Week Forty Four
Hello there, hope you all had a good Xmas! Not long to go until the end of the year. You might of guessed that I am slightly behind but should be up to date soon. I will be doing an end of year review in January too (oh really Jack, I'm so happy).
This week entailed a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe in Sharm El Sheikh and a spot of lunch with Grubs at the Riverside pub in Vauxhall. Both very different.
Special guests include: Will Matthews, Tom Grimes, Paul and Dianne.
Summary of Hard Rock Cafe
Name: Hard Rock Cafe (Sharm El Sheikh Branch)
Type: Rock n Roll themed restaurant/bar/nightclub
Location: Marina Street Na'ama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai 46619, Egypt
Date Visited: 04/11/14
Price: Incredibly Cheap
Rating: 2/5
Review
Summary of Riverside
From the words of Jon Snow, 'winter was coming' and I was keen to get some sun before the cold weather descended on us. There were not many takers to join and all looked bleak until Will Matthews found an all inclusive (alcohol, hotel, flights and food) package to Sharm El Sheikh for only £420. Perfect. Unfortunately no one else wanted to go, so not for the first time this year, me and Will were on occasions, mistaken for partners (see Week 19). During check in, the guy on reception at the hotel asked us whether we would like 'A King Size bed sir?' We politely declined.
Anyway after a couple of days just relaxing around the pool, catching some rays and be surrounded by 95% couples, we felt we needed a night out away from the hotel (you two!). The hotel social event organiser asked us if we wanted to join Paul and Dianne (both late 40's) from Middlesborough for a big night out at the Hard Rock Cafe. Hell yes we did.
Paul and Dianne
11pm arrived, we paid our 200 egyptian pounds each (which equates to around £20). This paid for all drinks, entry and the taxi there and back. We were dropped off and me, Will, Paul and Diane headed in for our 'couples' night out. Sorry I mean night out.
Will and I. The green bands are the all inclusive bands not friendship bracelets.
The place was completely dead but did pick up slightly with other guests at neighbouring hotels joining. Anyway we got with it and started getting stuck into the free alcohol...you can take a man out of Middlesborough. It was a pretty boozy and fun evening but I wouldn't recommend it as a must visit club in Sharm. Paul was a good crack, pretty out of control and his wife Dianne, was treating us all to her ageless dance moves.
Classic Paul
It got to the point where we had drunk enough, danced enough and realised that the place was pretty crap, so we exited. We were about to get in the taxi but not before we had a big group hug, which then turned into a good old fashioned pile on. Friends for life. Shout out to Paul and Di! Apologies to Dianne who had some noticeable bruising poolside the next day. Hard Rock Cafe isn't the best here.
Will, Di, Paul and I.
Summary of Riverside
Name: Riverside
Type: Gastro Pub
Location: The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 St. Georges Wharf, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2LE
Website: http://www.riversidelondon.com
Date Visited: 09/11/14
Price: Ok
Rating: 3/5
Review
After returning from Sharm El Sheikh nicely sun kissed but feeling fairly fragile, I was after a relaxing Sunday. Tom Grimes was down visiting London for admin purposes and fancied going for some lunch around Vauxhall.
Grubs chose the Riverside and I was more than happy with that. I had been recommended this place at the start of the year by a lot of friends so was keen to give it a try. We ordered a couple of Aspall Ciders, bloody great cider that, and then took our seat at a nice table with comfortable seats. Fair play.
Of course we both ordered sunday lunch, you've got to haven't you! Grubs went for the beef and I went for the Chicken. We did go slightly unorthodox and ordered a main dish of Nachos to share, for our starter. Pretty rogue and it did get a flicker of the eyebrow from the dead pan waiter.
The starter for two
Onto the food and I have to say I was impressed. The nachos were fantastic but unfortunately were quite filling. That cost me half of my main, as the tank was full after only a few mouthfuls into the chicken. The chicken was extremely tasty and it was a shame I couldn't finish it all. All the trimmings were good to.
Liked this place a lot and the inside of the pub has been finished superbly. Do you know why? It's another Youngs pub thats why. Youngs really are going full out at the moment with refurbishments and this one they have got very right like the Castle. It is helped by it's surroundings of central London and of course overlooking the Thames. Picturesque you might say.
I will definitely return on a day in the Summer, can see this being a bustling vibrant pub on a nice sunny day. Worth a go for the food alone to be fair.
Not bad I thought. Not the cheapest you can get though
Special Shoutout
Winner: Will Matthews
This weeks special shoutout goes to Will. This man, although considerably shorter than me, was the man responsible in ensuring I went to Sharm El Sheikh. He found the incredible deal and twisted my arm in ensuring I went when I was keen not to. Going away for 4 days of sun at the start of November to temperatures above 30 degrees....spot on and hats off sir. Also a regular reader of the blog so appreciation for that too. Ta very much
Poem Advice
In Sharm El Sheikh,
Needing a night out?
Hard Rock Cafe's cheap,
But not the best shout
Vauxhall your location,
Waterfront pub your aim
Go to the Youngs pub there
The Riverside it's name
Thanks again for reading folks and hope you all had a good Xmas. See you in the New Year! I'll leave you with a picture of man standing on a camel in Sharm El Sheikh
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