Claire's reviews
Review of Randall and Aubin
20 May 07, 18:45
Wine, dine and disco 
A huge disco ball, shelves of oysters, lobsters and shellfish, dance music and high-stool seating in a giant Victorian-pantry-type building make for a pretty unusual location, and while on paper this shouldn't work, in practice it really does. The staff are air-kissing sweethearts and the clientele is varied and fun-loving. Chances are you'll get to know your neighbours at tables and in the (inevitable) queue , but this social atmosphere is what makes it. (That and the excellent seafood: dressed crab, lobster and fruits de mer.) No need to book - relaxed and informal.
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Review of The Old Bell Tavern
19 May 07, 19:07
Old boozer 
A real traditional boozer, this. Wooden floors, sawdust, bar nuts and friendly staff. The beer is top notch - for the bitter aficionados out there, this place serves a wonderful pint of Timothy Taylor's championship brew Landlord. The food is not too shabby either. The steak sarnie with chips has to be value at just five quid. And if you get stuck in and drink till closing, you can skip over the road to Alibi bar - not the best, but still open and willing to serve until 3am. Then it's just eight short hours until the Bell opens its doors once again. Rah!
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Review of The Exhibit
19 May 07, 18:41
Flash fun
A supermarket car park isn't the most auspicious of settings for a trendy bar, but nestled by Balham's Sainsbury's you'll find this hidden(ish) gem. Spread over three floors, it's a fun, flirtatious venue with great cocktails, a restaurant and a private hire bar (free to book, but you have to clear around a grand at the bar - a pretty big ask). Friday and Saturday are very busy here - expect a good-looking crowd all chasing a great night out.
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Review of Alphabet Bar
18 May 07, 09:36
Easy as ABC
A staple with the Soho post-work drinking crowd, Alphabet is a soup of media folk and City types in search of a relaxed, fun vibe. The decor is a hotchpotch of minimalist and shabby chic mismatched furniture with a smarter upstairs and a grungier downstairs (which has a slight tendency to smell of sick, more pronounced in the daytime). It's the traditional venue for leaving dos for journos and ad types, so you'll often find one group of people dominating the vibe. Good fun, but overpriced.
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Review of David Fielden
16 May 07, 12:58
Wondeful Walter 
David Fielden designs dreamy wedding dresses. At the atelier in Lots Road you can have a proper dressing up session (appointment only). I visited with my friend who's getting married in the summer. Because they make everything here to order, made to measure you can be sure that your dress will be completely perfect. I know a couple of girls who got their dresses from David Fielden and both looked stunning on the day. It's also a lovely experience. Speak to the lovely Walter who will look after you at your appointment.
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Review of Harlequin Express
14 May 07, 21:41
Get in a lather 
Admittedly, since I own a washing machine I don't use launderettes often, but when mine broke the day I was meant to be going on holiday I - somewhat desperately - stumbled into Harlequin, clutching weeks of dirty clothes. Now, fair enough, I didn't know what I was doing, but rather than helping, the officious women in the shop were snappy, snobby and rude. I won't go back unless I absolutely have to.
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Review of Sweaty Betty
14 May 07, 19:56
Let's get fit, let's get dancin'
A sea of pink lycra awaits you in Sweaty Betty, a sports shop which neatly creates a girl-only niche in an otherwise testosterone laden market. Friendly, knowledgeable women, who look normal rather than steriod-fuelled, staff the store. In addition to enough perspiration-wicking fabric to fill a gym-bunny's wildest dreams, there is also skiwear, swimwear and a good selection of brands (from Sweaty Betty's own to Nike and USAPro). Sports equipment is limited to yoga mats, skipping ropes and socks. And they giftwrap in brilliant pink, ribbon-tied boxes.
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Review of The Electrical Store
14 May 07, 18:49
Get wired
"How can I help you, Sir? Three-pin plug? Cable? Telephone extension? Novelty torch? Slightly scary looking utility knife?"Â This old-school electrical supply shop maybe the size of a large cupboard, but boy do they pack it in. Though perhaps not comprehensive enough for professional electricians, for the layman you're likely to find what you're looking for. It's an unusual spot in the heart of Soho, deviod of patronising information and you won't leave feeling ripped off.
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Review of Infernos Nightclub
14 May 07, 12:13
If you have to... 
"Infernos" has slipped into South London idiom as shorthand for a Sloan-filled, Hackett-wearing, University graduate cheese fest. There are several floors, plus a VIP area, all consistently filled to the rafters with hen parties who don't know any better and Hooray Henrys who lack the imagination to find anywhere else to go. Drinks are expensive, the music is car-crash Eighties stuff and it costs a tenner to get in. Please save your money - there are literally hundreds of better ways to dispose of it in the SW area.
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Review of Basia Zarzycka
14 May 07, 10:15
Bonkers headgear
This place is bonkers. Tiaras, costume jewellery, china dolls, large feathery headpieces, and corsages of every description. It's like the dream world of accessories. Every inch of the store is rammed with precious looking trinkets. They also specialise in bridal headgear so if you want something more interesting than the standard rhinestone tiara , give these guys a call. Also good for alternatives to stuffy straw hats.
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