I have posted about the Joop! Homme fragrance before and I think you will agree with me if I convinced you to try it that its a real winner, in fact I wear it everyday. Well Joop! built on the success of the original fragrance and have recently introduced the new Joop! Homme Wild line,  which still has elements of what made the original great but has taken things up a notch, this should be your partying fragrance!

With that idea in mind Joop! have released a series of videos exploring the wild spots of various cities, the first being my home town London and having just watched it I can say without a doubt I will be checking out a few of these spots!  I find London is one of those cities you can live in all your life and yet still be totally unaware of an abundance of amazing things going on right on your doorstep, most tourists only see the famous landmarks like Big Ben and the Tower of London but I always urge visitors to look a little deeper and see the real London and meet the real Londoners.

So whether you live in London or are planning a visit I urge you to take a look at the video below and discover a few of the alternative places to visit in London  from the wild Bars, tattoo parlours, to the vintage clothes stores theres something for everyone who like to explore their Wild side once in a while, all of course while wearing the new Joop! Homme Wild

This post was Sponsored by Joop! Homme Wild

As another Christmas draws ever closer, the season of stress and last-minute searching for that one special, unique Christmas gift begins and if you are looking for something a bit different this may be for you.

Peugeot has come up with the perfect Christmas gift – a weekend in the highly-desirable Peugeot RCZ – the sports coupé with a distinctive double-bubble roofline.

Thanks to the ‘Mu by Peugeot’ scheme, the pay as you drive rental service, this gorgeous sports car can be hired for just £80 a day or £140 for the whole weekend.

‘Mu by Peugeot’ is great value and perfect for treating loved ones to an experience that they will cherish.

The service is available across the entire Peugeot range so it’s easy to find the ideal match for family and friends from a selection of great drives such as the electric iOn car, or even the practical 5008 Compact MPV, great for travelling families with a boot full of Christmas presents.

‘Mu by Peugeot’ is currently available at Peugeot dealerships in six locations: Chiswick in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester and Northallerton in the North East.

For more information on ‘Mu by Peugeot’ or to apply online please visit http://www.mu.peugeot.co.uk/

This week  Stella Artois is giving film fans the chance to win tickets to the UK preview of ‘Looper’, a futuristic action thriller set in 2044 which follows a time travelling assassin who eliminates targets sent back in time by a criminal organisation. The only rule is that you do not let your target escape – even if that target is you. Stella Artois has partnered with Picturehouse Cinemas and leading film magazine Little White Lies to host this special preview.

The film follows Joseph Simmons, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, working as a “Looper” (‘assassin’) in the illegal time travel business whose job is to travel 30 years into the past to get rid of his targets. In a gripping twist, Simmons recognises one target as a future version of himself, played by Bruce Willis, who escapes before he is killed. Joseph then triggers a manhunt by his mafia employers, for failure to complete his mission. Emily Blunt joins the star-studded cast for this futuristic action thriller.

The rules are put to the test when Joe is called upon to “close his loop” and assassinate his future self (Bruce Willis). In failing to pull the trigger, so begins a desperate race against the clock as Joe begins to unravel his own future and older Joe’s past.

The exclusive event will take place at the Hackney Picturehouse on Thursday 27th September from 8.30pm, offering the chance to see the film before the official release on Friday 28th September. Film fanatics can enter the competition via the Stella Artois UK Facebook page  – the online home of the Stella Artois Cannes Cinema Club, a unique club bringing to life great moments in film with exclusive experiences for film lovers everywhere. To be in with a chance of winning, fans can click on a dedicated tab at the top of the Stella Artois UK Facebook page<http://www.facebook.com/stellaartoisuk> that will direct them to a short entry form and multiple choice question. They will then be entered into a prize draw that will be live from Thursday 20th September and run until 9am on Monday 24th September. The winners will be drawn and notified on Monday 24th September.

The preview screening will be the third instalment in a series of stand-out film events hosted by Stella Artois this year, in partnership with Picturehouse Cinemas. The scheme kicked off with a UK preview of Bart Layton’s highly anticipated real-life thriller ‘The Imposter’, which received rave reviews at Sundance, SXSW and SilverDocs Film Festivals as well as winning the Grand Jury Award at Miami International Film Festival. The second instalment featured exclusive screenings of ‘Shut Up and Play the Hits’, a film that follows LCD Soundsystem’s frontman, James Murphy, through his final showdown gig at Madison Square Gardens. The film has already received positive reviews with Total Film giving it a five-star review (denoting ‘outstanding’).

“Looper is a sci-fi action thriller set to keep viewers on the edge of their seats” said James Watson, Marketing Director, Stella Artois Western Europe. “Delivering exclusive film events to our fans and celebrating thrilling cinema together is, and always has been, a priority for Stella Artois. Our film bursary scheme lets us do just that, allowing us to create and share in unique and memorable film moments with cinema-lovers nationwide.”

London’s Broadgate based restaurant  Piccolino has unveiled what they call the most luxurious omelette for City London workers, recently we were invited to try the £35 dish for ourselves.

So we headed down to Piccolino which is located in the Broadgate area of the city, home to some of the worlds biggest corporations, occupying 30 acres in the heart of London’s Square Mile, 30,000 people work here every weekday and they are well catered for with  numerous restaurants, cafes bars and coffee shops in the area.

This was my first time visiting Broadgate and its a stunning modern almost futuristic looking area, I particularly liked the various sculptures and art scattered about the area, they are worth a visit on their own.

From the moment we entered Piccolino the the service was exceptional , I particularity liked the way our waiter explained all the different ingredients that would be in the omelette and their origins.

Created by head chef, Enzo Buscema and costing  £35, the  ‘Eggs-change Square Omelette’  is served with handpicked asparagus and drizzled with Canti prosecco . Having carefully blended hundreds of ingredients over a two month period, including the hero Tartufo truffle, sourced from Abruzzo, Italy and popular amongst the Italian Royal Family, Enzo’s final recipe includes:

• One duck egg from Sussex
• Five Porcini mushrooms from the Trentino Alpi
• Seven shavings of Caciocavallo Podolico from Podolico
• Five shavings of Tartufo Nero Truffles from Abruzzo
• Five shavings of Testun Barolo cheese from Piemonte
• Three stems of wild asparagus from Sicily
• Three stems of Radicchio from Treviso
• A drizzle of Colonna olive oil from Tuscany
• A drizzle of Canti prosecco from Canti

Our verdict?  we both agreed it was delicious and a real indulgent way to start your working day.

You wont find the omelette on the menu though, but when you go ask your waiter and the chef will specially prepare you this delightful feast.

For more information and to book please head to www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk

For more information on Broadgate visit www.broadgateinfo.net/

I love my coffee and have recently become a bit obsessed with different brewing methods and bean types, to be honest I love the smell of a good coffee as much as the taste which is why I was quite excited to find out that Douwe Egberts has partnered with luxury candle maker Jonathan Ward London, to develop a limited edition coffee inspired candle.  This comes as part of the £1m relaunch of the Douwe Egberts ground coffee range and major category re-vamp.

The re-launch has seen Douwe Egberts embrace its heritage, dating back to 1753, when Egbert Douwes and his wife Akke Thijsses opened their first coffee shop in Joure, Netherlands.  It is this distinctive heritage that has formed the unifying concept  – ‘the story behind each and every scent’ – bringing together the candle maker’s interest in rich flavours and the blending process for each Douwe Egberts ground coffee.

I was recently  given the opportunity to visit Jonathan Wards warehouse and see how the Douwe Egberts candles are made for myself.

What struck me was the care and attention to detail that went into the process, there is certainly not a traditional production line , all the candles are hand made using quality materials and this really is noticeable when you have a look at the finished product, in fact the moment you open the box of the candle a waft of scent hits you, that’s without even lighting it up!

Jonathan Ward explored the humble beginnings of the Douwe Egberts coffee shop, looking to capture the nostalgic and seductive aroma of the shelves from the very first store.  Jonathan explains:  “When creating the evocative scent I imagined years of spilled coffee grains and tobacco notes infused into the hand crafted woods.

The Douwe Egberts inspired candle captures a fragrant rich coffee aroma of roasted coffee beans, infused with sweet scents of syrupy molasses, dried fruits and the woody fragrances of cinnamon, sandalwood and tobacco.

I think Jonathan Ward really nailed it too, the coffee smell isn’t the overpowering scent I thought it would be, its much more subtle than that.

The limited edition candle is contained in the finest Italian cut glass crystal and packaged in a rich espresso brown and gold embossed box, highlighting the luxury offering.  Adding a further touch of opulence and heritage, each box has been sealed with the original Douwe Egberts wax seal.  Dating back to 1925, when the seal was first incorporated into Douwe Egberts packaging design, the stamp has been brought out of the archives and now finds itself included in another piece of fundamental Douwe Egberts history. In fact watching Jonathan and his assistant create these wax seals summed up the care and detail that goes into the candles, with each seal made by hand its a tricky and delicate process requiring two people to achieve, I cant imagine many other companies going to this much effort on the packaging of their product and this is what sets Jonahan Ward candles apart, the quality.

Corrine Hopwood, UK Marketing Director at Douwe Egberts comments:  “We wanted to bring to life and celebrate the unique heritage of the Douwe Egberts brand but with a modern twist and the partnership with Jonathan Ward London is a natural fit.  Not only do we have a new product that represents the brand in a distinctive way, drawing on our heritage, but it allows us to operate in a new luxury consumer market.”

Jonathan Ward adds:  “It has been extremely exciting to work with a brand, which like mine, represents quality. I was completely inspired when looking at the history of Douwe Egberts and am excited to be launching a unique coffee aroma candle that is completely different to anything else currently on the market.”

The limited edition Jonathan Ward for Douwe Egberts candle will be available to purchase from the Jonathan Ward online store from April , rrp £25.00

Douwe Egberts:

• Take a look at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DouweEgbertsUK
• Douwe Egberts has been roasting coffee for more than 250 years, so we know what makes a great cup of coffee! For more information on Douwe Egberts, please visit www.douwe-egberts.co.uk

Whether you’re loved up or playing the field, you’ve got to do something on February 14th, and we’re not talking candlelit dinners or rose petals…. here’s how not to want to die inside on this cheesy day.

If you want to impress a hot date without coming across as clichéd and predictable you’ve got to let BarChick, the ultimate guide to London’s best bars (if not the world’s), give you a little heads up on where to go….

Garlic and Shots – London
Prove it’s really love and dose yourselves in copious amounts of garlic. Sure, people class this as much of a faux pas as rules such as “don’t eat spaghetti on a first date” but who cares, you may as well start as you mean to go on. Not for the faint hearted (… or vampires) this place is serious about its ingredient of choice, even the beer has raw garlic floating in it, nice. If your date can’t hack it then you don’t want them anyway, so get out while you’re ahead.

Dans Le Noir – London
So you / your date are not looking great, a bit pale, or perhaps you woke up with a massive spot. Not a problem, this is what Dans le Noir is all about: taste, senses, smells, touch, everything but your eyes (kinda kinky too). Dans le Noir (‘in the dark’ for those with a D in French!) immerses its customers into pitch black and you are served by blind waiters, so no fear of them clocking/stealing your hot date although they might have a little feel.

The Beefeater 24 Science of Love Molecular Masterclass – London
Top dog Tony C (the Heston of the cocktail work for those not in the know) is offering you a chance to create a love potion in his much talked about laboratory. Take an insider’s tour into the molecular mixology world and learn some tricks to making unique molecular creations from the master. Make Valentine’s recipes and twists on old classics with Beefeater 24 and afterwards sample Tony’s work in the intimate award winning 69 Colebrooke Row. This is the perfect place to go either as a couple or solo with a mate. If you want to avoid the predictable and try something different, then this is the one for you.

River Restaurant at The Savoy – London
OK so if you really crave a bit of a cliché date then at least do it in style. No one is going to do Valentine’s Day better than The Savoy really, and you’ll definitely get her in the sack. Pull out the stops then head down to the River Restaurant for their meal for 2. Eat seafood, lamb and veal, all washed down with Champagne and finished off with melting chocolate sensations and pink Champagne mousse. This isn’t the cheapest option, at £125, but you do get 4 courses and a glass of Champagne thrown in and the high quality of food won’t disappoint!

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However, If you’re single, or boycotting the other sex for whatever reason then don’t feel as though you’ve got to lock the door, draw the blinds and leave the couples to it. If anything you’re probably going to have a better night. BarChick has your back: here are some alternative nights that are anti-couples for your pleasure:

Bar Kick – A Game of Two Halves – London
Speed dating with a twist: forget repeating what you do, what your interests are or how much cash you’ve got. Instead head to Bar Kick, get a free cocktail and “find your goal mate”. Get involved in their game of two halves, get given a load of ludicrously preposterous yet informative and insightful topics, play some table football, fill out the score sheet, leave the rest to them. Table football and strange questions mean whether you are on the pitch or on the bench you’ll be chatting about ridiculous things so you won’t have any awkward silences. Nice breath of fresh air from “what music are you in to?”

The Shop NW10 – London
Embrace your hate for Valentine’s Day, make a voodoo doll of ex and hit  the Anti-Valentine’s Day Massacre at The Shop.  They’ll have heartbreak themed cocktails; think “it’s not you it’s me”, “the restraining order” or “the sour grape”, and punk and rock-abilly music to rock and cry to.  They’ll even be giving a prize to the person with the best break up story. Classic.

MeatLiquor – London
Forget the candles, the violins and the petals. What you’re after is a slab of meat, lots of cheese and a shed load of cocktails. Grab your mates, drink your sorrows away and stuff your face.

Apotheka – Manchester
Following the success of last year’s party, Apotheka are going to have an Anti-Valentine’s day event for 2012! Take a sigh of relief if you aren’t under the thumb. Think mutilated teddies lining up the bar, banging Rock ‘n Roll music and most importantly NO romance.

About BarChick

BarChick.com is the guide to the very best bars from London to New York, and increasingly everywhere in between.  With unrivalled and totally independent insight, BarChick is buzzing with up-to-the-minute news on bar openings, drinks trends and what’s hot now in bar culture.  More than just a listings site, it offers a diverse range of ‘BarChick approved’ bars, recommending venues to meet drinking needs of revellers and relaxed drinkers alike.  Even better, iPhone users can have all this at their fingertips thanks to the BarChick app which comes complete with maps to get you perched on your chosen bar stool pronto.

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop in Mayfair , London for over 300 years. For a great many years in fact I have recommended Berry Bros  for their fantastic quality and selection which is why I was excited when I heard they were releasing through Waitrose their No.3 Gin.

The Gin is is named after Berry Brothers’ home, No.3 St. James’s Street and the merchant’s 3 centuries of heritage, through to its   use of just 3 fruits and 3 spices (the ‘botanicals’ which flavour every gin), the significance of the number to this premium gin is inescapable.

Led by the holder of the world’s only PhD in gin flavour, Dr. David Clutton, the Berry Bros team deliberately set out to make No.3 taste ‘as gin should’ – without the use of an excessive amount of ingredients and distilled in traditional copper pot stills without any over-elaboration.

So, with classic simplicity the goal, the experts placed a robust helping of juniper – the key ingredient in any gin – at the ‘heart’ of No.3. This striking juniper quality was then cleverly complemented by just 5 other fruits and spices; namely, sweet Spanish orange peel, grapefruit peel, Angelica root, Moroccan coriander and, finally, cardamom seeds

Limiting the ingredients bucked the current multi-botanical trend (anywhere between 8 and 12 is common) and instead harked back to a traditional taste of gin – fittingly, given its maker’s impressive history.

The mix of these fresh and crisp flavours, led by juniper and combined with a strength of 46%, has resulted in an end product that Berry Brothers call the ‘last word’ in gin for the classic Dry Martini – as well as that ‘everyday’ gin cocktail favourite, the G&T.

No.3 comes in a handsome high-shouldered green bottle with a metal key set into its glass. The inspiration for the key comes from that used to open the door of ‘The Parlour’ – one of the oldest rooms in the Berry Brothers’ shop, which has stood in St. James’ since 1698.

I am massively impressed with No.3 , its a no nonsenses man’s Gin I will now proudly order over my previous go to Bombay Sapphire which compared to No.3 tastes sadly dated and middle of the road.

No.3 is now available at Waitrose stores nationwide; RRP of £33.65 for a 70cl bottle.

It’s no longer unusual for me to hear from male friends that they have just been for a manicure or a massage , it seems a simple shave and shower is no longer enough for the discerning gentleman in world led by David Beckham and the new man.

To ensure every man has the opportunity to look and feel like a A lister  London-based luxury hair and beauty spa Aldo Coppola has launched a new bespoke grooming package, just for men and they invited me to experience the package for myself.

Longer working hours, stress, city pollution and UVA damage all contribute to dehydrated skin, uneven pigmentation and fine lines, as well as prematurely grey hair. Aldo Coppola’s Ultimate Man Package is a winning combination of treatments that address all these issues, leaving any man restored and revitalised.

The treatment combination includes an anti-ageing face and eye treatment to smooth away fine lines and rehydrate the skin, followed by a hand and nail treatment, completed with a hair colour, cut and style.

The face and eye treatment draws upon Aldo Coppola’s renowned Fusion Mesotherapy techniques to deliver visible results. This gentle and non-invasive treatment begins with cleansing and massage before the Fusion Mesotherapy machine is used to transmit topical products deeper into the skin’s layers, thanks to radio frequency waves.

This increases the skin’s temperature, which stimulates collagen production and skin tightening, helping to reduce dark circles and under-eye bags, and smooth away wrinkles and expression lines. The treatment concludes with a relaxing shoulder massage, to ease away any remaining tension. I really enjoyed this treatment, it was so relaxing in fact that I think I fell alsleep for a few minutes!

No well-groomed man should be seen with rough, dry hands and split nails, so the Ultimate Man Package also includes a ‘Man’-icure. Starting with a scrub to slough away hard, dry skin, the hands and arms are then treated to a relaxing massage. Nails are then filed and buffed to a natural shine. This was my first ever manicure and Ive actually had a fair few comments since the treatment about my nails from women that have noticed my nails, I now see how important keeping your nails in good condition is and do plan to get a manicure again.

Finally, for those with pesky grey hairs to disguise or those seeking a new look, the master colourists at Aldo Coppola will work with you to achieve the perfect colour. Both the Henna and Shatush colouring techniques use natural ingredients to protect and nourish the hair structure, leaving it soft, healthy and noticeably less grey. I didnt need any colour but its included as part of the package if required go for it.

After the coluring  the team will then wash, cut and style the hair to finish.

The Ultimate Man Package takes from two to two and a half hours, and is certain to leave you feeling and looking at your best when its over. I throughly enjoyed the time I spend at Aldo Copppla and I hpe you do too.

The Ultimate Man Package at Aldo Coppola is priced at £195.

For more details see www.aldocoppola.co.uk

 Aldo Coppola, 70 Sloane Avenue, South Kensington, London SW3 3DD

As more and more men discover the benefits of skincare and beauty treatments one can’t help but think that some manufacturers are taking advantage of this new target audience by packaging up their regular female product in a grey bottle or tube and adding the words For Men and premium to the price.

Quite why it is felt that men would prefer to buy their lotions and potions in grey containers is beyond me but you only have to take a look at the male grooming section of most retailers to know who the culprits are.

Contrary to what a lot of manufacturers will admit to telling you, the products that women have been using for decades are as suitable for men as they are women; so just because it doesn’t say For Men on the outside, doesn’t mean we men can’t use them too.

OSKIA produce a range of products that are as good for men as they are for women and even better for your skin. Their range is nutritionally-designed by a team of nutritionists and cosmetic scientists to provide the essential cell nutrients your skin requires to function properly and rebuild cell health and they believe that ingredients should only be used if they are scientifically proven to work and not simply for their organic or natural status.

OSKIA Renaissance Mask is part of their Skinsense range which is aimed at men and women in their mid-twenties to late forties. It contains a host of natural ingredients however the key ingredient is MSM-Regen Complex™ – the most bio-available form of sulphur which provides your body with the natural materials it needs to make collagen and elastin itself – aiding cell regeneration and giving you healthy, supple skin.

The first thing you’ll notice when you open it is the smell, it’s fruity, very fruity! So fruity in fact that the first thing I did was stick my finger in and tasted it, not something I’d recommend you do but I couldn’t help myself!

Application is straight forward enough, apply a thin layer to clean skin and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off with warm water.  The mask is a peachy pink colour but once you’ve massaged it onto your face it turns white, this allows you to check that you’ve not missed a spot. I’ve been using the mask once a week however it’s suggested that you use it no more than twice a week, more than this and I doubt your skin will absorb the nutrients contained.

Even after just one application the first thing you notice is how smooth it leaves your skin feeling and after just a few uses I actually noticed myself how bright my skin was becoming, this was reinforced by friends and colleagues who also commented on how good my complexion has become since I started using it. Priced at £48.50 the OSKIA Renaissance Mask may seem expensive but a little goes a long way and anything that provokes unsolicited compliments has got to be value for money in my book.

OSKIA also offer, in partnership with Blossom & Jasmine, a range of beauty treatments in your own home or office which include The Gentlemen’s Face Saver, a 45 minute treatment with emphasis on the eye area. Currently only available within London it’s priced at a very reasonable £65.

You can purchase OSKIA products directly from www.oskiaskincare.com or exclusively from Liberty in the UK or worldwide from Quintessentially

The Christmas countdown has begun and panic has already struck a number of people I know so I can only imagine how many people reading are facing that age old dilemma of what to buy the loved one or friend who has everything. There was a time when giving someone a gift voucher was the dull option but I’m inclined to think an Aqua Sheko voucher from London’s first ever fish therapy concept spa is an altogether different gift that is both unique, novel and bound to be appreciated.

Fish therapy is a unique beauty treatment using Garra Rufa fish, a form of carp. Clients submerge their feet into a tank of finned therapists for an exotic exfoliation by a team of tiny mouths. The fish have no teeth and use a sucking motion to painlessly nibble away the dead skin without damaging the healthy cells underneath, leaving you with a pleasant tingling sensation similar to a light massage.

It is believed that Garra Rufa fish secrete an enzyme, diathanol, which improves skin regeneration. The treatment is finished off with a relaxing massage leaving the recipient with feet soft, smooth and renewed.

There are a 4 gift voucher packages  available so you can ensure the perfect pairing:

• The Aqua Sheko Energiser (25 mins: fish therapy and choice of foot or head and shoulder massage) £30
• The Aqua Sheko Deluxe (50 mins: fish therapy with hand and arm massage and choice of foot or head and shoulder massage) £45
• The Aqua Sheko Reviver (60 mins: fish therapy with foot, arm, shoulder and hand massage) £65
• The Aqua Sheko Double Indulgence (Reviver package for two) £115

With so many options, these vouchers are for everyone – mums, dads, colleagues and friends. Ordering is fast and easy, simply visit www.aquasheko.co.uk or call 020 3489 8336 to make your booking.