Something For The Weekend

win a weekend in The Cheltenham Chase Hotel

The Cheltenham Chase Hotel in Cheltenham has just undergone a fantastic £4.5 million refurbishment and is now a luxury 4-star hotel, having been upgraded and beautifully modernised. We’re offering a great competition prize for two people – a weekend stay on a bed and breakfast basis.
Sorry, this competition is now closed.

Each of the hotels’ 122 en-suite bedrooms has undergone total refurbishment with every detail designed for comfort, including the installation of air conditioning throughout – we will need it eventually, once summer arrives, we promise. The Cheltenham Chase Hotel has been given the feel of a cosy country lodge through the use of natural materials, such as stone, slate and rough hewin timbers, emboldened with autumnal colours.

The refurb also means that, luckily for the visitors who crave total relaxation, there’s been a total re-build of the health, leisure and beauty facility ‘Reflections’, which is set to be one of the finest facilities in the area. Reflections has been equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym facilities and offers a selection of Decleor beauty treatments and relaxation therapies.

The investment has also extended Hardy’s restaurant, giving it a warm, soft and modern feel with stunning views of the Cotswold Hills through the addition of a conservatory. Another new source of excitement for the restaurant is the ‘New York Sunday Brunch’ – what a great taste to climb out of bed for. And the new menu is in no way an imitation; General Manager of The Cheltenham Chase, New Yorker Tom Fromm, has brought the authentic Sunday Brunch menu straight over from Manhattan to Cheltenham.

To win a weekend stay at the Cheltenham Chase Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. Enter the competition now.

nothing to 'wine' about at Butlers...

It doesn’t take much to lure us away from our laundry piles and out into town on a ‘school’ night, really. So when Koulla, Claire and I were invited to the luxury four star deluxe Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel for a food and wine pairing dinner in their award winning restaurant, Butler’s, we couldn’t get out of the office and onto the tube fast enough.

It’s not often we get to dine in Mayfair, and the Chesterfield’s Conservatory (the setting for our meal) was a brilliant end to a stressful day, flooded with the remains of what little natural daylight our lovely country had to offer on that dreary day. We could just imagine it in summer, set against the backdrop of the garden and fountain – how positively “English garden!”

Around one large table sat 20 guests, who were only too happy to chatter throughout the meal. Some visiting American’s commented that they’d arrived from Texas that morning and had promptly been invited to dinner. The whole thing felt a lot like being invited to a dinner party, by friends, and we could see through to the equally gorgeous restaurant where more couples and groups were dining from separate menus of Table d'hote to a la carte. Apparently, Butler’s serves the "best Dover Sole in London" – something to remember for another visit!

On this occasion, Executive Chef Andrew Fraser created an amazing, seasonal line up, pairing each dish to a Chablis wine brought over from the South of France by our host and owner of Domaine des Malandes, Lyne Marchive, and poured by our professional Sommlier, Tara O'Leary. We loved the chicken soup with oysters and wild chicken with tarragon. The cheese board went perfectly with our wine and the dessert was to die for. Conversation flowed as freely as our wine round the table until it was time for coffees and goodbyes, and quite frankly it’s a wonder the tube doors could open wide enough to fit us all in on the way home.

I think we all decided to come back and try the a la carte menu next time the sun shines through those huge bright windows. As far as hotel restaurant’s go, Butler’s has got it all just right. In fact, if we didn’t have to head straight to work the next morning, we might have even been tempted to stay over, just so we could feast on breakfast the next morning!

Book 3 courses & wine at Butlers for just £19.50

win a night in the City Inn, Manchester...

With its massive malls and even massively popular musicians, Manchester might well be one of the best and most exciting cities in the world for truly living it up. And now there’s a perfect place to stay to complete your trip. The City Inn, winners of the “Best Business Hotel Brand 2007, 2006 – Business Travel World Award” are set to unveil their new Manchester hotel this month. Better still, we’ve teamed up with them to offer one lucky couple a night’s stay, when you enter this great competition.

City Inn Manchester is ideally located opposite Piccadilly station, close to all the central nightlife and shopping district and within the new Piccadilly Place development. This fabulous new hotel, with contemporary design throughout, offers 285 guest rooms, including six suites and an amazing split level penthouse overlooking Manchester. Each room is equipped with a computer including the latest in-room entertainment system, complimentary WiFi, CD and DVD library.   

The Sky Lounge on the 11th floor is the ultimate experience for a private dinner with panoramic views of the cityscape. However if you are looking a party buzz with sophistication, try the cocktail bar Piccadilly Lounge. You will love the cocktails, tasty light bites and list of champagnes, wines and whiskies.

City Inn also present the critically acclaimed restaurant brand City Café, preparing British and European favorites as well as concept dishes prepared from locally “sourced” ingredients. The al fresco terrace adjoining to City Café is the perfect place to soak up the sun and enjoy a mouthwatering summer menu and seasonally selected champagnes and wines.

Whatever you do with your City Inn Manchester experience, we know you’ll love being in the heart of this buzzing city and staying in such a fabulous new hotel.

Click here to enter the competition
Sorry, this competition is now closed.

note: comments in response to this blog will not be counted as competition entries

The Drowsy Chaperone

With a title like a Mills and Boon novel and not a single reality-TV reject gracing the cast, The Drowsy Chaperone had its work cut out when it returned to Theatreland this summer. The name up in lights is Elaine Paige, who’s returning to the stage after a seven-year breather. She’s famous for her roles in the original London performances of Cats and Evita – two of the sturdiest industry cash cows - so it’s interesting to see her in a much quirkier, more comical role. Her character is the lusty, boozy chaperone of a Hollywood starlet. The starlet is giving up her sparkling movie career in order to get married and her chaperone is supposed to stop her from seeing the groom on her wedding day.

Cue a great deal of slapstick tomfoolery and an assortment of spectacularly cartoonish stooges including a pair of gangster pastry chefs, a latin lady-killer, a dim-witted groom, a perpetually anxious best man, a confused old maid and her butler and a soul-sister aviatrix. If it sounds like the makings of a farce, that’s because it is – a specifically 1920s farce. The play takes all the classic foibles of musicals of that era and plays them loud and proud. It’s completely character led with each one taking a turn in the limelight with their signature tune. The plot is unabashedly silly, stringing one big song-and-dance number to the next and making no excuses for the flimsy stage-setting. In fact, the audience is invited to revel in the nonsense of it all.

With so much clowning, you might think that there’d be a lack of any real warmth or romance in the play, but the “real life” character of the narrator Man in Chair ties the whole thing together. He’s a middle-aged theatre enthusiast, listening to the soundtrack of this, one of his favourite musicals, in his studio apartment. His quiet, effeminate enthusiasm is completely infectious as he talks the audience through the show, freezing the action for little titbits of Broadway gossip. It’s not surprising that Bob Martin plays “Man in Chair” so well, though, given that he co-wrote the book and played the character in the US too. You’ll fall in love with the loveable agoraphobic to the extent that if you meet Bob Martin you might not be able to resist asking for a big cardigan-ey hug (though he’s probably more of a Ralph Lauren Polo man in real life).

Sara Sha'ath

Buy tickets for the Drowsy Chaperone from £10

a Sunday alternative...

She might look like your worst nightmate, but Joan Dairy Queen of Marvellous Fame invites you to the Marvellous Tea Dance this Sunday at Area (Vauxhall) from 6pm Ttil 1am

From the makers of Vauxhall's old favourite: Marvellous, this is the launch night of a monthly club. This night precedes 'Dorian Grey', which starts at 1am.

DJ's Lush (Lippy, Retro Bar, Marvellous), Felix (Marvellous, Trash Palace, Dorian Grey) and Rok John (Marvellous, Rocktronica) serve the eclectic brew!

Now don't panic, Joan will be hosting. To soften the blow she'll be armed with cucumber sandwiches.

Area - 67-68 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, (020) 7091 0080

Paradise Gardens in Victoria Park...

Free this weekend on Friday and Saturday from 1pm - 10.30pm, Victoria Park will come alive as it's magically transformed into a modern day pleasure garden for a weekend packed full of events and entertainment...

The second May Bank Holiday weekend will once again explode into life boasting off the wall street theatre and awesome outdoor spectacle, open air music stages, the best in urban dance performance, The Designer Village Fete, Carters Steam Fair, Side Shows, Circus Performances, a Desert Island, Specialist Food from around the world, Craft Markets, Spectacular Fireworks, and much much more.

In the Victorian era, parks were pleasure gardens with the most thrilling activities of the day were on offer for families to enjoy. For Paradise Gardens this idea is updated for the 21st Century, offering a dizzying array of artforms, stages and activities for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Sat 26th & Sun 27th May 1pm – 10.30 pm

Paradise Gardens is a free event!
Bassline Circus performances are ticketed and cost £5 for all performances.

For more information head here

life's a beach at the Albannach - this Bank Holiday Sunday

Sunshine, sun loungers and the sand between your toes. Cool cocktails, bikinis and barbecue food...

Wish you were here? So do we! Which is why the lastminute.com girls will be donning their hottest swimwear this Bank Holiday Sunday. (And slathering on the fake-tan, no doubt!)

Will you be joining us?  Sand will be shipped in, sun beds will replace sofas, a brand new range of cocktails will be on offer, as well as some hearty barbecue food for you to dribble all over yourself, no doubt! All this will go against a backdrop of live sultry summer sounds just perfect for jiggling away an evening. Also, new for this year, Albannach is opening a snazzy alfresco area, which means you can party in the very heart of the capital - Trafalgar Square! A 12x8 foot projector screen will broadcast the world’s most beautiful tropical scenes too, ensuring that if the sun isn’t shining outdoors against the lions/fountain/number 24 double decker, it certainly will be indoors.

It's not a place to be scared of, people, although the dress code for party-goers and staff alike will be bikinis, board shorts and big sunglasses. If you've got it, here's the spot to flaunt it.

If you can't make this Sunday, Albannach will be totally transformed into a tropical paradise of summer fun on 27th May, 24th June, 29th July and 26th August,  for all those looking to make the most of the holiday season, without straying too far from home.

Entry is free on guestlist before 9pm - email [email protected]

or www.doonstairs.co.uk/guestlist.asp

After 9pm tickets to each Ultimate Beach Party cost £10 and include a complimentary summer cocktail on arrival. Please call 020 7930 0066 for reservations. Party from 6pm to 3am.

To book a dining deal at Albannach with lastminute.com, click here

Psssssssssst, check back soon for details about our Spring Fling party at Albannach
 

experience Extremis at the London Dungeons - 50% off for half term

We shrieked until we thought our lungs would explode when we sampled the London Dungeon's new ride, Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom. As if the place isn't scary enough, without adding real human screams to the equasion as you're dopped to the very point of death in the depths of the city's most scary chambers!!!

Transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the capital’s history this half term with a lastminute.com exclusive offer of 50% off. Live actors, shows, rides and interactive special effects ensure that you face your fears head on in this unique ninety minute experience, and that includes Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire of London, torture and the plague.

Book your 50% off tickets here

last chance for DON'T DO THAT....

The current exhibition " DON'T DO THAT ! " must end this Saturday 26th May at 6.00 pm at Elms Lesters Painting Rooms.  Another major exhibition, this time featuring over fifty works by six Internationally acclaimed contemporary urban and street artists, has five days remaining.

The exhibition features:
*   new constructivist pieces, and collages by Dutch artist Boris Tellegen,
aka DELTA
*   an extraordinary selection of original oil paintings, the like of which
have never been exhibited before in London, by US pop surrealist RON ENGLISH
*   brand new uptempo paintings by London based supremo ANDREW McATTEE
*   immaculately painted, playful, yet startlingly dark paintings by DALEK
*   classic iconographic paintings by New York legend STASH
*   and exquisite, erotic 'Toile de Jouy' style paintings by Brooklyn based
MARK DEAN VECA

Opening hours Tuesday - Saturday 12.00 - 6.00 pm Late nights Thursdays until 9.00 pm nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road Admission FREE

ELMS LESTERS PAINTING ROOMS
1-3-5 FLITCROFT STREET
LONDON
WC2H 8DH

feeling a little green...

In a literal way, actually. Last night the newsletter team attended the Paramount party in aid of the third Shrek movie, as well as to celebrate of a bunch of other films including the upcoming Transformers (CAN'T WAIT) and Blades of Glory.

Never ones to turn down a night on the tiles, Sara and I made our merry way to the Kensington Roof Gardens in swanky West London where we were promptly issued with bright green cocktails (melon and banana I think?) and assaulted by a knight on a horse moped. Good times.

The themed rooms were amazing! As well as having a tarot reader and a hog roast outside, there was an artist drawing characatures and an ice-sculpture of a pair of skates, which doubled as a vodka luge. Behnid them was an actual ice-rink, which I didn't realise until I was quite tipsy, at which point indulging in a night-time glide wouldn't have been a very good idea, really.  The vodka luge was the start of the end, to be honest.

Back inside, we watched people falling off a bucking bronco, which was actually a giant swivelling planet. Sara gave it her all and managed an impressive 3.9 seconds before she was flung off into outer-space. The video games were a nice touch too. I must say I've never been on a machine gun killing spree whilst sipping champagne before.  There was a John Wayne room too, complete with a cowboy shooting game. I was rubbish at that one - I could never be a cowgirl, although I think I pulled off the hat quite well.  Not so much the red wig from the disco room though, that one didn't look so hot. In fact, I just got told I looked like Orhan Annie. Hmmmm.

The highlight of the night of course was getting our photo taken with Shrek. It's a shame we knocked him over, poor guy. I don't think inflatable creatures are built for withstanding hugs by enthusiastic party-goers...

Shrek 3 opens in cinemas nationwide on June 29th, and stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese and Justin Timberlake.

COMING SOON: Keep an eye on the site to win tickets to the premiere.