Cosy Club Basingstoke Opening - Press Event (AD Gifted)

*I was invited to The Cosy Club Basingstoke VIP Opening Night along with three guests and we were kindly gifted our food and drink for the evening. However, all views, as always, are entirely my own

Last October, I was very kindly invited along to the VIP Opening Night of The Cosy Club in Festival Place, Basingstoke. I had hoped to get this post up a lot earlier than this, but with going into hospital for major surgery soon after, my health ended up having to take priority. I did share some stories over on my Instagram, but I thought I’d do a little post on here as well, so I can talk to you about the evening in a bit more detail. 

When the invitation came through to my emails, I was also offered the opportunity to bring a few friends along too. So, on a fairly rainy Monday evening, my Mum and I went over to Basingstoke and met up with a couple of my blogging friends – Dawn from Dear Mummy Blog and Laura from Loopy Lou Laura. We’ve known each other for quite a few years now, after meeting at a local blogging event, so it’s always nice to see each other and have a catch-up when we can. 

We arrived a little bit early, so waited around outside and watched the hustle and bustle inside the restaurant. Other people started to arrive as well, and soon enough the doors were opened and we were greeted by a couple of lovely ladies in beautiful 1950’s style dresses. They showed us to our table, where we settled down and started having a look through the drinks menu. Being the opening night, it got very busy very quickly, but the staff seemed to have the organisation down to a tee and managed to get everyone in their seats in a matter of minutes. 

After ordering our drinks and being told we would be brought a selection of different foods to taste, we could get up and have a little look around the restaurant. The name ‘Cosy Club’ is certainly very apt, as despite it being quite a large area, every part of it feels warm and cosy. There are different types of seating arrangement depending on what you might fancy – from standard tables to cosy sofas, as well as higher tables with bar stools. 

The décor is quite eclectic with colourful soft furnishings, old paintings on the walls, bold patterned wallpapers and mixture of beautifully warm lights. There’s a long bar where all the drinks are prepared in front of you and 50’s music plays in the background. All of the staff were dressed for the occasion too, with the women in pretty dresses and the men in waistcoats and flat caps. We all said it felt like we were in some sort of 1950’s speakeasy – it was like being transported back in time. 

Our drinks were soon brought over – there had been plenty to choose from on the menu, whether you wanted something alcoholic or not. I went for a cherry-based mocktail, which was delicious (so good in fact, that I had to have another!) and the others had a St Clements, Virgin Mojito and a Cider. I don’t tend to drink much, so it was really nice to see a good range of soft drinks and mocktails to choose from, rather than just a Coke or Lemonade! 

As we started to sip our drinks, the food began to come out. With it being the opening night, the normal menu wasn’t running. Instead, each table were given a selection of different items to try between us from the Tapas menu, which was a really nice way for us to try a number of different dishes. I was really surprised by the amount of food that kept coming out – our table was soon overflowing with plates and bowls of different dishes! I’m not sure if I can remember all of the different foods we had but they included Garlic Mushrooms on Toasted Ciabatta, Roast Turmeric Cauliflower, Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Croquettes and a Cosy Scotch Egg. My personal favourites were the croquettes and the garlic mushrooms, although everything was delicious!

Looking at the full menu, there seems to be a really good range of options for both adults and children, so there should be something to suit every taste. They offer Brunch until 5pm (I’m eyeing up the pancakes!), a variety of sandwiches, burgers, sharers, larger main meals and, of course, some very tasty looking puddings (Hello Mini Cinnamon Doughnuts!) They also have a kids menu and fairly extensive vegan and gluten-free menus too. 

As well as the day-to-day service, Cosy Club’s also run a number of events. You can have a look at their ‘What’s On’ page to find out about all of the different events, but, for example, this month they are running special events for Galentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day. They also offer live music some evenings as well, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your local Cosy Club to see what’s coming up.

Something I particularly liked about The Cosy Club was their ‘Free Teas for Those in Need’ scheme. It is run in partnership with Independent Age in a battle to end loneliness in every generation. They encourage those that need it to pop along to The Cosy Club for a free cup of tea every Wednesday between 10am-11am. They hope to inspire local people to come together and chat to new people. Their teams will also be on hand to have a chat, as well as offering cake, board games and somewhere comfortable to relax. As someone who raises awareness of mental health problems, as well as experiencing them (and loneliness) myself, I think it’s a great initiative to help anyone that’s feeling a bit lonely.

We had such a lovely evening catching up and trying out the new Cosy Club in Basingstoke that before we knew it, it was time for us to leave. On our way out, we were each given a Cosy Club mug with some Cosy Club purple socks to take home, which was a nice end to a brilliant evening. We enjoyed ourselves so much, that we were already excitedly chatting about when we could next go back to sample the full menu at The Cosy Club and what a great place it would be to host a South East Bloggers Circle meet-up! I’m really grateful to The Cosy Club for inviting me along to their VIP opening night at Festival Place and am looking forward to going back again as my leg gets better! If you’ve got a Cosy Club near where you live and haven’t already checked it out, I would definitely recommend getting a group together for an evening out – you’ll have to let me know what you think! 

Have you been to The Cosy Club before? Or do you think you’ll be going to your local one after reading this? 

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The Crown and Cushion at Minley Review

I don’t get to go out for dinner a huge amount, but when we have a birthday in our family (which is a fair bit with so many of us!) we like to celebrate by all going out for a meal together. We’ve been to various places over the years, but for some reason had never visited The Crown and Cushion pub in Minley, despite living nearby. So, back in March, we decided to book a table to celebrate my brother and sister’s birthdays (they’re within two weeks of each other) with an evening meal there. We have actually since been back again more recently as we liked it so much, so I thought I would tell you a bit about it in case you’re nearby and fancy checking it out!

The pub dates back to around 1512 and was converted into an Ale House in 1596. Alongside the pub lies Meade Hall, which was built from the remains of two old barns from the Salisbury area. Some of the timbers in the barn’s structure are said to have come from ships defeated in the Spanish Armada, so there’s plenty of history to take in! Some believe that both Meade Hall and the pub are now haunted, and many local people have seen spirits over the years (although apparently they are friendly!) 

You enter into a traditional and cosy part of the pub, with discrete corners warmed by candles and gentle lighting. As you continue through though, you move from the typical pub layout into a larger dining area, which is light, airy and modern but still full of character. This is where we were seated for our meal, and despite it not looking as cosy as the pub areas, there was still a relaxed but lively atmosphere. 

As we were served our drinks, we had a chance to browse through the extensive menu. I was really impressed with the choice on their main menu, as well as a specials board that regularly changes and a comprehensive vegan menu. If you’re into your gins, they also have a huge selection to choose from, along with a variety of different tonic waters. Our orders were soon taken, and we sat chatting while we waited for our starters. 

I don’t tend to get a proper starter most of the time, but when I saw that they had Hot Garlic & Herb Dough Balls with garlic butter dip on the menu, I knew I needed to find someone to share them with! You can either get eight or sixteen (we went for eight) and they were the perfect thing to nibble on while we waited for our main meals. I didn’t find the dough too heavy, and the garlic butter was perfect for dipping the dough balls in. I could have happily eaten more if I didn’t have a main meal coming!

A few other people had starters too, including my Dad, who went for the Fresh Prawn & Crayfish Cocktail & Marie Rose sauce. I didn’t taste it, but from the reaction of my Dad, it sounds like it was equally as good as the dough balls.

Unfortunately, the first time we visited, the service was quite slow, so we ended up waiting quite a while for our mains to arrive (thankfully the second time we went, the service was a lot better, so they must have been having a bad night). But our main course was definitely worth waiting for. I had chosen the Mushroom & Herb Risotto with rocket and Parmesan, as risotto is one of my absolute favourites. You could add chicken if you wanted to, but I kept it as it was. It was such a good risotto – probably one of the best I’ve had (so good, that I ended up ordering it again when we went back recently!) The rice and mushrooms were creamy and flavoursome and the rocket gave a nice crunch, adding a slightly different texture to the dish. I couldn’t quite manage it all, as it was so filling, but it wasn’t for want of trying – it was so tasty!

One of my siblings opted for the 8oz Sirloin Steak with slow-roast tomato, field mushroom and chunky chips. The steak was melt in the mouth and really tender, and the chunky chips were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle – just as they should be! My brother Richard went for Cumberland Sausages, creamy mashed potato and onion gravy – as the waiter brought them to our table you could hear everyone saying ‘wow’ because of how big the sausages were! But it didn’t take long for my brother to polish them off, and he seemed to really enjoy the creamy mash (my favourite!) with the onion gravy.

No meal out is complete without a bit of pudding (who else makes sure they save a bit of room for pudding at the end?!) so after a bit of a wait, our desserts were brought to our table. I didn’t have much room left after devouring my risotto, so chose a fairly light option of Jude’s Blood Orange Sorbet. I love Jude’s Ice Creams anyway, but had never tried their sorbet, so was excited to see what it was like. It came beautifully presented and was the perfect refreshing way to end my meal.

My brother David went for something a little more indulgent (and chocolatey!) – the Chocolate Cookie Sundae with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, fresh baked cookie and ‘pour your own’ hot chocolate fudge sauce. It certainly looked incredible and didn’t last long once it was put in front of David!

Last but not least, my sister, Rosiie, chose the dessert off the specials menu – a Strawberry Eton mess sundae with ice cream, coulis, meringue, white chocolate chips and grilled white chocolate. It looked very pretty and summery when it arrived, and Rosiie said it was light, refreshing and very fruity – just what you want on a warm spring evening (plus you can convince yourself you’re being healthy because it has fruit in it!) 

Overall, we all had a lovely celebration meal at The Crown and Cushion, so much so that we’ve already been back and plan to go again soon! Apart from the slow service the first time we went, the staff were attentive and friendly and made us feel really welcome. The food was incredibly delicious and we were all really impressed with the amount of choice there was. As the pub is only a few miles from our house, we will definitely be paying it more regular visits in the future and look forward to trying some other dishes from the menus.

Have you had a meal at The Crown and Cushion if you live nearby? Are there any other restaurants you would like to see me review?

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A Day with Royal Caribbean on The Independence of the Seas (AD)

As a relatively small blogger and YouTuber, I don’t get many serious e-mails from brands wanting to work with me. So when, a little while ago, I opened up an e-mail from a lovely PR at Melt Influence asking me if I would be interested in working with Royal Caribbean on one of their cruise ships, I had to read it a few times to make sure it was actually legit! And, after weeks of planning, last Saturday I was invited down to Southampton with my parents to spend the day on The Independence of the Seas. It has recently had a multi-million pound makeover and has just re-launched with some its most popular routes, so I was excited to see what the ship had in store for us. We had absolutely glorious weather for it (if I shut my eyes I could actually have been sailing round the Med!) and were treated to an amazing time on board. I thought I would talk you through our day and also tell you a little bit more about Royal Caribbean and the Independence of the Seas.

I have never been on a cruise before and, up until fairly recently, the idea hasn’t appealed to me at all. I experienced a really awful ferry crossing over to Bruges when I was about 14, and ever since then I have hated the idea of going on a boat or ship. But recently, on ITV, there was a documentary style series called The Cruise. My Dad and I watched it, and gradually my opinion of cruises began to change. I realised that they are very different from a ferry crossing and that, most of the time, you don’t even realise you’re on a ship. So when Royal Caribbean asked me to spend the day with them on the Independence of the Seas, I thought it would be a great opportunity to finally experience a cruise ship for myself. 

The journey and getting onboard

Having never set foot on a cruise ship before, my parents and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Our journey down to Southampton was a little stressful due to traffic, but apart from that it was really straightforward, with parking at the docks being incredibly easy. The Independence of the Seas was hard to miss – it literally towered over the other buildings down on the waterfront! Getting onboard the ship was similar to boarding a plane; apart from a lot less waiting around. Whilst I don’t mind flying, I really like the idea of just being able to drive down to Southampton, get straight on the ship and begin your holiday before the ship even starts to move. You’re also able to take a lot more baggage than you can on a plane – great for an over-packer like me!

Once we’d been through security, we headed up the ramps and onto the ship. One thing that I immediately noticed was just how friendly the staff were. Every person we saw was smiling and only too happy to help with anything we needed. Even going through security we felt relaxed, as members of staff chatted to us and made us laugh. They genuinely seemed happy to be working there and that rubbed off on the guests too.

Looking around the top decks

Our first stop was up in the lift to Deck 11, where our guide, David, said we could go and have a wander round to check out some of the things the ship has to offer. Coming out onto the deck, we were greeted by what I can only describe as a child’s idea of heaven – Splashaway Bay. We were on the ship with a group of bloggers – some lifestyle/travel bloggers from Southampton Bloggers and some parent bloggers from South East Bloggers Circle. It was brilliant seeing all the children experience Splashaway Bay for the first time. There were mini waterslides, a huge yellow bucket tipping water and plenty of cool water jets coming up from the floor. If it had been for adults too, I seriously would have considered hopping straight in to cool down! 

Next to Splashaway Bay was Fish and Ships, where guests can treat themselves to some traditional British Fish and Chips or a Chip Butty (or, if you’re feeling really indulgent, a deep fried chocolate bar!) After we’d spent some time taking in the awesomeness of Splashaway Bay, we decided to explore some more of the higher decks. As well as the children’s area, there are also a number of Jacuzzis and pools for adults to enjoy. There’s even a huge screen by one of the pools, where you can catch a film while you swim. 

A quick ride up in the lift brought us to Deck 12, where we found a jogging track and plenty of sun loungers for enjoying that holiday sunshine. I can’t see there being any problems with finding yourself a lounger on this holiday! The views from the ship over the Solent were just spectacular – you could see for miles and with the weather as good as it was, it felt like we were a million miles from home. I can only imagine what a brilliant view you must get when you’re sailing around the Mediterranean or Caribbean. 

We ran out of time to see everything, but on the higher decks you will also find a crazy golf course, rock climbing wall, sports court, FlowRider (where you can practice your surfing), The Perfect Storm waterslides (which can be seen from the car park!), Sky Pad (where you can wear a virtual reality head piece and bounce your way around a game) and an Escape Room. Believe me, you are never going to run out of things to do on this ship, and that’s only the top decks!

Laser Tag

After enjoying a bit of time exploring the top decks of the ship, some of our group went to play a game of Laser Tag. Unfortunately some people couldn’t join in because they had open-toed shoes, but luckily I was able to give it a go! I’ve never played Laser Tag before and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I wasn’t able to get my wheelchair down there, but I had my stick and just took the steps slowly. The game is actually played on the (covered up) ice rink (yes, the ship has an ice rink!!) and consists of a huge inflatable maze, which glows in the dark. We were all given our vests to wear and guns to hold, and were then split into two teams – the aliens and the robots. In order to make the gun work, we needed to hold it with two hands. But I was finding it impossible with having to use my stick as well. The staff quickly realised it was going to be a problem and organised for my gun to work with only one hand – I was so impressed that they spotted an accessibility problem without me saying anything and sorted it out so quickly. The game was a lot of fun – my team lost the first game but won the second game, so I was pretty happy with our effort, even if my arm couldn’t stop shaking afterwards!

As you come out of Studio B, where the Laser Tag took place, there is an art gallery with all sorts of different pieces up for auction. I particularly loved the Disney pieces (surprise surprise!) but there were so many beautiful works of art. They felt right at home in the regal interior of the ship. Everywhere you look there is marble, glass or pretty lighting – I soon forgot I was even on a ship, as it feels just like an incredibly luxurious hotel.

Lunch at Chops Grille

By this point in the day we had worked up a serious appetite, so were happy when David told us it was time to experience lunch onboard the Independence of the Seas. I assumed guests might get a bit bored of eating at the same old restaurants every day on their cruise, but believe me when I say that is very unlikely to happen! On the ship there is a restaurant or café to suit every taste and occasion. There’s Johnny Rockets, an authentic American diner; the Main Dining Room serving multi-course meals; Giovanni’s Table – an Italian restaurant offering rustic dishes bursting with flavour; Windjammer, where you will find dishes from all over the world for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Sorrento’s, where you can get a delicious New York style pizza; or 24-Hour room service so you can get whatever your heart desires day or night. 

As well as the large selection of restaurants, there are also various pubs and themed bars, so you can enjoy a pre-dinner (or post-dinner…or any time of day!) drink or two. At the Dog & Badger, an authentic British pub, you will feel right at home, or if you’re looking for something a bit more luxurious, you can enjoy a glass of fizz in the Champagne Bar. There’s also Playmakers – a sports bar where you can watch your favourite team play whilst devouring a burger and ice-cold beer; Schooner Bar, where you can take part in one of the regular quiz nights; Boleros, a Latin-themed bar, which apparently serves up the best mojitos at sea; and Vintages Wine Bar, which hosts wine tasting evenings.

With all this choice I was excited to see where we would go for a bite to eat, and when we were led into Chops Grille, the fanciest restaurant on the ship, I couldn’t believe what a beautiful setting we would be eating in. Chops Grille boasts the first dry-age steaks at sea, serving up succulent cuts of meat alongside fresh seafood, delicious sides and tempting desserts. I’m not usually a big meat-eater, but decided I would try the steak with it being a steak restaurant. I started with the mushroom soup, which was honestly the best mushroom soup I’ve ever eaten. It was creamy and full of flavour – I would have been happy to demolish another bowlful! My Dad went for the Colossal Shrimp Cocktail, which came beautifully presented and according to him was absolutely delicious! We all had the filet mignon for our main, and it came with a selection of yummy sides including asparagus, potato bites and mac & cheese. The steak was one of the best steaks I’ve ever tasted – the only one it matched up to was a steak I ate years ago at The Waldorf Astoria in New York! It literally dissolved in your mouth it was that tender. I couldn’t eat the whole thing, as it was huge, but I made a good attempt at it! 

As well as the food being delicious, the views from the restaurant were amazing. There were huge windows down one side of it, and I can just imagine sitting there eating your evening meal whilst looking out onto the ocean. As we left Chops Grille and came out through Windjammer, we were greeted by the biggest cake I have ever seen! My Dad went over to get a piece for us to share – it was so good! Light and fluffy sponge with a tasty buttercream icing. I really can’t imagine you could ever go hungry on this ship!

Tour of the ship

After lunch, some of the group went off to do their own thing, but we decided to stay with David and have a bit of a tour of the ship. With the ship being 1112 feet long and 185 feet wide, we were never going to be able to see everything, but it was nice to be taken round some of it to get more of an idea of what a holiday with the Independence of the Seas has to offer. We were taken through Playmakers bar, which looked like a great place to be for anyone interested in sport or arcade-style games. This led on to Casino Royale – I’ve never been in a casino before, but I felt like I was in the middle of Las Vegas or something! With slot machines and roulette tables everywhere, I would definitely be doing a bit of (sensible!) gambling if I were on a cruise! 

We then went past the Royal Theatre, although unfortunately didn’t have time to go and look inside. I just think it’s crazy that there is a whole theatre on a ship! Guests can enjoy Broadway-style musicals in the Royal Theatre, with Broadway’s hit musical Grease taking to the high seas in a brand new, never seen before stage production. I would book a cruise just to see that! Past the theatre, we found another of the ship’s restaurants – Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, where chefs will cook your Asian-inspired dishes right in front of your table. We spoke to some of the staff working there, and they were so excited to tell us all about the restaurant. One place that I really wanted to check out was the Royal Promenade, but unfortunately the day just wasn’t long enough! I’ll just have to go back so I can see the Jewellery Boutique, Sugar Beach sweet shop and Luxury Shopping Outlets!

The Staterooms

I’ve heard a lot of stories about having really cramped, dark bedrooms on cruise ships, and so I was interested to see what the staterooms were like on the Independence of the Seas. With 1929 staterooms altogether, guests are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing their accommodation. The Interior Staterooms aren’t huge, but they definitely weren’t cramped and dark like I’d imagined. There was space for two beds, a sofa, coffee table, desk and TV, as well as a bathroom, with some even having an ocean view. We were also able to look at the Balcony Staterooms, where I decided I would have to stay if I went on a cruise! The rooms were larger than the interior ones with a large Royal King size bed, TV and telephone, fridge or minibar, private bathroom with shower, vanity area and hair-dryer. They felt really roomy and the private balcony would be perfect for watching the world go by as you cruised around the seas. 

We were then taken to the Royal Suite, which was something else entirely! You could just hear a chorus of ‘wows’ as we all came into the suite. If you book one of these rooms, your journey starts with a personal welcome from a senior officer, as well as exclusive invites and luxury treats. You get your own lounge with a grand piano, dining table, television and bar; a huge bedroom with a Royal King Size bed, vanity area, bathroom and walk-in wardrobe; and a large private balcony with a table and chairs and a hot tub! This suite provides some serious luxury.

Ice creams and having to leave

By the time we’d finished our guided tour, it was time to head back up to Spashaway Bay for a much-needed ice cream. There was vanilla and chocolate ice cream on tap, so you could go back for more whenever you needed cooling down! Some of the kids were still having a whale of a time in the water, and I was rather jealous sitting melting in the heat. By this point, guests had started to board the ship to head off on their holidays. Although it was busy and noisy with excited holidaymakers, it didn’t feel too crowded and there were plenty of places to go and relax away from the children’s area. 

All too soon it was time to leave, and we were taken back down the ramps to security so we could collect our ID’s. It was quite nice seeing all the guests getting on the ship – excited about their upcoming trip around the Mediterranean. I only wished I could be joining them! Despite having a jam-packed day on board, there was still so much I wanted to see and do – the waterslides, Escape Room, Sky Pad, Royal Promenade and the theatre were just some of the things I wish I’d had a chance to experience. But it’s a good excuse to go back someday!

After feeling quite unsure about cruise holidays for a long time, I had a brilliant day onboard the ship and can honestly say I would be happy to book to go on a cruise with Royal Caribbean. For someone like me, who struggles to travel much due to my disability and chronic health conditions, I feel like it would be perfect. There’s no stress of having to fly anywhere, you’re on your holiday from the moment you board, there’s plenty to do but there’s also plenty of space to do nothing, and mostly, accessibility for my wheelchair was brilliant. I love the idea of being able to cruise the world from the comfort of my own room – I think it would be a fantastic way to see more of the world without the stress of making lots of little trips. I’m now seriously considering making a cruise one of my next holidays – I just need to start saving! And if it’s something that interests you too, you can check out even more about the Independence of the Seas here.

Have you been on a cruise before or is it something you would like to do one day?

*This post was sponsored by Royal Caribbean and I was kindly given a complementary day on the Independence of the Seas. However, all views are most definitely my own and I had a brilliant time!

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