southbank | So Many Lovely Things

One the joys that (kinda) remained during the pandemic is brunch. I am a massive fan of brunch, but to be honest, it is not the hype around brunch itself.

For me, what is better than having a lazy, late delicious breakfast/lunch with friends, to chat away your week and indulge in (always) bottomless day drinking?

One of my favourite spots is Sea Containers. Around London’s South Bank, in this lovely restaurant on the bottom floor of the equally lovely namesake hotel, you’ll find great food and fab service.

Favourite order: the mac and cheese. Trust me. around £40pp will get you well fed and on the bottomless prosecco for 1.5h.

Pre COVID-19, I spent a whole day in there: went for brunch, then to the cinema and finally closed the day at the cocktail bar. How not to love the place?

Don’t think it is technically a brunch, but as the name does not matter, for me it falls within the category: the feast at The Ned.

What a glorious place The Ned is, and the feast follows it through. No longer a buffet due to the pandemic, rest assured you still get plenty of food and the same variety, all conveniently brought to your table.

The live music adds to the ambience and the indulgent choice to add bottomless champagne for 2 hours to your bottomless eating is dear, but worth it at £130pp.

There are many other places I like to go for “brunch”, impossible to list all.

I love the D&D restaurants for example, Skylon providing a great brunch also on South Bank with music and a lovely Thames view.

Another one worth keeping on the radar, as I’m REALLY hoping they will re-open post-lockdown – they haven’t yet, although I noticed bookings are open for November so fingers crossed – as their brunch is probably the best value for money EVER is Nobu in Shoreditch.

As much as you can eat sushi, a main course and a buffet of desserts, with the Nobu quality and expertise, plus bottomless drinks option is dreamy. My bum will be on a chair as soon as they open their doors.

Admittedly, now London is in Tier 2 brunch indoors will only take place with my boyfriend, but alas, I cannot wait to get back to it with the ladies!

I am always looking for new places and always have a few on my hit list, waiting to be tried. What is your favourite brunch spot?

How about sending a glittering interactive hologram message into the London night sky and in the process help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their precious work?

Sprinkling some magic over the capital’s skyline, Light Sky sees the glamorous Amanda Holden team up with npower to help raise funds for the cancer charity. She kicked off the Christmas campaign by sending the first message, one of love, into the sky at the Southbank Observation Point.

If you are in the area, pop in and talk to one of the friendly guys over there – you can donate, send your own message and watch the beautiful spectacle illuminate the sky. If you are not in the capital, you can still spread love, support and hope by going to npower.com/lightsky.

Sent in person or online, the message will be projected among London’s landmarks and you will get a video of it via email, to share and treasure.

I was very lucky to be part of the launch during a cold, but cheerful, evening and Amanda, who looked amazing in red, said she felt “privileged to be a part of this campaign; Macmillan Cancer Support is a great charity which provides crucial support for people affected by cancer” and urged people to take part.

As one of the first to do so, I (made my donations and) shared two messages; one to my beloved grandfather, who passed away last month in Brazil, and it shone up in the sky the way I am sure he is shining now.

As I had no time to say my goodbyes and hadn’t seen him in a while, I wanted him to know he will forever be with me.

The second message was to my aunt, to echo as her optimism, strength and hope through very recent tough times with surgeries and waiting for biopsies results.

As she is also in Brazil, I want to reinforce that she is supported, loved and I am adding to the hope everything will be alright.

Amanda Holden at the npower Light Sky for MacMillan Cancer Support

Amanda Holden kicks of the npower Light Sky for MacMillan Cancer Support

Amanda’s message of love

MacMillan Cancer Support does amazing work with people affected by cancer, be it practical, emotional and personal support. They are there during treatment, to help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings.

MacMillan does not receive any government funding, so every donation counts towards keeping their fantastic work going.

One in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetime and, not wanting to play the scare card and more putting things into perspective, the support of a charity like Macmillan would probably keep someone like me, who has been living alone in a foreign country for many years, stronger and more hopeful to fight through such a difficult time, should that happen.

And npower, which is putting on the stunning light show, is a long-standing partner of Macmillan, helping people affected by cancer to keep warm without worrying about the costs.

Take part sending as many messages as you can; the suggested donation is £4 per message. Not only will they light up the sky and the heart of your loved ones, but will also be helping those affected by cancer. How amazing is that?

Head off to the Southbank Observation Point in London (58-72 Upper Ground, Gabriel’s Wharf, SE1 9LT) between 5pm-10pm or get online at npower.com/lightsky.

written by Dani