We’re not usually ones to celebrate Valentines Day and would normally opt for a home cooked meal over going out, but with Valentines Day falling on a Saturday this year, it was an excuse to make our usual date night that little bit more special.
The Valentines outfit of the night was built around my killer snakeskin boot heels which did all the talking. I paired them with these Topshop black skinny jeans, a Missguided nude pink tie front blouse layered over this maroon lace bralet, my vintage gold heart necklace for a nod to the love theme, and my oversized brown fur coat to complete the look.
My Sandro green velvet handbag and these stunning Heaven Mayhem pearl statement earrings added an extra touch of glam to the fit; pearls are so chic and timeless, I’m obsessed.
We had early 6pm dinner reservations at Cosy Club in Basingstoke Festival Place.
Our preference for dinner would’ve been Cote, however they were fully booked so Cosy Club was our next best option and the vibes were on point for Valentines night.
I had the sticky Asian cauliflower salad with kimchi, shredded leaves, pickled mooli, edamame beans and a rice wine dressing which was delicious and full of spicy flavour.
My boyfriend opted for the flat iron steak served with peppercorn sauce, fries, caesar salad and a side of macaroni cheese.
The food came quickly, it was all nicely presented and the service from our waiter was very friendly. Overall a lovely dinner which exceeded our expectations.
Following dinner we had the cinema booked for 7:50pm and I was super excited to see the highly anticipated Wuthering Heights movie.
Fresh popcorn at the cinema is a must and some wine with the movie was another treat being our Valentines date night.
We don’t go to the cinema very often as we have such a great setup at home, so we booked the best seats in the house and felt very comfy indeed in our recliner premium seats.
Wuthering Heights was brilliant and the perfect romantic movie for a Valentines cinema trip.
It was nice to switch it up from our usual date night drill and fully switch off from the outside world for a few hours to enjoy the magic of the movie.
Having just been named one of the top 10 UK Hotels by the Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers Choice Awards for 2022, Heckfield Place is a true hidden gem for local villagers of the area. Alongside the highly acclaimed Marle Restaurant headed by famous chef Skye Gyngell, also the lady behind Petersham Nurseries and Spring at Somerset House London, Heckfield Events welcomes members of the public to enjoy an exciting programme of activities around the grounds nestled in the quaint Hampshire countryside.
The Dolby Atmos Screening Room located underground by the manor house of Heckfield, hosts talks and cinema screenings of old school movie classics as well as new releases. With tickets priced at £18 per adult, this is an affordable alternative to your usual cinema visit and worth the extra few pounds for such an exclusive, premium cinema experience.
Last weekend we managed to get tickets to see the only screening of the latest blockbuster release Don’t Worry Darling staring Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine, to name a few. I kept my outfit comfy yet stylish wearing my Grenson boots, denim jeans, a knitted polo-neck, gold jewellery and check blazer layered with my new H&M wool-blend cream trench coat, which I’m loving right now.
With the film starting at 7:30pm, we decided to grab a curry beforehand at our favourite local Thai The Spice Merchant. It was the perfect Sunday night hearty dinner for two, packed full of nutritious veggies and those delicious creamy Thai flavours, it never fails to impress.
Arriving on a stormy, dark, autumnal evening at Heckfield Place, the atmosphere was very fitting for this psychological thriller film. Drinks acquired from the bar, we found our seats and made ourselves at home in the plush sofa chairs ready for the movie.
I’m not usually one for watching horrors and following this film I remember why. It was fantastic and I thought Oliva Wilde was a brilliant leading lady supported by Harry Styles, but yikes did I have some scary nightmares that night!
Regardless, it was another fabulous movie experience at the Heckfield Place secret cinema. We’ll definitely be back again this winter season to cosy up in front of another film in superior style. I’m thinking a lighter hearted movie is in order next time as well as a couple of cocktails from the bar beforehand too. ❤
There’s no denying it, we simply couldn’t have survived each and every lockdown without the holy grail that is Netflix. From the first UK lockdown when we were enthralled by the kooky, mysterious life of the infamous Tiger King, to the much anticipated season four of The Crown and exciting early blockbuster release of Wonder Woman 1984, Netflix has certainly heightened the stakes when it comes to keeping us entertained. With cinemas currently closed, the film industry has had no choice but to turn to Netflix to debut new works and keep Hollywood moving despite the world coming to a halt. And whilst we are kept on our toes with the plethora of new releases every month, Netflix doesn’t let us forget the wondrous catalogue of fantastic film and TV from the archives. So here’s my quick round up of February favourites to snuggle up to on the sofa this month.
FILMS
Wonder Woman 1984
When the radiant goddess Diana Prince hit our screens in the first film back in 2017, it was a thrilling breath of fresh air offering a perfect balance of muscle and heart amongst a dazzling spectacle of compelling action. Whilst this sequel draws out a much longer plot line, the most riveting visual cohesion is the flashback to a young Diana back on the magical island of Themiscrya, when the fearless youngster competes in an arduous challenge of strength and skill against women twice her age and stature. The powerful yet glamorous and elegant Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot, maintains heartfelt audience connection as she teaches us that the nature of the truth will always win.
The Dig
Set back in the summer of 1939 just before the outbreak of war, Edith Pretty hires amateur archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate the mounds of her Suffolk property. Upon discovering the skeleton of an 88-foot Anglo-Saxon ship, the next phase uncovers the burial chamber within the ship containing a treasure-trove of perfectly preserved artefacts. Soon enough news has spread and people descend upon the land to jostle for credit, whilst there is an ongoing passionate urgency to complete the dig before the onset of World War II.
SERIES
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust and betrayal set against the backdrop of Regency-era England, this period drama follows the most affluent families of the town during the competitive Ton season, when debutantes are presented at court before the Queen. Narrated by the legendary Julie Andrews playing the gossip-girl columnist Lady Whistledow, this fluffy, humorous and beautifully costumed drama makes for easy watching. Not to mention how it will leave you yearning to go back in time to wear one of those exquisite ballgowns and attend a glamorous party, where your prince charming may well sweep you off your feet!
Tiny Pretty Things
With a dark and contemporary edge set amongst the gruelling, ruthless world of a Manhattan dance academy, this Netflix original series is no ordinary twinkle toes story. When the star pupil Cassie Shore stumbles, or is pushed in a scuffle with a hooded figure, and falls four storeys from the school roof plunging to her death, in her stead comes Neveah Stroyer. Despite being from the wrong side of the tracks and not properly trained, Neveah turns out to be stunningly talented, throwing the pecking order of the establishment into disarray. This gritty teenage drama depicts the highly competitive and brutal reality behind the curtain of classical ballet in a modern world.
OLD SCHOOL
F.r.i.e.n.d.s
An absolute classic which never fails to cheer me up and give me a good chuckle. As an OG Friends fan from back in the days, I’ve seen every single episode many a times and will still never get bored of watching those six eccentric characters as they fumble their way through life in New York City. At the moment I’m throwing it way back to the mid-nineties with the early seasons, when the fashion was experimental to say the least and hair dos even more questionable! I know my obsession is real when I start singing along to Phoebe’s rather peculiar yet comically genius songs.
Mean Girls
Arguably one of the most quotable films ever, 16 years on and this is still one of the greatest teen movies around with its accurate depiction of the jungle that is high-school. Thrown amongst a world of cliques and hierarchy, new-comer Cady Heron is quickly drawn into life as one of the Plastics and soon remarks herself as spiteful as queen bee Regina George, loosing her individuality and sacrificing her real friendships along the way. Comical and smart without the shrill edge of many teen movies, Mean Girls cleverly portrays the true culture of popularity, hierarchy and gossip entrenched in every high-school.
Needless to say the list is ever-changing, as you can see from my most updated homepage including those unashamedly guilty pleasures: Friends, Real Housewives, Clueless, Magic Mike… to name a few 😉
Netflix undoubtedly continues to reign when it comes to exciting new releases, catching up on popular TV series, or simply harping back to those classic movies that will just never get old. Whilst I do miss the thrill of taking a trip to the cinema and getting lost in the special effects of the big screen, Netflix is keeping the magic alive by bringing the joys of TV and film to the comfort of our homes as we wait-out yet another lockdown in the UK!
Dani Aneka 