Christmas Lights are On.

Hello, {{ Fname | neighbour }}!

We very much avoid politics here at The 8:01, as we have a philosophy of “good vibes only”. But with the recent budget, things have got even harder again for our pubs, restaurants and hospitality industries. These businesses now face sharp business rates hikes, rising minimum wages, increased national insurance, and no VAT relief.

And whilst household budgets are squeezed for all of us, please do try and visit your favourite local for a drink or two, or enjoy a nice meal out with the family over the festive season, because there’s a very real chance that they might not be here next year.

flowkey gives you everything you need to play the songs you love on piano – whatever your level.

Start learning from scratch with step-by-step courses, or dive right into the sheet music library and choose from thousands of pieces across all genres, including Classical, Film & TV, Pop, and Jazz. You can follow along with a professional pianist, practice each hand separately, and play sections on repeat until you’ve mastered them – flowkey listens to your playing and waits for you to find the right notes.

Wherever you’re starting from and whatever your learning style, you can make real progress on the piano – and you only need 10 minutes a day. Take advantage of their biggest sale yet and start learning today with 70% off.

Unlock 70% Off

A few months back, I went to this hidden, fully immersive 90s-themed cocktail bar on Drury Lane. Bunga 90 is accessed through a faux video rental store lined with VHS tapes in Covent Garden. It leans heavily into 90s nostalgia with dial‑up and Nokia touches, wall‑to‑wall music videos, free‑to‑play arcade games, and a multi-zone layout combining bar, pizza, karaoke and gaming areas. Drinks are very theatrical: towering cosmos, appletinis, watermelon margaritas, cocktails served in Nokia 5110s or “Britney head” vessels, plus a giant arcade‑style Claw Cocktail machine that builds your drink; food is American‑style 12" and 20" pizzas with loaded toppings and snacky sides.

The City of London can be a grey and dull location at the best of times, but even more so in December so it was great to see an art installation appear in the City Point Plaza near Moorgate. The “Blob Garden” by artist Stuart Langley has recently been set up with large resin characters with LED lights that change colour and give them a playful feel.

This is part of Citypoint’s winter/festive annual art campaign.

If you’re looking for a present for a beer lover in your life, then you might want to check out The Cockpit’s range of merch. From hampers, to t-shirts, and printed pint glasses there are number of gifts to choose from. You can order directly from their new online store to either collect in person or get delivered.

We’re lucky in Chislehurst that our last trains back from the city are pretty late. However, don’t get caught out by the fact that on a Monday and Tuesday, the last train from Charing Cross leaves earlier at around 23:30, instead of the usual 00:50 without changing at London Bridge.

Based on a couple of conversations I’ve overheard last week, there are probably a few sore heads in Chislehurst this morning. It would seem that a number of companies, mine included, had their Christmas parties last night. If that was you, I hope that you had a good time, and didn’t pester your boss for a pay rise after some dutch courage.

See you next, Friday!
Simon

Follow us on Instagram