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.

Yes, I ate the cute bunny rabbit!

It's fair to say, if you're taking a trip to Shoreditch, London, to seek a nice meal out, you're spoilt for choice.

So in that respect, my review of Lena Restaurant at 66 Great Eastern Street, left me wondering what this establishment could offer me ahead of other, rival restaurants.

In short, outstanding service, a warm and cosy feel, and delicious and varied food made my journey to the classy Italian eatery a worthwhile experience.

Unfortunately the weather didn't help with the scene shot

My visit saw me Tweeting a live restaurant review for the first time; I plan to use this means of social networking for future reviews and have received very positive feeback from it so far (follow me on reviews_live).

Head Chef, Pierre Caruana, 'will be making some exciting changes in the kitchen' we are told, so in my mind at least, the pressure was there!

First impressions of a fairly plain and demure outside are forgotten immediately on entering the porch area to be greeted by a friendly smile, and a sneak peek at an upmarket interior, with excellent lighting and a spacious dining area.

The salmon starter

On being escorted to our table, we were asked whether we wanted to hand our coats to the cloakroom - quite a rare occurence these days in central London unless you raise the topic yourself!

I decided on an antipasti to whet the appetite, the parma ham (cured for 24 months) seemed like an excellent choice - and it didn't disappoint.

Meaty parcels of one of Italy's popular imports set us perfectly for the starter.



I chose the home-cured Scottish salmon - watercress, sunblushed tomato & quail egg salad, ink mustard dressing, my partner opted for the sliced Parma ham - fresh fig, melon & passionfruit essence (obviously the antipasti went down a treat)!

I believe a food review should be critical where necessary, honest in substance, and genuine. Sadly to disappoint you from this point - there are very few negatives to come.

The salmon was fresh and lively, perfectly complemented by a juicy and appropiately crunchy salad. The quail's eggs were a nice touch, with your usual hen's eggs perhaps deemed too dominating for the size of the starter.

The Parma ham starter

The Parma ham, I was told, was very much the same as the antipasti, but more of it. A fair reflection!

For the main, I decided to be, what I thought, was brave, and I plumped for the braised Tuscan rabbit served with chargrilled baby vegetables, alongside a portion of roasted new potatoes, rosemary and garlic.

I had no preconceptions of rabbit, as it was the first time I had tried it - and this was perhaps for the best. Simply I can describe it as similar to chicken, yet much juicier and much tastier. Being more descriptive, the meat slid off the bone without falling apart on the fork and on the palate there was a desire to add to this taste sensation. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, crunchy with all the natural flavours intact and the potatoes were nicely seasoned without taking away from the earthy texture.

My partner went for the speck & pecorino wrapped chicken breast with zucchini, lemon-cream and jus. As I reached in with my fork for a 'test' I was told that I would enjoy it. And I did. Although it must be said, wherever I see chicken on a menu, I tend to swerve it and be more adventurous. However, certainly no complaints here; the chicken was thick and perfectly cooked.

The rabbit main course

The chicken main course

The only semi-criticism I might have on the mains, is that perhaps the rabbit was covered with a bit too much sauce (make your own mind up from the pictures). However, if like me you see extra sauce as advantageous for dipping the sides in, then reject this immediately!

Suitably mixed with a bottle of NV Borgo Sanleo Bianco, a fruity but dry white wine, the decision to take on a dessert was a tough one.

But we did - and decided to share a Torta Caprese - rich chocolate & almond torte, Amareto ice-cream.

The chocolate torte dessert

Now I'll be honest - of the various courses of a meal, dessert is my least favourite, however eating this Lena classic may lead me to re-evaluate that.

A large slice of 'torte' with a still-solid portion of natural ice cream rounded off the meal perfectly.

I would like to point out the superb service given to us by Gabriel - he was always on the lookout should we have any questions or requests, without being too over the top. Service with a smile, and a genuine care for his customers made our seating relaxing and pleasant

Lena Shoreditch has certainly made a superb appointment in new head chef Pierre Caruana - his experience having worked in The Eight Club in the City of London, as well as time spent in kitchens in Southern Italy give Lena a real authentic feel, with no corners cut on quality or presentation. Complimenti!!

I would very much recommend a trip to Lena Restaurant; competitive pricing, first class service and a varied and extensive menu make a visit there a must.

Scores on the doors

Setting - 8
Service - 10
Quality of food - 9
Cleanliness - 10

Total - 37/40

Click here for more information on Lena Restaurant and to book your meal there

All aboard for some tapas on The Thames!

It may well be 'the party boat rocking The Thames,' but my recent trip to Bar&Co was less to sample the nightlife and all about checking out their tapas menu.
Moored at Temple Pier, and running as a fully licensed bar, restaurant and nightclub, the venue really does appear as though it can cater for any kind of party.

Only five minutes from Holborn and right outside Temple Station in this unique location with views to the London Eye, Big Ben and Oxo Tower, after a couple of beers to whet my appetite beforehand, I was ready to experience some fine Spanish cuisine.


Idyllic setting makes Bar&Co a great choice for a meal or a party on the Thames

And I was not disappointed. My partner and I shared five tapas from the varied menu, and choose to accompany it with a bottle of the house red (I can never remember whether it's beer BEFORE or AFTER wine leaves you feeling fine).

For a Sunday night it was, perhaps as expected, very quiet. However, this is all the more reason if you are there for some great food and not a party night, to take advantage of the quieter nights. Service was attentive and efficient, prices were reasonable, and the setting was unique and relaxing.


The tasty croquetas de setas

The croquetas de setas (Mushroom croquettes) were sizeable for two, and came with a fresh and juicy salad, a perfect mix. The texture of the potato was smooth, and the mushroom flavour added to it perfectly.

The chorizo a la sidre (chorizos cooked in a cider sauce) was my first choice from the menu (and it wasn't just to add another alcohol source to my evening). It was just what I hope for - juicy sausage with sweet sauce that didn't last long in the dish! One of my pet hates about chorizo is a piece that has more fat than meat; safe to say this pet hate was left on the dock!

If chorizo was my first choice, then the albondigas en salsa (meatballs in tomato sauce) ran them close. This was reflected in the tasting - big, juicy balls bursting with enthusiasm and delight. Creamed in a tasty and slightly spicy tomato sauce, they went down a treat.

By the this point, the wine had already run low, but we decided not to drown our paletes in red and try and save our tastebuds for the rest of our tapas buffet.

The patatas fritas a la brava (fried potato in a tomato sauce) may seem like a standard choice, but we were deligted, not least with the size of the dish, as well as the crispyness of the little beauties.

The meatballs are served with a generous helping of sauce

Our final dish was the plato de jamon serrano (Spanish ham platter) that came recommended. It was a nice, cold alternative and afforded a little breathing space compared to the filling other dishes.

Prices on the tapas menu range from £2 to £10 (bread is £1.50), and I would advise you to take advantage of the knowledge of your waiter/waitress who can help make your decision as easy as possible.

The lighting is superbly suited for either an intimate meal with a partner, or a calm and relaxed evening with friends. The gentle bobbing of the boat is evident as you look towards the portholes, yet when seated it is barely noticeable. All in all we had no complaints on leaving Bar&Co, and complemented the servers as well as the chef on our exit. 

The stroll back along Temple pier, suitably filled up on scrumptious Spanish fare, was a perfect way to end the evening.
I am now looking forward to my invite to investigate the party element of Bar&Co!!

The view across the Thames is dazzling

Bar&Co



















Scores on the doors (out of 10)

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

Total - 33/40


Click here for more information on Bar&Co and to book your meal or night out there.

Click here for a Tube map to plan your journey.

Sweden - Systembolagets and sky-high beer prices!

Alex and I board the plane to Malmö

In these harsh economic times, a cheap Ryanair flight for a new European venture has become a favourite pastime of mine. So after searching for somewhere to travel in the month of May, Malmö was decided upon, and along with three friends, Alex, Drew and Paul, a party-weekend was booked.

Or so we thought.

On researching a little bit about the Scandinavian country, we all expected our £s not to go very far, but having being used to this when travelling to other European countries, it was to be expected. There are always the cheap, backstreet joints that tempt the traveller with great drinks and food deals, even in Dublin.

A stress-free drive and park in Stansted, and the trip had started. With hip flasks tucked into our pockets, the Duty Free was an excellent way to start the trip, and two of the group were tempted to shell out £16 for a lovely bottle of 12-year-old Scotch. A few pints in the not-so-Wetherspoon's priced Windmill Wetherspoon's airside, and we were soon boarding our flight to the promised land.

On board, prosecco, beers and some mixers were ordered to complement our fine whisky, we were all feeling optimistic that no matter how pricey things were going to be, we were together in a group, the banter was flowing, and we would come back with good memories if not a little hungover.

They say the holiday begins on the flight over, and whilst we were all evidently well (gone) in the spirit (literally), the taxi ride from Malmö-Sturup Airport to our hotel was one experience we will never forget. (£50).

Upon realising that we were English, the taxi driver was quite blatantly desperate for some banter, as we found was rare in Malmö, and proceeded to have his own little 'rave' on the way to our hotel. (As the video below will show).

Singing, no hands on the wheel and generally having his own special 'Swedish turn' made us laugh, cry fearing for our lives, and wondering why he was so mental. Surely we can't be the highlight of his weekend??

Arriving at the hotel, which I have so far hid from you but now I will share, Ibis Malmö, left us pleasantly surprised. A budget hotel in the UK, but this one wasn't half bad, and came with its own Swedish Sauna downstairs. The rooms were amazing value for £50 a twin a night, and so we were all in super spirits.

That was until we went to the bar to begin our evening 'session'.

£7 a beer. (All amounts converted from the national currency, the Swedish Krona). Now I suppose it was a hotel bar so we didn't expect it to the THAT cheap. But Ibis - £7 a beer, for what is a 4cl beer may I add. We should have known what was coming. Anyway, two beers each later, we headed out to walk into town.

Alex - easily noticeable in his hideous pink polo shirt at Malmö Airport

Rushing to hit the bars for our 'big' night, we decided to wolf down some fast food, which was Burger King. Sadly this pretty much went on to become our 'restaurant of choice' for the weekend, not least because it was the most reasonable food we could afford. Taxi to the bars, Burger King working its way down, and we were already feeling considerably lighter in wallet.

Here is where the 'holiday review' ends. You've had it till now, but that was never my intention. Here's the story. Bar-bar-bar-bar-Burger King-bar-Club-bar-Burger King-Taxi-hotel - and two of the group go home the next day on an earlier flight, skint. Price of a bottle of beer ranged from £6 to £8, a pint anything up to £10.

The club - Etage. Good time had by all!

My personal story doesn't go further than spending around £200, including a £28 Jack Daniels and diet coke and a round of four cokes for £20 (I had the hip flask filled) but my poor friend Alex managed to spend his whole whack (that probably included a cheeky late night Burger King), predicted around £400 (he says). The club Etage was a great night, we all said it was banging, the Swedish men being terrible dancers which made us look amazing, (God help those poor Swedish females).

The dancing on stage and being ABSOLUTE LEGENDS doesn't need talking about (shhhh there's wives and girlfriends here), neither does one friend (he will remain nameless, but it wasn't Alex or Drew or me) getting ejected out of the club. But what does need talking about was our sorrow on the way home.

Sorrow for spending all our money, sorrow for Alex and Drew saying they are going to have to book an early flight (on his missus' credit card) as they had no money left.

And Paul and I had a lovely two-beer second night (plus the remains of 12-year-old Scotch, it was lovely). Before that we made a cheeky trip to the Western Union to draw out more money (guaranteed it wouldn't cost any more).

Alex and Paul - well on the way!

Me on the second night - steady away...

We were interested in finding out about the Systembolaget - apparently like an Argos of alcohol which, as supermarkets aren't allowed to sell in bulk, is your one-stop-shop for a party. It's all very strange, and quite why there can't just be a alcohol department within a supermarket confused us. We popped in, as if expecting something fantastic, and exited about three minutes later realising it was just a shop.

We woke the next day, got our two-man-paying taxi and realised....Sweden was a country ticked off the list, we may well do Stockholm in the future, but aren't going to rush.

Tale of the tape...

Alex -£400
Drew - £200
John  - £200 (excl hotel and flight)
Paul -  £200 (excl hotel and flight)

The lights are far from out on British boxing

Billy Joe Saunders, right, is one of the hottest prospects in British boxing
(Pictures by CASEY GUTTERIDGE)

The state of British boxing is well debated in media circles – and more often than not there are more negative comments than positive.

Be it there being no 'world class' heavyweight to challenge the reign of the Klitschko brothers, or the lack of a Prince Naseem Hamed character, flamboyant and charismatic to get the crowds in, it could be argued that boxing in Britain is at a crossroads.

Yet this is to be expected – the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and more recently David Haye obviously saw enough in the new breed to hang their gloves up right?

Well, one retired at the top of his game (Calzaghe), one retired when it was medically sensible to (Hatton) and one still harps on about making a comeback (Haye).

So maybe their decision wasn't because they felt they were past their best.

Frank Warren in setting up his BoxNation channel heralded that boxing was moving into a new era, and the up-and-coming talent would revitalise the sport.

Can Amir Khan bouce back from his Lamont
Peterson defeat in 2012?

And for £10 on Sky, you can witness that for yourself!

My view on the situation may well surprise you.

I believe there has never been more talent in the pro ranks than there is now.

But concentrate on the word 'talent'.

The potential of our young British pugilists is both exciting and interesting. Many are well-heralded by such promoters as Warren, Eddie Hearn and Frank Maloney; there are Olympic gold medallists, fighting travellers and eloquent and methodical tacticians.

But the number of world class and established pros is few and far between. However, how far should we be surprised with this? With retirement of those at the top of their game there is bound to be that window where others are given their chance in the limelight, their chance to shine.

Ricky Burns and Nathan Cleverly are arguably the only two at world level at this moment in time, backed up by the fact that they are our only world champions, and at 28 and 24 respectively, they should have a few years at the top yet.

George Groves, James Degale, Tyson Fury and Kell Brook should be knocking at that door soon, and then there are a whole host of fighters who will be looking to be fast-tracked to stardom.

Is boxing missing real characters like Prince Naseem
Hamed?

Mix in the likes of Kevin Mitchell who is looking to get back into the world elite, and Matthew Macklin, Darren Barker, Martin Murray, Amir Khan and Carl Froch who are all looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats, there's much excitement and intrigue about the future of British boxing.

The year 2012 is a big one for the sport. It may well be that someone we least expect from the Isles steps up and wins a world title. There should also be some great domestic battles sure to capture the imagination.

And of course there will be huge international bouts which we can watch and compare against our own.

Mayweather v Pacquaio will hopefully the benchmark for our fighters (provided the former stays out of jail and the latter finds time in his busy political schedule).

So let's all relax, fork out that tenner for BoxNation and keep tabs on the ranks of talent we have coming through. (And it's still shown on Sky don't you know)!

Whether Derek Chisora can cause one of the biggest ever upsets and defeat Vitali Klitschko is another matter. Yet the nature of us as Britons gives us that steely determination, so let's be confident in the state of British boxing, and let's pray for a miracle for Del Boy!

Frank Maloney will be keeping his eyes peeled for the
top boxing talent coming through the ranks

And here are my top five British talents to keep an eye out for in 2012 (in no particular order)

George Groves – 2012 is a big year for British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves. After claiming victory against 'golden boy' James DeGale, Groves will be eager to prove it was no fluke and push his career on. Whether that means he will grant DeGale a rematch or force a world title shot is up for debate. Either way, the win against his former gym companion has won Groves new friends in boxing circles and they will be looking for him to see off a few more top-10 ranked Brits in the super-middleweight category. First up is a rematch against Kenny Anderson on March 16 at Wembley Arena, who he knocked out in the sixth round of part one back in November 2010.

Fight record – W 14 (11) L 0 D 0

Billy Joe Saunders – Fresh after winning the Southern Area Middleweight Championship, Saunders will be looking for a couple of quick defences before looking at getting a British and/or Commonwealth shot. The 22-year-old traveller from Hertfordshire has recovered from a nasty hand injury which limited his ring action in 2011, and proved in his last two victories over Gary Boulden (where he won his title) and Tommy Tolan that he is over it. He is already ranked fifth in the Middleweight rankings, with a bout against Kevin Concepcion or Nick Blackwell an early possibility. Billy Joe is next scheduled for ring action on March 16 at Wembley Arena.

Fight record – W 12 (8) L 0 D 0

Billy Joe Saunders will be looking to challenge for a British title as a minimum this year

Kell Brook – Arguably one of the most exciting fighters in the British ranks at the moment, Kell Brook is desperate to proves he has what it takes to make it at world level. Amir Khan's recent defeat against American Lamont Peterson could well have made his dreams of meeting his compatriot one step closer at welterwight or light-welterweight level. Kell has won all 26 of his fights since turning professional, 18 by way of knockout so he really is at the top of his game. But he will have to see of Matthew Hatton, younger brother of Ricky first on March 17 in what has been dubbed War of the Roses. I expect he will.

Fight record – W 26 (18) D 0 L 0

Nathan Cleverly has had a remarkable rise to
world level - can he maintain his unbeaten
record?

Nathan Cleverly – The unbeaten talent from Cefn Fforest is Britain's only confirmed world champion (Ricky Burns is still at time of writing 'interim' lightweight champion) and will be eager to make 2012 the year when he gets his name known throughout the world. His feud with Liverpool's Tony Bellew was all-but ended with a convincing victory in October, and the Welshman now sets his sights on a WBO heavyweight title defence against Poland's Tommy Karpency. Should he come out voctorious, as expected, he could well look for a mouthwatering clash with Nottingham's Carl Froch, in what could be a career-defining contest for both.

Fight record – W 23 (11) D 0 L 0

Ricky Burns – The Scottish warrior brought the house down at Wembley Arena back in November 2011 when he defeated hard-as-nails Michael Katsidis to win the interim WBO lightweight title. Many in the media thought the fight would be a step to far for the likeable Burns, but the Coatbridge man was electric on the night, and totally dominated his Aussie opponent. He will be eager to make more people eat their words in 2012 with the possibility of a domestic showdown with the resurgent Kevin Mitchell sure to be a ticket-seller. But first Burns must defend the interim title against Paulus Moses on March 17^th in Glasgow.

Fight record – W 33 (9) D 0 L 2

Tyson Fury – Just edged it ahead of the ever-improving David Price for the simple fact that he is closer to a world-title shot and 2012 will be the year when he proves himself or joins the list of British heavyweight Mr Averages. Fury has looked frightening in some, and labouring in others, yet his record still says 17 straight wins in spite of the critics. And his first assignment could well be against Olympian and red-hot in form David Price, who last week destroyed John McDermott in a round. As they say, someone's 0 will have to go!

Fight record – W 17 (12) D 0 L 0

And my dark horse for 2012...

Frank Buglioni – With just two fights under his belt, you may think it's far too early to be analysing this Enfield fighter's credentials. Yet this is one talented pugilist. In his first fight he knocked out the tough Sabie Montieth (who had previously never been stopped) in just 124 seconds, and then he totally overwhelmed Paul Morby, knocking him down twice in the first round before the referee stepped in. The light-heavyweight division is particularly strong in the UK, yet if Buglioni continue's his fine development, Frank Warren can be the man to fast track him to the top.

Fight record – W 2 (2) D 0 L 0

Please leave your comments and thoughts. Who do you think we should be keeping an eye out for in 2012. How do you see the state of British boxing?

Click here to visit Frank Warren's website
Click here to visit Matchroom Sport's boxing website
Click here to visit the Prizefighter website
Click here to visit the BoxNation website