Aah British Summer…
It finally feels as though it’s here to stay, after we’ve been lucky enough to experience more than just one or two days of glorious weather; and now that schools are breaking up too, it has many of us questioning – is this really it?! Is Summer actually here?! Well, yes! Summer is the perfect time of year for new experiences, making the most of quality time with friends and family and discovering new and exciting events in your local area and beyond, and that’s what todays post is all about. I’m sharing three of my essential activities for a Summer well lived.
The first, you may be a little surprised to hear from me, as I’m not your typical ‘festival girl’. While I don’t mind camping, the majorly late nights, and waking up in a field with hundreds of hungover teenagers is not hugely my style, so when Grey Goose invited me along to House Festival (the one-day festival put on by Soho House) I was intrigued to say the least. I messaged my best girlfriend to see if she’d like to join me, and as a Soho House member herself – and far more aware of what the festival entailed than I was, she jumped at the opportunity!
You may have already seen my vlog of our day at House Festival, but if not, here’s what you need to know! We arrived to Marble Hill House in the early afternoon, made our way to the grounds of the English Heritage Home where the gardens opened up to reveal hundreds of well dressed festival goers making their way from stall to stall, either waiting patiently for their share of Lobster, Steak or Oysters for lunch, or perhaps signing up for a Cowshed massage or manicure later in the day. We made our way to the Grey Goose bar in the centre of the lawns for our celebratory Le Fizz cocktail – it’s safe to say we have our priorities in order! If a classic Le Grand Fizz wasn’t exactly what we were craving, the talented bar men were creating personalised Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz and Espresso Martini cocktails to perfectly match consumers’ tastes, and as well as the macaroons, there were Maitre Choux eclairs on offer to pair with the cocktails.
I first tried a Grey Goose Le Fizz cocktail during my beautiful trip to Le Logis which I wrote about on the blog previously, and it seemed the perfect way to begin our day of celebrating not only a wonderful day ahead, but also my best friends recent job promotion! It was exactly what we were craving on the warm afternoon – a refreshing lightly floral and citrus cocktail, created with Grey Goose vodka, St. Germain Liquer, Fever-Tree Club Soda, and fresh limes. We enjoyed our cocktails as we made our way around the grounds, discovering foodie sensations varying from freshly made ‘churros con chocolat’ and mouth watering guilty treats from Fatties Bakery to giant paella dishes filled with meatballs and fresh from the oven sourdough pizzas – not a kebab or undercooked chip in sight!
An Elevated Experience
As well as festivals, another experience that I discovered can also be a refined and memorable one is a trip to the cinema. And nope, I’m not talking about a couple of tickets to see the blockbuster releases in your local Picture House, but another event that Grey Goose has partnered with meaning you know you’re in for a very special evening indeed; the Cinema in the Sky. With the vodka company’s heritage of celebrating great films (you’ll always see the stars of Cannes enjoying a Le Fizz as they mingle at Cannes Film Festival), it seems perfect that they should partner with London’s most iconic outdoor cinema providers – Rooftop Film Club and The Extraordinary Travelling Film Show, to present screenings of classic films to keep us city dwellers entertained on beautiful Summer evenings.
Dressed in an outfit more suited to a day at the races than your typical cinema experience (white dress, top of post), it seemed the perfect attire for an evening spent at the very top of The Shard, for a midnight screening of La La Land. Arriving onto the 69th floor to the sound of a Jazz Pianist, we first were presented with, you guessed it, a Le Fizz cocktail, which we enjoyed as we took in the breathtaking views across the city.
Book your own rooftop experiences here and get tickets for events at The Shard here.
During the interval, we were treated to a Grey Goose Espresso martini, which is swiftly becoming my favourite cocktail! The bar men expertly prepared the infamous cocktail to perfection and served with a Grey Goose embellished macaron – half time snacks at the theatre will never be the same again!
Summer Garden Parties
Of course one ritual that is essential during these glorious months is the Summer Garden Party and this year Charlie and I will be hosting a fair share of our own. Having now become accustomed to only the finest of cocktails, the pressure is on, yet I am quietly confident in my Le Fizz making skills and I’m eager to impress my guests. Stay tuned for more Summer must-do’s on the blog, from Picnics to brunch clubs!
What events make Summer so special for you? Let me know in the comments below!
Today’s post is in collaboration with Grey Goose
xoxo
