Kate's reviews
Review of Hotel Du Vin
20 Apr 08, 20:03
One for bath lovers! 
In my opnion the USP of the Hotel du Vin, Henely, is the baths. If you're a lover of long hot soaks then this is the place for a long weekend. In the old Breakspear's brewery, with a lot of the original features in tact (hop pulleys, iron girders), most of the rooms have big freestanding vitctorian baths at the end of the bed (or in the hop turret if you ask for 'Hush Heath') but several have them on private roof terraces overlooking the thames. perfect! Good food, a great wine list and really friendly house staff help to make this a really nice retreat near London.
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Review of The Blue Elephant
20 Apr 08, 19:55
You've got to love the kitsch! 
The Blue Elephant embodies thai kitsch with its river packed with koi carp, wooden bridges and tons of foliage. Somehow, though, it gets away with it with good humour. The food's decent and the mai thais are amazing. Good for a girly night out, you'll feel looked after.
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Review of Hip Hair
20 Apr 08, 19:44
A drop in standards
When Hip Hair opened, I couldn't rate it enough and recommended three friends who all ended up as regulars. You always felt really looked after, the head and shoulder massages were fab, and nothing was too much trouble - wine, strawberrys, orchids! But over time I seem to have to wait longer and longer when I turn up for my appointment and, whilst the masages are still good, I don't feel the stylists have time to really listen to what you're after. I seem to come out with the same cut whatever I ask for. A real shame for somewhere that started out so well, hoping it's a temporary blip!
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Review of Wills Art Warehouse
09 Apr 08, 12:24
Good starting point for art buying
Whilst slightly less warehouse-like since it moved to new premises in Putney a couple of year’s ago, Will’s Art is still a good place to look for modern art at reasonable prices. Will organises the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea and they’re policy of allowing you to rummage through the stock room as well as view the gallery hangings means it has none of the pretension of a lot of other galleries. They also let you take the pieces home on approval before deciding to buy but the exhibiting artists don’t change massively frequently.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Cork and Bottle Wine Bar
09 Apr 08, 12:12
Don't walk past...
I'd looked at this place on numerous occasions from the outside and thought it looked dire! Persuaded otherwise by colleagues I ventured in and was really pleasantly surprised as my expectations were nil. Fantastic wine list, unpretentious astrosphere, nice staff and decent food. Would recommend it for a low key evening with friends.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Timpson
08 Apr 08, 18:33
Down At Heal 
My expectations were not overwhelming as all i needed was some shoes re-healed and a new watch battery but the guy in this branch of Timpson made sure I will never go back. For starters he told me that the Timpson voucher I had meant the money would come directly out of this wages (how uncomfortable did i feel?!) and then when he changed the battery, gave it back to me and it didn't work said the only solution was to charge me £35 to 'investigate' it! Took it to the branch in Leicester Sq station, they changed the obviously diff battery and now it works fine. By trying to save himself some money the Villiers Street man has lost my custom. Not good business sense.
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Review of Corcoran & May
08 Apr 08, 17:58
Fabric heaven
If, like me (and I suspect this may count a number of you out from the start!!), you love fabric and textiles, then this is a fantastic place. Whilst they don't stock rolls and only hold samples they have a really good price range and some beautiful fabrics. I went in on a Saturday morning to source for two pairs of curtains and got personal service for an hour by a really helpful lady indulging my fabric addiction. Samples are in the post and I’d really recommend a visit if you have expensive taste but without the budget (although you will have to keep away from some of the books or you'll walk out broke.)
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Review of The Pig and Whistle
25 Mar 08, 21:29
We love THIS local
The perfect local. A cold Amstel, comfy seats, a stack of board games for lazy sunday afternoons and really non threatening if you're on your own. It has a tv for those who want to keep up with the footie but it doesn't overwhelm the whole pub and atmosphere. Would definitely recommend this pub.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Red Brick Oven
19 Feb 08, 16:01
Great Pizza place! 
Couldn't agree more with James T. It's a tiny place but the few tables outside are always packed in the summer because it does have a great holiday charm about it. Nothing fancy, just great food. There should definitely be more BYO wine places in london as it means you're spending your cash on great food, not overpriced wine. Really recommend it as a takeaway.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.