Taylor Taylor Salon, Spitalfields: cut & colour revamp for Thoroughly Modern Milly

Right, listen up you trendy guys and girls - it's time to ditch Toni & Guy, Headmasters and the rest of those other boring standard hairdressers... Rock up to Taylor Taylor, the hippest hair and beauty venue in London, where summer cocktails and sweets are just part of the service.

I went along to try out this cool salon last week. It's located on Commercial Street next door to Spitalfields market, an area reminiscent of Soho in New York, edgy and quirky, the place oozes style. Inside I was reminded more of a chic Parisian boutique, all floral and pretty. There is a very special feel to this salon with the bespoke chandeliers, lizard-skin covered chairs, and a gorgeous candy striped staircase that reminded me of Coco Chanel’s boudoir.

My lovely colourist Amy chatted away to me while painting my hair. I was having the dip dye effect - the roots are dyed darker, and then blended in with backcombing before the lower hair is lightened; the result is basically grown out colour and dark roots, a look I have always admired but never quite had the courage to attempt before. As a serial hair changer: light, dark, short, long, layered, straight, highlights but not necessarily in that order, I get bored easily and it seems my hair is the easiest feature to alter about myself. Dip Dye was clearly a logical next step for me.

After the colouring was complete, I was left for twenty minutes, for the colour to take effect. I read Vogue and gladly accepted a second cocktail. Soon it was time to venture to the luxurious washroom area to have the foils removed and my hair rinsed. Amy and I decided on an appropriate tone; the toner was added to my hair to secure the final colour. She had done an amazing job, the colour is quite a radical change and yet using her clever technique it looks natural and summery, as you can hopefully see from the final photos.

I was more scared about the cut, but felt reassured immediately by Frederico, my stylist. He offered his opinion, and without knowing that I am a massive Alexa Chung fan, suggested a cut a little similar to her look on a recent Vogue cover. I felt confident he knew what he was doing so left him to it. He snipped away with precision and speed and once finished blow dried my hair using a rounded brush to create a beachy look. I felt so much better, more seasonal, and much lighter headed; he had given my hair the lift it so desperately needed. The cut also really accentuated the new colour.

The cocktails here are absolutely divine - special concoctions developed for T&T, so good I'm wondering if they'll let me come back with some friends, just for Friday night drinks. They are delivered on a silver platter with a dish of moreish salty peanuts! There were four individual cocktails to choose from: I tried the Rose Bellini first, beautifully presented in a champagne flute with a cherry at the bottom, the drink was a beautiful pinky coral hue with an enticing scent (rose water, peach syrup, Champagne and a splash of cranberry). Then for a second I went for a Moscow Mule (Classic vodka and Old Jamaica ginger beer, with a burst of freshly squeezed lime juice and a sprig of fresh mint) - this was served long and was wonderfully refreshing.

I didn’t want to leave this sweet smelling boutique salon, and promised Amy I’d return soon for another hair makeover... I’m already flicking through magazines trying to find an excuse to return!

For more info and booking, visit: www.taylortaylorlondon.com

'Go To Your God Like A Soldier' Edinburgh Fringe PREVIEW

With Edinburgh Fringe coming up it is time to start deciding which plays are top of your ‘must see’ list from the never-ending programme. Let me tempt you with this little gem, ‘Go To Your God Like A Soldier’ a 55 minute brand new play written by Andrew Keatley and presented by quirky theatre company DELIRIUM.

The cast have just completed an exclusive short London run in the deserted Old Vic Tunnels at Waterloo station where audiences packed into the damp space to catch a glimpse of this innovative piece.

“Set in Afghanistan, Go To Your God Like A Soldier tells the tale of four soldiers who barricade themselves inside a room for protection. While monitoring insurgent activities outside, pressure to make a decision rises. The complex bond between soldiers on the front line is contrasted with flashes of life back home – and when the unexpected happens, how do these ordinary people deal with an extraordinary situation?”

‘Go To Your God Like A Soldier’ is an intense piece of theatre that hopes to excite audiences as well as educate us about the stories lost at war.

4-28 August at Underbelly, Cowgate, Edinburgh Fringe, book here.

Bistro du Vin restaurant, Soho

After attending the new Bistro du Vin restaurant opening in Soho, I was invited for supper last week to try out the menu. We went along on a Sunday evening to find the restaurant surprisingly empty, then again so is most of Soho at the end of the weekend. I was unable to see the design at the busy opening, but can now confirm the decor is elegant and refined, a bright and airy layout that I’m sure will entice people in either just for a drink at the plush bar or for a relaxed meal in the main restaurant.

This is the second Bistro du Vin restaurant, after the success of the first in Clerkenwell. The menu is one of British classics, with a focus on high quality meat and fish. The restaurant boasts a collaboration with ‘La Cave a Fromage’ a wonderful cheese supplier who works hard to find the very best French and British cheeses. So with that in mind, it would have been a sin not to try out the display of fine cheeses! For a starter we shared a selection of the artisan cheeses and finely chosen charcuterie. Our friendly waitress sweetly asked which flavours I preferred before bringing us a well rounded assortment of their current seasonal stock.

The cheese and charcuterie arrived beautifully displayed on two rustic wooden boards, along with a variety of fresh breads. All the cheeses were good, some were sublime... I remember thinking that cheese would be my luxury for a desert island, if the cheese I could take was this good. The finest salami and hams came amongst a bed of salad and figs, my favourite was the flavoursome Iberico ham, matured for 30 months.

As the name suggests Bistro du Vin has an enviable expertise in wine, and an awesome hand picked array is on display in the central glass room. A lovely sommelier came over to our table and suggested a white that would complement our starter, Stadt Krems Gruner Veltliner (Lossterrassen, Kremstal, Austria 2010). It was one of the most drinkable, light and refreshing white wines I have ever tasted.

After sampling the Donald Russell sourced beef on offer at the opening party, I was keen to choose a dish from the grill section of the menu. From the choice of cuts, I decided on Sirloin - priced at £24, my steak was lean and tasty, a wonderful cut of meat with a delicious chargrilled taste from the Josper Grill. To accompany I had a rich creamy peppercorn sauce and a portion of crispy pomme frites. We ordered a tomato and onion salad to share; I was delighted when it arrived to see the tomatoes were multicoloured, a group of bright orange, red, green and yellows. My friend chose the BdV Burger with bacon, gruyere cheese and grilled mushrooms on the side. A perfectly cooked stack of burger components, served with frites.

Before dessert, I asked to try a summer cocktail of the expert bartender's choice. The waiter delivered to me the sweetest peach-flavoured creation, a drink made specially to suit my request. For dessert, with our aromatic fresh mint tea we ordered the Belgian waffle, fresh strawberries and Valrhona chocolate sauce. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the waffle had just been homemade by the pastry chef in the kitchen; it was crispy and scrumptious with the darkest bitter hot chocolate sauce and sweet red fruit.

Soho is home to a wealth of tempting restaurants, but at Bistro you will find a little pinch of extra sophistication.

Visit website here to book and find out more.

Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Southwold

I was no longer laughing at the poor mud-covered Glastonbury lot, as we made our way to the Latitude Festival with the weather predicted to be of a similarly dreadful nature. We arrived early on the Saturday morning, expecting traffic queues and the usual complications, but were pleasantly surprised to find the ‘get in’ quick and blissfully easy, parking just a two minute walk from the campsite - it was painless finding a space on the grass, and we quickly had our cute £19.99 Sainsbury’s tent up.

The weather cannot help but affect your festival experience, and after three hours of constant rain on Saturday, I began to wonder if it would ever cease. Nevertheless if any festival is going to break the downpour blues, it’s Latitude with the multicoloured sheep and cheery attitude. Proving itself to be an event that is ‘much more than just a music festival,’ Latitude provided well for its soggy visitors, putting on an impressive spread of events covering every area of the arts, catering to all interests and ages. Now in its sixth year, the variety was more varied than ever - I was overwhelmed by the choice.

The advantage of the persistent, diabolical rain was that many of the more specialist ( and covered) arenas really benefitted... in the Theatre Arena the ‘Matador’ performer even asked us “honestly how many of you are just here to get out of the rain?” (A few sheepish men raised their hands). The second stage, the Word Arena, was often full too, supporting those less high profile bands that often have a great deal more to offer than the big names on the main stage - headliners The National, Paolo Nutini and Suede, I felt were underwhelming this weekend.

With the help of a very picturesque “faraway” forest, the theatre area is dreamily atmospheric. The leafy Outdoor theatre showcased work from some inspiring artists, Luci Briginshaw was widely appreciated, singing some familiar opera classics and delighting the audience with her piercing top notes. The Gate Theatre also did well on this makeshift stage presenting their haunting production of Electra.

The work seen in the Theatre Arena was of an amazingly high standard: low budget productions with high impact. Two pieces were especially memorable for me; both were about the power and influence of money. ‘Crunch’ is a solo performance by writer/performer/director Gary McNair. He sets out five sets and encourages us to follow these to let ourselves be liberated from the tyranny of money. After 45 minutes of hugely engaging and witty theatre, we are invited up on stage to shred money from our own pockets, it is credit to McNair that three audience members actually did go up to destroy their own hard-earned cash, including one mad girl who freed herself of a lovely crisp £20 note and left the platform with a handful of shredded paper and a satisfied smile.

Then across the park on the Waterfront Stage, a few lucky acts managed to perform in the moments of dry weather. The FELA! Cast gave a particularly uplifting performance from the musical which returns to the stage at Sadler’s Wells on 20 July.

Those in need of a laugh were in luck as the Comedy Arena had a star studded line –up. I crouched at the back on Sunday to watch the final two sets from funny boy Nathan Caton and high pitched drama queen Alan Carr. Despite being a self-confessed comedyphobe, I thoroughly enjoyed the efforts of both men - Carr’s ridiculous anecdotes had me in stitches.

The Literary Tent didn’t disappoint with an endless stream of fascinating guests stepping up to share their experiences and knowledge. I listened to an amusing interview on Saturday night with ‘The Sex Diaries Project’ author Arianne Cohen - she reassured the audience with her results and bizarre relationship stories. Then on Sunday I got a dose of Girl Power from a lovely and frank interview with Louise Wener (lead singer of 90s pop band Sleeper) conducted by Mark Ellen. She read excerpts from her enlightening new book ‘Just for One Day’ – a memoir that details her real life dream transition from geeky teen to musical goddess and sex icon.

There was a real buzz around the Word Lounge. Despite being rather out of the way, this little tent hosted a programme of engaging podcasts and interviews with various musicians and music geeks... the history of Britpop chat on Sunday afternoon with Stuart Maconie was particularly interesting.

Then of course there was the music... the main Obelisk field was rarely full with music lovers seeking their entertainment somewhere dry, where you could dance without poking someone’s eye out with your umbrella. Gorgeously costumed bands looked unfairly dry and glam on stage whilst their adoring plastic poncho-clad fans stared up from behind protective hoods. They Might be Giants did a marvellous job motivating the fans during the wettest lunchtime period on Saturday. Like most, I was captivated and stayed for the whole show delighting in their ridiculous antics and singing along to their catchy songs - it was incredible to see ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul’ performed live, a song that has worn my iPod out. Seasick Steve was characterful as ever on the main stage, cooing at the girls in the crowd and inviting one up to be the recipient of a love song – a routine I have watched him conduct several times before!

Sunday saw sultry but shy Anna Calvi wow on the Obelisk stage with her seductive and intense voice. I had heard magical rumours about this girl and was expecting a bit more of a show, but no-one can deny her talent as she wailed into the microphone enticingly. She sang memorable covers of Elvis and Edith Piaf songs, and completely made them her own. My musical highlight from the weekend was the spectacular Everything Everything who put on quite a show for the Word Arena on Sunday afternoon. Even those happy to splash in the rain joined the dancing throng for this awesome set. The four Manchester boys all dressed in matching jumpsuits powered through their current hits and gave us a taste of what’s to come with a sparkly new number. Everything Everything combine fast paced eccentric lyrics, heartbreaking falsetto vocals from Jonathan Higgs, constant tempo changes and powerful chord progressions and harmonies that give the music a futuristic vibe; their songs are truly innovative, unlike anything I have heard before. The crowd went absolutely mad for this band - a group of middle aged groupies dancing next to me seemed to know all the words, I enquired afterwards to discover they were in fact parents of the band members.

As a music festival, Latitude didn’t quite produce the goods this year, despite being a smaller budget event than say Glastonbury, recycling the same bands from the previous year (The National headlined on the Word stage in 2010) is not going to impress punters when even smaller festivals like Hop Farm managed to get the Eagles and Prince! Latitude insists it is more than ‘just a music festival’ and I believe in this ambition, it succeeds triumphantly. It is the wonderful, diverse, extra-curricular events that make it worthwhile spending a weekend enduring pouring rain.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 60

I have been addicted to WAH nails ever since I discovered their crazy nail art a few months back, so you can imagine my excitement when I found VIOLENT LIPS the temporary transfers, decorating your lips with wonderfully wacky designs.

Violent lips are ultra easy to use and are safe for ages 3+. The tattoos actually have vitamin enhancements in them and will last up to 8 hours depending on skin type and care. The product is FDA approved, contains no animal products and is tested on supermodels, not animals. Violent lips transfers can be removed by using baby oil or mineral oil with a textured wipe.

Jessie J wore the Union Jack look recently at a festival and ever since this patterned lips mania has grown and grown. Glitter, leopard, lace are all part of the Violent Lips collection of tattoos, in a massive range of colours. My current favourites are the glitter variety - sparkly all over glitter transfers in a range of colours that shimmer and add the wow factor to any outfit.

This month the wait for UK stockists is over as Harvey Nichols and other London shops will be selling these fabulous appliqués. I just wonder what face accessory will be next...

The Zetter Townhouse, hotel and restaurant in Clerkenwell

The Zetter Townhouse is a completely unique and enchanting converted Georgian house. For me it is even more than this though, with a family made up of eccentric artists, my home is not dissimilar to ZTH with its musicological artefacts hanging daringly on the walls and mismatched decor defining a lovely but unconventional living space. Consequently I felt oddly at ease in this fascinating location as well as understanding the passion for beautiful intriguing objects.

Before coming to ZTH I had heard many people mention this special Townhouse, a gorgeously designed hotel cum cocktail parlour. I’d never quite accepted the glowing reputation, at least not until I saw it...

Despite parking directly outside we walked straight past this inconspicuous hotel - there are no gaudy signs, only a discreet doormat welcoming you in. We were kindly escorted straight up to our room, walking through the exquisite cocktail lounge to a secret lift in the corner.

Our room was magnificent, decorated with the most wonderful bits and bobs, cute painting here, antique radio there, it was a feast for the eyes. A writing desk, grand double bed, tall standard lamp, chest of drawers, flat screen TV (the only non-retro amenity!), and majestic wardrobe furnished the spacious room. To one side a luxurious bathroom was fully equipped with REN products, giant marble bath, rain dance shower, complimentary slippers and wonderful fluffy bathrobes…even a vintage Roberts digital radio sat on the shelf here for our enjoyment.

A mouth-watering fruit salad had been left for me on the table, as well as a generous selection of glossy magazines. Quirky extras are plentiful; bottled spring water from the ZTH’s own borehole is complimentary and sits on the bedside table; an honesty snack bar is fully equipped with refreshments should you need anything, and a little fridge stocks a range of drinks including pre-mixed bitters and cocktails. Rare Tea Co teas and ground coffee along with a teapot and coffee maker are free to use.

ZTH is located in a cluster of trendy cafes and bars in Clerkenwell - so if you fancy exploring there are plenty of options. Across the road, at the Zetter Hotel, is Bistrot Bruno Loubet where you can eat delicious French food. The chef has a partnership with the Zetter company and has even created a special grazing menu for the ZTH residents and visitors.

Famous for its genius mixology, guests come from near and far just to try the ZTH cocktails. Each poured into a unique vintage glass, these house cocktails look and taste really special. My favourite was ‘Les Fleurs du Mal’ (Rose vodka, lemon juice with a hint of La Maison Fontaine Absinthe) an inspiring mix of flavours that plays on one's palate, the kick of aniseed absinthe works surprisingly well. We also tried ‘Twinkle’ (Wyborowa, elderflower cordial & Perrier Jouet champagne), ‘The Richmond’ (Chivas Regal 12yr, apple honey & Lillet blanc), and ‘The Flinktock’ (Beefeater 24 gin, gunpowder tea tincture, sugar, dandelion & burdock bitters & Fernet Branca) - the last of these were a little too strong for me, but fascinating to taste nonetheless.

We ordered a selection of plates to share from the thrilling menu of exotic sounding treats for supper. The crunchy Parmesan shortbread to nibble on with our cocktails came first on a pretty blue vintage plate. Then for starters we tried: Grilled merguez, crushed harissa chick peas, Grilled vegetables dip & toasted sliced baguette, and Pan fried Halloumi cheese, lemon, chilli & oregano. Each dish came beautifully presented: vibrant combinations of flavours and textures that had obviously been carefully and skilfully developed. The halloumi was our particular favourite, the salty chewy cheese was dressed with the sweetest sauce with a little chilli kick.

Then for seconds, two of the supper bowls: Broad beans & lovage pesto risotto for me, and the dish of the day, Chicken curry for my companion. I was initially surprised by the small-ish portions, but they were filling and wholesome and for £5.50 it was the perfect amount. My risotto was delicious, seasoned well, healthy and green, for once I didn’t feel like I needed a ton of parmesan on top, which certainly says something about the quality and freshness of the ingredients. The curry was good too, a Korma-esque light chicken curry accompanied by vegetables and rice.

After another round of cocktails, (we couldn’t resist trying two more of the Zetter concoctions) we finished with a hefty slice of the cake of the day, which happened to be chocolate and banana, a winning double act. The cake was obviously recently homemade, because I could still smell the sweet aromas, and the sponge was wonderfully bouncy.

I denied myself a third cocktail and we crept back upstairs to our hidden wonderland, to bounce on the marshmallow soft mattress and splash around in the large marble bath, before melting into a deep sleep in bed. The next day I woke after a long rest, we had a leisurely morning before wandering downstairs to eat breakfast among the divine relics. Frothy cappuccinos, fresh orange juice and our cooked breakfasts of choice came promptly, the ideal lazy morning. I was sad to leave.

Modern luxury in a bijou, antique heaven - the Zetter Townhouse is a place to fall in love, and fall in love with.

info and booking, visit: www.thezettertownhouse.com

Pericles re-imagined, Regent's Park Theatre

The warning: "suitable for children 6 years and up" told me immediately that this was not to be your standard Shakespeare production. Sure enough, I seemed to be the only audience member without an excited child on my arm. As we entered the auditorium for the 10am Sunday performance (no weekend lie-in for me) I was handed a flimsy programme that cleverly opens out to be made into a pirate's hat. Pericles re-imagined is a new production being performed in the magical Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, an adaptation of the classic play that caters for the whole family.

The play is abridged with the first two acts of Shakespeare’s original script omitted, and yet the narrative stays very much intact, a surprisingly coherent plot despite regular jumps back and forth through time. Director Natalie Abrahami gives the focus to Marina, a pretty young girl, born dangerously at sea and left to be brought up by an evil guardian Dionyza. She is kidnapped by pirates and forced to perform as a singing mermaid in a circus show. While we watch her maritime adventures, we are also very much involved in the quest to find her long lost father.

A tiny cast of six take on all the play's characters, resulting in some very tricky but brilliantly managed character switches, which are genuinely hilarious at times. Hara Yannas is very personable as the innocent Marina. I have previously seen her excelling in Chekhov and here she is just as convincing, encouraging the kids to wave their boats and pass a message in a bottle across the stalls in the hope that it will find her dad. Gary Milner as Pericles is regal and speaks the Shakespearean text with a humble charm and deep understanding. It is Liza Pulman who stands out most for me though, with a strong singing voice and an ability to metamorphose from malevolent Dionyza to kind Goddess Diana in seconds which is quite magnificent to watch. Pulman is very engaging and has a brilliant sense of comic timing.

Pericles succeeds in the ultimate challenge: to stage a children’s panto that will also appeal to the mature audience members, I was very impressed.

Continues until 23 July, book here.