Depending on one’s definition, there are anywhere between 3500 to 4000 pubs and bars within the Greater London area. Over the last few years most of discussion has been focused on how many have shut or been bought out in the last decade and what a great tragedy it is that London’s pub-scene is disappearing.…
Author: Marshall Allender
Marshall Allender is an American expat in London. Originally educated in political science, he works in the wool industry and enjoys writing about wine, fine dining, and his travels around the world.
Pink Fizz. Worth it?
Some how rosé wine has acquired the notional myth that it’s a drink for the summer. Pink Champagne on the other hand has become the cliché drink on Valentine’s Day or Essex garden parties; a revelation that I know will shock readers. This has given rise to the view that it’s not particularly special and…
Break out the Rosé - It's the First Day of Spring
Whenever the UK experiences its first fleeting days of genuine spring, I notice a shift in behaviour. Demeanours soften, words are less parsimonious, and the streets (at least if you use London as a measure) more open and engaging. Your author is not a sociologist but I suspect this is a simple side effect of…
Shepherd Market Wine House
Opening a new wine bar in London is not easy. Between the established greats like Gordon’s and rival new ventures, competition is an unrelenting reality in a bustling city of social drinkers. So when I joined Joss, London Lamppost’s founder, at a small wine tasting at the Shepherd Market Wine House, I was keen to…
EA has Failed Star Wars
After 6 years of dismal performance, it is time that Disney revoke EA’s license to the Star Wars franchise. A few days ago, as I was browsing the morning news on my way to work, I encountered an article from Kotaku, a gaming and technology news platform. To my dismay, but not surprise, it read…
Buying Wine for Christmas
So, at last, the “holiday season” is upon us. Every year after the 1st of January the western consciousness begins its inexorable march towards the next Christmas period. One waits with bated breath and slowly building excitement as one holiday passes the other and indulgence and consumption come back into fashion. With the Christmas holidays…