Newcastle In The Sky: Bucket List Experience

So, most people have a bucket list, right?! A list of things they wanna tick off before they 'kick the bucket shall we say. So when I heard Newcastle In The Sky was heading to Gateshead again, I had to oblige when they invited me along. For those unaware of Newcastle In The Sky's concept... it's basically a dining experience suspended 100ft up in the air. The sun was just setting as we were arriving, making out for a beautiful evening!

Okay so here's how it went down. Myself & Ruth (Pretty Little Gym Addict) arrived at the hospitality tent and were greeted with a glass of champagne. Good for those with a fear of heights... take the edge off. We were both really excited and not frightened of the height aspect which was fun. There was already a flight taking place so we watched from the tent. As you can see, we opted for the evening flight. Each flight is hosted by a different North East Restaurateur or Cocktail Bar and ours was hosted by Livello with 2 cocktails served in the sky. 

When it was our turn, our group was gathered together and talked through the safety instructions. No bags, hold on tight to all possessions for obvious reasons etc. By this point I was itching to get in my seat. Seating is a very organised affair as there is a certain way you need to be harnessed into you seat for safety - always good news! Once we were fastened in, another safety check by another member of staff happened which was very reassuring. We were one of the first to be seated so it seemed to take a while and the anticipation was building... 

Once all safely secured in our seats, the platform slowly began to move off the ground and we felt weightless. As we floated above the ground, our compare talked us through the staff serving the cocktails and that we would rotate after the first drink so we would all get both views of Gateshead & Newcastle. Not going to lie, some people were clinging on and I overheard someone say "dont look down" and I stupidly though pfft why not?! Heart in my mouth moment. Turns out 100ft is higher off the ground that you think. And from the ground doesn't look far at all. I took a few gulps and prayed my cocktail would be in my hands soon. After a swift talking to myself (in my head of course) I soon adjusted.

I was sat right in front of the bartender making our cocktails, which was fun to watch with the view of the river tyne over her shoulder. 

Once drink number 1 has been finished, this is the half way point so they rotate the platform. I managed to get some shots of the Millennium Bridge lit up and there is something magical about the quayside at night time. Twinkling lights in the velvet black sky...

Pinched this gorgeous shot from Ruth! A moment we'll not forget... 

The first drink went down a treat and do it was on to the 2nd which was aptly named the Blushing Geisha. Blush pink, flowered with berries and topped with crushed ice. 

Once the 30 minute slot was over, we were lowered back down to ground level. Which surprisingly seems to be quicker than going up! We were allowed to finish our drinks in the refreshment tent and the staff were very welcoming.  This truly is the experience of a lifetime but not for the faint hearted. The cocktail night time flight lasted half an hour and costs £75.00 pp which is fairly reasonable given the uniqueness of the experience, friendly staff, drinks on entrance etc. If you're after an unbeatable dining experience, Newcastle In The Sky have got you covered. 

Until next time... 

The Original Redhead 

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Kiehl's Bloggers Event

Situated on Blackett Street in Newcastle, I had been meaning to try Kiehl's Skincare for ages... and then as if by magic I was invited to their bloggers event. Perfect opportunity to be introduced to the brand. 

On entering the store, the staff are dressed in white coats which instantly gives you a chemist/science type vibe which makes sense as the brand was founded back in 1871 by a pharmacist in Brunswick, NYC. The company has seen a change of different owners introducing new ranges for men, oils and even introducing generous samples in the 1970's. The brand has had quite a prolific existence in the skincare world and even launched a product in collaboration with Andy Warhol in the sixties. The staff were full of information for all of the products, the brand history and all were passionate about skincare. But first things first, we got tucked in to a slice of cake. Because.... cake. 

I had a mooch around the store to see what type of products they have on offer and a reoccurring theme were very fresh ingredients like orange, cilantro, jasmine. The Cilantro and Orange extract smells divine btw. I had heard amazing things about the Midnight Recovery Concentrate so that was on my list to check out up close and ask questions.

So after speaking to the staff about the Midnight Recovery Concerntrate, and doing some reading online this comes highly recommended. A lot of the staff tagged this as their 'fave' product in the whole range. This is a midnight recovery cream that works its magic while you sleep, it has an oily consistency and comes in an iconic blue glass dropper bottle. It's key ingredients are some of the reasons this helps skin appear fresher, brighter and repaired. Primrose oi, lavender oil & squalane (from olives) are some of the natural ingredients helped to boost skin recovery whilst you get your all important sleep. 

I've noticed from browsing their website that a lot of the glass packaging is recyclable and the cardboard packaging comes from recycled sources. In the world we live in where mass production and the throw away concept seems so evident, I think this is a great concept to hear from big brands and I wish more would follow! 

As an addition to the cake and skincare, we were treat to cocktails by the lovely staff from The Alchemist, Newcastle. They served up the Bubblebath cocktail which, let me tell you... it's so delicious and a dream to watch being made! 

I thought the collaboration of The Alchemist and Keihl's was genius, these 2 brands are built on alchemy so it was a perfect match! If you're around Newcastle craving a cocktail, I totally recommend this as a sweet cocktail and instagram worthy too!

Sipping cocktails and eating cake (AND learning about skincare) I was asked if I would like a skin assessment. I was totally up for this because I'm a little bit obsessed with skincare and always wanting to understand my skin more and how to look after it. So I had a skin test with a little swatch - you can request these at your store (no need to remove make up).... and from the swatch they recommend the best products and treatments for you. 

So my skin was slightly dehydrated (I do moisturise every night and have a skincare routine) but I was advised to drink more water and to try using a combination of oils and serums to help moisture reach deeper into my skin. This is a free service they offer and would recommend it to any skin lovers out there! 

Until next time... 

The Original Redhead 

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Hadrian's Tipi: Live Music, Mulled Wine & a Firepit

 

Christmas spent in a city is always a lovely time, and with Newcastle seemingly having an avalanche of new venues recently its not a surprise people choose to come here. When Hadrian's Tipi appeared, this unusual attraction caused a stir. I'm sure this is the first year we've been graced with the tipi presence in Newcastle so I was intrigued to find out more.

 

 

 

On entrance to the tipi, I was greeted with some delicious mulled wine (complete with cinnamon stick and clementine slice) - real mulled wine. It was super cold out, so this was really what I needed.

 

 

On entering I was overwhelmed with everything that was happening. And let me tell you, this tipi reminded me of the tents on Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire. So big inside, as you can see it has quite a big capacity. There was a bar, live music, seating to chill with friends and also a fire pit. A FIRE PIT. Amazing. I was excited about the fire pit although did not manage to get sat next to the flame of warmth (despite trying and waiting to pounce on an empty seat.) They have different live musicians playing and loved this band. I didn't catch their name but if anyone knows who they are please leave a comment!

 

 

 

 

There really isn't anything like an open wood burning fire to make a festive atmosphere. And although, I was informed of food but only managed to see one tray of hotdogs while I was there. And not one keen on hotdogs I gave them a pass.

 

 

 

However, if you were looking for somewhere to head after work then this would be it. Drinks, music, chilled vibes, wine... and more wine, then this is your hookup. And it is surprisingly warm in Hadrian's Tipi. I dreaded sitting in the tipi if it was going to be an icebox but super comfortable and toasty. And I had to ask a stranger if I could photograph her wine because who doesn't love a cosy photo of wine in front of a roaring fire?! I am hope this unique venue will stop by Newcastle next festive season, with more food next time please. The atmosphere is perfect if you're always on the go, chill out Christmas sloth mode. Hadiran's Tipi is an 8 week pop up and will then move to another city once the 8 weeks is up, so if you haven't been yet get down to see if its your crowd. Still has about a week left! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Restaurant Hoppin'

So with Sunderland's Restaurant Week quickly approaching, I was lucky enough to be invited to a Safari Supper to have a taste of what is on offer.

We started at Café Purple and seated in a booth, which if you're heading out with a group, this is a lovely little intimate section. We were served us up with a big range of their cocktails. If you're a cocktail kinda gal, this place is for you! The staff were really lovely and talked us through each drink as we all tasted. They had really got experimental with the drinks menu and they range from your iconic cosmopolitan to a Sour Cherry Cola Bottle which is new to the menu & the Eden Gardens (hints of elderflower, gin & cucumber.)
 

 

 



Raspberry Love Heart

 

 

 

I have to hold my hands up and say that my favourite was the Frozen Passion Fruit Daiquiri. Basically an adult slushy (if you close your eyes, you could almost be on a beach somewhere with this one.)

 

 

 

 

 

Still taking in the array of drinks, we were then surprised with what I can only describe as one of the best cheese boards I've ever seen. I mean, just take a moment.

 

 

 

 

With a selection of dipping cheeses, crackers, olives, sliced vegetables and grapes besides the usual range of cheeses what more could you want. These are more so available for corporate events and meetings but I'm sure if you wanted to order one they wouldn't hesitate to oblige. We really were spoilt for choice...

 

 

 

 Then we headed to the next venue for our selection of starters at Port Of Call. Port Of Call is right next door which was great if you wanted to check out the cocktails and then head for food! They served us up with a selection of bitesize treats including salmon, pastrami and cream cheese pieces and ever a mini cheeseburger, in amongst 2 clusters of mussels. They are known for their seafood, meat based dishes & rum drinks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mussels were 2 different flavours which were a tomato based one and a creamy based one. I loved the creamy flavour and think these would be lovely to share as a starter.

 

 

These guys also brought a selection of cocktails and this one was hands down my ultimate favourite and who couldn't love this in that pretty glass?! This is the Gingerbread Martini and I would totally order this just for pure Instagram photogenic bragging rights but it was seriously delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

Espresso Martini Hazelnut

 

 

On for more starters at Scavi & Ray // The Funky Indian. This venue was a little walk from Port Of Call but really not too far! Scavi & Ray is a Prosecco Bar so if you're heading out with your girls, this could be the perfect venue. The upstairs of this place is the bar and the downstairs is The Funky Indian. Such a clever idea to merge 2 experiences into one venue. We were greeted with a glass of prosecco and then talked through the menu.

 

 

 

 

The Funky Indian is a tapas style Indian kitchen so there is a big selection of dishes on offer and some are available to order as a full dish (look for the plate icon on the menu.) Prawns, lean meats, beef all feature on the menu as they are inspired by cooking from all regions of India. This is a great way to get a taste of many dishes without having to order a full meal. Each dish is £4.20 or £16 for 4.

 

 

 

 



Masala Fries - they certainly hold a kick for your spice lovers

 

 

I think their deep fried cauliflower was greatly loved by all of us. I am a veg lover so this really spoke to me, but for those not keen on cauliflower even gave this the thumbs up! I'm not a huge fan of Indian food but they do serve up some lovely food. If you're looking for a fusion of flavours, I think The Funky Indian are playful with their dishes not afraid to offer something unique.

 

 

 

 

On for the main! Angleos serves up delicious Italian food so I was excited for this one. It's been a while since I've had Italian food so I had high expectations and they didn't disappoint. Traditional Italian food is what was on offer and I was excited.

 

 

 

 

The first thing we were served with was a sausage and broccoli based pasta. The sausage is homemade in their kitchen and the broccoli is shipped in specifically as it only grows in Naples. A true testament to passionate cooking, when only the original ingredients will do!

 

 

 

 

That dish was nice but I really fell in love with this truffle and mushroom dish. The pasta was cooked al dente which I really don't mind and the truffle sauce was to die for. I could have ate a lot more of this! For lovers of creamy based dishes, you really would enjoy this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next dish to taste was this steak on a bed of salad with parmesan. I really don't eat steak unless its slow cooked but I did enjoy this. It was cooked perfectly and drizzled in balsamic. Just enough to spike your taste buds combined with the parmesean, tomatoes, meat and salad.

 

 



Margherita pizza - moreish but I would normally order a more adventurous topping

 

 

Last but totally not least.... Sweet Tooth Delivery. I heard cake and I was very happy. The perfect end to the evening. This place is seriously cool. They serve up a host of cakes, ice creams, lemonades, milkshakes (the list really goes on...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After drooling over the cabinets longer than I should have, I settled for a slice of red velvet to go and a watermelon and lemon frozen lemonade. Firstly, the frozen lemonade tasted exactly like watermelon. So yummy! Secondly, the red velvet was moist, a generous portion (so much so I shared this with someone) and the cream frosting had me savouring every bite. Totally recommend this place if you live in Sunderland.... Now which way is the gym?? (They also have a branch in Durham if that's closer to anyone reading.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now, time to do some excersize as this really was a food filled evening! So if you're looking to head out for Sunderland Resturant Week, check out what deals are on offer as I feel like we discovered some hidden gems in this city.

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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