Something For The Weekend

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.

fancy some free films this summer?

The Scoop at More London is an outdoor sunken amphitheatre with seating for 800. Throughout the summer months it'll be hosting a variety of free events - from free films, free music and free theatre to local community events and activities.

The Scoop at More London is open to everyone. A mixture of classic, cult and current films will be shown each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout June and will include The Italian Job, Thelma & Louise, Glastonbury, Volver, Point Blank and Monsoon Wedding. 

Screenings will start from 9.30pm and seats must be taken by 9.15pm (although early arrival is recommended)

By Tube/train to London Bridge
Jubilee line or Northern line
By Tube to Tower Hill
Circle line, District line or DLR

The full listing can be found here

For more cinema tickets, head here

party on the water with the Ministry of Sound...

Planning a dance-fest? The London Boat Parties 2007 with Ministry of Sound and Defected in the House June 23 date looks set to sell out, so book up quickly!

It’s now only 5 weeks until the first of their 3 London Boat Parties and that means it’s almost Summer! Having netted the number one London Boat Party in Time Out Magazine last summer, and selling out all 3 cruises in 2006, this year, M.O.S is bringing you 3 more massive cruises on the best Saturdays of the summer.

Sat 23 June is nearest to 2007's longest day - the Mid Summer Nights Party with Mark Knight.
Saturday 28 July is Peak Summer Party with the legendary Defected in the House.
Saturday 25 August is the last Bank Holiday of the year blowout alongside Steve Angelo.

Tickets are £36.95 and £38.95 each and include a 4 hour sunset river cruise AND your entry to Ministry of Sound.

Find out more and book here

For more club nights and night out ideas, head this way

posh it up properly...

It’s not all jellied eels in London. Some prefer sushi, darling…

From Jack the Ripper to jellied eels, London’s history and cultural charm has been reeling in the entertainment seekers since the very first pub opened its doors in 1667 – or so they say. The pub in question is the Olde Cheshire Cheese (145 Fleet St, EC4), a winding, twisting maze of a ‘boozer’ whose cellar actually dates back to a thirteenth-century monastery. And you can still down there and drink.

Aside from the gentlemanly charms of the old English pubs of course, you can hardly be blamed for wanting a touch of class from the Big Smoke ocasioanlly and luckily, London prides itself on hosting some of the fanciest, most exciting nightspots in the world. The rich and famous phone ahead to ensure they get in to MO*VIDA (8-9 Argyll Street W1F) – one of the West End's most exclusive restaurant/clubs tucked safely away in the vaults of the London Palladium. This decadent slice of celebrity serves up more champagne per square metre than any other venue in the UK, and the international to Asian inspired menu, multiple alcoves and private sections for those too-cool-for-school mean MO*VIDA is the place to see and (perhaps not) be seen.

True fishy fanatics would have heard of Nobu by now. With one in Vegas and three in London the sushi-seekers flock to the Mayfair offering, (Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old Park Lane, W1K), all keen to sample chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s first UK restaurant.  The black cod with miso is still the dish that leaves other restaurants floundering – how does it taste so good? Watch the A-listers dripping green tea ice-cream down their tops and don’t ask any questions. It’s Stella McCartney’s favourite.

Themed bars are cropping up all over town. Fancy a drink in sub-zero temperatures?  The deliciously cool Absolut Icebar (31-33 Heddon St, W1B) is kept at minus 5 degrees all year and everything inside is carved from ice, frozen from a Swedish river. How about a cocktail in an Alpine ski chalet?  Moose (31 Duke St, W1) offers cream timber-lined walls, cowhide seating, Nordic murals and amusingly titled dishes such as Heidi or Matador Pie. Try the passionfruit and vodka martini for a kick and thank the Lord you don’t have to ski home.

When Justin Timberlake’s in town, he’s first into Sketch (9 Conduit St, W1S). A high class restaurant at heart, this showy complex also offers an art gallery, The Parlour Tea Rooms for cakes, pastries and gossip, and of course, the infamous Sketch Bar.  Parts of this hideaway for anti-hedonists are for members only after 8pm, but the restaurant is all you need visit in order to say you’ve truly “done the London scene”. Forget Buckingham Palace, this is one of the Smoke’s most prestigious attractions.  Best of all, and perhaps why it’s going from strength to strength is that Sketch is not at all pretentious. Sure it’s full of beautiful people, but it seems to attract the beautiful souls as well.

However high you live the life while you’re in town, don’t miss out on the smoky pubs for true Olde English atmosphere. London’s a melting pot of magical opportunities, with a fair few magical people in the mix.  And after all, in how many cities can you really drink a pint in an ancient monastery?

By Becky Wicks

For some discounted fine dining deals try:

Sway, London - three course dinner set menu with a complimentary glass of soft drink. £9.99

Nahm, London - two course lunch menu £15 per person - exclusive offer

See more Mangez in May offers

Momo's the place to go - 10% off...

I wasn't really sure what to expect of Mourad "Momo" Mazouz's unique North African restaurant, tucked behind Regent Street next to the interesting Absolut Ice Bar. Momo is known as a bit of a celeb magnet, probably because of its intimate charm – think of a Moroccan souk with ornate lanterns, rich and exotic carpets, vibrant coloured shishas and low brass tables. Natalie Portman was in there last week, apparently, dining in a cosy candlelit corner.

For over ten years, head chef Mohamed Ourad has been cooking up authentic North African food to suit every taste, and the bar staff are only too happy to mix up a cocktail.  Koulla and I had the house special – a vanilla vodka and champagne special with lemon juice and sugar water. They came complete with pretty pansies over the rim. Aaaaw, sweet!

The food was truly outstanding. To start I had seared tuna – peppered with a quail egg and a vierge sauce. I’m still not quite sure what vierge sauce is but it tasted bloody good, and Koulla’s pastille of pigeon in a sweet pastry pie of almonds and cinnamon was a far and delicious cry from the waddling annoyances you see round the corner in Leicester Square. Good thing they don’t all taste like Momo’s dish – there wouldn’t be any left to poop on the tourists!

For my main course I chose the lamb tagine which came hot, steaming and incredibly tasty in a pointy lidded dish, with prunes, saltanas and pear. I never would have thought to put lamb with pear but this was amazing! Koulla chose from a different section and had duck brochettes with pomme fondante, glazed apple and a fondu of cabbage. We were going oooooh and aaaaaaaaaah so much in appreciation that I’m sure a table of guys turned round to see exactly what we were doing.

We had traditional and exceptional crème brulee to finish before heading down to the members only bar to watch a live performance by up-and-coming musician Karen Davis. She was excellent, keep your ears open for her.

For a great, posh night out with mouth-watering smells, tastes and dare I say it, staff – dig out your fanciest tops and shirts and book a table at Momo.

Get 10% off at Momo with lastminute.com

a royal treat at Embassy...

Embassy London Restaurant - Supper Sale:
Eat from the two course Du Jour dinner menu with a complimentary glass of wine for just £17 per person. Book here now

He might be hooked on Chelsey but it’s Mayfair that rocks Harry’s world when he’s looking for dinner. Embassy London is a swanky, stylish spot housing a restaurant with two gorgeous levels, an al fresco terrace and a members only club downstairs. It’s pretty sophisticated stuff but you’ve got a nice dress, or pair of trousers haven’t you? And we’ve all got at least one pair of shoes that hasn’t been scuffed to the soles on London’s streets.

The famous club by the same name attracted the rich, famous and oh-so glamorous in the eighties, and this restaurant and bar serves up classic British and Mediterranean delights in absolutely fabulous surroundings. The floor to ceiling windows mean people-watching is a must and the food? Oh, the food! 

We’re talking Sauté sea scallops with asparagus and sauternes, Venison bresaola with rosemary and beetroot and honey vinaigrette, Cornish crab and smoked salmon with chilled cauliflower veloute and mascarpone or for a main, how about Poached fillet of salmon and halibut with baby spinach cucumber and caviar sauce? Or Breast of corn fed chicken with celery and lemon thyme risotto dried tomato and shallot jus gras?  Our mouths are watering already and we haven’t even come to dessert -  Baked egg custard with nutmeg ice-cream or Blueberry soufflé with lemon curd ice-cream, anyone?

Whether you’re hanging on Harry’s arm or not, you’ll definitely get a royal treat in Embassy.

Eat from the two course Du Jour dinner menu with a complimentary glass of wine for just £17 per person. Book here now

What's happening where: the festival season's upon us...

Kate Moss might still look sexy knee deep in mud with crusty filth caking up her hairstyle, (cow), but when it comes to the festival season, it’s not what’s on the outside that counts. It’s being on the INSIDE that matters.

With four months of musical blowouts coming to fields and beaches far and wide, fun in the sun (hopefully) is more affordable and accessible than ever. But what’s happening where? Who’s playing which gig? Which festival would suit you best?  Here’s the lowdown:

MAY

What’s happening?

• The Great Escape. Brighton. May 17-19
• Isle Of Skye Festival. Scotland. May 25 & 26
• Dot to Dot. Nottingham & Bristol. May 26-27

Highlights:

Well, Brighton has never been one to shy away from a party. And with The Great Escape, now’s your last chance to watch leading figures in the music industry and the very best new artists from around the globe, with over 150 bands playing 20 venues, all within walking distance of each other. You’ll have to be quick though, it ends this Saturday. The Isle of Skye festival in bonnie Scotland promises musical amazement “nestled between the spectacular shoreline and the stunning vista of the imposing Cuillins Mountain range”. Let’s hope the rain holds off then. As well as an eclectic and diverse mix of the very best in contemporary, alternative, dance and traditional Celtic artists you can also see the likes of Kasabian, Primal Scream, Echo and the Bunnymen and Seth Lakeman performing over 4 programmed stages. The Dot to Dot in Nottingham and Bristol might tempt you in with a host of bands such as Fortune Drive, Findlay Brown, The Draytones, The Thermals, Sunset Cinema Club and more. It’s the first time this festival has ever been to Bristol and you need one wristband for all venues.  We’re not sure how many are actually occurring in fields but what the hell, get those wellies on anyway!

JUNE

What’s happening?

• Download. Donigton Park. June 8-10
• Escape Into The Park. Swansea, Wales. June 16
• Hyde Park Calling. London. June 23
• Knowsley Hall. Liverpool. June 23-24
• Wireless. London. June 14-17

• Fields Of Rock.The Netherlands. June 16-17
• Bilbao BBK Live. Spain. June 21, 22, 28, 29
• Oeiras Alive! 07. Portugal. June 8-10
• Arrowrock. The Netherlands. June 30

Highlights:

Hyde Park is definitely calling you for this one – think Crowded House, The Feeling, Aerosmith, Jet, Jason Mraz... Don’t forget the cameras. Plus, over the weekend the concert area within the park will feature performance art, festival markets and more. Hyde Park beckons again for Wireless - 4 days of live music including White Stripes, the incredible Faithless, the mighty Kaiser Chiefs and legendary duo Daft Punk.  If you’re heading abroad, Fields of Rock is exactly that –a field of…well, rock!  Camp out in the Netherlands and head bang the nights away to the likes of Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Motorhead and Megadeth. Oh er. Make sure you pack enough black eyeliner to last you.  If Portugal’s your destination of choice, Oeiras Alive! 07 will take place in Lisbon against the gorgeous backdrop of the Tagus River. Pearl Jam will be headlining alongside Linkin Park, Blasted Mechanism,The Used, The Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan, Beastie Boys  and The White Stripes

JULY

What’s happening?

• Lovebox Weekender. London. July 21-22
• Fflam. Swansea, Wales.  July 13-15
• Global Gathering. Stratford Upon Avon. July 27-28
• Latitude. Suffolk. July 13-15
• Song 07. Huddersfield. July 28-29
• Tower Music Festival. London.  June 28-July 14

• Fib Heineken. Spain. July 19-22
• Dour. Belgium. July 12-15
• Eurockeenes De Belfort. France. June 29-July 1
• Exit. Serbia. July 12-15
• Summercase. Spain. July 13-14

Highlights:

For the bootie-shaking groovers amongst us Lovebox has got to be top of the list this year.  The B-52’s will be shaking up Victoria Park alongside Groove Armada, Blondie, The Rapture, Super Furry Animals and Vincent, Vincent and the Villains. It’s a Londoner’s delight guys.  Arcade Fire are heading up Latitude this July - returning to the sunrise coast of Suffolk for its amazing second year. Hosted once again in the breathtaking grounds of Henham Park Estate, Southwold, organisers Mean Fiddler are promising an even more spectacular event including Damien Rice, Wilco, CSS, Jarvis Cocker and a surprisingly delightful array of comedy including Dylan Moran, Alan Carr and Steve Williams.  Following their Eurovision success you might just see the winners at Exit in Serbia. Highlights at this dance and music fest include Basement Jaxx, Snoop Dogg, Lauren Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, CSS and the Beastie Boys.  If it’s Rufus Wainwright playing solo that prompts you to click that ‘buy’ button – you won’t want to miss him at the Summercase in Madrid, as well as New Order, Keane, Primal Scream, The Dandy Warhols and The Divine Comedy.

AUGUST

What’s happening?

• The Green Man. Wales. August 16-19
• Creamfields UK. Cheshire. August 25
• Belladrum. Scotland. August 10-11
• Cardiff Calling. Wales. August 25
• Get Loaded. London. August 26
• South West 4. Wales. August 26

• Sziget. Hungary. August 8-15
• Creamfields Andalucia. August 11.
• FM4 Frequency. Austria. August 15-17
• Lowlands. The Netherlands. August 17-19

Highlights:

Hosted by Brecon indie-folk duo Jo and Danny, The Green Man Festival presents skewed, leftfield folk-based acts as far from the mainstream as you can possibly get. Featuring two music stages, theatrical performances, literature readings and a full programme of arty short films, if chilling out and resting your eyes on beautiful scenery floats your boat, then The Green Man is definitely the one for you.  Alternatively London’s definitive indie-dance festival Get Loaded in the Park swaggers back into town on Bank Holiday Sunday 26th August 2007 for a 4th rock n’ roll year of live music, DJs & festival fun - on home turf Clapham Common. Hungary’s got it sorted with Sziget – it’s the place to catch The Killers, and Austria’s FM4 Frequency promises Nine Inch Nails, Interpol, Snow Patrol, Jimmy Eat World, Tool, and the Kaiser Chiefs. If Indie does your head in, dance on down to Creamfields in Andalucia, wearing all the neon spandex you can fit into your overnight bag. The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx and John Digweed await, and so do over 35,000 people!

See all the festivals and book tickets here

Click the album in the sidebar to see more photos from previous festivals. You messy lot!