The Alchemist Nottingham - Review

A few weeks back, we were invited along to The Alchemist in Nottingham to sample their food and explore their kids menu.

When The Alchemist first opened here, I have to admit, I thought it was just a place for adults; an extravagant cocktail venue, not particularly suitable for the mini folk.

But it appears my first impressions were off and the team invited us along to find out just what they have to offer for the little people as well as us grown ups.

Located in the old Prudential Assurance building, one of Nottingham's finest example of Victorian architecture, the sympathetic interior stylings of The Alchemist made much better use of the space than previous inhabitants had done.

The internal design made great use of an alchemy theme, the walls covered in scientific diagrams and the shelves lined with glass flasks and tubing. Even with the presence of a few hen parties, it still felt pretty chilled out. We were seated in a booth and it felt like we were in a little private bubble of our own.

The children's menus come in a little packet with some crayons, it isn't a huge menu but then kids menus never are; however with a choice of wraps or a bento box, it really didn't need to be as these will satisfy even the fussiest eaters in my opinion.

The kids picked what they wanted and set about colouring in, drawing and playing noughts and crosses. I loved that were were several things for the kids to do in their activity books and it pretty much kept them occupied until our food arrived at the table.

The adult menu is extensive and I loved the choice and flavour pairings.  I went for the duck with tender stem broccoli, harissa yoghurt and sweet potato fondant. The combination of sweet potato and spicy harissa worked really well and it was cooked and presented to a high standard.

The children's lunches came in Japanese style Bento Boxes, we use a Yumbox Bento box for school packed lunches and they have always worked really well. The portion sizes were above average and they came with all of the food groups covered.

I obviously had to try a cocktail, our waiter went through the menu in detail explaining the different types and what we could expect from the more theatrical options. I opted for the Tickle Me Pink, a mix of Portobello Road Gin, St Germain, Lime and Nettles. It came with a syringe full of a stingy liquid which you swished in your mouth and it tingled like nettles. It was a fun way to enjoy a cocktail, looking round the room there were lots of different cocktails being delivered to tables and they all looked just as exciting.

I loved the mix of industrial, modern and original features that made up the room, the staff were all really friendly and the service was great. I loved that I was able to enjoy a really tasteful meal out with my children, there were meals to suit all budgets and tastes and although it can get expensive with the addition of cocktails it was a nice treat and is definitely somewhere i'd take the kids back to if I fancied a nice meal with them in tow.

The addition of the children's menu come colouring book is great and the theatrics of the food and drinks made it an enjoyable experience for all.

We were invited to The Alchemist to try their kids menu, all words and opinions are my own.

Festive Bar Fun

Last year I saw a post over on Capture by Lucy's blog, where she had created a wonderful bar area in her home.  I decided to do something similar, sourcing beautiful vintage decanters for my rather empty looking cupboard top.

Through each season it has been home to new things, in spring we had our Easter eggs, summer our brightly coloured picnic ware, and then in Autumn our pumpkins.

Now we are back to Christmas and New Year, so it has been festively adorned with berries and lights and is back to being my bar area.

This year I have a new addition of my peg board, I bought this in the sale and love that I can add messages, lists and even menus to it.

So what drinks do we have? I love rum so bought some as a treat for myself, the lovely people at Tia Maria sent me some of their fabulous coffee liqueur, great on it's own or as i've found in an Espresso Martini.

Then I have a whole host of non alcoholic drinks, perfect for non drinkers and then some traditional port, a Christmas must.

It is an easy and fun way to display any bottles you have and looks great for Christmas, it also makes it a breeze to prepare drinks for guests.

Christmas Soft Drinks Guide

Not everyone likes to drink at Christmas and if you are a designated driver, pregnant or just not that into alcoholic beverages then it can be difficult to find those drinks that are more than just lemonade, water or a glass of coke.

So here is my guide to some great alternative and alcohol free drinks this Christmas and perfect if you fancy a dry January...it'll come round quicker than you think! 

For a festive feel then the Belvoir Fruit Farms Mulled Winter Punch and Spiced Ginger Punch are a great way to get that lovely warm and fuzzy feeling without the fuzzy head, with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves the smell can only be described as Christmas in a bottle. Plus, if you do fancy that little bit of Christmas cheer then you could always add some red wine or brandy to the mulled wine and maybe a splash of Whisky to the ginger punch for a warming spicy alcoholic treat.

The packaging is also super festive and so would make a great gift for someone you know who doesn't like to drink. The RRP for these is £3 and available from Sainsbury's, Ocado, Asda and more.

Fancy a little aperitif with some kick? Then Great Uncle Cornelius' Famous Spiced Ginger might be for you. Perfectly warming and great as a mixer to whip up some Ginger Beer (just add lemonade), or if you do fancy something a little bit cheeky then you can mix with Whisky for a spicy Ginger Ale, or Ginger Sour with Whisky and a dash of lemon.

I love the bottle, it is really fun and a great ingredient to keep in your booze or non booze cabinet for a quick drink over the festive period, I have already had some with lemonade but am waiting to try with warmed some cider. RRP £3.60 available from the Great Uncle Cornelius' website.

For those that like beer but are not drinking, then St Peter's Without is an alcohol free beer with a difference, it is a totally natural, alcohol-free beer that is brewed in the same way as a normal beer and tastes just as good as the real thing. Containing less than 0.05% alcohol and at least 25% fewer calories than standard beer, it is the perfect drink to enjoy on a night out and great if you are watching your weight too.

This beer really tastes great and after being pregnant during the Christmas period for both of my pregnancies I can tell you booze free beer doesn't usually hit the mark, but this is good.

What about the day after the night before? Well with these cordials from Thorncroft you can rehydrate safe in the knowledge of no boring water. With Elderflower, Wild Nettle, Pink Ginger, Cranberry & Hibiscus, Rosehip, Detox and my favourite Kombucha there is one for every day of the week.

These bottles may look little but they are highly concentrated, so you only need a smidgen to make your water, whether still or sparkling, taste fantastic.  They are quite sweet and so great for making water taste good but possibly not to everyones taste. RRP is £2.99 and they are available from Ocado.

And finally, one of my favourite iced coffees goes all festive too. I love Jimmy's Iced Coffee and have been a fan for a while now, so with a festive gingerbread offering I was most excited. The same great iced coffee but with a gingerbread twist, it tastes just like I have just eaten a scummy piece of a gingerbread. 

Not only are these a great coffee cure for hangovers and late nights, but they are the perfect early morning on the go drink. And although I haven't tried it yet, I think these would make a great alternative for a festive White Russian cocktail. RRP £1.60 available from stores nationwide.

Whilst I love a drink at Christmas with two children in the house on my own I equally like to have a straight head, so for me these drinks are all a great alternative to the real thing, they are tasty and perfect for something festively different.

I was sent these items for the purpose of this post, all words, opinions and pictures are my own.

Saving Money with Klean Kanteen

How much do you spend on lunches, coffees on the go and food and drink on days out with the family?

We have been challenged by the people at Klean Kanteen to see how much we can save over the course of a month using their drinks bottles and food canisters for our lunches both for work, school and days out, as well as thinking about the environment and how much packaging we can cut down on.

My husband often has hot drinks on the go during his trips to London, I often buy lunches instead of taking something to work and although we always try to take some on our days out, drinks can get expensive whether hot or cold.

The bright drinks bottles are perfect for both kids and adults alike, and with double-wall vacuum insulation it keeps your drink warm for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours, leak proof caps and stainless steel meaning no flavours are absorbed. The food canisters keep stuff warm for 4 hours and cold for 12 hours, they are BPA free and food grade stainless steel.

So how much will we save, probably spend between £3-£8 per week some weeks on food for work, my husband probably spends between £10-15 a week if he is in London for a few days, then if we go out at the weekend we might by a drink or two each, we usually take a picnic and this will make it much easier to take food in to keep cool, especially now it's summer.

So overall, over the month I anticipate we will save at least £100, so over the year we could potentially save between £670-£1170.

So keep an eye on our progress, over on Instagram and Twitter and our follow up post in a months time.

Klean Kanteen are available from selected retailers across the UK and are distributed by Whitby & Co, all products are available through them as well as a selection of other great products perfect for life's adventures.

This is a collaborative post, all words and photos are my own.

Summer Drinks for All Weathers - We Are Tea & Ugly Drinks Review

It's the first day of summer and currently it is raining, it's a difficult decision as to whether or not to head to the fridge or put the kettle on.

It's good to have a choice though and with We Are Tea and Ugly drinks I have that option, in fact I believe it was Peter Kay's mum who said that having a cup of tea will cool you down, so these are both perfect for summer days.

We Are Tea make award winning loose leaf tea, which, if you like proper tea like I do then, is perfect. Along with their fabulous Simpicitea infuser, it couldn't be easier to make yourself a wonderful cup of tea.

I have messed about for years with tea infusers, forgetting to use the tea strainer and ending up with several cups of tea that i've had to sieve, so for me this is a genius piece of tea making kit which has made tea making that much easier.

You pop your tea leaves into the Simplicitea pot and then fill with water to the desired level, leave to stew for 2-3 minutes and then when you are ready you place the pot onto your cup and push gently down, the water comes out of the bottom, filtering any leaves and bits of tea.

This is such a clever idea, and whilst it won't ever replace the decadence of having a teapot, cups, saucers and a tea strainer, for every day easy proper tea drinking it is ideal, great for home and work.

It costs £18 which is probably more than you might pay for a cafetiere, however if you love fresh leaf tea then it is an investment in good tea.

The tea itself from We Are Tea was delicious, they sent me a gunpowder green tea, I am not a huge caffeine drinker anymore so this was ideal for me, it was tasty and I loved watching the tea unfurl in the water.  They do a small selection of teas including good old English Breakfast and Early Grey both loose leaf and bags, the bags are biodegradable and with enough space to ensure the tea infuses properly.

For those warmer days, which I am sure will happen soon but as I sit here watching the rain I am not so sure, there is Ugly, a new drink which offers fizzy pop but without the sugar and sweeteners, which personally I am not a fan of.

As a former drinker of a certain caffeinated fizzy pop I have missed having a fizzy drink at times, and there is only so much water you can drink before you feel a bit like a fish. So when I heard about Ugly I straight away though i'd like to give it a try.

Firstly I understand the name is a bit odd, I mean can you imagine asking for an Ugly Grapefruit and Pineapple drink, but I suppose thats what makes it stand out.

My husband loves fizzy water but I am not usually a fan of it on it's own so I was intrigued to try the Ugly drink to see how it faired.

The lemon and lime is very subtle and you certainly get the smell more than the taste, it is a very light taste and if you love fizzy water but want a little hint of something then this would be great, the grapefruit and pineapple is definitely my favourite with the pineapple coming through without being a sweet and sickly aftertaste.

This is the perfect drink for summer, fresh summer smells make you just want to sit and chill out in the garden.

So on that note, who is now singing U G L Y you ain't got not alibi?

NB: We were sent samples of both products to form this review, all words and opinions are my own.

A Creative & Crafty Blog Meet at Breadsall Priory

On Sunday, I was invited to a Creative and Craft event at Breadsall Priory in Derbyshire. It was a great chance to meet up with some other like minded bloggers for a chat and to find out about some great products and businesses in a truly beautiful setting.

On the day, I decided to go with a vintage look, with some vintage Ralph Lauren and Marks & Spencer glammed up with a joules top and accessorised with a Sun Jellies bag, shoes and necklace.

On arrival to Breadsall Priory we were shown to a beautiful garden room for a selection of drinks, before being shown to our table for afternoon tea. The afternoon tea was stunning, with beautiful cakes, sandwiches, and scones with plenty of clotted cream and jam.

Even me, with the sweetest of teeth couldn't manage all of the the cakes, thankfully though the lovely staff bought them to our room so we could finish them in the afternoon.

After tea and cake we made our way to the Morley room, a beautiful and bright airy room which I can imagine would make a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding ceremony, especially looking out into the stunning gardens.

First up, we had a talk by Annette from Weleda, a brand I already adore and have lots of time for. We got to try some of their bath milks, hand creams as well as learn about how they work. I bought some foot balm to help prepare my summer feet.

Then we got on to making and crafting, with some hoops supplied by Korbond and lots of scraps of fabric, we set about designing a picture on fabric. I am a real novice when it comes to something like this, I am normally found crafting with paper, glue and children in tow. So it was great to find something new to try.

We also had  talk from Jen from Lunar 21 and Alice from Bless Your Arts Boutique and Phil did a great talk on Polyvine, they do some great products so I will be looking a bit more into this.

It was a lovely few hours and I only wish it could of been longer, there was so much more to learn and craft and talk about so I look forward to the next one.

Thank you to Samantha and Kat for organising and Breadsall Priory for hosting us, and their wonderful little goody bags I am looking forward to popping back to use the leisure facilities.

The day raised £100 for the Mollie Makes Crafternoon For Comic Relief  too, so as well as being fun it was helping a worthwhile cause.

Blog Roll from Sunday

Kat
www.akraftykat.co.uk

Emma

www.lilyallsorts.com

Charlotte
www.englishgirlathome.com

Hannah
www.daintyandivory.blogspot.com/

Phil

www.fireflyphil.wordpress.com

Samantha

www.crafternoonteahostess.co.uk

Claire

www.ninjakillercat.co.uk

Alice 

Bless You Arts Boutique

Jenn
www.lunar21derby.org.uk

OXO Tot Twist Top Water Bottle Review - Updated

The children were recently sent some new drinks bottles from OXO Tot, they were an instant hit and replaced their usual night time drinks bottle.

Both the kids get thirsty in the night and to save on spillages we have always used a bottle, these bright and coloruful bottles have straws without any valves in, which make it really easy for them to drink from. 

Although not completely spill proof as we have had a few spills when the bottle is tipped up with the straw out.

However, straw closed, they don’t leak. The bottles also have a super handy hook you can hold on to or clip on to a bag, as well as lines on the side so you can measure how much liquid you are putting in and they are drinking.

They are easy to fill with a wide neck and the straw is long enough to ensure all the drink can be finished off.

Both the children have loved their new bottle, taking it out on trips with them and on sleepovers to their nana's house, they were in awe at the magic straw too.

They are dishwasher safe and BPA free, so are easy to look after and the perfect bottle for older children whatever they use them for. 

The bottles are really sturdy and so far stood the test of two children using them every day, priced at £8 I think this is a little more expensive than some you can find on the market, but these have a lot of functionally and for that I think they are worth the money.

UPDATE - We had only had these a month when one started leaking so I have had to replace it.

NB We were sent the bottles for the purpose of the review, all words and opinions are my own.