My Week on Instagram

Hello, Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. Here is a little Instagram post to let you know what I've been up to over the last few weeks.

I just love this saying

Umbrella's by Vinoteca in London

Having a Pimms at the Udderbelly Festival

Mini raspberry and passion fruit Pavlova's (with lemon curd too)

Soaking up the sunshine in Jersey

Handstands on the beach

With my girls for Natalie's Hen Do in Jersey

Amazing cocktails at the Blind Pig - secret speakeasy in Jersey 

My best friend and I about to run Race for Life Muddy in May.

Getting muddy at Race for Life

What have you been up to recently?

Afternoon Tea at The Pelham

Afternoon Tea is possibly one of my favourite things to do in London
So last weekend I treated my Mum to the Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Peltham Hotel in South Kensington.

It's a very small, boutique kind of hotel right outside the station. In fact, if you didn't know it was there, you would probably walk straight past it.

We certainly did.

Inside, the staff greet you and whisk you off in the tinest of lifts down to the bar area.

It was very quiet when we went which suited us just fine.

The waiters promptly brought us the menu to choose from a selection of teas.

They were all fairly different types and ones I have never tried before.

One in particular caught me eye.....

'Skinny B*tch'
Naturally, I had to try that one.

I can't say it made me skinny but it did taste good.

We started with sandwiches whilst sipping on cold, light Champagne.

Moving on to my favourite course....scones with cream and jam.

It's surprising, given the size of the portions that afternoon tea makes you rather full.

So I was glad to see that the cake portions were a little daintier.

I would definitely recommend coming here for Afternoon Tea. It's not one of the most extravagant locations but Mum and I are on a bit of a mission to try as many as possible.

If you have any recommendations for places I should visit next for Afternoon Tea please do let me know. Alternatively, if you want any other suggestions for Afternoon Tea Hotels, again let me know in the comments. I'd be more than happy to tell you my favourite locations.

I think I could talk about tea all day. 

It’s all about Cahoots!

Soho’s new underground, tube themed bar has officially opened. So last night I headed back to the 1940’s to see what all the fuss was about. 

In an old air raid shelter in soho, you will find a secretive yet stylish, post war bar. That is, IF you can find it.

It's hard to get in without a reservation because the bar has only just opened and it's still extremely popular but we tried anyway and luckily we made our way underground. 

Take your ticket to the ticket inspector who will buzz you through to the train. 

Inside, it’s pretty cool but I don’t want to spoil too much because I think the beauty about this place is that it’s different, quirky and almost a bit taboo. You do feel like you’re in a speakeasy.

Apart from the atmosphere being electric, the cocktails are incredible.

Drinks can be served in Thermos flasks, milk bottles and goblets with drink ingredients ranging from oxo cubes to the sweetest mouth-watering cocktails I have ever tried.

Feeling peckish, we even ordered something from the rations menu.

Cheese and pickle sandwiches and crisp and salad cream ones too.

This bar is great but hats off must also go to the staff as well who are brilliant. Attentive and friendly they whizz around the place always in character and ensuring that you are having a ‘swinging’ good time. 

My advice is to try and book a reservation as early as you can. They don’t really let you in without one.
It's only been open for 2 weeks and already the waiting list extends until the end of May

However, I was still advised to try on the day and I’m so glad I did. Eventually the kind chap on the door let us through and even managed to find us a table.

So if you can’t get a reservation, just show up and smile sweetly at the man on the door. 

And don’t forget to ‘Follow the Trains’. 

Brandshatch Spa Hotel

Last weekend Mum and I decided to slip away for a weekend of pampering and relaxation and so we went to the Brandshatch Hotel and Spa.

This was the entrance to the hotel which I thought was pretty. I love the big grand staircase that led up to the wooden door. It almost felt like a large house more than a hotel and it was definitely warm and inviting once you stepped inside. 

After checking in, we made our way to the pool area. Unfortunately I didn't take a pictures of this but here are a few others I did take. 

Our room was cosy and warm and I knew I couldn't wait to jump into that bed later.

The relaxation room at the Spa. 

Relaxing in my dressing gown, sipping tea and reading travelling magazines....

After a while, we slipped back to the room to get ready for dinner.

 Tea smoked duck for starter.

Steak for main.

And a melt in the middle chocolate pudding with salted caramel ice cream...Heaven.

I highly recommend a weekend at the Brandshatch Spa. You can find their website here
The staff are friendly, the food is great and if you are looking to find some peace and quiet, then you should definitely head on over. 

My only advice is, if you want any treatments book them early or as much in advance as you can. They can get very busy. 

Enjoy. 

My week on Instagram

Sorry I haven't done one of these posts in a while but here we go. 

Here's what I have been getting up to recently via Instagram.

Mum and I went for a Spa Weekend at Brandshatch Hotel last weekend. 

This was the entrance to the hotel. 

Having dinner at the hotel. The food was amazing. 

This was my starter, tea smoked duck.

Learning how to shuck Oysters for the first time with home made Mignonette sauce.

My Valentine's cupcake. 

Catching up with these crazy people in Camden. 

My old housemates, Alice and Craig. 

Secret Santa with my girls. 

(doesn't this look like a swimming team picture)

I know it's not Christmas but I couldn't resist showing you this picture. 

It's a cake made entirely out of sweets! Now that's my kind of cake. 

What have you been getting up to recently?

Make sure you follow me on instagram...........Kirsty_Blondie 

x

Ravello in Italy

On Wednesday morning we grabbed the early morning flight to Naples, Italy.

But before I get carried away in showing you the town and it’s amazing views, I must tell you the reason why we’re here. 

On Friday, one of my very good friends gets married.
This trip has been planned since January so finally the girls…..and the boys of course, boarded a flight to the Amafli Coast. 

We had no idea what amazing views awaited us.

Our trip took us to Ravello about 30 minutes away from the Amalfi Coast.
Completely picturesque, this little village sits on top of a hill overlooking the breath taking coastline. 

I’d been to Sorrento many years ago but had completely forgotten just how beautiful Italy was. 

We checked in to a little bnb called 'Il Rosetto'. Small, cosy and basic….we didn’t need anything more.
The little room we stayed in actually had a lemon grove courtyard which was beautiful. 

Our evening was spent eating, drinking and mainly just catching with the girls and everyone's recent adventures.

Breakfast the next morning was extremely tasty. They brought out a huge array of croissants (every type you could image...freshly baked), bread and refreshing glasses of freshly squeezed orange and raspberry juice.

A few of our group decided to go to Pompeii for the day but looking for something a little more relaxing, we got the bus to Amalfi.

Amalfi unlike Ravello rather was busy.
Bustling with locals, mopeds and rather speedy buses,  we escaped onto one of the side streets where we went to explore the shops.

 Some of the gang (Chris, Kelly, Laura, Luke, Ian and I) exploring the streets of Amalfi. 

Shopping for Limoncello and strange coloured pasta.

I actually bought the green, pink and white pasta that's on the top basket on the left. 

Keen to explore as much as we could, we decided to get the boat to Positiano. Unfortunately we had just missed one but fortunately for us we came prepared with our bikini's and so relaxed on the beach until the next ferry arrived. 

We even managed to have a quick dip before it was time to go. 

The ferry didn't take long, about 40 minutes but I could not recommend this journey enough.

Forget the bus. This is the way to see the Amalfi coast at it's best.

Who wants to be stuck in a stuffy car when you can enjoy being on the water, looking at this view. 

I know where I'd rather be. 

We didn't stay for long in Positiano but we did find a little coffee bar that served amazing ice creams and if that wasn't enough just look at this view. 

I would have loved to have explore Positiano a bit more but I guess I'll have to save that for next time.