Before a concert in the Purcell Room at the South Bank Centre I had a quick sandwich at the bar on the upper level which serves two concert halls. We went out onto the terrace to eat the sandwiches which were brown bread and very filling. Sitting on the upper level, looking across the water you get a grand view of London. Looking the other way you see the upper half of the London Eye (vertical circular ride, which I would call a Big Wheel, and the Americans call a Ferris Wheel - like the Singapore Flyer).
What a pity we had no cameras. What a great view!
You can sit safely on the balcony without risking missing your concert. You will be called. I was worrying about missing the start of the concert, and we were just beginning to get annoyed by the twilight midges, and wonder if they would bit exposed skin of other people's bald heads and faces, when we heard the handy announcements. The audiences were being called into both the concert halls.
The larger concert hall required everybody in their seats because the programme was being recorded by BBC radio three. Not just a lucky chance. I picked up a programme about organ recitals in April and learned that Radio Three has a permanent place in the South Bank Centre.
(The red wine was so indifferent that we had only drunk half of it. So we threw away the rest of it as we ran to take our seats in the small hall.)
However, in the interval we discovered the ice cream trolley offering ginger ice cream. This is made by a company called Jude. Highly recommended. Teensy pieces of ginger to suck on and crunch. Made us want to go home and add real ginger to ice cream - normally we add a small chunk of syrupy ginger to ready-made ice cream or a fruit salad.
Jude's Ice Cream
Jude's ice cream is named after the wife of the ice cream team. The story is on the side of your paper cup containing your Ginger Spice ice. Your spoon is under the circular paper lid which has a semicircular cutout for you to lift the lid.
The seller said the spoon was inside. I'd seen packaging like this before, the first time on an airline. This sort of hidden spoon surprise packaging always succeeds in making this consumer feel stupid, and impressed by the ingenuity of the packaging devisers.
What a pity we had no cameras. What a great view!
You can sit safely on the balcony without risking missing your concert. You will be called. I was worrying about missing the start of the concert, and we were just beginning to get annoyed by the twilight midges, and wonder if they would bit exposed skin of other people's bald heads and faces, when we heard the handy announcements. The audiences were being called into both the concert halls.
The larger concert hall required everybody in their seats because the programme was being recorded by BBC radio three. Not just a lucky chance. I picked up a programme about organ recitals in April and learned that Radio Three has a permanent place in the South Bank Centre.
(The red wine was so indifferent that we had only drunk half of it. So we threw away the rest of it as we ran to take our seats in the small hall.)
However, in the interval we discovered the ice cream trolley offering ginger ice cream. This is made by a company called Jude. Highly recommended. Teensy pieces of ginger to suck on and crunch. Made us want to go home and add real ginger to ice cream - normally we add a small chunk of syrupy ginger to ready-made ice cream or a fruit salad.
Jude's Ice Cream
Jude's ice cream is named after the wife of the ice cream team. The story is on the side of your paper cup containing your Ginger Spice ice. Your spoon is under the circular paper lid which has a semicircular cutout for you to lift the lid.
The seller said the spoon was inside. I'd seen packaging like this before, the first time on an airline. This sort of hidden spoon surprise packaging always succeeds in making this consumer feel stupid, and impressed by the ingenuity of the packaging devisers.
Tickets Costing More
We had booked tickets online, which costs an extra fee of £1.75 for the transaction, increasing to £2.75 if you book by phone. You can book without the transaction fee if you make a booking in person at the centre, or if you are a Southbank Centre Member or in the Supporters Circle.
Tickets Costing Less
Another way you might make a saving is if you can get one of the limited number of tickets for concessions. You are supposed to show evidence of being a pensioner. If the ticket sellers don't bother to ask to see evidence that you are a pensioner, all those kind friends who assure you that you don't look your age were lying!
How to get there:
Underground and mainline: Waterloo (also Charing Cross mainline railway station or Embankment underground station)
SOUTHBANK Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Southbankcentre.co.uk
tel: 0844 847 9910
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