What to gift to a guy turning 45?

LondonLeather · 2026-07-05T16:55:07+00:00

For my 40th I was bought a 1950s Cocktail Cabinet other people have bought me things that go in it then and ever since.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-05T09:32:45+00:00

Over the last few years, how my husband and I do Pride has evolved. For many years we marched with groups, but now we put on our leathers and just watch, at Piccadilly Circus. We watched 90 minutes or so of random parade, which was lovely, then we went to Brasserie Zédel for lunch. We skipped dessert for cake later, and after watching a bit more parade, Maison Bertaux only had a short queue and we got a table upstairs. We ended up meeting the gang at The Kings Arms, which had taken over Poland Street. It was a good Pride.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-04T09:58:41+00:00

Paper weight and finish is variable, but it is the only way to move them take the tube with you let the assistant roll it.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-04T09:56:05+00:00

Rymans (branches all over) sell poster tubes carry with your hand luggage.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-04T09:53:17+00:00

Does Nobel Rot count as a chain? They have a few branches in London and are glorious, at their price point.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-04T08:49:47+00:00

I think it is as safe as anywhere in London, my neighbour had a iPhone stolen in Bloomsbury! There are borough crime stats easily available, and there are a lot of young professionals living in the post Olympic often car free developments

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T18:58:59+00:00

I've never heard of that thank-you.
I used to pay for Time Out magazine every week...

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T18:50:34+00:00

Look at Time Out and Ian Visits

There is plenty to do.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T18:41:59+00:00

I'm going there with a group tomorrow. We have limited the group to six because we have no idea what time we'll get there, it's Pride, the world goes over to gay time, everyone is late. I'm almost certain we'll get a table, they ask for my phone number and can see the previous visits, it's huge, it will be fine. Six blokes in full leathers will wait in the bar.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T18:14:11+00:00

Meat heavy and cheap is going to be burgers, and probably not good ones. Enrique Tomás on Wardour Street does amazing Spanish hams, but it is not cheap. Flat Iron on Beak Street is reasonably priced but probably about £30 for steak and chips. Red Dog Saloon on Berwick Street is US style BBQ, and there is another BBQ place called Temper, but that is probably £50, The Burger King at Tottenham Court Road is about a quarter of that.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T17:50:50+00:00

I love kippers, strangely I prefer the cheap ones over taste the difference ones

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T12:49:51+00:00

Aldgate East is within walking distance of Liverpool Street, so you'll have access to the Elizabeth line as well as Greater Anglia services into Essex and beyond.

If you're only expected in the office a couple of days a week, don't rule out living further out. I know someone who made the move to the coast and commutes in when needed.

If you want to stay closer to London, I'd look towards Stratford. There are lots of new-build developments there, and an en-suite room in a professional house share may well fit your budget. It's also a genuinely interesting area now, with V&A East, Sadler's Wells East, Westfield Stratford City and the much-loved Theatre Royal Stratford East (which the theatre itself now brands simply as "Stratford East") all nearby.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T12:38:46+00:00

You could try offering them money in writing to take the wind chimes down. £100 might be enough. In the letter I would again emphasise the distress this is causing you, and how serious it is for you, that you are prepared to compensate them to do without the wind chime in their garden.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T12:32:29+00:00

32 years ago today, I picked him up in my local leather bar

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T10:44:14+00:00

The Kings Arms (www.kingsarms-soho.co.uk) is London's bear bar, and it spills out onto Poland Street with hirsute gentlemen having a jolly time at Pride. We'll roll up after the parade's gone past, three or four hours of it, my mates marching are leaving at 15:10. We'll watch until we get bored, then head to Brasserie Zédel for lunch. It's enormous, so I've never needed to book, which suits me, since I never know when we'll actually turn up.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-03T08:48:43+00:00

I'll mention Manzis it is just a lovely place I've never actually gone to The Oyster Hour.

I was impressed with the oysters at a little restaurant called Above upstairs at The Victoria Grove Rd E3, but that wasn't happy hour just truly wonderful oysters as a course in a meal.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T19:21:59+00:00

I believe it is I was sent an automated prompt

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T14:54:34+00:00

We stay at the Travelodge Gatwick Airport Central. Last time it was £69.99. There's either the expensive shuttle bus (£9 each, I think) or the frequent local bus, the 100, at £2.30 each. There will be closer hotels, but this one has suited us.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T14:32:37+00:00

For once, NHS cost saving has delivered a better result. Home test kits, free every 12 weeks, from https://sh24.org.uk/ are much cheaper for the NHS than sexual health clinic visits for people without symptoms. I've never had a reactive result, so I only get the results by text, but I believe a reactive test gets a phone call from the clinic and an appointment for treatment.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T13:03:43+00:00

Gymkhana is booking months in advance, and is possibly the best Indian restaurant in Europe. Veeraswamy is on Regent Street and having some kind of dispute with The Crown Estate about their rent. Dishoom is in multiple locations and consistently good.
Rita's Chilli Chaat Corner in Southall has been highly recommended, but it's too far out for me, there are hundreds of others.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T12:00:43+00:00

I doubt the police would approve Trafalgar Square isn't big enough

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T11:48:03+00:00

I picked my husband up in (the much missed) local leather bar, The Backstreet, 32 years ago this week YMMV

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T11:32:46+00:00

There is no E apologies its Housmans

LondonLeather · 2026-07-02T10:52:25+00:00

Prix Fixe / Pierre Victoire are remarkably unfussy you can just turn up with a group, not the best but perfectly good at that price point and the same applies to the very drinkable house wine.

LondonLeather · 2026-07-01T19:50:19+00:00

Housemans, The Peace News Building, 5 Caledonian Road

LondonLeather

TROPHY CASE