Going Out - Gingerline's Chambers_

Leave behind the world you know and journey into the multiverse this summer with Gingerline’s Chambers_, a completely immersive experience which sees audiences take on the role of universe hopping cartographers, dining on 5 courses of flavoursome food while traversing through a vast and sprawling interdimensional playground.

Photo credit - David Greig

As my friend and I arrive at the clandestine location of Gingerline’s latest culinary concourse (having received instructions on how to get to the location earlier that day), we trade in our earthly belongings for a hip and very functional bum-bag and a muddled-up map, which gives us our first hint as to what we’ve gotten ourselves into. More hints are dropped as we’re cryptically asked if we have any phobias. After replying in the negative, we’re allowed up into the bar to await the start of our gastronomic journey.

Photo credit - David Greig

After enjoying a cocktail or two in the dimly lit headquarters of the Dimension Centre, we’re shunted into what looks like the belly of a rickety spaceship, and expulsed into the first of our dimensional destinations. From then on it, there’s nowhere to go but onward. We clime, crawl and slide through a web of extraordinarily immersive worlds (Stripeland Productions have created a set so vast and intricate that it’d be difficult to describe even IF we were allowed to reveal the secrets of Chambers_), sampling the delicacies of each location we visit. 

Dietary requirements are catered for deftly, and although our vegetarian options do feel slightly less robust than their omnivorous counterparts, there’s more than enough food to keep us fuelled throughout the expedition.

Photo credit - David Greig

By the time we reach the end of our journey, our fellow audience members feel like friends. We’ve shared a remarkable night out, the likes of which we’re unlikely to experience again. Until, of course, Gingerline announces a follow-up.

Gingerline’s Chambers_ is an otherworldly trip like no other. Throw yourself into the action and you’ll have a truly unforgettable experience. Oh, and make sure you wear flat shoes. Even the most experience interdimensional travellers will struggle to navigate the multiverse in heels…

Going out - Gingerline's The Grand Expedition

At 4pm on an unusually sunny February day, I receive a clandestine text message. Its contents is fairly cryptic; just the name of a tube station and a set of walking instructions to guide me towards the location of my fast approaching evening adventure.

 

Photo credit - Rob Greig

Gingerline’s latest immersive dining venture The Grand Expedition is shrouded in secrecy, but when I arrive at a rather shady looking carpark with a tentative friend in tow, I know immediately that we’ve come to the right place. We’re met by a small gathering of equally clueless fellow ticketholders, who are slowly but surely being ferried in to an unassuming warehouse building. I’m given a green wristband to dictate my vegetarianism (my friend, an omnivore, is given a different colour) and then we too are ushered inside.

Like stepping into Narnia, the drab outdoors melts away, and we’re welcomed warmly into a pastel coloured storybook world. A small but mighty team of hosts work with military precision to seat us and our awestruck fellow diners beneath a canopy of vintage hot air balloons, and then just like that we’re off on a grand expedition…

 

Photo credit - Rob Greig

Over the course of the evening, we traverse the world from the comfort of our seats, as a small army of gibberish waffling aeronauts entertain us with dancing, slapstick comedy and mime, and even a couple of silly games to get us out of our seats and mingling with our fellow adventurers. The performers, who double up as waiters, work tirelessly to preserve The Grand Expedition’s madcap foodie fun, and although their flying goggle sporting aeronautical adventurers do occasionally resort to cultural stereotypes in order to convey a sense of place, their committed performances are certainly worthy of plenty of praise.
 

Photo credit - Rob Greig

Interspersed with the fun and games, we sample 5 courses of delectable cross continental fodder, served up in increasingly kitschy ways. Our plates burst with flavour, whilst our surroundings shift and evolve, immersing us deeper into the expedition. We’re even called upon to do a bit of DIY food presentation at one point; serving up our own pelmeni dumplings on a bed of borscht ketchup. As a result, we’re soon chatting chummily with our fellow dining companions, as we’re whisked further and further from home.

Every mouth-watering course brings something new to the dining experience, with each plate building on the one that came before it, despite drawing on culinary influences from every corner of the world. From the quaint to the downright otherworldly, by the time we come down from our indulgent gastronomic high, our taste buds have clocked some serious air miles!

Going Out - West End Brunch at Studio 88

Musical theatre lovers who aren't content with just enjoying musicals at lunch and dinner time will be pleased to hear that Studio 88 has launched a West End Brunch which combines a tasty two course brunch menu and bottomless prosecco with performances from wonderfully talented West End stars.

Photo credit - Paul Torode

Set within the heart of Theatreland, Studio 88 is a perfect host for West End Brunch. The venue is sleek and swanky, and when my friend and I arrived for the inaugural brunch, a Wicked themed affair, we were met with the sound of musical theatre tunes blasting out whilst excited brunchers perused the menu and sang along to their favourite songs. 

We were seated on a table at the side of the stage, offering a fantastic view of the band, and the dancefloor. Unfortunately a pillar blocked the front of the stage area, meaning that the performers were slightly obstructed from view, but after I'd finished eating I happily perched myself at the bar to get a better look.

Brunch was utterly delicious. I opted for avocado toast with a poached egg; a brunch staple which really impressed me. The avocado was seasoned well and the egg was perfectly poached, and we were even offered some orange juice alongside it, in addition to the bottomless prosecco on offer. After the main brunch course we were offered dessert and I opted for a sweet key lime pie. The dessert menu was decidedly less expansive than the brunch course, which had included options such as pancakes and maple syrup, eggs benedict and yoghurt and granola, but nevertheless I enjoyed my key lime pie very much.

Photo credit - Paul Torode

Our compare for the afternoon was ditsy drag cabaret artist Topsie Redfern, who entertained all of us brunchers with a few jokes and dazzling showtunes, before introducing the three Wicked alumni performers for the afternoon. Elphaba understudy Laura Emmitt was first on stage, and what a fantastic way to start. In addition to her rendition of intense Wicked classic No Good Deed, we wowed us with songs from other shows she'd previously appeared in, as well as some of her all time favourites. Her Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita was particularly impressive. 

Kane Oliver Parry was up next, duetting with Laura Emmitt on As Long as You're Mine, Elphaba and Fiyero's romantic act 2 duet. He also got the crowd bopping along to Queen's power ballad I Want To Break Free. Parry shared that he understudied the role of Galileo in a We Will Rock You arena tour, and told a story about the first time he got to play the role in front of an audience. It was an added treat to hear anecdotes from the performers as well as just performances, as it made the brunch feel more casual that a regular concert or cabaret.

Photo credit - Paul Torode

The final performer was Steph Parry, who is currently understudying the lead role of Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, and made headlines recently when she was called to understudy Donna in Mamma Mia whilst she was performing in 42nd Street, when the lead and understudies all fell ill. Parry previously understudied the role of Morrible and so while she didn't give us any Wicked (well, she jokingly sang Morrible's preamble to The Wizard And I, much to everyone's amusement), she did knock everyone's socks off with Mamma Mia hit The Winner Takes It All. 

A West End themed brunch is an excellent idea, brilliantly executed at Studio 88. Although I was caught off guard by the sometimes overwhelmingly loud music, which made any brunch conversation a struggle, and found sightlines an issue at times too, the execution of the event was seamless in all other aspects. The food was first rate, as were the performances, and the prosecco never stopped flowing. 

Going Out - After Hours Tour at the National Theatre

Ever wanted to sneak around backstage at your favourite theatre? Well I got to do just that when I was invited to explore the National Theatre after dark on an After Hours tour. 

Photo credit - Philip Vile

After enjoying a few drinks at The Understudy, the cozy National Theatre bar, my fellow tour goers and I headed out to the front of the theatre, where our tour guide for the evening Alison Rae gave us a little introduction to the history of the building and the land it was built on. Alison, Head of Tours and Visiting at the National Theatre, explained that the large imposing concrete National Theatre building was constructed on the south bank of the River Thames because the land was cheaper than anything north of the river, especially in the West End. And besides, the building houses three separate theatres (The Olivier, Lyttleton and Dorfman) and would have been a pretty tight squeeze anywhere else anyway. 

The foyer of the National Theatre is usually buzzing with life 24/7, packed with excitable audiences, busy staff members, and an assortment of artsy creatives sipping coffee and utilising the free wifi. However, when we stepped into the building after hours, we were met with an eerie stillness and silence, despite the fact that in one of the theatres audiences were enjoying a show that very night. We'd already been assured that, unlike many other theatres in London, the National Theatre has no resident grey lady, ghoulish theatre manager's ghost, or any other spooky spectres for that matter, but that didn't stop us from speculating, and thrilling with excitement as we filed one at a time through a shadowy door which led us backstage. 

Our guide Alison led us all through a labyrinth of corridors and staircases, until we reached the first stop on our tour; a rehearsal room, in which the cast of upcoming play The Tell-Tale Heart had been rehearsing earlier that day. It was fascinating to see that a variety of props had already been brought into rehearsals in order to help the actors to get into character. We were all drawn to a vintage typewriter, which sat on its own table in one corner of the room. Just one of many, we were informed, which had been used in past productions and then packed away and stored until next time typewriter from the same era was required.

As we left the rehearsal room and continued on our journey we stumbled upon a blood splattered wall; a remnant from National Theatre Artistic Director Rufus Norris' recent production of Macbeth, which featured Rory Kinnear and Anne Marie Duff as the murderous married couple at the play's heart. We also strolled past the dressing rooms of actors such as Sophie Okonedo and Ralph Fiennes, the stars of Antony and Cleopatra, as well as the cast of upcoming musical Hadestown. We learned that the National Theatre's 48 dressing rooms (which house an acting company of 100 to 120 on average) are arranged in such a way that there is no number 13. Just one of many theatrical superstitions observed in the building.

We crept into another rehearsal room, where we were able to view some Frankenstein costume sketches, as well as a full costume recently worn in Marianne Elliott's Olivier and Tony award winning production of Tony Kushner's Angels in America. After telling us a little bit about the costumes and the productions they appeared in, Alison produced a bag of rather more gory objects, including a dismembered foot and a decapitated head! Gruesome stuff! 

Feeling thoroughly grossed out, we left the rehearsal room and headed towards the workshop where sets are constructed. It's unusual for a theatre to build sets and props on site, but the National Theatre has a deceivingly large backstage area, with plenty of room for all sorts of creativity to flow. We took a peek into a The Tell-Tale Heart model box and saw that the talented craftspeople of the National Theatre had already begun to make the full scale set. A full sized door frame (and other structures yet to take shape) were propped up around us, mirroring the doll-sized pieces seen in the model box.

Sadly, after much sneaking about backstage, our tour came to an end. We thanked our guide Alison profusely for both her time and her knowledge, and walked back out into the real world, armed with more National Theatre factoids that we could ever have hoped for. 

There's really no better way to understand what goes on behind the scenes at a huge theatre like the National Theatre than to actually get inside and take a look for yourself, and on the National Theatre After Hours tour we did just that. And so much more! 

Going Out - Gin & Markets Ride (Tally Ho Cycle Tours)

Is there anything more idyllic than hopping on a bike and pedalling through London's quiet back roads, as the golden autumn sun casts long shadows on the cobble pavements? 

That may seem like an extremely specific scenario, but thanks to The Indytute and Tally Ho Cycle Tours I got to experience it personally, and I can honestly say that there may not be a more picturesque way to spend an afternoon in London.

Tally Ho Cycle Tours in a London based cycle tour company who run a variety of quirky tours, including the tantalisingly named Gin & Markets Tour. For Dutch Courage lovers, the tour provides an excellent introduction to the history of the drink once nicknamed Mother's Ruin, as well as ample opportunities to sample the stuff. Meanwhile those new to London and those familiar with the city will enjoy exploring some of the city's most beautiful and photogenic areas. 

We began our tour at the Tally Ho London base, a few minutes walk from Lambeth North tube station. After a quick and informative safety talk, we were introduced to our rides for the afternoon; beautiful Pashley bicycles complete with little baskets on the front to store any bits and bobs that we might have brought with us, or any market purchases. We were also offered bicycle helmets and I accepted one gladly. Although I used to be an avid cyclist, I'd not dared venture out on the roads in London before, and was willing to accept any protection I could get against angry motorists, competitive cyclists and straying pedestrians.

The bikes took a while to get used to, and as we set off in a long caravan there were a lot of rattling bike frames, squeaking brakes and surprised exclamations! But after a while everything settled down and we all gained a bit more confidence as we travelled down scenic roads and alleyways towards our first stop; Trinity Church Square, where we sampled our fist gin of the day. Or rather, we sampled some jenever, the spirit dutch juniper based spirit which would become known as gin to the English when soldiers returned from battle overseas in the early 17th century. 

Having tasted the (slightly unpleasant) first gin, we continued on, safe in the knowledge that our next beverage would be a much more flavoursome one. We had our first brush with car related danger as we approached the St Mary Magdalen church in Bermondsey, but everyone escaped unscathed and we parked up in the grounds surrounding the church to sample some pretty unusual tonic water. Unusual it that instead of being the typical clear liquid we all know and love, it was a rusty brown colour. We didn't let the unusual colour scare us off though, and it's a good job we didn't, as the tonic water had a lovely warming quality which complimented the gin extremely well.

Thoroughly impressed, we moved on. By now, all of our stomachs were rumbling slightly, as having been cycling (and drinking) for a rather long time, we stopped off at Maltby Street market to refuel. The market was a delight for the senses. Everywhere we looked, food was frying, poaching, stewing, and the aromas were blending together to create an almost overwhelmingly delicious perfume, which drifted through the air and attracted the noses of many a passer by. We hand little over half an hour to have a look around and grab something to eat, so after shuffling my way through the crowds and perusing every stall, I settled on an incredible waffle adored with goats cheese, figs and blueberries. Even just reading the name it sounds completely delicious, but to taste it was something else entirely! I was slightly sad when our lunch break ended and we had to move on, as I'd spotted some absolute gems in the market and quite fancied a second course. Definitely a little spot to return to at a later date. 

The tour took a bit of a radical turn when we stopped off at Leake Street tunnel and engaged in a bit of (legal) graffitiing! Theatre fans may know the area as the home of the atmospheric underground performance space The Vaults, and the whole tunnel has been designated as a safe space for spray paint artists to display their work. and is always full of frankly stunning murals and designs by a whole host of creatives. We were lucky enough to arrive just as one artist was putting the final touches on his own design. When our tour guides produced a couple of spray paint cans from their bike's basket the whole group got a bit excited, but the best we could muster were a few hearts and stars and some wobbly initials. I certainly gained an extra layer of respect for the graffiti artists whose masterpieces surrounded us. 

The sun was low in the sky as we pulled up outside The Kings Arms pub in Waterloo. On our 4 hour journey across London, and through the history of gin, our little tour group had gotten pretty friendly with one another, and the stop was the perfect opportunity to chat more over a gin based cocktail. The group was comprised of both tourists and locals, and it felt like the tour catered for all.

By the time we arrived back at the Tally Ho Cycle Tours' base, I felt slightly bittersweet. I'd had a fantastic time pootling around on my little bike, and although it screeched and shook quite a bit, it'd really grown on me, and I was sad to see it go. We all said thank you to our fantastic guides, and bade each other good night as we parted ways. 

The tour was fantastic for a number of reasons, not least because it marked my first experience of cycling in London, and although we stuck mostly to quiet back roads, I felt my confidence grow throughout the journey. Who knows, I may try cycling to work some day soon now? For just £45 pounds, the value for money was incredible. Our guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic about both gin and cycling, and our historical gin knowledge was most definitely bolstered. For a slightly unusual afternoon out and about in London, there's really not much to compare.

I was invited to review the Gin & Markets Cycle Tour thanks to The Indytute.