Category Archives: Travel
License to bartend
Yep, they're British.
Sometimes, only a Brit will do.
Such is the thinking behind BritishBartenders.com, an L.A. company that brings posh British bartenders and staff to service any event.
Started by a British bartending bloke (say that three times fast) named Martin Cole, the business is famous for “private event mixology” and “bartending to the stars,” according to their website. They can provide all of the ingredients, glasswear, alcohol and ice as well as the bar itself for the perfect bash.
I think he’s on to something. Brits know how to make a good, stiff drink. They don’t bat an eye at excess and they know how to tie a Windsor knot. Plus, they know how to pull a proper pint, when you grow tired of cocktails.
Too bad I’m not in L.A…
A Room for London
Who wants to spend the night in a little boat house above Queen Elizabeth Hall overlooking the Thames River? Apparently, everyone!
The above one-bedroom architecture installation, “A Room for London” opened for bookings (from July to December 2012) at midday (translation: noon) last Friday and all nights were sold out in a matter of seconds.
Who could resist the central location, the stunning views and the chance to be a little part of London history? For more opportunities to holiday in this style of living architecture, check out Living-Architecture.co.uk or follow their Twitter.
British pub crazy in Monterey
We spent the long weekend on the Monterey coast and enjoyed some beautiful sunshine in the middle of January. We really are so lucky to live in California!
I’m not quite sure if there is a huge population of Britfolk in Monterey but for a population of 408,000, the city has not one, not two, but five British pubs to speak of.
* The Crown & Anchor, 150 W. Franklin St., Monterey. (831) 649-6496.
* The Bulldog British Pub, 611 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. (831) 658-0686.
* London Bridge Pub, Wharf Number 2, Monterey. (831) 372-0581.
* Brittania Arms Pub & Restaurant, 444 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 656-9543.
* Bullwacker’s, 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. (831) 373-1353.
We went to London Bridge Pub since it welcomed kids and had a kids’ menu (I’ve since discovered that Bullwacker’s is also welcoming of wee ones …) and were instantly transported into your typical British pub atmosphere, which is actually very comforting. There was plenty of London signs, Guinness ads, tea pots and British posters as well as a menu with the usual suspects – pasties, bangers and mash, curry and rice, cottage pie. With a pint of Boddington and some fish and chips, I was, as they say, happy as Larry.
Just who exactly was this mythical Larry?
My guess is that he was a British ex-pat who made his way to Monterey and discovered a home away from home.
Happy New Year!
If travel is in the cards in 2012, check out Taschen’s 4 Cities, a box set of 12 volumes covering hotels, restaurants and shops in London, Paris, New York and Berlin.
In the meantime, have a wonderful New Year’s and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday!
The London 10
Don't miss the London Eye. Photo credit: De:Benutzer:Swgreed
Every time a friend travels to England, I’m inevitably asked for recommendations on the best spots in London. With that in mind, here is my London 10.
1. London Eye. This walk-on ferris wheel provides the best views in the city! Buy your tickets online and avoid the long lines. Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London. SE1 7PB. (0)871 781 3000.
2. Notting Hill. Great boutiques and pubs on Portobello Road and don’t miss Portobello Market.
3. Covent Garden. Plenty of restaurants, boutiques and shops to visit including the world famous cheesemonger Neal’s Yard (17 Shorts Garden, London. WC2H 9AT. 020 7240 5700).
4. Oxford Street. H&M (261-271 Regent Street, London. W1B 2ES.020 7493 4004), Top Shop (216 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LA. 0844 8487 487) and plenty of retail therapy.
5. Theater District. Culture vultures, here’s your spot!
6. Hampstead Heath and Hampstead. You’ll feel like you’re in the country even though you’re only 20 minutes or so from Central London.
7. Green Park, Hyde Park, St. James’s Park, Kensington Park. They all connect. Take a picnic and people watch.
8. British Museum. You can absolutely spend days here and the admission is free. Great Russell Street, London. WC1B 3DG. 020 7323 8299.
9. Tate Modern, (Bankside, London. SE1 9TG. 020 7887 8888) if you like modern art. Also, don’t miss a stroll along the Thames. There are lots of little restaurants and shops there, as well as Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT. (0)20 7902 1400) and the Millennium Bridge.
10. Selfridges Food Hall. Totally amazing. Actually Selfridges department store is amazing. It puts every department store in the US to shame. Fortnum & Mason and Harrods also have amazing food halls but my favorite is still Selfridges. 400 Oxford Street, London. W1A 1AB. 0800 123 400.
Do you have a favorite spot in London? What’s your London 10?
BRITRISH.COM 