#COYSTrip25

What’s this? Another trip report so soon!?

What can I say - I’m on a roll!

This is yet another trip that came about for an absolutely absurd reason - I had originally booked a round trip on JetBlue (B6) Mint to Seattle (outbound in cash, return on points) in August 2024 to see the Mets when they were in town. Except! I booked it for the wrong fucking weekend. By the time I realized my mistake, the fares went up by a ridiculous amount so I cancelled the trip knowing I had until mid-October to use the cash credit. In a fortuitous coincidence, I would end up needing that weekend freed up so I could run some race in Paris (that trip report is coming - it’s in my backlog, I swear).

Anyway, let’s move forward to early October and I’ve still got that travel credit in the bank and the clock is ticking to use it or lose it. As it so happens, Tottenham Hotspur would be hosting Manchester United during Presidents Day weekend and JetBlue flies to London. Not only that, I could book Mint going out and Core coming back and the amount not covered by the credit wouldn’t break the bank too much. And, really, if you’re gonna book a lie-flat seat, might as well do so for a transatlantic red-eye and take full advantage of being able to get a more decent sleep. It’s the best way to make it worth the cost.

Friends, it was totally worth the cost. Keeping in mind, the only other domestic business class experience I’ve had is with Delta (DL) and the only other transatlantic was on Virgin Atlantic, this may top both of those, at least when it comes to the onboard experience.

Let’s talk hard product first - for a seat/suite comparison, putting it up against the ones in Delta One on their 767-300 (763) or 767-400 (764), this wins hands-down. The JetBlue Mint suite seat is more intact than the Delta 763 and way more plush than on the 764. Having a door isn’t a big deal to me but, as a point of comparison, there is one in this JetBlue product and none of Delta’s 767s do. The IFE screen in Mint is much better than the one in Delta One on the 764 and is comically, astronomically better than the one on Delta One on the 763. The only point in Delta’s favor is the IFE selection as they have a lot more movies and television shows to select from. With respect to the only other transatlantic business class product I’ve flown, the JetBlue Mint suite compares favorably to Virgin Atlantic (VS) Upper Class on their A350-1000 and A330-900neo.

When it comes to the soft product, both DL and B6 give out slippers but VS doesn’t though they do give out pajamas so I kinda wanna give the edge to VS here. The content of the amenity kits are equal amongst all three but the bag that they come in on VS comes in last. As for food, DL is in third while B6 comes out on top for quality though VS shines when it comes to the variety of options.

Where JetBlue disappoints is in the on-the-ground experience with very little in the way of a business class check-in and no lounge whatsoever. Whereas Virgin Atlantic has their Clubhouse at JFK and Delta has not just two SkyClubs but a Delta One Lounge just for D1 passengers. If the flight is departing on time, getting to the airport and clearing security with minutes to spare before boarding is all you need for flying B6 but, man, if you get there early or if your flight is delayed, that lack of a lounge to escape to while you wait for your flight to board becomes a very acute problem though I’ll note it’s a very first world problem.

As for the flight itself? Wonderful. Service was spectacular and super-attentive. As already mentioned, the food was incredible for a US carrier and having cocktails (mocktails too) made-to-order is always a nice touch. Most importantly, I got over four hours of sleep on a seven-hour flight which I think is the best I’ve done flying to London, and that’s without skipping either meal.

One last grumble on the on-the-ground experience… there was also obviously no arrivals lounge at Heathrow so I wasn’t able to shower until I checked into my room in the afternoon. Again, totally a first world problem (apologies to anyone downwind of me if I was smelly).

The Food and Drinks

I’ve been to London a number of times in my life (four times alone in 2024) so it’s nice to not have to chase after anything in particular. But it’s also London, so there’s always some place I want to try on my list that I’ve yet to hit up and this trip was no exception. I dined at two Michelin ⭐️ restaurants and when picking which of the two I preferred, I’m gonna split the baby and say both, each for different reasons.

Lunch at Chishuru was an absolute bargain for the quality on offer in their Modern West African fare. Every dish on the three-course menu was stellar but the Akara, a bean fritter with chicken & duck liver parfait, was my first bite on the ground in town and it really hit the spot -perfectly fried, light and airy balanced with the richness of the liver parfait, yet not overwhelmingly so.

Dinner at BRAT Restaurant is meant to be a shared experience and, dining solo, was not an inexpensive affair, clocking in at £150 for two starters, two mains, bread, a cocktail, and a glass of wine. To be fair, you’re paying for quality food product, prepared well and cooked over open fire. The portions were decent and could easily have fed two (maybe with another starter or two thrown in). Every dish was. a. banger. I could drink up all the juices left from the scallop and the langoustines - fear not, I let the bread do the work of sopping that up. I’d definitely go back but preferably not alone unless sitting at the bar - the tables are really close together (something they are very upfront about on their website which was very much appreciated) so it’s not ideal if you’re self-conscious about solo dining.

I spent nearly the entirety of my Saturday afternoon at The Kernel Spa Road, the new location in Bermondsey for… well, The Kernel Brewery. I’ll miss the charm of the old location in the railway arch but there’s no denying this new spot is better positioned and better laid out for more folks to gather and drink copious amounts of beers. The long bar alone allows for more bartenders behind the bar to serve several customers at a time.

As is tradition now (two years in a row is tradition!), I met up with a friend from NYC (hi Blankman!) because we now only hang out when we’re both on holiday in London. I don’t make the rules - it’s tradition, after all. All kidding aside, great to catch up and chat baseball for a few hours, accompanied by friendly service from our buddy Mauritz. Also? Have some of the excellent Japanese Izakaya-style food from the Yagi Izakaya residency before it’s gone!

Over the many trips I’ve made to London, I’ve found quite a few cocktail bars worth visiting and I’m pleased to say that all three I got to over this long weekend were worth the visit and worthy of a revisit on a future trip. Side Hustle was the fanciest with prices to match but also the quality to justify - it was also the most poppin’ of the three (also, it was a Friday night). Happiness Forgets was fancy - they had big cubes of ice - but not overly so and the prices were commensurate. It wasn’t too busy but I also got there close to when it opened at 5 pm on a Monday night and was gone a little after 6 pm. Home Bar was just that… a place that felt like home - a cozy place to chat with the bartenders and other patrons. Again, all three bars I’d recommend without hesitation - it just depends on the vibe you’re looking for.

Hey, A Race!

Since I was already gonna be doing a long run on Sunday, I figured I might as well run a race. Classic runner brain there, I know. I signed up for a 10-mile race in Victoria Park which was perfect since it was a mile or so from my hotel so I could run out there to warm up and get maybe 11-12 miles in for the day.

Too bad it got cancelled the week of the race.

Needing to find another race to run (again, classic runner brain behaviour here, searching for another race when I could just take the L and sleep in), I had several options - a 5K here, a 10K there, but all were about an hour or so by public transport.

So, of course, I chose a half marathon that required traveling over 90 minutes by bus and train.

I ended up running the Hampton Court Half Marathon, a race I actually signed up for last year but ended up bailing on because the rail service had bustitution along the route and I couldn’t be bothered to do bus to train to bus. No such problem this time so, after the long commute by public transport, followed by a frigid walk to the start area and then some waiting, I was off and running through Thames Ditton and surrounding villages.

Well, running, sure, but hardly running hard as the goal was to stay in HR Zone 3 for the first 10 miles and see how I felt, ideally at an 8:45 pace or better which I barely managed, going 8:44/mile. I felt good though so I decided to just send it at that point for the final 5K and ran each mile progressively faster. Still only got it down to a 7:36 pace those last 3.1 miles but I didn’t feel awful afterwards so that’s a win, I guess.

Glory, Glory, Tottenham Hotspur 🎶

Finally, the reason for this trip which, duh, the #COYSTrip25 hashtag. For the second consecutive year, I caught a Spurs match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a stadium I just absolutely love going to. It’s a large multi-purpose stadium but still really feels like a football stadium first. The food options (at least on the 100 level) are great and the beer selection is solid - It’s even got a Beavertown Brewery taproom in the concourse!

I eschewed food and drinks whilst at this match, still full from the Sunday Roast at lunch and wanting to keep the stomach primed for BRAT, leaving me all the time in the world to really soak it all in. My seat was in the 400 level in the North Stand, easily the best I’ve sat in of the four times I’ve been to the stadium. I had a great view of James Maddison scoring in the 13th minute and then a wonderful view of Guglielmo Vicario holding onto dear life, maintaining that one-goal advantage for 49 minutes in the second half, for the clean sheet and a 1-0 Spurs victory. An absolute white-knuckle affair for club and supporters both.

➾ Related Foto Feed Posts

The List

Restaurants

Chishuru | @chishuru
Bone Daddies | @bonedaddies
The NoMad Restaurant | @thenomadhotel
Yagi Izakaya at The Kernel Spa Road | @yagi_izakaya
On The Bab | @onthebab
From The Ashes BBQ at The Five Points Brewery & Courtyard | @fromtheashesbbq
BRAT Restaurant | @bratrestaurant

Breweries

The Kernel Spa Road | @thekernelbrewery
The Five Points Brewery & Courtyard | @fivepointsbrew
Saint Monday | @saintmondaybrewery
Mikkeller Brewpub London | @mikkellerbrewpublondon
Blacklock | @blacklockchops

Bars

The Craft Beer Co. | @craftbeerco
Side Hustle | @sidehustlelondon
Happiness Forgets | @happiness_hoxton
Home Bar | @home_on_ravey

Coffee

Monmouth Coffee Company | @monmouthcoffee

Places

Sky Garden | @sg_skygarden

London, February 14-18, 2025