Dinner date at Reform Social & Grill Restaurant at The Mandeville hotel

Last Saturday, on our return to London, we went out for our first dinner date as a married couple. I recently visited the Mandeville Hotel so really wanted to check out its restaurant-‘ Reform Social & Grill Restaurant’. For this special occasion, I wore a classic white dress from Coast with some Jones hills and accessorised it with some silver white gold jewellery and my favourite Chanel handbag.

Location:

Reform Social & Grill Restaurant is located at The Mandeville Hotel, just behind the famous shopping street-Oxford Street. It is 5 minutes away from the Bond Street station and is conveniently situated in the center of Mayfair.

Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 8p.m. and arrived just a couple of minutes before. A concierge, took our umbrella (surprise, surprise-it was raining) and showed us where we needed to go. When we entered the restaurant, we were acknowledged straight away and welcomed by a friendly waiter. My new husband mentioned that we just got married a few days before and as a result we were given a great table in the corner of the restaurant that offered us a romantic setting.

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Service:

We were served by a few different staff members who were all professional and attentive. One of the staff members-Italian waiter made our experience extra special by being very friendly and his smiley face made us feel comfortable and welcomed straight away. As soon as we sat down, the chief barman-Maciej- brought us a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate our first outing as a married couple, which was really kind touch and made our evening just a little bit extra special.

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The menu:

Reform Social & Grill Restaurant serves a great British cuisine with a twist.

Starters:

To start with I decided to go for some Crispy South Coast Squids that were served with some lemon and garlic mayonnaise and my husband-James chose some Hendricks Gin Salmon with tartare garnish. Both of these dishes were lip-smacking.

Mains:

There was a great choice of mains but we decided to try the selection from Reform Social’s ‘Josper Grill’ menu. I had a Rib-Eye Steak which cooked to perfection and my liking (medium). It was served with a side of some garlic mash and a mushroom. It was simply delectable.

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James had some minted lamb cutlets with mint yogurt and some coriander which were also very tasty. In addition, we ordered some green beans which pleasantly complimented our mains.

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Desserts:

Some of you might think that it was a weird choice however as soon as I looked at the menu, I decided to order Reform Social’s signature dessert – sweet Yorkshire Puddings selection. Who said that Yorkshire puddings are simply reserved for your Sunday roast? They were simply marvelous and I loved every single bite of these delicious puddings. The sweet selection of puddings was heavenly and included:

  • Chocolate and Carmel Yorkie;
  • Sugared Yorkie that was filled with clotted cream and jam ;
  • Banana and Custard Yorkie.

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My husband was less adventurous and chose some vanilla and chocolate ice-creams which were satisfying but boring if you compared them to my dessert.

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Overall experience:

We both had a lovely time and very really pleased with the food we chose. Reform Social serves some extraordinary, nicely presented food and is reasonably priced. Service was great, location is perfect so if you are around central London then you should definitely check it out! We finished our evening with some die-for cocktails that were prepared for us by Chief Barman-Maciej.

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Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.reformsocialgrill.co.uk/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Tried and tested: Bridal edition-Timeless Truth Masks and Regime Hyaluronic Acid

2 weeks ago, just before my wedding, I decided to give my skin some extra boost and tried some beauty products and supplements.

Firstly, I would like to tell you about the Timeless Truth Sheet Masks. All the masks should be applied on a cleansed skin for 15-20 minutes.One week before my wedding I started following the ‘Cheat Sheet to the perfect-complexion regime’ for brides to be.

imageTo start with (day 1 of the regime), I used the Charcoal Detox Mask. This mask aims to detoxify and the bamboo charcoal extract is impounded in the cloth itself to deeply cleanse and absorb free radicals. After only 20 minutes my skin looked brighter, firmer and felt hydrated.

Secondly (day 3 of the regime), I used Q10 Caviar Mask. This amazing mask is soaked in an intense dose of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the skin as well as Q10 to recharge skin cells and stimulate the production of collagen. After I removed the mask, my skin looked radiant, healthy and felt really soft.

Q10 Caviar Nourishing Mask

Thirdly (day 5 of the regime), I applied the Orchid Extract Mask that aims to renew and repair. The mask instantly hydrates and plumps out the tissue. Once again, my skin felt soft and radiant.

Orchid Extract Replenishing Mask

Lastly (day 7 of the regime), I used the award-winning Apple Stem Cell Collagen Mask. It uses Stem Cells extracted from Swiss Apple to nourish and stimulate the skin in addition to Marine Collagen that helps to promote the elasticity of the skin.

Apple Stem Cell Collagen beauty mask Pure Beauty Awards Winner 2014

After a 7 days, my skin felt better than ever and looked radiant, felt soft and my lines were visibly smaller. All masks can be ordered from: https://ttmasks.co.uk/shop/

Secondly, to improve my skin smoothness, for the last 3 weeks, I was taking a daily capsule of Hyaluronic Acid from Regime London.

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It is a high strength hyaluronic acid supplement that has been enriched with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help improve skin smoothness and texture. In addition, each serving provides 100% of your daily requirement of zinc as well as vitamins B2, B3, C and E. My skin looks definitely smoother and more radiant and small lines from underneath my eyes seem visibly smaller. You can buy this supplement from Superdrug stores or online: http://www.superdrug.com/Health/Vitamins-%26-Supplements/Womens-Health/Regime-London-Hyaluronic-Acid-30-Capsules/p/702025

Price: £19.99 for a month’s worth supply of 30 Capsules.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

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Pauline

I am getting married today!

This day I will marry my best friend,

the one I laugh with,

live for,

dream with,

love.

~ Author Unknown ~

We got engaged last year and I’ve been counting down the days to our wedding for ages but for some reason I couldn’t really sleep yesterday. I decided to write this quick update for all of you as I simply cannot believe that I am getting married today! I’m sort of having little heart attacks over here-in a good way but also in a totally overwhelmed and stressed out sort of way. I’m not anxious at all about ‘being married’ but about how the wedding will go. After months of preparation I hope that all our guests will have fun and enjoy this most important event in our lives.

Today is a day when I will say ‘I do’ to my soulmate and my Prince Charming-James. We have been together for over 4 years and have lived together for a while now so I am sure that he is the person I would like to spend the rest of my life with. I love him with all my heart and cannot wait to call myself ‘his wife’. He makes me complete and I simply unable to imagine my life without him.

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Pauline

Image Consultant Suggestions: Work wardrobe shirts from Hawes & Curtis

“Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

An impression can be formed in as little as 5 seconds. It’s all about your personal brand and style and how this impacts your professional image.

As some of you know, I am a certified image consultant and my objective is to guide, coach and empower my clients using the science of Image Management which in turn helps them progress towards their goals and eventually, succeed. I help to evaluate the style and offer advice and recommendations, tailoring a plan to enhance the confidence and personal power. Starting from this week, I will be sharing with you some styling suggestions.

Are you looking to revamp your work wardrobe? This week, I would like to tell you about the Hawes & Curtis offering.

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Hawes & Curtis is a British heritage brand founded by two tailors Ralph Hawes and George Frederic Curtis in 1913. It currently has 29 stores in the UK and you can also browse and order from their website.

Hawes & Curtis offer great quality shirts that and their ranges are suitable for various shapes and sizes. I am a fan of timeless fashion so I loved the look of their White Fitted Shirt with Frill Detail and decided to get it. This beautiful fitted shirt is designed with frill details on the front panel. It is really chic and elegant. It features single cuffs and is made from a high quality cotton.

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I really enjoy wearing it to work with a skirt or black trousers and heels as it is very stylish and it doesn’t look boring as most of the workwear shirts do. In addition, you can always wear any workwear shirt with more casual attire such as a pair of trousers. It looks wonderful with jeans so if your office, like mine, has a casual Friday’s culture then you could try to pair it with some jeans and either some flats for comfort or heels for some added glamour.

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Tried and tested: Zuzka Beauty, CB12 White

Are you a Natural Beauty? Are you looking for some pure, fresh, handmade cosmetics that look and feel great? Have you heard of Zuzka Beauty yet?

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I recently had an opportunity to try 2 products from Zuzka beauty range and would like to share some feedback on them with you. Firstly, they look very girly-I love pink so Zuzka’s beauty packaging was a big hit with me. I have normal to combination skin so I decided to try:

· Zuzka Beauty Deep Pore Exfoliating Mask (£24.99 for 50ml)

It is a nice exfoliating and deep-pore cleansing clay mask. Its formula is rich in minerals, micro algae particles as well as organic tea tree so it is great to re-balance combination skin. I applied it for 20 minutes and when it dried I washed it off with some warm water. My skin was baby-soft and looked very fresh and glowing. At the same time, the mask also tightened my pores which seemed slightly less visible. I would recommend it to anyone who has a problematic, combination skin.

· Zuzka Beauty Organic Precious Oil for Oily/Problematic Skin (£18 for 30ml)

Zuzka’s Beauty Oil is a best-selling organic oil specifically created for oily and problematic skin.  I used this oil as a part of my night-time skincare routine, instead of my regular Elemis serum. Its formula contains calendula, soya and jojoba oils that are blended with organic essential oils including lavender, tea tree & lemongrass so it is great for oily as well as combination skin.What I liked the most about it was that this oil doesn’t leave oily residue on my skin. It was absorbed quickly and left my skin looking glowing and soft. It costs only £18 and you only need to use 2-4 drops on your skin so it should last for at least one month.

You can purchase both products from Zuzka’s beauty website:

Zuzka Natural Beauty

Another product, that I came across recently is CB12 White Mouthwash. I’ve been using it twice daily (morning & evening) for slightly over 2 weeks now. The product already gave me, whiter and more confident smile. I like how fresh my mouth feels after using it.

The product has 3 aims:

·         To whiten the teeth – CB12 White helps whiten teeth in 2 weeks by dissolving stains and discolouration from the teeth.

·         To freshen the breath – CB12 White includes the patented formula of the CB12 mouth rinses and thereby gives pleasant breath for 12 hours.

·         To protect against the formation of new stains when used on a daily basis.

It is an easy to use, whitening mouth wash that is also non-abrasive and  it strengthens the enamel as it contains fluoride .

The only negative aspect is its price tag-it costs £15 for a 250 ml bottle which is considerably more than what I normally pay for a mouthwash. On the other hand, the results I achieved in only 2 weeks were better than with my regular mouthwash so it might be worth investing a bit more if you wish to achieve a noticeable result. It can be purchased from Boots.

For more information you could visit CB12 website:

http://www.cb12.co.uk/products/new-cb12-white-mouthwash-information/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

Maison Christian Lacroix rooms at The Mandeville Hotel

Last week, I was invited to attend a launch party of the ‘Deluxe Rivera Rooms’ at The Mandeville hotel.

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It was a great opportunity for all attendees to discover a revamped rooms. According to Sacha Walckhoff, Creative Director of Maison Christian Lacrouix, : ‘Bringing the flavour of the French Riviera in the middle of Marylebone is what Mandeville Hotel in London has achieved using our home decor collection ”belle Rives’ for their exquisite new rooms’. During the evening, I had some delicious canapes and enjoyed some delicious cocktails before I went to see the ‘Deluxe Rivera Rooms’.

Rooms:

The fifth floor of this luxury, boutique hotel has been completely transformed in with Christian Lacroix designer fabrics and wallpaper collections to bring the French Rivera to you. The house of Christian Lacroix has been known in Paris and London’s Haute Couture fashion scene for a while now. The newly designed rooms bring together fresh and bold colours using the ‘Belles Rives’ collection.

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I was able to view 4 spectacular rooms:

Jardin Exotique – this amazing room take inspiration from Monaco’s Botanical Garden.

Midnight Blue – my favorite room that brings a sultry and romantic mood with its contrasting interiors.

Jewel Box – a room for any fashion lovers as it features the Cartier jewels stolen in Grace Kelly’s classic film ‘To Catch a Thief’.

Classic Lacroix – is a room that is full of light and creates romantic atmosphere.

Location:

The Mandeville Hotel is located just behind the famous shopping street-Oxford Street. It is 5 minutes away from the Bond Street station and is conveniently situated in the centre of Mayfair.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.mandeville.co.uk/

Hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

 

 

Tried and Tested: Paul Mitchell hair-care

This week I would like to tell you about Paul Mitchell’s hair-care. I normally use either Kerastase or Tony & Guy’s ranges but I wanted to try something new so I got some products from Paul Mitchell. As I have quite fine hair, I went for 4 products from Paul Mitchell’s Extra Body Range and 2 products from Extra Strength Range.

The products that I tested were:

Extra-Body Daily Shampoo – is a great volumizing shampoo that cleanses and adds a body to fine to normal hair.My hair smelt lovely and had a lovely, healthy shine after I used it combined with the conditioner from the same range.

Extra-Body Daily Rinse – is a great daily conditioner that de-tangles and adds volume to fine hair, leaving locks full of body and shine. In addition, it helps repair and prevent damage caused by blow-drying and styling.

Thicken-up styling liquid – is a great styling product that made my thin hair feel thicker. What’s more important, my hair bounced and looked healthy as it added some extra shine and definition to it.

I finished styling my hair with a great Extra-Body Firm Finishing Spray that fights frizz, boosts volume and adds shine. The ingredients such as panthenol and hydrolyzed wheat protein build body so my hair looked and felt thicker.

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Secondly, I would like to tell you about 2 products from the Super Strong range:

Super Strong Daily Conditioner – its formula repairs and protects worn-down locks, leaving hair soft, smooth and moisturized. I would recommend it to anyone who wishes rebuild the internal structure of hair and get a soft and smooth hair.

Super Strong Treatment – it is a great treatment (should be used weekly) that strengthens and rebuilds troubled hair, improving elasticity and protecting from further damage. In addition, it made my hair more manageable and easier to style.

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I would definitely try some more products from Paul Mitchell’s ranges as they made my feel look and feel beautiful. You should all give this brand a go-they have lots of different ranges to choose from.

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Pauline

 

 

JAPANESE AFTERNOON TEA at Silk restaurant at Courthouse Hotel, London

This week, I would like to tell you about my Japanese Afternoon Tea experience at Number Twelve at Courthouse Hotel. I was accompanied by my fiancé-James.

Venue and location:

The Courthouse hotel is a 5 star luxury hotel located in a Grade II Listed Magistrates Court in Mayfair, Central London. It is just situated a couple of minutes’ walk from Oxford Street Station and a stone’s throw away from the famous Liberty London department store.

Japanese Afternoon Tea is served in the Silk Restaurant. It can be found just off the hotel lobby in a classic courtroom setting. It offers innovative Asian fusion cuisine and exotic menu and it features the original judge’s bench, dock and witness stand from its days as the Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court.

Times:

Afternoon Tea is served from 3 pm until 5 pm Monday to Sunday.

Atmosphere:

We reached Silk Restaurant a little bit earlier so we decided to have a quick drink at the hotel’s Sky Terrace Bar located on the 6th floor.

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At around 2:45 p.m. we went downstairs to start our Japanese Afternoon Experience. We were acknowledged straight away and given a table next to the witness stand. The restaurant is very charming and offers a romantic setting to its dinners. There was also a relaxing music playing in the background. We were served by Ana Maria and Jozeph who were both extremely friendly and attentive.

The menu:

We started our Afternoon Tea with a glass of delicious, sweet plum Japanese wine. I am not much of a drinker but I really enjoyed it and will definitely try some other Japanese wines soon. Very shortly after that, we received a selection of sweet and savory treats prepared by Head Chef Rajesh Parmar and his talented team. We both really enjoyed them and emptied our plater very swiftly.

Our sweet treats included:

  • APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE
  • YUZU TART- Tart made from Japanese citrus

Our savory treats included:

  • DAIFUKU – Rice cake with Azuki beans filling
  • TAMAGO – Japanese style sweet omelette
  • INARI POCKET – Honey marinated tofu fillet with rice
  • STEAMED VEGETABLE GYOZA – Hearty and flavorful dumpling
  • CALIFORNIA MAKI – Inside out sushi roll with cucumber, and smoked salmon
  • VEGETABLE FUTOMAKI- Large sushi roll filled with vegetables

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Dress code:

The dress code at Courthouse Hotel is smart casual. I decided to wear my black and white Lipsy dress with some Aldo sandals.

Overall experience:

I really enjoyed our Japanese Afternoon Tea experience at Silk Restaurant at Courthouse Hotel. It is an Afternoon Tea with a twist so if you are tired of traditional sandwiches, scones and pastries then you definitely need to experience it. Silk Restaurant offers amazing cuisine in a magnificent settings so I would definitely advise you to visit it next time you are in central London.

Price:

Japanese Afternoon Tea costs £29.50 per person and for an additional £10.50 you can upgrade it to receive a glass of sweet Japanese Plum Wine or a glass of Champagne.

Website:

http://www.courthouse-hotel.com/restaurantsandbars-en.html

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: Jojoba Oil, Stir it Slim & Deluxe Collagen supplement

Starting from this week, I will be reviewing new products I’ve tried & tested during the previous weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for some great buys.

This week, I would like to tell you about these 3 products:

  • 100% Pure Jojoba Oil from Eden Semilla
  • Stir It Slim in Latte flavour from Forza
  • Regime London Deluxe Collagen supplements

Firstly, let me tell you about Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil. It is a fairly new brand and product that is rich in vitamins and minerals so you can use it from head to toe. I use oils on my face and hair so I decided to give it a go as it was advertised as a 3 in 1 oil  for Skin, Hair & Nails.

Name: The name is Spanish and means Eden’s Seed.

So, did I like it?:  Yes, definitely.

Fragrance: The Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil has a delicate fragrance. Some natural products can have quite a strong fragrance but not this one- the scent of Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil is very subtle.

Texture, use and benefits: Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil has a rich but non-greasy, silky texture so I use it as a serum under my night cream (1 drop is enough for my full face). I like the fact that the oil is 100% natural, pure and organic as I am sure that I am not putting anything harmful on my body. The benefits of using the oil are visible straight away. After each application, my skin looks smooth, has supple texture and a lovely radiant glow. In addition, I use Eden’s Semilla’s Jojoba Oil as a treatment on my hair. I normally apply 5-10 drops all over my hair in the evening. When I wash my hair in the morning, it looks smooth and healthy. Correspondingly, it seems like a great product for split ends so I use it daily to keep my hair in good shape.

Size: 60ml bottle which should last for at least 1 month of regular use.

Price: Great value as it only costs £16.95. At the moment, Amazon.co.uk has it on offer now for only £10.95. :https://www.amazon.co.uk/100%25-Pure-Jojoba-Oil-Moisturiser/dp/B01E7L9ZNU/ref=sr_1_225_s_it?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1468313339&sr=1-225&keywords=jojoba+oil

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Secondly, I would like to tell you about Stir It Slim. I tried this meal-replacement shake in Latte flavour but there are 3 flavours to choose from: Hot Chocolate, Caramel Latte and Latte. Stir it Slim is a convenient hot meal replacement drink that has been designed to support safe and healthy weight loss. It is very tasty and high in protein. What’s more, it contains 22 different vitamins and minerals and only has 204 calories per individual serving.

Pack size: 3 or 7 sachets.

I tried a smaller pack as I wasn’t sure if I will like it. The Stir It Slim hot shake is delicious so I will definitely need to get some more.

Price: £4.99 for a pack containing 3 sachets or £24.99 for a pack containing 7 sachets.

You can buy it directly from Forza’a website:

https://www.forzasupplements.co.uk/cat/stir-it-slim

 

Lastly (this week), let me tell you about Regime London Deluxe Collagen supplement. If you read my blog regularly then you will probably know that I am getting married very soon. I normally use collagen supplements once or twice a year and decided to try Regine Deluxe Collagen before my big day. I went for a box of 120 Capsules which should last for a month as it is advised to have 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening.

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The formula of Regime London Deluxe Collagen uses Peptan collagen, which has been shown to support the elasticity of the skin and help to fight against the visible signs of skin ageing. A recent study on the benefits of Peptan® showed that it can help to enhance skin beauty, maintain skin elasticity and help to fight against the visible signs of skin ageing.

What’s more,  Regime London Deluxe Collagen contains Vitamin C which is a natural antioxidant that supports normal collagen formation in the body. This contributes to the normal function of skin, teeth, bones, gums, cartilage and blood vessels.

I’ve been using it for slightly over a week and can already see an improvement in my skin condition-it looks more radiant, plump and small lines under my eyes seem less visible.

Price:

You can get it from Superdrug stores and it costs £21.99 for a box of 120 Capsules. Currently, you can also benefit from 3 for 2 offer on vitamins and minerals in Superdrug stores nationwide 🙂

Hope you enjoyed reading this ‘Tried & Tested’ review!

Next week I will aim to review some hair-care products.

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Pauline

Afternoon Tea at Number Twelve at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel

This week, I would like to tell you about my Afternoon Tea at Number Twelve at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel. As my fiancé was on his stag last weekend, I decided that it would be lovely to catch-up with my friend-Karen and what’s better than chit-chat while having some delicious Afternoon Tea treats.

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Venue and location:

A Traditional Afternoon Tea menu is served in Number Twelve Restaurant, which provides a stress-free atmosphere. Number Twelve Restaurant can be found at an independent Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel that was built in the late 1800’s. It is located in central London and easily accessible by public transport and the nearest tube station-Euston is around 3 minutes away.

In addition, the Ambassadors Bloomsbury hotel, is positioned within walking distance of Russell Square, Euston and Kings Cross St. Pancras stations which are all within 10 minutes’ walk.

Times:

Afternoon Tea is served from 2:30 pm until 4 pm Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 2pm until 7pm.

Atmosphere:

I reached Number Twelve Restaurant at around 1:55 p.m. and my friend-Karen arrived a few minutes later. We were given a table next to the window. There was a soft, relaxing music playing in the background.

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The menu:

As it was absolutely boiling outside (not typical weather for London), we both decided to try some ice tea infusion drinks rather than a traditional hot tea. They were definitely the highlight of my Afternoon Tea experience at Number Twelve restaurant. We received a selection of sandwiches and a stand of the sweet treats shortly after ordering our first ice tea drink. Ice tea infusions are a selection of normal tea infusions that are served over ice in a tall glass with fresh fruit. They were very refreshing and tasty – drinking them felt like having some non-alcoholic cocktails. We ended up having three delicious ice teas.

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Firstly, we had some marvellous Richmond Green Mint Mojito Tea.

Secondly, we had some Richmond Forest Fruits Tea.

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Lastly, we ordered some Richmond Peach Lemon Star Tea.

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In addition, I really enjoyed a selection of delicious cakes and pastries. Subsequently, I had a lovely, homemade scone which was accompanied by some Devonshire clotted cream with strawberry and raspberry preserve.

My friend received a nice selection of fresh fruits as a gluten-free alternative to my scones.

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Dress code:

The dress code at Ambassadors Bloomsbury is smart casual. I decided to wear navy jacket from Karen Millen, white and navy top from Next and Christian Dior black skirt. I finished my look with a pair of Kurt Geiger black hills.

Overall experience:

Number Twelve Restaurant at Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel offers a delicious Afternoon Tea with a twist. You should definitely visit to try one of their Ice-Teas-I loved them and they are a perfect drink to refresh with during the hot, sunny days. Number Twelve restaurant offers a British Italian fusion cuisine and is also open for breakfast and dinner so give it a go next time you are in the area. Don’t forget to have a glass of bubbly to complete your experience.

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Price:

Is very affordable – it costs £25 per person for a classic Afternoon Tea or £35 per person for a Champagne Afternoon Tea.

Website:

http://www.numbertwelverestaurant.co.uk/afternoon-tea.html

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Pauline