Andrea's reviews
Review of Clifford-Burr
04 Aug 09, 16:05
Beautiful shop, odd customer service 
Large bridal shop with an extensive selection of wedding dresses, shoes and accessories plus bridesmaids, groom and even the mother of the bride.
Upstairs is the bridal area with a room of gowns on the rail to try on and a really comfortable, airy and spacious changing room.
However, a friend of mine called to enquire about hiring a hoop to go under a wedding dress. They were more than happy to do this for a December wedding, but when they found out she hadn't bought her dress from them they changed their minds and told her they couldn't be sure of availability that month!
Poor.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Mokoko
11 Jun 09, 15:11
The best cocktails in St Albans? 
Five minutes from the centre of St Albans is this stylish little bar in what was probably an old mans pub. On the inside it's had the smart and sophisticated treatment with modern sofas and chairs I want to steal for my house. And it is a great place to chill out and have a cocktail or two.
The bar staff are knowledgeable and the cocktail list is unexpectedly creative: I love the Lychee Martini and the Saint Abbey. It gets busy on a Friday, deservedly so, with a relaxed but well-dressed crowd.
The downsides: the toilets are tucked away in a corner and it can be an ordeal weave your way through the throng. And although it has a really nice outdoor space at the back, you can't stay out there beyond sundown because it's in a residential area.
But the cocktails more than make up for this!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Willows Farm Village
03 Jun 09, 16:44
Guinea pig maternity ward! 
If you have kids and live anywhere in north London, then Willows Farm is brilliant. You've got loads of animals from the piglets and chickens, to goats (my particular favourite because they are pygmy goats!) and a petting zoo area with rabbits and guinea pigs. And yes it is true, they have a guinea pig maternity ward...
Plus you've got park rides, things to climb, things to swing from, tunnels to clamber into and that's even before you hit the soft play area indoors.
Don't miss the Farm Shop either. Loads of goodies there for kids (gift ideas) and award winning sausages. Thumbs up from everyone who sampled the sausages from the BBQ last weekend.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Fat Face
24 Feb 09, 13:40
Last minute outfit needed
Ooh shiny new shop at St Pancras!
I only discovered the shops at St Pancras station by accident. But what a pleasant surprise.
This branch of Fat Face ticks a lot of boxes: bright, spacious, helpful but not pushy assistants, lots of sizes and most importantly easy to pick up an outfit at short notice - though it's mainly casual. Both mens and womenswear at this store.
On the downside, there are only two changing rooms, so on busier days you might be waiting a while.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Thai Square
24 Feb 09, 13:27
Yummy Thai in a historic setting
If someone explained that an old 15th century pub had been turned into a Thai restaurant, you might think what a nightmare. But that's exactly what's happened to the Tudor Tavern and it is lovely.
It's been sensitively turned into a restaurant - they've kept the beautiful old fireplace, windows and beams, but added mini Buddhas, flowers and candles.
Food-wise it's stuck to a standard Thai menu, with the usual curries, salads and noodle dishes. But it all comes well presented and is tasty. Wine list isn't bad either.
I was there on a Friday evening and it wasn't packed, but I'd imagine in summer this place will get v busy and noisy (lots of wooden floors).
Well worth a return visit!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Whistles
16 Dec 08, 09:55
I need a dress!
If you don't have the stamina or inclination to hit Oxford Street at the weekend, then save your sanity and head to Whistles.
Lovely, stylish dresses in amazing fabrics, plus handbags and belts to suit parties, cocktails and job interviews. Good size dressing rooms, with enough hooks (v important in winter when you're clambering out of layers of coats, jumpers and scarves) and a knowledgeable team of assistants.
This is how shopping for clothes should always be.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Queens Head and Artichoke
07 Dec 08, 22:35
Excellent gastropub
Lovely pub serving really nice food. I went there with a group of friends for dinner. They've got a really extensive and tasty tapas menu which we all got stuck into. Leave some room for coffee, vin santo and a truffle or two - heavenly.
They also have a more traditional food menu (which I've not tried, but hear good reports).
A top place for a chilled out, friendly dinner.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Nordic Bar
20 Nov 08, 21:56
Max von Sydow is staring at me
Yes he is. From the 60s. On the wall in the Nordic Bar. And he looks more crazy the more vodka you drink...
This friendly basement bar is a great little place to have a cocktail or two. And is a Scandi, shabby-chic equivalent of Two Floors in Soho, but with a bit more personality. Apart from Max, the dark decor, the vast selection of vodkas behind the bar and the odd reindeer head only adds to the atmosphere. And the bar staff do seem to be actual Scandinavians. Skål!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of La Porchetta
20 Nov 08, 21:31
A-dough-rable!
There's always a queue on a Friday and Saturday night - and deservedly so. This noisy, cheery and informal Italian serves up large, freshly-made pizza and pasta - and it's all reasonably priced.
It's a favourite with large groups and at weekends there'll be at least one person having a birthday meal. Which the staff at La Porchetta celebrate in their own inimitable style: namely singing along to a birthday mix-tape, bringing you an enormous slab of tiramisu with candle and making you wear a hat of pizza dough. It's brilliant!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Wellcome Trust
30 Sep 08, 23:20
Three brilliant things in one space
The Wellcome Trust has its headquarters here and as well as housing a library it has three cool things:
1) the exhibition space - I've just seen Skeletons. Twenty-six skeletons dug up from places around London displayed and labelled up with the diseases they suffered from and the effects the stresses living in Roman / Medieval and Victorian London did to the body - sort of a cross between CSI and a game of Operation. It's amazing and free (as most of their exhibitions are) and you'll come away having learnt something new (so feel ever so slightly smug).
2) The bookshop - loads of literature about the current exhibition. Plus the coolest set of highlighter pens (in the shape of syringes!) and plastic skulls.
3) Peyton and Byrne - go reward yourself with a slab of cake after you've grossed yourself out and bought some bones.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.