What’s the formula for a perfect proposal location?

Last Valentine’s Day, the EDF Energy London Eye saw no less than one proposal every ten minutes during the most romantic day of the year. In light of this, the EDF Energy London Eye has researched some of the top proposal hot spots to examine what commonalities they have between them.

Having shortlisted some of the globes most popular proposal destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building, the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Romeo and Juliet’s Balcony in Verona and of course, the London Eye; it has revealed that each possess all or some of the following qualities:

· Stunning views of a beautiful city landscape
· An element of seclusion
· An iconic status
· A renowned romantic reputation

Although the ideal proposal location varies depending on personal taste, as London’s most iconic landmark offering unrivalled views of the capital, the London Eye embodies all factors that attract romantics wanting to pop the question.

For the element of seclusion couples can steal a few moments alone whilst enjoying a Cupid’s Capsule which offers a completely private window to the capital. Guests will have their very own personal host who will serve them delicious Charbonnel et Walker chocolates and a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal Champagne.

On Monday 13th January at 11:00am the EDF Energy London Eye will be hosting a one hour live Twitter Q and A with relationship expert Andy Jones who will be on hand to answer last minute questions ahead of the big day. May it be how to woo that special someone or how to cope with the nerves, Andy Jones will be offering advice for an hour the day before Valentine’s Day. To get involved participants will need to follow @thelondoneye, making sure they include #loveisintheair in their questions.

For more information about all of the London Eye’s Valentine’s Day products and to receive a 10% discount on bookings visit www.londoneye.com or follow the London Eye on twitter www.twitter.com/thelondoneye. Alternatively customers can book using the telephone booking line - 0871 781 3000.

BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL OSCAR MENU

With the 84th Academy Awards approaching, The Beverly Hills Hotel has created an Oscar Cocktail Menu inspired by this year’s “Best Picture” nominations. These cocktails will be available during the lead-up to Oscar night on Sunday 26 February 2012, at the internationally renowned Polo Lounge Bar.

The beverage team of the Beverly Hills Hotel has therefore created nine unique cocktails. A selection of examples are as follows:

The Artist: Silence Is Golden
· Karlson’s Gold Vodka, Lemon Juice, Mint Syrup, Club Soda

The Descendants: Kaua Ta’i
· Ron Zacapa Rum, Fresh Lime Juice, Orgeat Syrup, Orange Curaco, Rock Candy Syrup

Midnight In Paris: Renaissance Man
· Grey Goose L’Citron Vodka, Rasberry Sorbet, Pomegranate Liqueur, Pink Grapefruit Juice, Champagne

War Horse: French 75
· Tanqueray Gin, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Moet Champagne. This cocktail is named after the 75- millimeter M1897, a light, potent little gun with a vicious rate of fire, was the mainstay of the French field artillery in World War I.

The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo lounge has long been a favourite of A-list Hollywood stars. Among the many recent Academy Award-winners who have celebrated their triumphs at The Polo Lounge are Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Caine, Dame Judi Dench, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck – all with Oscars in hand! The 2012 Oscar Cocktail Menu is served in a setting steeped in Hollywood glamour.

THE SAGUARO PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA OPENS
Bursting onto the hotel scene in Palm Springs, California, The Saguaro Palm Springs is a colourful offering with a palette designed to fit with its surrounding landscape. Rooms are inspired by desert flowers and the colours of the surrounding mountains at different times of day. Tapas is the star turn in the restaurant and the bar is a super cool tequila joint, with over 100 varieties to choose from! The Saguaro Palm Springs has a sister property that opened in Scottsdale Arizona last year.

www.jdvhotels.com / www.visitpalmsprings.com

GET INSPIRED AT JAMIE’S MINISTRY OF FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS AT WESTFIELD LONDON
25th February 2012

Food theatre will come to life at Westfield London this month as the centre will host a weekend of demonstrations and master classes, showing shoppers how to cook delicious and nutritious meals using fresh ingredients.

As part of Westfield’s partnership with Jamie’s Ministry of Food project, members of the public can come along to Westfield London and explore how easy and fun it can be to cook a variety of tasty dishes. Chefs from the only Jamie’s Ministry of Food in London will recreate their signature dishes live in open kitchens and reveal their all-important tips and tricks of the trade.

Jamie Oliver comments: “Bringing live cooking to a shopping environment is an inspiring way to get families excited about cooking fresh food. Our team will show how easy and fun it can be to cook from scratch – and the results will be delicious.”

Be inspired by exclusive demonstrations of two Jamie’s Ministry of Food recipes, alternating throughout the day – quick salmon tikka with cucumber yoghurt & spinach, and red onion & feta frittata.

Free to watch; samples to taste and recipe cards to try at home!

WESTFIELD LONDON
Saturday 25th February
11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Location: The North Atrium

HOTEL CHOCOLAT OPENS GROUNDBREAKING ‘ROAST + CONCH’:
A unique new concept – linking cocoa growing, chocolate making and tasting in one location

Hotel Chocolat, the luxury British chocolatier and cocoa grower, is delighted to announce the opening of London Roast + Conch in the Seven Dials district of Covent Garden. It’s a brand new concept that brings together all of the company’s activities under one roof – from cocoa growing and chocolate making, to innovative new cocoa-based drinks and food.

Small batch chocolate making in the heart of London
Cocoa beans are delivered fresh from the company’s Saint Lucian plantation, Rabot Estate, straight into the small batch roasting and chocolate making kitchen in Monmouth Street. Customers can see, smell and taste the entire, delicious process in action – from roasting and winnowing, to conching, mixing and tempering. Small batches of rare chocolate will be made daily in the store’s basement kitchen, which takes theatre kitchen to a whole new level.

Cocoa Versus Coffee Bar – a revolution in café culture
Customers can explore the revolutionary new Coffee Versus Cocoa Bar. It features a range of exclusive new drinks made possible by cocoa roasting techniques newly developed by Hotel Chocolat. Customers choose from a drinks menu written in familiar coffee language and decide whether they would like their latte, flat white or cappuccino prepared with cocoa freshly roasted on the premises or with coffee beans.

Cacao cuisine dishes for lunch and dinner
At Roast + Conch, customers can also taste Hotel Chocolat’s exclusive ‘cacao cuisine’ menu, developed at the company’s Boucan Restaurant on its Saint Lucian cocoa estate. Innovative lunchtime wraps and open sandwiches include duck confit with roasted cocoa nibs and goats’ cheese with walnuts and dark chocolate, as well as sweet options with salted caramel, or cocoa whipped cream and chocolate. An atmospheric supper club is planned for later in the year.Also on offer are chocolate and wine pairing – featuring an expertly paired introduction to Cheese, Chocolate and Red Wine Pairing with three specially chosen cheeses, three small batch chocolates and a glass of vintage Chateau Chocolat red wine. And, of course, customers will also be able to shop the full range of Hotel Chocolat goodies on the ground floor.

Angus Thirlwell, Hotel Chocolat CEO, said, “From our cocoa estate on Saint Lucia, straight to our cellar in Seven Dials – we are the first to be able to make small batches of rare chocolate from our own beans in the heart of London. It’s an utterly unique opportunity for customers to see the whole process in action, taste the differences between terroirs and experience a direct connection with our cocoa estate. Forget ‘bean-to-bar’, we’ve moved on to ‘Tree-To- Bar’! This is something that very few chocolate makers in the world could even consider doing and we are thrilled to be the first.”

Hotel Chocolat, London Roast + Conch opened on 17th January 2012. The store is located at: 4 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9HB.
http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/

ANISE LAUNCHES ‘COCKTAILS, CANAPÉS & COUTURE’ MENU FOR LONDON FASHION WEEK
Bite-sized is the new black. London Fashion Week rolls into town from 17th-22nd February, and with it comes a super-skinny, fashion-friendly menu at bar Anise. Rubbing designer-clad shoulders with Cinnamon Kitchen in the City – the modern Indian restaurant courtesy of executive chef Vivek Singh – label-loving ladies can enjoy a fabulous ‘Cocktails, Canapés & Couture’ menu dedicated to the capital’s most stylish event.

Perfect for those watching their waistlines, canapés on the bite-sized menu start from just £4.50 and include: green pea raita shots with chickpea cakes; pickled cucumber with smoked aubergine caviar; sautéed red sea shrimps with Kerala spices; grilled organic salmon with green pea relish; and clay oven-roasted guinea fowl with green spices. Enabling ladies-who-lunch to enjoy something other than soup or salad as the capital fills with waif-like model-types, the menu proves that slimming doesn’t mean sacrifice.

Canapés aren’t alone in the front-row, either, accompanied by a collection of ultra-chic cocktails and a sexy shooter. Called The Devil Does Shots – chilli cachaça, mint and lime – it’s the undisputed star of the show and its name is a cheeky reference to fashion’s favourite film.

The cocktails, meanwhile, are categorised by the season: the Spring Collection – goji berry liqueur topped with champagne; the Summer Collection – raspberry mojito with spiced rum; the Autumn Collection – gin, strawberries, raspberries and passion fruit topped with ginger beer; and the Winter collection – Cointreau, cognac, chocolate and cream. Sure to have even the most hard-nosed editor teetering dangerously in their skyscraper Louboutin heels, never has a liquid lunch – or indeed, dinner – been this luxe.

Anise, 9 Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4YL
T: 020 7626 5000. www.cinnamon-kitchen.com
Open: 4pm-12.30am Mon-Fri; 6pm-12.30am Sat; private bookings Sun

EXCLUSIVE RANGE OF NEW DESIGNS FOR YOUNG BRIDESMAIDS FROM LITTLE EGLANTINE IN 2012

French designer Stephanie Staub, already well-known for her exquisite flower girl dresses and page boy outfits has just unveiled her new designs for young bridesmaids aged 7 to 14.

“Answering my clients’ need for dresses for young bridesmaids, I have designed chic yet discreet dresses to compliment the beauty of these young ladies. They required something special, as girls from 7 to 14 are not little children anymore, but not adults yet… Girls can also now complete their look with complimenting hair accessories and heart pendants.”

Using the most delicate taffetas, the designer has created a line of sophisticated yet simple bridesmaid dresses, which reveal the inner beauty of young ladies.
Made-to-order, Valentine and Jane bridesmaid dresses start from £230 in size 7 to 14 and are available in a myriad of colours.
Little Eglantine is renowned for the exquisite finish of each piece, from highest quality fabrics to the thoughtful details.

Little Eglantine has brought colour and playfulness to the weddings of many celebrity and society brides, who love the personal and sophisticated touch of French Haute Couture which sets the luxury collection apart.

For more information please contact
Stephanie Staub - Designer
Phone : +44 (0)20 3287 0648 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.littleeglantine.com

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS WITH LATEST SHOCK-ABSORBING TECHNOLOGY

Laptops and iPads are designed to help you stay connected while you are on the move. But investing in these expensive items is of little worth if you are too afraid to leave your house, in case you drop and break your new gadget.

With the revolutionary new G-Form protection sleeves, you can now protect your assets from the risk of damage. This is the perfect accessory for any gadget aficionado who loves to stay abreast of the latest technology and is seeking a way to safeguard their expensive hardware.

Made with PORON® XRD™ material and proprietary G-Form technology, these sleeves harden instantly upon impact, absorbing 90% of the energy, to dramatically reduce the risk of cracks or smashes, even in the most extreme conditions.

Designed to fit sleekly round your laptop or iPad, the sleeves offer a lightweight, flexible and functional solution to protect your hardware from potential damage.

So now you really can stay connected while on the move, safe in the knowledge that your assets are protected with a G-Form shock-absorbing sleeve.

Products in the G-Form range include; Extreme Edge and Extreme Portfolio, iPad Extreme Sleeve 2, 11”,13” and 15” Sleeve for laptops.

Prices start from £49.99 and are available to buy directly from www.g-formuk.com

JA-PANCAKE DAY 2012
This February, Shrove Tuesday will be turning Japanese as YO! Sushi toss the traditional and cut the crêpe, offering diners a complimentary Dorayaki to celebrate.

Available exclusively on the 21 February when you spend £5, you can indulge your sweet tooth in our limited edition Lemon Custard Dorayaki – a delicious combination of two traditionally prepared Japanese pancakes with a lemon custard filling.

Available at YO! Sushi nationwide, precede your ‘Dorayaki Day’ dining with a choice of over 90 dishes from the belt, ranging from hot Japanese inspired classics including katsu, rice, noodles and teriyaki specialties or traditionally sliced and diced sushi and sashimi.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer go to www.yosushi.com/offers/dorayakiday for more information on how to claim your voucher and full T&C’s, along with other great offers coming your way in 2012!

www.yosushi.com

HOTEL MISSONI LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE – WWW.HOTELMISSONI.COM
High-tech, Personalized and Truly, Uniquely Missoni
Hotel Missoni announces the launch of its stylish new website that is cutting edge in both design and function. Putting the customer up, front and centre, the website is build with responsive design techniques that adapt to the user's viewing device – be it desktop or mobile – automatically adjusting the screen size, platform and orientation.

The new Hotel Missoni site promises to offer a lively, personal and lifestyle experience like all of the Missoni hotels. By integrating social media activities, destination and hotel news, latest events and special offers, the site provides upbeat communication tailored to Hotel Missoni guests’ preferences ensuring that they are never out of touch or out of reach.

Whatever the needs – be it seeking information on Hotel Missoni’s unique in-room complimentary amenities, making an online restaurant reservation at Cucina or simply booking a room at the best rates available online, the new website has it all covered.

The functionality, ease of use and accessibility of relevant information have been at the forefront of the design, as well as the visual appeal and experience complimenting the design legacy of Missoni. Fresh, distinctive and iconic, the Hotel Missoni website ensures a truly unique online customer experience.
The website relaunch follows the recent launch of the new Hotel Missoni iApp and is further proof of the brand’s dedication to leveraging technology to enhance the new luxury customer experience and cater to the very important and fast evolving technological trends, needs and preferences.
The iApp provides guests access to a wide variety of hotel services and information, before arrival, during their stay and post departure. From booking a table at the hotel’s restaurant to having the luggage picked up from the room, from room service to stocking the minibar, or simply ordering a taxi, the guests have the choice to personalize their experience with just a few screen touches. The Hotel Missoni App uses mobile, location-based technology to deliver hotel services and amenities. And the guest doesn’t even have to be at the hotel, to make the most of the application.

Hotel Missoni represents a new standard of design hotel that combines the style of the iconic fashion and interiors label with the expertise of one of the world’s leading hotel operators. Spearheaded by Hotel Missoni Creative Director, Rosita Missoni and Rezidor’s President & CEO, Kurt Ritter, this global partnership is creating a distinctive blend of fashion, function, form and service that adds up to a new genre of genuinely luxurious hotels.
For more infomation visit www.hotelmissoni.com and www.rezidor.com.

ARDANAISEIG HOTEL & RESTAURANT – SCOTLAND’S UNDISCOVERED CULINARY TREASURE

Award-winning Ardanaiseig hotel is a deeply romantic and luxurious boutique country house hotel that boasts one of the finest restaurants in Scotland. Built in 1834 and designed by architect, William Burn, it is situated in an area of staggering natural beauty on the shores of Loch Awe below Ben Cruachan in North West Scotland.

Chef de cuisine, Gary Goldie, has worked at Ardanaiseig for the past 13 years and has been awarded several accolades including ‘Scottish Chef of the Year 2011’, 3 AA rosettes and the restaurant was named ‘Most Romantic Restaurant 2010’ by the Scottish Hotel Awards. Gary possesses a unique culinary flair that harnesses the best of local Scottish ingredients, many of which he forages and grows himself, and inspiration from his travels around Europe and further afield. His dishes change daily and include favourites such as: velouté of Scottish asparagus with smoked trout and caviar Chantilly; pan-roasted John Dory with deep fried scallop ravioli, purple carrot purée, pak choi and Sauternes sauce and terrine of Russet apples with prune and honey cake and vanilla ice-cream.

Gary’s philosophy is based on the idea of using what is available on your doorstep so many of the ingredients that he uses in his dishes come from the walled garden and immediate area surrounding Ardanaiseig and are picked or harvested by him on a daily basis such as: wild garlic; hog weed; pig nuts; wild berries; rose hips and a vast array of wild mushrooms.

All 16 bedrooms have their individual style and character offering something for everyone with views of the loch, four poster beds, direct access to the beautiful grounds and gardens or the contemporary private Boat Shed Suite on the loch shore that is a particular favourite amongst couples on a romantic break. The hotel offers guests a vast array of activities including: deer stalking, clay pigeon shooting, fishing and gourmet picnics on their private island. Ardanaiseig can be hired for exclusive use for corporate and private events and was awarded ‘Intimate Wedding Venue of the Year 2011’ at the Scottish Hotel Awards.

www.ardanaiseig.com

STAR GAZING ON EXMOOR £389PW FOR FIVE

Go star gazing in Exmoor National Park, Europe’s first Dark Skies Reserve. Helpful Holidays have a classic moorland cottage sleeping five hidden deep in the countryside above Barton with no light polluting neighbours for half-a-mile. Cosy inside with an open fire and long views from all rooms across the valley, Heyden Cottage has no TV reception and is set in a clearing, ideal for spending evenings looking upwards. It’s available for a week’s stay from now until late-March at £389, pets welcome too. Book through Helpful Holidays on Tel: 01647 434063, www.helpfulholidays.com (ref F45).

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