February’s Jazz Dinner – Boisdale

Wednesday 23rd February

Boisdale of Belgravia | 15 Eccleston Street | London | SW1W 9LX 

It felt so convivial and decadent, almost like a speak-easy at our wonderful Boisdale Jazz dinner last week in Belgravia. Boisdale is one of those, you never know what’s going to happen, type of restaurants; you’ve just got to roll with how you are feeling on the night.  Spontaneity puts the fun and spice in our lives.

So, this is how we do it, a bit different to our usual stand-up drink and mingle events. We bring together a wonderful group of like-minded people for an enjoyable sit-down dinner and drinks and a good old fashioned chat, all from the comfort of those things called chairs.

Boisdale’s MD helps us out by mixing up his Single friends with our guests, keeping it lively and entertaining.  I move the group around a few times, without being too pushy, just enough to keep the conversations flowing.

With the charming Boisdale backdrop of excellent live music, our group of men and women, (10 of each), enjoyed excellent conversation with a certain amount of fun cheekiness.

To join the waitlist for our next Jazz dinner – please do email me.  They sell out quickly, but we will do more!


First Party of 2022 – Deal Breakers

Wednesday 26th January

Martinez | 49 Greek Street | W1D 4EG

What a way to start 2022, Martinez was full to the brim with singles looking to socialize.  We enjoyed mixing up new and regular guests in the wonderful Martinez in Soho; fun was definitely on the agenda.

Our special guest Sara Davison, The Divorce Coach talked openly about the importance of not just focusing on what you want but identifying the five must NOT have these are the deal breakers for you.

From Sara Davison

“Wow what a fun evening with such a wonderful crowd! I was honored to be invited to speak and bring some of my Accredited Breakup and Divorce Coaches to offer support and advice. 

January is always a busy month for breakups as the festive season puts so much pressure on relationships. I spoke about how to avoid the pitfalls of dating and shared my tips on learning to trust again after a divorce.  

Remember to have your list of up to 5 Dating Deal Breakers! These are things that you know you will not work for you long term in a relationship and are absolute must not haves from a partner. If they come up, you deploy your parachute and leave! 

I loved meeting you all and hope you find what you’re looking for very soon. 

For more information about Coaching sessions with Sara and her team, or training to become a Coach with Sara visit www.saradavison.com or book a call to speak to our team here.”

https://calendly.com/marinaky/10-minute-consultation-call?month=2020-09

Many of you spent time with her team so we would like to thank Lucy, Angela, Mick and Michelle.

Marvelous  Martinez

We loved sharing our favorite secret club with you. So many compliments on this plush, dimly lit space for its charm, mystery and intrigue. The nibbles by Michelin-starred chef Hervé Deville were hoovered up in seconds.

Their mixologist delighted in creating line-ups of vintage cocktails and much-loved classics. Members remember you have three months complimentary membership so you can drop in for a cozy cocktail this spring.

Thank you to the team Maurice Marshall and Izzy Lyth who hosted this unforgettable night.  I believe cocktails, conversations and camaraderie were flowing into the early hours of Thursday.

Single socializing should be fun, so don’t put the pressure on to find Mr or Ms Right. Mr or Ms right now will be fine. Join us to meet a room full of singles that will help you get back into dating and boost your confidence.

Let’s keep meeting people and having fun.

Some lovely feedback

Dear Barbara,

Firstly, Thank you (& Lou plus everyone else) for an amazing evening. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone, and Sara’s great tips! Martinez is a fantastic place, and everyone was lovely. 


Good morning, Barbara

It was a pleasure to see you last Wednesday. It was a great event and I met splendid people. 


Hiya,

What a fab evening: I really enjoyed seeing you again –  and meeting new people!

Once again, thank you for organising these events!


Dear Barbara and Lou,

What a fabulous evening you hosted for everyone last night. Such fun to see you both looking gorgeous and not a day older, catch up with old familiar faces and meet new friends. I had such a lovely time

Take care until we meet again.


Good evening, Barbara

What a delightful evening – we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Keep us both posted – it was lovely to be out and lovely to meet your sparkle.

Wedding Bells are ringing in 2022

Welcome to 2022, we look forward to enjoying a year full of fun Rendezvous socials – you never know who you are going to meet.

With that in mind, we wanted to share with you a gorgeous story sent to us this week by a former Rendezvous guest, we hope this fills you with joy as much as it did for us.

 
“I was introduced to Rendezvous at the end of 2016 and came to my first event at the Hippodrome in one of its private rooms. It was enjoyable and I even got a reading from the Psychic you had invited.  Her prediction is about to come true and the groom to be was at that event too, although more focused on the gambling than the girls and we didn’t meet then.

 

The next event I attended was great fun, whisky and chocolate tasting at Boisdale and the third was in a restaurant called Bernardi’s. I got stuck in the middle of a very crowded room at the same time as an attractive and interesting man who just made me laugh. He still does. Our first date followed the same week.

 

We moved in together in 2019 and we are getting married in March. I thought you’d like to know because we are so happy and well suited. I have never got married before (he’s divorced) and certainly wasn’t expecting to get hitched at this stage of my life. So, thank you so much for organising Rendezvous as we’d never have met without it. “

An Arty Party at L’Escargot

Tuesday 2nd November

L’Escargot | 48 Greek Street | Soho | W1D 4EF

How totally divine was our evening of Art at L’Escargot. Artist Henrietta Sophia Wallace enlightened us with the passion that drives her painting, sharing with us personal stories relating to her current collection. We were spoiled with canapes. Honestly the team at L’Escargot are food Artists. Our favorite was the delightfully delicious snails crafted from smoked salmon and cream cheese whose photo was shown so much love on Instagram. Tres, tres bien. Let’s not forget the tapenade toasts, Crab toasts, and the fast-disappearing cheese straws that went so well with the Sea Breeze welcome cocktail.  Thank you to Brian, Reda, Dom and the L ‘Escargot team.

Thank you to Sophia Henrietta Dunlop, it was wonderful for so many guests to hear your story.  Sophia has always been involved in the arts as a make-up artist/singer and documentary film maker. She lives in London’s Belgravia.  Her exhibition at L’Escargot is also available to view, along with her wider collection by appointment.  So please do email her directly on henrietta202@hotmail.com

A Wonderful Crowd … mixology of minds

As a planner of events, you might wonder how we put together consistently interesting mixes of people.  As the party starts to get near being sold out, we look at the guest list, as people inspire us to invite others who may not have been before or for a very long time.  Sophia’s wonderful art attracted more artists themselves and others who had extensive careers in hotels and hospitality.  The room buzzed with investors in start-ups and others putting great energy into sustainable ventures and, to saving our planet.   Conversations and introductions are what makes a party go boom!

Special Guest

Our featured charity event’s founder, Andrew Taylor, dropped by with his Black Labrador; when he asked if he could bring his cute four-legged friend, I immediately knew he could.  Owner of L’Escargot and old friend, Brian Clivaz, has the most fabulously eccentric bulldog called Doris and is often seen holding court somewhere in the restaurant, yes Doris, not Brian!

Some lovely feedback –

 

Thank you so much for yesterday evening. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming, and it was lovely to be out mingling with other like-minded people.  I especially enjoyed talking to one particular person! I think I got very lucky for my first singles event.


We had a really nice night Tuesday at L’Escargot and great to meet so many new faces, along with some regulars.


It was lovely meeting you on Tuesday. I thought the event was a real success, beautiful venue, engaging conversations. Looking forward to your future events.

Call my Bluff: Exclusive Wine Tasting

Wednesday 1st December | 18:30 – 20:30

Handford Wines | 105 Old Brompton Road | South Kensington | London | SW7 3LE

20 People

 

Hosted exclusively by James Handford master of wine, who founded Handford Wines in 1989. From their delightful cellar in Kensington, he and his team will share with us wines of character and charm whilst pitching the boys against the girls in a playful tasting game of Call my Bluff.

 

The tasting will be accompanied by wonderful artisan cheeses. Scientists believe foods that sit on opposite ends of the spectrum of taste often create a pleasant taste sensation, triggering a good match in the mind and bringing the wine flavours alive.

 

If you are thinking about trying some new wines to serve at Christmas, now is the time to do it in good company. Join us and James in South Kensington, in this wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people and taste world-class wines.

 

Numbers are limited to 20 people.  Please contact us for the wait list for tickets at £55 per person.  barbara@rendezvous-london.com

A Glorious Grosvenor, we did Gallivant!

Weds 6th October

The Biltmore Hotel

The Pine Bar, 44 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 2HP

Our October party at The Biltmore, Grosvenor Square, was a glorious night of peachy pink ‘Axia Paradise’ cocktails complimenting the five-star interior-designed private room, warm lighting, cool music and outstanding canapes.

The Biltmore was certainly a magical backdrop for glamorous guests to meet and connect.

We enjoyed chef Paul Walsh’s marvellous creations of canapes;

Coronation chicken scotch eggs, Seared Bluefin Tuna with wasabi Mayonnaise, Whipped Tunworth Cheese with figs and Heather honey, Salt Marsh Lamb fritters with minted harissa yoghurt and Old Bay Seasoned King Prawns with mango Thai Som tam dip and Berkswell and quince croquettes. 

The whole experience left our taste buds tingling!

 

 

We sipped on delicious Axia Mastiha cocktails. Axia is a luxury spirit class blending old world tradition with new world innovation. Axia Brand Ambassador and Mixologist Mike Goncalves was on hand to talk us through how the brand came about and where it’s headed, you saw it here first!

Axia (meaning ‘value’ in Greek) is a refreshing, extra-dry Mastiha spirit.  Mastiha is found on the island of Chios. For over two thousand years this ancient superfood has been used to richly flavour foods and treat numerous ailments. A rare, versatile and sustainable ingredient whose authentic character cannot be replicated. It is definitely Greece’s most

exotic spice and Axia is set to be the cocktail mixologists favourite.

Thank you to the whole Biltmore team for your first-class service.  Paul Walsh for outstanding food, Sara, Matt, Nerijus and Morgan.  We so appreciate your attention to detail and making our party such a wonderful success.  We look forward to using our free Axia cocktail card – thank you!  And coming back again for more cocktails at The Pine Bar soon. 

 

Winter cocktails in a cosy bar, count me in! 

Barbara

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