For any Formula 1 fans out there, short of taking to the wheel during a real Grand prix, the F1 Arcade in St Paul's is the closest you're going to get to feeling like Max Verstappen. So when I was given the chance to pay a visit to this swish spot located right by the cathedral? You can bet I jumped at the opportunity.
This expansive destination oozes style and elegance, with sleek screens and silver seats in front of the simulators, as well as a striking golden bar and opulent red walls. While we were here for Rimmel's lunch of their new Thrill Seeker mascara - which I got to try for myself and would highly recommend for anyone after salon-quality lashes at an affordable price - we couldn't resist having a go on their cutting-edge racing simulators (from £15.95 per person).
Speed and style go hand-in-hand here.
There are 69 of them dotted around the spacious venue, so you don't have long to wait for a turn even at the busiest of times, and I've never felt more immersed in a driving simulation than I did here. They take you on tracks all over the world, from Silverstone to Monaco, with a helpful audio explanation of the rules right in your ear to make you feel like you've got a team behind you. Prepare to be jolted left and right in your racecar-style chair as you speed round the courses, playing against other people in your section to claim first place. Although I was beaten by my F1-mad boyfriend (who, to add insult to injury, doesn't even have a driving license), I still had a great time and would be eager to return.
This is the only place in the country you can drink and drive (though it may well affect your performance), so of course we had to sample some of their cocktails too. Their Octane Bar was serving up creative blends, some of which were even topped with the Rimmel logo in edible powder - showing off the skills of the bartenders. We tried The Lollipop (£14) first - combining dry gin with Aperol, wild raspberry, lemon juice and Champagne, finished with an egg white foam. This was a delicious fruity blend with a pretty rose-pink colour.
The F1 Arcade London menu is as exciting as the simulators.
Our next choice was the Undertake (£15), which was a mezcal-based concoction of rhubarb, citrus and grapefruit soda. This one had a more bitter flavour, with a strong boozy undertone.
All that excitement made for hungry work though, so we were very glad of the tasty sharing plates on offer as well. We grazed these mouthwatering selections throughout the evening, and my personal favourite was the truffle mac 'n' cheese croquettes (£9). Think gooey, cheesy balls of pasta encased in a crispy batter, topped with shavings of parmesan and dipped in a dreamy truffle mayonnaise. We also tucked into spicy sesame and sweet chilli chicken gyozas (£8.50), alongside Korean Gochujang cauliflower wings (£8) coated in a chimichurri sauce and barbecue corn ribs (£7.50) dusted with smoked harissa seasoning.
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