This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Happy Friday to all our FAVOURITE readers, take a deep breathe and shout a big...

...because it's the WEEKEND!!!

Week one of November down and only seven more to go until Christmas eeee...OK I promise to only issue a countdown once we hit December - however I'm already secretly very excited!!

When we haven't been secretly wishing away four weeks so we can watch Love Actually and Elf, this week the Mice have mostly been...

Checking out Hoxton Square's new addition (and part of our favourite cocktail group) 5CC Electricity Showrooms. 

I've got a blurry recollection of many nights in my early London years, stumbling around the original Electricity Showrooms bar staring in wonderment at the multi coloured flashing dance floor and generally being a little worse for wear! 

Panic over the bar's still there but the lower floor has been taken over by the fabulous 5CC and transformed the space into a cosy drinking den, with the flashing dance floor still in tact of course!

A couple of weeks ago we fell head over heels for the 5CC bar below, the Well and Bucket on Bethnal Green Road (if you missed it you can check our review out here), so we were super excited to be invited to the Showrooms launch. 

This outpost is a more open space than W&B, but just as cosy and chic. The decor continues in the same 5CC style...leather booths, neon signage adorning the shabby chic walls, candles on every table and an air of a hidden gem fills the room!  

We were kindly greeted with some delicious cocktails - one sip of a Gin and elderflower concoction and I was hooked for the rest of the night! If there is one thing 5CC know it's their cocktails...

With guest DJs at the weekend, I can see that dance floor getting just as much wear as it did before, but this time with a killer cocktail in hand! 

All in all a great addition to the square and of course 3BM's little black book of fun!


Wrapping up snug and cosy...well for a couple of days we did - when the colder weather decided to pop-in. But then last week we were back to temperatures of 24 degrees! Who knows which way it's going to go, however I for one want to be fully prepared when it does permanently kick-in. 

Step one (and the most important in my opinion!) is ensuring your bed is the comfiest, cosiest place to hide away from the Arctic temperatures!! 

When it comes to bed linen we're pretty boring at London Towers, it's pretty much white, white and more white! I love nothing more than crisp white cotton bedding, until that is, I came across Urban Outfitter's range...I think I could possibly be a convert! I may stay safe and stick to the stripes or the arrowheads for now but if you're a little braver they have foxes and all sorts!! 

3BM favs...

Arrowhead Double Duvet Set, £50...

Double Fox Duvet Set, £55...

Double Kenza Duvet Set, £90...

King Size Stripe Duvet Set (check on reverse) Reduced to £55...

Double Stag Duvet Set, £55...

Double Palace Duvet Set, £70...

With step one complete, next up is Coats and Knitwear for the perfect Winter warmer wardrobe but we'll tackle that another time...! 

Right you lovely lot, let the countdown commence to your first G&T of the weekend and let the fun begin...!

x

Boozy Brunch with Mr B...

I've wanted to try Mr Buckley's for some time, however it's one of those places that, unless you live out East, is just not that convenient. The perfect opportunity arose for a girlie weekend lunch with all parties living in the Hagerston and Bethnal Green area! 

Located at 255 Hackney Road, you'll see why it's tricky for a post work meet-up for anyone outside East London, with the closest tube being Bethnal Green and that being a bus journey away, your next best bet is the overground to Cambridge Heath and then a further brisk trot. However, despite these complications, you'd be a fool to miss out on this one! Plus not having a tube station next door means you avoid the crowds and can actually enjoy this little gem! 

 

Having just celebrated his 2nd birthday, Mr Buckley is still relatively young, but fear not, he knows exactly what he's doing!

The ambiance is super laid back, it doesn't try too hard, which creates the perfect cocoon to while away many hours...which is exactly what we did! The decor is simple yet cool - exposed brick walls with peeling paint, mismatched school chairs, Mr Buckley's stencilled across one side of the room, quotes scrawled in neon lights and all dimly lit by shabby outdoor lamps. Urban meets chic at it's best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our visit, the downstairs bar was booked out for a private party, so unfortunately we have no pictures to show, however this didn't stop us from sampling the amazing cocktails! My favourite had to be the 277 - Sloe Gin, lemon juice, cucumber and prosecco...so fresh and incredibly moreish! Having said that the Raspberry and Basil smash slipped down just as easily, as did a bottle of ice cold Savignon Blanc! There's no doubt that we'll back to check out the bar and the rest of the cocktail list!   

 

 

 

And finally...the food! WOW! You're in for a serious treat! We arrived towards the end of the Saturday brunch service, but being four hungover girls with impressive appetites, they kindly served us an edited version of the dinner menu and thank God they did! 

Firstly there's no messing about with small portions, even the jars are big enough for sharing - which was a great way to explore the menu options! We went for:

 

Shredded wild rabbit with chilli & tarragon...

 

Spice roasted peanuts, macadamias & almonds with vanilla salt...

Butterbean hummus with aubergine & pepperade...

Everything is presented beautifully and the flavours they pack in are incredible - who would have thought a jar of nuts could be so delicious...the perfect mix of salt, sweet, spice and delicate vanilla! Jars devoured, we decided to move onto mains...

 

Fillet of sea bass with lemon crushed potatoes & spinach purée...

8oz Onglet steak with bone marrow, blue cheese butter & skinny fries...

Some serious silence went down around a table that had previously been filled with constant chatter, squealing and laughter! There wasn't even time for food envy...both dishes were so lip smackingly good Middle Mouse and I forgot to do the obligatory spoon swap taster! 

 

By this point our tummies were so swollen with our amazing feast and 3 too many cocktails, we decided pudding would have to be bypassed! Well not completely...we ordered a couple of portions of Mr B's salted chocolate fudge and replaced the accompanying coffee with an espresso martini of course!!!! 

Divine is the only word to describe these little diamonds of heaven...wow wow wow...you need to get yourself down there if only to sample these bad boys!!! 

Our new favourite haunt and with a brunch menu and Sunday dinner menu still to sample, one we will need to frequent manyyyyy more times! 

See you soon Mr B.... 

Keep Calm it's Cocktail O'Clock...

With Monday done and dusted, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling parched... There's nothing for it but to give into the cocktail cravings, Thursday's far too far away and as London Cocktail Week's in full swing it would be rude not to. 

So what's in store? Well for the rest of the week 200 of the best bars across London will each be offering a killer signature cocktail for a mere £4 a pop! All you have to do is buy a wristband for £15 here and you're good to go.

In addition to the cocktail drink-up trail there is a whole host of stuff going dowwwwn, including pop-ups, parties and tastings - enough to help you work up a serious thirst. 

With two hundred bars to choose from you may well be wondering where to start? Well, on this Tuesday morning, it's the Mice to the rescue! I'm going to share our 3BM top picks of the best bars in London where this week you can sip on cheap as chips cocktails and give you a sneaky peek as to what's on the menu...

East:

Beagle - cream of the crop due to this being a favourite weekend brunch spot of ours ... 'Go Bananas' with the tequila based concoction charged with a homemade pineapple cordial and pomelo soda.

Worship Street Whistling Shop - whistle your way to drunken ecstacy with the 'Loch Harport Fizz' ... Talisker 10yo, Tawny Port, lemon juice and homemade Rhubarb & Balsamic Shrub shaken with fresh egg white and topped with soda.

Satan's Whiskers: give into temptation with the 'Silver Pineapple' - Havana Club 3yo, fresh pineapple and lime juices and topped with white wine.

3 South Place Bar & Grill: if the unlimited champagne weekend brunch is anything to go by, the 'SPH Autumn' cocktail should be a sure winner - Bacardi infused with cucumber, green tea syrup, lime juice, peach bitters, cooked pear and mint leaves.

Callooh Callay - mix things up with the 'Mexican Mustard Trick' - Don Julio Blanco, shaken with Luxardo maraschino, fresh grapefruit juice and Coleman’s mustard powder.

West:

Beach Blanket Babylon: we're a sucker for their signature Porn Star Martini but could be stolen away by the oh-so-sweet-sounding 'Fig and Honey Sour Vodka' - fresh fig, acacia honey and citrus juices shaken with fresh egg white and served straight up.

The Botanist: stay true to your roots with the 'English Cosmopolitan' - Rhubarb Vodka, Cointreau mixed with cranberry juice and fresh lime.

Upstairs at the Oak: keep summer going with the 'Fresh British Sour' - Bold London Spirit, fresh raspberries, honey and lemon juice and a dash of Peychaud’s bitters.

Central:

Archer Street: 'Do you Pink I'm Sexy' ... yes I do, when you sound this darn good it's pretty hard to resist - Cocchi Rosa Vermouth with elderflower cordial, lemon juice and tonic – served in a champagne flute.

Bourne & Hollingsworth: a fav haunt of ours with teacups, granny wallpaper and cracking cocktails - 'The Rathbone' promises strong things - Rathbone Gin and sweet vermouth, shaken with Grand Marnier and lengthened with fresh pomegranate juice and served in a coupette with seasonal red currents.

Call Me Lucky: a play on the bar name withhhhh wait for it ... 'Lucky Ducky' - a concoction of Bathtub Gin, pear, blackberries, coconut water and fresh grapefruit and apple juices. Served from a punch bowl.

Chotto Matte: if you hadn't guessed by now, we're kinda in love with gin, so here's another gin-based beauty to sip-up ... 'Moshi Moshi #4' - Botanist Gin and Sake, produced using deep sea pacific spring water, married together with St Germain elderflower liqueur and lemon juice.

Riding House Cafe: our number one Espresso Martini hot spot is cheating on us with 'All The Small Things' cocktail - Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka, Aperol, St Germain elderflower liqueur, cucumber, egg white, lemon and tonic - go on then, we'll try it ... if we have to!

North:

Made in Brasil Boteco: show your fruity Brazilian side with the 'Mango & Passionfruit Caipirinha' - Cachaça, muddled fresh lime, white sugar and mango & passionfruit pure served over crushed ice.

Porky's BBQ Camden: taste-test the 'Jam Julep' - Evan Williams Bourbon, raspberry syrup, blackberry syrup, plum bitters and a handful of fresh mint.

York & Albany: cosy up with the 'Pear & Chestnut Julep' cocktail - Homemade pear puree stirred with Chestnut-infused Bulliet Bourbon

South:

Mark's Bar: it doesn't get much better than the 'Tanqueray Autumnal Orchard' - Tanqueray No. TEN Gin, pressed apple juice, Martini Rosso an elderflower cordial.

Northcote Records: prolong summer with the 'Strawberry Fields' cocktail - Vodka churned over crushed ice with fresh chilli, mint, fresh lime and a dot of strawberry puree

Black & Blue Borough Market: 'Bold English Rose' promises bitter sweet deliciousness - an infusion of cherries, cassia, packed with sweet-and-sour cherry, spice and floral notes, mixed with elderflower cordial, fresh lemon juice and raspberries.

Bottom's up!

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

It's F...F...F...Frrrrriday!

Oh yes it is!

And as it's been at least two weeks since one of us was last sunning ourselves on a beach somewhere, you'll be relieved to know that the London Mice will soon be filling your Instagram feeds with lots of sun-soaked smoasting as this weekend they're jetting off on yet another holiday! Lucky little 'uns!

When I haven't been wistfully eyeing my empty suitcase and wishing I was zipping off on a jet plane too, this week this Mouse has mostly been...

Drooling over each and every pair of swoon some heels in the Olivia Palermo x Aquazurra capsule collection. Yeah, we know, she's a reality TV star, but this is hardly your average famous-for-five-minutes-person-lends-their-name-to-shoddy-product collaboration. Take a look at these babies and tell us you aren't at least considering blowing a hefty chunk of August's paycheck on a pair...

Prices start at £375. Fight you for them when they drop on Net-A-Porter on the 25th...

Sipping divine concoctions at my new favourite cocktail hotspot, the Woods. This slinky new addition to Hollywood Road's buzzing bar scene manages to be minimalist yet cosy, buzzy yet quiet enough to have a proper chat and shakes up some of the most deliciously different cocktails I've tried in a very long time.

The Watermelon Cilantro is fruity and aromatic with a spicy kick. 

While the Fizzy Cucumber Gimlet is super refreshing and summery - a garden in a glass. 

I've heard great things about the 4-course prix-fixe cocktail menu which includes a gin basil smash that you quite literally take a hammer to before you drink. Hammered on Hollywood just took on a whole new meaning...

The Woods

17 Hollywood Road

Central 

Hong Kong

+852 2522 0281

Cranking up the aircon and pretending that Autumn's come early, while shopping the awesome Needle knitwear sale. If you haven't discovered Needle yet, hop over to the gorgeously shoppable site immediately - when the cold weather sets in, these cosy chic separates are going to be your NBFs! The Needle fall/winter '14 collection drops in a couple of weeks' time, but until then go and shop up a storm in the sale. Luxe knitwear at a snip? How can you say no to that?! 

Ithica Lace Hole Striped Jumper

Now £67.50 (down from £135)

Ravello Cable Knit Jumper

Now £65 (down from £145)

Capri Colour-blocked Striped Jumper 

Now £44 (down from £125)

So that just leaves us with one last thing to say before we head off for a couple of rounds of celebratory Friday cocktails...

x

The Mice