In collaboration with Bravado (Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company), the legendary British rock band, Queen, opened a pop-up store in Carnaby Street to celebrate 5 decades of music.
The 2-story pop-up shop takes visitors on an immersive journey to explore the band’s history over the decades from the 1970s, when Queen was formed, through the 1980s legendary live performances till today.
‘Queen the Greatest’ opened its doors today (28th September 2021) and will be there for the fans to explore and enjoy until January 2022.
To make it even more exciting, the store will change its entire theme each month. Here’s the schedule:
OCTOBER – MUSIC MONTH
Photo: Urban Adventurer
October will be about album and solo releases.
Check the dates of the limited-edition vinyl releases here.
NOVEMBER – ART & DESIGN MONTH
Photo: Urban Adventurer
November will see the store showcasing a lineup of collaborative partners, such the Japanese designer, Tokolo or a limited-edition bear from Steiff.
DECEMBER – MAGIC MONTH
Photo: Urban Adventurer
In December the store will be filled with everything you need for a magical Christmas, from Christmas jumpers and wrapping paper to accessories, such as drinkware, caps and tote bags. If you love Monopoly, you can even ‘tour’ the world with the band with a Queen Monopoly game.
Fashion Collaborations
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The store has introduced new and exciting fashion collections, including exclusive collaboration with Champion, Wrangler and Johnny Hoxton jewellery.
The Champion collection features unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts, while denim pieces adorned with iconic song titles are up for grabs from Wrangler.
Designer Johnny Hoxton exclusive silver and gold jewellery creations are also available in store.
If you purchase an exclusive Freddie Mercury T-shirt, the profit will go to The Mercury Phoenix Trust. The charity was founded by Brian May, Roger Taylor and their manager, Jim Beach in memory of Freddie Mercury to raise awareness and funds for HIV/Aids. The Mercury Phoenix Trust is being supported by such names like Bono, Stephen Fry and Robbie Williams.
Downstairs archive performances and Instagrammable moments are shown along with signed guitars that are available to buy. Other eye-catchy visual installations are set within the store, such as a Queen themed pinball machine, to tell stories about Queen’s legendary 5 decades.
Ready for your next adventure? The Rolling Stones store is just 1-minute walk from Queen’s pop-up store, so why not pop in and pain it black?
Art Box is probably the winner of the most adorable shops in London. They sell the cutest Japanese character plushies, stationary, accessories, and homeware. From Sanrio characters to Studio Ghibli to Gund (they do our all-time favourite kitty, Pusheen), there is something for everyone.
Cosplayers and Lolitas! This is for you. Irregular Choice is definitely the cutest shoe shop I’ve ever visited. They have an unbelievable range of adorable men’s, women’s, and kids shoes and accessories.
Sai Sai is the ultimate shop for Lolita, Gothic (Lolita), Steampunk, and Punk in Camden. They have a range of super cute Lolita dresses in different themes like mermaid, puppet doll, bunny tea party or Alice in Wonderland.
Japan Craft has two different shops in Camden. One is an anime and manga themed shop, while the other one is revolving around traditional Japanese arts and crafts. They sell homeware, kimonos & yukatas, accessories, wooden puzzle boxes, tea sets, kokeshi dolls and more.
Collectif is a vintage fashion apparel, selling cute Trixie doll dresses, dreamy swing dresses, stylish 50s pencil dresses and more at an affordable price.
Their main profile is Gothic and Steampunk fashion, but they also sell wide range of lovely corsets, Victorian skirts and dresses, Burlesque fashion, and accessories.
Located in Carnaby, Sophie Tea Art is the cutest art gallery in London. It’s not just a gallery, it’s an immersive experience with infinity room, rainbow stairs and selfie corners; all for free. You can even drink a free cup of tea while admiring the gallery’s paintings.
They change their decoration every now and then, so it’s worth to keep an eye on their social feed to see what’s new.
Escape the heatwave and set out on an adventure in a rainforest.
Rainforest Café is a hidden exotic jungle under the pavements of the busy Piccadilly Circus. Special effects and lifelike animatronics bring the jungle into life around you while you enjoy your meal.
No two EL&N café are the same. One is a pink floral wonderland, another brings us back to the neon arcade vibes from the 90s, while in another one you can ride on a pink carousel horse.
They have aesthetic colourful Insta and Tik Tok friendly drink and food.
Uzumaki is London’s very first anime themed restaurant. If you’re planning an anime/manga shopping day, make sure you stop by for an Uzumaki ramen and a Naruto bubble tea. Cosplay strongly encouraged.
Flower Burger is an Italian style restaurant in the heart of Fitzrovia. They sell delicious vegan burgers with rainbow buns and signature soft drinks. The kaleidoscopic interior matches the colours of their burgers, creating a fun playful ambiance. Head downstairs and enjoy your burger while sitting in a swing.
This cute café opened this January and instantly became popular. They serve Instagram-ready food and drink to which the flower walls provide the perfect backdrop.
Four Quarters Bar is a retro bar featuring the glorious 80s arcade vibes. They have tons of old-school games to play from Pacman to flipper to Mario Cart.
Book a console booth for a private PlayStation and enjoy a cold beer or one of their house cocktails and a pizza while winning your next round on Mario Cart.
Their Peckham venue is completely football free (they’re not showing the games there). Meanwhile, at their Hackney Wick bar Euro 2020 is being shown on indoor and outdoor projectors. But you can still turn your back to the projectors and find your piece while playing SEGA Rally, right?
Peggy Porschen is a realm of sweet treats, flowers, and pot of teas. They are most famous for their cute cupcakes and their dreamy floral decoration that changes every season.
This Summer you can book for an Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea party. Don’t be late for this very important date!
Tombo Café is London’s very first Sanrio themed café. They obsessed with Japanese green tea and its benefits to the health, so you will see its influence across their entire menu.
The whole place is super cute. There are Sanrio plushies everywhere for you to play with or enhance your photos with them. It’s not just the décor that is kawaii, but also their food and drink. Why not try one of their kawaii milkshakes or Sundae specials?
Naruto is one of the most popular anime series of all time; and guess what! A Naruto themed restaurant opened at Holborn Viaduct, and this is London’s very first anime and manga inspired Japanese restaurant.
If you’re a Naruto fan but have never heard of Uzumaki, don’t worry. They opened just before lockdown last year and almost instantly had to close and remain close till this May.
They re-opened on 17th May for indoor dining and has instantly become a must-visit restaurant to not only Naruto fans, but all anime and manga fans.
Cosplay Highly Encouraged
“The things that are most important aren’t written in books. You have to learn them by experiencing them yourself.” – Sakura
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Uzumaki love cosplay and highly encourage everyone to show up in costume (and not just Naruto related) when visiting the restaurant. Keep an eye on their social feed because you might even get rewarded for showing up in your costume.
In May, Uzumaki hosted their first ‘Cosplay & Ramen Week’, and it was a huge success. All cosplayers even received a free Uzumaki Signature Bubble Tea.
It’s worth to keep your eyes open every time when around Uzumaki because there is a good chance to meet a member of the Akatsuki, Kakasi Sensei, Sakura or even Naruto himself.
Ramen, Sushi and Bubble Tea
“My hobby is eating different types of ramen and comparing them.” – Naruto
If you have ever dreamt of tasting Naruto’s favourite ramen, you are at the perfect place.
Uzumaki serves two signature ramen bowls exactly the way Naruto likes them: Uzumaki Ramen and Naruto Ramen.
Try Naruto’s Favourite Ramen or Create Your Own
Photo: Urban Adventurer
If want to create your own ramen bowl instead, you can do so. You can choose every single ingredient from the menu to create your very own ramen. Pick your broth, your type of noodles and as many toppings as you like. They have halal and vegan options, too.
All ramens are served on a bamboo tray with special wooden ramen spoon and chopsticks resting on a cute lucky cat chopstick holder. Absolutely Instagrammable!
Sushi
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Uzumaki don’t just serve ramen. They have a range of sushi sets and sashimi on offer. You can choose from 2pcs to 8pcs depending on your party size or your hunger.
Fancy a Drink?
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The fridge is full of our all-time favourite Pokémon inspired canned drinks, Ramune and other Japanese drinks in different yummy flavours. They have a range of bubble tea too: milk tea with tapioca or classic bubble tea with jelly popping balls.
TIP: Choose one of the Uzumaki Signature Bubble Teas to enhance your Naruto experience.
Want Some Souvenir?
Photo: Urban Adventurer
If you loved your experience in Uzumaki and don’t want to leave the place with empty hands, put your hands on a Naruto reusable cup, a lucky cat chopstick set in Uzumaki themed bag, and more.
And remember…
“If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it the way you want to be.” – Naruto
Ready for your next adventure? Come with me and discover the best anime and manga shops in London after you’ve finished your ramen!
The Rolling Stones have opened their first flagship store on the iconic Carnaby Street. Yay!
The news was announced on the 20th August 2020 on all the mayor media from BBC News to The Independent.
Watch the YouTube video premiering the band’s new store. The video was recorded during pandemic, when Carnaby Street was empty.
Missed the grand opening? Watch first-hand videos here.
RS No. 9 Carnaby
The band’s first shop is on Carnaby Street and the location has been chosen for good reason. “Soho has always encapsulated Rock ‘n’ Roll, so Carnaby Street was the perfect spot for our own store.” – explained The Rolling Stones.
The shop showcases the band’s colours of red and black. In the window there is a soundwave installation taken from the opening of the famous song, ‘Pain It Black’ from 1966.
The shop floor features song lyrics and the fitting rooms are decorated with artworks from The Rolling Stones’ most famous albums.
The shop also introduces the band’s official colour ‘Stones Red’, the official red colour from Pantone that first appeared on The Rolling Stones’ tongue & lips logo and have been used since then over decades.
The Stones Fashion
The shop is jointly curated by The Rolling Stones and Bravado. Bravado is the Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company.
The store sells branded men, women and kids’ fashion and accessories, the band’s latest albums and exclusive merchandise available in store only. The selection of merchandise reflects the six-decade career of The Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones was formed in 1962 in London and one of the most influential and most successful bands of all time with an estimated record sale of 240 million.
The band has released their new album ‘Goats Head Soup’ this September. The album features an all-new stereo mix of the original 1973 album, as well as three never-heard singles: ‘Scarlet’, ‘All the Rage’ and ‘Criss Cross’.
The Grand Opening
The shop’s grand opening was stylishly on 9/9/2020 at well…not 9am but 11am. A moderately long queue had already been formed when I get there to the shop at 8:30am. Half an hour before the opening the staff went around and gave branded face coverings with The Rolling Stones’ logo. They handed out approx. 50 and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of them.
Shortly after 11am the security started letting fans into the shop. The amount of people was strictly limited due to Covid_19 but to be honest, I didn’t mind. It was way better spending time in the shop without a suffocating crowd. There were no useless arguments over products, and everyone had a chance to take photos, selfies and make videos without being disturbed by the crowd.
The store is really entertaining and immersing. The walls and the floors are decorated with either lyrics or The Rolling Stones’ famous lips & tongue logo. You can take selfies with one of the giant 3D logos or in one of the cool selfie corners.
On the front wall there are giant screens showcasing famous concert footages and animations while the band’s most famous songs are playing.
I was managed to get a limited-edition red vinyl of the band’s new album, Goat Head Soup.
Here it is in all its glory. Hope, one day I could get it signed.
After shopping I headed to see another giant lips & tongue installation under the Carnaby arch. After being polished, the sculpture was ready to become the backdrop of some promo photo shoots with fans.
It will be there for a while, so why not go Rock ‘n’ Roll and take some cool selfie for your Instagram?
Ready for your next adventure? Have you visited Hard Rock Café? Did you know that it’s the world’s premiere music museum displaying such items like John Lennon’s famous round glasses or Freddie Mercury’s favourite microphone?
Hard Rock Café opened its gates at Piccadilly Circus in 2019. It marks the first Hard Rock location with a fresh modern design and the world’s largest Rock Shop.
Why Does Hard Rock Café Rock?
Hard Rock Café is famous for its collectable fashion and music-related merchandise, but probably it’s most famous for its rock-and-roll memorabilia. The café solicits donations of music memorabilia, but also purchase rare iconic items, costumes and photos on auctions.
Interesting Facts
The first Hard Rock Café was opened in London in 1971 and the founders were only given a 6-months lease, and the landlord didn’t think the restaurant would last 3 mounts
The famous Hard Rock logo was created by the celebrity artist Alan Aldridge, who was best known to work with The Beatles
The first concert in hard Rock Café was held in 1973 and Paul McCartney & Wings performed
The famous signature T-shirt came by an accident. Hard Rock Café sponsored a local football team and the team’s T-shirt featured a simple Hard Rock logo. The extra shirts were brought back to the café and were given to loyal customers. The T-shirts were such a hit that later people flooded to the café to buy a T-shirt
Hard Rock Café is the world’s premiere music museum, displaying such items like John Lennon’s famous round glasses, Freddie Mercury’s favourite microphone or Jimi Hendrix’ personal check book
The Hard Rock Signature Series T-shirt have partnered with Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osborne, Ringo Starr or The Who
Hard Rock Calling has become a must-attend festival in London. The festival has seen such stars on its stage like the Aerosmith, The Police, The Who, Stevie Wonder or Paul Simon just to name a few
The 80,000th piece memorabilia that Hard Rock Café acquired was Elvis Presley’s 24-carat gold piano
The Rock Shop
The Rock Shop at Piccadilly Circus is located on the ground level within a 2-level venue and it’s the largest Rock Shop in the world.
You can find some memorabilia here but wait until you go downstairs to the café!
The Café
The café has an impressive neon entrance with two wide stairs leading downstairs in the more than 1,800 square-metre venue. You really feel like a rock star here.
The café is really a museum and its main focus is on contemporary artists. The walls are covered with memorabilia: John Lennon’s famous round glasses, Lady Gaga’s boots, Jimi Hendrix’ iconic purple trousers and Bono’s suit he wore during his 1992-93 ‘Zoo TV’ tour are all displayed here.
There are items and costumes from David Bowie, The Who, the Beatles, Nicki Minaj, Robbie Williams, Rhianna, Rita Ora, Noel Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Amy Winehouse and the list goes on.
The Menu
The food menu mainly consists of hamburger and fries. They have an extensive cocktail menu, though. They have classic and non-alcoholic cocktail menu and the best part is, you can bring your cocktail glass home if you pay some extra (you’ll get a brand new clean one at the counter).
Hard Rock Café is definitely a rock star among London cafés. If you’re looking for a jaw-dropping venue, this is the one. You won’t see so many exclusive music memorabilia anywhere else. Watch more videos of Hard Rock Café Piccadilly here.
Ready for your next adventure? Dine at the same spot as The Beatles did.
After spending half of the Summer in lockdown, it’s time to hit the city again.
Here are 11 activities after lockdown you don’t want to miss.
The Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience
Source: pexels
Venue: Secret London Venue
When: Various times on Thursdays-Sundays from September (select date during booking)
Age restriction: 18+ with valid ID
Dress code: Casual but costumes and fancy-dresses are very welcome
Duration: Approx. 90 minutes
Theatrical cocktail experience in a secret London venue transformed into a stunning underwater world.
Deep dive into the world of old fairy tales and let yourself immerse into the mystical world of mermaids. Discover the hidden cave with glimmering pearls and uncover secrets and solve mysteries.
When: Various from 5 July to 31 July 2020 (find schedule here)
Age restriction: Please, check the certification of the movie you want to see
Runtime: Approx. 2 hours
Enjoy a contact-free movie magic on a 40-foot screen. Tons of movies to choose from. From Pixar Animation films to superhero movies to heart-warming timeless classics. All from the comfort of your vehicle. Order your food and drink online and enjoy a delivery service straight to your car.
When: Various dates from 20 July to 9 Nov | MONDAYS ONLY
Time: Start from 6pm
Age restriction: 18+
Dress code: Face paint & neon accessories provided
Duration: Approx. 1 hour
UV lights, reactive body paint and various music will help you to get into the groove at Queen of Hoxton disco room on every Monday. Cool face paint and glowing accessories provided. NO EXPERIENCE necessary.
When: Various dates and times from 4 July to 30 Dec
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Age restriction: 18+ with valid ID
DUO London’s best bartenders will show you step-by-step how to make 5-star 100% Insta-worthy cocktails. You will make 2 Instagrammable cocktails, 2 of DUO shooters, plus you will receive a welcome drink on your arrival.
If it’s not enough, the best mixologist of the day will take home a small prize.
NOTE: Seating is unreserved. You can find a seat on first come first serve basis.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great organist Luis Vierne (1870-1937), St Paul’s Cathedral is featuring six symphonies organ recitals under the Dome of the Cathedral.
Go behind the scenes and explore the design and process of the most innovative sneakers from 3D printed to self-lacing to 100% recyclable. Discover brands and style icons that have shaped sneakers scene such as Nike, Puma or Adidas, and meet the newest releases such as MSCHF Studio’s ‘Jesus Shoes’.
The Dumpling Fest is dedicated to Asian delicacy and will bring 8 stations with local food traders, tons of dumpling samples, a world-class pop up bar and top-notch London DJs. Make sure your tray is always full.
Where: Start at Hackney City Farm and end on Brick Lane
When: Play from Tuesdays to Sundays between 11am to 4pm
Duration: 2-4 hours
NOTE: Smartphone with Internet access needed to play the game
13 riddles are waiting to be solved, each of them are local secret or curious story. As you play, colourful hidden gems will be revealed and wonders of Brick Lane will be explored.
Play in group of up to 5 people or solve all the mysteries on your own.
A night to remember the late Amy Winehouse and her legacy. Enjoy Amy’s heart-touching music from her Frank & Back to Black albums performed with a talented live band.
Hurry up and secure your FREE ticket to Pure London Fashion Show! The 3-day event is from 21-23 July at Olympia and completely free if you register online. Just print your ticket and step into the world of fashion.
The fashion show is divided into 2 major parts:
Pure London (Fashion Brands and Retail Solutions)
Pure Origin (Fashion Sourcing and Manufacturing)
Your ticket gives you permission to enter both.
What to Expect
Endless selection of men, women and children designer fashion clothes and accessories, colour and design sensation, catwalks and seminars about the latest trend forecasts, sustainable textile production and social media marketing trends just to mention a few.
Exhibitors – Fashion Brands
More than 700 brands are exhibiting at Pure London, ensuring every visitor will find something (s)he cannot resist. Clothes are on the ground floor while designer shoes, jewellery, scarves and other accessories are on the balcony. Just follow the pink carpet and you won’t miss anything.
Ready for your next adventure? Follow me and get inspired.
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