THE OLD + THE NEW./
BORN IN THE UK, NEBIL GAIGI GREW UP IN TUNISIA, BEFORE HIS STUDIES TOOK HIM TO PARIS, SHEFFIELD + NOTTINGHAM, EVENTUALLY LANDING IN LONDON./ HAVING ORIGINALLY TRAINED AS A LAWYER, NEBIL LATER CARVED OUT A CAREER AS A CONSULTANT IN THE CITY - BUT HE IS DEFINITELY NOT YOUR AVERAGE 'SUIT'./
WITH HIS LOVE OF MUSIC + FASHION, NEBIL'S LONDON IS A MELTING POT OF CULTURES, STYLES, LANGUAGES + PEOPLE - THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR NEW INDEPENDENT FASHION BRANDS TO EMERGE + INTRIGUING NEW BAR CONCEPTS TO FLOURISH./ AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY POSSESSES SUCH A WEALTH OF HISTORY THAT THERE ARE A TON OF FASCINATING PLACES TO EXPLORE./
WE ASKED NEBIL TO NARROW DOWN SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE PLACES IN THE CITY...
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HAPPINESS FORGETS
"This is a special place in Shoreditch, East London. It's quite hidden, underneath an inconspicuous block of offices on Hoxton Square. Head down to the basement where a world of mood lighting, candles, chilled music + (of course) amazing cocktails awaits. And by cocktails we don't mean your average 'Pornstar Martini', we mean 'Frappe Le Sec', 'Tokyo Collins', + 'Jerezana', served by experienced mixologists."
ROSEWOOD HOTEL BAR
"The Rosewood is the place I go to for a quick whisky before making my way to the West End for a night out. The whisky bar is top class, with every brand of whisky you can think of, but most importantly is the décor that makes that drink taste a little different. Think 1930s spy movie, cigar + Homburg hat to match, with a jazz band playing in the background. The Edwardian courtyard is quite the entrance, and there's even a gin garden at the back."
INNS OF COURT
"This place is a true oasis in the middle of the City of London. I always try + take a few strolls through here to enjoy some moments of peace in a city which is continually on ten. The area is made of four Inns: Grays Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple + Middle Temple, + is the home of barristers chambers. There is an innate air of calmness + tranquility as you walk around the cobbled streets, surrounded by historic buildings, hidden fountains, gargoyles + calming parks. Literally like stepping into a time warp in the middle of a 21st century city."
All photos are copyright F1FTY with the exception of: Portrait (Courtesy of Nebil Gaigi); Happiness Forgets (Instagram @happiness_hoxton); Dalston Superstore (Instagram @dsuperstore); Lincolns Inn (Credit: Unsplash - Tzenik); Folk (Instagram @folkclothing); Rosewood Hotel (Instagram @scarfesbar). This feature was not paid for in any way.