Back to the Future with Vodafone

Covent Garden East Piazza went back to the future with Vodafone as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first mobile phone call, which was made on Tuesday 1st January 1985 on the Vodafone network. The event ran on the weekend from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th January 2015. The 1984G Street housed the recreated first Vodafone store, NOW Rental Video Rental, Vodafone 4G Arcade and Spotify Records.

The Vodafone store had old mobile phones with some bigger than others and bricks layered with an additional bricks. You can slowly see the evolution of the phone model. There were tablets on the side for opportunities for winning prizes for completion of their quiz. Just on the side of the store, you can find a photo booth with wigs and hats on standby as people get transported back to the 80’s.
Spotify Records had 80’s music on vinyl with an opportunity to listen and create playlists which were sent to Spotify app on smartphones. Similarly, NOW Rental Video Rental had a similar retro feel as they had old VHS tapes on display.

Vodafone 4G Arcade had arcade games with… comic books! Really surprised to find comic books here and they had quite a nice collections at that too. They also had a humongous old Nokia phone which you were able to play Snake. I had a go and got a lousy 20 points (1 capture = 10 points).

#30YearsVodafone

Southbank Centre's Winter Festival with NatWest 2014

Southbank Centre with NatWest have created a Winter Festival surrounding the Centre, along the Riverside Terrace and Queen’s Walk with chalets, giant rabbits and fun festivities. The festival started on 6th December 2014 and is to end on 11th January 2015.

Here’s some of the things that were on at the festival:

• Southbank Centre Express – Train before and under the Hungerford Bridge that heads to Festival Pier along Queen’s Walk and back.
• Christmas Market – Banks of chalets lined up near the Christmas Tree Maze and La Soiree selling food, drinks and gifts.
• Rekorderlig Cider Lodge – Cosy down to warm drinks and Scandinavian street food at the lodge in this Scandinavian-styled house.
• Viewing Deck Bar – Raised bar where you can settle down with a drink and enjoy the views of London, the Thames and the Southbank Centre Express.
• Christmas Tree Maze – A maze made up of 300 Black Forest trees.
• Christmas Tree Café – Get hot drinks from the café while enjoying the Christmas tree designed by BOO and Lyn Atelier on top of the café.
• Intrude: Giant Rabbits – Giant glowing rabbits created by Australian artist Amanda Parer.

To find out what else is upcoming and happening on at the Southbank check out their website.

#SCWinterfest

London's New Year's Day Parade

Happy New Year! London’s New Year’s Day Parade worked its way from Piccadilly Circus through to Parliament Square, between the hours of 12:00 to 15:30 with up to 10,000 performers taking part.

#LNYDP2015

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2014

Winter Wonderland play host to all winter festivities and activities in Hyde Park running from the end of November into the beginning of January the next year. This year it was held form 21st November 2014 to 4th January 2015. There are rides, attractions, cafés and bars to explore all of which fall into the following sections of the Wonderland:

• Santa Land – Home to Santa’s Grotto and a chance to meet Santa. There are food and rides in this section.
• Fairy Christmas Market, Nostalgic Victorian Fair and Angels Mart – An area lined up with cafés, bars and shops where you can find yourself in some festive treats, drinks and gifts.
• Arctic Circle – Ice and snow themed rides such as the Magical Ice Kingdom and North Pole Funhouse. You can find Bar Ice here where you can sit down with a drink in an environment made with ice.
• Bavarian Village – A place for the family to sit down and enjoy German festive traditions. You can sit down to German food, beer and music.
• Alpine Adventure – An area clustered with a mix of rides to try out.

You can find out further information on opening times and what's on at Winter Wonderland on their website.

#HPWW