Flossie & Bumble get local at The Sands End

Next Thursday sees our favourite local pub, The Sands End supporting its neighbours by hosting the Flossie & Bumble pop-up sample sale in its function room. An array of cute local businesses will be offering some bargain booty for local residents. From bespoke jewellery to home wares and cupcakes, there will be something to suit all SW6 shoppers. 

                                               

Businesses in the pop up sale will include;

Rebs and Sas started Two Little Tarts a few years ago and it has grown from strength to strength; from pretty cupcakes to imaginative birthday ones to stylish wedding cakes, there is nothing these two gorgeous blonde girls can’t do! www.twolittletarts.co.uk

Andara was created by the lovely Sophie and Tiff, their smart and unique gifts and home wares are hand printed and are made using traditional techniques with the emphasis on beauty, comfort and style. www.andarahome.co.uk

Laura amazingly makes all the beautiful exclusive jewellery herself for Harry Rocks. Her designs add style and glamour to any outfit. www.harryrocks.com

Too Food was started by the lovely dedicated foodie, Sarah Baxter, whose aim is to give you the opportunity to buy the very finest food from around Europe and to accomplish her mission of offering food lovers something special. www.toofood.co.uk

Henry Little is a distinctive quintessentially British children’s brand filled with beautiful chic clothes for your little ones, designed by the creative Henrietta.www.henry-little.com

Flora McKillop London is my other business for leather handbags and accessories, all made by myself and designed with a pinch of British Eccentricity. www.floramckilloplondon.co.uk

It starts at 5pm next Thursday 16th August- hope to see you there! 

Discovering Alice's Kensington Wonderland

There really is no better way to discover the most picturesque spots of Kensington and Chelsea than by bike. This weekend I let Alice, and the Exquisite Folly Theatre Company, take me by the hand on a cycling tour through a West London Wonderland in their interactive interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale.

The fun started in the grassy riverside location of Cremorne Gardens, before we followed Alice and her slightly dotty new acquaintances through a selection of Chelsea's most beautiful green spaces, Brompton Cemetery, quirky mews locations before eventually finishing up in Holland Park. In such idyllic scenery, it's easy to get drawn into the story, and the cast members were fun, dynamic and playful - each playing several different, and charmingly barmy roles, and encouraging the audience to get involved in the action (watch out you don't lose your head!).

The interpretation was set in the 1930s, and the company took advantage of the quaint locations and added authentic costumes, chintzy tea sets and lured us in with plenty of tea cakes, fudge, juice and tarts (of course). We met a wonderfully uptight colonel, a totally sozzled sailor, the butler with the world's largest grin, and a marvellously impetuous Queen and her deluded and self-important King, amongst others. Alice and Woger Rabbit were our constant companions and guides, and the cycle volunteers played their part excellently shepherding a large group of novices around the borough on what was a busy Saturday afternoon.

The whole production was fantastic, and felt delightfully raw and improvised at times, with lots of amusing ad lib interactions with pedestrians and a wonderful commitment to recreating a different world, even when the action was taking place in public parks to the stares, and confused questions, of passers by not in on the show! It was such an innovative way of getting the whole family on their bikes, and exploring the best of the borough. Full marks to Exquisite Folly and Bikeminded RBKC. I can't wait to see what they put on next.

For more details on Bikeminded initiative, and to find out about upcoming events, check out their website here.

This little piggy went to Fulham...

Readers of our blog will know how much we LOVE the Big Easy, and so it was with a slight feeling of disloyalty that I agreed to go to Bodeans for dinner last weekend. This very unassuming little place is tucked away by Fulham Broadway and has never really appealed to me if I’m honest. I felt somewhat stupid and very late to the party when I crossed the threshold, took in the strong smell of ribs and realised how popular, thriving and successful it is.

                                              

Themed to the max with all things US of A adorning every wall and surface, this BBQ smoke house is not one for veggies. Luckily I was with a Bodeans regular who insisted we ordered the platter and so was able to get the full fat experience. Dining with a boy I soon realised calories were out the window and I would have to go the full hog if I was going to make the most of the Bodeans experience. We opted for a Blue Moon beer to drink which was deliciously fruity and accompanied the glutinously sticky meat perfectly.

My friend insisted we order nachos to start, at which point my mental calorie counter started racing into the hundreds, followed by none other than the Bodeans' special meat platter. The meat was sweet and cooked well, falling off the bone and not fatty. The slaw wasn't as tasty as I’ve had before and it would have been nice if the meat had come with a couple of sides, considering the price.

                                         

The service was great and the atmosphere fun, although perhaps a little male heavy in the sex ratio! We had a particularly boisterous group of boys next to us who appeared to be having a meat-eating competition which proved very amusing people-watching. The live music and frozen margaritas at Big Easy still win my vote but Bodeans is definitely a winner for the boys.