Ellie Swain

The stylish Canova Hall nestled in Southwest London’s trendy Brixton is a favourite bar of mine, amongst many scattered in the district.
Consistently buzzy during the weekend, the bar is decked out with fashionable furnishings. Think hanging lights, retro stools, and shabby-chic wall paint.
I would recommend visiting Canova Hall for weekend brunch. Fill up from a diverse menu that includes smashed avocado on toast, chilli hash browns, or even a ‘white’ truffle pizza. If you’re making a boozy ...

Located in South-West London, Pop Brixton is a quirky centre of scrummy street food stalls, stylish restaurants, and speciality bars. During Fridays and Saturdays, DJs and musicians take to the stage, making Pop Brixton the perfect pit stop for a big night out.
The space is a temporary project that has transformed disused land into a creative hub for local, independent businesses. If you’re keen to discover some of South East London’s top up and coming brands, have a gander around the space a...

If you landed into the aptly-named area of Little Venice, you’d never guess that you were roaming the canals of West London.
The picture-perfect waterways are littered with pretty and colourful houseboats that wouldn’t look out of place in Amsterdam or Venice itself. The abundance of greenery gives the area a rustic, out-of-the-city feel.
Gander the canals by foot and take your time absorbing the scenery. If you have some time to spare, I would recommend boarding a canal tour boat to explore ...

If I could choose one place for sunset-gazing in London, it would have to be sitting atop Richmond Hill. The suburban district of Richmond is only a 20-minute train ride from London Waterloo, and a trip over is worth it for the views alone. The elevated spot offers prime conditions to watch the golden sun melting into the famous curve of the River Thames, and locals and visitors alike flock over once the sky starts to darken.
The river is framed with plenty of luscious greenery, even during t...

With five branches scattered across London, I was astounded to have missed out on the phenomenon that is Vagabond Wines for so long.
The concept is simple but revolutionary for wine lovers. On arrival, you’ll receive an electronic card, similar to an Oyster card used for travelling across London’s tube network. You can then load as much money onto it as you wish and will also have to pay a £5 deposit for the card.
Here’s where the fun comes in. Each Vagabond Wines branch ...

I discovered Vertigo 42 Champagne bar when I was searching for a special bar to visit on my birthday that offered sky-high panoramic views of London. Although busy, it isn’t as well-known as popular bars like Aqua Shard or Duck and Waffle. And unlike such bars, you don’t need to book tables weeks in advance or spend a fortune on a couple of pricey drinks to grab a spot.

If the idea of spending Christmas Day baking on a beautiful beach fills you with glee, then head to the Canary Islands for some serious winter warmth. Sitting in the Atlantic, off the coast of West Africa, the Canary Islands are the best place to head for guaranteed sunbathing weather in December. You’ve got plenty of option too, as each island offers a different atmosphere and selection of things to do. Treat yourself to Christmas luxury on Gran Canaria, get up close and personal with camels...

New Year’s Eve – it’s the one night of the year where the whole world comes alive and unites to celebrate the passing year. For the keen traveller, it’s a great opportunity to make the most of the time off and explore a new destination at its most festive and celebratory. While high-profile cities such as Sydney, London, and New York are popular New Year’s Eve destinations to watch famous spectacles of colourful fireworks and ring in the New Year, you’ll be crammed between crowds for the plea...

Since COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were implemented, vulnerable homeless people have been treated like criminals. That’s in the beginning, at least.
Governments have been battling to house the estimated 1.6 billion people who are homeless or live in insufficient housing. But in some circumstances, the treatment of some of society’s most vulnerable people has been appalling.
From the Philippines to Italy to the United States, homeless people have faced a barrage of injustice from governments...

When it comes to thrills and adventure, adrenaline junkies are in for a treat when they touch down in New Zealand. While the town of Queenstown in the South Island is affectionately known as the ‘adventure capital of the world’, there’s plenty of opportunities to get your heart racing wherever you are in the country. For the hedonists out there, here are a few of the nail-biting activities you can take part in.

With the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the humming Fisherman’s Wharf, and plenty of buzzy bars there’s certainly enough to keep you occupied in San Francisco. But while you’re in the city, you can’t miss exploring the rest of what the area has to offer. If you’re short on time in California, San Francisco proves to be an ideal base for outdoor adventuring outside the city. From sprawling sandy coastlines to world-class wineries, the state is packed with must-visit spots close by to San Francisco.

When you think of a soft drink, what’s the first brand that you think of? Most of us will think of dominating big brand names, such as Coca-Cola.
As we know, brand identity leaves a long-lasting impression in the minds of consumers. So, brand building is a vital part of any company’s marketing strategy.
Successful brand building increases the odds that a customer will think of your company when they need problem solving. So, customers are more likely to go to you to find a solution.
But how e...

Today, the world-wide-web is chock full of misinformation and doctored photos. With impressive editing software available that’s easy for most to use, nowadays the credibility of information and images online is questioned.
With video, the credibility is more reliable. After all, photo-shopping a video is more difficult and takes more work than it does with an image. Thanks to this more authentic feel, consumers are more influenced and trusting of video content.

Did you know that articles featuring images receive 94% more views than those without?
Such statistics show how crucial it is for businesses to incorporate photography into their website and marketing strategy in today’s media-saturated world.
Professional photography is often crossed off as an item on the budget list that’s expensive and expendable. But, without it, you’re likely losing out on profit.

Located in Moyston, Victoria, Australia and close by to the arresting Grampians mountain ranges, Pitch Music & Arts this year celebrated their third-year showcase of electronic music and artistic visual arts. Running from Friday 8th March until Monday 11th March, the creative extravaganza was one of the last of the festivals held in the Australian state of Victoria of the summer.