West End girls night out

Last night reminded me why I love London so much. Having worked all day at home in front of my PC I travelled up to town on the empty train and read the freebie London newspapers – to learn that our Mayor is determined to reinvigorate the Thames with some alternative transport systems. A boat ride to work – so much nicer than the tube.

Then I took that fabulous RV1 bus across to Covent Garden (luckily the Tamil demonstration had long since finished), collected my mate from the tube station and dashed to my favourite shop to pick up a birthday present for the man who has everything. Italian sales assistant was cute, cute, cute!

Having realised that we were a little too late to join the Moti Mahal (Great Queen Street) £20 dinner and dance package (45 minute Bollywood dance lesson followed by two course dinner) we went into Sway to enjoy happy hour cocktails (£3.95 between 5-8pm). I am happy to report that this remains a lively venue with some great meal and drinks offers in a pleasant environment – great booth areas, easy to see what’s going on the kitchen, really friendly staff and even a fresh fish counter with oysters and mussels on the menu. Late night Londoners may have tried out the downstairs club here – anyone got any views about it? Excited to learn that Jocelyn Brown (of “Somebody else’s guy” fame) will be on live PA on Saturday – but sadly I won’t be able to make it.

Having had curry thoughts earlier in the evening we decided to hit one of the two Curry Club approved Indian restaurants on Great Queen Street. The meal was OK although I have had much better (but then I live in West London where we are truly well served in this regard).

So then we strolled down Long Acre to Leicester Square in search of the gelateri that I had been told about having moaned on a previous blog that I didn’t know where to go to get late night coffee and ice cream. I don’t know how I possibly missed The Rendevous in the past – it is huge! And what a selection of ice cream and frozen yoghurt – even some that are fat and sugar free. I can reassure you that the amaretto ice cream really is as good as it looks and the espresso would have been at home in a café in Rome. There was a great mix of people here – older tourists from Spain and Italy, an assortment of girl and student groups from numerous more exotic locations and even one or two very wealthy looking couples.

As we were still up for adventure we wandered around The Trocadero a bit – although my pal had told me that I was only allowed two gos. Having proved (again!) that I really am a great shot we wandered out onto Piccadilly Circus amongst the crowds and made our way to the tube stations and home. After all, it was a school night.