“Human beings do better when they feel connected to each other” – Anna Anderson, founder of Kindred
London is one of the most bustling cosmopolitan cities in the world, yet rates of social isolation are higher than anywhere else in the UK, and a staggering 700,000 Londoners feel lonely ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’ according to research. To mark Loneliness awareness week (June 12th – 18th), Kindred – the events, restaurant and co-working space in Hammersmith, is hosting the first ever TogethernessFest offering a week-long celebration of curated events, aiming to bring together the local community and provide an antidote to isolation.
We caught up with the founder of Kindred, Anna Anderson, recognised in CODE Hospitality’s 30 under 30 list, for a heads up on what to expect from London’s newest fest championing togetherness!
Love is in the air! We’ve curated our Top 9 Picks for the perfect Val’s Day Gift – as recommended by our contributors and editors!
1. Choose Love Live
This Valentine’s Day Choose Love LIVE! is coming to the Jazz Café, with live performances from: The Waeve, The Big Pink, Gia Ford and Nuha Ruby Ra plus DJ sets from Nabihah Iqbal, Nadine Shah, Swim Deep and Lou Hayter – with all profits going directly to the emergency fundraiser for Turkey and Syria earthquake response, via Choose Love. Choose Love helps provide refugees and displaced people with everything from lifesaving rescue boats to food and legal advice.
Tuesday 14th February. Tickets are £35.00 and available here
Loving Kindness Workshop at East of Eden on 11th February 2023 230pm-430pm £15. Available both online & in their London studio.
As we approach St Valentines Day we may feel that the celebration of romantic love is a little overwhelming, whether we are in a romantic relationship or not, but love can be celebrated in so many ways. Love for our family and friends, animals, nature, universal love and love for oneself. During our time together we will use the practices of yin yoga, meditation and guided mantra chanting to gently peel back the layers of our energetic body (the pancha koshas) to realise our blissful self; the self that is made of prema (love) and karuna (compassion). Once we have experienced that we are love we will then extend that love outward towards all beings.
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practices beyond asana, whether you have an established practice or are newer to yoga and meditation. The workshop will be accessible for everyone.
Loving Kindness Workshop at East of Eden on 11th February 2023 230pm-430pm £15. Available both online & in their London studio.
As we approach St Valentines Day we may feel that the celebration of romantic love is a little overwhelming, whether we are in a romantic relationship or not, but love can be celebrated in so many ways. Love for our family and friends, animals, nature, universal love and love for oneself. During our time together we will use the practices of yin yoga, meditation and guided mantra chanting to gently peel back the layers of our energetic body (the pancha koshas) to realise our blissful self; the self that is made of prema (love) and karuna (compassion). Once we have experienced that we are love we will then extend that love outward towards all beings.
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practices beyond asana, whether you have an established practice or are newer to yoga and meditation. The workshop will be accessible for everyone.
Luxury fragrance platform and subscription service, HOOHAA, specialising in unisex, niche and artisan-made fragrances. HOOHAA provide a subscription service delivering luxury and niche travel size-friendly scents in 10ml bottles to your door each month, so it’s a complete surprise as to what you might receive. Previous favourites have included Maya Njie, Gallivant, Maison Matine and many more.
HOOHAA is a unique and exclusive gift option and a great alternative to introducing someone to the world of fragrance without blind buying a full-sized perfume bottle. HOOHAA offer gift card subscriptions perfect for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and so on.
Celebrate the many faces of love and affection with carefully curated gifts from Swiss Chocolatier Läderach. Explore their Valentine’s Day Gifts range of chocolates made from premium ingredients. Romantic packaging adds the finishing touch and makes our selection ideal for gifting among friends, family and, of course, for the love of your life.
One Sodastream can save up to thousands of single use plastic bottles!
Of all the plastic ever produced, only about 9% is ever recycled. 12% was incinerated, and 79% ends up in natural environment or landfills. Designed to last, nearly all of it still exists in some form today. SodaStream strives to eliminate up to 67 billion single-use plastic bottles from our planet, by 2025.
Show some love to yourself and the planet by investing in a Sodastream Art. With a unique lever, stainless-steel trim and a slim silhouette, the Art sparkling water maker also features the new Quick Connect technology for fast and easy CO2 cylinder insertion.
Bantof encompasses a unique dining experience reflective of old Soho, through combining flavoursome, stunning small plates, innovative cocktails, live music and art, encapsulated within a luxurious yet cosy and intimate environment.
London’s youngest Michelin chef, Asimakis Chaniotis has curated the food menu on offer at Bantof highlighting fresh seasonal ingredients and dishes from around the world. Bantof’s innovative cocktail menu is headed by Cyan Wong, creating an exciting mix of new and classic cocktails with a twist.
Experience fine-dining at a fraction of the price!
Nestled between Westminster, Victoria and St James’s Park, Yaatra is a modern Indian restaurant that opened last year at the beautiful, Grade II listed Old Westminster Fire Station. Keep an eye out for their soft launch offers of up to 50% off, still floating around!
Spice up your month of love with a date night at Twickenham’s Indian Tapas Restaurant, Tsaretta Spice!
Head Chef Yousuf Mohammed, who cut his teeth in reputable Indian restaurants including Dishoom, Tamarind and Bombay Brasserie before launching Tsaretta Spice, is behind the innovated tapas-style sharing menu. Having grown up in Hyderabad where his father taught him to cook, the menu is inspired by Yousuf’s childhood plus later travels across the sub-continent.
Utilising fresh produce, sourced from local suppliers, and spices procured from the best farms across India, the restaurant redefines Indian food while bringing a fresh perspective to classic, well-loved dishes.
Dietary requirements are also catered for, with an extensive selection of meat-free options along with plant-based dishes and gluten-free choices. Prepared with age-old techniques and finesse, Yousuf’s menus are a labour of love, offering a casual dining experience that goes far beyond the traditional curry house blueprint.
Leaving no stone unturned when it comes to creating an unforgettable experience for guests, Tsaretta Spice’s cocktail list spans well-loved libations to house-made specials. Adding a touch of elegance to mealtimes, the Gulab Martini features a blend of vanilla vodka, pink gin, white Crème de Cacao, rose water and chia seeds, while the popular Spicy Pimpri Martini comprises tequila, strawberry puree, elderflower cordial, Prosecco and Chilli. There’s also a comprehensive wine list, featuring bottles sourced from various vineyards, beers, and non-alcoholic options.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Make a reservation today
📍Tsaretta Spice 55 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NR
It’s a self-care kinda weekend as e.l.f. SKIN hosts their first EVER London pop-up! Treat yourself to a customised, luxe facial with real as e.l.f. skincare. Whether you’re concerned about blemishes, feeling dehydrated or experiencing sensitivity, the e.l.f.ing amazing facialists are here to help.
After your consultation, you’ll be treated to a 20-minute facial based on your specific skin concern. Once your skin is good to glow, enjoy all the fun and games the e.l.f. SKIN-clusive spa has to offer – plus FREE e.l.f. SKIN products* to take home!
*Facials are £10 to book and all guests will receive a minimum of £30 worth of product to take away). Facials can be booked here.
Guests are more than welcome to come without booking a facial and experience the products, games and space for themselves.
WHEN? Saturday 28th January 9am-5pm Sunday 29th January 10am -2pm
After a recommendation from The Soho Girl, we decided to check out 28°-50° Oxford Circus and we are so glad we did. This bar is a hidden gem, a stones throw from Oxford Circus away from the hustle and bustle. It’s the perfectSex & The City meets Gossip Girl vibes…
This holiday season Shake Shack is shacking things up with the launch of a festive menu featuring; a new Raclette Burger, and the return of two fan favourite hand-spun Holiday Shakes – Christmas Cookie and Chocolate Milk & Cookies!
We extended an invitation to food blogger, Joan @thenurseoffduty_london to share her thoughts on this season’s limited edition specials…
What’s on the Holiday Menu:
Raclette Burger Raclette cheeseburger topped with house pickled red onions and tangy dijonnaise.
Chocolate Milk & Cookies Shake Chocolate cookies hand-spun with malted chocolate frozen custard, topped with whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles.
I have always loved Shack Shack’s burger and fries, especially when I am catching flights at Gatwick airport. Shake Shack is my go-to ‘on-the-go‘ place because I’m sure it will never let me down. So, when an invite from My London Times arrived, I was happy to take the opportunity to try the latest menu the American chain has to offer. They always come up with new creative menus from burgers to shakes, and this season is no different! We headed to Covent Garden for our experience…
During the holiday season, dealing with the mass of shoppers in Covent Garden is never easy. It took around 30 minutes to queue up, order, and receive our meal – but it is all worth the wait.
So let us start with the review. First, the Raclette Burger.
One thing I love most about Shake Shack burgers is how they are easily packed in sleeves so you can have one mouthful of all the ingredients in one go, without worrying that your whole burger will fall apart. Let’s admit it, we’ve all had that struggle so thanks to shake shack for getting that out of our worries!
The Raclette cheeseburger is topped with house-pickled red onions and tangy dijonnaise. The beef is 100% raised Aberdeen Angus so it was very tasty and juicy! I don’t know about you, but I am a huge lover of pickled onions – So yes please add some more for me! The dijonnaise sauce elevated this burger big time, it is a combination of mayonnaise-based aioli and Dijon mustard. Overall, I will give this a rating of 8/10.
For the Festive Shake, they have two on the menu and I tried both.
The Christmas Cookie Shake is made up of sugar cookie frozen custard topped with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles. It was extremely C•R•E•A•M•Y which is not a bad thing, but personally, I am not a fan of too much cream on drinks so I am rating this one at 6/10. It tastes good though and I loved the holiday sprinkles is are timely for this season ❄️
Lastly, the Chocolate Milk & Cookies Shake is made up of chocolate cookies hand-spun with malted chocolate frozen custard, topped with whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. This is my favourite out of the two shakes! I can taste the malted chocolate custard and chocolate cookie crumbles waltzing in my mouth with every sip! It is amazing and this shake is a 8/10!
Overall, I enjoyed this holiday festive meal. Shake shack has yet again delivered up to the standards that I was expecting. Compared to the other burger competitors (which I have tried a lot), Shake Shack is unique and always has an interesting new menu to try!
So, if you haven’t tried their holiday menu yet… I recommend you do it as soon as possible!
📍Shake Shack Covent Garden | 24, Market Building, The Piazza, London WC2E 8RD
Thenurseoffduty is a food and travel content creator based in London. She is a full-time nurse educator who loves to go on adventures after shift. She has a great passion for exploring new food and travel places in London and other parts of the world. She shares these adventures with her after-shift followers on both TikTok and Instagram @thenurseoffduty_london with the goal to inspire people that there is so much more to do after working hours.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
With the winter air setting in, Lilly’s Cafe have transformed their terrace into a winter wonderland in the heart of Covent Garden. Beautifully decorated with seasonal props giving it an instant Instagrammable rustic scene, complete with snug blankets to keep you toasty. And is there a better way to make a person happier than also serving a divine combination of mulled wine, cheese and bread on the menu?
It’s that time of the year when we see lots of pink ribbons attached to garments in a united stance to raise awareness about breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Over the years we’ve seen some fab collaborations and campaigns to help educate and raise money for the cause… this most recent one comes in the form of stylish fashion accessories from Vendula London!
Shake Shack and Ravneet Gill have joined forces to bring you an exclusive Sticky Toffee Pudding Shake! The shake is the perfect fusion of Ravneet’s signature sticky toffee pudding blended with Shake Shack’s spun-fresh vanilla frozen custard, all topped with crumbled sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce and Maldon Salt.
The limited-edition shake is available at all UK Shacks from 1st October until 11th November.
My London Times 