Ye Olde Griffin Spiffin.

It is hardly a shock to anyone that I LOVE a good pub. *Gasp!* What I like even more is what my mother calls a ‘Salt and Pepper Pub’, i.e. it goes with everything and it has everything in it! Granted it is a strange saying but actually a ‘Salt and Pepper Pub’ are exactly the right words to describe the latest notch on my party pubbing bed post.

So put your paws together and welcome Ye Olde Griffin in March. This cute pub has everything. Not only do they have 10 B+B en-suite bedrooms upstairs but they also have cracking food, a beer garden,  show sport, have a resident DJ on weekends and they know how to throw one scorcher of a party.

I have actually been invited to this pub on numerous occasions but somehow always got side tracked but I finally got round to visiting last weekend! When I arrived I was greeted by Marina, one half of the Pub Manager / Husband and Wife combo with a smile and was shown to my room upstairs.

The room was spacious, welcoming and clean. What more can you ask for!

After settling in my tummy started rumbling, dinner time!!

. I had lasagne and was SO full I could hardly move.

The bar staff told us very early on that they would be PACKED during the evening but I really believed them when we came back down from my room. That place really was RAMO.

Who fancies a Strawberry Milkshake Shot?

Scores on the (royal) doors: 

Food and service:  Monsterly wicked! RAWR!
Atmosphere and decoration:  Very friendly, great atmosphere.
Facilities:  Didn’t use them but gathering from the rest of the pub I’m sure they were fine!
Talent Radar:  Well my partner was there….don’t tell him… but there were some VERY cute cuties.
Fun Factor: Great food, great party, great sleep!
In 3 words: Rocking, foodie, dance-y

Check out Ye Olde Griffin’s Facebook Page for upcoming events etc. 

Look, I’m on the Smith and Jones Journal

Smith and Jones Journal

When I go to order a bottle of wine, be it in a restaurant or in a pub I will pick a white almost all of the time, I just prefer it. However when I am out with the girls, I have the minority vote and Rose wine is picked for me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t HATE Rose, I just think you can get more flavoursome white varieties.

Having said that, when I DO go for pink I normally pick a wine which is almost orange in colour and it has to be served cold, VERY cold. I know that everyone says you shouldn’t serve anything colder than 12 degrees blah, blah, blah, but on a personal level I always keep my wine cooler at around 8 degrees.

So I was out last week with the girls and as predicted, Rose was ordered, on this occasion Fortant Merlot…

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Vestry, Epsom

Howdy Do Dah!

This week’s blog features a newly discovered bar in Epsom of all places! I actually went to The Vestry simply because I had a business meeting/lunch scheduled there.

I had a little whip round and asked everyone beforehand if they had been there and what it’s like (call it research), and the over-riding opinion was that “It’s reet good for Ale and stuff” or “They have a good beer garden so it had better be sunny”. Both pretty good reviews – albeit brief. Ale and beer gardens are a good match anyway.

Tally Ho’ to The Vestry!

A separate area had already been reserved for us which was handy.

My colleagues were right, it does have a nice beer garden.

Looks like they have a good selection of Real Ale available too.

Do I spy 30% off food? I think so! Pass me a menu!

Scores on the (royal) doors: 

Food and service:  Big up to manager Josh! It’s nice to see a happy Pub Manager.
Atmosphere and decoration:  It’s very nice and airy and very very well kept.
Facilities:  Again…shiny, lovely and clean!
Talent Radar:  According to Josh, a real mixture, younger on the weekends.
Fun Factor: Well I was there for a meeting but it has the potential to be a good party spot.
Perfect for: Lunch, Real Ale, sunny beer gardens, meetings
In 3 words: Two thumbs up.

We booked our area through Party at the Pub, if you want to do the same, visit their website.

Bonobo, Burlesque, Brilliance

Hello Party Princesses!

I’ve been a little quiet now and feel like I’ve neglected you all but I’m back with the tales of my travels and with a cracker of a party!

You may have seen my post about the Gate London – I went along, had a great time but forgot my camera and felt like a class idiot….top marks to me! WELL, I got an invite last week from the Party Planner at The Gate telling me about a Bonobos Charity Burlesque and Cabaret fundraiser and couldn’t really turn it down! Love a bit of burlesque and thankfully I took my camera this time.

Bonobos are often referred to as “the forgotten ape” but these beauts are so bloody cute! How can you not share a grin with this fella!

Burlesque nights are always an excuse to release my inner Ditta and glam up! Deep red shoes and lipstick – Check, blue leopard print waist nipping dress – Check!

Glancing over the line-up, it fair to say we were in for a treat! Burlesque dancers, exotic fan dancer’s country singers, belly dancers, retro singers and even a group of Cellists!

Niko - Party Planner for The Gate x

The pub was CHOCKA! Perhaps a little overfilled but everyone had got into the spirit and I actually ended up talking to some complete strangers and meeting lots a great people whilst being pressed against the bar!

The bar still had their “buy 2 glasses get the rest of the bottle free” promotion so of course I had to make the most of it….again!

Our first act of the night was the very funny and beautiful Ginger cupcake! She teased us with her cleaning come dancer show. Definitely gave us a few tips on how to remove our stockings and sexily remove the rubber gloves. Washing up will never be the same again!

Ginger Cupcake

In the words of Katy Perry – “Show me your Peacock” Here we have the exotic fan dancer who gave us a short but sweet show. I love her fans! 😉

Next up, a little Turkish delight (Sorry for the pun!) Belly dancing was oddly hypnotic; I wish I could twirl my hips like that.

The next act was by far my favourite of the night. The Massive Violins! A 5 piece Cello group. This is not your usual cello act though; you won’t find a Mozart number with these guys.

They rocked some classic pop songs from Queens, “bohemian rhapsody”, Jungle Books “Ape like you” and Johnny Cash classics but the surprise of the night was that 90’s school disco classic “Sex on the Beach”. My jaw hit the floor, it was incredible. Such a nice surprise and a massive round of applause! The singer – Camilla – blew the roof off The Gate, such a powerful voice for such a tiny girl!

Scores on the (royal) doors: 

Food and service:  Attentive staff so even though it was super busy you never had to wait more than few minutes
Atmosphere and decoration:  Giddy and very excitable
Facilities:  Spick and span. Could have done with more seats but we made do!
Talent Radar: From the young to the old, something for everyone!
Fun Factor: Over exposure to goodness!
Perfect for: EVERYTHING! I had the BEST time and hope there will be another one soon!
In 3 words: Bonobo, Burlesque, Brilliance

Visit the Bonobo website and The Gate’s Facebook for upcoming events