Has anyone else noticed that a Friday night out in Shoreditch is beginning to look very much like a night out in Leicester Square?  Recently there seem to be more intoxicated women in tutus and stilettos tottering around with kebabs falling out of their hands than there are Hoxton Hipsters which, let’s face it, marks a massive change in the nightlife culture.  So if like me you love a good old East London rave-up minus the hen do’s , horrendous queues and DJs who are all hype and no bass, here are a few tips to point you in the direction of what will most likely be a good night:

1.    Line your stomach.  Shoreditch is full of good places to eat whether you fancy a full blown meal or a light snack to keep your energy up for the big night ahead.  A few of my favourites are Cay Tre (usually packed but if you are lucky enough to get a table it’s a cheap start to the night), Jaguar Shoes (long island ice teas and pizza to die for) and Fika on Brick Lane (amazing little Swedish restaurant that does fancy healthy-looking burgers)

2.    Go deeper.  Nowadays, there are plenty more spontaneous good times to be had in Dalston than there are around Old Street – sure it’s a bit more of a walk from the tube but it’s definitely worth it.  Alibi is a great club with an amazing sound system and good music until 3 in the morning.  And the best bit? It’s totally free!  Head down early to avoid queues.  Or if you fancy something a bit more low key Moustache Bar is a great little underground bar playing rockabilly music on a Saturday with cheap drinks and no ego.

3.    Be a stalker.  If you know what DJs you like get on their Facebook page or Myspace and find out where they will be playing rather than wandering around and straining over bouncer’s shoulders to hear what kind of night it is inside.  The club nights are so much more hit and miss at the moment so this way you can guarantee that you will enjoy the music rather than stumbling on a dirty dubstep party when really you live for the minimal house!

4.    Kebab or not to kebab?  It’s not advisable but if you must, Ali Baba’s in Dalston is without a doubt your only option.  So even if you have been dancing your socks off in Old Street the exodus is most definitely worth it.  There is always, always a queue (which I take as a pretty good sign in a city where kebab shops are more common than any other fast food establishment) but everyone in there is always really chatty and you’ll most likely make a new friend while your Shish is grilling.

I’m writing this blog post still totally full from last night’s event at the Victoria Inn in Peckham. I might not need to eat again until tonight. They do put on quite a spread, don’t they?

Do I really have to pick a highlight? Chorizo Scotch eggs? Shepherd’s Pie? Clotted cream ice cream? Or chicken kiev strips. Oh, and the breaded halloumi too. That went down very well. Everything did. There wasn’t a dull dish of the evening (even the flat bread was amazing), and despite our protests of being full, we kept eating everything that was put in front of us until we’d worked our way through the entire menu and wound up with full bellies.

It wasn’t just good food, our wine glasses were never empty. We were treated to some excellent wines and every single bottle we tried was emptied very quickly. Fabulous tipples. Especially the wine we tried that had a gooseberry tang to it. Would like more of that please.

We had such a lovely time at the Victoria Inn. We left happy and very (very) full. Just a short hop skip and a train ride from London Bridge, this is one pub that’s worth the trip. Molly and the rest of the staff really looked after us (if you’re lucky you’ll get to meet Queenie the scruffy little puppy too). We’ll be back. Just as soon as we’re hungry again.

Thanks so much to everyone at The Victoria Inn for a great night! Want to keep in touch with the Victoria Inn? Check out their website and follow them on Twitter. And if you want more information on Qype events, head over to our forum.

London Fashion Weekend has come around and once again the best-dressed fashionistas from around the world descend upon London to eye up the latest trends on the catwalks.  So if you fancy dipping your toe into the madness, here are a few fashion-focused activities to indulge in:

Eat The Designers

It’s AnOther Magazine’s 10th birthday this year and to celebrate the Editor in Chief has invited 10 of the world’s leading fashion houses to design their ultimate birthday cakes to be displayed in the Wonder Room Concept Store at Selfridges until tomorrow – so get down there while you still can!

Curated by food stylist and cookery write Annie Nichols, the cakes will be brought to life by 10 world-famous chefs (including Mark Hix, Paul Wayne Gregory and Julie Walsh of Le Cordon Bleu) and the designers being turned from fashion to food include: Lanvin’s pearl covered creation and a very naughty multi-tiered cake by Givenchy!

The Art Of Fashion

Fashion Capital, an online fashion portal for people trying to succeed in the industry, is putting on an exhibition to celebrate well, fashion of course, at their headquarters on Edgware Road (just a few minutes walk from Marble Arch Station).  The show compiles the work of up and coming graphic designers, photographers and artists.  It’s free and is on until Wednesday so if you fancy a bit of culture with your couture head on down!

London Fashion Weekend

After the glitz and glamour of the shows at Somerset House, Vodafone London Fashion Weekend throws open the doors to the rest of us for a weekend of shows, pampering, and shopping (of course!)  They’ll be 100′s of designer stands there with up to 70% off  high-fashion labels so start saving up your lunch money now!  They’ll also be catwalk shows, manicures and makeovers  and even just a chill out area to have a glass of champers when all the A list treatments gets tiring.

Tickets start at £16.50 for the basics all the way up to £38.50 for the Gold Package which gets you into the VIP area, entry to all the shows and even a Show Bag to take home as a souvenir – classy!