Groupon’s Pop-up cupcake shop. Truman Brewery’s Sunday UpMarket
Now, they’ve decided to give it a go themselves. This Sunday, Groupon will be running a pop-up shop in The Old Truman Brewery’s Sunday Upmarket, on Brick Lane. They’ll be selling cupcakes crafted by top London patisserie Betty Blythe Fine Food Pantry, at the very special discount price of £5.40 for a box of six for their members, and those whose sign up to their newsletters on the day. What’s more, you can pick up a voucher for 50% off all ready-to-go salads, sushi, soup and stews at Chop’d just round the corner – lunch sorted in one fell swoop! And if that wasn’t enough good bargain stuff, they’re offering £5 in Groupon credit to all Spoonfedblog.com fans who come and say hello. Just mention this post, tweet to say you’re at the stall, and £5 credit will wing it’s way to you!

To mark this marvellous collaboration, we’ve picked our favourite pop-ups from across the Groupon series, and serve them up for your delection with a trend-savvy smile below.

Best Pop-Up Restaurant: The Underground Restaurant
Run by photographer-turned chef/entrepreneur/blogger extraordinaire Ms Marmite Lover (you’ll love it or hate it), The Underground Restaurant launched in January 2009 as one of the UK’s first supper clubs. Running every Saturday in the inimitable Marmite’s own living room (an address kept firmly secret as the privileged knowledge of those lucky enough to join her 26-seater parties) Underground remains one of the most sought-after pop ups in the capital. A Five course, coffee and a cocktail are offered, with occasional wine tastings too. Dinners are themed along fantastical lines – past incarnations include the French Revolution, Halloween vampires and even a Latitudinal World-Wide Dinner – and upcoming Christmas events include suppers with stand-up comedians and an Underground Christmas Market. Again, in the living room. Ms. Marmite’s just been named by the Evening Standard as one of their 100 Most Influential Londoners. Definitely one worth watching!

Best Pop-Up Shop: Octavia Pop-Up Charity Shops
With 19 permanent charity shops spanning the length of West London, you’d think the Octavia Foundation would have their work cut out managing a network of conventional retail spaces. However, that hasn’t stopped them taking their uniquely fashion-forward venture on the road, embarking on a series of pop-up placements across the capital. Known for quirky one-offs and the occasional celebrity second-hand, Octavia have sparked a bit of a buzz – but always with charity at their core. Have a conscientious rummage at their pop-ups at Temple Fountain, Finchley between now and January, or at 7 The Quadrant in Richmond until just after Christmas.

Best Art and Design: House of Voltaire
Upstairs at Rupert Sanderson, 19 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 6LZ, until 4th December
Shoe fans may have notice something afoot above Rupert Sanderson’s Mayfair store. Bruton Place has gone (temporarily) bohemian, with not-for-profit art collective Studio Voltaire in residence until 4th December. House of Voltaire (there’s contender number two) will exhibit and sell edgy, contemporary works by artists supported by the Studio, and leading famous faces who back the scheme including Nicholas Bryne, Wolfgang Tillmans, Pam Hogg, and even Tracey Emin. With it’s Victorian Bond Street styling, the space alone is worth a look. Add prices starting at just £10, and a whisper that the names behind the stock will occasionally man the tills themselves, and House of Voltaire becomes unmissable.

Best One Off: The Icecreamists
Self-styled ‘Sex Pistols of ice-cream’, The Icecreamists have taken the daddy of all desserts and shaved it’s head, thrown it in a ripped leather jacket and told it to stick to fingers to the man. Crash landing in two still-secret Covent Garden sites this winter, these gelato renegades combine traditional Italian ice cream know-how with a whopping dose of rock and roll. Described as ‘one-part Vivienne Westwood, one-part Hard Rock Boutique and one-part Alice in Winter-Wonderland’, theirs ain’t no ordinary ice cream parlour. If their 2009 Selfridges pop-up is anything to go by – where live bands, cat walking models and fantastical mixology shows were the norm – then their latest frozen lovechild ‘Lick Your Addiction’ promises to be something very special. Expect sensory overload from this guerrilla ice cream installation, where addicts can self-medicate with treats tipped toward the spectacular. Apparently ‘nitro-shots, transfusions, syringes, flames, cold sweats and a baby’s bottle’ will all feature… Follow The Icecreamists on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Take our word for it: Not. To. Be. Missed.

Don’t forget to swing by the Groupon pop-up shop this Sunday, and see how they get on themselves!

So you’ve met a nice girl/boy, you’ve swapped numbers and you want to arrange a date, but where are you going to take them? All the traditional dating ideas like “drinks”, “dinner” or “watching a film” seem so cliched and you want to impress, but if you’re a music lover then you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the city – with the help from our friends at Tastebuds.fm – to drum up some dating ideas with a difference.

1. British Music Experience at The O2

This is an absolute must see for anyone who considers themselves a music lover. The exhibition looks at how popular music has influenced Britain’s culture over the last 70 years, but is also invitingly hands on.  If you’re a budding musician you’ll love the Gibson Interactive Studio where Blur themselves will teach you how to play the epic Song 2 (alright it’s a video, but still!) And if you’re already sufficiently talented when it comes to making sweet, sweet music, why not challenge your date to jam?

2. 100 Club

If you fancy something a little more central, head to the 100 Club on Oxford Street. This historic music venue will celebrate its 68th birthday this year, having been everything from a 40’s swing club to host of the very first International Punk Festival. With decor unchanged since the 70’s, we’re not saying it’s going to be glam, but as a music lover in London it’s a rite of passage that everyone should experience at least once.

3. Musical Bingo

Held in cool new Shoreditch venue, Concrete, music bingo is definitely not for grannies. Forget numbers – they do things differently in E2. Your bingo card holds a list of songs, which you have to identify from the tracks played by the DJ. Once you have a full house, get onto the dance floor to claim your prize. This is not just a great date for music lovers, but foodies too. Kill two birds with one stone by popping in to Concrete’s upstairs neighbour, Pizza East. They serve delicious pizzas at reasonable prices, but make sure you choose one with a tomato sauce or you’ll be disappointed.

4. Royal Albert Hall

If you’re a music lover – but not the beer swilling, head banging type – then consider something a little more sophisticated and head down to the Royal Albert Hall for a proper concert. If you happen to visit over the summer months you may even be lucky enough to catch the BBC Proms. If you want something a little lighter, check out their free lunchtime jazz concerts for a bite-sized date.

5. Karaoke with a twist

Oh no, I hear you say, oh no, no, no, no, no, no. I am not going to do karaoke in front of my date who I want to impress; this is not a date for a music lover. Well actually, it just might be. KaraUke is karaoke with a twist. Rather than wailing Total Eclipse of The Heart along to a slightly out of tune backing track, at KaraUke you’ll be played in by your very own ukulele band, instantly transforming karaoke from Harakiri to something far more enjoyable, fun even. Who knows, if it goes well you may even end the night with a duet.

Liked these ideas? Head over to Tastebuds.fm, a new dating service for music fans, and find that special someone to rock out on a ukulele with!

1) Photography by Daniel Regan

London based photographer Daniel Regan has spent the past 13 years capturing the sights and styles of our beloved city. DanielRegan.com is his professional portfolio of stylised photography that captures the changing fashions and attitudes of us Londoners. Over on his blog, visitors get a personal insight to London life with Daniel’s photojournal and a peek behind the scenes of some fantastic live events, fashion shows and gigs.

2) London Daily Photo

London Daily Photo does exactly what it says on the tin. A daily guide to London life with a quirky and unusual take on living in the capital. Every day there is a new photo and a different insight to the people and architecture of our fair city. Past photos include; famous buildings, multicultural scenes, street markets, protests and pubs. London Daily Photo is one of the many Daily Photo blogs from around the world. From here you can find links to daily photos blogs of Sydney or Alicante to Tokyo and Moscow. The owner of this site has recently started raising money for Breast Cancer Care – find out more information and how you can help here: http://www.londondailyphoto.com/fundraising/

3) London Rubbish

LONDONRUBBISH is a photoblog by  Mark Sheldon. Mark regularly posts new and interesting images of places around London with links to many other London Photographers through the PhotoBlogs network.

4) Top 5 Photos

Top 5 Photos is a regularly updated blog by Helena Maratheftis  that features a series of mini-albums with 5 photos on a particular theme. Past themes include, Big Hair, Tea Parties, Couples and Glasses. Keen photographers can join in with their contributions in the Collective 5 section. Check back each week to see what the latest theme is, and chat to fellow London photographers.

5) Perou’s Secret Diary

Former Dazed and Confused photographer Perou now travels the world hustling a living out of being a photographer and a director, and has also appeared on telly as a judge on ‘Make Me A Supermodel’. Until Until his photographic studio in Hackney Wick was ‘compulsory purchased’ by the London Development Agency, many of his blog photos comprise urban scenes around Hackney, Hoxton and Shoreditch. Newer additions  to the site include more rural shots of his life as on his farm.

If you love photography –  take a look at all London Photography Exhibitions!

So you’ve decided to break-up with your girlfriend and, unless you’re a totally heartless cad, you might feel a bit bad about it. A lot of people fret about the right words, and what polite excuse they will come up with, but so many people neglect to pick the right venue for this delicate operation. Nobody likes getting dumped, and there probably isn’t a great place to do it, but there are certainly plenty of bad places.

The British Library

A library might seem like a clever choice for a relationship dissolution, but it’s likely to backfire on you. “My girlfriend wouldn’t cause a scene in such a prestigious and revered venue  as the British Library” you say. Wrong! As your sobbing ex-paramour mops up her tears with first editions, you’ll be sternly lectured by the notoriously scrupulous librarians while harassed PHD  students glare at you.

The South Bank

If you think that a nice gentle stroll along the South Bank and a view of London’s famous river would ease the pain of a broken heart, then think again. There are 24 bridges between Chiswick and Bermondsey. Don’t tempt fate.

London Zoo

Ah, London Zoo, surely the perfect place to break someone’s heart? Yes, they’ll be a bit upset but then you can just point nearby and say; “Ooo Look! A monkey!” Unfortunately if you’re there on the weekend the place is teaming with children. And let’s face it, if you’ve got time to go to London Zoo on a weekday you’ve got bigger problems than an over emotional soon-to-be ex girlfriend. Breaking-up with a girl when she’s surrounded by children is tantamount to kicking her in the ovaries. It’s just cruel.

A Cemetery

Westminster Abbey and Highgate Cemetery are  both big tourist attractions. I find cemeteries quite relaxing; they’re a pretty reminder of the cycle of life and you can see where your favourite writers are buried. Some people think they’re a bit creepy though, and on this occasion a cemetery will only remind her that she is going to die, probably alone.

The Royal Artillery Museum

Are you mad?! They’ve got guns there! Avoid.

If you’re lucky enough not to get dumped before Valentines Day this year then start making some plans with Spoonfed’s guide to Valentines Day in London.

London’s iconic skyline makes our city an ideal location for films and television. Thousands of feature films, television programmes and music videos are filmed on the streets on London every year – sometimes in the most unexpected locations…

Here’s a few of our favourite London on Film moments:

1) An American Werewolf in London (1981)

The London Underground has served as a backdrop for many horror flicks and even the occasional romantic drama (eugh, Sliding Doors) but few capture the potentially deadly nature of our daily commute better than John Landis’ 1981 horror classic.

In An American Werewolf in London – backpacking student  David goes on a murderous rampage (while in wolf form) and attacks a commuter on the Tube. The attack was set in — and filmed at — Tottenham Court Road tube station with other underground scenes shot at Charring Cross.

Another fun fact – the scenes where David wakes up naked in the zoo were shot at London Zoo in Regent’s Park – presumably in an unoccupied cage…

2) 28 Days Later (2002)

Danny Boyle’s hellish post-apocalyptic story begins when Jim awakes from a coma 28 days after a man-made virus has caused a nationwide catastrophe. The film’s opening scenes are set in parts of London normally heaving with crowds; Westminster Bridge and Piccadilly Circus shown to be completely deserted and in a state of near ruin.  Film crews shot these scenes very early in the morning,  sometimes for only 20 minutes,  to get the right effect.

3) The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Alfred Hitchcock’s classic drama sees American couple Doris Day and James Stewart embroiled in an assassination plot when their son is taken hostage. The primary action takes place in Morocco but when the kidnappers flee to London, the parents follow.

Various exterior scenes were filmed around Brixton and Camden with most interiors filmed on set in Hollywood. The film’s famous climatic scene – where the parents hinder an assassination attempt at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington – is a stunning  piece of direction from old Alfie – running at 12 minutes without any dialogue!

4) Notting Hill (1999)

An obvious choice I admit – but no discussion of London film would be complete without a nod to the Godfather of British Rom-Com Richard Curtis. The ethnic cleansing he performed on one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods is almost as impressive as the amount of locations he rams into one 90 minute film.

There’s The Ritz, Hampstead Heath, The Savoy Hotel, Leicester Square, Kenwood House, Nobu  and of course many streets around Notting Hill itself.

It’s rumoured that recent owners of the building that Hugh Grant’s character occupied have repainted the famously blue front door (see above)  - probably a wise move.

5) Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Another zombie flick – and cinema’s first ever ‘Zom-Rom-Com’ – is a comic homage to George A Romero’s classic un-dead horror movies of the 1970s. Unlike other apocalyptic films that show destruction of iconic buildings, Shaun of the Dead uses relatively suburban locations. Zombies swarm around Shaun’s house in Weston Park and his girlfriend Liz’s flat in Highgate.

Most of the film’s action takes place at Shaun’s ‘local’ boozer The Winchester, which is actually located south of the river at 39 Monson Road in New Cross. The sad news for big Edgar Wright fans is that the original pub The Duke of Albany has since shut down and been converted into flats.

To check out more places in and around London check out Spoonfed for popular places to visit in London!

Have you got a favourite London on Film moment? Add it in the comments below!

Best places for Afternoon Tea in London

Is there anything more quintessentially British than Afternoon Tea? We don’t think so. To celebrate this great British pastime here’s what we think are the top spots for Afternoon Tea in London.

1) National Gallery Dining Rooms

The food at the National Gallery, also home to one of London’s finest art collections, is a bit like the paintings themselves – classic and comforting. You can expect buttermilk scones with champagne in the upscale restaurant, or an equally decadent experience for only £5.50 in the relaxed surroundings of the National Cafe.

2) Liberty

Posh clothes deserve posh teas, and nobody in London does posh better than Liberty – except maybe the Queen. With the pristine china and great shopping nearby this is the perfect spot for an afternoon tea with your Mum or a great venues for ‘Ladies who Lunch’.

3) Rosie’s

Rosie’s near Brixton Market is frequented by lots of those artsy-intellectual types – she’s even got a quote from Basement Jaxx on her website! Even if you’re just a regular pleb this food here is unmissable with lots of vegetarian and vegan friendly comfort food. The menu is packed with homemade gooey deserts – everything from the classic Victoria sponge with strawberries to orange and almond cake or raspberry pancakes!

4) Beas of Bloomsbury

There are dozens of delectable delicacies on offer at this traditional North London eatery. The full afternoon spread features sandwiches from around the world and Bea’s own recipe coffees! Their red velvet cupcakes and white chocolate brownies are perfect for a quick snack but we recommend taking off a whole afternoon for a few hours of pure indulgence.

5) Hidden Tea Room – follow them on Twitter @hiddentearoom

Hidden Tea Room is one of London’s many mysterious underground restaurant experiences that have become very trendy of late. Situated somewhere near Old Street, you have to book a table well in advance, but the reviews for this place are nothing short of glowing so we advise you to book yourselves a spot there sharpish.

1) Foyles

The big cheese of the Charring Cross Road bookshops, Foyles stocks an unrivalled number of interesting and well chosen books as well as medical and business texts. Once known as the world’s largest bookshop Foyles gained notoriety in the 90s for a refusal to modernise. We highly recommend their regular literature and poetry nights, many of which are free to attend!

2) Tales on Moon Lane

One of  London’s best children’s bookshops, Tales on Moon Lane has branches in Herne Hill and Primrose Hill. Along with a huge selection of books for kids and teens, both venues host a steady stream of storytellers, children’s entertainers, book signings and puppet shows.

3) Bookmarks bookshops

A socialist bookshop in Bloomsbury, steeped in history and political radicalism. With an election on the horizon and a rising interest in climate change issues, this is the place to find your protest buddy or get tips from the very knowledgeable staff on any of those Trade Union queries that have been on your mind.

4) Quinto bookshop

Now that Google have started putting all the world’s books online, it won’t be long till the publishing world launch an ill-advised Lily Allen/Rupert Murdoch backlash against the web community. If you want to ease your conscience without breaking the bank then the bargain basement at Soho’s Quinto is the place to be. This shop is also generally pretty cool – Mumford & Sons played a gig here recently and they’re even on Twitter – trendy!

5) Daunt Books

Daunt Books is the oldest purpose built bookshop in Britain and is a brilliant place for bookworms to mix and mingle or share their latest finds. Rather uniquely, the books are arranged by geography rather than alphabetically or by genre, which can be very helpful. Daunt host plenty of talks, accommodating an audience of 150, and tickets are generally£5 and include a glass of wine! They also have a reputation for being very picky about their staff – so trust their judgement and you can’t go far wrong.

Disagree with our choices? Please suggest your own and leave a comment below

To celebrate the variety of London’s many communities, here’s our pick of the 5 best hyperlocal blogs or community websites in London.

1. Love Camden

This nifty little site is one of the slickest hyperlocal sites around. Funded by Camden council, this extensive site covers not only the Lock area but also Hampstead, Bloomsbury, Kilburn and Kentish Town. This site is geared to tourists as much as it is for residents with information about hotels, walking tours, restaurants and shopping.

2. Notting Hill.org

A well developed niche website run by locals, for locals. The site has extensive information about the yearly Notting Hill Carnival, a what’s on guide and  the world famous Portobello Market. Another interesting section is a list of the area’s celebrity residents – map not included unfortunately – so professional stalkers will have to find another source of information.

3. Greenwich.co.uk

This is a great resource for Greenwich residents to find out what businesses are in their area. Users can search for everything from piano lessons to property and join in with discussions about local politics. There’s a dedicated section just for articles about the Olympics and I think as 2012 gets closer we’re going to see a lot of interesting debates from the local community.

4. East London Local

The East London Local blog gives a perspective on life in one of the capital’s bustling districts. There’s a strong emphasis on arts, culture and where to eat in East London with a lovely personal and informal touch that is missing from the larger community-run sites in the area.

5. Love Clapham

Love Clapham is a brand new site that offers a complete area guide, business directory and social network for residents and visitors of Clapham. Business and locals  can come together and talk about important issues as well as share their top tips of the best restaurats, bars, shops and clubs in the area.

Find more hyperlocal blogs at www.londonvoices.com and don’t forget to leave a comment if you there are any London blogs or community websites you would like to recommend.

Tinsel Town
This up-market burger bar in Farringdon is Fabric adjacent and can cater for groups of up to 10 people. Although Tinsel Town shuts at 5am this still extends your night until the tube starts running again.

Bar Italia

This all night café in Soho attracts a regular crowd of night owls, no doubt kept  awake by the strong coffee on offer 24 hours a day. The food at Bar Italia doesn’t  get rave reviews but the fact is that there’s no better place to unwind after a  frenzy night out in central London.

Vingte Quatre

This trendy Chelsea eatery is open 24 hours, serving  up everything from a full  English Breakfast or Caesar Salad to Krug champagne    served with silver  straws. Vingt Quatre isn’t the sort of place that tolerates riff-  raff but if you  prefer brogues to trainers then you’ll fit right in.

Brick Lane Beigel Bake
This East End institution is open 24 hours a day and its ovens are always  bursting with freshly baked bagels ready to be slathered with any number of  tasty treats. The place isn’t fancy but with cream cheese and salmon at less than  £2 you can’t really complain can you?!

Bed
There are a few more cafés and bars that are open after hours but when all is said and done, there’s no substitute to getting a full 8 hours of kip – particularly after a boozy night on the tiles. So, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, bed is often the best option after 3am. To help you on your way make sure you know where your nearest night bus stops.

Wellcome Collection

Always fascinating, always free: one of the best things in London.

Liberty

Expensive but brilliant. Well-edited collections, splendid interior, and not too big.

Lord’s

The home of cricket, Lord’s is the most magical place on earth

The Hare

Unprepossessing local Mare Street boozer, but cheap and lovely.

A. Gold

Faux-retro Spitalfields deli. They do the best Scotch Eggs in the world.