Latest news with #Clocktower
What's On
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
14 new date 'day' ideas for fun dates this summer
We've established that date 'days' are actually the better version of date 'nights'. Fun activities you and your date can do together instead of just sitting mute in a movie theatre or making painful small talk over dinner. Nail the planning game with these ideas and thank us later when you ride off into the sunset. For the creatives: make personalised charm keepsakes The Charm Bar is your one-stop-shop for all things charm and cheer related. Here, you can build your own charm bracelets and necklaces, and even create charm accessories for your shoes, bags, keychains and more. Basically, personalise anything and everything. It's a super fun way to bond, get to know each other in a whimsical way and take away a keepsake to remember the date. @thecharmbarofficial For the golfers: go swinging Swingers Dubai is spread over an impressive 22,000 square feet and two floors. It boasts three crazy golf courses, with different vibes in each. Check out the Hot Air Balloon, the Waterwheel and the Clocktower courses each with fun moving obstacles, and stunning decor and friendly competition. Get together, take a swing, get competitive and end the night with some great food. @swingers_uae For the hands-on: learn some woodworking at The Makers Society The Makers Society is a quiet, peaceful environment, stillness and silence in the air as you work away. It's a great way to bond over the beauty of learning a new skill and enough space for you to get real with each other. This spot offers not just beginners classes, but also courses for you to get the low down on woodworking, so if it becomes your thing, you'll keep coming back together. @dubaimakerssociety For the water babies: go deep sea diving Perhaps a bit intense for some, but if you and your date are adventure sport lovers, then this is the one for you. Deep Dive Dubai is the world's deepest diving pool, reaching up to a 60-metre depth and containing 14,000,000 litres of fresh water. You're provided everything you need from start to finish. From the wetsuit to an expert diving instructor who'll guide you no matter what level you are on. It's great for both beginners and professionals, and you and your date can explore the different levels of the sunken underwater city. @deepdivedubai For the big kids: go loco at Loco Bear You're never too old for the arcade, especially not for Loco Bear, where the possibilities are endless and the options too many to count. Indoor obstacle courses, bowling alleys, arcade games, virtual reality, ball pits, rock climbing, ziplining – you name it, they have it and it's like a wonderland you can get lost in for a whole day. Great thing is that it's all indoor, so matter the weather, the fun is guaranteed. @ For the skaters: go rollerskating at RollDXB This has to be straight out of a romcom – RollDXB is a sweet vintage dream, with the discotheque music, the massive flashing disco ball and the colourful graffiti everywhere. You can bring your date here, occupy the rink for a rollerskating session and skate away together into the sunset. Doesn't matter if you're just starting out or you're already professional – we can help each other out. @rolldxb For the nerds: put your heads together at an escape room Game Over features 12 escape rooms, 11 meta-escape rooms which use VR headsets plus a board game cafe with more than 50 plus titles for board game fans. The escape rooms have been designed by professional animators and creators of dramatic alternative universes for films. If you and your date are into brain games, riddles and puzzles, this is it for you. For the artsy: go tote bag and pouch painting Take it nice and slow with this fun, artsy activity at afterwork studios – the space holds workshops for tote bag and pouch painting, another keepsake you can take away with you at the end of the date. They offer all the materials you need, from the bags and the canvas to the paint and even mirrors to paint on. Relax and get to know each other as you paint away. @ For the animal lovers: go to a cat cafe (if that's your thing) If you and your date are cat people (which everyone should be), then chilling at a cat cafe and getting to know each other surrounded by cats can be a great idea. Meowtropolis Cat Café is located in JLT and and has not only some of the cutest cats you'll ever see but also an extensive menu of coffee, tea, milkshakes and other specialty beverages. The drill is that you choose a package from the five different kinds with different time windows and beverage options and you're all set. @meowtropoliscatcafe For the cinephiles: catch an arthouse flick We know we said we're straying away from the boring standard here, but Cinema Akil comes loaded with vintage charm and atypical movies that will create oodles of conversation between you and your date. Each month they have a fantastic line-up of classics and new flicks – choose one, settle in and enjoy. There's loads to do in Alserkal Avenue post your movie as well. @cinemaakil For the party people: go to a coffee shop rave Coffee shop raves are the rage, an emerging trend of essentially sober parties where the cool currency of the night is a cup of artisanal joe. The formula is simple – a visually aesthetic location, a high-octane DJ with a playlist of the most popular house music mix right now under his belt and of course, coffee. Head over for a day of dance, caffeine and a lot of fun – perfect for an unconventional pair. Read all about Dubai's coffee shop raves here. For some more hands-on: get into pottery Nothing like a calming pottery session to create some chemistry, especially if you and your date like fun activities or learning new skills. Keepsakes are always sweet to take away from dates and CRN Art Design offers two pottery techniques for two age groups, including the basics of ceramics using different hand-building techniques as well as the wheel. For the art enthusiasts: explore stunning digital art Arte Museum by the masterminds at digital media design company, d'strict is already renowned around the world. And you can find the magical multi-sensory experience here in Dubai at Dubai Mall. Armed with a fully-charged phone, make your way around 13 immersive spaces ending your journey at the tea bar which also comes with a pretty floral immersive experience. @artemuseum_dubai For the foodies: go on a street food tour of Dubai We all know the fancy-pants restaurants of Dubai, with the big chandeliers and high ceilings and expensive menus, but the city has some of the most incredible, local, homegrown and streetside eateries, little cafeterias in nooks and corners that offer real soul food. Follow our street food map of Dubai here and go on a sweet street food hop – involves a nice long car ride and the potential for karak . What's not to like? Images: Socials/Unsplash
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Pub chain with 90 restaurants around the UK has made a huge change – and it'll cut queues
A MAJOR pub chain has rolled out a brand-new system that bosses say will slash queues. RedCat Pub Company, which owns more than 90 venues across the UK, has just reopened its Norfolk-based pub, The Clocktower in after a £600,000 refurb. 2 2 As part of the makeover, the pub has installed easy-to-use kiosks designed to speed up service and cut down wait times. Customers can now skip the line and head straight to one of the new digital kiosks, powered by Acrelec, to order their carvery, pay on screen, and track their order status in real-time. The change came after punters complained about long waits during busy periods. Now guests have three ways to order: at the kiosk, at the counter, or via the app for at-table ordering. The Clocktower reopened on Friday June 20 with a fresh new look and a revamped Castle Carvery menu. It now serves up slow-cooked topside beef, leg of lamb, and vegan wellingtons – all with trimmings like locally sourced veggies and crispy roasties. There are gluten-free options too. And it's not just the mains getting a glow-up, there's a dessert station packed with pick 'n' mix sweets, fresh donuts, cakes, and even ice cream floats. General Manager Dena Etheridge said: 'We're thrilled to welcome everyone back. "The new menu still offers the great value we're known for – but now with even more choice, better service, and added fun for the whole family.' The family-friendly pub opens daily from 11.30am, with a soft-play area for kids open from 9am on weekends. Self-checkouts were first introduced more than 10 years ago in major supermarkets and now they are available at several retailers and food outlets. McDonald's first introduced kiosks in 2015 and it now has more than 70,000 machines worldwide, according to Retail Technology Review. Burger King, KFC and Leon also have similar systems in place in the majority of their restaurants. Most recently, Subway announced the launch of new self-service kiosks, a brand-new app, along with an improved loyalty programme. But not everyone is a fan of the new tech, with fans regularly taking to social media to moan about them, and some voicing fears that self-service kiosks could have an impact on jobs. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one user said: "I haven't been in a McDonald's in years. "They put those kiosks in and they were infuriating to use. I have tons of other choices for food." One KFC fan recently wrote: "KFC's kiosks are complete trash!" While others prefer self-service systems, with one McDonald's shopper writing: "I always use kiosks and self-checkout if possible. "Combined with Apple Pay, it's seamless, easy, and quick! I actually prefer these over anything else." The digital move comes as pubs across the country battle rising costs, with some landlords warning that beer prices are creeping up just to stay afloat. New research by CAMRA shows pints of BrewDog Punk IPA have shot up from £5.64 to £6.34 since January. Camden Hells is up too, now averaging £6.34. The average pint now costs £5.17 – up from £5.08 earlier this year. CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: 'It's frustrating for drinkers to see prices rising again – but it's often the only way pubs can survive.' With prices going up, venues like The Clocktower are hoping upgrades like faster service, digital convenience, and family-friendly perks will keep punters coming back for more.
Eater
30-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Danny Meyer Is Opening a Members-Only Restaurant in Manhattan
How many more private dining clubs can Manhattan take? Apparently, at least one more: Moss, a coming-soon members spot off of Bryant Park, at 520 Fifth Avenue, is the latest to throw its hat into the ring. It's been separating itself from the pack over the past year, targeting a younger downtown community of food people, who have hosted various events at their Midtown space to drum up awareness before Moss officially debuts in the fall. But when it opens, they're going with an established food team: Babette, by prolific powerhouse restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality events team, will be launching at the five-floor Moss property. Makes sense since, after all, this is a members club in Midtown, in an area where many are familiar with and probably customers of Meyer's properties, from Ci Siamo to Gramercy Tavern. The dining 'concept,' as it was described by a spokesperson, will be joined by perks like a 'vitality pool,' Turkish baths, a yoga and pilates suite, a pickleball court, as well as 'grooming lounges,' and a hi-fi listening room. No word yet on the food for Babette, Eater has reached out for more information. A new name in ice cream The Infatuation has the scoop on Nun Left, a new Harlem pint business that comes from Jane Brendlinger, a food writer and Per Se pastry chef, per the review. Ordered via Instagram DM, these are pricier than a supermarket brand at $15, but with extremely fun flavors such as Thai tea brownie and princess cake. Restaurant team rises again Citroën, a bistro in Greenpoint that closed in late 2024 due to landlord disputes, has decided that instead of trying to relaunch the name elsewhere in North Brooklyn, they're opening something new. Greenpointers reports the team will debut the Sparrow, an 'Art Deco cocktail bar and restaurant,' in a kitchen led by Carlos Despradel, a Nomad and Clocktower alum. It's coming to 185 Broadway, at Driggs Avenue, in Williamsburg, in August. Sign up for our newsletter.
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Clocktower Kitchen + Bar to open in historic Plain City building this summer
Plain City's historic clocktower building is getting a new farm-to-table restaurant. Plain City's historic clocktower building is getting a new farm-to-table restaurant. Clocktower Kitchen + Bar expects to open this summer at 101 S. Chillicothe St. in the growing Central Ohio community. It will take approximately 9,000-square-feet and two floors of the more than 10,000-square-foot building. New Grounds Coffee, which is expected to open next month, will occupy the remaining space in the building which is topped with a 123-year-old clock. Andy Warnock and his Westwood Collective, along with Plain City resident Rayce Robinson, bought the building in 2023 with plans to redevelop it. The ground floor most recently was an antique shop and historically was a hardware store. Clocktower Kitchen + Bar is a new concept from Benjamyn Greig, Shane Whitacre, Chelsea Whitacre and Jenna Fisher. The Whitacres own Chef's Table Catering. Fisher and Greig are restaurant industry veterans. 'We came over to the building, we and saw how much work Andy and Rayce were putting into it and we wanted to be part of it,' Greig said. Greig's worked in hospitality since his teens. In addition to local experience including five years at Local Roots in Powell and, most recently, five years with High Bank Distillery, he also spent four years helping open and run restaurants in Las Vegas. He has helped with Chef's Table since its founding in 2012. Clocktower will serve American classics with an emphasis on fresh ingredients with local farm-to-table sourcing. 'We have access to so much great produce, so many great farms out here,' Greig said. The menu still is in development. The hope is to be open in time for Rock the Clock, the annual outdoor concert and street festival put on by Tim Dawson, owner of The Grainery in uptown Plain City. Robinson said Clocktower will fill a need in the local dining scene as an elevated offering. 'There's a lot of pizza options here and (The Grainery) does an amazing job, but this will be different, a full-fledged upscale restaurant,' he said. The restaurant will seat 110 to 120 in the main dining room, which will include a sizable bar in addition to booth, banquet and table seating. There's a room on the first floor that can be either additional seating or private dining space. The second floor, up a historic set of stairs, will be for events run by Chef's Table. It'll hold approximately 120 for everything from weddings to corporate functions. Warnock and Robinson also own the neighboring building that houses a Brick House Blue coworking space. 'When we're hosting meetings there from companies like Ease Logistics or Kimball Midwest or Cardinal Health, they'll be able to leave that and come here for a meal or cocktail,' Robinson said. 'This is a great complement to that.' While the developers and restaurant operators see a local need for the growing community, the hope is to draw more visitors to Plain City's evolving uptown scene alongside The Grainery, The Silo music venue and 114 West, a private cocktail bar. Though it might strike some as being far, Plain City is minutes from I-270 and an easy drive from Dublin or Hilliard. 'People probably thought Powell was far out there about 20 years ago,' Robinson said. Westwood also has projects and investments in downtown Hilliard and London. A.M. Scott Distillery initially was going to operate a restaurant and bar in the clocktower building, but departed the project late last year.
Web Release
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Tee Off and Turn Up: Swingers Dubai is bringing the Party to Bluewaters Island
Web Release Selection Entertainment By Editor_wr On Apr 17, 2025 The wait is officially over, and the party is in full swing with Swingers Dubai having recently opened its doors, shaking up Bluewaters Island with its electrifying vibe. Dubai's newest playground for music, cocktails, unforgettable nights out, and fun-fuelled brunches, Swingers is where crazy golf is just the beginning of the fun. Already a global sensation, this fully-fledged entertainment destination marks an exciting new chapter as it lands in the region in partnership with Rise Hospitality. A Multi-Sensory Playground Located on the vibrant Bluewaters Island at the foot of Ain Dubai, Swingers Dubai wows guests from the very first step inside. Spanning 22,000 square feet across a two-storey art deco clubhouse, the venue is a visual feast, brimming with lush greenery, playful English country club charm, plush seating, and, of course, cocktail bars around every corner. Adding to the spectacle is its Instagram-worthy crazy golf course, featuring three themed adventures — the Hot Air Balloon Course, the Waterwheel Course, and the Clocktower Course — each one more fun and frustrating than the last. At Swingers, crazy golf is just the beginning. As the night unfolds, this electric playground becomes the ultimate pre-party or all-night hangout, soundtracked by a resident DJ spinning non-stop feel-good beats. With vibrant lights, infectious energy, and plenty of spots to dance or vibe between rounds, it's impossible not to get swept up in the fun. Fuel for Fun Of course, dancing and competitive fun can work up an appetite, and Swingers Dubai has just the ticket, serving up a mouthwatering array of street food from top-tier vendors that will leave guests spoiled for choice. Try out Patty&Bun's juicy burgers — a fan favourite at Swingers London — for a proper bite, grab a slice (or three) of authentic New York-style pizza from Matteo's Pizzeria, or spice things up with Burro Blanco's burritos and bowls, packed to the brim with bold Mexican flavours. Whatever you're craving, there's plenty to keep you fuelled for another round. As for refreshing sips, the venue boasts an extensive cocktail menu featuring signature creations such as the Frozen Watermelon Margarita and Swinging Punch.?Alternatively, those looking to play it safe can enjoy classic cocktails alongside premium spirits, mocktails, hops, and grape. Best of all, there's no need to leave the course — the attentive team will deliver your drinks straight to the fairway, keeping the fun flowing. Level Up Your Night From breaking the ice with workmates to pulling out all the stops on a date, Swingers has packages to suit every vibe and occasion. Opt for The Competitive Set at AED 180 per person, including a round of crazy golf and two house drinks, or go big with The All Set, starting from AED 295, complete with unlimited drinks for two hours, AED 85 in street food credit, and your own reserved area. For those really looking to make it count, The Ultimate Set ups the ante with three hours of free-flow beverages, a feast of street food, and plenty of time to soak up the fun, all starting at AED 395. Secret Brunch Crazy Golf Get ready for the ultimate all-swinging, all-dancing Secret Brunch at Swingers Dubai, every Friday from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. The perfect way to kickstart your weekend, gather your friends and dive into the three-course immersive mini golf experience. Complementing the experience, guests can also sway to the beats of a live DJ, sip on free-flowing beverages, and soak up the party atmosphere, with packages starting from AED 299. To keep you well-fuelled, indulge in a mouthwatering spread of street food, including juicy burgers, New York-style pizzas, and hearty burritos. Don't miss your shot — book now and experience the craze for yourself. When: Every Friday from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm Offer: Evening brunch featuring 1 round of crazy golf, street food, live DJ, and choice of free-flowing beverage package Packages: Soft Drinks Package: AED 299 inclusive of 3 hours of unlimited soft drinks, selected mocktails, and water House Package: AED 349 inclusive of 3 hours of unlimited house spirits, hops, and grape Premium Package: AED 449 inclusive of 3 hours of unlimited cocktails, house spirits, hops, premium grape, and sparkling *For more information on the Secret Brunch Crazy Golf, click here *For bookings and more information on Swingers Dubai, please visit Comments are closed.
