A Proms two-dayer: Part 2

A posh Polish dining experience

After showers and a change of clothes, we hailed yet another Uber to take us to Ognisko, one of our favourite restaurants, a short walk from the Royal Albert Hall. The restaurant had cleverly emailed us with details of a special Proms menu, and it was a marriage made in heaven! What a fantastic excuse to eat in the lovely surroundings and then stroll around the corner to our venue for the evening!

We were a little early, so we asked if we could sit at the bar. The staff at Ognisko were wonderful and we were shown to a high table right next to the bar. A large group of people were chatting and enjoying small plates and glasses of fizz, and we learnt there was some kind of meeting taking place for the nearby Imperial College.  Maybe an introduction for students?

We ordered Negronis apiece: a Vodka version for Sophie and a classic Gin version for me. It was lovely sitting at the bar, chatting, and soaking up the wonderful atmosphere.

The beautiful bar

Lots of people were arriving for an early meal before the Proms. Our table was booked for 5.30pm, and the restaurant also offered post-Proms dining as well, from around 9.45pm, which was far too late for us!

We took our table in the restaurant and studied the special set menu. I skipped a starter and chose the pork schnitzel served with fried potatoes, capers and anchovies, and Sophie opted for the dumpling starter in a mushroom sauce, as well as the pork, like me. For a treat, I ordered a bottle of white Georgian wine, something I don't think either of us had sampled before.

We were given a plate of bread, butter, gherkins and pickled beetroot and a bottle of sparkling water. The outside terrace was filling up, but we had a few neighbours in the main dining room as well. 

Sophie's starter was delicious, but I was relieved I hadn't ordered it as it would have filled me up. I indulged in one, and the food was scrumptious, with the sauce particularly good.

Our main courses arrived, and I was doubly glad I hadn't ordered a starter!

Sophie's dumpling starter

Our pork schnitzel, topped with an egg

The food was as good as always, but the escalope defeated me! However, we both wanted the panna cotta for dessert, which I knew I could squeeze in! We gave our order to the waitress, but we were told they had run out... no! We settled instead for poached plums with a creamy crumble topping, and the dessert was a worthy substitute!

Time was getting on, so we finished our wine, paid the bill (gulp... £150 with service) and walked the short distance to the iconic Royal Albert Hall along with crowds of other people.

A classic thriller soundtrack!

The Royal Albert Hall is beautiful, and this was the first time I had ever been inside. We decided to skip drinks (a glass of Champagne was £20, the bottle £100) and we made our way up to our box on the second tier. It reminded me of the Vienna Opera House, with the Austrian building more opulent and imposing. Again, we had a little anté room for coats, and then three rows of chairs. We were in the second row and had a great view of the orchestra below.

Promming tickets are £8, available on the day to book

We were sitting quietly, taking it all in, when a man burst into the box and sat down heavily on a chair in front of us, exclaiming about what a rush it was. He was obviously gay and was soon joined by his much quieter husband, who was carrying a wine bucket and two glasses. The first man then proceeded to talk and talk, asking us if we'd been before, asking our names and where we were from. He hadn't heard of Northampton, which he said was too far north for him! They lived in Bournemouth. He was gloriously gossipy, and later, very bitchy, and he loved the sound of his own voice. Luckily, while the music was on, he shut up!

The first piece of music was the soundtrack to North by Northwest, and then Edith Bowman, our host for the night, appeared. It was great to pick out musicians that we'd seen playing on television, and I marvelled at the BBC Concert Orchestra, which was fantastic. We also heard music from Vertigo (my favourite), the chilling Psycho, when the musicians literally slashed at their violins, Taxi Driver, The Italian Job and a couple of films I hadn't heard of before, Deception and Laura.

In the interval, our new friend asked if we were going to have a drink, and said that their bottle of Whispering Angel Rosé was a mere £70... Sophie went to get some water but was defeated by the queue at the bar, so she gave up. I innocently asked if they were both going to watch the show tomorrow night on BBC4, but the first man looked at me as if I was insane and said no, they would be out clubbing. He then asked if we were going anywhere else after the Proms, and we said we were going back to the hotel. Again, he looked at us as if we were two country bumpkins (which we were) and said we should go to Clapham with them to a club. We politely declined. I couldn't have imagined anything worse!

The second half was brilliant, and the last piece of music came from the classic Jaws. I was amazed at the instruments and how they created the spine-chilling music. It was utterly fantastic! Let's hope we get to go again next year!

We left amidst droves of people, walking through the gorgeous streets of Kensington and peering into soft-lit windows of houses that must cost millions. We were able to get an Uber easily, and he whisked us back to our hotel. We both thought there was a bar, but there wasn't, so we made our weary way to bed. Perhaps it was a good thing... the budget was busted!