Have your cake and eat it
Trendy Soho eaterie Bodean's has a novel way of making money. When asked if the American restaurant, which has just opened a new branch in Clapham, did anything special for birthdays, they politely replied: "Certainly. We charge £10 for a birthday cake." Thinking that sounded reasonable, the potential guest said: "That's nice and cheap." To which, the maître d' said: "No, we charge you £10 if you want to bring in your own cake." And a happy birthday to all!
Odds on for a perfect summer
The British summer is a peculiar beast, both friend and foe to the nation's bar and restaurant owners. We're all hoping for a hot one, but the owner of Bar du Musée in London's Greenwich is leaving nothing to chance. Having shelled out on a 1,200sq m conservatory area with garden, he hasn't scrimped on the parasols, opting for two gigantic shades from Belgium, supplied by Kent-based Crown Awnings for a cool £25,000 apiece.
Standing 4m high, the parasols open in seconds rather than minutes, have their own built-in heaters for the colder months, and provide shaded protection for the entire garden area. And if the great British weather gets nasty, they can withstand gusts of up to 60km an hour.
Travelodge invites streer performers to busker move
To celebrate the opening of a Travelodge in London's Covent Garden, the hotel chain is launching "Busker Idol", a search for the most talented street performer, to prove that West End entertainment doesn't always need big budgets. Busker Idol will search for the most talented performer from hundreds of singers, jugglers, comedians and mime artists. The winner will receive a room for one year at the new Travelodge in Drury Lane. The panel of judges includes the Opera Babes, who were discovered while busking in Covent Garden. A winner will be picked on 18 May.