"The idea of swaggering up to a stranger is probably as inviting as licking a wasp. No, what you need is an in. You need ‘something to talk about’. Drink, Shop & Do is a spot in King’s Cross where you can, er, drink, shop, and do stuff. Emphasis on the ‘do’. They have regular nights of frankly, incredible fun, from a pimp your pineapple masterclass, to a Simpsons quiz night, to musical bingo. They’ve also got a 22-strong cocktail list (go for the Fresh Prince), and the kind of food you can pick at whilst learning to cross-stitch. Think, parma ham and goats cheese flatbreads, fresh cakes, and a mini pie board. Chatting to people is easy here, you just feel like you’re mucking in to a particularly boozy Blue Peter re-run." - Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver