Reviews and contributions written by Baldwin Ho
Fluid Reviews
The Piano Works, Clerkenwell (Bar)
“Top 10 things to know about The Piano Works:
1) What's the best way to get over an acrimonious break-up? Bottomless prosecco and being serenaded by Whitney and Mariah might be the medication you require....”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
12 Apr 18}
The Coal Shed, London Bridge & Bermondsey (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about The Coal Shed:
1) The old adage “sharing is caring” might be tested to the extreme when you visit the delectable London...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
02 Mar 18}
Ishtah, Finchley (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about Ishtah:
1) Asking Londoners who live centrally to head out to zone 4 for an evening of culinary delights can be akin to asking them to board a spaceship bound for Mars,...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
12 Jan 18}
Canova Hall, Brixton (Bar)
“Top 10 things to know about Canova Hall:
1) Food envy is an extremely serious medical condition that is often underestimated by the Great British public. The only cure? Head to a highly Instagrammable...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
04 Dec 17}
Bea's of Marylebone, Marylebone (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Bea's of Marylebone:
1) We've all faced temptations: Adam eating the forbidden fruit; the temptations of Jesus; and now, modern man has to face
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
02 Oct 16}
Roof East Bar, Stratford (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Roof East:
1) What is the best activity to do in the Olympic town of Stratford? The decathlon, of course! Your first task is to navigate your way around the maze...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
10 Aug 16}
Ben's Canteen, Wandsworth (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Ben's Canteen, Earlsfield:
1) You’ve heard of fashion wars; probably heard of robot wars; but there’s a fierce battle raging at Ben's Canteen: burger wars, a beauty...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
08 Jul 16}
Tom's Kitchen HMS Belfast by Tom Aikens, London Bridge & Bermondsey (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Tom's Kitchen HMS Belfast:
1) You can be excused for suffering delusions of grandeur when you ascend the steps of this alfresco bar and
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
07 Jun 16}
The Stonemasons Arms, Hammersmith (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about the Stonemasons Arm:
1) If you’re an aspiring writer looking for your muse and can't afford a personal tutor in the form of JK Rowling, maybe your local pub can...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
10 May 16}
Balans Soho Society Kensington High Street, Kensington (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Balans Soho Society High Street Kensington restaurant:
1) Balans Soho Society proclaims, "Living well is the best revenge". This can be tricky to follow if you take...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
06 Apr 16}
The Gibson, Clerkenwell (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about The Gibson cocktail bar:
1) Given Richard Branson is still struggling with his rockets for space travel, waiting for an entrepreneur to perfect time travel might...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
08 Mar 16}
The Cocktail Trading Company Smithfield (closed), City of London (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about the Cocktail Trading Company bar in Smithfields:
1) We all admire an innovative magic trick but get equally frustrated when we can't work out the secret behind the...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
25 Jan 16}
Anderson & Co, Peckham & Camberwell (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Anderson and Co:
1) Living in a metropolis, the feeling of isolation is a common feature for most. However, help is at hand in the form of neighbourhood cafes and...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
03 Jan 16}
Bounce, City of London (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Bounce Farringdon:
1) We’ve all dreamt of that moment when you enter a sporting arena with rapturous cheers of adulation from your fans, with "We are the Champions"...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
02 Dec 15}
Cornish Tiger (closed), Clapham (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Cornish Tiger:
1) Forget the Loch Ness monster, there is a new mythical creature to hunt for: the Cornish Tiger, situated in the urban jungle that is Clapham Junction.
2)...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
18 Nov 15}
Percy & Founders, Fitzrovia (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about Percy & Founders:
1) Situated on the former site of Middlesex Hospital, Percy & Founders could be the answer for the Save our NHS campaign.
2) Unlike most hospitals, there...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
25 Oct 15}
The Candlemaker, Battersea (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about The Candlemaker pub in Battersea:
1) Whether...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
23 Sep 15}
Le QuecumBar & Brasserie, Battersea (Bar / Restaurant / Club)
“Top 10 things to know about Le QuecumBar and Brasserie:
1) Je t'aime, je t'aime, je t'aime! Why does everything in French sound infinitely more romantic and sophisticated?
2) You don't need to go...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
17 Aug 15}
Franco's Restaurant & Bar, Mayfair (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about Franco's restaurant:
1) If you want to become the quintessential British gentleman, Franco’s is the place to learn your craft. This Italian institution has been around for...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
25 Jul 15}
Trailer Happiness, Notting Hill (Bar)
“Top 10 things to know about Trailer Happiness bar:
1) Plenty of fish.com lied. Hours spent trawling through their site without hooking a single goldfish. Need a plan B.
2) A friend had heard unsubstantiated...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
29 Jun 15}
Prince of Wales Feathers, Fitzrovia (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Prince of Wales Feathers pub:
1) Americans have their diners, we have our pubs. They have their obesity, we have alcoholism. It's easy to stereotype, but we all...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
25 May 15}
The Lost Angel (closed), Battersea (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Lost Angel and Gaslight Grill:
1) If vampires fed on fillet steak and gin, then I would already be a condemned man. For my sins, I was dispatched to investigate...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
04 May 15}
Exit, Shoreditch (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Exit Bar:
1) Following in the footsteps of greats like Plato, Aristotle, I am going to conclusively disproof the long-held theory that it was always better back...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
22 Apr 15}
Bunnychow, Soho (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Bunnychow restaurant in Soho:
1) What do bunnies like to chow on? In the grand scheme of things, it isn't the most pressing world issue at the moment but with Easter...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
27 Mar 15}
Lost & Found, Balham (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Lost and Found:
1) You could learn more than 10 things at Lost and Found, probably a whole degree about effective interior design on a shoestring budget.
2) On...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
15 Mar 15}
Inito, City of London (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Inito restaurant:
1) I've never been present at a childbirth, but a visit to Inito certainly felt like I was witnessing the arrival of something splendid into the...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
15 Feb 15}
The Red Lemon, Notting Hill (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about The Red Lemon Pub:
1) I am of the ‘leave Christmas for Christmas time’ brigade. Perhaps it was this grinchy attitude which meant I was sent along to the Red Lemon for some...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
23 Dec 14}
Bubba Gump, West End (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Bubba Gump restaurant:
1) Stupid is as stupid does. That is how I feel on the rare occasions I venture into a themed restaurant like Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Café....”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
22 Nov 14}
The Providores & Tapa Room, Marylebone (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about The Providores and Tapa Room:
1) Think New Zealand and you think of: rugby? The Haka? Peter Jackson’s Hobbits running around gorgeous landscapes? In fact, their most famous...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
29 Oct 14}
The Tale Bar at Playboy Club London, Mayfair (Bar)
“Top 10 things you need to know about Salvatore's at the Playboy Club -
1) Having overindulged on cocktails during the London Cocktail Week, I didn’t have being sent to another cocktail bar high on...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
27 Oct 14}
Suda, West End (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things to know about Suda Thai café and restaurant:
1) Smug friends. We all have them in our social circles. Sometimes they’re an evil necessity. In my case, I had to invite one along to visit...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
13 Sep 14}
Meat & Shake, Tooting (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Meat and Shake restaurant:
1) It’s an alien concept sending a Fluid London critic to a restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol, then again Meat and Shake is no ordinary...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
19 Aug 14}
The Noodle House, Soho (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about The Noodle House restaurant:
1) The Great British public’s love affair with noodles is showing no signs of faltering. The Noodle House enters a crowded marketplace - just...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
30 Jul 14}
Bodo's Schloss, Kensington (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Bodo’s Schloss bar & restaurant:
1) If, like me, you’re not a skier, visiting Bodo’s Schloss is about as close as you’ll ever get to the luxury mountain lifestyle of Courchevel...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
30 Jun 14}
Osteria dell’Angolo, Westminster (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Osteria dell'Angolo restaurant:
1) Walking into Osteria dell'Angolo, you get the sense that many political careers might’ve started, and been destroyed, in this restaurant....”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
31 May 14}
Chisou, Chiswick & Brentford (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Chisou restaurant in Chiswick:
1) There is a certain ring saying Chisou in Chiswick. No, this quaint restaurant isn’t named after the local area, but actually means “feast”...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
08 Apr 14}
La Polenteria (closed), Soho (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about La Polenteria restaurant:
1) What’s the best place to straighten out your unhealthy diet these days? Old Compton Street in Soho, of course!
2) Gluten is evil, very...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
13 Mar 14}
Villandry (closed), St James (Restaurant)
“
Top 10 things we learnt about Villandry restaurant when we visited:
1) People adore the French bourgeois lifestyle. It’s that little bit more relaxed, with an added touch of sophistication and an...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
19 Jan 14}
Yamal Alsham, Chelsea (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about Yamal Alsham restaurant when we visited:
1) Yamal Alsham might be 15 minutes from Stamford Bridge, but this is no typical post-Chelsea football match kebab. It’s a feast...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
08 Jan 14}
VQ Bloomsbury, Bloomsbury (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we learnt about VQ restaurant when we visited:
1) For all the friendly rivalry with New York, London has never been known as a city that never sleeps. VQ is hoping to change that. VQ is...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
03 Dec 13}
The Earl Derby, Kilburn (Bar)
“Top 10 things we learnt about the Earl Derby pub when we visited:
1) There’s nothing aristocratic about the recently reopened Earl Derby pub. It has enough retro chic to bring about a gastro-revival...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
21 Nov 13}
Reverend JW Simpson, Fitzrovia (Bar)
“Top 10 things I learnt about Reverend JW Simpson bar when I visited:
1) I’ve finally found a place worthy of a weekly pilgrimage; a bar based at the formal home of the Reverend JW Simpson on Goodge...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
29 Oct 13}
Disco (closed), Soho (Club)
“Top 10 things I disco-vered about Disco nightclub when I visited:
1) I had problems explaining to my friends that I went to “Disco” last weekend because they asked, “which one?” Disco, singular, is...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
19 Sep 13}
Joe's Southern Kitchen & Bar, West End (Bar / Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we discovered about Joe’s Southern Kitchen when we visited:
1) This is the place to head for some deep Southern, home cooking comfort. I'm not sure if there is a big Mama cooking away...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
21 Aug 13}
Naga (closed), Kensington (Restaurant)
“Top 10 things we discovered about the Tofu bar at Naga when we visited:
1) A tofu bar is the best place in London to start your detox regime; even though there was an article in The Guardian recently...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
09 Jul 13}
Club Oops (closed), City of London (Bar / Club)
“Best for: Watching the seductive art form of pole dancing.
Great: for finding beautiful, sexy ladies; they’re literally in every corner of the room.
The name is...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
16 Jun 13}
Simmons, Kings Cross (Bar)
“Best for: tea parties with a difference.
Great: kitsch, quirky décor.
Tea is a quintessentially integral part of British society. No doubt if you want to pass...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
05 Jun 13}
Old Mary's - Youngs, Paddington (Bar)
“Best for: Experimental cocktails.
Great: Atmosphere for sharing those spooky ghost stories.
“I see dead people” or at least I thought I did after my fourth cocktail....”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
21 May 13}
Spaniards Inn, Hampstead (Bar)
“
Best for: I could say everything; but forget Easter eggs, try their Scotch eggs!
Great: outdoor terrace for the heat waves we are all praying for.
There has...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
28 Mar 13}
Infernos, Clapham (Bar / Club)
“Best for: Staking your well-earned pounds on great party night out.
Great: Karaoke room, you can sing like the Rat Pack.
I am very much a creature of habit rather...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
21 Feb 13}
The Roof Gardens Club (closed), Kensington (Bar / Club)
“Best for: Finding out about undiscovered musical talents in unique surroundings.
Great: For impressing a date, or a great night out with a group of friends.
“Beam...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
31 Jan 13}
Mary Janes (closed), City of London (Bar / Restaurant / Club)
“Best for: Parties with a touch of quirkiness.
Great: Frida Kahlo Tequila (the only place that sells it in Europe).
I am secretly hoping my mother won’t be reading...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
26 Nov 12}
Bloomsbury Street Bar and Restaurant (closed), Bloomsbury (Restaurant)
“Best for: Bargain drinks you can afford before pay day.
Great: Downton Abbey style service.
I must declare from the outset, I used to work at the British Museum...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
11 Oct 12}
Benito’s Hat, Fitzrovia (Restaurant)
“Best for: People looking for those missing coins down their sofas; people with mean bosses who only give you 15 minutes for lunch in Fitzrovia.
Great: Jaw dropping...”
Baldwin Ho, Fluid London reviewer
13 Sep 12}
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