5 Strange + Sensational Father’s Day Ideas in LondonBy Angelica Malin
This guide is from 2014. For our 2017 guide, please click here. Introducing: our Top 5 Sensational Father’s Day Ideas in London. Father’s Day is tricky; a time when men have to awkwardly hug each other and lots of new items from Tie Rack are bestowed upon the grumbly. Once you’ve unwrapped your 100% cotton rich sockies from Primark, what should you do on the actual day?
Well we’ve trawled through London’s Father’s Day offerings – the good, the bad, the downright odd – to bring you a definitive guide to please any kind of papa. Here’s 5 strange, sexy, simply sensational Father’s Day ideas for Londoners:
Father’s Day Ideas: #1 Get Groomed, Get High
There seems to a growing (sorry) trend for grooming experiences in really high-up places this Sunday. We’re not quite sure of the correlation between the two, but hey, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it right…
1. Wet Shave + Lunch at Aqua Shard
Good For: Someone who likes both heights and a smooth face.
The Lowdown: The Shard’s British restaurant aqua shard has teamed up with luxury grooming company ManMade to create the UK’s highest barber. Come along to Level 31 where a pop-up salon will house three rooms offering wet shaves, beard trims and quick haircuts. You’ll get a complimentary treatment before the meal; the menu offering is a very British affairs – starters such as Lobster Benedict with poached egg, mains such as fig tart with braised shallots and horseradish mousse. Finish with a bakewell tart and enjoy the stunning view.
Where: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Price: Three courses for £48 – book
2. Up at The O2, Father’s Day Special
Good For: The pleasure seeker AND adrenaline junkie.
What: Did you know you can go climbing at The O2? Well, you can. And this Father’s Day, they’ve organised a very special climb indeed; when you reach the top of the summit, there will be a whole host of fatherly activities to enjoy. There’s cheese tasting with Pistachio & Pickle, grooming sessions with The Groom Room, lessons on how to tie the perfect bow tie with Grosvenor Shirts and massages from Urban Massage. Enough reason to put on a harness any day.
Where: The 02, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0Dx
Price: £33 per person – book
Father’s Day Ideas: #2 Get Groomed, Get Low
Ok, so not everyone wants to get a shave at the top of really high stuff. This one’s good for the father and son who are happy to have their faces pampered at ground level.
3. Champagne + Shave at Murdock London
Good For: The face proud man.
The Lowdown: Champagne Charles Heidsieck has joined forces with Murdock London to offer fathers and sons luxury grooming treatments along with a glass of bubbly. There’s a range of classic treatments, including wet shaves, full beard and Champagne Charlie-esque moustache reshapes all to be enjoyed with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV. Fathers whose treatments are booked in advance will be gifted with a complimentary bottle of the Brut Réserve NV, the champagne of choice for stylish gentlemen. Win.
Where: Covent Garden, Shoreditch and Soho barbershops – Friday 13th to Sunday 15th June.
Price: Treatments start at £45 – more info here
Father’s Day Ideas: #3 Get Tipsy on Strange Objects
On a Giant Wheel
4. Whisky Tasting on The London Eye
Good For: Someone who likes multiple senses being massaged at once.
The Lowdown: The EDF Energy London Eye are offering a special boozy package with their Vinopolis Whisky Tasting Experience. You’ll be guided through 5 whiskies whilst enjoying a selection of savoury nibbles alongside the stunning view; they’ll be a personal guide to talk you through the Scotch whiskies and tasting notes from Vinopolis, whilst you make two rotations on the Eye.
Where: The London Eye, Riverside Bldg, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Price: £48 per person – Saturday 14th June, Sunday 15th June, 5.30pm
On an Old Bus
5. Champagne + Oyster Bus at One Canada Square
Good For: Someone who finds the idea of a three-course meal as trapping as David Blaine’s glass box.
The Lowdown: During Motorexpo One Canada Square park is hosting their very own special party bus serving crisp Joseph Perrier Champagne and shucking Loch Fyne Oysters from a lovingly restored open top Daimler Fleetline built in 1971. There’s also a special Father’s Day menu at One Canada Square – treat your dad to a spot of brunch and add an extra £15 for bottomless Bloody Marys, Raspberry Bellini’s or white, red or rosé wine throughout your meal. That’s dangerous, right there.
Where: One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB
Price: £20 for two courses, £25 for three courses
On a Boat
Good For: The father that likes to be out in the sunshine with a good beer.
What: Hidden Depths Canal Cruises, who offer affordable cruises and private hire boats in London, have a special Father’s Day cruise on. It departs from Kings Cross every hour from 11am and is only £10 for adults (£8 for fathers) – you can take your own beer and food on the boat, so this would be great for a Father’s Day picnic.
Where: Kings Cross – see here for more info
Price: £10 per person – book
Father’s Day Ideas: #4 Eat All the Food
Sometimes you can’t go wrong with a good meal. Here’s a few ways to get all the food in London:
Eat: All the Sushi
7. Infinity Brunch at Aqua Kyoto, Mayfair
Good For: The buffet lovers, the endless drinkers.
The Lowdown: At contemporary Japanese restaurant, aqua kyoto, all dads dining will receive a complimentary miniature bottle of Yamazaki 12-year whisky. All can enjoy the Infinity Brunch, which includes a large sushi platter, unlimited yakitori – grilled marinated skewers – from the sumibi-yaki grill, green tea and mixed mushroom noodles, Datterini tomato, edamame & seaweed salad, a selection of homemade ice-creams and mocha and unlimited Veuve Clicquot Brut NV champagne, house wine or beer for up to two hours!
Where: 5th Floor, 240 Regent Street, London. Entrance on 30 Argyll Street, London, W1B 3BR – opposite The London Palladium
Price: £55 per person, reservations available between 12-4pm. Book here.
Eat: All the Pancakes
8. New American Brunch at Pont St.
Good For: People who like maple syrup and folk music.
What: This Sunday at Pont St., the trendy restaurant run by Sophie Michell at the Belgraves Hotel, sees the launch of a New York style Sunday Brunch and live music from the soulful Lauren Flynn. The menu includes Nutella stuffed french toast with caramelized bananas, Lobster club sandwiches and burgers with truffle mayo. There’s jugs of bloody mary’s and manly cocktails (whatever they are too) to sip whilst enjoying the great music.
Where: Pont St, 20 Chesham Place, London, SW1X 8HQ
Price: Menu starts at £7.50 – book
Eat: All the Cake
9. Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea at The Athenaeum
Good For: Blokes too embarrassed to be taking Instagrams of scones.
What: The Athenaeum has crafted a special Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea designed with those who prefer the savoury to the sweet in mind. Wild Boar sausage rolls and miniature Steak & Ale pies are just some of the savouries on offer, and to top it off the afternoon tea comes with a dram of single malt whisky. Because whisky truffles are much more manly than regular ones, don’t ya know…
Where: 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ
Price: £34.50 per person – book
Father’s Day Ideas: #5 Get Merry to Match of the Day
If all else fails, buy him some booze, put the footie on and have a good jolly good time. Here’s a few nice boozy gift and film ideas to get the party started:
Port + Pirates
What: Buy him some Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port; it’s one of the most iconic ports of all time and tastes of strawberry, plum and being on a ship all at the same time.
Price: £12.00 for 75cl
The Idea: Drink it watching Pirates of the Caribbean in HD.
Gin + Gambling
What: The Tanqueray Collection kit provides a tasting experience through the three Tanqueray variants: Tanqueray London Dry, Tanqueray Rangpur and Tanqueray No. TEN. The Tanqueray Collection kit includes a tray and three mini gin & tonic glasses and the recipes to make the perfect G&T for each variant. It also includes two great tools for budding mixologists: a Zester peeler and a jigger.
The Idea: Drink a cold G&T whilst watching James Bond.
Price: £110 – Alexander and James
Lager + Lost in Translation
What: Kirin Ichiban Japanese lager is one of the world’s most expensively brewed premium beers; made using the unique Japanese ‘Kirin Ichiban Shibori’ process. Unlike other lagers which are pressed and re-pressed, only the sweet, flavoursome liquid from a single pressing of the finest ingredients goes in to Kirin Ichiban, for an amazing tasting beer.
The Idea: Eat it with salmon sashimi whilst watching Lost in Translation.
Price: £1.49 per 330ml bottle – Tesco, Ocado and www.drinkshop.com
Share your Father’s Day experiences @abouttimemag using the hashtag #AboutTimeFathers and have a good one London!
