Thanks to the recent change in pub licensing hours, London days, and nights, are lasting longer than ever before. As a result, there’s never been a better time for London Show visitors to take even more away from the UK capital. This January, time spent away from Earls Court out of hours will fill your body, heart and mind in equal measures...

Drinking dens

When it comes to pubs and real beer, London has more award winners than Oscar night. In fact, there are so many that CAMRA (The Campaign For Real Ale) had to name two pubs as Pub of the Year in their most recent honours list. If you’re looking to sample a real English pub and beer call in at The Calthorpe Arms which serves seasonal ales such as Winter Warmer, the superbly titled Waggledance, or even a Chocolate Stout! The Wenlock Arms, the other joint-award winner, has a staggering 25-plus real ales to choose from.

Elsewhere, try star-spotting at the Sir Richard Steele, the local of Oasis duo Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Cittie of Yorke, originally built in 1430, sees Medieval England come alive with a cavernous oak panelled main bar resembling more of a Tudor hall than an inner city drinking den. The Bull and Gate, once graced by pop supergroup Blur, is the epicentre of the capital's live music scene; an open mind is needed!

Food for thought

Continuing the international theme, London is home to some of the most impressive international restaurants in the world. The ITV London Restaurant of the Year and New Restaurant of the Year was Indian restaurant Amaya and well worth a try. Other gongs were awarded to The Goring (Best British), Racine (Best French), Passione (Best Italian), Roka (Best Oriental), FishWorks (Best Fish), Enoteca Turi (Best Wine List), Le Gavroche (Best Service) and Tong Chee Hwee, the Outstanding London Chef Award for his continuously high standard at Hakkasan.

For a meal to remember for a different set of reasons you could try Archipelago, which serves chilled locust roulade, essence of warm monkeys' glands and crocodile seared in vine leaves. St John, widely regarded as one of the finest meat restaurants in London, serves roast bone marrow and parsley salad and ox heart and pickled red cabbage. Fish Hoek serves up the latest in non-British seafood including Kwa Zulu Natal Barracuda, Steenbras and Snoek.

Culture clubs

London claims to have some of the greatest museums on the planet. During ATEI/ICE Week, The Victoria & Albert features ‘HearWear – The Future of Hearing’, a display of designs and prototypes by some of the UK's best designers and ‘Import Export’ which looks at the way British design has influenced, and has been influenced by, other world cultures. At The Natural History Museum you’ll find the stunning Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. The Science Museum has an exhibition that is truly out of this world – ‘The Science of Aliens’ takes you to the edges of your imagination. The Dali Universe exhibition at County Hall will probably take you even further.

Go West!

As well as West End staples such as Blood Brothers, Chicago, Les Misérables, The Lion King and The Mousetrap, there’s a host of newer musicals making big noises in The West End. The whatsonstage.com 2005/6 Theatregoers Choice of the Year final three were Billy Elliot, closely based on the hugely successful 2000 film, Mary Poppins, who needs no introduction, and the 1950’s musical Guys & Dolls.

Whatever you do, make sure you take a host of new memories away with you from ATEI/ICE 2006. (E-12.07.05)

© Copyright 2005 CasinoCompendium



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