Editor’s Note: Now and then we'll spotlight one of our amazing Google Places reviewers. Both so you guys can start to get to know one another and so we can pull together and share our favourite local places. Today, we introduce you to Rachael Gibson from London.
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Rachael moved to London five years ago to study (an MA in Fashion Journalism, darling) and spent a year “living in a box flat on Edgware Road.” Now she’s loving life south of the river, and took some time out to tell us about the London places she loves.
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Rachael moved to London five years ago to study (an MA in Fashion Journalism, darling) and spent a year “living in a box flat on Edgware Road.” Now she’s loving life south of the river, and took some time out to tell us about the London places she loves.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Drinking real ale, hunting out the best pork pies and burgers in London, banging on about how awesome South East London is and frittering away my hard-earned money in Liberty on things I can't really afford.
Do you have a secret talent?
I can do tea towel origami - a roasted chicken is my speciality.
Impressive! Share your ultimate London insider tip:
Never drink in a pub that isn't a Sam Smiths. And use the East London Line as much as you possibly can.
Which celeb would you love to see reviewing on Places?
Got to be Kate Moss — I can only imagine what incredible places she knows about. Queen Kate can do no wrong in my eyes.
And what are your five favourite London places?
Hob Salons - My go-to place for fantastic colour in London. Consultations are in-depth and knowledgeable but not intimidating, ensuring you always know exactly what you can expect. During colour services every step is explained and at the backwash, products used are thoroughly explained but with no hard sell. Friendly staff, great service, nice surroundings — brilliant place to get your colour refreshed or reinvented.
Freemasons Hall - My all-time favourite building in London. I'm not a freemason and don't really have a massive amount of interest in what they get up to, but this place is utterly fantastic with possibly the most incredible interior ever. You can book on tours or visit on Open House Day, but I've been lucky enough to visit during fashion week (when it's used as a venue) and wander round all the back rooms too. Star-studded ceilings, gold everywhere, symbolism everywhere from floor to ceiling — it's just breathtaking and I'd recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in architecture.
Bob Bob Ricard - I'm an art deco geek and also love to live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget, so rare nights out at Bob Bob Ricard are always a treat. The interior is incredible — just beautiful, with amazing attention to detail — you can always tell a classy joint by the toilets, right? These are stunning, the kind of place where you try and take stealth photos on your phone before anyone else walks in. Not sure why anyone would ever say the service is bad — I've never had a bad experience with any of the pink-suited waiters, even when I've probably deserved it for being a bit on the tipsy side, shall we say? I love the food too — I'm no expert, I guess, but I've always found it fantastic. Especially the mac and cheese and toast-it-yourself crumpets at breakfast. A real treat of a place, whether you're eating or drinking downstairs in Bobby's Bar. I recommend it to everyone, including lots of American friends visiting who have adored it.
The Southampton Arms - OK, so it's fast becoming a bit of acliche for real ale-loving hipsters, but the Southampton Arms really is an amazing pub. As a dedicated drinker of real ale and consumer of pork pies, it's heaven for me. It's kind of on the small side so you might have to wait for a table but the atmosphere is well worth it. Loads of amazing ales, good range of ciders, fantastic home-made food — what more could you want, except for it to be in South London??
Mishkin’s - I'm a bit of a slave to the Russell Norman/Richard Beatty world but really, Mishkin's is so fantastic it doesn't matter who runs it. Inspired by Jewish delis in New York, the menu features old favourites like reuben sandwiches, meatballs, hot dogs and matzo ball soup, all of which are glorious. My current favourites are the macaroni cheese (to share; my god, it would kill you alone) and the cod cheek popcorn, yum. Cocktails are totally incredible and come in the most amazing array of glassware and tankards - although I did hear people had been nicking them as souvenirs, which seems a bit mean. The staff are fantastic, really nice and no hard-sell. Great interior, especially the phone booth at the back. Can't recommend Mishkin's enough really — get yourself there, then finish off with a pint at the Lyceum Tavern round the corner.
Posted by Alexandra Sheppard, London community coordinator
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