freezing

With Christmas cinemas popping up all over the country, The Mirror ventured out to try one that promised some of the most epic views in London – and it didn’t disappoint

I’ve watched Love Actually at least 1,000 times now, but this was a viewing with a difference. Never before have I watched it on the rooftop of a stunning hotel overlooking the imposing beauty of Battersea Power Station.

The iconic buildings lovingly brought back to life in October 2022 and is now a vibrant shopping and entertainment area with the existing architecture adapted to accommodate restaurants, stores and luxury flats.

At night, it is beautifully lit up with its historic chimneys serving as a focal point along the river. And it was that view that I was treated to when I arrived for the JOIA Rooftop Movie Pop-Up.

Situated in floor 14 of the art’otel Battersea Power Station, JOIA restaurant is the first London restaurant by award-winning two Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and takes its inspiration from his travels on the Portuguese Iberian Peninsula.

On the floor above sits the rooftop with its famed swimming pool and breathtaking views of London’s Grade II listed Battersea Power Station. We enjoyed a three-course set menu in the restaurant first, with a delicious sharing starter of sourdough bread, beef pica pau and grilled leeks.

Main course was a choice between fillet of beef, wild Scottish turbot and roasted cauliflower. My friend and I shared the steak and fish, both were melt-in-the-mouth delicious.

Sides included patatas bravas and greens while dessert was a sharing portion of torrija – a moist, caramelised brioche with almonds, raspberries, all eaten while looking out across the London skyline.

Fortified by a couple of rose wines, it was up to the roof where we were prepared to freeze in the 0 degree temperatures. But we were in for a more than pleasant surprise. Each seat came with its own cosy blanket and faux fur hot water bottle. Hand warmers were provided alongside free popcorn. That, combined with the mulled wine, made for a toasty evening watching Love, Actually under the stars.

The rooftop cinema runs until December 21 with packages starting from £80pp for chairs or £90pp for a sofa to seat two. Different films will be shown including The Holiday, The Santa Clause, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Elf and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

For more information, visit https://www.joiabattersea.co.uk/whats-on/joia-rooftop-christmas-movies/

A BRITISH man and his daughter flew to Lanzarote for a beach day – because it was cheaper than heading to London.

Aleksander Sikora, 41, booked return flights to Lanzarote in Spain after his daughter, Wiktoria, 19, said she wanted to go shopping in London.

The avid budget traveller dad decided that instead of heading to the capital, they would go to Spain – and he spent under £100 on the trip.

Return flights to Lanzarote Airport cost Aleksander £60 return and once there the duo had around six hours to spend on the sunny coast before returning home.

Whilst Wiktoria went off to do some shopping at the local fashion shops and markets, Aleksander lay on the beach.

The trip cost under £100 per person and they were even home by midnight.

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According to Aleksander, Wiktoria enjoyed the trip so much that she is keen to try another ‘extreme day trip’ in the future.

Aleksander, who lives in Farnham, Surrey, said: “My daughter said she wanted to go shopping – I said ‘give me a day and let me check something on the internet’.

“I came back and offered her a day trip to Lanzarote to do her shopping at the markets instead – and she said ‘why not?’.

“While she went off shopping, I listened to music and flew my drone on the beach – I enjoyed some peace and quiet time in the sun.

“It’s not for everyone and people will say I’m crazy for the trip – but it was what I needed to calm my mind.”

Aleksander booked the easyJet flights three days before the duo travelled.

They took off from Gatwick Airport at 7am, where they spent an additional £15 to park the car for the day.

When in Lanzarote, they spent £1.20 on the bus each to get to Puerto Del Carmen.

The two then separated, with Wiktoria heading off to find some knock-off designer handbags.

As for luggage, Aleksander had one small bag containing nothing more than a towel, his phone, passport, a powerbank, an empty water bottle, some headphones and his drone.

During four hours on the beach, he listened to music and flew his drone to take aerial pictures of the scenic coastline.

He also grabbed a Chinese takeaway, costing around £10 for a chicken chow mein.

He said: “It was on a budget, I’m not talking champagne and all-inclusive drinks.

“I just relaxed, it’s like meditation, you don’t need much more than that.”

During this time, Wiktoria had picked up all the items she wanted while shopping.

The father-daughter duo then departed after six hours in Lanzarote, landing back down in the UK at around 10:30pm.

Aleksander said: “If you spent a day in London it would cost more than I spent.

“In the present time, a lot is going on, the price of everything is increasing and everyone has work pressure.

“Sometimes you just need a few minutes to yourself, however you get it.”

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One Brit has also shared how they’ve been on 30 extreme day trips to Europe.

Plus, travel writer Helen Wright shares how she went on an extreme Lapland day trip with her kids and went husky sledging and meet Santa.