Another year... another set of parties!!

Love it, hate it, dread it or count down the days, there's no escaping that once Christmas comes, New Year's Eve sneaks round pretty darn fast too.... so though bury your head in Christmas preparations you might, we'll give you the low down on New Year's Eve in Fulham to help that inevitable last minute planning.



If you're looking to get your glad rags and penguin suits on, New Year's 007 themed party at The Waterside, Imperial Wharf may just be for you. Open until 2am, with prizes for the best dressed Bond, Bond Girl and Bond Baddie, a three course dinner at coffee will set you back £34.95 before you dance the night away. You'll need to call to book your table on 020 7286 3287.





The party loving girls at HUB London spend all year dedicating themselves to our clubbing needs, so any party organised by them is probably a safe bet! This year they're turning their attention to the festivities at local favourite, The Jam Tree, for their New Year's 2011 Jam-boree and Garden Party. The garden is open until 2am, with DJs on the decks from 10pm to close, a hog roast (with deluxe tickets), and bellini reception. Tickets are £20 (£30 for deluxe) and are available by emailing info@hub-london.com or chelsea@thejamtree.com.





Aragon House are also offering you "New Year's Eve in style", opening until 2am, with a guest DJ playing the finest party tunes and a free glass of bubbly on arrival. Tickets are £15 and must be pre-bought to avoid disappointment. Call them on 0207 731 7313 or drop by and their friendly bar staff will sell you one.





For added glitz, glamour, champagne and a water-side location to die for, the exclusive Wyndham Grand Hotel in Chelsea Harbour are doing a New Year's Gala Dinner Dance. Starting at 8pm there is a sumptuous looking 8 course dinner with the resident DJ kicking off afterwards with a mixture of classic and modern favourites. Bound to be a sophisticated affair, tickets are £99 and for the real jet-setters amongst you an extra £30 will get you into their exclusive Penthouse Party from 11pm - 1am where you'll enjoy a glass of champagne and stunning views of the London sky line across the marina just as all those fireworks are going off... Bookings on 0207 823 3000 or by emailing wyndhamlondon@wyndham.com. 





For an altogether more chilled out and dressed down affair, this list wouldn't be complete without an entry from our favourite - The Sands End. For £40 you'll get three courses of the Sands' legendary cooking, and a glass of Andrew's extra strong New Year's punch to toast in 2012. Booking essential to avoid disappointment.





You can enjoy New Year's Eve at the World's End pub with a three course set menu at £35 in their Summerhouse restaurant and free entry to their Chelsea Rocks after party at The Scene bar. Champers is half price all night and there will be live music and DJs all night. Tickets available at www.novamusic.co.uk





And if a New Year's feast is what's most important to you this year, why not check out the staggering 5 course menu at hit local restaurant The Penny Black? The menu looks divine, featuring their famous beef wellington and seasonal venison and guinea fowl amongst the menu options. There are only a few tickets left so better ring the restaurant and book soon!

Riverside Luxury in SW6

The Wyndham Grand hotel has been a neighbour of mine for some time, yet tucked away so discreetly in Chelsea Harbour it has an exclusive air about it that prevented me from visiting. Boasting unrivalled views of the river Thames and envy inducing super yachts tied up in the harbour it feels more Hamptons than Chelsea when you glide through the lobby. Wyndham is by no means a chintzy Chelsea hotel, contemporary art adorns the walls and the crowd is discerningly cool and young for a luxurious five star hotel. The private location and discreet entrance makes Wydham extremely popular for the better known guest (nodding towards the somewhat famous local football team).

                                                   

Intrigued to suss out where the glam Chelsea set were hiding I jumped at the chance to attend a local writers get together to launch their fantastic ‘Champagne Wednesdays’ concept. Every Wednesday they offer 2 for 1 on all glasses and bottles of champagne (Taittinger no less), perfect for a well deserved post Kings Road shop till you’ve dropped drink. The bar is stylish and sophisticated with elements of contemporary cool- whether for afternoon tea, champagne or supper, the Riverside Brassiere is buzzy and fun.

                                                  
In no time we were relaxing to the sounds of the pianist, munching on delicious homemade canapés and unwinding by the twinkling lights and bobbing boats in the harbour.

Thinking what a fun setting it would be to spend New Year’s Eve (the most dreaded evening of the year) I was interested to hear that they were offering a £99 dinner with a live band and DJ to welcome in 2012. Dinner and dancing by the harbour sounded like a much more glamorous and fun alternative to what is usually an eye wateringly expensive yet disappointing evening in Fulham and Chelsea. For Fulhamites wanting to benefit from all the hotel’s luxurious facilities they have launched free membership to The Grand Circle Club, a private club offering substantial discounts on spa treatments, food, drink and room rates. Gym bunnies can also join the health club and use the super sleek swimming pool, steam room, sauna and benefit from discounted spa treatments. 

                                          

Wyndham Grand is a fantastic addition to the ever improving ‘Imperial Wharf’ district of Fulham. It's not only exclusive and discreet but welcoming to local residents, offering a refreshing alternative to the same old strip of New Kings Road bars and restaurants. Perfect for drinks with friends, romantic dates or big family Sunday lunches, Wyndham Grand ticks every Fulham girl’s Christmas wish list.

Rates at Wyndham Grand London, Chelsea Harbour start from £300 for a one night stay in a suite (sleeping up to four) including breakfast and VAT
To book or for more information call+44(0)20 7823 3000 or go to www.wyndhamgrandlondon.co.uk

Happy Birthday Gina Conway!

Unfortunately luxury hair salons are not places I frequent as much as I’d like to and so I was thrilled to pop along to the Gina Conway 10th Anniversary party last week. Jess and I are constantly being asked which are the best quality, value for money hairdressers in Fulham and so I am delighted to be able to recommend this one from experience.

Aveda goodies

I was fascinated to hear about Gina’s success story at the party, having relocated from San Francisco ten years ago she now has ‘Aveda Salons’ in Fulham, Chelsea, Wimbledon and Notting Hill. Working very closely with Aveda the salons not only integrate the ethical and botanical philosophy into the spa but also with all the hair treatments. Before the shampoo and trimming begins, every client undertakes a short ‘tarot card’ style reading, picking a symbol that appeals to them most before receiving an extremely indulgent head, neck and shoulder massage with the scent of their tarot choice. 

                                                                      

The stylish Fulham Road salon is no average hairdresser and considered design creates a spa like feel throughout. The basins are minimalist with free standing leg rests and candles, orchids and mini cacti adorn the waiting area, enhancing the botanical theme. Having ooh’d and ahh’d over the impressive display of Aveda goodies and tranquil spa area downstairs I settled into a styling chair, glass of wine in hand ready for the pampering to begin.

The lovely Fidel soon starting teasing my hair into sections whilst his very exciting and technologically advanced machine ‘The O’ instantly warmed up. The state of the art Velcro system that the ‘The O’ uses is essentially a very posh heater for rollers- heating each roller in seconds it’s an easy and very effective way to quickly create that just blowdried look. 

Fidel's five minute blow dry

Having arrived at the party somewhat bedraggled after a long day at work and football fan infested commute I felt considerably more glam and in the party spirit after Fidel had worked his magic, so much so that I booked a haircut on the spot for the following weekend. A raffle prize draw was held for local charity ‘Kids Company’ with prizes donated by Fulham neighbours PJ’s Bar and Grill, Emma Bridgewater, KeepFit Bootcamp and Vagabond Wines.

                                                         

Fulhamites can  experience a taste of the Gina Conway luxury on all budgets, first time customers get £20 off their haircut (mine was a very reasonable £36) and this Christmas those who spend £50 or more on a gift voucher or Aveda Christmas gift box and receive a complimentary £10 gift voucher.

Gina Conway

612 Fulham Road London SW6 5RP
020 7731 7633