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Valentine’s Day often culminates in an exchange of cards, perhaps some flowers, a romantic meal for two at Pizza Express, followed by a trip to cinema to see the latest rom-com movie. To avoid the archetypal descent into unimaginative Valentine’s repetition, have you ever considered being in a movie rather than going to see one?
London may not have the prolific movie scene ”Hey, I know that place” frequency as somewhere like New York, perhaps, but it does have a wealth of bars, restaurants and pubs that have already felt the glare of the Director’s camera.
To recreate some of your favourite romantic (or tragic) movie scenes, why not use this Valentine’s Day as an occasion to explore some of London’s celluloid secrets. You never know, the ghosts of Hollywood past it might just have a profound effect on your love life.
Bridget Jones’ Diary is one of the most rampant movies for utilising London’s eating and drinking establishments. For a start, Bridget resides in a flat above The Globe pub in Borough Market. Renée Zellweger also chooses to listen to friendly advice at North African restaurant Momo in Heddon Street, before her and Hugh Grant start their romantic liaison at the Cantina del Ponte restaurant on the South Bank. And who could forget the scene in which Hugh and Colin thump lumps out of each other before crashing through the window of Spitalfields’ eatery, Bedales? The Light Bar near Liverpool Street also plays a part in Bridget’s life - it’s the location her good friend chooses to break the news about Rebecca.
Gwyneth Paltrow also pops her head into a few London venues in Sliding Doors. She and co-star John Hannah have their first date at Fatboy’s Diner, whilst The Blue Anchor pub in Hammersmith also features in the movie, as does the Bertorelli restaurant in Fitzrovia, in both of Gwyneth’s alternate realities.
Woody Allen’s tennis love story, Match Point, features Scarlett Johansson et al in various London restaurants. Notably, the Brasserie Max in the Covent Garden Hotel and Locanda Locatelli in Marylebone.
Bloomsbury’s Chinese restaurant Hakkasan sets the scene for Hugh Grant (again!) and his attempts to unravel his tangle of lies to Rachel Weisz in About A Boy. Hugh’s lonely character also visits the mouthwatering French deli Comptoir Gascon in Farringdon.
Hugh was also spotted having dinner with Julia Roberts at Nobu Metropolitan in the movie Notting Hill. He also took part in that famous Four Weddings and A Funeral confession of love scene (gah, he gets around a bit!) with Andie MacDowell outside the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank.
On the darker side of love, the interior of Madame Jojo’s makes an appearance in Stanley Kubrik’s Eyes Wide Shut as Sonata Jazz Cafe, where Tom Cruise begins his night of infidelity exploration. Bridget Fonda and Joanne Whalley decide to live the high life at Cafe de Paris in the movie Scandal, and The Crown pub in Clerkenwell Green is the location for teacher Cate Blanchett’s love summit with Judi Dench, where she admits her affair with a pupil. Shameful!
Looking for MORE romantic inspiration? Check out Fluid London’s Top 10 Best Bars, Pubs and Restaurants to go to on a First Date.
Date Posted: 14 Feb 10
Posted By: Christian Rose-Day
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Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10 Feb 10
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