The Candlelight Club

A firm favourite amongst regulars of London’s vintage scene, the Candlelight Club hosts clandestine parties at which you can get in touch with your inner flapper or beer baron. A Prohibition-themed atmosphere is augmented by a range of delicious cocktails, which are tailored to the theme of individual nights. The next party, based around ‘A Night in Old Havanah’, is on 31 May and tickets are £15.75.

Great Gatsby Nights at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

Indulge in a 1920s-inspired three-course menu with champagne at the hotel’s Great Gatsby nights, which take place every Thursday evening in May. Guests are encouraged to arrive in period attire, and the best dressed each evening will win a stay in the Grand Hyatt New York. Even if you don’t win, however, you can console yourself by dancing the night away to the event’s live jazz band. Tickets are £35.

It’s A Gatsby Swing Thing! at The Ritzy Cinema, Brixton

The cinema celebrates the Great Gatsby’s release by hosting an extra-special swing dance party on 18 May. Guests can show off their charleston and lindy hop to tunes by two great bands: the King’s Cross Hot Club and the Smokey Taps. Fancy dress is actively encouraged and there’s a Swing Patrol dance workshop beforehand (£8) for anyone who needs to brush up on their moves. Tickets to the party are £6, or half price if you have a Great Gatsby film ticket from that day.

1920s Evenings at The Orient Express and The Savoy Hotel

These events are a bit further in the future, but sound like they’re worth the wait! Enjoy a Gin Rickey at The Savoy Hotel’s renowned American Bar before indulging in a sumptuous dinner about the Art Deco carriages of the British Pullman train, which will take guests on a romantic trip through the countryside while they dine. After the meal, you’ll be transported back to the Savoy for a night’s stay in the hotel, which once hosted The Great Gatsby’s author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. The first of these events takes place on 5 September and prices start at £685: see the Orient Express website for full details.

The Prohibition Party

One of the events which arguably galvinised the growth of London’s vintage movement, the Prohibition Party is renowned for its dedication to the 1920s theme. Guests can enjoy cocktails served in teacups before dancing to live bands, trying their luck at the gaming tables or snuggling down to watch some silent cinema. The next event takes place on 1 June at a suitably secret location.

Miss Turnstiles’ Great Gatsby Pamper Party

Head to vintage model Miss Turnstiles’ vintage patisserie in east London for an elegant pamper party, in which you’ll be able to complete your Gatsby look. Not only will you get a manicure and a fabulous hair-do, but you’ll also be given expert make-up tips that will help you perfect the vintage style. The next available party date is 31 May and tickets include cocktails and nibbles: see the website for full details.

Charleston Masterclasses at Claridge’s

Want to prepare for all these Gatsby parties in style? Head down to Claridges, where you can learn to Charleston in the sublime setting of the Art Deco hotel. Guests will watch an expert performance by the Bee’s Knees, before donning vintage-style accessories and learning the moves themselves. Don’t worry about getting out of breath, the event ends with a restorative ‘Flapper’ cocktail! Tickets are £125, see the website for event dates and full details.

Great Gatsby Weekend at Whiteleys Shopping Centre

Get into the Gatsby spirit at this weekend event, which celebrates the best of the 1920s. Open from 12pm to 5pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (17-19 May), Whiteleys’ event will feature an actor-staffed speakeasy bar, swing dance lessons, vintage fashion shows, beauty tips, live music and a dress-up photo booth. Entry is free.

Libertine Presents Gatsby!

Fitzrovia’s newest nightclub jumps straight into the swing of things with its Gatsby party on 23 May. Libertine’s party features champagne, canapés, a live jazz band and a special burlesque performance. Tickets are £30

London isn’t often described as quiet, but Christmas Day is the one day of the year when the capital can feel that way. But there’s actually no shortage of things to do and Christmas Day is a rare chance to explore and experience a different side of London.

There’s no public transport on Christmas Day, but you could opt for a Boris bike to explore Central London with much less traffic around. There will also be a few taxis and mini-cabs for hire.

With limited transport options, and thousands of Christmas calories consumed, walking might be your best bet. You’ll have London’s beautiful architecture, street art and Christmas lights largely to yourself, and walking is the best way to experience it. Take a look at these photos of London on Christmas morning by IanVisits, which include Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Hyde Park Corner.

Tours

You can even go on a guided walking tour. London Walks hosts two walks on Christmas Day: The London of Samuel Pepys at 1pm and Charles Dickens’ London Walk at 2pm. Both walks start at the big Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square and last for two hours.

Westminster guide Peter Berthoud is offering three walking tours on Christmas Day, with the first at 6am for anyone who wants to experience an eerie 28 Days Later-style London! If you’re keen on a Christmas lie-in, you can opt for a post-lunch walk at 4pm.

Fancy a more relaxing tour? Push the boat out and have your Christmas dinner on the Thames, enjoying the sights of the river on a cruise. Or take a luxury coach tour of London with a professional guide.

Activities

Almost all of London’s attractions are closed on Christmas Day, but the weird and wonderful world of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is open all year round. Ripley’s is open from 10am with last admission at 8.30pm on Christmas Day (closing time subject to change so check in advance).

Or, for a different kind of weird and wonderful, head to The Serpentine (lake) at Hyde Park where the hardy members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the annual Peter Pan Cup swimming race. The race starts at 9am.

Christmas Services

Most London churches will have Christmas Day services. It’s best to check with the individual church in advance but Central London churches with Christmas Day services include:

• St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Southwark Cathedral (closes at 1pm)
• St Paul’s Cathedral (arrive early and be prepared to queue)

Eating and Drinking

Many restaurants close on Christmas Day but check our blog post for Christmas dinner options in London.

Some pubs open for a few hours around lunchtime but most will be closed or ticketed in the evening. Make sure you check in advance for opening hours. Hotel bars are a good bet for a drink on Christmas Day, but again, check with the hotel in advance.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for spending Christmas Day in London?

The latest news from the London hotel scene, including openings, refurbishments and more.

New Openings

The new DoubleTree by Hilton London – Marble Arch hotel has opened just in time for anyone planning a Christmas shopping trip to London. Situated behind Marble Arch Tube station, the 121-bedroom hotel is just a few steps from the shops of Oxford Street. If the hotel looks familiar, that’s because it was formerly the Best Western Premier Mostyn Hotel and is also home to the famous Texture restaurant and champagne bar.

Hotel Xanadu opened this month, offering boutique accommodation from £150 a night in Bond Street – Bond Street Ealing, that is! The stylish hotel’s West London location makes it an easy journey to and from Heathrow Airport, and to attractions including Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Wembley Stadium. There’s also a restaurant, Koobla, offering Asian cuisine.

Drink, Dine, Play

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill hotel is opening a new venue, The Churchill Bar and Terrace at the end of November. As the name suggests, the bar pays homage to Winston Churchill, including a life-sized bronze statue. The bar will serve classic cocktails, liquors, spirits and fine cigars, and has an outside heated terrace. Opens 29 November.

Get into the festive spirit at the Andaz Liverpool Street’s Andaz Lounge, which is installing a jukebox next month. Guests can choose a Christmas song for 50p, with proceeds going to London homeless charity Providence Row. Available from 1 to 28 December.

Film fans can indulge at 51 Buckingham Gate’s new Cinema Suite, a huge two-bedroom suite with décor inspired by iconic movie stars and an 85-inch plasma screen TV and 3D sound system. If you fancy a bit of A-list treatment, the suite is available from £5,100.

Extra, Extra

Free, unlimited Wi-Fi is now available at Guoman’s luxury hotels including The Tower, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards and The Charing Cross Hotel.

Situated just a ping pong ball’s throw away from Holborn station, Bounce is built on the same site where table tennis was originally trademarked by J Jaques & Son Ltd in 1901. Complete with blue plaque, the venue is home to a swanky cocktail bar, an up-market pizzeria, a DJ booth and 17 table tennis tables – including an official London 2012 table.

Drawing on the success of similar venues stateside, it’s the brainchild of entrepreneur and accomplished table tennis player Dov Penzik and the co-founder of All Star Lanes, Adam Breeden.

Adam said, “Ping Pong is such an accessible sport, and we believe the most fun sporting activity there is and Bounce is taking the game back to its roots by combining the sport with socialising, entertainment and a touch of glamour and on the very birthplace of the game!”

For more info, visit bouncelondon.co.uk

Other activity bars in London:

Bowling at All Star Lanes
There are no bright lights or flashing arcade games at All Star Lanes – this is boutique bowling! There are four lanes in Holborn, six each in Bayswater and Brick Lane and a whopping 14 at Westfield. Each has a modern American restaurant and cocktail bar, as well as private rooms.
allstarlanes.co.uk

Table Football at Bar Kick
Mostly famous for their many football tables, Bar Kick also offers basement events, lovingly cooked food and cocktails. It is also a great place to watch live football and every 3D match available is shown in the basement
cafekick.co.uk/bar-kick

Snooker and Pool at the Hurricane Room
Open 24/7, the Kings Cross Hurrican Room has recently undergone a £500,000 refurbishment. The swish venue now houses 10 snooker tables, six English pool tables, nine American pool tables and two poker booths. Coaching available.
hurricaneroom.co.uk

Karaoke at Lucky Voice
Lucky Voice bills itself as the UK’s Number One karaoke experience. Hire a private karaoke room for you and your friends in either Soho or Islington, choose from thousands of songs to sing and use the “thirsty” button for waitress service. Discounts and special offers available online.
luckyvoice.com

Darts, Pool, Table Football and a Nintendo Wii at The Bell
The Bell is an independently owned Victorian pub on the fringes of the City. But don’t mistake this for just another city pub as it’s far from it, according to management. Traditional pub grub and space available for private hire.
thebellpub.co.uk

Indoor Golf at Urban Golf
Urban Golf offers a virtual golf experience on simulators, so no matter what the weather you can try your skills on more than 50 of the world’s top courses. Whether you head to the Smithfield, Soho or High Street Kensington branch, you’ll find about seven simulators and a full bar and menu too. Coaching available.
urbangolf.co.uk

Do you have a favourite bar that does more than serve great drinks? Let us know in the comments below

This autumn has already seen a host of exciting new restaurant openings in London.

New D&D Restaurants at The Old Bengal Warehouse

D&D London has launched four new eating and drinking venues at The Old Bengal Warehouse: Fish Market, serving fish and shellfish sourced from the British Isles; New Street Grill, a modern British meat restaurant and grill; The Old Bengal Bar, where you can enjoy classic cocktails; and New Street Wine Shop, which stocks quality, rare and fine wines and serves a menu of light bites.

The Old Bengal Warehouse was built between 1768 and 1771 to store spices, tea, cigars and port. The building featured in a poem by John Masefield, who described it as holding “the wealth of the world and London’s power”.

Chrysan from the Hakkasan Group

The Hakkasan Group has teamed up with top Japanese chef Yoshihiro Murata to launch Chrysan, a pioneering Japanese restaurant near Liverpool Street, which sources local ingredients rather than importing from Japan.

The menu balances tradition and innovation, featuring à la carte dishes as well as a signature kaiseki (similar to haute cuisine) menu for dinner and bento set lunches. There’s also a cocktail bar, NeNe, which offers a unique cocktail list and a menu of lighter dishes.

Restaurants and Bars at South Place Hotel

Angler restaurant has just opened at the new South Place Hotel in the City. Located on the seventh floor with views over the London skyline, Angler serves British seafood and shellfish complemented by a 250-strong wine list.

The hotel also has an informal, all-day restaurant, 3 South Place, as well as a stunning rooftop bar and a “secret” garden bar with plants and a water feature.

More New Restaurants and Bars

Other new openings this month include trendy bar, pizzeria and live music venue B-Soho; Michael Nadra’s second London restaurant in Primrose Hill; Korean restaurant Bibigo Bar and Dining in Soho; Love & Liquor bar on Kilburn High Road; and Death by Burrito, a Mexican grill and cocktail bar at the renowned Catch bar in Shoreditch.

London’s restaurant scene never stays still and there are lots more new openings on the horizon. Look out for more news soon!

Hotel Openings

Novotel London St Pancras has re-opened as the Pullman London St Pancras following a comprehensive refurbishment. The four-star hotel offers 312 bedrooms, free Wi-Fi and a new restaurant serving modern European cuisine. Pullman London St Pancras is just three minutes’ walk from King’s Cross St Pancras Station, making it ideal if you’ve got an early or late train to catch. It’s also well-located for sightseeing, with the British Library and Wellcome Collection within walking distance, and excellent Tube, train and bus links.

Coming Soon

Hotel operator Accor has announced it will open four new hotels in London this October. Novotel London Blackfriars; the flagship ibis London Blackfriars; ibis Shepherd’s Bush, within five minutes’ walk of Westfield London; and Mercure Greenwich in Maurice Drummond House, a 1930s building once used as accommodation for Metropolitan Police Officers. More information about all properties next month.

Eat and Drink

You can now drink and dine at Hilton London Wembley. The hotel has opened Association restaurant, serving modern British fare, and Icons bar, where you can enjoy a cocktail and views of Wembley Stadium.

The Trafalgar Hotel is hosting a pop-up art installation of work by Mark Fairhurst, who became an artist this August after being inspired by the Olympic Games. The hotel has created three new cocktails in celebration of the exhibition, which can be enjoyed in the Rockwell Bar & Restaurant.

The Dorchester Collection have also indulged in some mixology, and created five cocktails inspired by each of the designers shortlisted for this year’s Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize. The cocktails are available until 3 October.

Other News

Fancy staying in a hotel run by Gordon Ramsay and Mary Portas? Then book your stay at Hotel GB, setting up in London for one week only in October as part of a TV series for Channel 4. The hotel will be staffed by TV celebrities and unemployed people looking to gain experience in the hospitality industry. To book, phone + 44(0)20 3227 5851 or email hotelguest@optomen.com explaining why you’d make a good guest on the show. There is a charge to stay at the hotel, which will be donated to unemployment charities.

London’s history is dripping with beer. Alehouses have been present in the capital since Roman times and the impure state of London water always guaranteed that beer was in constant demand.

You can trace this history by visiting buildings like the Old Truman Brewery, or examining the codestone lions on Westminster Bridge, which originally graced the entrance of the Old Red Lion Brewery on the South Bank.

Although there are few survivors of London’s original brewing industry, a new generation of artisan brewers has taken up the mantle and there has never been a better time to visit London pubs to taste the best of what the capital produces.

CAMRA’s London: City of Beer is a new website aiming to enhance your experience of beer in London. At the launch, we learned that the city now has 24 breweries that are creating a phenomenal range of exciting brews. Many of them do guided tours and tastings: try Sambrooks in Battersea or the Fuller’s Griffin Brewery in Chiswick.

Fortunately for those who can’t make it down to the breweries themselves, many London pubs offer a wide selection of real ales and other London beers. From smooth malty Porters made at Meantime in Greenwich to intensely hoppy pale ales from Bermondsey’s The Kernel, there is something to suit everyone’s taste.

London also has a fantastic range of beer-related events and you can search for upcoming festivals, tastings and walks on the City of Beer site www.londoncityofbeer.org.uk. A particular highlight will be the Great British Beer Festival, which runs from 7 to 11 August at Olympia and offers over 800 different beers.

Karoline Zobens-East is a third generation British Latvian whose grandparents moved to Yorkshire after the Second World War. She co-founded www.latviesiem.co.uk. We spoke to Karoline about the Latvian community in London:

I was born in London but from birth have been heavily involved in the Latvian community both in London and England. Although not an EU migrant myself, I interact daily with people who have moved to London from Latvia recently.

The Latvian Community in London

It’s difficult to know the exact number of Latvians living in London, but recent figures suggest the number could be around 20,000. The community itself is much smaller and we can usually expect around 200 people at a large scale event inLondon.

The community is very active with a choir, a traditional dance group, a school and various other organisations and groups. The community actively organises all sorts of events from theatre productions, music concerts and karaoke evenings, to Independence Day celebrations and more formal, traditional celebrations.

The London Latvian House

The London Latvian House is the beating heart of the Latvian community in London: Latvian people, food, drink, music, and atmosphere. It’s the only place in London you will feel the traditions of Latvia at any time of the year.

When the Latvian House was originally bought by the Latvian Welfare Fund (back in the 1950s) its purpose was to be the central meeting point for Latvians in London so they could feel at home away from home.

Nothing much has changed since then. It gives all Latvians in London and the UK a place to stay, to meet friends (there’s a bar in the basement) and to hold all sorts of events.

The choir, dance group and school all use the Latvian house for their rehearsals and classes and the hall provides a perfect space for a small scale concert.

The Latvian bar is a place where Latvians can enjoy Latvian music, food, beer and sports on a regular basis. There are always Latvian beers available to buy, as well as stronger drinks, and on Fridays and Saturdays it’s possible to eat a traditional Latvian supper cooked by Latvian chefs. Every evening ends up in the favourite Latvian pastime – song!

In addition to all this there is also a Latvian library in the house which is open a few days a week which has a vast collection of Latvian books.

I think the Latvian House will also provide Latvians in London a place to come and watch Latvians competing in the Olympic Games. I expect the men’s BMX races to of particular interest, as the current Olympic champion happens to be a Latvian!

Where to Sample Latvian Culture

Apart from the Latvian House and specific events organised by the community, I don’t believe there are any other places in London where you can experience Latvian culture.

However, Latvian produce is available at most Polish and Lithuanian shops so it’s always possible to find a Latvian delight for your dinner!

Setting Up latviesiem.co.uk

I set up latviesiem.co.uk around two years ago, with a friend who moved to England from Latvia. Apart from a couple of websites and newspapers, we felt there was a lack of information about Latvian communities in the UK, and for Latvians who have recently moved to the UK.

We have information designed to help Latvians settle into life in the UK, as well as news about and for Latvians living in the UK. Here they can find travel, education, work and emergency information. Our main audience is Latvians living in the UK, therefore, most of the website is in Latvian.

Is there anywhere else you can experience Latvian culture in London? Tell us in the comments below.

Champagne with a view is what Vertigo 42 offers customers who shoot up the ear-popping lift to the top of Tower 42.

But for those who are bored of plain old bubbly, the bar has introduced an autumn bellini menu, created by Vertigo 42′s mixologist.

The five new cocktails, priced at £14 each, offer a new take on the classic bellini with the following fruity flavours:

• Yuzu and cranberry
• Lychee and hazelnut
• Raspberry, passion fruit and cacao
• Orange and raspberry
• Rose and plum

So that’s five good reasons to visit, but what about the view? Even on a misty winter evening, the view over London was spectacular and I could make out St Paul’s Cathedral, the OXO Tower and City Hall. On a clear day, you can apparently see as far as the Olympic Park.

Jenny was a guest of Vertigo 42.

What’s your favourite view over London?

If you’re feeling brave this Halloween, there’s plenty of ghoulish food and drink to try in London.

At Artesian bar, you can enjoy a scary Vieux Carre cocktail, containing cognac, rye whiskey, vermouth, bitters and herbal liqueur, plus two special ingredients: Columbian giant ants and mopani worms!

Or perhaps you’d prefer The Living Room’s spine-tingling Zombie, Corpse Reviver or Blood & Sand cocktails? (These cocktails are a little tamer: despite the names there are no creepy ingredients.)

Over at Gelupo in Soho, you can enjoy a Sanguinaccio gelato, made from chocolate, pigs’ blood and Marsala. Or head to Harrods for some more traditional treats: chocolates in the shape of witches, ghosts, pumpkins, skulls and eyeballs.

Even cupcakes are going spooky this Halloween. There’s a devilishly delicious selection available at The Hummingbird Bakery, topped with spiders’ webs, monsters, ghosts and pumpkins.

AAGGHH! It’s Alive! comes to Fortnum & Mason’s Demonstration Kitchen on 27 October. You can find out how to make scary Halloween dishes, from finger pies to worm cakes, perfect for Halloween parties.

Or pop into Carluccio’s for some terrifyingly good gifts for trick-or-treaters, including pumpkin lollies, ghost and pumpkin biscuits, ghost meringues, bat biscuits, Halloween jellies and chocolate pumpkins.

Happy Halloween!