Another Cocktail & Book Club Gathering

Yesterday, on Sunday 12th April 2026, we came together again at Virgin Hotels London Shoreditch, in collaboration with Hidden Grooves.

It was a really lovely afternoon. Around twenty of us gathered in the space, and the room felt warm and welcoming from the start. The positivity was immediate, the kind of energy where laughter comes easily and conversations just flow. Some people already knew each other, others were meeting for the first time, but it all settled quickly into something that felt natural and comfortable.

Our book for the month was Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. It was quite nice to hear everybody's opinion on it. We spent time discussing the ideas of the book, the humour, Nadia's impulsiveness, and the way the story manages to balance something quite serious with real warmth. But as always, the conversation wandered well beyond the pages.

We found ourselves talking about where we are in life, the choices we make, what we would do differently, and the things we are still figuring out.

This time we also introduced an activity. Each guest was given a small easel and invited to draw something inspired by one of the book's central themes. Nadia, the main character, makes quite impulsive decisions throughout the story, so the idea was to take a moment and think about the opposite.

Something that would stop you before a rush decision. Something that would transport you to a happy place and remind you of who you are. Everybody gave their best at drawing, and it was really fun to see everyone enjoying the activity.

Of course, no gathering would be complete without something good to drink. A big thank you once again to Chrome Horse Society Tequila for the lovely cocktails that kept the conversation flowing throughout the afternoon.

Everyone also left with a nicely curated goodie bag from the club. This time it included our cocktail inspired gummies, cocktail cards, our oversized playing card bookmark, a club journal and pen to start writing down those thoughts, and a lovely face mask from #OOTD (Oxygen Of The Day), a Korean beauty science brand we love, to finish the Sunday in a proper self-care way.

As the official part of the afternoon came to a close, a few of us decided to stay a bit longer and carry the conversation upstairs to the rooftop. There was no rush to leave, and it was nice to have an extra drink and let the afternoon stretch out naturally.

Thank you to everyone who came along, who supports the idea, and who continues to show up and make these afternoons what they are.

To the members of the club, the members of the Inner Circle, and everyone else involved, it means a lot.

Looking forward to our next gathering, and to our future series of events.

See you inside,

Alex Latte xx

If you would like to see more from the afternoon, you can explore the full photo gallery below.