2016 seems like one of the darkest years this decade. From the Brexit bombshell to the madness of the US election, the world has gone truly bonkers. On top of that we lost some true icons with the passing of both David Bowie and Prince. But there were the Olympics. 27 golds, 23 silver and 17 bronze medals…that’s a whopping 67 medals in total, putting Great Britain second in the league table. Besides all of this, we’ve taken a look at what made LOTI’s 2016 with the top ten stories that grabbed your attention in the last twelve months…
#1. Coppa Club Igloos
Eight giant igloos popped up by Tower Bridge this winter and everyone lost their minds. Taking over Coppa Club’s Thames-side terrace, the igloos, complete with heating, sheepskin rugs and sound systems, allowed us to enjoy some al fresco action and plenty of festive cocktails without actually turning to ice ourselves.
#2. Friends Fest
You lot loved Friends Fest last year and when it returned bigger and better this year, you loved it even more. Yes, it’s been 12 years since they left our screens but we still can’t get enough of Smelly Cat, Central Perk and Chandler Bong. So when Friends Fest brought Monica and Rachel’s apartment, the coffee house and the Vegas Chapel of Love back to LONDON BABY, you were there.
#3. Magnum Pleasure Store
The Magnum Pleasure Store was another pop-up that came back in 2016, and we had a few scorchers this summer so it was a good job we had an ice-cream customisation service on hand. From the double dip to the black lava sea salt and edible rose petal toppings, you lot picked, you dipped and you licked.
#4. Ball Pit Bar
A ball pit bar for adults. With booze. And ball-shaped food. It finally happened in Dalston (obvs) and you couldn’t wait to unleash your inner child. Ballie Ballerson mixed a chest-height pit full of 200,000 balls with throwback cocktails based on your fave childhood sweets and you got balls deep.
#5. £10 off Uber Eats
They drop us home and they can now drop us dinner…yes everyone’s fave taxi service branched out into the food delivery game this year and it was a pretty big deal. Not only could you track your chicken wrap using GPS, just like you do with the cars, but they dished out £10 credit codes to get the ball rolling and that tasted pretty damn good.
#6. Mercato Metropolitano
45,000 square foot of Italian magic came to South London this autumn in the shape of Mercato Metropolitano. With a bakery, butchers, coffee roasters, cheesemongers, artisan beer makers, fishmongers, cookery school, street food market, charcuterie, pasta and pizza straight outta Naples, no one went hungry here.
#7. Chick Fil-A comes to London
American fast food chain Chick Fil-A flew into town for one day only, taking roost on Finchley Road, and a whole load of Londoners queued up to chow down on their chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. Yes, it’s only fried chicken but when they outsell KFC in the USA, it must be mother cluckin’ good.
#8. Junkyard Golf
There were quite a few crazy golf related openings this year but Manchester import Junkyard Golf hit a hole in one. Their courses, filled with washing machines, mobility scooters and UV paint, pun-tastic cocktails and grub from Bart’s Dog Kart really got you in the mood to swing.
#9. Hackney Walk
Whilst there’s nothing wrong with Westfield, word of a new shopping outlet got you all quite excited. MATCHESFASHION.COM, Aquascutum, Burberry, Anya Hindmarch, Joseph, Nike and more, all with discounts of up to 70%, right in our hood meant lots of happy Hackney shoppers.
#10. Sliders Rooftop Curling Club
First igloos, now curling…there was a lot of love for the ICE ICE baby in 2016. Bowling’s weird winter cousin curling was taken to new heights by the guys from Rooftop Film Club and Roof East, with added hot toddies and karaoke cabins; the perfect training for the 2018 Winter Olympics.