The Gin Den at Bistrotheque followed by a reggae party

Last week I went to Bistrotheque to a party to celebrate their newly decorated bar which was designed by House of Hackney and sponsored by Bombay Sapphire gin.  I'm rather partial to a bit of Bombay Sapphire.

House of Hackney are an interiors and lifestyle brand described as "Colefax and Fowler on acid".  Run by partners Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, they're based in a house in London Fields almost entirely decorated in their own creations.  The company makes wallpaper, fabric, and a huge range of matching furnishings sourced from the best of British manufacturers.  There are three collections so far - 

Hackney Empire

Dalston Rose

and Queen Bee

The Gin Den has Hackney Empire wallpaper described as "Luxury wallpaper featuring a carnival of animals amidst animalistic debauchery in a riot of colour featuring a midnight blue background"

A conversation seat in Hackney Empire fabric

The new lights with red background Hackney Empire print give it a bordello feel

Bombay Sapphire lamps

There were lots of different Bombay Sapphire cocktails

Alice Urquart and Bistrotheque co-owner David Waddington

I popped upstairs to the restaurant to see my friends Hazel, Pablo Flack, Jean Marc Masala and Sophie Damann.  Hazel's wearing a Giles dress from SS11.  

Dinner looks good!

They're serving pork buns downstairs

It was a warm evening so it was good to be outside

Here's Kirstie Fleck from House of Hackney wearing a silk dress in Hackney Empire print on a red background.  I saw lots of people I know, I remembered to take a few snaps

Writer Rocky Casale

Alice Urquart wearing a gorgeous leather jacket by Maia Norman's label Mother of Pearl

I like the back although I hadn't realised it was a gorilla strangling a parrot

I love these two - stylist Maddy Ostile and actress Jaime Winstone

The always fabulous Princess Julia who was DJing

This leopard print Beetle was parked outside as I got in my cab.  I was being good so I went home.

I'd been back a couple of minutes when my great friend Gina Gorman rang saying she was in the area and coming to get me.  Her boyfriend Chris is the music business and there was a little party going on.  I hadn't seen Gina for a while so it was lovely to see her.  She was cracking up about where she was taking me...

She took me to the Shacklewell Arms a pub I'd only driven past before

It's under new management but the decor hasn't changed for donkey's years.  How mad is this?  It's like going back in time or something.  I forgot to take a picture so I pinched this from the internet.  There was a few people having a drink in the bar and there was a reggae do in the back.  Oddly we couldn't hear a thing

It looked like this from where I was standing

You can see a bit better with the flash on but it was really busy in there and totally unexpected

It's Steve Mason from the Beta Band and reggae legend, musician Dennis Bovell who also produced loads of bands including Madness, The Slits and Orange Juice.

It was really good in there

Then they asked us up to the dressing room for a drink.  That's the lovely Gina on the right

Gina and I got a snap of the hospitality.  I love the smiley face candles on the cake!

I now have a little collection of Bombay Sapphire glasses in my kitchen cupboard courtesy of David

Thanks for a great night everyone xxx

I hope I can stay in and catch up with everyone tomorrow, it's supposed to be raining here.  I mowed my lawn this evening, I know I keep mentioning it but it's still only the fourth time I've ever done it.  I made a right pig's ear of it, I was just getting to the last bit and I swerved to miss some flowers and managed to cut through the damn lead!  My new neighbours were eating dinner in the garden while I swore over the hedge.  There's a six foot long bit at the front which looks really stupid.  Oh well, I'll be more careful next time.   At least most of the grass will get watered.

Have a lovely day xxx