Culture and Brand Expert Nick Ede’s Valentines London Guide

Its nearly Valentines Day and time to show your romantic side. London is full to the brim with fabulous things to do during Valentines and here are my top things to do in the City this year. 

The London Cabaret Club have their one off Valentine’s Day show Gatsby With Love performance on the 14thFebruary.

A celebration of all things love, the iconic Bloomsbury Ballroom will be transformed into a romantically rose-covered setting. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress and can expect welcome drinks, an intimate gourmet candle lit dinner, and world-class performances set to classic love songs in 1920s glittering splendour. Menu highlights include Diver Scallops, pan-seared Halibut, and a dark chocolate and cherry fondant. All tickets include an invitation to the infamous After Party where you can dance the night away with your special someone.

There are five ticket packages available ranging from £75 – £260, including a special Galentine’s offer for groups of four or more. You may have seen the fabulous Dame Arlene Phillips and Viscountess Emma Weymouth attend the open auditions this week looking for some fabulous perfomers with the London Cabaret Club founders Evelina Girling and Dino Fierro.

If you are like me and you love a masterclass then Bird & Blend Tea Co. London Portobello store will remain open after hours on the 14th of Feb for its brand new Cocktail Tea Mixology Masterclass teaching attendees how to have fun whilst making cocktail syrups, concentrates and garnishes…and most importantly offer the knowledge and the skills to elevate their favourite drinks far beyond expectation…in a way that will delight their own guests at their next party.  All of this whilst they enjoy tea and cocktail tasting on the night.

As a VIP guest, wannabe cocktail Mixologists will be treated to one of the Bird & Blend Tea Co. famous Tea Cocktails including Peach & Blueberry Spritz whilst learning the art of creating the Flaming Bonfire Toffee Cocktail, and more.  The tasting and creating continues with a Smoky Rose, Mermaid Martini and Unicorn Gin Fizz.  There is no cocktail bar in this galaxy creating drinks like these, and those attending will graduate with Bird & Blend Tea Co Mixology know how.

If you love biscuits like I do then head to Biscuiteers for some valentines fun.

• Valentine’s DIY Icing

A quick 5 minute tutorial then it’s your opportunity to design your own Valentine’s biscuit creations

Booked like a normal café table and we accept walk-ins.

Every day throughout February (£24pp)

• School of Icing

Whether you’re a home baking enthusiast wanting to improve your repertoire or you just fancy learning something new, our School of Icing is just the ticket. Here you’ll master all the skills that we use in the Icing Hall at the Ministry of Biscuits – including colouring, piping, feathering, line and flood icing.

Various dates throughout February (£90pp)

• Icing Lates

Try your hand at icing like a Biscuiteer at our Icing Lates, Perfect for date nights, unwinding after work or an evening out with family and friends, this is your chance to learn all the tips and tricks that our icers use at the Ministry of Biscuits. Kick things off with a glass of prosecco (always the best way to start the night!) and create your very own box of 5 hand-iced biscuits to take home.

Various dates throughout February (£70pp)

Where better to spend Valentine’s Day than in a restaurant designed as a love letter to a family and the continent behind it in the heart of London?

Colonel Saab is a bricks-and-mortar testament to the power of love, packed full of previous Indian art, artefacts, family heirlooms and even love letters between the restaurants’s namesake, Colonel Saab and his wife, Binny.

This Valentine’s Day, beneath the canopy of ornate, antique chandeliers and surrounded by the art, ancient furniture and priceless relics of Colonel Saab’s family, couples will be presented with red roses and treated to a tasting menu that will transport them deep into the heart of India.

An Amuse Bouche will whet the appetite for a platter of carefully curated Indian favourites – the vegetarian plate offering Kandhari paneer tikka, stuffed tandoori aloo and tandoori malai broccoli, while a non-vegetarian option delivers Grilled lamb chops and spiced prawns alongside the broccoli.

Malabar grilled lobster is served as a main with moiled sauce and steamed rice, or perhaps a Malai kofta curry with mustard cress and butter naan.

And dessert comes in the form of Pistachio cardamom Kulfi Falooda with saffron rabbi and chia seeds.

VALENTINE’S FOOD GIFT GUIDES

Give the food of love this Valentine’s, with a £62 Virgin voucher for a British and Indian fusion afternoon tea at Colonel Saab, with Prosecco.

The three-tiered high tea feast includes, finger dhokla sandwiches with coriander and mint chutney; onion Bhajia sprinkled with pickle chaat masala, fresh raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam; homemade coconut & Earl Grey cookies; Saffron & Rose Shrikhand macarons and a selection of tea cakes.

And the voucher is available here

If you fancy something completely different and you are celebrating Galentines then ive got just the thing for you and your friends.

Celebrate Galentine’s this February with an immersive ‘eat what you see’ experience of the cult-classic Mean Girls in collaboration with Taste Film. Transporting you on a foodie adventure to Girl World, there’s screenings on the weekends of 11th & 12th February and 18th & 19th February at The Refinery City Point (Moorgate, London).

Grab your girlfriends for the hottest ticket in town to celebrate Galentine’s this February with an immersive ‘eat what you see’ experience of the cult-classic Mean Girls, with screenings on the weekends of 11th & 12th February and 18th & 19th February. 

Nestle in at The Refinery City Point (Moorgate) and indulge in a menu consisting of six imaginative dishes and drinks, all cleverly inspired by the film’s favourite moments… with nobody being personally victimised by Regina George. Get ready for the ultimate foodie adventure to Girl World!

Dishes include chicken kiev with potato dauphinoise and thyme butter broccoli – wait, is butter a carb? – as well as baked goats cheese with honey and burnt chilli orange. For dessert, tuck into an indulgent peanut butter fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream inspired by Regina’s famous Kalteen bars.

This awesome movie needs awesome drinks, so embrace your inner “cool mom” and knock back a Pineapple Whiskey Cocktail and Strawberry Daiquiri as you watch the iconic scenes play out. There’s also a refreshing mint palate cleanser but don’t worry, your face won’t smell like peppermint…

While screenings don’t take place on Wednesday’s, we still advise you wear pink (duh) as you enjoy the creative meat, vegetarian or vegan menus. Even with a 30% chance of rain, you’ll be comfy and warm in The Refinery City Point’s stylish surroundings.

Tickets are priced at £75pp