Drinking in London: Be At One Camden review

Photo credit: Be At One

I have to start by admitting that this post is well overdue. I had a little blogging break last year and by the time I was back up and blogging again, this post didn't really feel relevant and I wanted to write it at a time, when we all want to be going out and drinking (though all year round is generally good enough for me)! 

Now that dry January is over, I'm looking for brilliant places to go and drink to brighten up what a bleh month that February generally is. I've been visiting places like the Hot Gin Roof that was on last week in the Ham Yard Hotel (a great night which also ended up in a more central Be At One) and I am already looking forward to the summer and the events that I can get my party on. If anyone knows of a Large Summer Party in London that I need to be at this year, please do holla. But one thing I've noticed is that when people talk about going out, places like Be At One generally get shunned to the backdrop and forgotten. I must admit, I too was one of those people until the lovely Be At One Camden invited me and my bestie down to try out a few drinks and let you all know what we thought about it. 

First things first, the venue is super cool. It's in a great location, Camden, and so if you like going out there you should definitely check it out for a cocktail or two. It gets busy, which is great as it has a really cool buzz - but if you want to sit down, I'd recommend booking a table which is super easy to do on their website. Your tired, slightly drunken legs will thank me. 

I'm sure like many, I didn't expect Be At One to do great drinks. Yes, I knew they did cocktails but as a bit of a cocktail connoisseur I didn't really expect they'd be that great. I'm talking the pre-made cocktail mix you expect in Wetherspoons kind of things. I'm not putting a downer on Wetherspoons, there's most definitely a time and a place for it but that's exactly what I thought Be At One would be like. Oh how I was wrong. 

Upon arrival, we were shown our table and were given the cocktail menu to look at and bloody hell, there are loads to choose from. Almost to the point where it's a little hard to choose between them all. That's where the incredibly helpful staff come in. Ask them what they recommend, let them know the kind of flavours you like and the spirits you like and they will let you know a few recommendations. Every time we asked, they got it so right. 

I have become a bit of an Espresso Martini addict of late and I've started to judge a bar/restauraut by how good theres is. Be At One Camden did an incredible one. Go there and get one if you're an Espresso Martini lover. We tried a lot of them, but I'd recommend giving the Porn Star Martini or Blueberry Muffin a go if you like something a bit fruitier but if you like something a little longer, go for the Candy Pants for a sweet and fruity tipple or the Cointreau Fizz for something with a few more bubbles. 

These bar tenders really know how to make drinks. They are friendly, welcoming and more than happy to help and wherever we get that. I have been a regular at Be At One's since if I'm on a night out and fancy a cocktail as I just know I'll have a great night. Highly recommend. 

Lorna x

Be At One Camden invited me to review on a complimentary basis, but as always all thoughts are my own

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Getting over my fitness fear

Photos: Psycle London

I have never been into exercise. I was always that girl in PE class that would do everything and anything to get out of it. Endless sick notes, extra IT class... You name it, if it got me out of doing exercise, I'd be there. 

Honestly, I think part of it always came down to the fear of trying. I didn't generally like the competitive edge to it as in my head, I was terrible at sport and would therefore always be the worst. I hated it and honestly I never thought anything would get me into doing anything fitness related again. 

I wrote a post over a year ago on an exercise class that broke my aversion to fitness. It was a spinning class in Canary Wharf called Psycle and I absolutely fell in love with it. I think I'd been to a couple of classes across their branches near Canary Wharf and Oxford Street before I wrote the post and at that point, my mind was blown that I was enjoying it - and to this day, I'm still hooked. 

I remember seeing people talk about the class, and there was something in me that thought perhaps I could try it one day, but honestly, my fear of exercise always got the better of me and it never became much more than a passing thought. Eventually, the email came with an invite and with the opportunity to drag along a friend, I took it with (slightly) open arms. I can't tell you how nervous I was. I didn't know what to expect, but bringing along my bestie meant that the pressure was taken off a little. I knew I'd struggle, I mean it had been years and years since I'd done anything that broke a sweat and struggling to make it to the top of a staircase definitely doesn't count. 

Psycle spinning classes aren't quite like I'd expected. I'd heard horror stories about spinning. In fact when I told people that's where I was heading that evening, I really expected the worst.  But Psycle is just so welcoming. From the time you step into the building, everyone is so friendly and helpful and although I was still incredibly nervous that first time, it really helped to diminish that. The fact that the facilities are so beautiful are just an added bonus (because trust me, they really are. Hello Sachajuan in the changing rooms). You set up your bike, with the help of their super lovely staff if needed and the lights go down, coloured lights flash to loud music and you just get into it. It is tough, I'm absolutely not saying it isn't but the fact that it's so fun gets you past that. 

Everyone that knows me will have had to listen to my general spiel about how incredible Psycle is, hell if ou follow me on social media, Twitter especially you'll probably have noticed my endless tweets expressing my love for the class but if you're around London, you need to give it a go. Fitness pro or not, everyones there, everyone is doing there best and it feels so empowering. 

But this kind of isn't the point. Yes Psycle is incredible and is 100% the reason I get any sort of exercise in my life but I wanted to put across the point of how amazing it makes me feel. I come out of a class and my mood is boosted. I could go in feeling terrible, but without fail I always come out with a massive smile on my face. It makes me so happy and it's all because I got over that hurdle of my fitness fear. Spinning might not be for you. I know it's not for everyone, but you just need to find your groove. Try a few things out, drag a friend or your boyfriend along with you for support. Make it fun. 

I try and go one a week to get my fix, which I know isn't loads but like Lily Pebbles said in her latest vlog, at least we're blooming doing something. I try to keep it regular but I'm not going to lie, it hasn't always been that easy. There are so many hurdles that have popped up which get me out of my routine and I the fear of exercise returns every time, but I guess after a couple of times of getting over it, you learn it's always worthwhile in the end. Especially if you're having fun doing it. 

Now I'm becoming a regular spinning fanatic, I think it's probably about time I up my game in the fitness department. I picked up what I wear to spin in a couple of years ago when I decided I wanted to start doing some fitness in my bedroom. That swiftly failed and they became unloved and pushed to the back of the drawer. They're from H&M and were incredible value but I'm on the hunt for something else. I've got a few sports bras already, I used to just wear my normal underwired bras spinning and because I've got small boobs I thought it wouldn't really make a difference.... But let me tell you, sports bras are life changing. If you know, you know. I've got tops, I've got trainers (though for Psycle, they give you special cleated shoes that snap into the bike to make it easier) but it's the workout leggings I'm really looking to upgrade. Mine have become a little thin, a little less form fitting and I really want to pick up a new pair. I've been a bit torn between getting something a little on the higher end of the market like Nike or Sweaty Betty or something a little more affordable (which is absolutely what my bank balance is edging me to go for. I am currently eyeing up the range at Manière De Voir. It looks really great quality and the prices are brilliant. I'm still deciding though, so watch this space to see what I go for... 

I know this post has been a bit of a corker, but this post has been a year in the making and I've been waiting for the right time and for the right words to come to me. But really, I just wanted to say that if I can get over my fitness fear, you can too. 

Lorna x

This post features a sponsored link from Manière De Voir but as always all thoughts are my own

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