If you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed envious of those on the slopes, then you might be able to get a slice of the action closer to home…
Winter post-Christmas is a relentless force that will even drag the joy out of the happiest of us thanks to the never-ending grey skies and cold nip.
While some can afford to get away to the likes of the Alps to chase those blues away, not everyone will be enjoying an Apres-ski knees up.
But, you can now get a taste - quite literally - of the ski-cuisine at the Alpine Lodge pop-up offering cheese fondue and mulled wine aplenty - and it's tucked away on our doorstep in London so no flying needed.
Senior Features Writer Layla Nicholson headed on down to the ski-themed bar to get a dose of the slopes, though without the huge price-tag and, oh, without the actual slopes.
The Alpine Lodge at Vicinity, London, lives temporarily outside of the bar and restaurant, with spectacular views of the River Thames and the Tower Bridge.
It might not be the sprawling mountains of the Alps, the backdrop is still iconic regardless. But, one step inside the pop-up chalet and I’m instantly transported from the city to the slopes.
As I'm due a Specsavers appointment so looking at the pinned up backdrop of blue skies and snowy mountains guarded by plastic variations of fur trees, I might as well be taking in the view from a ski lift.
Though I remind myself that, indeed, I'm in an alpine-themed pop up with an astroturf floor lightly dusted by the snow machine tucked away in one of the corners.
Chopped logs provide a rustic feel, the snow dusted Christmas trees make me feel snug - now we just need a fire. A log fire probably wouldn't be appropriate inside the pop-up tent, but seats and benches are draped with faux-fur blankets for warmth, with tables decorated with ski-masks as if you’ve just got back from braving the snow.
Although I've never been skiing myself, the thing that makes me want to go is the food and drink - and this is of course the best part about the Alpine Lodge.
The menu is small, which is good as I find too many places try and overcomplicate things nowadays. Now, us Brits do have a history with bickering with the French about who does 'stuff' better, and they might just win on the cheese with this one.
Controversial? Yes. However, the 'Alpine Cheese Dip' penned 'warm & gooey' is just that. The buttery dipping cheese is one of those things that you wish you could eat forever without the fear of imploding.
The French-Alpine Reblochon cheese is served with toasted ciabatta for dipping, but if it was societally acceptable I would have easily eaten it with my fingers - it was that good. At £6.95 it's not outrageously pricey - especially with the views of the Alps, I mean Tower Bridge...
And what's a ski-themed dippy cheese without a tipple to accompany it! Christmas might be over but there's nothing more warming than a mug of mulled wine.
Cheese in one hand, hot spicy booze in the other, eyes squinting at my surroundings and I'm on holiday! To keep warm in this chill, you've got to keep your belly full so 'The Ultimate Turkey Sandwich' looked like to it could be the grub to do just that.
I've never had a 'turkey' burger so wasn't really sure what to expect. It feels wrong to eat turkey outside of Christmas Day, especially in between two buns.
However, I'm instantly finding myself 'Mmmm-ing' at the 4oz. flame-grilled turkey burger topped with crispy streaky bacon and cranberry sauce.
It could be a sadistic spin on Christmas dinner for some, but I ravished the turkey meat that nestled in a toasted brioche-style bun and found joy in dipping it in the gravy pot on the side.
Turkey can have a bad habit of being dry, but the meat was moist and this was made certain by the modest layer of cranberry sauce that gently trickled from the inside of the sandwich onto my fingers. Delicious way to spend £13.95.
As per the new unsaid rule of restaurants, the chips were an extra £5.50 - there could have been a few more for that price if I'm being totally honest.
But, I remind myself we are in London.
On that thought, Bailey's Hot Chocolate please. Topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and a dusting of chocolate, which comes to a total of £15.25 once you've added on the decor and booze.
I think that's that's the priciest hot chocolate I've ever consumed. In my state of 'girl math', more than minimum wage hot chocolate is still less than paying for a winter ski trip.
Yes, it was incredibly tasty, with getting some on my nose and upper lip being proof of that, but the price was screaming 'I am in London'.
As I take my last slurp of my Bailey's infused Hot Chocolate, I giggle on as a family enjoys posing for a picture on the mock-up of a ski lift bench. Staff offer a helping hand to nail the ski aesthetic by turning on the snow machine - humanity and the cosiness of winter lives on in the confines of this pop-up lodge.
I often find it difficult to be off-guard when I'm in London, but I find myself in a state of relaxation. Could it be the mulled wine, a cheese coma or the delusion that I am on holiday in the Alps.
Either way, the Alpine Lodge - with it's bar and ski-themed menu - proved to be a little slice of slope away from the grog of the greyness.
But maybe the astroturf needs a little more snow on it, otherwise I'll put down the ski googles for a football!
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