Maltby Street Market | London's hidden gem!

One of the many things that I love about London is that there is always something new to discover. It is easy to feel overwhelmed however. With a city that offers so much, sometimes going somewhere that you know and are familiar with is just what you need. And this funnily enough is how I found out about Maltby Market.

I was sat outside Crumbs and Doilies in Soho having a coffee and a piece of cake when a woman walked past with her dog and said how great the cakes looked. We ended up chatting about food and she recommended this market. She said that Borough Market is known to all of the tourists however Maltby Market is known more to locals because of it's location. It can only be described as gourmet street food at it's best.

The street itself is fairly small and is only open on the weekends making it popular to say the least. None the less I grabbed my camera and still managed to get some photos of the amazing food on offer. Genuinely I didn't know what to go for. All be it small, you will not struggle for choice. I could have easily spent a fortune.

I chose to grab a British classic of 'Steak N Chips' from a place that specialised in serving quality cuts of beef. I paired it with peppercorn sauce and it was delicious and cooked just how I like it. I then thought about something sweet. I saw the sign that said London's best waffle was served at this market so I was eager to try. I chose the classic berries and yoghurt with a fruit coulis and it was INSANE. I know you're probably thinking how good can a waffle be right? This was just amazing.

Without a shadow of a doubt I will be going back soon, they even had a place serving cocktails which could be amazing during the summer.

If you are thinking about visiting, check out the location here: http://www.maltby.st/

Thank you so much for reading, so sorry if I made you hungry.

Luke. 

BoohooMAN Outfit

As some of you may know, recently I received the news that successful in my application to be taken on to be a brand ambassador for BoohooMAN. I couldn't believe it when I found out the news that I had been accepted, I do feel incredibly lucky. As you can probably tell from my Instagram I am an avid shopper. I spend way too much money on clothes than I probably should. So being given the opportunity to work with boohoo who I have been a huge fan of for years was a dream.

I really struggle to define my style, It completely varies from day to day. Whether I choose to go for a classic look with a smart shirt and trousers paired with some trainers or a bomber and ripped jeans and some loafers I do try and mix up my style.

With this look I chose to stick to a neutral colour palette, this pretty much sums up my whole wardrobe to be fair. I really am trying to introduce some more colour however my inner monochrome self still chooses blacks, whites and greys...I will get there!

The full outfit apart from the shoes are from Boohoo. The jumper has a fitted style to it, with a vertical textured ribbed effect. I particularly like the neck zip, I think it add's a little more detail to this piece. I chose to pair this with some skinny black ripped biker jeans. These jeans are such a key piece in any wardrobe as they offer something different to your classic black jeans.

As we are half way through February, jackets are becoming suited rather than heavy over-coats. This jacket is a classic with the shearling black neck and pocket detail. It also has a cut that allows you to layer underneath it. I think a shearling jacket is another essential this winter/spring.

I chose to smarten up the outfit on the whole with some leather boots from Aldo. They have an ox/dark leather look to them, adding some finesse to this street look.

In terms of accessories, I choose to keep it really simple with a silver watch from Armani and a Thomas Sabo bracelet to compliment the watch.

You can shop this outfit here or copy and paste these product codes into boohooMAN to be taken directly to the pieces:
Wool look melton jacket: MZZ75010
Black ripped biker jeans:  MZZ79361
Grey ribbed jumper:  MZZ77279

Accessories:
Boots - Aldo
Watch - Armani
Bracelet - Thomas Sabo

Grüum | Shaving at it's finest

Shaving. It's a task not many people do enjoy. Summoning up the energy to address the ever growing stubble on your face is a challenge in itself. Then to realise you forgot to buy razor heads or that you're out of shaving gel. It is a situation we have all found ourselves in.

So when I found out about Grüum I was extremely interested to test out their products. They are a monthly subscription based company that provide "Face care for men, without all the fuss." The process is simple, you answer a couple of questions about your skincare routine/shaving habbits etc and they match you best with their products.

In a four stage simple process you tell them about you, they build your kit, deliver it to your door and you enjoy the benefits. The hassle of forgetting to buy razors is long gone! 

The thing that appeals mostly to me is that this brand only use natural products meaning they are perfect for every skin type, even sensitive skin. Ingredients like Eucalyptus and Which hazel which are known for their anti inflammatory qualities provide a shave that is so beneficial to the skin. 

In the shaving kit you receive:

x1 Daily exfoliating face wash

x1 Daily moisturiser

x1 Shave gel

x1 Facial tonic

x1 Razor handle

x4 Razor heads

It also includes an instruction manual on how to achieve the perfect shave with full descriptions on how to use the products and their benefits. They also have a 'Beard Maintenance Kit' which caters to those who choose to have a bit more growth. 

Now lets get to the serious business. 

kóri - Daily exfoliating face wash

Orange, Eucalyptus & Which hazel

Whenever I shave I always start with exfoliating my face. It lifts up all of your hair follicles and means that you are less likely to snag any hairs when it comes to shaving. I particularly enjoyed this product a lot. It had a fantastic scent and the exfoliating particles in the gel meant that my skin felt super clean afterwards. Great start!

danne - Shave gel

Orange, Rosemary & Eucalyptus 

I usually use shaving foam when I shave, I am yet to try a balm or in this case a gel so I was intrigued. It didn't lather up as much as I expected however it did work into the skin very well, covering my full face and neck with very little product. 

Razor cartridges and handle

To the most important part. How well did this razor work? In all honesty brilliantly. Probably the best shave I have ever had give or take a cut throat visit to a barber shop. The head has five blades, which are so simple to attach to the handle, with a simple click. 

The thin ergonomic design makes it easy to hold allowing you to see where you are shaving and not struggle with dexterity. The blades glided over my skin and even on my neck where usual razors struggle this one effortlessly addresses each hair. I shave with a structured line along my jaw and on my cheeks so the fixed head worked perfectly for me. If I was so suggest an improvement possibly the head could pivot slightly for those who prefer an all over clean shave. 

gösta - Facial tonic
Orange, Rosemary & Which Hazel
I think that this was a nice additional product in the kit and allowed your skin to really sooth the skin after shaving. The smell was very natural and it left the skin feeling very cool. It also removes unwanted shine after you have shaved. This is a fantastic product that I have never tried before and will definitely continue to use.

käre - Daily moisturiser 
Cedarwood, Sage & Rosemary
Now to moisturise. This final step is crucial after shaving as it allows your skin to remain smooth and keeps the razor rash at bay. The moisturiser went a very long way, with a small amount easily working it's way into my face and neck. It worked into my skin easily and left a smooth finish.

The kit works fantastically together. Each product perfectly preps the skin before a shave and refines the skin afterwards for the ultimate shave. 

This brand works on a 'No commitments' basis meaning you can change or cancel your kit at any time if you wish to do so. Ultimately Grüum are providing a kit that you can tailor to your face and what works best for you. 

I can honestly say that my skin felt fantastic afterwards, with a extremely smooth finish. I would completely recommend this brand to other who are in the market for a new brand of skincare. 

Click here to be taken to Grüum's website where you can see a full list of their products, prices and kit's to get more of an idea of what is the perfect match for you. 

I just want to say a huge thank you to Grüum for providing me with this kit to review. 

Thank you for reading,

Luke. 

A food filled day in Newcastle

I returned home this weekend to see the family after being back in London for a month. I can't believe how fast January has gone. In four months I will be finished my first year at uni, that is crazy and slightly scary! Anyway...I had no plans for the weekend, I just wanted to spend time inside with the weather being so miserable. That would have been perfect, had my parents not chosen to go full steam ahead and refurbish the kitchen. Fed up of the dust, we decided to head out to Newcastle to grab a bite to eat and do a little bit of shopping.

Our first point of call was to 'Laneway & Co'. After following their Instagram page and hearing great things, I was eager to try their coffee. They source their coffee from 'Allpress', a London based coffee company which produce in house roasted beans. I was lucky enough to go to a barista training day at their Dalston site, cupping their Redchurch blench. Laneway & Co sits just off the main Grey Street near the Monument metro stop, so it is fairly easy to find. Inside is kept simple with hanging baskets and a bright interior. There is enough seating inside and a nice outside bench if the weather is on your side. 

We ordered two Flat White's and they were spot on to say the least. Allpress coffee beans have a certain nutty taste to them, when paired with perfectly steamed milk you have a fantastic tasting cup of coffee. Finally some great coffee in Newcastle. I definitely will be returning, I really wanted to try their food menu which looks fantastic! Click here to be taken to their website. 

Caffeinated and ready to tackle the pouring rain we headed to the shops. I didn't really have any places I wanted to visit, however I knew there was a Thomas Sabo shop in Eldon Square. A while back I watched a video on YouTube by Ali Gordon who is a style/lifestyle blogger and he made a look book featuring some Thomas Sabo pieces.  I found a silver bracelet online that caught my eye so I wanted to try it on in the shop. It is really simple in design but has a detailed clasp that makes the bracelet stand out. I went for the size 19 and it fit's perfect. They are actually charm bracelets however I plan on keeping it just as it is. 

After a little bit of retail therapy we headed to 'Pleased to meet you' again on the same street as Laneway & Co. Pleased to meet you is known to be a gin bar however they also serve fantastic food. I have never tried their menu however my Mam has and said it's excellent. 

We chose to order two cocktails, their signature 'Pleased to meet you' and one 'Mary Phillips'. Both gin based cocktails yet so different in taste. Mine had a hind of Disaronno in, which worked so well. You just can't beat a gin cocktail in my opinion.

Now to the food, we went for two sharing boards, or 'Grazing Boards' and they called them. One Mediterranean with a style of mezze dips and sundries and one picnic style with a scotch egg, cheese and sausage roll. They were beautifully presented, having enough selection on each board to not know where to start. 

This style of food is my favourite where you can just graze with a cocktail and not have to tackle a huge meal. Pleased to meet you also have an outside seating area with garden style sheds to sit in as well as a greenhouse, fitting with their botanical style gin menu. Click here to be taken to their site for a full look at their menu. 

So with the rain hammering down, both me and my Mam fit to burst we headed home. It was so nice to be able to get out house for a while, even if we did end up getting completely soaked. 

Thank you so much for reading,

Luke.