CORE blimey! London's hottest new venue has raised the bar

The calm before the storm - dancefloor beware!

To find a chic, relaxing, stylish joint in the throngs of the City scene in London, contrary to popular opinion, is not so easy.

Sure, there are numerous bars and pubs that profess to provide a funky, after-work vibe that can extend into the late evening, but how many can provide a relaxing and attentive feel while at the same time feeling like party central?.

Well, London's hottest new venue, Core (Aldermary House 10-15 Queen Street, City of London, EC4N 1TX) is the place to head to. Open Monday-Friday to the general public (Saturdays and Sundays can be hired out), Core offers an extensive drinks menu, as well as a cultured and classy lunch and evening dining menu.

The bar was formerly called Apt, but for past regulars, the new establishment will open your eyes to a more modern and relaxed way of socialising.

Our first impressions on approaching the venue was 'thank goodness the outside area had been maintained.' This can provide a perfect al fresco dining experience which is perfectly suited to the approaching summer.

A warm welcome will greet you at the entrance, provided you are dressed smart/casual and of the legal drinking age! The first level consists of bright, modern decor, an easily accessible bar and a buzz as much provided by the customers as those working too.

Downstairs is more geared towards mood lighting, and then the offshoot from the bar and dining area is where the party gets started in the evening with a dancefloor and bar.

We visited on an evening after being recommended the quality of the food on offer. And now we are in a position to recommend! My dining partner and I both opted for the aged rib-eye steak, that comes with fluffy seasoned chips and a side salad.

The bright atmosphere will be matched by your mood at Core

But there are always those places for a more intimate evening

If you are demanding to eat off the finest china and a big emphasis on presentation then you may be disappointed. If you are expecting to taste one of the juiciest, tenderest (is that even a word) practically rind-free cuts of prime steak, you are in the right place.

And surely that's what it should be about anyway, right?!

Coupled with a large class of crisp and refreshing Argentinean Malbec-Merlot Paso, it was the perfect start to the evening. However, as well as the delectable foods, the service and attentiveness of staff is somewhat surprising for the birth of a new venue. It's clear the training began a long time before the bar opened, which is pleasing for the customer.

The drinks menu is classy, yet concise

After a couple of glasses of Moet and a cheeky cocktail (there is an extensive range), we decided to join in and see how the night takes off. Core has already grasped how to provide a relaxed, easy-going party atmosphere. The staff are fully focused on not only providing speedy and efficient service, but also how to engage with their customer and not act as aloof as other venues perhaps do.

For the record, I recommend a Fizzazzle cocktail. Finlandia vodka, passion fruit puree, peach puree, mixed with champagne and topped with a peach slice will give you that extra buzz to take to the dancefloor!

It really does tick the boxes - whether you are wanting to wind down the hours after a long day at work, or whether your night has been planned for this trendy and lively nightspot. If you're looking for an amiable venue where the customer is the central focus, where the food menu is exciting yet concise, and where the drinks are varied and detailed, get yourself down to Core for a truly warm and memorable experience.

To view the Core food menu, click here

To view the Core drinks menu, click here

To make a booking at the venue, for dining or a party, click here

The outside area is perfect for the summer months

 

Dinner dilemma? Dine in for a tenner!

M&S food is a bit of a treat, really.  We've been having a laugh their 'food porn' TV ads for a couple of years now but, let's face it, they have the goods to back it up. When I was a student I was once given M&S vouchers for Christmas so that when the post-Christmas-impoverished-student blues kicked in come January, I could cheer myself up with something more desirable than beans on toast.  And though my university days are tragically behind me, M&S food is still something a bit special, something to swoon over.

But it doesn't often come particularly cheap which is why, in my mind, their (now much copied) 'dine in for £10' offer is GENIUS.  A yummy main, side dish, irresistible dessert and a bottle of wine for a tenner?  Amazing.

The expert choices made for our 'dine in for £10'

My partner went off to make the choices and came back with beef and smoked bacon meatballs (with a lentil ragu, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions and cheddar cheese), accompanied by rosemary potatoes and a bottle of Merlot.

The meatballs were rich and warming, and the crispy potatoes were the perfect, tasty hit of carbs we all appreciate in the winter.  There was a bit of a drama when I went to start cooking and noticed that the two dishes required oven temperatures that differed by 50 degrees(!!!) but don't worry guys, I made it work!  The glass of red on the side was just right for the cold January night, and gorgeously smooth.

While it is difficult to match up on presentation compared to a meal out - the taste more than made up for that

 

I was pretty pleased with the decadent dessert that was chosen; salted caramel billionaire's dessert, with a base of chocolate crumb, salted caramel sauce, treacle mousse and a layer of Belgian chocolate ganache.  Desserts really are my weak point and M&S offer an impressively tempting selection.  At 390 cals this may have to be a once-in-a-while treat for some of us, particularly this time of year, but I cannot recommend it highly enough - rich, sweet and indulgent, it was the perfect way to round off the meal.

My one and only criticism of this offer is that, depending on what you choose, you may find that you want to add an extra side dish, which obviously bumps up the cost a little.  In this case, some salad or a few veg would've been great, and might have made us feel a little more virtuous!  But M&S have some great examples of extra side dishes so you won't have to look far.

There is such an impressive choice on offer that there really is something for everyone, and in these tough times eating out isn't really an option for all of us, so this provides a fantastic substitute that you can enjoy in comfort at home.  So go on, head to M&S and treat your partner (and yourself) this weekend - it's only a tenner and I guarantee it will get you some brownie points!

The desserts were rich and indulgent

For more information on M&S food, or to order in your dinner delight, click here.

Guest blogger  -AB