Nicholson's Pubs have the answer to the perils of autumn

It's one of my favourite times of the year.

The time where the cold snap is just starting, and I have to think of ways to keep warm. Which leads me for my annual jaunt to sample the delights of the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival.

What better way to warm the cockles than sampling some fine and varied ales.

You are sure to be welcomed at the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival

Showcasing some of the best British ales available from October 21 until November 17, as well as exclusive brews available to Nicholson’s across its 77 venues nationwide, it's time to discover why our national drink is becoming more and more popular.

Our love of ale pre-dates all other alcoholic drinks produced in England and ten brewing giants with over a 100 years’ experience including Thwaites, Liberation and Camerons breweries will join a selection of 50 cask ales supplied on rotation. 

You can sample a variety of flavours through a carefully selected range of IPAs, Pales, Traditional, Dark and Speciality brews, in addition to the seasonal ales currently being sold and a choice range of ciders.

The Nicholson’s brothers opened their first pub in 1873. Today the Cask Marque accredited pubs offer iconic and historic settings, providing a real ale pub experience with its unrivalled range of cask conditioned ales. 

As well as pulling pints, Nicholson’s Pubs drive innovation by working with equally impassioned breweries to create new flavours and great tasting exclusive, seasonal ales.

New for the festival will be guest ales from Northern Ireland, plus Portobello Brewery will be creating a brand new and exclusive 7% IPA, just for the festival. 

We met cask master Ben Lockwood in The White Horse on Carnaby Street London to sample some of the delights on offer.And here are our observations:

Broughton, Hopopotamus

ABV: 3.8%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Golden, tropical fruits, Grapefruit

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook Willamette (US)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Scottish Borders

Thoughts: A very light and very tasty ale. Could comfortably be a drink for the night, as well as suited for a complement to a meal.

Whale, Pale Whale

ABV: 3.6%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Lemon grass, honey, hoppy

Hops: Challenger (UK), Goldings (UK), Cascade (UK)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Warwickshire

Thoughts: A new addition for Nicholson's, the lemon taste is both refreshing, yet subtle. Again, would complement a meal as an alternative to wine. However, perhaps lack the kick to be one to remember.

There is sure to be plenty to tempt customers

Thwaites, 13 Guns

ABV: 5.5%

Style: IPA

Colour: Pale

Taste: Hoppy, drinkable, distinctive IPA

Hops: Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, Chinook, Kohatu

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Blackburn

Thoughts: Those from Blackburn have got it spot on with this delight. Full bodied and bursting with flavour, this Autumn the 13 Guns is one not to miss out on.

Cameron's Gold Bullion

ABV: 4.3%

Style: Pale

Colour: Golden

Taste: Citrus, Hoppy

Hops: Fuggles, Cascade, Chinook

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Hartlepool

Thoughts: A pure gold coloured, full bodied ale with good hop flavour from a late copper addition of the outstanding North American Chinook hop to give a powerful citrus character. The ale underpins a more robust flavour and mouth feel for greater satisfaction.

Orchard Pig, Explorer BIB

ABV: 4.5%

Thoughts: A hint of farmyard always appeals to me when drinking a cider, that you are drinking the 'real deal.' Then comes the sweet smell of apple bloosom, and the flavours result in a balanced effort that will make you want number two, three, four.....

Want to know more about ale? Feel free to ask the fully-trained Nicholson’s Cask Masters, the company’s specially chosen, enthusiastic experts who can talk through the range in more detail and offer recommendations.

Nicholson’s Pubs will keep its Cask Ale club members up to date with initiatives and exclusive promotions available to them throughout the festival. The club provides news on the new ales available in the market and the initiatives taking place across pubs nationwide. To join visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/caskaleclub

The staff will be well trained to match your liking to a perfect pint

To find your nearest pub visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk or follow @Nicholsonspubs on Twitter and on Facebook for news updates, events and offers during the festival.

Miller & Carter - 'Experts in Steak' are cooking up a storm

With social networks awash with positivity about Miller & Carter Steakhouse, I felt the time was right to see what all the hype was about.

The Brookmans Park site has been open just over four weeks when my partner I decided to pay a visit. We booked for a Saturday night, to get a real feel for the atmosphere of the place.

We were greeted at the front desk by the general manager, Derrick Fiddes, and promptly shown to our table, despite it being a hive of activity.

The sizeable chicken wings starter

Our server for the evening was Claire, our first impressions being that she was warm and friendly, while also being passionate about her job and all that Miller & Carter stand for.

For my first drink, I chose the Pilsner Urquell, appealing as it is rare to find on draft in restaurants and pubs in the UK. It was crisp, refreshing and importantly, served chilled in Pilsner Urquell-branded glass (a bug bearer when beer is served in inappropriate sized/styled glass). 

The food menu threw up no surprises - different meat dishes all sounding equally appealing. For starter we decided to share the Chargrilled Chicken Wings (in the knowledge that we had a sizeable main of meat to come), served in a Chipotle glaze. We were told that these 'weren't your normal wings', and so this proved.

The fillet steak was cooked perfectly and supplemented well

The ribeye was recommended ahead of my visit, and I wasn't disappointed

Four bumper-size chicken wings arrived, supplemented with a creamy and cooling blue cheese dip.
The glaze made the skin just as edible as the juicy, slide-off-the-bone chicken.

When selecting our main courses, I wanted some inspiration, and believed our server Claire would be able to provide that. Listening to her favourites from the menu, as well as advice as to how to have the steak cooked and what to have as a side led me into selecting the 12oz Ribeye, cooked medium with a peppercorn sauce.

My dining partner plumped for the 8oz Fillet with a bordelaise sauce, and after Claire's advice, deviated away from medium to go for medium-rare. We also decided to sample a half-rick of ribs, promised by Claire that they would be the perfect accompaniment.

The Rioja was a perfect accompaniment to my steak

A quirk of Miller & Carter is that you also select you 'lettuce wedge' which will be delivered prior to the steak. I went for the wedge served with bacon and honey mustard, my partner chose the blue cheese and Stilton option.

As with any review, it's important to be brutally honest. I would say that a negative review makes much better reading.

Sadly there are no negatives here. Both our steaks were perfectly cooked, served with a generous helping of seasoned fries and Miller & Carter's renowned onion loaf.

The ribeye was flawless - the fat cooked off and invigorating the meat which was juicy and tender with a very unique after-taste. The fillet was smooth to cut through and easy to chew through. What impressed me was not only the flavour of the meat before any of the side-sauces were added, but the lack of those 'gritty bits' that have to be pulled out in secret and into a tissue.

And let's not forget about the half rack of ribs! It is the first time I have not felt as though it was a battle, me against the rib, a fight till the death (or at least until I had shaved the bones of all the meat).

My partner rushed in at this before I took the picture!

The meat literally slid off the bone with one fell swoop of my knife. And similar to the chicken wings, there was more meat than bone, cooked in a tingly barbecue sauce.

The thought of being too full was lost on me, as I carved my way through this meat feast. Supplemented with a small glass of Rioja, oaky and vanilla in taste, it was a good night.

Sadly dessert was out of the equation for me as I had most certainly had my fill.

I say out of the equation, but maybe the delicious After Eight-Thirty cocktail I finished off with 'could' be classed as dessert.

My partner was feeling braver, and her selection of the vanilla  Beechdean Farmhouse Dairy Ice Cream and Cookie was a good one - I admit I squeezed in a spoonful and it was rich and creamy and generous in portion.

I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. And now I know why. The interior of the restaurant is welcoming, lively, and atmospheric, with a happy buzz prevalent in customers as well as in staff.

My 'dessert' After Eight-Thirty cocktail

The Brookmans Park site is vast catering for different group-sizes as well as offering a 'private' room for those who want a more personal experience (call general manager Derek Fiddes for more information, 01707 647429).

The food is evidently 'cared for' at every stage of the process - from the preparation, to the cooking to the serving, and this feeling of 'pride' is similarly displayed by the members of staff.

All this added together made us, as the customer, feel cared for, and left us reflecting on all the positives from our first ever visit to a restaurant who label themselves as 'experts in steak' - and I'm not disagreeing.

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting -9
Service -9
Quality of food -10
Cleanliness and decor -9

Total score  - 37/40

To view the Miller & Carter menu, click here

To make a booking at Miller & Carter Brookmans Park, click here

Sizzling delights at The Pavillion

With a rival player in town, I decided to see what The Pavillion Indian Restaurant in Welwyn Garden City (Herts) was doing to stay at the top of the tree.

A family-run company for 18 years now in the Hertfordshire town, The Pavillion is managed by Sam Ahmed, and what was evident from the outset is that this is a man who cares about his customers, his staff and his products.

Some poppadoms and dips to start us off

After a friendly,  get-to-know-you chat with the bubbly and likeable boss we began to peruse the menu after ordering a couple of Kingfisher beers.

We decided to munch on some poppadoms and the sauce selections while we decided on our starters. I chose the Chicken Chat to begin, always my favourite opener, with my partner opting for the Mixed Starter.

The Mixed Starter

The Chicken Chat starter

Now what I find quite disappointing is when an Indian thinks it reasonable (as it is after all just a 'starter') to deliver the Chat with 3/4 to 1/4 ration of Chat Masala sauce to chicken. This was not the case here. The amount of chicken, tender and steaming hot, was generous, and rather than overloaded with the sauce, it was accompanied by it.

The Mixed Starter was varied and evidently cooked straight from fresh and not 'warmed'. Bonus points here. The lamb and onion bhaji were tender, and not overdone, the bhajis particularly impressive with a crispy, fluffy design matching a powerful taste.

Chicken Salee - the daily special, served with pilau rice

The Chicken Tikka, served with sizzling onion

Next, for the main course I was guided by Mr Ahmed to go for the special of the day, which was Chicken Salee -  a dish flavoured with cream, ginger, spring onion, cinnamon, bay leaf and pepper.

For the first time in my life, my main course Indian selection was guided by 'flavour' with the 'spice' level a secondary.

It was perhaps a bit TOO creamy for me, but each flavour was evident, and the chicken was cooked to perfection, sweet and succulent. There were no complaints on the pilau rice, which was sizeable in portion, or the side of bhajis I ordered after stealing some of my partner's from her starter!

A proud Mr Ahmed showed off his award

My guest chose the Chicken Tikka served with salad and a garlic and chilli naan. There were no complaints with this; the chicken was perfectly seasoned and steaming hot when it was served. If there's one thing we don't like it is lukewarm food, so it was good to see the dish had been devoted the relevant time.

Sadly, we were fully complemented to squeeze in a dessert, not even a coffee! For the prices of food on the menu, it is an incredibly reasonable place to dine. The staff are attentive, fully aware that their priority is ensuring the diners are suitably topped up with drinks, while at the same time ensuring food is brought out in good time.

We were then handed pieces of paper by Mr Ahmed, unsure what this was going to be. To our pleasant surprise, and with a beaming smile on his face, he told us that his four-star rated restaurant had been awarded a certificate of excellence from the trusted review site TripAdvisor.

It is always good to champion a family business, so this is what I shall do! And with talk of a new, innovative menu being drafted, and a willingness to develop itself more using social networking and customer reaction, The Pavillion is well on its way to ensuring it will be around for another 18 years, at least.

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

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

Total score  - 33/40

To make a booking at The Pavillion, click here

V Festival - Fun, frolics and Stereophonics

The rain may not have stayed away for the whole weekend, but nothing could dampen the spirit of more than 100,000 revellers who enjoyed another memorable Virgin Media V Festival at Hylands Park.

Enjoying the luxury of calling the Virgin Media Louder Lounge our base for the weekend, this gave us the perfect meeting point should we ever get lost in the throngs of people cheering on their heroes on the music stages.

Getting treated to acoustic sets from acts such as Paloma Faith, Scouting For Girls and Labrinth was an added bonus, as was the excellently-managed bar and food areas.

The festival was lit up by some terrific acts (All pictures courtesy of JAMES MCCAULEY) 

Kings of Leon ended a superb weekend in great style

Bringing the Chelmsford leg of the festival to a fitting finale on Sunday night were American rockers Kings of Leon, who really were on fire.

Starting with new single Supersoaker, which is sure to be a massive hit, they went through a full repertoire of their classics including Use Somebody and Radioactive, before ending with Sex on Fire, which was screamed back at them by the swaying throng of fans.

A personal highlight of mine was seeing Stereophonics' Kelly Jones doing his thing

Labrinth was his usual, happy self

Stereophonics had warmed the crowd up with a terrific performance as the sun was setting over Essex. Playing a range of hits from Mr Writer and Dakota through to more up-to-date tunes including recent release Indian Summer, the large crowd really did Have a Nice Day.

Earlier in the day, Scouting for Girls fans missed a Heartbeat as the three-piece put on a  fantastically energetic performance with the full range of their smash hits, including perfect festival anthem, She’s So lovely.

Ellie Goulding brought her sweet notes to the masses

Emeli Sande put some feeling into her performance

Also thrilling the crowds on day two of the festival were Calvin Harris, Rita Ora, The Saturdays, home-town boy Olly Murs, Maximo Park and Basement Jaxx among others.

Music fans were Crazy in Love with Beyonce by the end of her rollercoaster headline set in the rain on Saturday night.

The singer, sporting a new blonde bob haircut, got off to a storming start, but a few too many costumes changes left a lull and a strange calm around the Virgin Media stage.

Fresh from a mesmerising performance in BBC One drama Luther, as the lead character, Idris Elba showed us his other talent

However, Queen B picked the pace up again with her smash hits including Single Ladies and Halo having everyone singing in the rain.

Over on the 4Music Stage, Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye may have pulled out, but revellers were not looking back in anger as Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello put in a stunning performance, with tracks like Don't You Worry giving Hylands Park an Ibiza-style atmosphere.

The Saturdays looked their very best

Other amazing sets on the first day included The Script, who had the audience at fever pitch with Danny O'Donoghue climbing down from the stage to meet fans, putting the band into the V Festival Hall Of Fame.

Paloma Faith, Two Door Cinema Club, The Courteeners, Jessie J and Labrinth also showed off their talents to the Essex crowds.

The Script's Danny O'Donoghue melted people's hearts with a fine performance

Cheeky chappy Olly Murs gave an energetic performance - and he was just happy to be there!

Meanwhile, over in the Virgin Media Louder Lounge, celebrities, media folk and guest of Virgin Media were spoilt something rotten yet again.

Celebrities and music stars enjoying the experience included Little Mix, Niall from One Direction, Tulisa, Union J, Cara Delavingne Laura Carmichael and Idris Elba.

Guests were able to get their hair and make up done, receive a bronzed natural spray tan, and even kick back and relax in a hot tub. As if the free-flowing drinks and beauty treatments were not enough, there were also stunning acoustic performances on the Sony Xperia stage from the likes of Paloma Faith and Scouting for Girls.

See you again next year, V.

Paloma Faith entertained Louder Lounge guests with an acoustic masterclass

Rita Ora's performance was the talk of many revellers at this year's festival

Advance tickets for next year’s Virgin Media V Festival go on sale on August 22. Visit www.vfestival.com for more.

Guest blogger - GC

Beer and crisps – a Corking night in!

Warsteiner

I hold my hands up, it's been a while since my last post.

But as you will read from this, I had some gorgeous grub to work my way through, as well as some crisp, refreshing beer...

And so, after a few nights of 'posh crisps' and German Pilsner, I thought I would share this experience with you!

With supermarkets now stocking a whole range of international lagers, ales and ciders, it might be difficult to build up a list of favourites. But if it's a lively, refreshing and 'proper' pilsner you're after, I would say go no further than pick up a bottle of Warsteiner.

Warsteiner Premium Verum (4.8%) is available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, and independent retailers nationwide, with prices starting at £2.00 for 500ml. Warsteiner is also available on draught in various pubs around the country.

Naturally brewed according to the German Purity Law, Warsteiner is made with only three ingredients; hops, barley and extra soft water from the Arnsberg Forest, giving a remarkably smooth, clean taste. It’s this great taste that has seen beer drinkers in the UK make Warsteiner the No. 1 imported German premium pilsner producer among privately owned breweries in the UK.

And unusually for me, I decided to sample the non-alcoholic version too. Very rarely would I choose to drink a non-alcoholic beer – bot because I want to feel light-headed and begin to slur, but because, quite simply, I do not like the taste.

The Warsteiner version, however, has a dry and full taste, while not negating some of the finer ingredients of the full-bodied equivalent.

The super six selection of Corkers crisps

I would say that, given the choice, I wouldn't choose this over the 4.8% alcohol bottle, but if you want something a little more succulent than fruit juice or fizzy pop, it's certainly worth a try.

So with every good beer, snack food goes down a treat – and I was treated to six varieties of Corkers crisps.

The truly British crisp with a crunch like no other, Corkers will satisfy the hungriest of stomachs with their six mouth-watering flavours which include; Sea Salt, Sea Salt and Cider vinegar, Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion, Sweet Thai Chilli, Pork Sausage and English Mustard, Sea Salt and Black Pepper.

And I got to sample them all (obviously not in one session)!

The secret to Corkers' unique great taste is the attention to detail the makers have put into perfecting it. The premium quality Naturalo potato tastes great, but isn't a similar sight on our supermarket shelves because it's just not pretty enough.

However, its flavour is exceptional and once sliced and fried, it outshines other potatoes.

Sustainably farmed in the rich, peaty Cambridgeshire soil, the potatoes are harvested and then stored at a temperature that ensures the starch doesn't turn to sugar. This means that Corkers crisps maintain an authentic potato taste rather than the undertones of burnt sugar, which can often be detected in other brands of crisps.

There are many brands of 'posh' crisps out there at the moment, and pubs, bars and coffee shops are choosing to stock such brands ahead of more mainstream and established ones.

Corkers are now ready to burst into the market, and whether it is for that bar snack, for a pre-BBQ nibble, or like me, you think they would be an excellent accompaniment to a beer, they could, and should, become a family favourite.

Here are my thoughts on each flavour, comments and critique:

Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar

It's a subtle taste – maybe what people like, but could have been a bit stronger on the cider. Salt was at the appropraite level to go with the cider. The crisps were cooked to perfection; there wasn't a 'bad one' in the bag.

Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion

I expected these to be my least favourite, as cheese and onion flavour never really appeal. How wrong I was. These were my FAVOURITE. Both flavours in the title are shown off superbly, leaving a lovely and fresh aftertaste. These were far better than 'cheese and onion' with every crisp perfectly flavoured.

Sausage and Mustard

I really wanted these to be the best. Unfortunately I felt a little let down. I wanted more of a tingle on the tongue from the mustard. The flavour is still prevalent, but could have been stronger, especially to get a real taste of the sausage.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Again, the flavour was subtle, so where black pepper is concerned, probably a wise idea for a crisp. And again, it seemed no crisp missed out on its share of flavour.

Sweet Thai Chilli

This kind of flavour is becoming more popular in crisps. And I would say it goes perfectly with a refreshing beer. The chilli does hit the spot on the tongue, and throat, while not being too overpowering.

Sea Salt

A safe option – there is often the tendency for 'simply salt' flavoured crisps to be layered with sodium chloride, but Corkers have got the balance just right with this.

For more information on Warsteiner Pilsner, visit www.warsteiner-uk.com

For more on Corkers crisps, including how to order batch delivery, visit www.corkerscrisps.co.uk

Celebrate everything Spanish - in London!

The market is sure to be a continental affair

As ever with English weather, there's no guarantee of a warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekend.

However there is a promise of one Mediterranean delight that is scheduled to hit London over the long weekend of May 3-6.

The UK’s favourite Spanish wine brand, Campo Viejo is bringing the vibrancy, life and colours of Spain to London’s Southbank Centre with its ‘Streets of Spain’ festival – a four day celebration of modern Spanish food, wine, art and culture unlike anything London has experienced before. 

Running from May 3-6, 10.30am to 7:00pm, the festival promises to bring the bustling energy and tastes of Spain to London by welcoming market stall owners from Barcelona’s world-famous La Boqueria food market to the UK for the first time ever.

Bringing fresh produce and tapas direct from Spain, the event will be the first time people will be able to buy the famous offerings here in London. The festival also impresses with a myriad of authentic Spanish experiences, such as wine tastings straight from the Campo Viejo cellar door hosted by winemakers; art demonstrations by famed street artists Okuda and Remed; films as showcased at the Spanish Film Festival; and authentic Spanish tapas prepared by La Boqueria chefs.

There is bound to be a high-class selection of Spanish meats on offer

Following the daily bustle of the market, the Streets of Spain will transform each evening into an exclusive pop-up restaurant hosted by Michelin-starred Spanish chef, Angel Pascual. The Campo Viejo pop-up experience will offer food and wine-lovers a world-class Spanish menu designed by Pascual, matched with wines from the UK’s favourite Spanish wine brand, Campo Viejo.

The Campo Viejo Streets of Spain festival offers the following colourful Spanish experiences:

Masterclasses:

• Blend your Own Wine: Attendees will have the chance to become a winemaker for an hour.  Our winemakers will explain the fundamentals of a great tasting Rioja, demonstrate what this could look like and then our fledgling winemakers will be able to try it for themselves. The ingredients will include young and aged samples, the key grape varieties and regions of Rioja. Their final blend will then be blended by the winemakers and bottled for them to collect and take home at the end of the day with their own personalised label. Places are very limited.

• Introduction of Spanish Wine: Winemakers will offer information on the Rioja region, Spanish grape varieties and styles, as well as wine busting a few myths and answering all those questions you have always wanted to ask. Attendees will have an opportunity to taste the full Campo Viejo range of red wines including Tempranillo, Reserva, Gran Reserva and its super-premium Dominio de Campo Viejo, together with two Campo Viejo Cavas.

Take home some tips from Spain's famous chefs

• Taste Experience – Looking at how taste influences wine perception: This will be a guide to discovering the effects of basic tastes – acid, sweet, salty, bitter and umami – on tasting different wines using two popular Campo Viejo products; Tempranillo and Gran Reserva. Lucky attendees will be treated to some unusual, controversial but sensational food and wine combinations: red wine and desserts or fish anybody? This session will make you think completely differently about food and wine matching and open your eyes up to the wealth of possibilities.

• Advanced Spanish Wine Masterclass: Campo Viejo Winemakers will host a Tempranillo masterclass, which as the name suggests will immerse attendees into the delights of the noble grape variety of Rioja. Tutored by our experts, attendees will compare wines from different sub-regions of Rioja – including Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa – showcasing the diversity and richness of both Rioja and Tempranillo. There will also be an opportunity to try our new vintage; Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2011. Additionally attendees will be able to taste the other Riojan varieties (Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano) and understand the differences between wines aged in French and American oak.

• Spanish breakfasts served daily from 10.45am

Live art experiences:

•  Campo Viejo will partner with two famous artists, Okuda and Remed, at the Streets of Spain event

• They will be creating a live piece of art outside the Southbank Centre inspired by the Campo Viejo brand, and will bring Spanish colour and vibrancy to the Festival Village with a number of 3D installations that will be on display throughout the weekend

Michelin star pop-up restaurant each evening from 7pm to 10:30pm.  To reserve a table, visit the Campo Viejo Facebook page.

•  Five course food and wine match menu for £65 per person

Cinema viewings of celebrated films previewed at the Spanish Film Festival

For more information and to book masterclasses and a table at the pop-up restaurant, visit www.streetsofspain.com where you will find the Streets of Spain tab on the Campo Viejo Facebook page. Also see Twitter at #streetsofspain for more information.

So I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for some decent weather come the Bank Holiday weekend, in the hope that I can experience my own little Spanish summer in the capital. 

Theatre review: Knock Yourself Out

Writer Tom Holloway takes on the role of Roger

Tom Holloway captures the mood of a generation with his spot on portrayal of three graduates as they struggle to find their way in life, in new play Knock Yourself Out, now on at The Courtyard Theatre, Shoreditch.

In this funny, poignant and, at times, dark play, the audience is welcomed into the front room of Roger, Jono and Billy’s student digs as the lads continue to drink, party, take drugs, and generally continue with their hedonistic student lifestyle, with its associated highs and lows, before being forced to face up to reality.   

You witness the nuances of their complicated friendships and love lives, as well as the many and varied consequences of a Jagermeister and fine wine-fuelled game of ring of fire.  It will warm your heart as it takes you back to your own student days, as you sympathise with the plight of these three young men, struggling to work out what to do next.  It may make you yearn for your student days, but a part of you will surely be glad you don’t have to return to those uncertain times.

The cast is superb, with familiar faces from This is England, Spooks, and Hollyoaks.  You can’t help but feel a soft spot for lovable Jono (Joe Sowerbutts) as his heart is played with by Carrie (Jenni Herzberg).  Roger (Tom Holloway) is central to the play, and you will find yourself simulatenously delighting and despairing at his many errors in judgement, and sympathising with his long-suffering flatmates as a result.   

The play will no doubt remind many of their university days

The graduates' love lives are laid bare in Holloway's play

Billy (Paul Tinto) is the much-needed voice of reason in this otherwise somewhat dysfunctional threesome, and the only one attempting to further his education by undertaking a master’s degree.  His brutal Scottish honesty often brings his less realistic friends back to earth with a bump, and you may well cringe as he describes in detail what happened in Amsterdam…!  Ginny (Danielle Watson) and Nicola (Lucy Telleck) enter later into the play, and a burgeoning romance between Nicola and Roger makes you wonder if he’ll be ok after all.

The intimacy of the theatre makes you feel so involved in the characters’ lives, and you can see every expression on every actor’s face as you are so close to the action.  This is an absolute must see but, top tip:  don’t take Granny, unless you are confident that she is comfortable with talk of deviant sexual behaviour and flagrant use of the c-word.

We were treated with excellent hospitality James Warren / Photoshot

Knock Yourself Out is on 7^th – 24^th March at The Courtyard Theatre, Shoreditch.  Tickets £16.50, £12.50 for concessions.

Click here for more information and to book tickets.

Written and produced by Tom Holloway, directed by Becky Catlin.

Feel grand on The Strand

It's not easy to escape the hustle and bustle of The Strand in London, but when you manage to find a nice little gem to relax in, it should be treasured.

And that's exactly what The Coal Hole public house is.

Right on the main through-fare, The Coal Hole is inconspicuous from the outside, but majestic and traditional on the inside. While there is no promise of speedy service at the bar on entering due to its location and popularity with workers as well as tourists, the waiting time lends a chance to admire the surroundings.

The peri peri chicken wings were certainly a sizzling treat

We were met by the welcoming Vitas, who advised us that our table downstairs was ready when we were. I decided to sample a pint of Nutty Black, from the Thwaites Brewery. I was met by a smooth, chocolatey delight, with a slight hint of toffee apple!

Upon finishing my pint, we were showed downstairs to our corner booth table by Vitas, and told that waitress Egle would be looking after us. As she handed our menus over with a cheery smile, I was looking forward to some good old British fare!

The salmon starter was sufficient and fresh-tasting

I decided on the peri peri chicken wings for starter, while my partner went for the smoked salmon with dill. The chicken was suitably seasoned which is often taken for granted, and the meat was tender and juicy. I was left wishing I had gone for the larger portion (£7.95) as for £4.95, could have been more.

My partner commented that the salmon had a lovely flavour, and unlike in some restaurants, it was more melt-in-your mouth than chewy, and the portion of fish was suitable for a starter.

The rich and 'special treat' of venison sausages and mash

After consuming my spicy selection, for main course I plumped, by popular opinion, for the premium line cod fillet. I say popular opinion as the research I carried out prior to this review saw me stumble upon endless recommendations to try this house favourite.

I also decided on a pint of Jaipur ale, from the Thornbridge Brewery, apparently a house special, on the recommendation of Egle. The ale was crisp and refreshing, and seemed like a perfect accompaniment to my fish dish.

Sourced using sustainable fishing methods, the fillet is hand- battered in the company's own Nicholson’s Pale Ale and served with skin on chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. As a northerner, I like to think I know a thing or two about decent fish and chips (The Wetherby Whaler being a local favourite)

And I had the only complaint I had here was that there wasn't enough chips on my plate! The fish was juicy and the batter cooked to a perfect crisp with no doughy bits in sight. The chips were hot, and the side of mushy peas was must for such a delightful dish.

My partner selected the venison sausages and mash. Three venison and red wine sausages served on
creamy mashed potato, topped off with homemade onion rings and redcurrant jelly. Again, there were no complaints on this one either. The gravy was flavoursome, which added to the rich texture of the fine sausages.

The fish and chips is now recommended by me as well as many other previous diners!

Unfortunately we were too full for dessert, which may have come as a pleasant surprise to Egle as the restaurant was certainly filling up and she appeared to be very busy.

All in all we had no complaints about the food, service or venue, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Coal Hole. However we would like to make some observations.

While not being unique to The Coal Hole, there is a lack of lighter options on the main menu. While this rarely, if ever, affects me, it could be an issue to some. Eating at The Coal Hole, we found, was a bit of a treat. It was a time to ignore 'calorie-content', to kick back with a nice pint of house ale, and rest our weary feet. I would advise when making a booking or eating at this venue to take a similar stance, so as to fully appreciate the fine British food on offer.

Saturday night diners tuck in to some good quality British food

Also, prospective diners/drinkers should be aware that the venue is likely to be busy at most times during the week and at weekends, due to its central location, close to Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. So no clicking your fingers here please!

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

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

Total score  - 34/40

To make a booking for The Coal Hole, click here

Sleep under the stars

In a UK first, Travelodge has launched a hotel room which will allow customers to sleep under the stars in the comfort of their bed. 

So naturally, being a thrifty northerner and always being a fan of Travelodge due to their competitive place in the hospitality market, I decided I would test out this unusual art.

A secret technique has been used to create a ‘night sky’ at a dozen Travelodge hotels across the country. Each bespoke cosmic panorama has been created by artist Carl Marshall.

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This isn't me - unfortunately professional camera equipment would be needed to capture the quality of the night sky

Carl and a colleague have artistically transformed a standard white ceiling into a cosmic sky by hand painting individual shooting stars, milky ways and constellations of twinkling stars.  On average it took them three hours to complete one ceiling.     

During the day, the ceilings look plain white but in darkness the stars appear to twinkle and the dust clouds seem to move mysteriously. Whilst the three dimensional effect of the ceiling also appears to fall towards the bed by around three feet, creating a sense of immersion.

Carl Marshall created the ceiling by working in the dark wearing a UV headlight. He covered the ceiling with a base layer of special light-activated paint then used glow-in-the-dark paint that glows blue, green and aqua to add dust clouds, stars and their tails. The paintworks soaks up light during the daylight hours and glows in darkness.

Marshall from Euxton, Lancashire said: "The exact technique I use is a closely guarded trade secret because it is so effective. It is a painstaking process as you have to position the colours perfectly to achieve a three-dimensional effect but the results are definitely worth it.

"The stars twinkle and the dust clouds appear to move as you lie in bed looking at it."

Our visit to the London Central City Road hotel was in February, and unfortunately the gloomy daytime hours affected the quality of the cosmic panorama. The ceiling did come to life at night-time, but unfortunately there were no colours - that is to say it was simply a splattering of 'white stars' above our heads.

On the second day, we ensured that the blind on the window was up early doors until the sun set, hoping that this could affect and bring out the colours, but unfortunately the results were the same as night one.

Our subsequent comments have been received gratefully by Travelodge HQ, with an agreement that the level of light entering the room obviously affects the standard of the night sky. A room containing more than one window would obviously help enhance the artwork.

How a dreary white ceiling can be transformed

        
Travelodge has created the UK’s first night sky panorama hotel rooms in response to findings from its latest sleep study. The hotel chain surveyed 2,000 adults in order to investigate the nation’s most desirable sleeping locations.

Key findings from the study revealed the most desired kipping location for Britons is under a blanket of twinkling stars. Forty two per cent of adults choose a starry night sky backdrop as their most desired sleeping location in contrast to a tropical beach, rainforest and jungle.  

Sleeping by the sea was the second most popular desired kipping spot for Britons followed by a sandy beach in third place.

Delving a little deeper into the nation’s fascination with stars the study also found that that over a half of Britons (52 per cent) think there is something very magical about a starry night.

A third of Britons reported they regularly enjoy looking up to a night sky at bedtime and find counting stars very tranquil and a good sleep aid.

Whilst four out of 10 adults reported gazing up at a starry sky puts them in a romantic mood.           

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokesperson said: "As part of our commitment in helping to ensure our customers attain a good night’s sleep, we are constantly looking at innovative sleep aids. Therefore in response to our latest sleep study, which highlighted Britons most desirable place to nod off is under a blanket of stars, we took the challenge and created the ultimate outdoor sleeping experience indoors.

"Now our customers can gaze into a cosmic night sky of shooting stars, milky ways and constellations of twinkling stars from the comfort of their warm cosy bed.”

Further findings from the sleep study revealed that 28 per cent of British adults would love to sleep under the stars every night because it would help them to nod off easily.

One in 10 Britons would love to transform their bedroom ceiling to a starry night sky so that they can achieve a good night’s sleep. 

The Travelodge cosmic night sky panorama hotel room is available at the following hotels:

• Birmingham Bull Ring Travelodge
• Blackpool South Shore Travelodge
• Bournemouth Seafront Travelodge
• Bristol Central Mitchell Lane Travelodge
• Cardiff Atlantic Wharf Travelodge
• Edinburgh Central Waterloo Travelodge
• Liverpool Strand Travelodge
• London City Road Travelodge
• Manchester Central Arena Travelodge
• Newcastle Central Travelodge
• Newquay Travelodge
• Torquay Travelodge

On summing up, I would say the addition of a cosmic panorama to the standard room are a nice little extra, and when you book your room, it is definitely worth asking if it would be available. However, with teething problems concerning how to maximise its potential, I don't believe it is something you should look to pay extra for, at this stage.

Dinner dilemma? Dine in for a tenner!

M&S food is a bit of a treat, really.  We've been having a laugh their 'food porn' TV ads for a couple of years now but, let's face it, they have the goods to back it up. When I was a student I was once given M&S vouchers for Christmas so that when the post-Christmas-impoverished-student blues kicked in come January, I could cheer myself up with something more desirable than beans on toast.  And though my university days are tragically behind me, M&S food is still something a bit special, something to swoon over.

But it doesn't often come particularly cheap which is why, in my mind, their (now much copied) 'dine in for £10' offer is GENIUS.  A yummy main, side dish, irresistible dessert and a bottle of wine for a tenner?  Amazing.

The expert choices made for our 'dine in for £10'

My partner went off to make the choices and came back with beef and smoked bacon meatballs (with a lentil ragu, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions and cheddar cheese), accompanied by rosemary potatoes and a bottle of Merlot.

The meatballs were rich and warming, and the crispy potatoes were the perfect, tasty hit of carbs we all appreciate in the winter.  There was a bit of a drama when I went to start cooking and noticed that the two dishes required oven temperatures that differed by 50 degrees(!!!) but don't worry guys, I made it work!  The glass of red on the side was just right for the cold January night, and gorgeously smooth.

While it is difficult to match up on presentation compared to a meal out - the taste more than made up for that

 

I was pretty pleased with the decadent dessert that was chosen; salted caramel billionaire's dessert, with a base of chocolate crumb, salted caramel sauce, treacle mousse and a layer of Belgian chocolate ganache.  Desserts really are my weak point and M&S offer an impressively tempting selection.  At 390 cals this may have to be a once-in-a-while treat for some of us, particularly this time of year, but I cannot recommend it highly enough - rich, sweet and indulgent, it was the perfect way to round off the meal.

My one and only criticism of this offer is that, depending on what you choose, you may find that you want to add an extra side dish, which obviously bumps up the cost a little.  In this case, some salad or a few veg would've been great, and might have made us feel a little more virtuous!  But M&S have some great examples of extra side dishes so you won't have to look far.

There is such an impressive choice on offer that there really is something for everyone, and in these tough times eating out isn't really an option for all of us, so this provides a fantastic substitute that you can enjoy in comfort at home.  So go on, head to M&S and treat your partner (and yourself) this weekend - it's only a tenner and I guarantee it will get you some brownie points!

The desserts were rich and indulgent

For more information on M&S food, or to order in your dinner delight, click here.

Guest blogger  -AB