Vashi Diamonds soirée

I was invited along to the Vashi Diamonds private preview party in London to check out some of their latest pieces. Vashi Diamonds, founded by celebrity jeweller Vashi Dominguez, is one of London’s top jewellery brands and is rapidly gaining popularity across Europe.It was an intimate event so we were given the opportunity to get a close-up look at the selection of diamonds.

Air France Vintage Fashion Show

Air France recently put on a rather special soirée for its partners, in celebration of the airline’s legacy and future.The event featured a runway showcase of Air France’s flight crew uniforms, dating back to the 1930s and its first commercial flights. I was lucky enough to be invited along for the ride. In essence of the ‘high life’ the event was hosted at the top of the Millbank Tower, which boasts stunning views across London. It was an evening of chocolates, champagne and gorgeous models. A winning combination if you ask me. 

Pret A Diner at Hotel Cafe Royal

The entourage of Pret A Diner arrived back in London to present ‘The Bohemians – from Rogues to Royals’ at Hotel Cafe Royal. I attended its launch event to get a preview of what the quirky pop-up restaurant has in store for its four-week residency in London.

The Bohemians celebrates the clashing of cultures and the reconciliation of opposites, making for a truly unique dining experience. Hotel Cafe Royal’s Domino Room was transformed with neon lighting, caucuses, towering bouquets of flowers and walls adorned with artwork curated by The Unit London. It all came together to create an immersive dining atmosphere of quirky decadence.

Gentleman’s Lounge – The Park Tower Knightsbridge

In celebration of the 550th anniversary of the first-ever known batch of whiskey, Chivas Regal hosted a pop-up Gentleman’s Lounge at the Park Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge. The Gentleman’s Lounge offered exclusive experiences associated with British gentlemen, including whiskey blending, shoe shining, cigars and an exclusive cocktail and dinner menu.

We headed down to the Hyde Bar for an evening of whiskey-fuelled fun and an insight into what the Gentleman’s lounge has in store. The evening began with a whiskey masterclass hosted by drink aficionado, Liam Scandrett, from The Drinkologists.

Liam explained the subtle differences between the Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25-year-old scotch whiskeys and shared details about what the ageing process entails.

National Reality TV Awards – Porchester Hall

I was lucky enough to attend the 5th annual National Reality TV Awards at London’s Porchester Hall. With over 6.5 million votes cast, we were all excited for the winners to be announced. The awards were presented by Calum Best, Kerry Katona, MP George Galloway, Zara Holland (Miss Great Britain, Sinnita, Bobby Davro and Anthony Costa.

I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to Jordan Kensington, the media mogul behind the National Reality TV Awards. It was a truly great night.

Chablis wine-pairing

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Chablis wine-pairing dinner at The Chancery. The wine-filled evening was an education on the beautiful flavours of Chablis wine and the geology of the Chablis vineyard region, for which it’s attributed. The event was hosted by one of London’s top wine experts, Douglas Blyde, who was on hand to impart some of his wine knowledge.

The evening’s flight of Chablis wines were paired with some delicious dishes by Graham Long, The Chancery’s head chef. The night kicked off down in The Chancery’s wine cellar with a Chablis petit aperitif, paired with crab beignets and some chit-chat. The Chancery itself is a notable Holborn dining spot serving modern European cuisine, located next to the new Saatchi headquarters. It’s fair to say that we all lost count of how many glasses of wine we managed throughout the entire duration of the night but I can safely say that I am a Chablis convert.

Monkey’s Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship

Top bartenders from the length and breadth of the county went head-to-head in the Monkey’s Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship to win the much-desired title of the Bartender of the Year. A crowd of cocktail enthusiasts (myself included) attended the cocktail-fueled grande finale to help judge the winner. The cocktails certainly did bring all the boys (and the girls) to The Yard, Shoreditch, where the event was held.

The night saw a three-bar face-off, with each team competing for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid pop-up at this year’s London Cocktail Week. Earlier rounds of the Monkey’s Shoulder Championship had whittled the contenders down to just three teams representing Newcastle, Bristol and Horsham.

International Women’s Day at Rosewood London

International Women’s Day at Rosewood London

International Women's Day 2024 has just been and gone and this year I marked the occasion at Rosewood London for a beautifully befitting gathering hosted by female-led creative agency, Female Narratives. The gathering was hosted at Rosewood London's Scarfes Bar (which...

First glance at Raffles London at the OWO

First glance at Raffles London at the OWO

Raffles has finally launched in London with the much-anticipated Raffles London at the OWO finally opening its doors. This is an opening that I have been particularly looking forward to, especially as Raffles at the Palm was one of my favourite hangouts in Dubai. Of...

London dining favourites

London dining favourites

When it comes to drinking and dining in London, it’s safe to say that you are spoilt for choice. It’s a city that I have spent a lot of time in, yet have hardly scratched the surface when it comes to its culinary offerings. That said, I thought I’d share some of my...

SAME Forum – House Of Commons

SAME Forum – House Of Commons

I had the pleasure of attending another SAME Forum session, hosted at the House of Commons by friend and chairman Khalid Nadeem, who kindly invited me. As you enter the House of Commons, you come through St Stephen’s Hall, which is incredibly impressive and has some...