Avoid the World Cup – in style!

With the World Cup upon us even the most sophisticated of cocktail bars and members clubs are putting up screens and competing to host the finest viewing experiences. Belle About Town turned to the expertise of Tim Badham from concierge service Innerplace to help us Belle’s find a sanctuary during the World Cup.

“If you’re not excited by the beautiful game you might find that the escaping the action over the next month could be a little tricky! Fear not however as here are some football free sanctuaries for girls (or boys) to enjoy…”

“Floridita are offering a football free zone perfect for Belle’s wanting to escape the World Cup frenzy. Get a group of four or more together and book a table for dinner. Two courses are £20 and three courses with a mojito is £27.50 pp. And if you are up for a laugh you can even add a cocktail masterclass [£10] to your evening to get the night off to a shaking good start. If you book and confirm your reservation before July 1th you also go into a draw to win a trip for two to Cuba! To book visit Floridita‘s website or call on 020 7314 4000.”

“If you want to avoid the football at all costs, the alfresco Terrace at Sanderson is providing a safe haven for ‘Football Widows’ with Champagne dinners every night England play and with strictly no sports talk allowed! Sanderson’s top chefs have created a sumptuous menu which perfectly complements the finest Champagnes selected by experts at Pommery. The dinners coincide with Englands match on Saturday  Friday 18th June, from 7pm and cost £90 for five-courses with champagne. Sanderson, 50 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NG, 020 7300 1444.”

“The Larder restaurant in Clerkenwell is offering football widows the chance to avoid the football with groups of five or more being offered a complimentary bottle of bubbly. Their waiting staff promise never to use the F-word – “football” and the offer runs though out the tournament – from June 11 to July 11. To claim your free bottle, mention “The Great Escape” when you book a table for five or more, or tell our receptionist when you arrive. The Larder Restaurant 0207 608 1558.”

“Leave the other half at home with his World Cup party and escape for a night to a Malmaison Hotel for their Mal life package. You get dinner, two cocktails, nibbles and chocolates as well as DVDs to watch and breakfast delivered to your room. Who says you can’t enjoy the World Cup too? The package is from £65 per person from June 11^th – July 11^th 2010. Call Malmaison on 0845 365 4247 to book.”

“Other great bars to try that will certainly not be showing the football include…  the Light Bar at St Martins Lane, Maze, The Met Bar, Polo Bar at the Westbury and Vanilla.”

“If you do want to watch the football but want to avoid your sticky-floored local, check out Kanaloa in the city, the Kensington Roof Gardens will be showing the Friday and Saturday night matches, and Sketch in the West End.”

Tim Badham is the Managing Director and Founder of Innerplace, the leading specialist entertainment and lifestyle concierge in London. Membership from £40 per month. www.innerplace.co.uk

[picture credits: pindec]