On this day
1st February
The anniversary of the last Thames Frost Fair
This day in 1814, the River Thames finally froze solid enough for Londoners to enjoy their last ever frost fair.
2nd February
The crown bottle cap was patented this day
Today we are doffing our cap to William Painter, the inventor of the crown cap used to seal most beer and soda bottles. He filed three separate “Bottle
3rd February
The Day The Music Died
This day in February 1959, is known to fifties addicts as the day the music died, a day immortalised in Don McLean's American Pie in the early 70s (and
4th February
Bacardi's birthday
The founder of Bacardi was a Catalan wine merchant called Facundo Bacardi Massó, who left Spain for Cuba in 1830.
5th February
World Nutella Day
Is Nutella one of your guilty pleasures? If so, today is for you. For the shamelessly sugary gloop known as Nutella - we're sorry, the delicious hazelnut
6th February
The day Elizabeth Windsor became Queen
In 1952, the Queen's father, George VI, died in his sleep at Sandringham Palace, having reigned for only 15 years. Elizabeth heard the news in Treetops,
7th February
Charles Dickens' birthday
Charles John Huffman Dickens was born on this very day back in 1812. Despite describing himself as a very small and not-over-particularly-taken-care-of
8th February
MacElhone bought Europe's oldest cocktail bar this day
On this day in 1923, Harry MacElhone finally achieved his dream and bought the New York Bar on 5 Rue Daunou, Paris, where he had worked more than a decade
9th February
The Beatles conquered America
On this day in 1964, the Beatles officially cracked America - making them still one of very few British bands to have achieved this difficult feat.
10th February
Umbrella Day
Being English we are seldom ever out without an umbrella (or brolly as we call them), and we're particular fans of the nifty pocket sized fold-up variety.
11th February
Thatcher became Britain's 1st female party leader
It was on this date back in 1975 that Maggie became the leader of the UK Conservative party and the first woman to head any British political party, though
12th February
The anniversary of The Scream heist
This day in 1994, as the Winter Olympics opened up the road in Lillehammer, curators in Norway's National Gallery in Oslo, arrived at work to find a broken
13th February
Jerry Springer's birthday
On this day in 1944, as some of the last German bombs of the Second World War dropped on London, a woman sheltering in Highgate Tube Station gave birth
14th February
Valentine's Day
You can't have failed to notice that 14 February is St. Valentine's Day, a time of year when a sum equivalent to the GDP of a small country is spent on
15th February
Canada Flag Day
Today in 1965 Canada adopted its iconic flag and the date is celebrated annually as National Flag of Canada Day. The red and white maple leaf design replaced
16th February
Tutankhamun's tomb was unsealed this day
In front of an audience of dignitaries from around the world, on this day in 1923, the archaeologist Howard Carter opened the tomb of King Tutankhamun,
17th February
World Cat Day
This is a day to excite cat lovers everywhere with pet shops around the world set for bumper sales of cat treats, toys and even collars – yup some people
18th February
Fernand Petiot's birthday
On this day in 1900, Fernand Pete Petiot was born in Paris, to parents who owned a guesthouse - he would come to fame, correctly or otherwise, as the inventor
19th February
EastEnders' birthday
Ok, so the Eastern part of this drink is meant to refer to a foreign, exotic east - not London's East End. But sod it. We quite liked the idea of associating
20th February
Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premièred today
Tonight in 1877 Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The story was fashioned from Russian folk stories and tells the tale
21st February
Boudicca's grave was found this day
It was on this day back in 1988 that The Daily Telegraph reported that contractors working on Platform 10 at London's King's Cross station had unearthed
22nd February
Margarita Day
There are days for most things in the US, but Margarita Day is a subject very close to our hearts. Because, no matter who invented this classic cocktail,
23rd February
Dick Turpin was unmasked on this day
Dick Turpin, like Ned Kelly or Bonnie & Clyde, is one of those folk heroes whose bio doesn't quite live up to his rep. He's famous as a lone highwayman,
24th February
World Bartender Day
We're celebrating what the Oxford English dictionary defines as a person serving drinks at a bar but we know as creative, hard-working folk who satisfy
25th February
Cassius Clay became World Champion this day
On this night in 1964, history was made. Cassius Clay (The Louisville Lip) took down world heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston (The Big Bear). As Clay realised
26th February
The Grand Canyon became a National Park this day
One of the world's most beautiful natural wonders was designated a National Park by the US Congress on this day in 1919.
27th February
Polar Bear Day
Polar bears are majestic and pretty fearsome creatures, who also happen to produce the most adorable looking offspring known to the arctic circle.
28th February
The last episode of MASH was broadcast this day
Viewing figures for the final episode of MASH broke the record that had been set by the Dallas Who Shot J. R? episode, making it the most watched TV broadcast
29th February
Leap Year Day! (Well, it will be in 2024)
This cocktail sits on our database waiting for attention once every four years so don't miss today's Leap Year Martini, created by Harry Craddock for the
