Eleven more countries will be paid tribute throughout the coming week,s and no continent has been left unturned. Argentina, Australia, Belgium, China and Jamaica are just a few countries where the flag, in the guise of a beer bottle, will be flying.  The special is GBP 18.00 and all burgers are served with french fries and a bottle of beer from the representative country. Reservations are not required in the bar, though recommended for larger groups by calling 020 7510 1937.

Consider it for a great night out while staying at your hotel in Canary Wharf or East London.

Based in the heart of the Docklands the market is Britain’s largest inland fish market with over 25,000 tonnes of fish passing through annually supplying shops, restaurants (including Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf) and the public with some of the countries freshest seafood. We got an inside look into the daily comings and goings of the market through the market’s seafood training school, a non-profit organisation established to increase awareness of the industry to school children as well as educate those already in the industry, or for curious foodies like us.

The 12 of us from the hotel were split up into two groups. Because there is so much activity on the floor and the possibility of getting run over shifting seafood is a very real possibility, groups are kept small. My group was fortunate to have the Principal and Chief Executive, Ms. CJ Jackson, lead our tour. She was knowledgeable and engaging though it was her banter with the fish mongers that made this tour for me. As the first woman porter on the floor, she had to prove herself but it seems that she has and then some.

At the end of the hour-long tour, we all had a small breakfast and then it was off to work. It was strange to accomplish so much even before the day had started. I did carry back a rather fishy smell apparently, but that’s okay. My colleagues got used to it eventually.

Top Tip: Check out the school website for a wide variety of classes that cater to a variety of interests.

Tracey Chatters, Communications Manager at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf.  Tracey is a Canadian who has been working and living in London for 3 years.

The Plateau’s monthly wine tasting evenings are ideal for a relaxed, informative evening out. Our host was Kathy Jordan of South Africa’s Jordan Winery. Kathy guided us through the different wines with just enough information; perfect for wine beginners.

Plateau hosts monthly wine tastings with a winery representative. With food pairing to complement the wines, an interested and fun crowd and a very knowledgeable wine expert, this was a great night out.  And at £20 per person, it’s entertainment and education all wrapped into one.

Top Tip: I enjoyed all of the Jordan wines but the Chameleon Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay and the un-oaked Chardonnay 2010 were two of my favourites.

Tracey Chatters, Communications Manager at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf.  Tracey is a Canadian who has been working and living in London for 3 years.

These diverse venues add up to an evening’s entertainment. My friend and I visited the art gallery on the top floor first. The exhibit featured several local artists who had chosen the human body as their theme. The gallery’s curator was hard at work ensuring that everything was hung just so.

We then moved onto dinner in the restaurant. The food is modern British and all of the wine is English. With glorious views of the lit-up Olympic stadium, we shared starters of galette of vine tomatoes and charred courgette with purple basil pesto and a platter of London cured smoked salmon. I highly recommend both. For the main courses, we moved on to the wild line-caught sea bass with truffle mash and vanilla, and the peppered rump of English lamb. And we couldn’t resist the golden syrup sponge pudding with crushed praline ice cream to end our evening. You won’t leave here wanting.

Forman’s has wonderful ambience and very attentive service. It works equally well for a romantic date or a fun evening out with a friend.

Top Tip: Due to its out-of-the-way location, the easiest way to get to and from Forman’s is by taxi.

Tracey Chatters, Communications Manager at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf.  Tracey is a Canadian who has been working and living in London for 3 years. 

This project supports two wonderful charities – Elephant Family and Action for Children and the egg was chosen because it is a globally recognized representation of a new life and hope for the future, a symbol of both charities.

The aim of the contest is to find as many eggs as possible as each egg is accompanied by a unique key word. Participants then text in these key words and every time they do, they get put into the pool for the draw of the Diamond Jubilee egg grand prize.

In Canary Wharf’s own backyard there are eleven very different egg sculptures, set amongst the hustle and bustle of business and leisure. They are nestled against buildings, inside display cases and in the centre of squares. They’re eye-catching and fun and it’s like finding hidden treasures when least expecting it.

Top Tip: Take a look at the official website to bid on your favourite egg

Tracey Chatters, Communications Manager at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf.  Tracey is a Canadian who has been working and living in London for 3 years. 

We thank Shakespeare for this phrase and thank him for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, located on the opposite side of the river in Bankside, a 17 minute easy boat ride from the hotel. The hotel, located on the River Thames, is the ideal starting point to see Shakespeare, or at least his legacy, in action at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.  This open-aired theatre is an exact replica of the original venue that Shakespeare acted and wrote in giving guests a sense that Shakespeare is still lurking in the wings. From 7 June to 14 October 2012 there will be four productions running and group tours are available for 2 to 60+ people all year around.  Tours allow guests to gain inside knowledge from expert guides while viewing the theatre.

The Four Seasons Canary Wharf is in an ideal location for many such adventures. Beautifully situated on London’s iconic river, Canary Wharf itself is in a revitalized Docklands area full of rich history and a buzzing dynamism that has a hip, eclectic appeal. Canary Wharf is delightfully removed from the beaten tourist track and it’s where you’ll find London’s most unique and progressive neighbourhoods, with an intermingling of business, one-of-a-kind shopping, markets, entertainment, and dining options.

Boisdale of Canary Wharf is one such place.  This venue covers all of the entertainment bases –a restaurant, bar, oyster bar and grill, whiskey bar, live jazz shows featuring top entertainers, a cigar terrace and Cuban library selling top notch cigars and all of this with a décor that has an ‘old-school Hollywood but with Scottish flair’ feel.  They can accommodate private group functions from 10 to 600 people and offer a variety of unique group options that can include wine, whiskey and cigar tasting.

Let’s face it; London’s the place to be. Whether it’s wine, whiskey, and Shakespeare or Banksy, Brick Lane and the Tate, London’s got it and Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf is front and centre of the greatest show on Earth.

Winter in Europe is the time to be a part of the local culture with fewer tourists on the streets and one-of-a-kind experiences waiting to be uncovered.

To help you plan, visit the Rates and Reservations page for your destination.

The décor has a 1930’s club-like vibe, where it feels as if everyone is in on a secret. Join the gang and order an Eddie Brown from the extremely confident cocktail list; a devilish mix of gin and brandy with a twist that will get you in the swing. For groups, order the Steaming Tea Punch; it arrives with flair – shooting dry ice out of the tea pot’s spout.

Make sure you soak up your sinful cocktails with some of the delicious small plates of food; the seared tuna is particularly good. The bar comes from an era when booze always goes with music. Wednesday – Saturday has live music, culminating in a five piece band on a Friday & Saturday night, which always gets the guys & gals on the dance floor.

Tom visited on a Thursday night: “book one of the tables near the bar, you get the buzz and the music, without being deafened. Otherwise, go with one of the booths at the back – perfect for 7/8 mates”.

Further information:

www.barnightjar.com

129 City Road

London

EC1V 1JB

Tel: 020 72534101

Inside the venue is split into three areas; when we visited there was a pop-up Gin Den which is inspired by a Victorian drinking den with dark interiors, low lighting and great cocktails such as the Sloe Gin Fizz and Bramble. The cabaret room features a host of acts throughout the year, from the plain hilarious to the damn right naughty. The restaurant upstairs retains its gritty warehouse edge whilst still feeling upmarket and exclusive – like a secret that you’re proud to be in on.

Dinner is served 7 days a week, no lunch, although at the weekend you can catch its infamous brunch– the burgers come highly recommended. The dinner menu changes seasonally and has a great selection of dishes on offer from traditional fish & chips or steak to slightly more unusual ingredients such as pigeon, ray wing and partridge.

The desserts are old school comfort dishes such as sticky treacle tart to thick and creamy rice pudding. A decent wine list, efficient service and a clientele that ranges from young fashionable things to the older generation seals the deal. Bistrotheque is one secret not to keep to yourself.

Further information:

www.bistrotheque.com

23-27 Wadeson Street

London

E2 9DR

Tel: 020 8983 7900