#1 hotel mayfair

[wellourgerdes]

1 hotel mayfair

1 Hotel Mayfair London The 1 Hotel Mayfair is located in London’s top hotel sector on the crossroads of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street. The place is masterclass in sophisticated, stylish and clean sustainability in the heart of London just a few steps from London’s famous Green Park. Walking distance from Green Park, Regent Street, and the glitz of the West End. In order to reduce its…

[ktkellart]

Good Omens London Trip 🐍💞🪽

It's my Birthday today and I treated myself to a trip to London last weekend to see my favourite actor Michael Sheen in Nye at the National Theatre. I made the most of my weekend by combining it with a Good Omens filming location self-tour and I'd love to share it with you all. So, are you ready for the tour?

Here we go!

Starting off with Soho, and the inspiration for Whickber Street, where Aziraphale's bookshop, Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death, The Small Back Room, and the Dirty Donkey are located.

It’s Berwick Street and a record shop that is very similar in shape to A.Z Fell & Co. Bonus points for spotting Duck Lane!

Next is Berkeley Square, a short walk from Soho. The first two photos are of the real Berkeley Square gardens in Mayfair, and the last two photos were taken in the filming location of Tavistock Square across the other side of central London near Kings Cross. I’m sitting on their ‘body swap’ bench in the last photo!

As you can see, the benches are turned around facing inwards now but are the other way, facing outwards in Good Omens.

Oh, and I can confirm that there were no nightingales singing in either location 😭

Heading up the road a few minutes from Tavistock Square to The Enterprise pub where I met a fellow fan who kindly took photos of me posing (I bet the staff thought we were off our rockers!). This is where Crowley drowns his sorrows in Talisker Whisky whilst waiting for the world to end after thinking he'd lost Aziraphale. Omg that poor poor demon, he was really just gonna die along with the world.

Also, one of my favourite moments of season 1 is Crolwey's line: "I heard that. It was the wiggle-on..." then shrugs. 😆 So many emotions in such short a time.

Onto the Ritz. The first two photos are of the real Ritz (a stone's throw from Berkeley Square) and the last one is inside Masala Zone in Piccadilly Circus where the ‘Quite extraordinary amounts of alcohol’ and ‘To the World’ scenes were filmed.

I ate in here alone to get the photo and was so lucky with the table I was given! Perfect discreet snap whilst eating my curry! Haha!

Next up is Battersea Park and the Bandstand. It was a bit of a faff to get there, it's an 8-minute walk from the Battersea Power Station underground and we walked the full length of the park to find the Bandstand, but it was so worth it.

Also filmed here was Gabriel and Aziraphale’s run/jog. Poor Angel is soft scene.

The trees were a little leafier with it being mid-May and the park was very busy because the weather was glorious. They also have a beautiful lake here with herons!

The Heaven & Hell staircase escalators are right over the east side of London in Broadgate Tower, Bishopsgate. I got the overground to Liverpool Street station to get there. It is in a private business building so I politely/awkwardly asked the receptionist if I could take a photo and had to explain about the scene from Good Omens… eek! But he kindly let me snap a photo anyway! (Phew)

The Windmill Theatre was three minutes away from my hotel in Piccadilly Circus, so I wandered up the road to take a photo of where Aziraphale ‘performed on the West End stage’ as Fell the Marvelous. And wasn’t he just?

The scenes weren't filmed here but it was fun to find it anyway.

St James’s Park is up next! I sat on their bench and got my friend to take photos of me posing and had fun editing the first photo. Haha! We enjoyed walking through the park, watching the ducks on the lake and had a nosey at Buckingham Palace while we were there.

The Duke of York Statue steps are at the other end of St James's Park and were fun to walk up. I smiled to myself as I thought of the scene where Crowley says ‘Well let's have lunch? Hmm,’ and Aziraphale turns around, as it was the first time I realised that these two were more than just friends.

Heaven’s top floor, the Sky Garden in Fenchurch Street near Monument is a very tall building with a botanical garden on the top floor. You can visit the sky garden for free, but you do need to book in advance so it’s best to plan ahead for this one. The views of London are breathtaking from the 35th floor and the tropical plants are fun.

My last stop for this visit was Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. I booked a tour on the morning I was due to go home. The first tour is 10 am and lasts an hour, so I dashed off as soon as the tour guide was uttering his last words about the gift shop, across London back to Kings Cross to pick up my suitcase from luggage storage and get the 11:48 am train home!

One I missed and could have easily gone to is St Margaret Street where Newton and Shadwell meet, and Shadwell fleeces Newton for a cup of tea with nine sugars and pockets the change. A bit gutted I missed it to be honest – I love Jack Whitehall (I’m back in London with the family in June so I’ll swing by and update then!)

There are also some other locations a little further afield that I might try to visit on a later date, such as Shadwell's and Madam Tracy's flat down Hornsey Road in Islington, Crowley's Flat exterior in Eastfields Avenue, Best Cafe on Garratt Lane where Crowley meets Shadwell, Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park where the ineffable husbands watch Warlock defacing a dinosaur sign and Antonella's Cafe and Bistro where Crowley and Aziraphale are thinking of ideas to track down the antichrist whist Aziraphale eats cake.

Okay, I’m gonna finish up with the man himself. The very kind, very charming, and VERY patient Michael Sheen The reason for my London visit in the first place. Nye was spectacular OBviOUsLy, but he was super generous with his time at stage door for us all. I got a hug and asked him to pass it on to Aziraphale (that angel really needs a hug) and it made him laugh, which made my night!

Check out my reblog for extra locations when I visited London again a month later, and for a hilarious bonus photo of.... Gabriel??!

Here’s the wonderful map I used -

from this website:

[world-of-celebs]

Eleanor Tomlinson attends the British Vogue and Netflix celebration for the BAFTA Television Awards at Dovetale at 1 Hotel Mayfair on May 09, 2024 in London, England. 

[enchantzz]

Mitchell's Diary - In over my Head

One-shots in the series of Art & Vampires. Excerpts from Mitchell’s diary.

Words: 767

Being a badass male vampire doesn't mean you can handle female vampires 😁

References to stories in the Art & Vampires series - 1. New Orleans and 2. London and 6. New York

Art & Vampires is about the relationship and developments around Mitchell, a vampire and Amy (Ames), a human. It’s about the vampire world, the supernatural, but also about history, cities around the world, art, antiques and adventures.

Face claims vampires: Aidan Turner - John Mitchell, Richard Armitage - Rick Marlowe, Jaime Murray - Alana (Lana) Lenoir and Ben Barnes - Ben Sheldon. Humans: Mila Kunis - Amy (Ames) Quinn, Bianca Lawson - Lena Parker (witch).

List of Mitchell’s diary One Shots in the Art & Vampires Master list

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Rick warned me,  but of course I didn't listen.  That time,  I was in way over my head and I can tell you that being immortal is less attractive when Alana keeps bringing up your mistake and rubs your face in it every time she gets the chance. But what can I say,  she was a beauty.  

I'm talking about Neesha of course.  

I'll never forget her and not just because Lana keeps reminding me, the she-devil. I hope she doesn't get her hands on this diary,  otherwise I'm screwed,  like that time I got involved with Neesha. And I mean literally.

It was in the forties, nineteen forties. I need to remember to mention the centuries.  We were back in London and I had been able to get my life,  or existence, to be exact,  back on track after,  well,  you know,  Belle.  

I had been thinking.  I couldn't go through any of that again, losing a loved one.  I'd had a hard enough time before Belle,  dealing with the fact that you will always outlive your loved ones,  but losing Belle hit hard, as you are well aware,  because I've written diaries full of my laments.  

So,  I had a plan,  a brilliant one.  I had the perfect solution.  I would get myself a female vampire companion,  who would never leave me and I would have eternal happiness.  Neesha was going to be just that. Or so I thought.

In the first half of the 20th century,  we moved around from New Orleans to New York,  and finally back to London. After the war, London was a mess. The city was severely damaged and even though our neighborhood wasn't spared,  The Mayfair,  our mansion,  was.  We moved back for a while to keep an eye on things and make sure that it remained our house. People who lost their homes during the bombings of London were being relocated to abandoned houses and we needed to make sure that our mansion was not going to be taken over by others. 

Fortunately for me,  even though the city was damaged and the people were recovering from the war,  there were always parties to be found.  Especially for us vampires. 

As you can imagine,  I was spending as much time as I could attending as many parties as I could.  I was determined to find that vampire companion and never be sad again.  

Neesha was a gorgeous goddess, who stood out amongst the crowd like a shining star in the dark night sky,  quite literally,  with her shiny jewelry and extravagant silver dress.

I can't even remember how I got there,  to that party,  but I will always remember the sight of her and how I,  half intoxicated,  chatted her up and actually managed to get her undivided attention.  

As said,  Rick had warned me not to get involved with her. He had an eye for 'trouble', but,  you know,  I had my plan and this scrumptious woman was going to fit that perfectly.  

To this day I'm still not sure if she was playing with me,  like a cat with her prey,  or if I had enamored her with my charm.

By the end of the night, having abandoned Rick and Alana, I found myself in Neesha's arms, or in hindsight,  claws,  in what seemed to be a former hotel somewhere in the city.  She had made the hotel her home  and the top room,  with a huge skylight,  was her den.  

I don't know how many times we fucked, but it seemed like we did nothing else for days.  It was like I was under her spell and I couldn't get free and I am man enough to admit that my dick actually hurt! 

You know,  as vampires,  we recover quickly,  also on that front,  but after Neesha,  I was about ready to be celebate for the rest of my immortal life. 

At some point,  I must have seen the light and realize that I wasn't ready to have my existence ended by sex.  Even if death by sex sounds pleasant enough.  So,  I ran and didn't look back and my not so brilliant plan of getting a vampire companion went out the door with me.  I didn't stay celibate of course,  but those are stories for another time. 

Anyway,  I'm not sure why I wrote down this memory.  Maybe it's because Ames was fishing for embarrassing stories from the past and I didn't really want to confess all this to her.  Or maybe it's a way of letting go. Now if only Alana could do the same. 

Time to say goodnight for now and hide you well,  my dear diary.  I'm ready to join my sweet Ames in bed, cuddle up to her and make pleasant memories.

If you enjoyed reading the story, please consider leaving a comment, a like or reblog the story. Reblogging really helps with visibility. Thank you for sharing the love 💜

@linasofia @leonxrdosreign @lathalea @legolasbadass @frosticenow @i-did-not-mean-to @sweetestgbye @shiinata-library@middleearthpixie @kibleedibleedoo @xxbyimm @littlesweetdressmaker @guardianofrivendell @laurfilijames @aidan-26 @peneigh-dzredfohl @evenstaredits @turnitdownsometimes @lisstu69

If you would like to be tagged (or removed from the tags) please let me know. Thank you.

[ladywhistlewrites]

infos:

hi dear reader!! it’s your friendly neighborhood writer kiki!!

here you can find my master list

fandoms I currently write for:

criminal minds

bridgerton

Hazbin Hotel

but feel free to send an ask!! I might know the fandom you request 💜

notes:

any comment, like and repost of any of my works is mostly appreciated!!

current work:

the rose of Mayfair (bridgerton x reader)

here you can find chapter 1 // here you can find the chapters list

what I’m comfortable writing;

smut

fluff

angst

what I won’t write:

cnc

v1olenc3

r4pe

1ncest

racism

homophobia

and any other kind of harm/hate/violence.

[vampiricinsanity]

Updated.

“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.” Anne Rice.

Book version fanfic. Set in the time of Prince Lestat. Mentions of the show and movie are made.

A woman named Quinn travels to New Orleans to fulfill her dreams of seeing the sights where the famous Lestat walked in the stories. And even paying a visit to a loved ones grave as thanks for turning her life around.

However things turn strange. She meets a man who speaks of the Mayfair's, wakes up one day to find everyone is behaving oddly, acting as though the books are not a work of fiction and are reality. She finds her hotel reservations are gone. She cannot go home as her plane ticket doesn't seem to be real as they tell here there's no one registered under that name or code. She gets strange looks for her chosen last name. The town seemed more retro then she remembered it.

She is nearly driven to madness when she meets the woman of the hour herself, Rowan Mayfair, who has got some loaded questions for poor Quinn. Who is she? And why does she share a name with Tarquin Blackwood, and carry the last name, Mayfair? And what is the Sacred Lazarus that Merrick speaks of?

[hannahsliteraryhaven]

My 2024 Year in Review

꒰ ͜͡➸ Goals

☑ read 40 books (43/40)

☐ complete a storygraph reading challenge (0/1)

☑ read at least 3 books from the 1001 list (5/3) 📚

✏️= Advanced Reader Copy

꒰ ͜͡➸ Monthly

➳ January

⋆ Bury my heart at wounded knee | 4

⋆ The league of lady poisoners | 5

⋆ The Yellow Wallpaper (short story) | 3

➳ February

⋆ A mother's reckoning | 4

⋆ Overcoming low self esteem | 4

⋆ Mermaids: the myths, legends and lore | 3

⋆ Miracle in the Andes | 5

⋆ The book that wouldn't burn | 4.75

⋆ Overdue | 5

⋆ The lady maid's bell (short story) | 2

➳ March

⋆ Killers of the flower moon | 5

⋆ Greenwood | 4

⋆ The woman in me | -

⋆ Burden | 4.5

⋆ Incel | 3.5

⋆ What moves the dead | 4.5

⋆ Mars is Heaven (short story) | 5

➳ April

⋆ Brother | 3

⋆ The Dark Violinist | 4 ✏️

⋆ The Picture of Dorian Gray | 4.25 📚

⋆ A Stolen Life | -

➳ May

⋆ To Kill a Mockingbird | 5

⋆ The Mangler (short story) | 4

⋆ Annie John | 4 📚

⋆ Snow Flower & The Secret Fan | 4

➳ June

⋆ The Catcher in the Rye | 3 📚

⋆ The Edge of the Woods | 4

⋆ Murder at the Mayfair Hotel | 5

➳ July

⋆ The Butterfly Garden | 4.5

➳ August

⋆ The Book That Broke The World | 5

⋆ The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle | 4 📚

➳ September

The Blind Owl | 3.5 📚

The Only Good Indian | 2.5

Free Will Explained | 3

The Gift of Fear | 4.5

The Bullet Swallower | 5

➳ October

The Dark Creator | 4.5 ✏️

The Bell Jar |

➳ November

➳ December

꒰ ͜͡➸ End of year stats

no. of books total:

no. of DNF:

2024 fave:

2024 hate:

𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪𓆩*𓆪

[scorchedthesnake]

April 1, 2012

Sleep No More Remixed, back in 2012, was a bit of a fiasco. It began as an email announcing when tickets would go on sale. When that moment came, the website crashed. Frantically we all spam reloaded it until we were able to get in and pay the what at the time seemed insanely unreasonable $100 per ticket. I did manage to snag two, but many, many fans were dismayed to find the show sold out almost instantly. 

And so began what would become a long tradition over the years of pleading in emails with the box office and/or marketing team to help out “a dear friend of the hotel.” In my case I was mostly concerned with ensuring I could get my then-new crush in. He was this beautiful, intelligent and extremely weird boy named Alex I had met via Tumblr – he’d posted to the SNM tag a number of times – who also happened to be the captain of the Columbia swim team. Yeah, he was a college senior, and I was emailing Cesar Hawas to try to get him and one of his friends into exclusive McKittrick parties. Great behavior on my part.

The show itself took us all by surprise. Unfortunately, it was still the early days and the audience was by and large still eager to play the newly identified game of Sleep No More - collecting 1:1s. Of course, a night where everyone is a return visitor who knows the layout of the building is the absolute worst time to do such a thing. The result was a kind of audience behavior most of us had simply never experienced before – and certainly not in this quantity. There was pushing and shoving and generally fans were faced with mirror images of our own thirsty aggression for the first time. We’d become used to being one of, if not the only cognoscenti in the audience at any given time, and had never reckoned with what it was like to share the hotel with an audience full of people like us. Reflecting on it now, this kind of vibe became commonplace over the following years and none of it would shock a current regular at the show at all. 

The reception of it all was pretty severe. People contemplated never returning after the quagmire – I don’t know if anyone actually went through with this, but for the week afterwards the tone of conversation on Tumblr was not positive at all. This turned around pretty quickly as new upcoming events were announced (Mayfair, where all Tumblr drama truly began). 

The afterparty itself, as everyone who went to Remixed 2 now knows, was mostly karaoke. How to integrate show and cast and party were things still somewhat in flux at the time, but it was nice that it gave a chance for the cast - in plainclothes - to let down their hair and have a good time, just with a lot of spectators for it.

I did get Alex tickets. His friend met and later began dating Tony Bordonaro. Alex and I had some awkward hangouts but it never went anywhere. Alas. He’s still beautiful.

[voicestm]

PEOPLE I'D LIKE TO GET TO KNOW BETTER !

alias / name : Punky, Bunny, P, Hey you birthday : August 8th zodiac sign : Proud Leo height : 5'8" hobbies : Collecting dolls { Most gothy ones at the moment }, writing, reading, photography, DIY/crafts. favourite colour : Black, Red, Purple and DEEP green. favourite book : Fuck me. Uhm. The Forbidden Game Series, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, The Mayfair Trilogy. last song : That unwanted animal by the amazing devil & Gansta by Rain Paris { Both have been on repeat } last film / show : Scream & Hazbin Hotel recent reads : A court of thorns and roses, Blood dowry, Lasher { I am reading all three at once with my boys } inspiration : I have many? If we're talking rp, it's the people I write with who give me the greatest inspiration and muse for what I do. If it's just writing.. Anne Rice. Cause she's a goddess and I love her. I write like a five year old compared to her but.. story behind url : Easy. Cause my muses are little voices in my head TM. fun fact about me : Let's see.. 1. I have a weird texture thing where I can't eat certain foods? That I think comes from the fact when I was around one or two.. They found me eating Christmas tree lights off the tree and had to force feed me mashed potatoes. I didn't eat them until I was around 12. Couldn't stand them. 2. I have two dents in my forehead in almost the exact locations on both sides on my head? And we only know where one comes from.

Tagged : @narratingastory

Tagging : @designedparadigm, @cruelprincae, @misfittcd, @fasciinating, @penniesxdimes & anyone else who wants to steal it.

[ronnie-wood]

posting a 2008 ronnie interview here bc why not viva la information

full article under the cut! this was around 2008 when he was 61 and had an art exhibition, based on artworks he made in his studio in ireland

it's a REALLY interesting interview, and i'm glad i saved it a long time ago :D

a warning for discussions of alcoholism though! u__u i sort of understand bc some of his drinking was motivated by grief when he was young, his girlfriend got killed when he was traveling to a gig

Originally from the Financial Times: Lunch with FT: Ronnie Wood July 19, 2008 1:45 am by Rob Blackhurst Keith Richards once said, “If you are going to get wasted, then get wasted elegantly.” At 61, his fellow Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood, embodies this louche creed. As he arrives in the reception of Dublin’s elegant Shelbourne Hotel for lunch, cutting a path through huddles of overly nourished politicians and businessmen, he’s dressed in the same size of super-skinny jeans, 28 waist, that he’s been wearing for the past 30 years, a pair of space boots that may once have belonged on an alligator’s back and a tight black shirt undone to the chest: the fruits of a trip to Prada before his daughter Leah’s wedding last month. But, even from 50 paces, it’s the luxuriant crow-black head of hair, flecked with only the tiniest hint of grey, that really marks him out as a Rolling Stone. As he greets me with a warm handshake and naughty, liquorice eyes, he says: “I don’t dye it either.” Alluding to his equally thin bandmates, he adds: “We’re all the same build, as well. It’s a good thing I didn’t join Fleetwood Mac.” We take our place in a booth in the newly refurbished Saddle Room, which is all mirrors and velvet and upholstered in a garish shade that might be described as boudoir gold. Wood squints uncomfortably. “Christ, it looks like Rod Stewart’s trousers,” he says.

The Shelbourne is Wood’s favourite Dublin haunt. “I’ve a good old affiliation with this hotel,” he says. “When we played the Point Depot five years ago we were based here. It was like the Stones coming home to my town.” Wood has lived in Dublin on and off since the early 1990s, when he bought a second home in the southern suburb of Sandymount, searching for a sanctuary for his art and music, and shelter from the British exchequer. He transformed the cow byre into recording studios and the stables into a personal pub called “Yer Father’s Yacht”. It seems a dangerous place for a fitfully recovering alcoholic like Wood; there are 20 more pubs within a square mile of his front door. He looks at the menu reluctantly: “I’m not really hungry at all,” he says. Eventually we opt for 12 oysters from County Clare followed by the seafood platter to share. Nothing stronger than caffeine is ordered, though Wood is going through another well-publicised bout of heavy drinking. “A friend came over last night – I hadn’t seen him for years. We had a few drinks. It ended up being seven in the morning.”

Though he has been woken up for the interview only an hour earlier, Wood is lucid and charming, especially when an espresso arrives to kick-start the conversation. I mention his latest art exhibition, Ireland Studio, a six-week show at his Scream gallery in Mayfair. The exhibition features paintings and pen-and-inks produced – mostly through the night – at his Irish pile over the past 10 years. Free of tour commitments – this year the Stones are on sabbatical after two and a half years on the road – he has been able to spend more time in Ireland with his two Great Danes.

Wood’s interest in art dates back to the early 1960s, when he was a student at Ealing Art College, but he took it up commercially for “grocery money” in the mid-1980s when he had blown a considerable portion of his Stones money on a cocktail of drugs and comically disastrous managers. He flicks through a pile of prints of the front garden of the Priory Clinic, where he has been a regular in-patient; moonscapes from the west of Ireland at night; and horses racing on the Irish turf. Sir Peter Blake and Lucian Freud are among fans of his art: “He [Freud] told Mick [Jagger] that he loves my landscapes. That’s a compliment, from the greatest living artist.” Tracey Emin is a friend: “She’s like my aunt. She rings me up every day to ask how I’m doing.” He pauses and confides mischievously: “Tracey thinks she can draw.”

Most of his collectors are Stones fans in the US: “The leading cancer-curing doctor in Florida – much to his wife’s chagrin – spends most of his money on my paintings. She says: ‘Oh, please don’t sell the house and buy another Ronnie painting!’ Though his portrait of the Stones in a Jacobean interior, “Beggars’ Banquet”, sold in 2005 to a private collector for $1m, he is pricing his Irish landscapes at between £10,000 and £50,000. Deals, he makes clear, can be struck.

Wood has become a kind of official portraitist to the court of celebrity over the past decade – ever since Andrew Lloyd Webber commissioned him to paint the famous patrons of the restaurant The Ivy in the early noughties. Now a Ronnie Wood sitting has become as much a signifier of the upper reaches of stardom as a Hello! wedding deal. His waiting list includes the Stones-mad French president, Nicolas Sarkozy: “I met him and Gordon Brown and he was desperately trying to put me on the phone with Carla Bruni. There are all these people like Scorsese, Clinton, Beckham...” but he trails off, as if bored of the fame whirligig: “I’m trying to get away from the commissions so that I can do what I want,” he says. “This new exhibition is more the stuff that I want to do – landscapes, dogs, horses.” The plate of oysters arrives. Wood is a fan of their nutritional properties. “They’ve got everything you need – all the vitamins and minerals. They keep the zinc up,” he says with a mock leer. Discussion moves to his other day job. I ask whether age has calmed Richards who, Wood recalled in his autobiography, used to hold an arsenal of guns and knives that would be drawn during band frictions. “It’s still on the verge, you know,” he deadpans. “Murder is still quite an easy option. You have to be on your toes all the time.” Nevertheless, Wood is more appreciated now by his fellow Stones than he was when he left the Faces to join them in 1975. For years, as a latecomer who joined when the band had already made their fortune, he had to negotiate his fee on a rising scale for every tour and album. “There was a 17-year apprenticeship,” he says. “Charlie and Bill stood up for me. Nice of them to do that, because they could have carried on looking the other way. I’m part of the empire, finally.” In spite of the Strolling Bones jibes, he thinks the Stones have never sounded better in their 45-year history than they did on the final dates of their tour at the O2 arena last August. He says there’s “talk in the air” of another tour next year.

It must feel odd, I say, to go from playing in front of a crowd of a million in Rio to sitting at home. He becomes melancholic. “I’m more lost when I’m not on tour. I’m in a bit of a muddle at nine o’clock – ‘Where’s the stage?’ On tour there are people directing and supervising you. And then when you finish it’s like, ‘Sit down and watch TV.’ Sometimes I get so bored I think I’ll have a drink. I don’t mean any harm but I just go off the rails.” He points out, however, that he did manage to catch himself last month when he checked in for treatment ahead of his daughter Leah’s wedding so that he didn’t miss the big day. A torrent of alcohol runs through Wood’s life. His account of his upbringing in a council house in Middlesex, the third son of “water gypsies” who had left their barges for dry land, sounds like a preparatory school for a career in rock ‘n’ roll. His father, Archie, played in a 24-piece harmonica band that toured the racetracks of England. At home, there were weekend singalongs around the piano that got so boisterous that a crack appeared in the middle of the house. When the family lawn was dug up 1,700 Guinness bottles were discovered. This may sound impossibly romantic, but his relationship with drink turned darker when, while he was still a teenager, his girlfriend was killed travelling to one of his first gigs: “When Stephanie got killed I sort of drowned my sorrows,” he tells me, “and I suppose I’ve never looked back since.” Does he worry about his own health? He’s dismissive: “Here I am at 61 and I’ve never felt better. I’ve never had a cleaner bill of health. I was just in the Mayr Clinic in Austria. They said, ‘We want to use you as an example of how we want people to end up.’ They said I had the body of a 40-year-old.”

As our seafood platter arrives, Wood dips straight into the crab claws. “These are really cool. I don’t know which sauce you put on them.” As he plumps for the shallots and vinegar, the conversation turns to Jimi Hendrix, with whom he shared a flat for six months in the late 1960s. “He didn’t think he was any good as a singer. I used to say, ‘Don’t worry about that voice.’ He used to obliterate real life by being stoned all the time – and he couldn’t handle it. He didn’t realise how good he was.” His last memory of seeing Hendrix alive, the night before he died in 1970, is haunting. “He was leaving Ronnie Scott’s [jazz club]. He had his arm around a girl and he looked really sad. I went out after him and said, ‘Jimi, you didn’t say goodnight.’”

I try to lighten the mood by asking about the Wood clan – who all seem to have found jobs in the family business. He married Jo, a former model, 23 years ago after splitting with his first wife Krissie, another model. Jo is on the Stones payroll as his dresser and assistant on tour, in between running her organic beauty products business. His stepson Jamie is his manager, and his youngest son Tyrone is curating Wood’s latest exhibition at Scream.

The “Little Red Rooster” ringtone on Wood’s phone sounds. He seems agitated. The call brings news, he says, of The Sun door-stepping his home in Kingston, south-west London. A few days after our lunch I realise that he had been given news that the paper was about to write a story about how during the week of our meeting, he was holed up with a young Russian waitress. Whatever domestic earthquakes are going on in the background, he returns quickly to conviviality, suggesting we finish lunch with a drink elsewhere. Though he is great company, it’s something of a relief when his PR appears to steer him to his next engagement and saves me from making the decision. As we leave the hotel, the kitchen staff lift their ladles and knives in salute, out on the street car horns honk, and Wood poses for an endless round of photos with passers-by, loving every second of it. “That’s always been a big problem with me,” he says with a grin that fades to exasperation: “I find it hard to get old and hard to say no.”

‘Ireland Studio’ is at Scream, 34 Bruton Street, London W1 until August 17; www.screamlondon.com The Saddle Room The Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 12 x Clare Atlantic oysters €33.00 1 x Seafood platter €44.00 3 x Espresso 13.50 Total €90.50

[signaturetastes]

The bar in London’s Connaught Hotel is home to many famous original creations, including this bracing cocktail made with cognac, rye, absinthe and sage soda. The Crescendo is the perfect drink to enjoy at the start of a night out in London’s lively Mayfair neighborhood.

Ingredients

1 fl. oz. (30 ml) sage oil-infused Hennessy cognac

1 fl. oz. (30 ml) Michter's rye

1/3 fl. oz. (10 ml) Muyu Jasmine liqueur

2 dashes Bareksten absinthe

1/3 fl. oz. (10 ml) sugar syrup

3 1/3 fl. oz. (100 ml) sage soda

2 dashes Peychaud's bitters

1 sprig floregano (oregano flowers)

Directions

In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine the cognac, rye, jasmine liqueur, absinthe, syrup, soda and bitters. Stir until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with floregano and serve immediately. Makes 1 drink.

Recipe courtesy of the Connaught Hotel

[wellourgerdes]

The May Fair a Radisson Collection Hotel

The May Fair a Radisson Collection Hotel This well-established luxury hotel is located in a posh district, less than a mile from the Royal Academy of Arts and 11 minutes’ walk from Buckingham Palace. The walking distance to Green Park tube station is two minutes.   Modern, sleek rooms come equipped with smart TVs, Wi-Fi, and bathrooms made of Sicilian marble. Some remodelled rooms and suites…

[luxurytravelcurator]

Booking today a family of 5 at one of my favorite #London hotels, The Connaught Hotel in #Mayfair. A compound of a 3-Bedroom Suite ( average nightly rate GBP 5500 ). Of course paired with unique and authentic experiences and tours, curated personally by Luxury Travel Curator in collaboration with our expert and trusted on-site partners. Booking #TheConnaught or any #MaybourneHotel directly with me, my clients will enjoy a suite of #VIP Amenities such as and not limited to: Room upgrades + Early Check IN & Late Check OUT + Complimentary Breakfast + Food & Beverage and/or Spa Credits + Free WIFI among many others. Stay tuned to my upcoming trips 2023: Cuba ( February 2023 ). New York ( March 2023 ). Milan & Rome, Italy ( March 2023 ). Buenos Aires, Argentina ( April 2023 ). Paris, France for Roland Garros ( May 2023 ). Subscribe to my IG Chanel, for full access to exclusive content, curated tips and recommendations, unique experiences, vip amenities and benefits, plus much more. My mission is to transform Tourists into Travelers by experiencing unique travel experiences, moments and destinations worldwide. Luxury Travel Curator, Concierge, Blogger & Lifestyle Consultant. Over 28 years curating the world of Authentic and Sophisticated Travel, Hospitality & Lifestyle, one destination at the time. Member of the exclusive @VirtuosoLTD Luxury Network, #AmericanExpress Membership Rewards, Fine Hotels & Resorts and Pay with Points Programs. Luxury #TravelAdvisor. #Jetsetter #Globetrotter #BonVivant. Founder of @LGTNetwork Luxury #GayTravel Curator, member of @IGLTA. #Travel #Hotel #Restaurant & #Airline reviews. Follow, read and share my travel experiences worldwide. #TravelAgent, #TravelBlogger, #WeddingPlanner #TravelBlog #LuxuryTravel #Luxury #Lifestyle #LuxuryTravelCurator #Concierge #Blogger #VirtuosoTravel #England #UnitedKingdom #UK @theconnaught @maybournehotelgroup Luxury Travel Curator & Co Mobile & WhatsApp +1 (917) 754-5515 / Email info@carlosmelia.com / www.luxurytravelcurator.vip (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co_Sx20tpcs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[luxury-india-private-tours]

The Indian subcontinent is blessed with a diverse range of landscapes, including stunning hill stations that offer a serene escape from the bustling cities. Here are a few luxurious getaways in these picturesque hill stations:

Luxury 10 days rajasthan tour packages, offbeat tour

1. Nainital, Uttarakhand:

Naini Retreat: This luxurious resort offers stunning views of Naini Lake and the surrounding hills.

The Naini Lodge: A heritage hotel with a colonial charm, offering comfortable accommodations and a peaceful ambiance.

2. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh:

Wildflower Hall: This luxurious hotel, nestled amidst cedar forests, offers stunning views of the Himalayan peaks.

The Oberoi Cecil: A historic hotel with a rich heritage, offering elegant accommodations and fine dining.

3. Ooty, Tamil Nadu:

Sterling Ooty: This luxurious resort offers stunning views of the Nilgiri Hills and a range of recreational activities.

The Fern Hill: A heritage hotel with a colonial charm, offering comfortable accommodations and a peaceful ambiance.

4. Darjeeling, West Bengal:

Windamere Hotel: This historic hotel offers stunning views of the Kanchenjunga peak and a range of luxurious amenities.

Mayfair Darjeeling: A luxurious resort with a spa, a swimming pool, and a breathtaking view of the Himalayas.

Unique Experiences in the Hill Stations:

Trekking: Explore the scenic trails and breathtaking landscapes.

Toy Train Rides: Take a nostalgic journey on a toy train through the hills.

Tea Plantation Tours: Learn about the tea-making process and sample delicious tea.

Bird Watching: Spot a variety of bird species in the diverse ecosystems of the hills.

Wellness Retreats: Indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments and yoga sessions.

By combining luxurious accommodations, stunning natural beauty, and unique experiences, these hill stations offer a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

See more

Luxury 10 days rajasthan tour packages, offbeat tour

Luxury 4 Days 3 Nights Golden Triangle Tour, 4 Days 3 Nights Golden Triangle Tour Packages, 4 Days 3 Nights Golden Triangle Trips

Luxury 5 Days 4 Nights Golden Triangle Tour, 5 Days 4 Nights Golden Triangle Tour Packages, 5 Days 4 Nights Golden Triangle Trips

Luxury South India Tour

[webironmongeryofficial1]

 Why Choose the Right Toilet Door Lock for Your London Property?

1. Why the Right Toilet Door Lock Matters

Toilet door locks aren’t merely functional items; they enhance the privacy and security of a space. In London, where properties range from historic buildings to ultra-modern flats, the choice of lock can directly impact user experience. According to a study by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), 70% of property owners emphasize lock quality in personal spaces, highlighting that a high-quality lock reduces concerns about unauthorized entry and accidental breaches of privacy.

2. Key Features of High-Quality Toilet Door Locks

Privacy Functionality: The primary purpose of a toilet door lock is to ensure privacy. Leading designs include indicator locks, allowing users to see if the bathroom is occupied.

Ease of Use: Locks should be simple to operate for users of all ages.

Durability and Resistance: Locks made from stainless steel or brass offer resilience against frequent use and moisture in bathroom environments.

Aesthetic Appeal: Modern designs allow the lock to blend with the door and the room's interior style, which is essential for both residential and commercial properties in London.

In a survey conducted by Webironmongery, 65% of respondents preferred toilet locks that combine style with functionality, emphasizing that design matters when choosing hardware for spaces like toilets and bathrooms.

3. Case Studies on Toilet Door Lock Choices in London

Case Study 1: Residential Flats in Kensington

In a residential project in Kensington, the developer opted for high-quality stainless-steel toilet door locks due to their resistance to humidity and frequent use. Post-installation surveys revealed that tenants rated their locks 92% effective in providing privacy and security. This decision also minimized maintenance costs, as stainless steel proved less prone to corrosion than cheaper materials.

Case Study 2: Office Spaces in Shoreditch

An office in Shoreditch needed durable locks for its shared restroom facilities. Choosing locks with occupancy indicators led to improved user convenience and better flow within the workspace. According to feedback, employees appreciated the clear indicator mechanism, and management noted a 30% reduction in incidents of privacy breaches compared to the previous setup without indicators.

Case Study 3: Luxury Hotels in Mayfair

In luxury hotels, like one in Mayfair, style is as important as functionality. Here, brass locks were chosen to complement the opulent interior. These locks provided high-end aesthetics while also resisting corrosion from daily cleaning. As a result, the hotel maintained its luxury appeal without compromising on functionality, and feedback from guests showed a satisfaction rate of over 88% with the restroom privacy offered.

Case Study 4: Hospitals in Central London

Hospitals require locks that prioritize both security and ease of access in case of emergencies. In a central London hospital, bathroom door locks were installed with easy-release mechanisms that allowed staff to unlock the door from the outside during emergencies. These locks have contributed to a safer environment, and the hospital saw a 25% reduction in delayed responses to emergency restroom incidents.

Case Study 5: Public Restrooms in City Parks

In a project to renovate public restroom facilities in London parks, local authorities opted for tamper-proof locks made from durable materials. This reduced maintenance needs and prevented frequent vandalism. Post-renovation data showed a 40% drop in maintenance issues, allowing parks to allocate their budget to other improvements, demonstrating the long-term cost-effectiveness of high-quality locks.

4. Statistical Overview of Toilet Door Locks in London

Market Demand: Research indicates a consistent rise in demand for durable and stylish toilet door locks in London, with a 15% year-on-year increase.

Customer Preferences: Among residential and commercial buyers, 73% prefer locks with occupancy indicators, reflecting the city’s focus on privacy and convenience.

Material Choices: Stainless steel is the most popular choice, covering 55% of purchases due to its resistance to moisture and durability. Brass follows at 35%, mainly in high-end properties.

5. Key Considerations When Choosing a Toilet Door Lock

a) Material Selection

Stainless steel is ideal for moisture resistance, while brass suits upscale environments needing an aesthetic touch. Both materials are common in London, though stainless steel leads due to its lower maintenance costs and higher durability.

b) Lock Type and Mechanism

Indicator locks are a popular choice for shared facilities, while simpler bolt locks may suffice for single-occupant settings. Emergency release mechanisms are essential for places like hospitals or public buildings, where accessibility is a priority.

c) Installation and Maintenance

Professional installation ensures the lock’s longevity, while regular maintenance prevents minor issues from escalating. In shared spaces, lock performance can decline over time, and regular upkeep can avoid common issues like jamming or malfunctioning indicators.

6. The Cost-Effectiveness of Investing in Quality Locks

Though high-quality locks may require a larger upfront investment, they reduce long-term expenses by minimizing replacement and maintenance costs. In a comparison conducted by a property management company, buildings with low-cost locks reported a 60% higher maintenance expense than those with mid-range or high-end locks. Choosing a quality lock for a high-traffic space like a toilet door proves economical in the long run.

7. Final Thoughts: Making the Right Choice for Your London Property

Selecting a toilet door lock is a balance of functionality, design, and durability. In London’s varied property landscape, locks that combine style with robust mechanisms are ideal for maintaining the privacy and security expected in both residential and commercial spaces. By considering material, type, and professional installation, you ensure a lock that offers years of reliable use, whether in a bustling public restroom, a luxury hotel, or a private home.

Choosing the right toilet door lock is not just about privacy—it’s an investment in long-term usability and satisfaction. With quality options from trusted brands, Webironmongery offers locks that meet the demands of London properties, providing privacy with a style that complements any décor.

This blog can serve as a comprehensive guide for London property owners, from residential and commercial spaces to hospitality and public areas, outlining the importance of selecting a reliable toilet door lock that aligns with their specific requirements.

[vampiricinsanity]

My character Quinn Mayfair from my fanfic When Angels Sin. Shes androgynous and embraces both male and female.

“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.” Anne Rice.

Book version fanfic. Set in the time of Prince Lestat. Mentions of the show and movie are made.

A woman named Quinn travels to New Orleans to fulfill her dreams of seeing the sights where the famous Lestat walked in the stories. And even paying a visit to a loved ones grave as thanks for turning her life around.

However things turn strange. She meets a man who speaks of the Mayfair's, wakes up one day to find everyone is behaving oddly, acting as though the books are not a work of fiction and are reality. She finds her hotel reservations are gone. She cannot go home as her plane ticket doesn't seem to be real as they tell here there's no one registered under that name or code. She gets strange looks for her chosen last name. The town seemed more retro then she remembered it.

She is nearly driven to madness when she meets the woman of the hour herself, Rowan Mayfair, who has got some loaded questions for poor Quinn. Who is she? And why does she share a name with Tarquin Blackwood, and carry the last name, Mayfair? And what is the Sacred Lazarus that Merrick speaks of?

Art made by: