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Archive for Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar

Jo & Jamie are part of the Met Bar A-team. Jo James heads up Marketing & Public Relations for both of Como Hotels & Resorts’ fabulous London properties; Metropolitan London and The Halkin. Nearly three years into her dream role, Jo has enjoyed her creative input in keeping both hotels at the forefront of the London scene. Jamie is the Met Bar’s star Membership Secretary looking after the 3,000+ members, and securing the best parties in town. After a career start in Fashion PR, Jamie brings his ‘bleached & blazer’ approach to the Met Bar unleashing a fresh cocktail of fashion zest to all he does!

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5 Nov

Met Bar Spooktacular – Part II

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars No Comments

The Met Bar team

We know you’ve all been waiting with baited breath for our second Halloween instalment, following our Met Bar Spooktacular – Part I, and now that we have *finally* recovered, here it is!

Last Thursday the Met Bar was transformed by the fabulous Serena Mattar into a rock’ n’roll graveyard for our Death on the Dancefloor party. Giant cobwebs, dismembered skeletons and ex-rockstars’ gravestones littered the bar, making more than a few of our day-time guests jump!

As dusk descended, the Broken Hearts hit the decks and the special effects make-up team from Lost In Beauty, Primrose Hill arrived to give the Met Bar team our macabre makeovers. With us both transformed into a vixen vampire victim and suicide cupid (guess which was which!), it was time to drink some Devil’s Punch and get the party started.

Joined by the ever fabulous Johnny Blue Eyes (stylist to Beth Ditto) dressed as no other than Jesus (complete with light-up crown) the party was full of the weird, the wonderful and the downright scary. Miss Pandemonia was resplendent in her usual PVC get up. Throw in a couple of super-sized red Japanese wigs, Marie Antoinette’s ghost and a dead prom queen and you’ll get the idea!

When Freddie Mercury scrambled onto the bar for a rendition of  We Will Rock You, we knew our Halloween party was going down in the history books! Definitely one of the wildest and kookiest nights we’ve ever had in the bar, and our members certainly created the infamous electric atmosphere.

And, as if one Halloween party weren’t enough, on Saturday night the bar hosted fright night festivities again. Yes, two of our members clubbed together and hosted a Halloween party for a crowd of 150 guests. Jamie dusted down his wings and shot himself through the heart once again to join in yet another gory celebration, with the bar hitting capacity for the second time in a week!

Suffice to say we are now ready to leave Halloween behind for another year… roll on Christmas!

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27 Oct

Met Bar Spooktacular – Part I

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Clubs, Pubs & Bars No Comments

Scream Tea at the Met BarWith our penchant for extrovert occasions, it’s no surprise that we take Halloween very seriously here at the Met Bar. Not content with just one instalment we will be updating you on our Halloween happenings in a two-part fright night special.

Yesterday saw the launch of our Scream Tea menu in collaboration with turntable goddesses, the Broken Hearts. Inspired by the work of Tim Burton and Tim Walker, as well as their own interest in the macabre and the aesthetics of Halloween, the Broken Hearts have created a delectable seasonal menu that will be available daily 3pm-6pm from Monday 26 October until Saturday 7 November.

Guests can expect a frightfully delightful menu including seasonal pumpkin, blackberry and blood-red versions of the legendary low-fat cupcakes, combined with a classic Broken Hearts colour palette and a few spooky surprises such as taxidermy crows, giant spiders and edible artwork by illustrator and Halloween-enthusiast Rob Flowers. You can also expect to hear a mouth-watering culinary soundtrack handpicked by the Broken Hearts themselves.

And speaking of the Broken Hearts, they will be our special guest DJs on Thursday night for our Death on the Dancefloor Halloween Extravaganza – until then ”stay spooked” for our next episode where we will spill all the gory details…

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8 Oct

FrankMusik Live and Found at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Clubs, Pubs & Bars No Comments

FrankMusicAs a child of the electro generation, it’s no surprise Jamie became a big fan of electro-pop whizz kid and singer-songwriter du jour, FrankMusik.

Recently back from touring with Keane, Pet Shop Boys, Lady GaGa and Perez Hilton Presents in the US, it only took a few calls to entice FrankMusik to the Met Bar decks.

Or, we should say BACK to the Met Bar decks? Although not commonly known, FrankMusik used to DJ here regularly before starting his glittering music career!

His return was much anticipated, and after a quick bite in Nobu on Thursday evening, he came down to an already packed bar full of Met Bar members, achingly cool music moguls and the gorgeous Natalie Imbruglia (with friends Sam and Holly Branson).

With the paps going crazy outside, the atmosphere was quite simply electric – echoing the sounds from FrankMusik himself including remixes of his latest hits – the beat-boxing and vox-popping went long into the night.

Suffice to say it was Berocca popping for us on Friday morning! Watch this space for the next big Met Bar party…

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26 Sep

Femme Fatale at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Music, Pubs & Bars No Comments

If you have ever been seduced by an alluring woman, you will be familiar with the meaning of Femme Fatale. Until last night we (Jo and Jamie) had never succumbed to the fatal charms of a woman but in true excessive style, we fell for not one but four in one evening!

Last night, our new live music event Femme Fatale debuted in the Met Bar in conjunction with ZEN FM presents, showcasing the best in emerging female musicians. Naively sipping our cocktails, we were unaware of the potent mix of music that was to follow.

Axe Girl

The first performance, a Celtic Harpist called Jharda, enchanted the audience with her haunting voice and melodic strings, delicately evoking a strange desire to dance in the royal courts of Henry VIII.

Then, Axe Girl with her punky attitude rocked the stage with a mix of edgy pop-rock anthems. Cue much head banging and air guitar action.

After we were released from the clutches of our first two sirens, voluptuous songstress Charley Bird sent the audience into a heady whirl of Kit Kat club excitement with her Dietrich-esque voice and pin-up poses.

Finally, Chyna Wyne captivated the crowd with her striking beauty and Reggae beats in her gravity defying high heels (teacher by day, diva by night) whilst we got up and got down to the bongo beats!

Dazed and delighted, we took to our carriages in a love-struck stupor satiated by our first experience of Femme Fatale. Tempted? Join us for the next Femme Fatale in December.

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19 Sep

Lulu’s Tea Party at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Eating Out No Comments

As London Fashion Week rolls into town (cue Balmania on the streets!), The Met Bar has created an afternoon tea in honour of  iconic handbag designer Lulu Guinness.

Lulu's Tea

The lip-licious version of our Afternoon De-Light menu is inspired by Lulu’s famous lip clutches, Pollyanna pochettes and Lulu Cameo heads. The low-calorie treats are all in vivid paint-box pinks and this season’s must-have purples reflecting her Spring Summer 2010 collection.

Since the Lulu Tea debuted on Monday, the Met Bar has been flooded with fashionistas including London’s top Fashion Bloggers and fashion press (Vogue, Grazia and Harpers Bazaar to name a few). And the Lulu Tea is already fully booked this weekend.

Lulu Guinness will take up residence in the Deluxe Park Suite during London Fashion Week here at the Metropolitan to showcase her Spring Summer 2010 Collection (by appointment-only) alongside Matthew Williamson and some of London’s emerging new talent.

Much as we could gush about the Lulu Tea all day, our wardrobe awaits for a weekend of LFW madness including visits to Vivienne Westwood, Issa, Fashion East, Osman Yousefzada, Mulberry, Luella, and most importantly our very own Lulu Guinness Preview Party!

The Lulu Tea will be available every day from 3pm-6pm in the Met Bar until Saturday 26 September – advance bookings required.

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26 Aug

Fridays are the new Thursdays at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars 1 Comment

Party like at rock star at the Met BarThe latest trend to hit the party circuit is a return to Friday night glamour, leaving Thursday nights in their 5 o’clock shadow.

Whilst the Met Bar’s partying doesn’t discriminate against any weekdays (we are currently recovering from a sponteaneous Monday night hangover!), we have noted a distinct increase in Saturday morning headaches reported from our members. 

You only had to be in the bar  last Friday night to witness the 150-strong crowd, partying without guilty school night cares well into the early hours. The evening began at 8pm with “Club Tropicana” cocktail hour (retro cocktails are in don’t you know?!) to warm up the crowd before fabulous rock chick DJ, Annalisa, took to the decks with her eclectic mix of rock pop hits.

The East meets West crowd saw fashion PRs and graduate designers mingling with glamour sloanes, hedgies and even the odd England Rugby star!

So there you have it; Fridays are the new Thursdays, black is the new grey, and blondes are back (Jamie and Jo included)!

More pubs and bars in London

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12 Aug

Seduction at the Met Bar: Cour-tea-san De-Light…

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Classes, Pubs & Bars No Comments

Cour-tea-san De-light“Is there an art to seduction? How does one become an artist, fluent in the many techniques that can be used to appeal to the senses?”

These are questions that you may never have considered before now but for guests attending ‘Cour-tea-san De-Light’ at the Met Bar on Saturday; it was the hot topic of the day.

The idea to host a series of sassy seduction classes was conceived over several cocktails enjoyed with Kelly Isaac, Founder of seductive lingerie brand, The Modern Courtesan. The classes are designed to present short s-educative experiences from leading experts in a more relaxed, social setting to be enjoyed by groups of friends or couples.

For those who are intrigued as to what happens at a seduction class – please read on.

Firstly, expect delightful sensations throughout the course of the afternoon to tempt ALL your senses! Guests were welcomed by a delicious Ginger & Watermelon Martini before taking to their seats to enjoy an aphrodisiac-inspired version of the Afternoon De-Light menu. Gorgeous cupcakes made with fresh ginger, strawberries and Champagne each topped with a rather suggestive cherry, plus chilli and chocolate macaroons (my personal favourite) to accompany the no-bread sandwich pots and light-as-a-feather scones.

After a brief introduction to Modern Courtesan and the “Seduction Boudoir” (which was later open to acquire weapons of mass seduction), the guest speakers were invited to the stage. Saturday’s guests included best-selling author, Suzanne Portnoy, who spoke on the subject of erotic writing and her fabulous memoirs, plus iconic British photographer John Stoddart whose famous collection includes “Peep World.”

The finale to the class was the gorgeous Pegah, who captivated everyone with her exotic dancing and treated guests to a 20-minute workshop. Sad to shimmy no more, it was time to depart and complete our homework…

The next Cour-tea-san De-Light is scheduled for 26 September between 3 and 5pm.

More classes and workshops in London

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7 Aug

F1 Rocks The Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars No Comments

Black eyed peasIf you have been following our weekly blog, you will already know that it’s not unusual for us to be leaving the Met Bar as the birds are chorusing dawn, high above Park Lane. BUT on Tuesday this week, with the doors closed for only one hour, we arrived, (albeit bleary eyed and in shook) at 5am to set up for a launch event of  ‘F1 Rocks’; a new collaboration between Formula One and Universal Music.

Not usually one to be excited by sport (!) even Jamie got a little caught up in the moment as a Formula One racing car pulled up outside the main hotel reception (personally, it was the leather jumpsuit for me – Jo), and once the wheels arrived on the tarmac it was the green light for a very hectic morning!

Music Execs from Universal were flying through the bar confirming which journalists were attending whilst the most enormous stage and plasma screens were being erected, ready for Bernie Ecclestone’s grand entrance. Then it was ready (with the smoked salmon bagels & mini sausages), set (cue thundering engine noises), go!

For those who missed the newspapers this week, the first F1 Rocks kicks off at the Singaporean Grand Prix in September featuring a fierce line-up of Met Bar loyalists; Beyonce, N.E.R.D and Black Eyed Peas.  

Now all we need to do is get that pop-up Met Bar over to Singapore, which naturally we would need to supervise…

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31 Jul

A Week of Afternoon De-Light…

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars No Comments

Afternoon_Delight“…Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight”…some of you may recognise the lyrics from the Starland Vocal Band (later used in hilarious comedy, Anchorman) but to Jamie and I, the words play out like a sweet reminder of our marathon of Afternoon De-Light meetings this week.

For those of you who have not yet indulged in our guilt-free Afternoon De-Light, it’s London’s first ultra-chic yet waist-friendly version of the quintessential occasion.

Our marathon began on Monday. Following the success of the after-party at The Met Bar, we celebrated our accidental initiation into the “Ministry of Waxing”, truly converted by their manifesto to perfectly manicure the bushes of London’s elite – population that is!

On Tuesday, we welcomed vintage record-spinning DJs to the bar, the Broken Hearts (also known as Amber & Nisha), renowned for their kitsch costumes and fabulously themed parties. They will be making a guest appearance on the Afternoon De-Light roster in October with “The Broken Hearts present Scream Tea – a Halloween Spooktacular”!

On Wednesday, sassy author-in-the-making Bethanie Lunn joined us to experience the menu in order to include it in her forthcoming book, “The Modern Girls’ Guide to Fabulousness”. As a previous Burlesque performer and girl-about-town, word of our delectable tea had been ringing in her ears and she could resist temptation no longer. Perhaps it was the promise of a Victoria’s Secret cocktail?!

With more than 20 low-fat cupcakes (not that we’re counting) consumed (and still feeling saintly), yesterday we reached the dizzying heights of delight when seductive lingerie brand, The Modern Courtesan visited, who in less than seven days (8 August, to be exact) will be co-hosting our “Cour-tea-san De-Light” – sassy seduction classes where you can have your cake on the side.

Here we are at the start of a new day, with another meeting and yes, you’ve guessed it we’re “gonna grab some afternoon delight”…!

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24 Jul

An Awsum show featuring the great ‘Dynamo’

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Clubs, Comedy, Music, Pubs & Bars 1 Comment
JA showSix months ago when Met Bar loyalist, Jonny Awsum, announced that his dream was to become a TV presenter, we first congratulated him on the marvelous idea to publicise the quick-wit and quite simply rather strange sense of humour we had come to love, but we knew that his first appearance had to be on a stage here!

On Wednesday night Episode 5 of The Jonny Awsum Show took place with its winning formula of anarchic comedy, celebrity guests, live music and the infamous Rock & Roll raffle. ‘RE-DRAW!’ – Sorry, you just had to be there on the night! Think Jonathan Ross meets Generation Game meets School Panto BUT on acid! It is a spectacle that can only be truly appreciated by all those who have witnessed a show first-hand.

Wednesday night was electric with guests including outstanding British magician, Dynamo, whose celebrity followers include David Beckham, Kings of Leon and Jay-Z (we are all still baffled by his crazy mobile phone disappearing, and re-appearing in a glass water bottle trick!) plus live music from Beans on Toast, and singer-songwriter Jersey Budd. Best-selling author Suzanne Portnoy also popped in for a second appearance with a sneak preview from her new erotic memoirs.

Jonny is taking August off due to a bi-annual trip to L.A to meet with his psychedelic track-suit outfitters, and catch up with his Hollywood celebrity pals. He will be returning to the stage on Wednesday 16th September, holiday photos and all! For now, “Goodbye from the Jonny Awsum show….”

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