People our age don’t make things like this up right? Wrong. And now I can’t rush off and tell my dad he can give up work because his son-in-law to be is a pro-golfer, damn.  

Oh how we laughed this morning, and no doubt will do again when we regale our tale of Bridget and Daniel Cleaver fraudulence to our friends over a glass of the world’s most over-priced white wine at the Duke on the Green. Wonderfully, this is one incident of many that make up a patchwork of memories from my years living in Fulham, some fantastic, some better forgotten. It’s with sadness and excitement that come January I will be moving from the lovely leafy suburbs of SW6 to the grittier climes of N1.

With my imminent departure I must apologise for all the night club owners’ hospitality I abused (particularly Embargo), the relentless banging on about supporting our big society and shopping on Wandsworth Bridge Road, the ranting about red trousers and most importantly to the delightful local business owners I never got to meet in person but always promised I would.

Determined not to let mine and Jess’s committed championing of local businesses and community go to waste I will be handing over to a dear friend of mine, Miss Stefanie Morley. A much better writer than myself and a permanent resident in these parts she will keep you abreast of where to eat, drink, get fit, shop and enjoy this beautiful borough.

Goodbye Fulham, it’s been emotional.... Over to you Stef! 

Sarah xx

Christmas shopping in SW6 sorted!

There is nothing I love more than a little local pop up and so was really excited to read about Izzy's Attic on Munster Road. This Saturday, 30th November cream teas and Christmas treats await at Izzy's Attic- taking the stress and chaos out of your Christmas shopping whilst ensuring you leave with something special. 

Izzy's Attic will be filled with beautiful, hand-picked home accessories and gifts. These are completely unique, one-off gifts with their own individual design and style. For those like me who tend to steer towards the safe, and typically boring, side of present buying you can also 'Ask Izzy' for advice about gifts in the attic, or if you want help to find that special something, chosen with love, for you, your home or a loved one.

Spa secrets in SW6

With the nights drawing in and the run up to Christmas increasingly frantic, it's crucial to take some time out to relax, rejuvenate and escape the cold, even if it's just for an hour of escapism. As a more typical girlie girl I love all things grooming and jumped at the chance to try out the Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa at the Wyndham Grand in Imperial Wharf. 

Opting for one of their signature massages, I was really impressed with the quality of the treatment and therapist's level of skill and care. A quality massage does not come along as often as you would think, even in the lovely leafy suburbs of SW6. However, this massage was on par with some of the best spas I have been fortunate enough to visit with my day job.  

I have to admit though that I was a little disappointed with the 'spa' experience in the sense that I wasn't given a robe and sort of rushed through without being offered the opportunity to relax after the treatment and found myself back in the cold air before I had a moment to blink! As per the above picture there is a stylish serene relaxation area which I would have loved to enjoy. 

For local residents membership for the health club is not only available but also very competitively priced. The Blue Harbour Health Club & Spa features a 17-metre indoor swimming pool with swan neck body jets, fitness suite, sauna and steam room, six treatment rooms, a relaxation suite and hair salon. Monthly membership starts from just £80per person (and no joining fees) making it South West London’s best kept secret for gym bunnies! 

For those wanting to suss it out themselves there are two open days later this month on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November, featuring free taster treatments and nutritional advice, prizes to win, free exercise classes and membership offers. To RSVP or for further information please call 0207 300 5011 or visit blueharbourspa.co.uk. 

Get Spooky and support local this Halloween on Wandsworth Bridge Road

Right Fulhamites - It's time to rally round and support our local high-streets in the run up to the festive season ahead. The first stop on the community cause is Halloween and Haus Properties is very excited to announce that they'll be sponsoring the Friends of South Park ‘Trick or Treat Trail’ on Thursday 31st October, where they will be fundraising for the regeneration and development of our much loved South Park. 

South Park has been the heart of our Sands End Fulham community for 109 years, serving the community and integral to what makes Fulham such an enticing place to live. As part of the seasonal autumn celebrations Haus has teamed up with the Friends of South Park to host a spooky treasure hunt trail down the Wandsworth Bridge Road. A chance for the children to get involved with creative activities, follow the ghostly treasure map, collect the mysterious prizes along the way and find themselves at their very own Haunted Haus Party. 

Kicking off from 3.30pm locals can expect pumpkin painting, gremlin hot chocolate surprises, bloody treats, spooky trail routes and the haunted Haus party experience. In light of yesterday's Daily Telegraph article which questions the demise of the Wandsworth Bridge Road and its failing local businesses I urge you to think twice this Autumn, and shop local where possible. 

Megans - better late than never!

I have nearly been to Megan's so many times, but always had the plans changed at the last minute meaning I am probably the only person in Fulham yet to try it, despite it being open over ten years. Last weekend it was a friend's birthday and she had booked a long table in their delightful twinkling conservatory at the back -  I instantly fell in love with this cute kitsch hideaway, tucked away from the hubbub of the New Kings Road and chastised myself for not having visited sooner.

Popular for brunch, private catering and now even more so with dinner I can see why this place is such a New Kings Road institution. The sharing boards we ordered were groaning with fresh deli deliciousness and the atmosphere fun and low-key with a lovely local vibe. The perfect spot for a fun celebratory dinner, I will be returning asap to try the brunch menu - my new favourite Fulham find, better late than never!

Girls that Glo...

Fulham is awash with nail bars and beauty salons, so many so that sometimes it's hard to know which are worth the money and which are better for a cheap and cheerful splash and dash (For nails that is, when it comes to waxing don't scrimp, what doesn't sting your wallet will sting you). 

Glo Fulham is constantly getting rave reviews on twitter from locals and die hard fans who travel from far and wide. It's the favourite choice of many a Made in Chelsea star and despite being opposite my flat I was yet to enter it's happy shiny doors until last week. It's always comforting going somewhere where the other customers not only seem jovial and relaxed but also on first name terms with the owners, I instantly felt at ease and eagerly anticipated my mani/pedi. 

I would describe my experience at Glo like a gin a tonic, it was reliable, gave me the fix I was after quickly and efficiently and didn't leave any nasty surprises. The added je ne sais quoi from my usual nail bar was the friendly and personable service, the hour was peppered with interesting and jolly conversation with a woman who didn't seem like she was ready to jump under the next 14 bus at any minute, which made for a refreshing change. 

I can see why this place is so popular, it's like going round a girlfriends house, yet being pampered - now only if they included a gin and tonic then it really would be perfect...



760 Fulham Rd
London
SW6 5SH
020 7731 6111

Not only for those "Made in Chelsea"

The Phene pub has had ample publicity of late thanks to our favourite cringe-tastic guilty pleasure, Made In Chelsea. It was where Lucy, a.k.a the token ‘bitch’ showed Spencer, the token ‘player’, what he was missing with her new ‘date’. This secluded SW3 hotspot has been the backdrop for many a girlie squabble and for when the boys drink bloody Mary’s awkwardly discussing each other’s shared past conquests. 

However, if you weren't made in Chelsea and would rather gauge out your eyeballs than associate yourself with any of the cast members then don’t fear, this pub can still be a haven from the bustling Kings Road to enjoy a quiet pint, sans TV crew. 

I went last Sunday for lunch with my mum and having previously only seen the garden after dark, four gin and tonics down I was pleasantly surprised at how pretty it was. Minus the cigarette burns on some of the cushions the garden had a charming south of France vibe and was pleasantly peaceful and D-list celebrity free. The service was excellent and super attentive, meaning we could quickly relax and enjoy a well recommended bottle of French Rose in the sunshine. 

     

Lunch was good quality pub grub, perhaps a smidgen over-priced for what it was, but hey this is Chelsea, what do you expect right? Top marks for atmosphere and setting, B- for food and value for money but those Made in Chelsea hoorays are right, the Bloody Mary’s are bloody good yah. 

THE PHENE
9 PHENE STREET
LONDON SW3 5NY
T: 0207 352 9898

The Sands End Street Party is back!

If there is any street in Fulham that knows how to throw a street party it's Stephendale Road, thanks to the Sands End pub. I have been to two of their brilliant street parties over recent years and loved the heady combination of BBQ fumes and local live music on my doorstep. With the weather more akin to southern Spain than SW6 at the moment it's unsurprising they have another one in the pipeline for next week.

This year the Sands End Pub is hosting its annual street party on the 27th July, 2013, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm outside the pub on Stephendale Road.The Sands End Street Party will offer street food, pimms flowing bars, a music stage, retail stalls and children's entertainment. In support of Ray's Playhouse, the family friendly event will also include the popular entertainment duo, Sharky & George, as well as fun activities including face painting to rides. 

It's bound to be brilliant fun and one not to miss on the SW6 social calendar - you can read our review of the  2011 street party here too - http://southwestsix.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/stephendale-street-party.html 

Pappa & Prosecco

A good local Italian is imperative in these parts. Whether it's a summers eve and you want to while away an evening with friends and plenty of prosecco, or a cold Sunday evening in the depths of winter and only chili linguine will do. I came across a new find last week, and lucky for me it's very local and was a balmy summers eve, with plenty of the aforementioned prosecco. 

Pappas Ciccia, Munster Road is brilliant for many reasons, it's lively and rambunctious like a good local Italian should be, the food is lady and the tramp lovely and it's BYOB! Italian through and through, the service is informal and on the slippery border between amusing and over-familiar. Every table was buzzing with locals slurping red wine and devouring cheesy slices of crisp pizza.

Pappas Ciccia is the type of place where you arrive sober and stressed and leave feeling tipsy and carefree. With another branch an even closer two minute walk from my flat I can see this is going to fast become a firm Friday night staple. 

We are lucky to have a few great Italians in SW6, here is a round up of the best:

Best for food - Gola
Best for lots of laughs and lemon cello -Il Pagglacio 
Best for a hot date - L'antico
Best for dancing - Mare Moto
Best for f**k the diet - Made in Italy

Barbarella is back!

Barbarella is where my mother had her hen party in 1986 and so it was with much amusement that I found myself sitting with three girlfriends in a booth last month enjoying their back to their 80's themed menu. An inspired idea by their PR team, the menu was 80's but, even better - so were the prices. £2.50 for a starter and £5.00 for a main course made for an extremely economical evening. It also made me think, god my mum's hen do must have been cheap compared to the going rate now!

All things 80's aside I loved how they had revamped the restaurant. It was very sexy with a slick of polished finishings and fabrics throughout, enhancing the private members club vibe. Booths offered plenty of privacy whilst the lighting remained on the flattering side of dim, meaning if you haven't visited since the 80's you needn't worry about the lines of time giving you away. We enjoyed peach Bellinis from the bar and were really impressed with the service, outdated it was not - our gorgeous Italian waitress was wonderfully attentive.

Live music from a talented singer slash sexy guitarist kept us entertained whilst we devoured our dinner as if we hadn't seen carbs since the 1980's. This place really comes into its own at the weekend with options to drink, dine, dance or do all three. It's a great Fulham local and one that I hope will be around for another 25 years, although I shudder to think what the prices will be by then!

Address: Barbarella, 428 Fulham Road, London, SW6 1DU, UK
Phone: 0207 920 6430

Pop Up Kings Road

Once upon a time, the Kings Road was known for being a hotbed of counter-culture; fertile ground for start ups, fresh thinkers and bright young creatives. For the last decade or so, I would argue, it has provided more of a stable environment to some local mainstays - places like Heals, Jack Wills, plenty of the Parisian fashion brands... even the feisty Ad Hoc has been around for a while.

So when I saw Pop Up Britain had moved in at the World's End, I was pretty excited: time for some fresh (super fresh) talent. Pop Up Kings Road is a concept store with a fantastic premise - every 2 weeks, for a whole year, 10 fresh new start ups move into the space and start trading. It's a great opportunity for new British talent to find a platform, get a leg up and make a name for themselves, and makes sure the shop is a real destination for a whole year, as you never know what you'll find there next.

When I visited this Saturday, the first batch of start ups had just taken residence, and I was really impressed with what I saw. The selection of brands was really well curated, each company complementing, rather than competing, with one another, and a really high standard of design and creativity. What's more, most of the brands were offering introductory discounts, so you can get your hands on future classics for fantastic prices

The highlight for me had to be Pinucci shoes, who had a selection of the world's coolest flats, and I couldn't resist their black leather, snakeskin and taupe suede Sloane sneakers, down from £150 to just £60. I also loved the selection of pretty trinkets, clothes and homewares from The Gorgeous Company, edgy shades from Couth and my boyfriend picked up a super cool slapband watch (90s children, remember snap bands?! Cool right?!) from Clicloc. Everything on offer was highly original, covetable and just a little bit different from most of what's on offer on the rest of the King's Road, breathing a fresher, younger lease of life into what is usually the slightly 'tired' end of the street.

A fresh batch of traders arrived in store today, and I'm sure I'll be checking in every few weeks throughout the whole year. I can't think of a better way to support talented young British entrepreneurs, and I love the fact that every time you visit, there will be new and exciting brands to shop. You'll see at least a few faces this year who make it big in 2014 and beyond, guaranteed.

Pop Up Kings Road
387 Kings Road
Chelsea, London
SW10 0LR
www.popupbritain.com

Pictures from Pop Up Britain and retailweek.