Week Nineteen: A night out in Leicester Square

Week Nineteen

  

  Well hello again readers and this week was quite fun.  First things first I must give a shoutout to Freddie Dixon who is responsible for the idea behind the question and answer feature....Thanks Fred!  

Right back to business and all the new places took place on Tuesday night and was predominantly around the Leicester square vicinity.   The Financier made another welcome return and treated us to a meal Kettner's, which has featured on Made in Chelsea from time to time, and after that me and Will Matthews ventured on to a couple more bars before home time.  

  On a separate note, no-one managed to guess the question (2 people guessed) correctly so the question remains the same until guessed.  It's pretty easy. 

Special guests include:  The Financier (Dad), Sonia Gravestock, a brother (Joe) and Syd (Will Matthews)

Summary of Kettner's

Name: Kettner's

Type: Restaurant and Bar and Private Rooms

Location: 29 Romilly Street, Soho, London, W1D 5HP

Website: http://www.kettners.com

Date Visited: 13/05/14

Price: Ask Dad

Rating: 4.2/5

Answer to the Question: Graham Norton

Review

  The Financier had returned to the big smoke once again (loves the blog) and this time treated us to Kettner's which has featured on Made on Chelsea a few times if you wondering how you recognised the name.  None of them were there this evening but Will, Joe my bro, Sonia and the Financier were and we started off at the restaurant bar for a few looseners.  The beer of choice was 1936 and if your a lover of beers then give it a go.  

Cracking beer this

I had the tart special for starters which was spinach and salmon (I think) and it was delightful.  Only slight criticism was the pastry was slightly overcooked so when you tried to put your fork into it the tart crumbled.  The shovelling technique was adopted and no more complaints...it was a great starter.

  For the main course I went for the beef bourguignon which was delightful for want of a better word. Sides of greens, mash and of course the go to chips accompanied the beef and not forgetting the delightful gravy sauce.  The beef was cooked to perfection with it just delicately falling away.  Magnificent.

Kettner's

Desserts were deemed too much and the bill was paid.  The reason for the small amount of down marking was the fact that the main took at over an hour to arrive which put a minuscule dampener on the otherwise exceptional service.  The waiter to his credit did come over to apologise when he realised that The Financier had run out of his go to anecdotes.

Couldn't tell you the price but I can tell you that this is a restaurant I would come too and definitely visit again.  Pat on the back.

   

Summary of ManBar

Name: Manbar

Type: Gay bar

Location: 79 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London, WC2H 0NE

Website: http://www.manbarsoho.com

Date Visited: 13/05/14

Price: Reasonable

Rating: 2/5

Answer to the Question: Dr Christian Jessen

Review

Will and I were fancying a couple more drinks after the dinner before venturing home when we stumbled upon Manbar.  I asked Will if he fancied it with which he replied 'Well we are both men.'

  We ordered two Guinness's at the bar (bit of a rogue shout after a big feed) with PSY (not my lookalike) gangnamstyle playing in the background.  Then we started to notice our surroundings.  Not a single female in sight, some questionable piercings on the barman and photos of shirtless guys were everywhere.   The place of course was a Gaybar which I have nothing against but with me and Will coming as a pair we were giving off the wrong vibes.  The place wasn't really kicking off anyway so we sat outside the front with penis shaped hedges and photos of topless men for decor.

The giveaway posters with Gangnam in the background back left

  To be fair when the answer to the question was Dr Christian Jessen from embarrassing bodies we should of clocked on but I won't have a bad word to say about this place as they poured two perfect Guinness's with clovers to accompany them.

Manbar's decor

 Due to it not being my vibe and the atmosphere being relatively flat (there were only 8 guys all sitting on their own) I can't give this place a 3.  Can't fault the Guinness though

Summary of The Porcupine

Name: The Porcupine

Type: Pub

Location: 48 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0BS

Website: http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theporcupineleicestersquarelondon/

Date Visited: 13/05/14

Price: Standard

Rating: 3.5/5

Answer to the Question: The small guy from the film Thor?! (Chris Hemsworth)

Review

  I have been trying to visit this place every time I have been at Leicester Square but for reasons I can't remember I have never made it here.  There was not a chance I was heading to the brewmaster again so Will and I headed in here for another Guinness.  

  This place is a proper old fashioned pub with a real rustic feel inside.  Music was at a minimal level to create atmosphere but not hinder conversation.  The barmaid was extremely nice and she surprised us by going for the clover in the pint which wasn't quite as good as the previous place but a sterling effort.

Will and I outside the Porcupine (not much more I can say)

  We only had the one but if it hadn't been a Tuesday I would of happily had more.  That and the final orders bell had been rung.  This place does get fairly busy post work, I was told by the barmaid, but if you are nearby midweek at 9ish then this is a good place to go for a proper pint and put the world to rights.

  With that the Leicester Square night had ended and that another week.

Special Shoutout

Winner: The Financier
Rating: 5/5

I feel the man deserves this after him publicly funding over 50% off the blog so far.  With the Financier present my bank balance stays unscathed and the places we go, are always extremely top drawer.  This blog is beginning to give him unprecedented celebrity status with him telling me not a week goes by before he isn't stopped for an autograph.  

Poem Advice

Kettner's the lovely restaurant,
The financier had returned,
Phenomenal food I must say
Apart from the tart was slightly burned

Manbar the name of the bar
The name gives it away
Not your classic date spot
Unless of course you're gay

A good old fashioned pub
Is where you want to go
Then the Porcupine's for you
Although the service is quite slow.

 That poem was slightly better wasn't it (if I may say so myself).  Next week I am venturing to the Big Easy on Kings Road and a small trip to Scotland.  Should be a good week. Don't forget to subscribe.

See you next week fans

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Week Eighteen: RAC Golf Club

Week Eighteen

  This week was a big week of activities but not many new places I am afraid.  The only new place this week was the RAC Golf club where we played a nice round of golf on the Monday to walk off the toxins from the boozy bank holiday.  Other things that happened were of course the Marriott Sevens on the Saturday and the Surveyor Sevens on the Sunday.  Both cracking fun but no new places conquered on either.  Two very good day outs and arguably one of the weekends of the year for the diary.

  Another thing this week is the new feature which is to try and gain a bit of interaction with the fans. I will post an answer given to me at the new place by a member of staff. The game is to guess the question.  Guess it correctly and your name will be posted in the headlights of this blog and I will try my very best to go to your recommended new place of choice (within reason).  This blog just got interactive.  

Will Wright (left) and myself (right) at the Monster Sevens

Special guests include: Chris Kroeger, my biggest fan (Chris Hazell) and Jamie Collins.

Summary of RAC Golf Club

Name: The Royal Automobile Club: Woodcote Park

Type: Members Golf Club

Location: Woodcote Park, Wilmerhatch Lane, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EW

Website: http://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/Golf

Date Visited: 05/05/14

Price: Unbelievable Value

Rating: 4.3/5

Answer to the Question: Jeremy Clarkson

Review

   Due to the kind invitation from Kroeger, who is a fully fledged member of the RAC, we were able to play at this very smart golf club.  The clubhouse is phenomenal, the golf course superb and the weather held out as well. The only thing that didn't go entirely to plan was my golf (I have a feeling this word could be repeated a fair bit)....I was absolutely atrocious.  I lost an extortionate amount of balls. 

  We were playing the old course and it was in fantastic nick.  The team format was me and my biggest fan (fitting) against Collins and Kroeger....we got thumped.  Despite the scorline I had a marvellous day.  What was brilliant about the place was that due to 'the club being heavily subsidised' (Kroeger's favourite line), everything was incredible value for money.  The round itself only cost £28 (visitors twilight half price rate after 1530 when playing with a member) which is phenomenal value for any 18 holes but even better value for this course.  Then after 7 holes there is a cracking halfway house (factually incorrect) which serves hot food....perfect.  I went for the sausage bap, they were out of burgers, which included 3 sausages for the cool price of £1.80.  Shut the front door!

The four ball golf selfie with the clubhouse in the background.  

From Left to Right: Jamie Collins, myself, Kroeger and my biggest fan

  The sun was rarely out and the golf course did have its hills along with being very very long.  You can however see that as a positive spin as it was necessary exercise(ish) to walk off the heavy weekend.  Why not a 5/5?  Well unfortunately due to playing so poorly, I was doing a lot of ball searching and walking in the bushes/trees rather than swaggering down the fairway.  Also when we ordered sandwiches when sitting outside the restaurant/clubhouse the sandwiches were delivered in packaging.  Slightly amateur touch I thought and due to the excessive wind a lot of the meal was focussing on ensuring the rubbish was suitably weighted so it didn't blow away.

  All in all a very enjoyable day out and once a get my swing back I'd welcome a return at the other course (Hint hint Kroegs).

An unrelated shot of the rest of the gang at monsters sevens on Saturday

Special Shoutout

Winner:  Chris Kroeger
Rating: 4.75/5

Special shoutout goes out to the main man Chris Kroeger this week.  Due to his membership and his kind invite for a round of golf we had a fantastic day out for a relative low-cost.  Marked down from 5 for beating me at golf.  What more? The guy is doing a quadrathlon, cracking effort!  Sponsor him here: http://my.artezglobal.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=59388&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone

Poem Advice

If you know a paying member,
At the Royal Automobile Club
Then go and play golf at Woodcote
For a cracking day and cheap grub




  

   Are the poems slipping a little? Probably.  Thanks again for the read guys and I hope you all enjoy the new features....the blog is on the up.  Next week sees the return of the Financier for a night at Leicester Square and it should make for an interesting tale....

  Don't forget to subscribe.

See you next week fans

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Week Seventeen: POW and The White Horse

Week Seventeen

  

     Another week gone and a more eventful one this week that is for sure.  First things first I must come clean....the main special feature I promised to feature this week will actually feature next week as I got muddled up.   Apologies.  There is however a new special shout out section (think of it as a higher honour than the special guests section.)

  Two places this week to report.  Firstly was the Prince of Wales which is a edgey club in Brixton which ended in emotional disaster and the other was a civilised drink at a traditional old pub in Parsons Green called the White Horse.

Special guests include: Lefty, Toddy, Brownie, Jenbo Johnson, Dave, Anders, Cunur, Dexter, Jenbo Johnson, Syd, Daisy, Leechy, Freddie Allen, Joe O Shea and the returning COB.

Summary of POW

Name: Prince of Wales

Type: Edgey Club

Location: 467-469 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 8HH

Website: http://www.pow-london.com

Date Visited: 03/05/14

Price: A little punchy

Rating: 3.25/5

Review

  A roller coaster of emotions at this joint to say the least.  We were here at this edgey joint in the honour of Brownie's birthday and his housemate Dave too.  You find the place on the Brixton High street and it's situated over the top two floors of the building boasting a quality roof terrace/smoking area (bit of estate agent patter).  

  First negative of the night came on the arrival when we were informed, because we had arrived after 11pm, that entry would come to £20.  An early setback.  We then climbed 4 flights of stairs to join the rest of the group, who had been drinking all day and were relatively sideways.  We were congregated on the roof terrace which was awesome.  It is a fantastic smoking area with a good outside bar and plenty of room to socialise.  Best smoking area for a club in London? It's up there.

This is the smoking area at the top of building. Tidy

  The club has a room on each floor playing decent house music and is open until 4am so you can't complain of the night ending early.  I was having a cracking night and this place was destined for a rating in the 4's.  However joy turned to despair as my phone was stolen from my back pocket.  Yes yes I know, putting your phone in the back pocket was not my smartest move.  To make matters worse the bouncers weren't the most helpful and instead were incredibly protective of the place saying I lost it rather than it was stolen.  In hindsight they may have had a strong point.

  Really good place this though and my advice to avoid drama would be to come before 11pm, keep your phone safe, enjoy the outside terrace and dance to the music.  If you follow those instructions you'll have fun.  Did have a good photo for you guys but Alas that is on the stolen phone.  Sorry for the whinging.

Summary of The White Horse

Name: White Horse

Type: Traditional Pub

Location: 1-3 Parsons Green, London, SW6 4UL

Website: http://www.whitehorsesw6.com

Date Visited: 04/05/14

Price: Standard price

Rating: 3.35/5

Review

  The Sunday night had arrived of the bank holiday and it was time for a few beers (oh stop it) to really take advantage of not having work the next day.  Oli Leech kindly had the five a side football team Fishing for Tackles over for an end/middle of season barbecue where we sat around reminiscing of old goals I scored.  Chris O Brien, my investor from the Far East who is rumoured to be making Blog T-shirts you can all purchase, had returned to England for a week and was keen to feature on the blog.

  In a stroke of good fortune just around the corner was the White Horse where Syd was having a few drinks and asked if we wanted to join.  The pub was heaving with people but the majority of the customers were fairly binned so the wait at the bar was very quick.  It had to be under a minute which is commendable on a bank holiday.

 I do like this pub I must say as it has a good beer garden at the front and a lively atmosphere.  The only criticism was that it shut up shop just before 11pm...cost it a few points.  Do recommend it for a drink if you're in the area.

Special Shoutout

Winner: Oli Leech
Rating: 4.7/5

  Special shoutout goes to Oli Leech this week for hosting a cracking barbecue serving all of us his home made burgers (can't resist a burger).  Best food I had all week and impressively home made so for that a high rating indeed.  Falls short of a 5 as he questioned having butter in the bap.  Madness

Poem Advice

Floating around Brixton
Looking for an edgey night
£20 entry after 11
might give you a fright

Chilling in parsons green
want a sociable drink
Then White horse is for you
You'll be served before you think




  

  Another week done and again I apologise for moaning a wee bit.  Right so onto next week where the new feature will be introduced and for all you fans out there I will be at the Marriott Sevens on Saturday and Surveyor sevens on Sunday.  Good chance for you to get on the much coveted special shout out slot.

Don't forget to subscribe guys.

See you next week fans

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Week Sixteen: Riverside

Week Sixteen

  Well hello there, before I begin I would like to thank all those who subscribed to the blog (9 people) and would like to encourage more people to do so.  It's at the top right of your screen and if you can't see it, that's because your on the mobile version so you have to change your internet format.  Not so easy and quick to do after all but my god its worth it once you do.

  This week saw the reappearance of the mother and her partner Peter who decided to take me out for some lunch before heading back to London on Monday afternoon as I said the final farewell (I know that was meant to be a few weeks ago) lunch to Stratford-Upon-Avon as the old family house has now well and truly gone for good.  To spice things up on this blog to avoid it getting stale and losing dedicated readers there will be the introduction of new features which will start as of week 17.  Bet you can't wait.

Summary of Riverside

Name: Riverside

Type: Restaurant/bar/corporate event hosting

Location: Riverside, Tiddington Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7AB

Website: http://www.riversidestratford.co.uk

Date Visited: 21/4/14

Price: Normal pricing 

Rating: 2.7/5

Review

   After my birthday party and a fairly heavy month in April finances were running worrying low.  Despite my emotional post a few weeks back saying the final farewell to the family home, I decided to go home once more to save some dollar and take advantage of the mother's cooking.  You all know the score.

  The weekend had been relaxing, the bank balance was in a better place and the batteries had been fully recharged.  However after I stated to Peter (My mum's other half) that I had been to every place in Stratford, he suggested the Riverside to prove me wrong.  Touche Peter and to ensure that I had conquered this goal I went to the last place in Shakespeares town I hadn't been to.

 Riverside has only just opened and is situated right by the River Avon (who'd of thought of it lol).  Due to the erratic weather we regularly experience in England, the place has cleverly been built on stilts to ensure that the place never gets flooded (take note Cox's Yard/Lazy Cow).  We decided to go for lunch on the way to dropping me off at the train station and all in the all the place was ok.  

 The building itself is pretty incredible, the balcony is fantastic with great views and a nice peaceful setting looking over the river.  The service, however, did not fit in as the waiter did not have a scooby on what was going on.  I decided to opt against the Becks Vier due to recent criticism and went for the Kingstone press cider.  I do not recommend, very gassy and I was bloated pre meal which was far from ideal.

Impressive building...I'll give them that

  Rather than going for the crowd favourite burger I decided to go for the lasagne.  This was not a wise choice.  Although it was ok, it was still a clear microwave dinner job and ketchup was very much needed.  Here enlies the biggest problem with this place.  No bottle of ketchup here, instead the sauces were presented in sachets.  The worst thing ever invented! Its not a weather spoon's guys, buy some bloody bottles.  My problem with sachets is that they involve an incredible amount of admin trying to tear the thing open and when you finally do that after using your teeth there is barely in there.  You then end up having to use 5 sachets to get the desired amount and by the time you've done that and emptied all of them onto the plate your dinner has become cold.  Poor work.

  This left a sour taste in my mouth and for that I give it a damning criticism.  The food was ok, the cider boating and the waiters unknowledgeable.  What saves this joint is the building itself which would get architecture students purring and the location is spot on.  Apart from that I do not rate.

Worth a visit once.  Only for drink mind...not the food!
  

Poem Advice

The riverside in Stratford
A stunning place for sure
But sauces served in sachets
leaving you always wanting more

 Again apologies for the shorter entry again this week and to all the London readers looking for the next hip place to go to.  Good news is pay day is upon us so next week, along with the new features, really has to go up as a must read entry of 2014.  Some are saying its the most highly anticipated blog article since Madrid....




  

See you next week fans and don't forget to subscribe.

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