Is it a book shop?! Is it a gallery? Is it a bar?…read more The Best of All Possible Things is what it is. What a line. And what a bar to reach! An extremely fabulous little spot nestled down one of those random little streets in Soho, The Society Club obviously weren't worried, nor did they need to be. Firstly, the space is dominated by massive long table on which there are tea cakes and snacks to help yourself to if you feel like sitting down, having a chat, or reading some of the many books available here. You'll find signed limited editions, arty coffee table books, and a myriad of other hyper interesting reading material. There's art on the walls for sale that's rotated on a 4-6 week basis, and a gallery space downstairs. There is also a piano, and a highly stocked bar (that still manages to look like someone's private living room bar!). I think the 'living room vibe' (albeit a super-sophisticated living room) may be the trick that makes this space so inviting. That and the thoroughly charming owners (and their dogs - of which there are many!) I am aware the Society Club also hosts lots of small events year-round - poetry nights, book readings, etc. If you're in the neighborhood, pop in. You won't be bored. Word of warning: Mightn't be your kettle of fish if you don't like dogs. It seemed like there was approximately 118 of them walking around the place...!

I love walking down the many hidden alleys in Soho, and this has always been one of my favourites…read more I used to work on the corner of Beak and Carnaby Street, and this used to be my shortcut to Berwick Street - ah, those were the days. Soho is changing at a dramatic pace, and while this area used to be branded as "West Soho", as in not quite there, literally edgy, and most importantly a bit more affordable, it is now being swallowed up by property developers. Anyhow, back to The Society Club, which is located on a corner that used to house a record store in the old days. Music is disappearing from Soho at a lightening speed, gone are the days of surfing all the independent stores for the latest vinyl, rubbing shoulders with DJs on the lookout for the night's floor fillers. Getting nostalgic again - stop it!! The Society Club has done a brilliant job at retaining some real Soho atmosphere, actually they added a lot and captured what has always made this part of London so special. It is one of the new breed of cafe/galleries that are open to all during the day and morph into private members clubs at night. It is also tiny, making this a truly private and intimate little place. I popped in for a mint tea one afternoon and loved the dog show unfolding around us. A bit of a poser's place perhaps (especially if you own a cute dog), but this, too, is an important element of Soho. Long may it continue.

Albert Amor is a long-established specialist in 18th century English and continental porcelain with…read moreearly Worcester being its particular strength. The shop itself is tiny but beautifully appointed and, despite its location in what is to my mind the most beautiful shopping street in all of London, it carries a range of items that will appeal to all porcelain collectors from the novice to the seasoned, and wealthy, connoisseur. Prices start at around the £100 mark and there are plenty of pieces available for less than £1000 in perfect condition. Having said that, there are also museum-quality treasures on offer for many thousands of pounds. One of the gallery's strengths is that it offers free delivery on all purchases-particularly useful if you don't feel like transporting your valuable and fragile new purchases back home on the tube afterwards! Receipts including full condition reports are provided as a matter of course. As well as porcelain the gallery also sometimes carries a small range of collector's glass and other items such as barometers have also been sold through the dealership. I can't recommend Albert Amor enough to anyone interested in porcelain or indeed top-quality antiques in general.

Just about everyone else has said it, but this is really an asset for London. Quirky indie films…read moreand an eclectic shop, plus a great small bar make this a wonderful venue. I'm always struck by the contrast between the entrance beneath the Neoclassical splendour of Carlton Terrace - about as Establishment as you can get - and the vaguely grungy industrial feel of the ICA as you go in. I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful, though don't leave it to the last minute to pick up pre-booked tickets. It's the sort of place where patrons turn up in groups so you can find yourself in a frustrating queue, as someone ahead of you tries to remember their booking reference for eight people. But visit once and you'll become a fan.

The ICA holds some fond memories for me, i first encountered the white washed walled venue around 2…read moreyears ago when the first and currenlty the only 100% Grime club night was held. Just imagine Tempa T (Slew Dem crew) mcing around walls with art on them, amazing right? Since i have been there the first time i have visited the ICA (Institute Of Contempary Art) many a time for magazine launch parties and live poet shows which have been a really good experience. If your looking for a venue where you can brap, be all artsy and get cheap drinks all in one this is highly recommended, so if you see flyers with this venue on it, get there, nice atmosphere!

First time purchase with Bonhams. It was easy to get signed up for the auction, however there are…read morehidden fees that were not clearly explained online. When questioned about the fees, Bonhams said it is in the catalogs. I did not have a catalog, bidding online. Fifty years of buying items at auctions throughout the world and online, never have I been charged hidden fees like this.

What a great meal from start to finish! Excellent fixed menu even for pescatarians. We opted for…read morepremium wine pairing-- next time I would go with a nice bottle of red burgundy although the wine pairing was very good. Each food presentation as well as each bite was perfect. The food amount was just enough-- left feeling content. Note: The dining area is small. Not stuffy not crowded. A perfect place for if you just want a great meal with attentive service.

I am a massive fan of Tashen books. Probably because of their subject matter which is predominately…read moreart. I usually spend ages here flicking through the pages of all the exciting books they have on display. Some are really big and impressive and some are tiny. Downstairs is a small gallery space with a massive book on display alongside some photos. It's a great place to come when you have some time to kill or get some new ideas for art or even buy a book or two.

I usually like to follow Taschen publications for their daring subjects and architecture books, but…read moreI had no idea they had an actual shop, so you can imagine my surprise when I fell upon this Chelsea store after having visited the Saatchi gallery. The shop is rather small, but with an exhibition space downstairs and all of the best sellers and classics available it does serve its purpose well. Taschen offers a beautiful series of stylish coffee table books which I would love to add to my imaginary library in my virtual mansion. They are especially good at creating visually pleasing architecture, art and fashion books which are a bit cheap on the theory side, but great as reference guides. I would love to be able to buy many of these issues for myself or as gifts, but at £40 a book I'm afraid I will just have to settle on skimming through the books instore.

Picked up a brooch from Sothebys after a successful bid but found the overall experience wanting…read more They were very disorganized - my initial outreach, to inquire about collection logistics (picking it up versus shipping), required multiple emails before someone finally acknowledged my request & I was advised picking it up would the more cost-effective option.....since I was visiting London in a couple of months, we agreed I would stop by I provided the date I would be there to collect my item and they requested my departure documentation, about 6 weeks in advance, so all the export paperwork would be ready.....you see where this is going..... They were not prepared, at all. They couldn't find me in their system, then they couldn't locate the item. The paperwork had not even been started & it took over 2 HOURS to prepare....... when I sent them everything, as requested, 6 weeks prior and I had emails assuring me everything would be ready At one point, I was told they weren't expecting me until 12 days later - which would have been my departure date FROM GERMANY. Again, simply reading our correspondence would have shown that you acknowledged the date I stated I would be there to collect the item - maybe a calendar entry on your part would solve these mix-ups in the future? The paperwork I was provided forced me to get TWO sets of customs stamps leaving the UK and then the EU, and they were also bold enough to charge a £90 "administration fee" for refunding MY VAT! And this not to mention the buyer's premium they charge (which everyone does so can't fault there) but they also charged another £60 for storage, for not picking up my item within 30 days. Are you serious?! I love Sothebys & the items you offer for auction but I will definitely think twice before purchasing from this London location. All the extra fees and disorganization may prove the experience unworthy - I've seen better!

Steer clear. I entered a watch that was running well (I kept…read morea video of that), into the sale, agreed value £30-50k. Before auction they said it needed a revision by their watchmaker and it would cost £800 but it would be deducted from auction sale, I agreed. It took a further 2 months then I received news it was all going ahead in the December 2020 auction. However because they decided just before auction there was a problem with the back case they refused to sell it. I had wasted 4 months and had to pay for the revision before it was returned. It was only returned after I paid the revision cost but not running at all, they blamed the parts in the movement that were running perfectly until it went to them, remember I have a video. Steer clear. Edit DeleteShare

I don't know what this place is like in person but the online offerings are great and affordable…read more So many interesting lectures and talks. I hope there are more coming ondemand so I can catch up on what was missed. Enjoyed the 4 week magic class.

Viktor Wynd is a freak…read more And I say that in the kindest most honest way possible. The erotic novel, "An Enema for Emilia" is displayed in one of the many display cases found deep below the bar via a golden winding staircase. This sounds like both a dream and a nightmare, and it is. The Last Tuesday Society is a dark taxidermy lab in which you pay to learn how to stuff your favorite animal/pet. I'm coming back to stuff a crow. Seriously. The drinks are yummy and unique and the service is well above par. I enjoyed perusing the museum while trying to find the oddest most offensive thing. Sebastian Horsley in the throws of passion with a limbless lady was up there. Definitely worth visiting if you're a freak. And I am most definitely a freak, so it was right up my alley.

Over-priced, and in spite of there being no queue apparently an over-worked counter staff who…read moretutted and sighed at such modest requests as asking for Oatey milk, and, God forbid, a receipt! The tea had no flavour a d the scone I think was supposed to have made acquaintance with some sort of cheese and a herb I cant quite remember and certainly did not taste. The person clearing tables clearly did not appreciate a helping hand. A thoroughly dispiriting experience the Saturday before Christmas. I decided not to stay in the bookshop.

I went for the homemade Jaffa Cake and free wifi…read more I didn't manage to get either. Despite this, the Cafe at Foyles was all right. It has a purposefully rough-around-the-edges vibe with battered wooden tables and chairs scattered about in the rather large space allocated for the caf inside Foyles on its third floor. The windows overlooking Charing Cross Road offered customers opting to sit on the barstools at the counter that lined the windows an interesting view for people watching. The music was overly loud. My iced coffee was bitter and grounds-laden. And, I know I already mentioned, but I couldn't get my laptop to connect to the wifi - deal breaker. When I asked about it, I was told that 'sometimes people just can't connect'. Great. While I was a little upset about the lack of homemade Jaffa Cake, the vegan sandwich I got instead cheered me up a little. Overall, the food on offer could be categorised as 'hippie', and the tree-hugging, animal-loving part of me is willing to overlook the cafe's other failures for this.