Covid-friendly adventure hunts

Following the Rule of Six

Tired of Zoom or staying inside?  Grab a group of family, friends or colleagues and follow a trail of clues and solve riddles through Kingston and London. On both tours you will see things you never noticed before — even if you are a local.  All you need is your mobile phone, walking shoes and a sense of of adventure!

Game of Stones (Kingston) — Make your way through Kingston’s alleys, graveyards and market squares. The game starts at the steps of Kingston Town Hall.
Available : 8 am - 7 pm
Duration : 1 - 3 hours
Cost : £25 for 2 players, £5 for each additional player
Bonus : Prize at the end of the hunt
www.gameofstonestreasurehunt.com

Hidden City (London) — Themed-hunts include : Moriarty Games (Professor James Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes), Hunt for Cheshire Cat who escaped from Wonderland and The Enchanted Mirror inspired by Snow White. 
Available : Start between 10:30 am - 6:30 pm (until 5:30 pm Sundays)
Duration : 3 - 4 hours
Cost : £19 / player (2-5 people)
Bonus : Pause the game for cafe or pub breaks. Fully flexible booking (add or remove players, change the date, game or get a full refund).
www.inthehiddencity.com

Who knew the Rule of Six could be fun and challenging at the same time — in an entirely different way!

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Now showing on Netflix

British-inspired shows

As London and Surrey go on Tier 2 high alert and indoor socializing limited to those in your own home, here’s a run down of British-inspired shows worth watching:

Churchill's Secret Agents: The New Recruits

(2018) — A five-part reality series where 14 contestants go through a four-day selection process similar to the ones British spies went through during World War II.

David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020) — Broadcaster David Attenborough provides a first-hand account of the defining moments of his life and changes he has seen in nature during the course of his 94 years.

The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) — New York Times bestselling historical novel turned movie is about a London writer who exchanges letters with residents of Gurnsey (one of the channel Islands between England and France) and decides to visit the society in person.

Jack Whitehall : Travels with My Father (2020) — Four season comedy travel documentary featuring British comedian Jack Whitehall who takes his 77 year old father on a gap year trip around the world.

Pride & Prejudice (2005) — Originally released in 2005, this 19th century period piece based on Jane Austin’s book is back on Netflix.  The story centers around Mrs. Bennet who is determined to have one of her daughters marry the affluent Mr. Darcy.

And last but certainly not least mark your diary for The Crown, a historical drama series on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Season 4 premieres November 15th — leaving you plenty of time to binge watch the first three seasons if you haven’t already.

Happy watching!

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London Cocktail Week to last a month

Biggest cocktail event in the world runs October 1 — 31

As the extension of Eat Out to Help Out officially ends September 30th, London Cocktail Week kicks off October 1st and will run the entire month. A £15 wristband entitles you to £6 drinks at 230+ venues, some favorites (with good food too) include:

Christopher's Martini Bar (Covent Garden) — Whisk Me Away: 12 year old Scotch whisky, blood orange liqueur, homemade lavender syrup, cranberry and lemon juice along with Peychaud's bitters.

City Social (City) — Pineapple Negroni: Bombay Sapphire gin infused with pineapple, sweet vermouth, bitter aperitif and pineapple liqueur, Fall Summer Spritz: Bergamot liqueur, white grape and apricot soda and topped with Prosecco.

Ham Yard Hotel (Soho) — The Tipsy Bee: Ketel One vodka, elderflower liqueur, Mythical Creatures tea, fresh lemon juice, Ham Yard honey and vegan egg white.

Hawksmoor (Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Spitalfields) — Blackberry & Apple Gimlet: Hepple gin, Bramley apple juice and blackberry cordial, Flora & Fauna: Hepple gin, fresh raspberries, ginger and fresh lemon juice, topped with champagne.

Heddon Street Kitchen (Mayfair) — Welly Coupe: Roku gin, elderflower cordial, fresh lime juice and orange bitters, Duke of Wellington: 10 year old Scotch whisky, ginger ale, fresh lemon juice and honey.

MEATliquor (Marylebone) — Stagg Do: Jägermeister liqueur, rum, citrus juices, orgeat an pomegranate.

OXO Tower (Southbank) — Raspberry Gin Daisy: Tanqueray No. 10 gin, homemade raspberry

syrup, fresh lemon juice, green Chartreuse and soda water, Sevilla Fizz: Tanqueray Sevilla gin, peach puree, peach liquor, orange, dry curaçao, blood orange syrup and OXO Brut Champagne, Logroni: Tanqueray No. 10 gin, Æcorn Bitter, Æcorn Aromatic. Reservations required.

sketch (Soho) — Osaka Highball: Roku gin, apricot liqueur, lemongrass and ginger cordial, verjus, citric and soda water, Tampico: Bitter aperitif, blood orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, citrus tonic and Absinthe.

Cheers!
www.londoncocktailweek.com

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Eat Out to Help Out more

Scheme extends into September

While the UK government's restaurant industry initiative Eat Out to Help Out officially concludes August 31st, some restaurants are extending the 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks for up to £10 in September, including:

Aqua Kyoto, Aqua Shard, Hutong (London) — £10 off per person (minimum spend £30 / person) Monday through Wednesday

Bill’s (Multiple) — One course for £10 or two courses for £14.50 from their set menu after 11:30 am Monday through Wednesday

Darwin Brasserie & Fenchurch (London) — 50% off (up to £10 off per person) food and soft drinks in lunch and dinner in Darwin (Tuesday, Wednesday) and in Fenchurch (Friday, Saturday)

The Gilbert Scott (London) — Set menu with a cocktail for £25 or 50% off anything from their a la carte menu and soft drinks Monday through Wednesday

Peggy Porschen (London) — 50% off all food and non-alcoholic drinks breakfast, brunch or tea-time Monday through Wednesday

These are just a few of the 84,000 restaurants that participated in the original inititiave where 64 million meals were consumed in the first three weeks alone.

Hope the extended offers will tempt people to keep eating out!

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Eat Out to Help Out

Discounts at 73,000+ restaurants

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August, the UK government is supporting the restaurant industry with its initiative Eat Out to Help Out. Over 73,000 cafés, pubs and restaurants from major chains to Michelin-starred* eateries are participating. The offer is good for 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks for up to £10. Some special offers include:

Aqua Kyoto, Aqua Shard, Hutong (London) — These restaurants will also offer £10 off any bottle of wine priced at more than £40.

Barrafina (London) — Spanish tapas for £4.50 instead of £9.

Bill’s (Multiple) — Set menus two courses £15.50/£19.95 or three courses for £19.95/£24.95 will come with a free glass a wine.

Carluccio’s (Multiple) — 50% off all food and non-alcoholic drinks plus £10 off all bottles of wine with no £10 cap applied.

Dishoom (London) — 50% off all Indian dishes (starting at £3.45, usually £6.90) with no £10 cap applied.

Great Fosters* (London) — Afternoon tea £25 (usually £35) or Champagne afternoon tea for £37.50 (usually £47.50)

Hawksmoor (Multiple) — 300 g rump steak with chips and sauce for £10 instead of £20

Ivy Collection (Multiple) — Two courses for £8.75 or three courses for £11 between 11:30 am – 6 pm (usually £17.50 and £21).

Padella (London) — Italian pasta dishes £2 – £5.75 (usually £4 – £11.50).

Pollen Street Social* & Social Eating House* (London) — Two-course prix fixe menu Tuesdays and Wednesdays at lunch and between 6 – 6:30 pm for £12.

A website has been setup so you can easily search for your favorites by post code. There is no better time to eat out – if you are ready to venture out!

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Kew’s Summer Cycle

World’s largest and most diverse garden

For only the second time in its 220-year history, Kew Gardens in southwest London is opening its gates for cyclists to ride around the UNESCO World Heritage Site August 13th 5:30 — 8:30 pm. Established in 1759, Kew Gardens is the largest (330 acres) and most diverse (more than 50,000 types of plants) botanical garden in the world. 

While the glasshouses themselves will not be open, this is a chance to ride past four Grade I listed buildings, 36 Grade II listed structures — not to mention the ‘The Great Broad Walk Borders’ (world’s longest herbaceous borders), fragrant Rose Garden, glass Dale Chihuly sculptures and iconic Syon vista.

With flowers in full bloom, summer is a spectacular time to visit this top tourist attraction. Enjoy performances by live, roving musicians and get a bite to eat or a drink from the Pavilion Bar and Grill or bring your own picnic.

While the Kew Explorer land train service has been suspended due to the coronavirus, following the 40-minute route starting at stop 7 will loop you around the main parts of the garden.

Entry is via Elizabeth Gate is £20 / adult, £10 / child (£18 / adult member, £9 / child member) and £5 for parking (entry via Brentford Gate). Bring your own bike since bike hire will not be available.

A truly unique experience — one night only!
www.kew.org ✆ +44 2083 325655
Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE

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Magna Carta pilgrimage

The Jurors is a permanent piece of artwork that was commissioned to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta at Runnymeade field in Surrey. When the piece was unveiled in 2015, the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with hundreds of dignitaries were in attendance.

The 12 intricately carved bronze chairs feature panels with images and symbols of past and current struggles for freedom. The interactive art installation by world-renowned British-Guyanese artist, Hew Locke, encourages viewers to sit on the chairs themselves as ‘jurors’; a reference to Clause 39 of Magna Carta that states no man can be imprisoned “except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land”.

Locke chose 24 moments in history to depict complex and difficult issues of injustice that still affect us today — freedom of speech, gay rights, race equality, refugees and rights of women to name a few. Symbols include references to:
— individuals — Mahatma Gandhi’s hand-spinning wheel (resistance against British imported goods) and Nelson Mandela’s cell (representing prisoners locked up for their beliefs)
— groups — boat with refugees (includes names of vessels connected to legal cases) and many portraits of ‘The Disappeared’ (representing those who have been taken away by state or political organization)
— words — Clause 39 in Latin and the Golden Rule in 14 languages (treat others the way you would like to be treated)
Additional details on each of the chair panels can be found here.

The individual rights and freedoms highlighted in the Magna Carta inspired key documents, including the United States Constitution (1791) and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) among others. While it is believed that the field itself has not changed much since 1215, only three of the 63 clauses are still law today.

Regardless, perhaps now more than ever — a pilgrimage to Runnymeade is a poignant reminder of the impact Magna Carta had and continues to have.
Windsor Road, near Old Windsor, Surrey, SL4 2JL


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