Author: Blake Foster

Tucked away next to the iconic Television Centre in White City, The Broadcaster offered a cosy yet lively escape from the dreary weather outside. Upon arriving, we stepped into a lift with clear signage: G – pub and bar, 1 – dining room, 2 – the playroom, and 3 – rooftop bar. We were whisked away to the rooftop bar. Despite the recent burst of spring warmth giving way to dark clouds and drizzle, the weather only added to the atmosphere. From up high, we could see west London stretching out in the distance, with Westfield glowing under the stormy…

Nestled beneath the breathtaking eight-story glass atrium of The Landmark London, The Winter Garden Restaurant offers a beautiful dining experience that seamlessly blends grandeur with culinary excellence. From the moment I stepped into this stunning space, surrounded by towering palm trees, I knew I was in for something special. The Atrium at The Landmark London (Image: The Landmark) New Head Chef Brian Hennessy, formerly of the Michelin-starred Ritz London,  brings his globetrotting inspiration to every dish, marrying classical flavors with contemporary techniques. I began my meal with the salt-baked beetroot salad, a vibrant dish complemented by a lime beetroot gazpacho and…

Located on Blossom Street just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, Xi Home Dumplings Bay is well-known for its huge array of dumplings, including novelty handmade dumplings made for celebrations like Easter, Christmas and Chinese New Year. Xi Home Dumplings Bay is well-known for its huge array of dumplings. (Image: Amy Williams Consultancy) The restaurant itself features a vibrant and modern design with tributes to its Chinese roots with wall art hanging from the wall art to neon Chinese lettering on the wall. I recently went to try some of their dumplings, and they had a whole host to…

Volleyball England’s Final 4 event will be held at the London venue for the first time ever. The event will take place on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, and will see the top four men’s and women’s teams from the 2024-25 Super League season compete for the national championship. The teams, which include overseas stars and England internationals, will first play in the four knockout semi-finals on Saturday, starting at 11.30am. The gold and bronze medal matches will follow on Sunday, starting at 10am. Rob Payne, Volleyball England’s strategic manager for An Ace Service, said: “There is a…

This week’s planning applications in the Royal Borough of Greenwich include a variety of home improvements and tree works. Among these is a request from 54 Foxes Dale, SE3, to remove two large conifers in the rear garden, citing a light issue. The application, registered under reference number 25/0905/TC, mentions an oak tree situated between the conifers. Other tree-related applications include a request from 65 St Johns Park, SE3, to reduce the height of three Leylandii trees by 5m (Ref. No: 25/0894/TC), and a proposal from 56 Eaglesfield Road, SE18, to remove a sycamore tree and treat the stump (Ref.…

Data from the company revealed that on average people waited 15.73 weeks to take a driving test between April 2022 and March 2023 in London. The area with the longest waiting times to take a driving test in south London is Sidcup, with an average wait time of 17.48 weeks – ranked at number 23 out of 30 on the list, making it one of the highest in the London. Erith came in with slightly less with wait times averaging at 16.2 weeks. In Bromley people waited an average of  14.94 weeks which was slightly longer than people in West Wickham where wait times…

Salad Days Market was founded by twin duo Liv and Dais, who started running markets at their local library in Crystal Palace back in 2019. The market was an instant hit with “hundreds of people” turning up for the event, and after it grew in popularity the pair decided to quit their 9 to 5 jobs working in fashion, to dedicate their full attention to Salad Days. Salad Days Market was founded by twin duo Liv and Dais, who started running markets at their local library in Crystal Palace back in 2019. (Image: Salad Days Market) The market brings in…

Marylebone station has space for 462 bikes, while Euston can store 415. The London terminal with the most space is Paddington with 682 places, while Waterloo has spaces for 573. For those who get warm in the saddle, Paddington and Euston also have shower facilities.  All four are in the top 20 stations in Britain for storage, according to the survey by Leisure Lakes bike suppliers. “Many stations are ‘cycle friendly’ with plenty of storage,” the company’s Ben Mercer said. “This makes cycling more accessible to commuters or students.”  Security is taken seriously with nearly all stations having CCTV in storage…

Chelmsford – the first Essex town to gain city status – is the regional winner for the east of England in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. Only a 30-minute drive from Romford and a 35-minute train ride from central London, the city is described by the Sunday Times judges as the “perfect example of a modern commuter hub”. Chelmsford is only a 35-minute train journey from central London (Image: Google Maps) It also makes for a great day out if you live in Havering, with “something to suit all interests” according to Visit Essex. Some top-rated attractions on TripAdvisor…

The phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. The three are not completely aligned, so only part of the Sun is obscured. The eclipse peaked in London at around 11am on Saturday and was visible in parts of the country from between around 10am and noon. The phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. (Image: PA) Astronomer Imo Bell, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said at 11.15am: “There’s been nothing unexpected, but that’s the cool thing, we’ve known this has been coming for a very long time. “We have the…