Give the gift of ‘appiness’ this Christmas with CoPilot Live

This Christmas, the ideal gift for those who love their iPhone, iPad or Android device is the award-winning CoPilot Live sat nav app.

A truly useful app which is always to hand, it is perfect for drivers and those who need pointing in the right direction. Being an app, it is a great last-minute purchase and is the perfect accompaniment for any smart devices being given this Christmas.

With CoPilot Live, your loved one can:

• Avoid traffic jams on the way to visit relatives over the festive period, using 12 months free ActiveTrafficTM
• Save on their precious data allowance, as the app downloads the maps onto the device to avoid data charges. No need to worry if there is no network signal, as the app works offline
• Fine-tune routes to avoid or go via certain locations through dragging and dropping on screen
• Never miss a turning again with ClearTurnTM to guide them through complex junctions
• Stay safe on unfamiliar routes as distracting data is hidden from view
• Find their way around on foot or bicycle as easily as by car

So of course, it was only natural to test this app out.

The first positive to note is that once the app has downloaded you get a large choice of 'maps' to download. The wider the geographical region, the larger the download size, so bearing this in mind (and the fact that I have driven abroad once in my lifetime) I selected the GB & I.

It is entirely user-friendly, from the options not to sign in with a specific ID to how specific you want to be with your address. If you only know a postcode, just put that in, and skip the 'street' and 'house number'.

This I like.

There are also options to store your 'favourite' places as home or work, to search for various points of interest, browse map, and also a clever little option called 'PhotoNav'. This is a cracking addition. Basically, such is the capability of the iPhone, when a picture is taken, provided there is some level of internet coverage, it is geotagged. CoPilot can then read this geotagging information and tell you exactly where the picture was taken, and more importantly how to get there. Clever!

On to the journey, which if you're bothered was from High Street Kensington, London, to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. I chose to use the 3D map, which while isn't street view, it is certainly clear enough.

As with many sat nav programs, the voice  is rather robotic, but this is obviously less to do with the product and more to do with taste. While it may be robotic, the pronunciation of various roads and streets was spot-on.

A major plus for this product was the advance notice it gives you of directions. A lot of other SatNav programs on Apple devices have a habit of telling you which exit to take on a roundabout when you have already arrived - not good enough when you have Mr angry lorry driver up your backside! I put this down to the satellite co-ordinates received by the app being spot on,. so top marks.

There are plenty of other features you might like to switch to for your journey, such as switching to the speed you're going at or the time remaining, although you will have to choose only two parameters, which is a shame.

Safe and sound at my destination, it was a case of job done, and job done very well. Clear and well-timed directions, warnings for speed cameras (hey, we all do it, don't judge me) and I was a happy traveller!  

Pricing & Availability:

The CoPilot Live apps are available from £24.99 for the UK & Ireland version and from £34.99 for the European version. It is available on all iPhone and Android devices.

What technology reviewers have said:

MSN, Adam Hartley – “CoPilot GPS… beats Google Maps on your phone hands down.”

The Guardian, Stuart Dredge – “CoPilot Live is one of the more established navigation apps.”

More information is available at www.copilotlive.com, on Facebook and Twitter.

Your chance to win the CoPilot app

We’ve teamed up with CoPilot Live to give away two iPhone CoPilot Live Premium UK & Ireland apps. CoPilot Live is the best-selling app that turns your iPhone, iPad or Android into a full voice-guided sat nav.

Features include:

✔ Turn-by-turn voice directions to addresses, hotels and points of interest throughout Europe 

✔ Maps stored on your phone, not downloaded via 3G

✔Powerful route calculation and automatic re-calculation if you miss a turn

✔ Lane indicator arrows and ClearTurn™ display for clear directions at complex junctions ✔ Driver-friendly 3D and 2D driving views with speed-variable zoom and street names

✔ 12 months free Active Traffic service

✔ Navigate to a full UK post code or address book contact ✔ Speed camera warnings included as standard ✔ Speed limit warnings, and much more!

The CoPilot Live apps are available via iTunes and Google Play from £24.99 for the UK & Ireland version and from £34.99 for the European version.

To be in with your chance of winning the app just follow me @reviews_live as well as @copilotlive on Twitter and re-tweet: RT to win a CoPilot Live Premium UK&Ireland App from @reviews_live + @copilotlive http://tinyurl.com/czqq4yc 

Scrumptious food - Made in Mayfair

Mayfair.  Now, I can hardly claim to frequent the area.  It is by no means my stomping ground, and I can't pretend that I would ever be at home in The Ritz.  In fact, if I'm honest, I don't think they'd let me in.  But if you feel the same about this rather upmarket area of our dear capital city, but find yourself lost and in need of a beer and some bloody good pub grub, then fear not!  Take a left down Dover Street and step inside The Clarence.

The Clarence, Dover Street, London

On entering the pub, I was instantly hit by the warm atmosphere, the aroma of mulled wine in the air, and the bustle of people enjoying a few post-work beverages in the run-up to the festive season.  It seemed to be the perfect place for a cosy winter drink, and while you can dine in the bar area, I highly recommend taking the steps upstairs to the restaurant where you can choose from the same menu, but enjoy the benefits and comfort of quieter surroundings alongside impeccable table service.

After catching the sweet and spicy fragrance of the mulled wine in the bar area I'd already decided what my drink for the evening would be; sweetly flavoured and perfectly warm it was a fantastic start to the evening.  My partner took the excellent advice of our server for the evening, Anna, and tried a couple of ales throughout the meal, and all were thoroughly enjoyed.  There is a great selection and, if you are an ale drinker, you should definitely take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the staff as they will be more than happy to find the right one for you.

We chose a pint of the Nicholson's home ale, and a festive mulled wine

For my starter I went for the smoked Scottish salmon, and what an absolutely great start to the meal.  The salmon was delicately flavoured, and was complemented perfectly by the yummy, salty cornichons (which might not be your bag but have a go, don't be pathetic).  I didn't finish all of the soda bread this was served with this as I found it a little heavy for a starter, but if you have a bigger appetite than me, get stuck in.  My partner went for the crispy squid with garlic mayonnaise; a generous portion and steaming hot with perfectly crispy batter.

The Scottish smoked salmon starter

Crispy squid starter

 My partner didn't hold back on the main and went for the ribeye steak, served with chips and a peppercorn sauce, plus two enormous king prawns to 'surf' it.  This was a proper man-feast and was beautifully cooked, and definitely enjoyed, but it's not a particularly cheap choice, and there are plenty of other delicious options on the menu if you find this one a little pricey. 

The fish basket main course was positively loaded!

I went for the basket of fish, which included cod goujons, scampi, king prawns and calamari, served with chips and tartare sauce.  The fish was really delicious, and beautifully presented in a basket with a stack of crispy chips on the side.  The portion was very generous, but I personally would have preferred a smaller amount, but served with some salad on the side - this came with no garnish at all which, for me, was the only thing I missed.  There is, however, a good selection of sides on the menu, including the house salad or vegetables, but whether you add these in or not, you won't be going hungry!

Dessert was out of the question, much as it pains me to say it, as we were way too full, so I chose to have a pot of tea whilst my partner went for an Amaretto latte (I nicked a bit when he was looking the other way and it was delicious, take it from me). 

Anna gave fantastic service, and was extremely attentive and helpful, and very keen to give assistance and advice.  She is a real credit to the company.

If you are ever in the area I thoroughly recommend a trip to The Clarence.  You will receive a warm welcome and friendly service, as well as some really good quality British pub food.  Then you can round off your evening with a stroll to see the Christmas lights, or perhaps down to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  Or you can pop next door to Mahiki and pull a celebrity.

This wasn't your usual surf 'n' turf as you can see!

Guest blogger - AB

Click here to make a booking or for more information on The Clarence, Mayfair.

Sweet treats for a more traditional Christmas

It's that time of the year that causes so many of us undue stress, intense deliberations, and sleepless nights.

Ok, well perhaps the sleepless nights might be a bit of an extreme description, but buying friends and family CHRISTMAS PRESENTS is often less fun and more stressful.

With there being so many gadgets and gizmos out there, it's easy to forget about the more 'traditional' gifts that used to be the norm at this time of year.

So here, I am going to take a look at a selection of gifts, for both sexes, that could be a wise choice for loved ones at Christmas.

Can you prove yourself to be a 'Smart Ass'

Smart Ass - University Games

This is a board game, with a difference. It encourages competitiveness while keeping that element of fun.
The basic description is that all players, barring the reader (which changes at each dice roll) has to answer either a 'Who am I?' 'What am I?' or Where am I?' question. There are 10 clues, and the beauty is that any player can shout out their 'guess' at any point. Beware though, if you guess incorrectly though, you have to sit out.

Get your question correct, and you roll the dice to move around a fairly small game-board, with the ultimate aim to reach the end, which is the 'donkey's ass'!

The more players the better, so I would say at least three. The beauty of it is even if you get the question right, land on a bad square on the board, and you could be going back three spaces. But it remains key to get the questions correct, and importantly, first!

The lovely volunteers had a fun time trying to reach the Ass!

Also, the games don't take too long to complete, which means you can go again, and read through more of the substantial question cards again.

A couple of criticisms - it is perhaps not so visually appealing, but that is far from the most important thing. Also, there should be card holders, as they have a tendency to slide off each other, and are easy to be knocked around, etc.

All in all though, this should certainly be considered as a Christmas gift, and one that can be played straight after you've finished your turkey!

Smart Ass travel would make a fun stocking filler (RRP £9.99), stockist include Argos, Toys R Us, Amazon and Tesco.
 

Give the gift of good furtune this Christmas with
Jura Superstition

 

Jura Superstition - Jura Whisky

Jura distillery has Christmas all wrapped up this year with its award-winning Superstition whisky, which comes with a generous measure of good fortune for all lucky recipients.

Superstition, with its mysterious spirit, unique style and character, has a subtle taste of spice, honey, pine, peat and a whisper of smoke - ideal flavours to complement the festive season.

The community of Jura, known as Diurachs, regard the island as a place of myth, legend and intrigue and for thousands of years good fortune and mystery has enhanced island life.

In recognition of these mythical qualities, the Egyptian symbol of good fortune and immortality, the Ankh cross, is displayed on the front of every bottle of Superstition. Islanders believe everyone can enjoy some good fortune by holding the Ankh cross firmly in the centre of your palm while pouring the malt.

Jura distillery manager, Willie Cochrane, said: “Superstition encapsulates the island’s mystical properties and the superstitious nature of the islanders. One particular Diurach is believed to have lived to see over a hundred Christmases on the island, so I for one like to believe Jura Superstition does bring good fortune.”

“Superstition’s lightly peated taste with hints of smoke and spice is perfect to warm up even the coldest winter’s night.  Its honey and spice flavours also perfectly complement a range of Christmas dishes, working especially well with cheeses. Or for those having an alternative to turkey, it works well with meats with added tang such as gammon steak, salted pork or game.”

Jura Superstition is available to purchase online at www.isleofjura.com/shop for £36.

Barratt Sweets - Tangerine Confectionary 



Go old school with this delightful sherbert-filled mug

 

Tired of giving socks and umbrellas as stocking fillers? Fear not - Barratt is here to rescue Christmas, with some of its best-loved sweets in festive gift format. Christmas is the perfect time to rekindle childhood memories, which is why Barratt has introduced three nostalgic gifts for you to impress your retro-sweet loving friends and family.

For the Sherbet Fountain enthusiasts, a limited edition Sherbet Fountain mug (RRP £4.99) containing four tubes of Sherbet Fountain, is enough to make fans cheer with Christmas joy!  For the liquorice purists out there, the Catherine Wheels tin (RRP £3.99), is a great pencil case sized gift, filled to the brim with Catherine Wheel treats.

Barratt’s time capsule (RRP £4.99) contains all your childhood favourite sweets, sealed into a sweetie cylinder capsule that can be used as a money box once empty – the perfect gift for big and small kids alike! The capsule contains the bestselling Barratt sweets - Black Jacks, Fruit Salads, Sherbet Fountains, Dip Dabs, Flumps, Refreshers and Nougat. 

Barratt’s Christmas gifts are available from B&M, BHS, Matalan, Selfridges and a selection of independent specialist stores. To keep up to date with all the news from Barratt sweets, visit www.facebook.com/barrattsweets

The Shape Of Shit To Come (book)

 

A great present for the man who loves his gadgets and can’t wait for the next big thing... Once, we were promised hover boards, jet packs, robot servants and flying cars but so far this has been a sci-fi future that has never turned up. But what if it really is on its way now?

The Shape of Shit To Come comes from the rather bitter minds of Steve Lowe and Alan McArthur, authors of the mega-selling, Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shit?

They take readers on a funny and unsurprisingly sarcastic tour of a near future that is taking shape before our very own (jaded) eyes. This is a future apparently full of sex robots, hotels floating in space and children making their own pets with gene-splicing kits.

You Can Stick It (book)

 

Perfect for rebellious brothers and bored boyfriends, You Can Stick It is the activity book for adults. Forget spray cans, Banksy and toilet cubicle graffiti, stickering is the true form of artistic expression.

This book is the ideal antidote to the age of calorie-counting, Health and Safety and parental control. Mysterious designer PK Munroe, the originator of the current stickering craze, has created hundreds of hilarious, subversive and just plain silly stickers to help you hit back at the bossy, finger-wagging experts who think they are in charge.



Juvenile, irresponsible, and completely pointless, You Can Stick It is the sticky, stress-busting self-help book for our times.

Chiquito - Mexican or Mexi-can't?

My latest restaurant review took myself and dining partner to Chiquito  - a restaurant that I have always had a fondness for following fine food and outstanding customer service on previous visits.

However, as every review is based on the merits of there and then, no bias was taken into this, and as we entered, on a Wednesday, the first thing that struck us was how quiet the restaurant was.

Chiquito have a superb two courses for £9.99 midweek menu, Mon-Thurs, from 5pm, and my previous visits have always been to take advantage of this!

A Wednesday night was a good choice - quiet meant our service was prompt

This time was different and we decided to take on the new 'Sizzling menu'.

We had the option of where we wanted to sit, and on entering the establishment, the most appealing are the booth seats - relaxing high-backed seats nicely cushioned.

The first thing to note here, is that if you are eating at the Hatfield restaurant, the chances are at least one of the doors will be permanently open. Now while we could see the point of having an entrance door open to show the restaurant is open, it doesn't make the winter chill any easier to deal with. It is unsure whether this is replicated throughout the chain, so worth checking when booking or sitting!

The meatballs were simple in design, yet scrumptious on the palate

We decided rather than a criticism, this was a point to remember for next time, as we did choose where we wanted to sit.

For starter I ordered the South Western Meatballs and my partner ordered the Prawn Skewer. This was after a chat with our server, who we believe (from the bill at the end) to be called EITHER Honey or Amanda. Whoever you are well done as your enthusiasm for advising us of your recommendations, as well as attentive nature throughout, was a credit to your restaurant.

The meatballs arrived looking fairly minimal for the appetite I had worked up through the day. However the heavy cheese, with the 'signature tomato sauce' and tortilla chips made it an appropriate first course. As with any starter, you don't want the sauce or accompaniments to out-flavour the actual central food. Safe to say on this occasion this wasn't the case as the beef and pork was juicy and steaming hot, just how I like it.

My partner's Prawn Skewer was in her words, 'enough for a starter'. Whether this meant she knew it would be a lighter choice, or that she was mindful of the 12 burgers she had ordered for her main is beside the point. The skewer was served with a tangy and moist salad - which perfectly complemented the juicy and wholesome prawns that were subtly flavoured.

The prawn skewer was a juicy choice for the starter

We were on to our mains, in good time about 10 minutes after our starters, after some nice (pint of) San Miguel refreshment. I had gone for Chicken & Chorizo Skewer, one of the 'Sizzling Specials', while my partner didn't in fact plump for 12 burgers, but in fact the BBQ Pulled Pork 'Hot Baked Wrap'.

I love chorizo. So despite the fact that it came with chicken, of which I find too 'standard' to choose as a meat dish in a restaurant, I was prepared to be proved wrong. Unfortunately, while the chicken was succulent and there was plenty of it, the flavour on the outside was not replicated throughout the meat. I could only presume from this, that the chicken had been cooked separate from the chorizo, as this had a strong, powerful taste. The meat, mixed with peppers on a skewer, was laid on a bed of cooked onion, and served with chips. I also love onion, and chips. So this was pleasing.

The Chicken & Chorizo Skewer - looks good, but did the taste match up?

The BBQ Pulled Pork Wrap was most definitely wholesome

My partner, on deciding on the wrap, was met with derision by me. She had changed her mind from having a Pulled Pork Fajita, to a Pulled Pork wrap. What the difference is I'm not sure (probably just a swap of guacamole and salsa for salad), but I presumed as the wrap was some £4 cheaper, it wouldn't be as good. Whether I am correct or incorrect on that is up for discussion, but after a couple of bites of the 'wrap' I can say it was money well spent. And the size of the dish was impressive. The pork was beautifully tender, and although there was not masses of meat in the split wrap, the richness of it was just right. This was served by a generous portion of mixed salad with dressing and interestingly-coloured onion, coleslaw and skin-on fries.

Following an intense discussion of our rapidly-expanding waistlines, we decided that dessert, although sounding fantastic from the menu, would be ignored this time. We asked for the bill and were soon on our way from what I would say is my 'favourite chain restaurant'. I can imagine the service might be slower on a Friday night or Saturday, but as long as the food is piping hot, generous in portion, and varied in choice, I am of the opinion others might agree with me on that one. However, the £9.99 menu apart, the main menu might not be as cheap as other chain restaurants, but for amount of food you get, this can easily be forgotten. All in all good work Chiquito, and well done on looking after your customers!

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting - 7
Service -9
Quality of food - 8
Cleanliness and decor -9

Total score  - 33/40

To make a booking for a Chiquito restaurant near you, click here

Christmas time, mistletoe and..... ALE!

As a follow-up to the fantastic afternoon sampling Nicholson's ale festival specialities, I was cordially invited to sample the company's Christmas ales one evening at the De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar in Soho London.

Accompanying me on this festive delight was long-time school friend Daniel.

Nicholson’s Pubs celebrates the festive season by producing a selection of seven exclusive Christmas Ales in collaboration with some of the UK’s key top brewers.

The speakers line up to present their Christmas ales

The company’s experienced Cask Masters have specially crafted their own ales, brewed in collaboration with Moorhouse, Oxfordshire, Andwells, Broughton, Sambrooks, Vale and Brentwood breweries and available across over 80 pubs nationwide throughout December 2012. 

So our evening involved tasting the seven specialities on offer, and here they are, with a brief description, our thoughts and ratings!

Ding Dong - but did it make the bells ring?

Ding Dong

ABV: 4.5%
Taste: A warm chestnut beer with a rich marmalade aroma
Brewery: Andwell

This was our first Christmas ale of the evening, and was some start. It had a sweet, dessert flavour, and as oppose to some other ales that promises a flavour it can't really provide, the sweet aftertaste of marmelade was delightful.

Scores

Daniel - 7

John - 8

Meads Must

ABV: 4.7%
Taste: A superb dark ruby red ale with a hint of honey and quince.
Brewery: Oxfordshire

Although higher in ABV content than the first, this ale lacked any kind of bite, and had a rather weak aftertaste. We both deduced that unfortunately it's smell, which was rich and sweet, was better than its taste.

Scores

Daniel -6

John - 5

The representatives from those involved with The Only Way Is Santa  put on an enthusiastic presentation

Five Gold Rings

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: A dark mahogany coloured brew with an aroma of roasted malt, the taste of fruit and subtle spice flavours are followed by a long , warm and slightly bitter finish.
Brewery: Vale

A lovely, warm and spicy ale, a real winter special. This had a good, all-round solid taste which could be felt in between drinks. Although early in the evening, we knew this was going to be up there with the best.

Scores

Daniel -7

John -8

 
London Winter Ale

ABV: 4.6%
Taste: A deep red ale which takes its spicy aroma from a blend of English hops.  With a rich sweet and tangy taste this beer is an ideal accompaniment to steak, venison, game and Christmas Pudding.
Brewery: Sambrookes

Both of us had heard of the Sambrookes brewery, so were pleasantly surprised to hear that it had only been brewing from Battersea since 2008. And with this concoction, they are on to a winner. It had a real chocolatey taste, and we felt was one of the more powerful on the palate of the evening.

Scores

Daniel -8

John -7

Elves Bells

ABV: 4%
Taste: A deep chestnut brown coloured ale, brewed with Maris Otter malted barley and crystal malt to give hints of sweet malt, biscuit and caramel tones.  Balanced by the use of cascade hops to give floral and spice notes on the nose, there is a pleasant full bitterness in the aftertaste.
Brewery: Moorhouse

This was the 'most drinkable' ale of the evening - that is to say it was the one most suited to staying on all night. This may be to do with the alcohol content, but it was also to do with its succinct, dessert taaste, where each of the ingredients were discernable. Also, the fact that is was devoid of sugar added to its popularity!

Scores

Daniel -8

John -8

The Only Way Is Santa

ABV: 5.2%
Taste: A rich ruby beer with a smooth malt character, Willamette hops give this beer spicy, blackcurrant aromas and flavours. Plums and cinnamon have been added to compliment the beers character with a delectably rich flavour and a gentle spice. 
Brewery: Brentwood

The highest ABV of the evening, and also, the joint-highest overall score from our ratings! While Joey Essex and Chloe Simms from TOWIE may not choose this tipple on their night out in the Sugar Hut, Essex should be very proud of this particular concoction (could these characters also be labelled 'concoctions' though??). We were told this ale gives you 'one of your five-a-day' and if five glasses of this sorted that out, then we'll raise our glass to that!

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

Santa's Oatmeal Stout SOS

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: Bursting with oatmeal and chocolate aromas, this dark brown ale uses a blend of five malts and oats, delivering a mouthful of smooth roasted flavours and a lingering rich taste.
Brewery: Broughton

Certainly one of the liveliest ales on the palate of the evening, and with a lingering taste in the mouth and throat, this finished joint-top in the ratings with The Only Way Is Santa. Again, the flavours mingled exceptionally well, and the aftertaste left us wanting more. It felt as strong as the previous ale, and felt, as we did here, it would be the perfect pint to round off an evening with (and probably start off with too!).

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

The presentations all came across as genuine and knowledgable

After the presentations from representatives from the various breweries were finished, expertly hosted by British Craft Guild of Beer Writers member and author Melissa Cole, those present were invited to help themselves to the casks of Christmas ales. There was no desire to take advantage of the volume of alcohol on offer - it was the kind of night to enjoy the varied tastes of all the respective ales, chat to others present, and then be on our sober way home.

Well, most of that is true!

For more information on Nicholson's Christmas Ales, visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Nicholson’s offers an historic and distinctive collection of pubs across the UK, with warm and inviting hospitality through its authentic British pub atmosphere.  Delivering quality hearty British classics served with a modern twist, take a break from Christmas shopping and enjoy lunch or dinner at many of the hidden upstairs dining rooms.  Alternatively the festive menus provide a great solution for office get-togethers or groups of friends and family.

Guest ales are expertly matched with dishes from the food menu, or alternatively, experience Nicholson’s equalled passion for fine wine with its impressive cellars containing classics and vintages from the old and new world.  

 

 

 

Could you conquer The Monster?

TGI Friday's, Covent Garden, soon filled up

Covent Garden, London is probably one of the busiest places to be in Autumn/Winter as the area gets ready to celebrate the festive season in its own, flamboyant style.

So a trip to review TGI Friday's left me feeling apprehensive, and the battle-plan was drawn on how to navigate through the tourist-majority crowds and then on how best to attract attention in what would blatantly be a full restaurant.

I was wrong on one count.

Yes, there were plenty of people milling about, making their way to see the Christmas carols being belted out by the market entrance, but once inside the American-themed eatery, there was the pleasant realisation that service should be decent judging by a fair amount of empty seats.

We had booked our table for 7pm on a Wednesday night, and after introducing ourselves to the front desk, we were shown to our seats, given a drinks and food menu with a cheerful smile.

One negative, which was fairly evident, was the size of the table and the close proximity not only to other diners, but also that it was right on the walkway. Also, there were a couple of sticky patches on the table, and a prawn on the floor underneath the table opposite caught my eye. But with the nature of the trade of TGI's it is near-impossible to keep on top of everything all the time, so an issue wasn't made of this.

Obviously the idea of the business is to get as many people in as possible, keeping the service prompt so as to keep a revolving door of custom. But this led to there already appearing to be an atmosphere of rush and bustle - waiters and waitresses were near-jogging around. But we will call this the American-themed enthusiastic atmosphere!


Paradise Punch

Strawberry Surprise

We ordered a cocktail each after being introduced to our friendly waitress for the evening, Bella. I plumped for the Paradise Punch, which was Southern Comfort, Luxardo Amaretto, BOLS Grenadine and SKYY vodka with pineapple, orange and lime juices. My partner was on the non-alcoholic cocktails for the evening, and went for the Strawberry Surprise, which was frozen strawberry, apple and pineapple juices topped with soda. (For cocktail menu, click here).

The only complaint I would say is that, the fruit juices perhaps overshadow some of the alcohol tones, but as some have told me recently, that's the trick of cocktails that keeps you ordering more. The Strawberry Surprise wasn't so much of a surprise as it went down well, although the strawberry flavour was a little too weak, which when the ice melts, tends to get lost completely.

All the while, the place was filling up, the noise-levels were rising, and the walkway next to our table was becoming more trafficy.

The Monster Burger - prior to being attacked

Finished - like a boss

We decided on mains only, and I knew even before getting there, what I was going to choose.

The Monster burger. A 12oz burger heaped with crispy bacon, sliced Colby cheese, Cajun-battered onion rings, and Friday's mayo on a toasted seeded bun with fresh cos lettuce, red onion and beef tomato. All served with crispy fries. (Click food menu, click here).

The menu asked the question 'can you handle it?' and the answer, proved by me, was yes (although it was a struggle)!

I felt like Adam Richman from the hit American TV programme Man v Food. I began to plan how to tackle the mound on my plate. The best idea would be to tackle the burger as priority, eating the chips sparingly even if it meant there would be quite a few left at the end. One plan went out the window immediately - there was no time for messing around with a knife and fork, this had to be done in real cave-man style.

The French Canadian Twisted Burger

So, despite not being able to get my mouth around the full height of the burger, I battled through, enjoying every minute of the succulent and gristle-free meat, perfectly complemented by a cool and refreshing sauce.

And in about 20 minutes, I had completed my task. Albeit some time after my partner, who went for the lighter French Canadian 'twisted burger'.

This was a grilled chicken breast basted with sweet Canadian maple syrup and topped with crispy bacon and creamy melted French brie, on a classic toasted bun with cos lettuce, beef tomato and red onion, served with a creamy garlic mayo.

Purple Rain, back, and Hawaiian Island
Surfer, front

The maple syrup was succinct and just-about sweet, however it was noted that the bun being sweet too, perhaps overloaded that particular taste. The chicken was well cooked and flavoursome on its own, without being overpowering.

During my intense war with The Monster, I ordered in another cocktail, Purple Rain.

This is Bacardi Superior rum, BOLS Blue Curacao, SKYY vodka and Chambord with a drizzle of BOLS Grenadine, it looked good, and tasted amazing - my same criticism that it was hard to distinguish the individual alcohols. However, the mix was refreshing and wickedly-coloured.

My partner went for the Hawaiian Island surfer, Peaches, pina colada, pineapple juice and orange sherbet, with vanilla flavor ice cream. This was a really flavoursome concoction, which maintained it's taste till the very end.

It was decided, after sweating my way through my mound of meat, that we would have hot drinks as our 'dessert,' I want for a cappuccino and my partner, as traditional as she is, went for a tea. They arrived well presented with enough sugar and milk.

The service throughout from Bella was excellent, she was always prepared to come over when I caught her eye, she also, and I think this is vital in the restaurant industry, gave her opinions and recommendations on the food and cocktail menu.

On summing up this restaurant, I would say it is somewhere you should go if you are really hungry. Although I can't make judgement on the salad and lighter options, it is a very main-meat orientated venue, and without trying a sizeable burger, steak or fajita you really would be missing out.

But don't rule out popping in for a cocktail - the variety is excellent, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. And perhaps during the week might be a good idea to beat the queues!

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting - 7
Service - 8
Quality of food - 8
Cleanliness - 7

Total score  - 30/40

To make a booking for TGI Friday's, Covent Garden, click here

Enjoy some top-quality meat at TGI Friday's

 

Warm the cockles with Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival!

An afternoon sampling ale sounded right up my street. Added to that was the fact that I was scheduled to be meeting up with a couple of old University friends, and the seed was sown, and we were cordially invited to sample the delights of Nicholson's Ale Festival. (Click here for history of the Nicholson's branding on the 'reviews' page).

The Nicholson's London Ale trail runs through Soho and Oxford Street, Theatreland, Piccadilly to Westminster, the Financial District, historical Blackfriars and London Bridge to Tower Bridge, in the city centre.

Add another three sites just outside the centre of London, and there's 43 pubs to sample the delight of Great British ales.

Left to right; Cask ale expert Ben Lockwood, The Clachan manager Greg Yates,
and yours truly

We settled for an afternoon in one of the venues (not lazy, just comfortable), and this was The Clachan, near to Oxford Circus tube station on Kingly Street.

On notifying the bar manager that we weren't just dossers taking an afternoon off to tank up on the super selection of ales on offer, but that I was there to review the festival, we were offered our first sample - a pint of the 24 Carat Gold, a Liverpool-brewed ale.

And a great start that was! The ale was lively and refreshing, the orange notes very clear in the pint, a superb selection from manager Greg Yates.

After finishing a meeting, assistant brand manager and cask ale expert Ben Lockwood joined us at the table - and after being briefed of his experience and enthusiasm for his line of work, I expected a 40-years-old + gent to be joining us.

I was wrong, as shuffling down next to us was a youthful smartly-dressed chap, who, similar to me as I am a youthful, smartly-dressed chap, was 28-years-old.

His knowledge and history in the trade was fascinating, his pride and dedication very evident, and it helped that he asked us questions as well as us quizzing him, and it made it a nicely-settled atmosphere.

After some interesting conversation, Ben decided that we would crack on with sampling some of the ales on offer. And here's how they went down, with scoring courtesy of myself, my home-brewing ale expert Andy, and some geezer we met on the way (joke) Greg.

Proper Job

ABV: 4.5%
Style: IPA
Taste: A powerfully hopped golden bitter that explodes with citrus grapefruit flavours
Location: Cornwall

It is always difficult to score an ale when it is first (discounting our pre-drink) on the menu. Yet all three of us were confident this would be right up there. The ale was crisp, the flavours of the hops spicy, yet not overwhelming, and it left a really strong mouthfeel.

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 7
John - 8

There were certainly a few ales to get through...

Lamplighter

ABV: 4.8%
Style: Amber
Taste: Roasted malts, fruity and hoppy
Location: Essex

This beer is brewed in memory of founder William Nicholson, whose original homemade gin, before trying his expert hand to ale, was called Lamplighter. The citric aromas, mixed with an earthy aftertaste made it seem all ends up a sure-fire house ale. The taste however, seemed like it could be of a seasonal nature, perhaps more an autumn/winter warmer, which affected the scoring.

Scores

Andy - 8
Greg - 6
John - 9


Real Blonde

ABV: 4%
Style: Blonde
Taste: Refreshing, balanced, light and fruity
Location: Batley

Admittedly, I went into this taste-test with a bias insofar that Batley is close to where I was brought up. However, this ale turned out to be my least favourite. Nothing to do with its qualities as a blonde ale, but simply that I prefer a heavy, dark ale. We all felt it tasted very 'light' and hit little effect on the palate - but perhaps it is an acquired taste!

I had a go at pulling my own - apparently it was the 'perfect pint'

Scores

Andy - 5
Greg - 5
John - 6


Black Gold

ABV: 3.7%
Style: Mild
Taste: Roasted malts giving a unique rich and luscious flavour
Location: Skipton

Again I wanted to be biased - Skipton is a lovely place not far from my home in Leeds. So I naturally scored it high - but for good reason. I found the ale very flavoursome, like a well-nurtured desert, very grainy and caramel-like. Sadly, I think my colleagues were getting full up as shown in their scoring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 6
John - 8

Think the lads were happy with the afternoon's entertainment!

Titanic Iceberg

ABV: 4.1%
Style: Pale
Taste: A fantastic wheat beer that holes any passing thirst
Location: Stoke-on-Trent

A really refreshing beer that had a very special zest that makes you forget that it contains any alcohol. This is certainly an ale you could spend a night on and be happy with your choice. However, it might lack that special edge that others might bring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 7
John - 7


Three Swords

ABV: 4.5%
Style: Pale
Taste: The three hops give a delightful citrus nose
Location: Leeds

Now here it was, the final ale, from my home town, Leeds. And I was not disappointed, and neither were my colleagues, who had no bias whatsoever! This was the clear winner! It is a real thirst-quencher, containing a different sensation on each taste. It was a complex taste with many different flavours on the palate, but each one discernible. A sure fire winner!

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 8
John - 9


And so we were shortly on our way. Well oiled for the evening, but with a realisation that we didn't want to ruin it with sub-standard alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, as we didn't frequent any more Nicholson's pubs on our tour of London, we knew there was no point trying the ales of other establishments as they wouldn't match up. So we decided to stay on water for the evening to as to not spoil the palate.

Well, that might not be wholly true, but our ale-tasting session at The Clachan was certainly the highlight of our meeting. Bravo!

The Autumn Ale Festival runs until November 18 in all Nicholson's pubs in London and beyond. For more information contact visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

How a nightmare turned into a privilege!

The view from the front row - was originally scared

The comedy circuit in London is renowned for its regularity, and having attended a fair few shows on any given night, a Saturday evening at Highlight Comedy, Camden, has always been a particular favourite of mine.

The first point of this blog is that it would be an offence to type jokes and the set of any of the comedians, so that won't happen. What I shall do is review the comedians we saw (you can easily find out where they are scheduled on the circuit) as well as the venue.

The obvious difference in this venue, is that it is set up for comedy, in so far that it is not a big room in a pub, but a well-furnished, stage-led venue, with cameras excellently positioned so if you're ordering a beer at the bar, you won't miss the 'action'.

The entrance I have used previous - down through Camden market in a door at the bottom, has been changed, and now it's a trip up some steps into the famous 'Dingwalls,' or Lock 17 as many might know it, and down some more steps.

The first point of note, and your night may be different, but we were greeted by an annoying queue mostly combined of +40 years-old stag do.

Here is the first constructive criticism of the night - although by the end of the review, you might forgive it.

Jason Patterson - owned it!

The rules were simple; if you're coming in, in a stag group, you will pay your way, you won't heckle, and you will be sitting/standing wherever isn't booked.

Straightforward?

This is where my first encounter came with the more-than-friendly French manager/supervisor occurred. He gave them the time of day! Chat, instructions, chat, more instructions - meanwhile the queue behind us was growing, with the less-than-friendly bouncer making sure people weren't 'blocking the stairwell' and instead snaked them round ridiculously, while we were 'tutting' at the overly-chatty old stag do.

Eventually, obviously noticing the groans, raised eyebrows, and watch-glancing, the oldies were motioned through, and we were there, ready to be sent to our table. Happy days!

Front row!

That's where we were told we were sitting. Front row. Enough to make any man weak at the knees - but this northerner was excited. It is probably where I have always wanted to be!

My partner wasn't so enthused - even asking if there was any chance to move  - of which I dismissed (apparently we had been put there because her surname made the manager think she was French - bravo to him!).

Kerry Godliman - Changed my perception

The compere for the night was Jason Patterson, my first viewing of the fine gent, and he put in a similarly fine performance. Witty, superb with the crowd (which did include a few jokes at my 'lack of commitment' with the missus), and up-to-date, he was one who we thought could go on all night, and we wouldn't get bored.

First on was Kerry Godliman, and (upbringing blamed) I am not not usually a fan of female comedians.

Nothing chauvinistic, nothing sexist, just the simple fact that I have been brought up with a gruff voice, making dirty jokes.

And that's what Kerry was like. Top marks.

While humouring her own lifestyle and odd traits, we could all relate to the everyday things she talked about. She was a crowd-classic and didn't lose the enthusiastic mass, and her brutal honesty, whether acted out or truthful, was refreshing and delightful.

James Redmond appeared on the stage with a few whispers of 'I recognise him,' or 'he's been on the telly,' and he proceeded to confirm that when he re-encated the theme tune to hit BBC hospital drama Casualty - via vibrating lips and shaking head.

Of course, James was the widely-known Abs Denham, from the grim depiction of real life, Casualty.

Erich McElroy  - lovely face and great act

James' set was good, if not a little nervy. Perhaps some will say his gags were long-winded, but as he exited, I wanted more. His return to the comedy circuit  should go well as long as he has more confidence, gets a bit more 'everyday man real life' and extends it to longer than 10 minutes!

Next up was Erich McElroy - the name didn't ring a bell, but his face certainly did.

Not that it's a face of any particular negativity, as it is a beautiful, round face, but it is a recognisable one. And as he entered the stage the bounce, enthusiasm, and an American accent, I remembered him!

A great set, superb crowd interaction, which, as opposed to putting a bracket in, I shall explain.

A heckler. And a very BAD heckler, for no reason, decided to try and be everyone's memory of the night.

'I hate you' rang out. Everyone looked, no-one could really see, but the 'voice' came from what looked like a big group of girls, and most of them looked embarrassed.

She tried to explain 'why' (she obviously had taken advantage of the very reasonably-priced pitchers of lager), which was met by her friends stroking her hair, and telling her to 'go back to sleep'. Now if I was a comedian, I would rinse her, but Erich, experienced as he is, rinsed her for about 60 seconds, then settled, and finished, in great style.

Pete Johansson was the final act one - and what an experience.

If he doesn't come on talking about bears, I advise you to heckle and ask for it. Whether his act was 'actually' meant to be about bears or not, or even how he got on the subject is beside the point. As is the fact that the UK doesn't even have wild bears; his set was hysterical.

And so a fantastic end to a cracking line-up.

And now a word for the French manager as aforementioned. Chatting away to a fellow 'comedy-loving' couple, my drink was inexplicably-taken. So a trip up to the bar, an honest explanation to the lovable (and I am heterosexual man) French man, and a full pint was presented.

Then followed a drink of our choice from Mr manager, a great chat about how things are going at the club, and we were on our way.

I asked the name of the gentleman, but Comedy Highlight are less than forthcoming. Shame. Their manger for the night was a credit just as much as the acts were.