ABOUT OUR SOHO SPRING SOIREE

We sprung into spring in style. A room brimming with our Rendezvous choreographed crowd enjoying a lively soiree in the best kept secret in Soho, the Martinez Club – there were many compliments about its very special charm, mystery and intrigue.

It was lovely to see guests enjoy the Tidal Ginger cocktail. This craft rum was the perfect base for a series for rum-based vintage cocktails as well as much-loved classics, created on the night by Martinez’s clever mixologists. Bright, warming and fresh, so many of you commented on its unique flavour and character. This link takes you to Tidal Rum’s Cocktail list and club.

The Martinez interior is bursting with carefully curated art from resident artist Julia Warr. Her famous clunky figure painting, which takes inspiration from performance, running and walking, gave our guests a lively conversation opener. She says that in her studio she feels like a DJ on a new gig; her creations are in the moment, mixing both colour and consistency to create visual impact.

With effortless charm, our team, including Lou, Mimi and Robin, helped over seventy single professionals mix and mingle and cocktails, conversations and camaraderie continued flowing long after the event finished. The divine little Cumberland sausage rolls and riviera croques were popular with everyone in the room.

Members – remember you have three months complimentary membership to Martinez so you can drop in for a cosy cocktail this spring. Thank you to the team Maurice, Marshall, Martin and Theresa and the wonderful people at Tidal Rum who helped make this an unforgettable night. 

Some lovely Feedback –

Hi B

It was a great evening last night at the Martinez don’t know where you find these little clubs! Good to see lots of newbies (did a lot of chatting last night) Pls book me in for the next one xx

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Dear Barbara 

Thank you so much for the introductions last night. I really clicked with X; and X was a lot of fun and was very attentive with us. 

Please keep me in the loop for the next one! 

Warmest regards T x

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Hello Barbara,

Thanks for a great evening.

It was great to step into Martinez from a grey London day (despite it now being Spring)..  The cocktail brought back tropical breezes and a carefree vibe.   There were lots of new people to meet, and old friends to catch up with. Altogether a very fun evening!  Many thanks to you, Lou and Mimi.

Cheers, A

PS I particularly enjoyed talking to X – super bright research scientist!

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Hi Barbara,

Thanks for organising last night, making me feel welcome 😊, it was a great night and everyone was super friendly.

Best P x

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Chocolate and Whisky: The mystery deepened.

28-50 By Night | 76 Jason Court | Wigmore Street | W1U 2SJ
Thursday 26th January

We knew, on paper, that this pairing made perfect sense. In their purest forms, both chocolate and spirits are made from a simple set of ingredients that combine to produce a whole variety of diverse flavours. But nothing quite prepared us for the buzz this event would create in the already atmospheric setting of 28:50 By Night. Our senses were taken on a journey of sensory pleasure.

We were privileged to have the foremost trio of experts, Chantal Coady, the only person ever to be awarded an OBE for services to chocolate making, event host Paul Flatts of Whisky Drams, and Lucy Clare Tidal Rum’s Ambassador, who led our guests through the blind tasting. 28:50’s Head Sommelier Jules Bensacq presided over the whole event, taking care of the details right from the planning stage to shaking and serving.

Three shimmering glasses of varying shades of gold were lined up in front of us to smell, swirl and taste. And what a pleasure these were.  Voted the world’s best whiskey, Green Spot Leoville Barton was paired with delicious Grenada Special Cuvée 85% Broken Dark Chocolate, bringing out the clove and nutmeg in the whiskey. Lucy took us on the Tidal Rum journey, with a sense of freedom that the sea awakened in us with the subtle coastal flavours, paired adventurously with white chocolate with foraged fennel and cardamom. Jules guided us through the pure pleasure of the Delamain Pale & Dry XO Premier Cru Grande Champagne Cognac, which Chantal paired with chocolate-coated candied orange.  Such extravagant flavour pairings.

A special treat was Chantal sharing the unique taste of raw cocoa, a smooth fruity, tropical, tart, and naturally sweet subtle flavour. 

The Chocolate Detective team is working with cocoa farmers in Grenada and highlighting sustainable chocolate made at grassroots level (“Tree to Bar”) and keeping value in local economies. The voyage this chocolate follows is 99% emission-free, and it’s made even more special by watching this short video and appreciating its uniqueness. Sailboat Chocolate.

Thank you to the Mixology Team at 28:50, who managed multiple glasses during the tasting. They calmly went on to create a sea of cocktails with the Tidal Rum; Old Fashioned and Espresso Martinis spun out of their shakers.

Some lovely feedback –

Hi Barbara, thanks for a fun night.  Great fun and made many new friends also good to reconnect with a few people I hadn’t seen for a while !!  Cheers. R

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Thank you, Barbara for a wonderful evening. I had too much fun xx

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Dear Barbara, thank you so much for a lovely evening, let me know when the next one is please! x

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About the Italian Job; a Marylebone party

The Italian Job Party l The Italian Greyhound, Marylebone

Wednesday 2^nd November 2022

Our Italian Job party was a roaring success despite the absence of the fleet of red, white, and blue minis.  Michael Caine’s character Charlie Croker would have agreed it was a party with the spirit of dolce vita. Beep Beep!

Our stylish party was in the elegant Italian Greyhound restaurant, our private downstairs space was filled to the brim. The atmosphere was warmed by pleasantly low-decibel jazz.

The room was in excellent spirits, with at least 35 new people who were just such fun to have there and who mixed enthusiastically with our regulars, which, as usual, felt like a group of treasured and fun friends.

More marvellous memories were made in this W1 basement, adding to the many we have gathered over the year Including our delight to see some new couples move their conversation upstairs to the dining room of the graceful hound. The menu is perfect to share and to enjoy sharing conversations a plenty.

Thank you to the team at the Italian Greyhound for being such welcoming hosts.

Some lovely feedback –

Thank you for the wonderful event on Wednesday night. It’s such a lovely place you have created, it feels safe and inviting and easy to meet people and make friends, just delightful, thank you.

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Another great party, everyone was very friendly. You always manage to assemble a good mix of interesting and fun people.  Thank you, Barbara, for being such a great hostess, looking forward to the next one!

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Thank you, Barbara, it was a lovely, lively evening – such a great turn out. Thoroughly enjoyable as always! Well worth braving the lashing rain. The evening always seems to go so quickly, catching up with old acquaintances and making new friends, and then all to soon it’s time to head home….

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