DAVINA MCALL mbe
“I reckon it would be hard to find someone as obsessed with Christmas as I am. Lights go up on the 6th of November. Our stockings (sacks, more like) are from gltc.co.uk . And they are all personalised, my daughters best friend even has one.
We try as much as possible to use fabric wrapping (usually in the form of various sized sacks), but if I need more I get them from Etsy. I like helping small businesses.
I dont drink alcohol and I really hate drinking sweet alternatives all day, but I have recently discovered an amazing pink sparkling Alcohol free champagne type drink called Noughty AF. Its fantastic. Dry and grown up, and just tastes so good.
Also, if you are hosting this year and have large numbers of guests coming over Christmas and you want to get a great affordable wine, my partner Michael highly recommends Gary Barlows organic wine. We get the red, white and blush (sauvignon), it’s super affordable and you can order online and get it delivered to your door.
One more tip - before you get ANYONE any presents… make your entire family do the free love languages quiz online. My primary love language is touch (no surprises there) so the best present ANYONE could give me is a hug a day… I score ZERO for gifts. It’s the thought that counts, but I just love outings together. So if you really want to make someone happy, just base your gifts around your families love languages!!!!!!”
Davina McCall MBE, Presenter
“Our final Halpern Hotlister of 2023 is a dear friend of mine, the incredible Davina McCall. Make sure to check out her top tips for the festive season.”
Jenny Halpern Prince MBE
Restaurant: Cafe Kitty
Underbelly Boulevard is a brand new home in Soho for the hottest cabaret, variety and music from the big purple cow who used to take up residence on the Southbank. Well, to add to this excitement, a new restaurant by Kitty Fisher's is opening - and it's all part of the new makeover of the Boulevard Theatre in Soho which has become Underbelly Boulevard. The old theatre restaurant is getting a full makeover to become Cafe Kitty. Open for lunch and dinner whether you're going to a show or not (although special deals will be available if you have tickets) and on the opening menu will be dishes including Mushroom Thermidor, Very Welsh Rarebit, Courgette Bahji & Curried Yoghurt, Leek & Chestnut Pithivier, Curried Monkfish, Samphire, Crispy Shallots & Beurre Blanc. Alongside those are snacks like a Portland crab croquette or a smoked beef cigarillo. The enticing menu is just more brilliance from the Kitty team that we can’t wait to sample. “Whether you’re after a theatre set menu, a long lingering lunch or a romantic Soho dinner, Cafe Kitty has it covered. Let yourself be transported into culinary heaven: we’ll delight your senses with food and drink of the highest quality. Big flavours, Theatreland classics and firm favourites from all the best corners of the world, Cafe Kitty is yours to explore…”
Drinks: Bar Levan
Peckham has welcomed a brand new wine bar: Bar Levan- the latest venture from the team behind South London mainstay and Hotlist fave, Levan. The exciting new 34-seater bar will offer a range of natural wines from across Europe, along with a focused aperitif list, specialist mezcal selection, and snacks. The neighbourhood bar draws inspiration from Parisian classics like Aux Deux Amis and Septime La Cave and is the first dedicated wine bar offering from the duo, sharing a name with its sister restaurant next door. For the wine, expect a similar ethos to Levan, with a more dynamic and playful menu, focusing on organic and biodynamic wines, alongside a selection of older vintages and unique “one offs” by the glass. There is also a bottle shop operating during opening hours. The menu will play host to plenty of snacks including rillettes, charcuterie, cheese, mussels on crisps and a very naughty Croque Monsieur. Like Levan, music is at the heart of the bar, inspired by the founders background as a record label owner and DJ. You can expect a killer selection of vinyl to soundtrack the evenings, all played on its vintage sound system - and if you’re lucky you’ll catch a takeover from Strictly Bangers, the music and wine night, that began at the much loved Salon Wine Store in Brixton five years ago. In the coming months Bar Levan will host guest chef takeovers, so keep your eyes peeled on their website and socials for more news. Expect no reservations, plenty of delicious wines and snacks for the incurably peckish.
Circus: La Clique
A theatrical phenomenon, La Clique has toured the globe from Edinburgh to Adelaide and everywhere in between. It’s now in London’s Leicester Square for a limited 8 week run over Chrisitmas…. Bringing its unique and inspirational night of live entertainment to London, this trailblazing Spiegeltent cabaret show has been the torchbearer for nearly 20 years. This series of shows effortlessly blends comedy, cabaret and circus for one of the most genuinely original and entertaining nights out you could ask for. For 2023, the cast includes the stunning vocals of cabaret artiste Chastity Belt, tension strap aerial artist LJ Marles, Australia’s favourite powerhouse clown Tara Boom and the uniquely talented acrobat and contortionist David Pereira. Joining them is Ukrainian hula hoop artist and founding member of La Clique, Yuliia Pykhtina, acclaimed handbalancer, Aaron Marshall and the extraordinary puppets of Montreal's Cabaret Décadanse. Sadly for 16 and over this isn't one for the littlest kids but tickets are priced at £25 for the 90 minute spectacle. Once the show ends and you find yourself in the heart of the capital then use it as a good excuse to enjoy the Chrotmas lights and atmosphere of the festive season. It’s unbeatable.
Pantomime: Aladdin
If you don’t see panto at Christmas then are you really doing it right? The Hackney Empire production is always a sell out each year and for good reason. This year Aladdin is flying into Hackney on his magic carpet to entertain the masses. You know the tale- Poor downtrodden Aladdin dreams of finding love and making his fortune. When he discovers an enchanted lamp and meets a mysterious genie, it looks like all of his wishes are going to come true. But are they, or will forces of evil stand in the way…? Directed by and starring legendary dame Clive Rowe as Widow Twankey, alongside Natasha Lewis as Abby-na-zaaar!, Ruth Lynch as Spirit of the Ring, Fred Double as Aladdin, Isabella Mason as Jazz, George Heyworth as Mildew Funk, Rishi Manuel as Wishy, and Kat B as the Genie, you can expect an unbelievable cast, incredible costumes, uncontrollable laughter and song and dance numbers that are nothing short of genie-us! Clive Rowe is touted as the best in the biz so you’re in safe and experienced jazz hands. Tickets start at £15 and the show is on until the end of the month.
Art: Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec
Impressionism, as an art movement, developed in France in the nineteenth century and is based on the practice of painting out of doors and spontaneously 'on the spot' rather than in a studio from sketches. Main impressionist subjects were landscapes and scenes of everyday life. The most famous Impressionists out there include Degas, Cézanne, Morisot and Van Gogh. Names we all know all too well. In fact you will recognise their paintings, but it’s their radical works on paper that is being put under the spotlight in this ground-breaking new exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. In the whirl of modernity that was late 19th-century France, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists radically transformed the future direction of art. But it wasn’t just through their paintings. In a subtle but seismic shift, they lifted the status of works on paper – drawings, pastels, watercolours, temperas, gouaches – from something preparatory that you left in a studio, to artworks in their own right. In this rich exhibition, The Royal Academy of Arts bring together 77 works on paper by leading Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists whose innovation would challenge traditional attitudes and ultimately pave the way for later Movements like Abstract Expressionism. Open now until early March next year.
Theatre: Macbeth
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” A spellbinding story of love and murder, the renewing power of nature, and of the internal struggles of a damaged man as he tries to control his destiny. This bracingly fresh production of the Scottish play at the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden, places us inside the mind of Macbeth, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions? Shakespeare’s most extraordinary psychological drama is led this winter by David Tennant, who plays the title role for the first time in his illustrious stage career. Donmar Associate Director Max Webster (Henry V, Life of Pi) directs. This production of Macbeth will use binaural technology to create an intense and unnerving 3D sound world, which the audience will experience through wearing headphones, placing them right inside the head of the central couple. This production opens on the 8th December 2023 and runs to the 10th February 2024. Macbeth is the final production in the theatre's 30th anniversary celebrations and some would say they have saved the best till last…
Social: Blue Marlin Ibiza
Christmas is mere days away, the temperature has dropped and snow is inbound. So let's talk all things Ibiza! Blue Marlin Ibiza, the world-renowned beach club and lifestyle brand, is launching Blue Marlin Ibiza London at The Mondrian Shoreditch London. This exciting new venture marks the brand's first foray into the heart of London, bringing the iconic Ibiza experience to the vibrant Shoreditch neighbourhood. Located at 45 Curtain Road, it promises to be a haven of sophistication, creativity and relaxation in the heart of East London's creative and cultural hub. The London site will capitalise on an innovative, outside-the-box-thinking concept, a two-decade long tried and tested formula that has seen the opening of venues in UAE, Mexico, and Gran Canaria. Boasting a stunning rooftop terrace, Sky Lounge offers breath-taking views of the city skyline. Guests can enjoy a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, crafted cocktails, and a carefully curated music programme that captures the spirit of Ibiza. The menu will feature fresh seafood and other culinary delights, while the bar will serve up an array of signature cocktails and a sushi bar will entice the most discerning palates. Channelling the spirit of Ibiza, this night-club venue is set to become London’s hotspot for parties, DJ residencies, live music and special events. A 24/7 gym is available for members and their spa is an oasis of relaxation that includes a range of treatments. Who says we can’t enjoy the summer vibes here in a rainy cold December London?
Charity of the Month: FareShare
Did you know over 3 million tonnes of good to eat surplus food goes to waste in the UK food industry every year, meanwhile millions are facing food insecurity. FareShare believe that no good food should go to waste. They redistribute surplus food to charities that turn it into meals for those in need. In London, The Felix Project, works with FareShare from 4 depots in Enfield, Poplar, Deptford and Park Royal to rescue good food from going to waste and provide it to over 1,000 community groups and schools across the capital supporting thousands of Londoners in need. In Central London they run a scheme using electric van, cycle and walking routes to collect and deliver food from retailers and food-2-go outlets. Their Poplar site also houses Felix’s Kitchen which prepares and cooks thousands of nutritious, culturally diverse meals from the same rescued surplus food every day. With the festive season approaching and the cost of living crisis with the nation in its grip, now more than ever charities like FareShare need our support and donations. Check out the website for more info on how you too can volunteer and lend your help.