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We're
not going to mention the weather this time. No sirrreeee.
So… we're going to sit here and twiddle our thumbs instead.
You know the drill: village
whores, Bedouin
bands, and troupes
of ladyboys. It's so good this weekend, it could rain
for all we care. Oh Sh*t.
This week's guide is brought to you in association with
Oakley,
created for world-class athletes and driven to look beyond
the conventional ideas of industry standards. UJ loves Oakley's
Frogskins for the summer months; makes us feel all athletic,
like.
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FRI V&A VILLAGE FÊTE •
SAT FOR3IGN •
SUN CLASH SUNDAY SESSIONS |
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SATURDAY |
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Stranger
Than Paradise
You've got to wander, sometimes, whether, somewhere in the
curious land of Entertainment, there is a 'Prize for Most
Curious or Silliest Artist Name'. And, assuming for the
moment that there is, surely, then, the Stranger Than Paradise
crew must be the keepers of said award, and tonight's festivities
the grand finale. Top Shelf Jazz? Ms Honey Von Trapp? The
Death of Fly Boy? It's the logical conclusion, Watson.
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SUNDAY |
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EAT |
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The
Garrison
The owners of The Garrison must
have been listening in when I described my perfect
pub as it's as close as darn it.
Managing to do that nicely worn-in, vintage
feel without it seeming hackneyed, it's as if
everything in the place, from the woodwork to
the light-fittings, has been washed up on a
beach and just happens to work in a thrown-together
way.
Well-spaced tables, a higher communal counter
in the middle and more intimate boothy tables
at the back prevent the pub from feeling like
just another boozer and put as much of an emphasis
on the food, which is justly deserved.
Don't expect refined as the style is distinctly
rustic and the portions are almost too generous
but the baked goats cheese starter is gooey
and satisfying and the calves liver melts in
the mouth.
They've just introduced their own, very palateable
red wine, a 100% Petit Verdot produced by Saint
Hilaire in the South of France, and are now
open for free-range, organic, all-the-bells-whistles
breakfast (who isn't these days?). The Garrison
Full & Proper includes Orkney streaky bacon
and Lincolnshire pork and sage sausages.
Ping-pong between their other establishment
East Village down the road and you've got your
whole weekend sorted.
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Hours: |
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Mon-Fri 8am-3.30pm & 6-10pm / Sat-Sun 9-11.30am, 12.30-4pm
& 6-10pm (Sun 9.30pm) |
Place: |
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99-101 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB |
Cost: |
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£30 |
Web: |
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thegarrison.co.uk |
Book: |
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020 7089 9355 |
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The
Connaught
We love it when one of London's grand-dame hotels
has a refurb and the Connaught, which is now
part of the Maybourne Group (which also owns
Claridges and the Berkeley), is no exception.
But forget the rooms - after the bar, which
at the Connaught is another David Collins special,
the bit we're most interested in, of course,
is the food.
Succeeding Angela Hartnett, who will open her
new Italian, Murano, next month, Helene Darroze
is the Michelin-starred French super-chef (the
character of Colette in Ratatouille was apparently
modelled on her) who has brought her charms
to the hotel.
Choose from her eponymous, fine-dining restaurant,
open Monday-Friday - where, as well as poncey
things like oyster tartare with caviar jelly,
there is also a whole Jambon noir on it's own
trolley which is sliced at your table - or the
more relaxed Gallery, open during the weekend,
which focuses on the simple, seasonal and organic,
and looks out over Carlos Place and Mount Street.
The refreshing thing about Darroze is that
she's not a wincey, nouvelle cuisine type but
a self-professed hearty cook who wants to stay
true to her south-western roots. But this is
the Connaught so it's not cheap.
Our advice: sneak in a hip flask of Burgundy.
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Hours: |
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Helene Darroze - Mon-Fri 12-2.15pm & 6.30-10.15
The Gallery - Mon-Fri 7am-10.30pm / Sat-Sun 7.30am-10.30pm |
Place: |
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16 Carlos Place, W1K 2AL |
Cost: |
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HD £100 / G £50 |
Web: |
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the-connaught.co.uk |
Book: |
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HD - 020 3147 7200
G - 020 3147 7100 |
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