Tini London, set up and operated by Nick House & Piers Adam shut it’s doors for the final time this week.
The Walton Street bar opened last year with a fanfare from the duo who also run trendy nightspots Mahiki and Whisky Mist who were hoping to cash-in in the lucrative area. Unfortunately it seems that the recession has claimed another victim with Amika, Willas and Diva Beach closing in recent months.
Once upon a time the Royal Navy was issued beer, wine and spirits in the place of tea, coffee, cocoa and even water. But when the British fleet captured the island of Jamaica in 1655, half a pint of rum a day became the ration of choice.
This was later mixed with a quart of water (becoming grog) at the behest of Admiral Edward Vernon – sailors didn’t get accused of being blind drunk for nothing! The mixing took place daily in the presence of the Lieutenant who ensured that no man was done out of his fair share.
The issue was further reduced to a two and a half ounce tot in the nineteenth century but the 300 year old tradition finally came to an end on 31 July 1970 at precisely six bells in the forenoon watch – a health and safety measure no doubt!
Forget Black Monday, that day has been forever enshrined in naval history as ‘Black Tot Day’.
Imperial gallon stone flagons were filled and sealed under HM Customs & Excise supervision, sitting silently for nearly 40 years save for State occasions and Royal weddings.
Now, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of this memorable day in British Royal Navy history, the very same rum is being introduced as a limited release called Black Tot Last Consignment.
The brew comes in a traditional glass rum bottle sealed with black wax and presented in a black walnut box along with a certificate of authenticity. It also comes with a replica silver lined copper tot cup which is a good job because at £600 a bottle you certainly don’t want to be drinking it all at once.
“Sometimes you have to say goodbye to the things you know, and hello to the things you don’t” intoned Steve McQueen.
We couldn’t agree more which is why we’re hot footing it to the glamorous new addition to the Shoreditch scene that is McQueen.
The new bar and club in Tabernacle Street is inspired by vintage Hollywood and legends of the silver screen from the 1920s right through to the 1960s, guests will call to mind all the cinematic greats: Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando, James Dean and of course that king of cool, McQueen himself.
The interior design is iconic 1950s to a tee and styled as a sophisticated NYC loft apartment with oversized Chesterfields and Art Deco chrome, quilted leather panelling on the bar and walls, dark mahogany leather and reclaimed oak wood. A smattering of fur and antlers add to the overall effect.
Cocktails are inspired by Golden Age drinks popular with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack but if those are not enough to keep you entertained, then aerial acts from some of the world’s best international performers will certainly do the trick.
For the more sedate, there’s an ever-evolving art collection – currently displaying a lavish mannequin styled sculpture in tribute to that other McQueen, the late Alexander.
And then both in the lounge and downstairs in the club, there’s a serious line-up of celebrity DJ’s and live bands.
Open Thursday – Sunday from noon
The Fridge nightclub in Brixton is back up for sale again after the firm that bought it out of administration decided to sell. Kingdom Entertainment Group bought the iconic nightclub, which was at the heart of the early 1980s New Romantic movement, in April.
But the firm has now decided to place it back on the market “in order to concentrate on another business opportunity that has unexpectedly arisen in a separate sector”, according to selling agent Christie & Co.
Christie & Co is looking for offers over £300,000 for the leasehold interest of the Fridge, which is available at nil premium.
Founded by Andrew Czezowski and Susan Carrington, the Fridge first opened in 1981 in a small club at 390 Brixton Lane. In 1985, as a result of increased popularity, it moved to its current location: a converted 1913 cinema (the Palladium Picture House) on the Town Hall Parade. The nightclub, has a capacity for 1,700 people split across two main rooms.
Barry Fitzgerald from Christie & Co’s London bars and restaurants team, said: “The unexpected return of the Fridge to the market offers a fantastic opportunity for a high-quality operator to acquire this well-known venue, which has the potential to become the leading late-night venue in south London.”
World Food Day falls on 16 October and from 1 September to 31 October, hundreds of Michelin starred and independent restaurants, chains and gastropubs are inviting food lovers to fight world hunger simply by eating out.
Over 500 restaurants will be involved including big guns: The River Café, Locanda Locatelli, Theo Randall, Zuma, The Cinnamon Club, Benares, Launceston Place, St John, Le Gavroche, Hawksmoor, Coq d’Argent, Roka, The Greenhouse, Konstam, The Modern Pantry, Café Spice Namaste and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
Last year over £450,000 was raised for the charity – mainly through discretionary donations of between just 50p and £1 being added to customers’ bills – though restaurants also donated similar amounts from designated bestselling dishes plus overall percentages of food sales over a certain day, week or month.
“This is a great opportunity to be part of a premier fundraising campaign for restaurants that is simple, rewarding and raising money to prevent children dying from malnutrition. Just a little of your time and effort can make a positive difference to peoples’ lives!” says Raymond Blanc, Action Against Hunger Ambassador.
Action Against Hunger wants to make 2010 even more successful. Restaurants can now sign up online to receive a fundraising pack and pledge to collect customer donations during this year’s Fight Hunger Eat Out campaign.
All participants will feature on the website and also on e-newsletters that go out to 4,000 subscribers.
Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organisation committed to saving the lives of malnourished children by providing families with the tools they need to build a sustainable future.
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