Drink, Shop & Do

"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

"You Googled ‘how to make new friends in London’ and there were a lot of suggestions. Things like ‘join your local book club’, ‘start playing netball’, or, our personal favourite, ‘just walk up to people you think you’d get on with and say hello!’. Well, maybe you’re over reading Fitzgerald for fun, you’ve never been athletic, and you don’t want to get arrested. It’s okay, Drink, Shop and Do in King’s Cross have fun activites (yes, they exist), like Simpsons quiz nights, musical bingo, and even pimp your pineapple classes. Plus, it’s always easier to start a conversation with a stranger when you’ve got a 22-strong menu of cocktails at your disposal. Be sure to try one of their fresh cakes with your potential new pals." - Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver