Jotc's Qype profile

Ah … Brockwell Park. Now that brings back memories of a concert I went to there in 1984 (showing my age now) when The Damned and New Model Army were playing. Oh what a lovely sunny, drunken day that was! This doesn’t tell you much about what it is like now but I felt the need to mention my happy memory!

I’ve been to the Union Tavern several times for lunch and the food has never disappointed. They do a special 2 course lunch deal which is very good value. I will keep going back, no question about that.

I love the House of Hanover. I must say their windows don’t do much to entice the shopper inside (I walked past it every day for a year before venturing in), but once in there you will find an Aladdin’s cave filled with bargains. I usually go in to browse the shoes - cut price Jimmy Choos, Gucci etc. and I especially love their pashmina’s in every colour imaginable. There is a vast selection of designer wear (ladies & men’s) from top end to much more affordable, leather goods, scarves … the list goes on. They usually have a mega bargain counter - once they had designer children’s clothes, obviously just shipped in especially, for £3 per item. Needless to say I stocked up on gear for my daughter at a tiny fraction of the normal price!

This is one of my favourite shops in London. As it is just a short bus ride from my place of work I can pop up there when I'm having a bad day and come out feeling ready to face the world again. I learnt to knit as a child and my obsession kinda waned in the face of young motherhood (I mean when the kids were young rather than myself sadly) but I recently decided it was time to start up again and to find somewhere like Loop makes it all the easier. I have even been on a knitting course there to learn new techniques. Check them out at www.loop.gb.com.

Elliott Rhodes is the most amazing place. It is like a sweetie shop for belt lovers, if you can imagine such a thing. You can spend hours in there looking at hundreds of different buckles and straps and then have your belt customised for you. Its not cheap, but then you get what you pay for. I would say that an Elliott Rhodes belt is something that would last for a lifetime if you looked after it. One of my particular favourites is the bull’s head buckle teamed with the cow hide strap. Yeehaa!

Something tells me that I shouldn’t disclose one of the best kept secrets in London but another side of me feels it is only fair to share it with all those shoe lovers out there. At first glance Kate Kanzier appears to be a very expensive shop in what is otherwise a cheap and cheerful market street and even on entering that appearance still holds true. It is all black, shiny surfaces with very stylish shoes laid out on shelves showing them off to their best advantage. However, it is only once you start checking out the prices that you have to do a double take. I don’t know how they do it but the average shoe sells for around £50 and some gorgeous bags for not much more. My problem is that no matter how broke I am there is always a little bit left in the coffers for a pair of Kate’s shoes. Oh dear, now the secret is out!

It is interesting to see that since the last review over a year ago this restaurant has not improved in the slightest. Went there with my son for a quick bite after shopping. If it hadn’t been for the charming waiter it would have been a truly disappointing experience. To top it all when I went to the ladies at the end of the meal I found one of those attendants who hand you towels and offer you perfume - something I have come to expect in nightclubs but not in a downmarket burger restaurant where I have just gone for an informal meal! Who do they think they are?