The Cavendish Hotel Cocktail Competition & The Art Of Being British

Welcome back to Access London and thank you once again for your continued support in promoting disability access and awareness in the Capital.



Today's post announces a special competition from Access London's recommended hotel for 2011 - The Cavendish, St James's. Access London has posted many posts over the last year on The Cavendish including room tours, dinner, pre-theatre menus, Access information and much more - to read more about the hotel, please see our previous posts on it.



This September sees the return of The Art of Being British Festival to Jermyn Street, St James's on Saturday 10th September 12 noon to 5pm. After a very successful festival in 2010, the businesses along Jermyn Street and around St James's are returning for 2011.

The event boasts "some of the finest British fashion and lifestyle brands participating in a traffic free event that is packed with eccentric Britishness, unique presentations and engaging activities". The event takes place along the full length of Jermyn Street, just a 2 minute walk from Piccadilly Circus. It is hosted by The Crown Estate and the Jermyn Street Association.

The event will feature presentations from leading tailors, shirt and shoe makers, chefs, fine goods and food and wine retailers. There will also be a catwalk that will showcase several shows throughout the day, readings inside Waterstones bookshop, sports cars on display, interviews, world record attempts, cheese and wine demonstrations, all-day brunch and The Ritz will be hosting dance classes and demonstrations throughout the day and evening. St James's Church will be holding a mini fete and The Cavendish Hotel will be serving a charity hog roast (back by popular demand from last year) with all donations going to St James's Church.

This is an event suitable for the whole family and for those with disabilities and/or using a wheelchair or mobility scooter as Jermyn Street is closed to road traffic for the day. There is step free Access to both St James's Church and Waterstones from the Piccadilly entrances.

As well as serving a delicious hog roast from outside its Jermyn Street entrance, The Cavendish have also created a competition in the lead up to this event and one that you won't want to miss out on!

The Cavendish has created a new cocktail, the Red Rosa, to mark the Art of Being British and is challenging aspiring mixologists to create a cocktail of their own to complement it. To be in with a chance of winning, simply send your cocktail idea, recipe and name to competition@thecavendishlondon.com by Wednesday 24 August 2011.



The winning cocktail will be available, along with the Red Rosa, at The Cavendish throughout September.

The lucky winner will enjoy a weekend's stay in a Junior Suite, with afternoon tea and of course get to taste their own cocktail creation which will feature on the bar menu during September 2011.

The Red Rosa cocktail was inspired by Rosa Lewis, the celebrity chef of her time and the hotel's most famous owner. The cocktail is made with freshly muddled strawberries, grenadine syrup, Cointreau and elderflower cordial.




So what will your Essentially British cocktail be? - don't forget to post your entries to competition@thecavendishlondon.com by Wednesday 24 August 2011 to be in with the chance to win this fabulous prize.

For more information about the competition and about The Cavendish PLEASE CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE or THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE

COMING NEXT: Access London Celebrates Phantom of the Opera's 25th Anniversary with the first in a series of posts containing current and former cast interviews - first up, the fabulous Michael Xavier.
COMING SOON: The Natural History Museum - Dinosaur Exhibition

Fortnum and Mason - The Restaurants

Welcome back to Access London, thank you once again for your continued support for disability access and awareness in London.

Today's post is on the world famous and iconic London store - Fortnum and Mason. With a history dating back to the early 1700s and Royal Warrants being awarded over the last 150 years, Fortnum and Mason is certainly one of London's most recognised and oldest stores. Located on Piccadilly, almost opposite the Royal Academy of Arts, it is in a prime location. Its rear entrance is located on another prestigious London street - Jermyn Street.

Piccadilly has very wide pavements and pedestrian crossings making it an easy road in which to access Fortnums. Once inside, you are greeted with traditional British decor. Fortnums is famous for its food hampers and also their beautiful Christmas and other seasonal displays and products. There are several lifts within the store. If entering from the main Piccadilly entrance, the lift to the far left is the largest to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Fortnums has several restaurants, and a wine bar. Apart from The Gallery, which is not advisable for those in a wheelchair, all of Fortnums other famous dining areas are accessible to those with disabilities.

The Wine Bar is located in the basement and can be accessed by a lift.

To dine at any of the other restaurants I would highly recommend ringing ahead and booking, especially if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter so that arrangements can be made for you.

St James's Restaurant
This is located on the fourth floor of the store and is probably the most famous of Fortnum's restaurants, offering a more formal dining experience. The restaurant serves lunch Monday-Saturday between 12noon and 2pm and Sunday roast on Sundays from 12 noon to 2.30pm. It also serves Afternoon Tea and High Tea between 12noon and 6.30pm Monday-Saturday. There is a more formal dress code for this particular restaurant. You can also enjoy the sounds of the house pianist most afternoons. There is plenty of space in St James's to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters. For details on pricing, menus and to make a reservation, please call 0845 602 5694.



The Parlour Restaurant
This restaurant is located on the first floor of the store and overlooks Piccadilly. It is open from 10am to 7.30pm Monday-Saturday and 12noon to 5.30pm on a Sunday and Bank Holidays. This is the place to truly indulge your sweet tooth. The Parlour serves gorgeous ice creams (I particularly recommend the Frosted Strawberries and Shortbread or the Walnut with Maple Syrup), delicious cakes, open sandwiches, the Ultimate hot chocolate for those colder days and tea in traditional teapots. It has a definite 50s, retro feel about the place. If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, I recommend talking to someone on the reservations team about this so that more space around your table can be arranged. There are also disabled toilets very near by.



The Fountain Restaurant
This restaurant is located on the ground floor of the store and can be accessed from both instore and also directly from the Jermyn Street entrance. For those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, I would recommend using the Jermyn Street entrance that leads straight into the restaurant. The Fountain has a deluxe brasserie atmosphere and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It opens for breakfast 7.30-11am Monday-Saturday, lunch 12noon-3pm, afternoon menu 3-5pm and dinner 5.30-11pm. There is a jazz guitarist that plays between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Friday. There is also a special jazz brunch on a Sunday that is served from 11am to 3pm. This restaurant also has disabled toilets located near by.



To make a reservation at any of the above restaurants and to discuss your access requirements, please call the reservations team on 0845 602 9654.

Whichever restaurant you choose to visit at Fortnum and Mason, you will enjoy an elegant experience. Don't forget, if you do go and would like to share a picture with Access London, please feel free to email it to: accesslondon.claire@gmail.com

COMING SOON: Love Never Dies, London Eye & River Cruise, The Wizard of Oz, Access London celebrates 25 years of Phantom of the Opera.