What’s New

Tipple & Taste

Fulham resident and professional chef George Dyer created Tipple & Taste in November 2019 offering bespoke packages to suit events ranging from small celebrations to business functions as well as hosting their own pop up events locally. George created event menus to suit each occasion be it a set menu of canapes or expertly crafted small plates of seasonal and locally sourced produce pairing and tailoring the cocktails, made on site by their bartenders, to suit the selected menus.

The business was growing nicely until lockdown put everything on hold. George told Urban Village LDN that Tipple & Taste can’t wait to be available for hire again for private catering, corporate and personal functions - when rules allow - but until then they have turned their culinary and mixologist expertise into creating handcrafted cocktail kits and home-made snacks for home delivery.

Launched at the end of February, working with hospitality charities, all profits go to Hospitality Action, to support their industry which has been devastated during the pandemic. Their signature boxes which cost £34 each are created, mixed and home-made daily by George in their local Fulham kitchen, with spirits sourced from the Sustainable Spirit Company. Each box contains two handcrafted cocktail/tipple kits (four drinks), recipe cards, garnishing tricks, special garnishes, “how to” video links and three pairing homemade snacks. The “Boss Box” (George's Signature box) includes: Perfect Negroni and Espresso Martini tipple kits, Sage Salt Popcorn, Rosemary & Parmesan short biscuits with green and black olive tapenade and Lemon & Madagascan vanilla cake pops. The “Two Sweet Box” includes: S' Mores Martini and Bramble tipple kits with Maple & Chilli popcorn, Red velvet brownie bites and Lemon & Madagascan vanilla cake pops and they’ve just launched their “Viva Italia Box” with Italian Summer and The Americano tipple kits, Sicilian Lemon & Vanilla Cake Pops, Rosemary & parmesan short biscuits with green and black olive tapenade and Pistachio & Chocolate Biscotti.

George told Urban Village LDN “I've trained in a number of world-class kitchens including Michelin starred Le Manoir in Oxfordshire under the watchful eye of Raymond Blanc, as well as the Pig Hotel group. I moved to the city, trained further at Leith's, which led me to more great places to be chef at London's Chiltern Firehouse, Amuse Bouche, The Tommy Tucker and The Hollywood Arms. Through the pandemic, I’ve turned my expertise into creating pretty cool cocktail kits and homemade snack boxes which have been enjoyed as gifts, a perfect night in, or for lots of staff for corporate online events! 100% of our profits is going to Hospitality Action because I love the work these guys do for our incredible industry, and I truly believe we’ve seen just how important Hospitality is to all of us! Our box campaign is continuing because people want to support Hospitality Action and because everyone is really ready to socialise; they are ready to up their picnic game and have fun in the UK this summer! With our boxes, all you need is some ice and glasses and you’ve got yourself a pretty great and unique set up! We’re also expanding to create corporate and bespoke boxes”.

The Imperial Arms re-opens

The Imperial Arms (577 Kings Road) has new owners, the family behind the successful Shack 68 in Twickenham & formally of The Grand Union of London. They acquired the venue after the first lockdown and have been busy renovating the interiors since. On April 12 they are finally able to open their doors for the first time having been unable to do so before now due to lockdown 2 and 3. They told Urban Village London that “locals can expect a friendly traditional pub full of colour, feel good music and quirkyness”. Billed as a pub and lounge, The Imperial sounds like a cool hybrid of a traditional pub with modern twists. From the interiors, crates displaying bottles on the back bar, old fireplaces with modern art above the mantle, velvet and tasseled lampshades and chandeliers to the drinks, Premium beers, lagers and ales at its core and a comprehensive cocktail list including classics (Old Fashioned, Negroni) and new recipes; the Sicilian Martini, Passionfruit Paradise and The Imperial Iced Tea are vying for the top tasting spot on of our list.

A classic pub menu will be available all day with light bites including flat bread and hummous, nachos and chicken wings, traditional burgers, also a Katsu and Halloumi version, classic pub grub includes steak and ale pie, bangers and mash and chicken and mushroom pie; there is also a children’s menu. “Our food menus offer all the tried and tested classics from a variety of burgers to a classic Sunday roast. All our dishes are homemade & adapted seasonally offering fresh produce locally sourced from companies such as Lays of Chelsea. Our interior is cosy and colourful with many unique and quirky prints to catch the eye. We have areas to kick back and enjoy drinks with friends as well as accommodating all for meals & Sunday roasts”.

We loved the upstairs events space at The Imperial Arms and asked the new team what their plans for this area were. “We have kept our event spaces and The Imperial Lounge will be opening in May offering premium cocktails & an exclusive area to enjoy with limited access. The Lounge will be transformed on home match days offering corporate hospitality to enjoy pre & post game later in the year. For a more intimate experience we have The Library room which is a small dining room off the lounge which can be hired for small occasions & dinners for an exclusive experience with us. With a successful events team we can accommodate any celebration from birthdays, work drinks, corporate parties, 3 course dining hospitality, small meals & full venue hire. Any occasion you have, we’ve got it covered”. Event enquiries via email info@imperial-arms.london Instagram https://www.instagram.com/imperial_arms/ After months of watching the renovations, we’re off to book our slot to finally see the new look Imperial for ourselves and to finally meet the team in person.

Titania’s Dream

We’re not quite able to reinstate our “What’s On” page yet but it feels like it won’t be that much longer especially when it comes to outdoor events. We heard from the organisers of “Titania’s Dream” who got in touch to tell us about their “Shakespeare meets Forest School” interactive, theatrical event being held at Fulham Palace. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ this event is designed to introduce audiences to Shakespeare in a fun (and funny) way while making the most of the outdoor, natural environment.

“After months of being stuck indoors this event will invite audiences to celebrate nature; many of the botanicals that Shakespeare mentions in the play will be weaved into the experience”. During a 50-minute guided trail, audiences will search for hidden fairies, stumble upon hapless workmen, learn about wild plants and flowers and work together to save Queen Titania in what sounds like a fun and fantastical adventure suitable for all ages and a great activity for May half term.

The event runs on the grounds of Fulham Palace from 20 May – 6 June in timed performance slots, children 3 and under will not require a ticket for entry but please note “at times during the experience, visitors will be invited to leave the paved path and walk on grass amongst plants and trees. Surfaces on these areas are uneven and muddy in wet weather, and therefore not suitable for wheelchairs, buggies or mobility scooters”.

Monty’s Chilli Jam

As you know we’re always on the hunt for Fulham specific stories so when we spotted a “Homemade in Fulham” label on a jar of Chilli Jam pictured on Drink of Fulham’s social media channels we had to find out more. Owner Zara Thomas put us in touch with Fulham resident Matt Thomas (no relation) who told us how his homemade product ended up being stocked on Drink of Fulham’s shelves. “I have always had a love of cooking and personally find the whole process a very relaxing and meditative one. When I started making savoury jams and chutneys ten years ago, it proved a welcome avenue of stress relief from my high pressured job in Finance in the City. I would give them to friends and family and the feedback was always very positive, but I never did anything more than keep it as a hobby. I have never found a chilli jam in the shops that was perfect to me: they can be too vinegary, too thin, not hot enough or generally lacking in flavour, so I looked to create my own. Monty’s Chilli Jam is the product of years of me honing and perfecting the recipe based on feedback from friends and family”.

Matt told Urban Village LDN that he is self-employed now but still works in Finance and Investment. Recently married and having made some chill jam and red onion marmalade for the cheeseboard at this wedding 18 months ago “it was demolished by 200 guests but that might have been the booze!” Matt told us he spent lockdown perfecting Monty’s (his university nickname) condiment recipes, exploring the local area and going for long walks along the river. “On one of our many daily lockdown walks my wife and I stumbled across Drink of Fulham.  We met Zara and Callum Thomas and got talking. I really admired their passion and what they have done with Drink in the past 12 months and I happened to mention to Zara that I made a great chilli jam.  At which point she said she did too and challenged me to a competition!  It seems I won as ever since then she has encouraged me to make it more than a hobby. Earlier this year Monty’s condiments was born – the chilli jam is the first product but there are others in the pipeline.  Thanks to Zara and Callum’s support and encouragement, Drink of Fulham is the only place you can currently buy my Chilli jam!”. If you fancy trying Matt’s Chilli Jam head to Drink of Fulham where you can pick up a jar for £4.75.