For my birthday, back in February, I was given tickets to The Tina Turner Musical. So, last time I was in the UK, I took a trip to London’s West End. Arriving in Covent Garden, as it got dark, there was just time to grab a bite to eat before the show…..although I did quickly duck into Charlotte Tilbury and Rituals for some supplies.
Dinner
We decided to try newish wine bar Grays and Feather; 26 Wellington St. Covent Garden (€). Open since November 2018, Grays and Feather specialises in sparkling wines. My favourite! They source bubbles and other wines from small producers around the globe. The interior of the restaurant is an absolute delight. Light and bright with a hint of quirky upstairs. Then, downstairs to a dark, exotic bar. They even had birdsong playing in the loos! Have a look at the design below:
Wood flooring and tables make this all white space feel warm and inviting. The rich blue velvet chairs and the palms add a bright exotic vibe, and the wine bottles displayed on open shelving creates a laid-back feel and highlights the wide range that they offer.
The stuffed peacock, avant garde light fixtures and artwork deliver quirky and draw you downstairs.
Embracing the darkness of the basement and painting it black has resulted in a cozy glamorous feel. The black makes the yellow bar stools and colours in the mural really pop. Good use of lighting has created contrast between shadows and light. This amps up the drama.
The wine list had seven different bubbles by the glass from, seven different countries. But, we went for a bottle….of course. We had the Pignoletto Semi Sparkling from Emiglia Romagna, N.E. Italy. Touted as the next Prosecco, it was delicious and light with soft frothy bubbles. So far, so good. Meanwhile, we checked out the menu, which encourages sharing. So, we shared Tuna + Avocado Tartare, Spicy Miso Glaze Aubergine, Peanuts + Habanero Salsa and the Jungle Veggie Burger. All very nice – especially the Tartare. I would have liked to stick around for dessert (and maybe another glass of fizz), but we had to get going.
The Musical
The Tina Turner Musical is on at the Aldwych Theatre. The theatre is lovely, Edwardian Baroque with an elegant, ornate interior. The theatre was full and the atmosphere very upbeat. The show was very good with good performances from all cast, especially Adrienne Warren. She really had Tina’s characteristics and movements down, and what a great voice. There was so much energy on stage and the dancing from Adrienne and the Ikette actresses was fantastic. It was great how Tina Turner’s songs are fitted into her life story – and what a story that is. Through it all you can see how Tina’s upbeat personality and down-to-earth grit shines through.
In the finale the stage is turned into Tina’s arena stage. The cast then proceed to perform a mini concert of her biggest hits. Everyone in the audience was on their feet singing and dancing along. A good night all round. 😊
