Bedtime Stories
Bedtime stories are not just for children. In fact, if 40 Winks’ tales are anything to go by, it could be argued that they get better with age. Pyjamas are still compulsory, but hot milk is replaced with a fruity Hendrick’s cocktail, and the stories are naughtier, darker and funnier.
Tucked away in the increasingly trendy, easterly part of London (Stepney Green) is the delightful 40 Winks Hotel. Boutique to the core, each room is its own entity; filled with antiques, trinkets and tasteful touches, all combined brilliantly to exude style and eccentricity.
Not surprisingly, its owner is top interior designer and ex fashionista David Carter. Mr Carter’s eye for detail does not end at his interiors. He is on site to make sure the nighties are vintage, the lighting is moody and your teacup is never empty. He is a stickler for the rules, so the strict dress code of “jimjams” is rigorously enforced; those who disobey will spend the night in “the naughty corner”. You must crack a riddle to gain entry; printed tickets are a big no no.
The storytellers of the evening vary depending on the theme. Our topic was men, women and relationships, and we enjoyed tales by Nell Phoenix and Sally Pomme Clayton, which were brilliantly executed and wittily told.
40 Winks is the perfect place to stay if you want to be near the fashionable East End, and a fantastic night out if you’re looking for something quirky and different to do in London. Sign up to their mailing list to find out about the next bedtime stories evening: info@40winks.org.
When she’s not listening to a story in her finest negligee, Anna Templeton is usually found in Argentina, tucking into an ojo de bife and sipping on a glass of Malbec; all in the name of exploring the culture, of course.
