Nightlife
Originally published on Tuesday, 13th October 2009
Autumn Magic
We sup vin chaud at The Howard's cockle-warming Swiss Chalet
So, I broke out the woolly hat today. It's an attractive wooly hat (as wooly hats go) so no complaints on that front. And I have nothing against Autumn in principal – the crisp, blue-skies, the crunch of amber leaves underfoot, sauntering home rosy-cheeked, hand-in-gloved-hand, et cetera.
My complaint is that it's never really like that (outside of '70s Robert Redford flicks). The crisp usually translates into reality as overcast and spitting. The amber crunch is more of a brown slosh. And the rosy-cheeked sauntering is more of a soaked dash whilst evading the odd eye-gouging umbrella.
Autumn should be a time of magic and wonder. A time of comfortable revelry and glowing fireplaces – a sentiment we're going to see in from right here, at the last outpost of pop-up inspiration: a wood-panelled temporary Swiss chalet right by the Thames. With an (admittedly) fake log-fire burning, panoramic views of the 'crisp' London cityscape (where the rest of you lot will be freezing to death), a large glass of vin chaud in hand … and some authentic antler horns upon which to hang my distinctly dry wooly hat.
INFO
The Swiss Chalet accepts bookings for 35-250 people and is open until Feb 28, 2010.
Swiss Chalet at Swissôtel's The Howard
12 Temple Place, WC2R 2PR