THEGAYUK

Day: 29 January 2020

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Other Side Fried, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Other Side Fried, London

    ★★★ | Other Side Fried, Brixton, London

    Fried chicken was all the rage in 2019 – will it be just as popular in 2020? Well, The Other Side Fried (OSF) is trying to make sure this will be the case.

    With five locations in London, including two in Brixton, they are all about fried chicken – just what it says in the name! Buttermilk – dipped chicken is offered in several burger varieties. In my quick visit there one Saturday afternoon to the flagship restaurant in Brixton (not Pop) – the Honey Butter chicken burger stood out on the menu. Loads of pickles and lettuce under the chicken with bacon on top – was – to borrow a well-known phrase – finger lickin’ good! It wasn’t that large considering the price –  £8.45 – but it was delicious thanks to the smoked honey butter sauce. My friend had the Bacon Cheese chicken burger with OSF special sauce – at £7.45. Other burgers include the Classic, Buffalo, Garlic & Mayo and Vegan – all priced between £6.45 and £8.45. What makes OSF chicken burgers taste better than KFC? The quality for one, and secondly the taste – OSF are original, and good.

    The order of fries was very good – they were of the small-sized variety. I asked for no salt so that I could taste them as they should be tasted – plain, but they came salted – oh well – but were cheap (£2.45). The Dirty Tots were superb. A bit pricey at £5 – they were topped with bacon bits and delicious ranch/hot sauce but weren’t hot at all. We thoroughly enjoyed these and ate them all up. 

    We tried the Garlic Butter Mayo and Smoked Honey Mustard (superb) dips to go with our chicken and fries (a must at 50p each). If you want bacon or Parmesan cheese these will set you back £1 each. Beer, wine (pending liquor license approval in the main branch) and soft drinks are available as well. 

    If you find yourself in either Camden (Camden Lock Market), Leicester Square or Peckham (Peckham Levels), you’ll find their other locations. They are smaller so there are less menu options but the quality of food is the same throughout all the locations. The original location is right near Brixton tube station – you can’t miss it – it’s all glass – and an ugly orange inside. Too bad loud rap music was on play – not pleasant for this small 16-seater location. And unusually it was not busy at all when we were there – at Saturday lunchtime.

    Thanks to OSF – it looks like the fried chicken craze is here to stay – though I’d still stay away from Chicken with waffles – it’s so so wrong!

    Find out more: http://www.othersidefried.com

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace SVR

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace SVR

    Catapult for the Road.

    Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has taken their spanners to the all-important and top-selling Jaguar F-Pace. Looking through the model options on the F-Pace, it would seem that the V6 S we tested back in May 2018 has now gone, replaced by this all-new SVR model. 

    On paper alone, it doesn’t sound like much progress has been made from replacing the 375PS supercharged V6 with a 550PS supercharged V8. You might be thinking “hold on Stuart…” because these figures alone are impressive. I’ll grant you that they are. What it lays down on the road doesn’t exactly look like much in terms of the 0-60 second sprint. Just 1 second is knocked off the S models 5.1 second time.

    Where the fun lies is in the top speed that you’ll never achieve on the public road of 176mph and the massive increase in torque delivery you will get when you put your foot down. Now you have 680Nm from 2,500 – 5,500rpm. We don’t need to consider the old model anymore.

    Development

    It feels like SVO has done some work on the iQ-Al (D7a) modular platform that is shared with the enjoyable XE saloon. And that work feels a little more than a mild tweak and a tap with a hammer. Finally, the F-Pace has the handling that enables it to keep up with its greater power outputs. It can still plough on but this time you can encourage the rear end to catch up far quicker than before. There is no doubting that the extra grunt in useable lowdown torque helps to attribute to this vastly and enjoyable improvement.

    What this also means is it can all get a bit messy and a lot of fun. It makes for a big car that feels less nervous. Even on moist roads, the traction is all there and exploitable. Now we have a car that gets a bit twitchy on the rear when confronted with coming out of fast roundabouts if you so wish for it to do so.

    And all of this happens before, and by accidentally, that you select S on the gear stick. I’ll be a little unprofessional here and say I did scream and cry at the same time as it shot down the road like a stone from a catapult. What felt like a fast vehicle suddenly became even faster with more response from throttle inputs and manual inputs with gear changes.   

    Legally you can’t use this outrageous amount of power all the time. There comes a time where you need to be civil to other road users. Sometimes that means shutting off the snarling exhaust sound system controlled by a system of flaps and baffles.

    On a normal kind of drive or commute, the F-Pace SVR is a gentle giant. Its interior on this press model, were rather cosseting and the though the seats didn’t visually lend themselves to look comfortable, did a good job.

    Attention To Details

    Inside the F-Pace, there is an absence of race materials. Instead, Jaguar has opted for leather and soft-touch materials where it is needed. It’s fit and finish are OK though they would struggle to match those from BMW and Mercedes and its looks are a little dated now.

    And this is a shame because this is Jaguar and it’s a premium brand of car. But it fails in a few areas of neglect that niggle a bit if you go looking for them. The glovebox, for instance, has some unrefined sharp edges around it and then we get to my visual dislike in a Jaguar interior. Namely in the ambient illuminations set in the doors. Personally I’ve never liked blue lighting. It’s a harsh light so add this to the black and red leather interior and you do wonder who at Jaguar is in charge of making this decision. Other interior colours are available in black with cream or tobacco or all black.   

    And this is the main problem for the F-Pace. It’s 4 years old in 2020 and dated inside because of this. Thankfully for £210, you can tick a box that gives you a choice of 10 colours. Keep it white as standard and you wouldn’t need this.

    All this extra doesn’t come cheap and that’s before you’ve added your own essentials. You’ll regret not adding such items like the ‘driver assistance pack’ at £3100 so you can kiss the reasonable list price of £75,335 goodbye. Add the options that we have here and it tips the scales at over £83k.

    Can I justify this to you? If motoring is on a budget then no, this F-Pace is not for you but you might find what you want lower down the range. That said, if a fast SUV vehicle with a kick is what you want, you’d find a lot of the competition out there quite lacklustre. There aren’t that many as accomplished and as outrageous as this and that’s why I’m rather taken by it. 

    Love

    Sound

    Civilised driving

    Can be an unruly brute 

    Loathe

    Blue ambient lighting

    Expensive options that you need 

    Interior design showing its age 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jaguar F-Pace SVR 

    Price – £83,625 (as tested)

    MPG – 22.1mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 550PS @ 6,000 – 6,500rpm

    0-62mph –  4.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  176 mph

    Co2 – 272 (g/km)

    All pictures: Stuart M Bird (C)

  • Theatre Review | Peter Pan Goes Wrong – National Tour

    Theatre Review | Peter Pan Goes Wrong – National Tour

    ★★★ | Peter Pan Goes Wrong – Sheffield Theatres

    The cast of Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are back, with a disaster filled version of Peter Pan. Somewhere between the scenery collapsing, the technical hitches, backstage fallouts and some unrequited love between cast members, the troupe try to desperately to keep the show on the rails as chaos increasingly takes over, Peter Pan stops thinking happy thoughts and the crocodile becomes the star of the show.

    Mischief Theatre returns following on from The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery with two hours of laughter-inducing slapstick humour as the fictional cast try desperately to get through the performance. With slick precision and perfect comic timing, the cast plough through a barrage of jokes with a broad scattergun approach to the humour, as some jokes hit the mark, some miss completely and with another gag always rapidly following the last. 

    There were certainly plenty of smiles, chuckles and belly laughs to be had throughout the show’s duration, although the last ten minutes did descend more into silliness than comedy, but this didn’t detract from the feel-good factor the show produces. Cast member Oliver Stenton steals most of the scenes he touches; whilst Tom Babbage captures the hearts of the audience as the hapless Max.

    If you have seen Mischief Theatre before, then you will know exactly what to expect and you won’t be disappointed as they continue with their trademark humour. If you’ve not, then Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a great introduction to them with an enjoyable, silly and easily entertaining show. 

    Peter Pan Goes Wrong is at Sheffield Theatres until 1st February 2020 before continuing on its national tour.

  • Hate crimes against transgender people decreased by 23 per cent in Scotland

    Hate crimes against transgender people decreased by 23 per cent in Scotland

    Transgender Flag

    The latest statistics from the Hate Crime In Scotland report show that charges in relation to transgender hate crime decreased by 16 per cent in the 2018/19 period compared to the year before.

    Court proceedings were commenced in respect of 29 of the 40 charges.

    In the same period, homophobic hate crime charges increased by five per cent.

    In total, 40 charges of transphobic hate crime were reported to the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland in 2018/19. The previous period recorded 52 reports, this is a decrease of 23 per cent.

    In contrast, crimes charged and reported on the basis of sexuality increased to over 1100 reported crimes.

    In 2018 to 2019 hate crimes based on sexual orientation rose by five per cent according to a report on Hate Crime In Scotland. There were 1,176 charges reported in 2018-19. The numbers of crimes reported and charged have risen year on year since 2010, except in 2014/15.

    Since 2010 hate crimes against gay and bi people have increased by over 160 per cent.

    Homophobia the only hate crime to rise

    CREDIT: Yastremska-bigstock

    In contrast to religious, race and gender identity-based crime, hate crime based on sexual orientation is the only hate crime to steadily climb.

    Although race-based hate crimes are the most reported type of hate crime, the number of charges reported has decreased by 37% since a peak in 2011-12.

  • This is where you shouldn’t take your valentine’s date

    This is where you shouldn’t take your valentine’s date

    Pexels / Pixabay

    Valentine’s day is fast approaching and for many of us, the question about where to go with our date still looms. From romantic dinners to hiking, the options are never-ending. But what is the perfect date?

    Farawayfurtniture.com were keen to find the answers and surveyed 1,546 people, asking them to rate each date activity out of 10 (10 being very good and 0 being very bad).

    Drinks, came on top as the best activity to do on a first date, according to 38% of respondents. One respondent stated that having an alcoholic beverage on a date, made them “more talkative and social.”

    Attend a comedy night, was surprisingly rated the second-best date. A whopping 36% said this would be their favourite activity.

    The third best-rated date was, in fact, a walk, according to 35% of respondents. On a budget? No problem- just take your date on a walk!

    Farawyafurtniture.com revealed that the typical dinner date, is NOT the most favoured activity- despite popular opinion.

    One respondent commented saying dinner dates were “too formal and often awkward.”

    Instead, people rated active and fun activities much higher.

    Furthermore, the experts revealed that people would rather go to a museum (25%) than a theme park (13%).

    To delve deeper, the experts analysed the different activities different age groups preferred. The results found that…

    People in their 20s do not want to go for drinks! Only 42% of respondents rated this the best idea, in comparison to over half of the respondents arguing mini-golf was the best activity (51%).

    Say no to picnics…

    Finally, if your date is in their 20s, avoid picnics and museums.

    Having a picnic and visiting a museum were the worst-rated ideas by people in their 20s.

    People in their 30-40s, were the only age group, that rated dinner and drinks the best first date. Surprisingly, no other age group rated drinks and dinner the best activity.

    People aged between 40-50, seem to love their comedy nights, with 40% rating this the best first date.

    People aged in their 50-60s appear to keep things simple, with a walk being the best first date.

    This was closely followed by a comedy night. Make sure to avoid theme parks and bowling though- these ideas were rated the worst by people in their 50-60s.

  • Conservatives release “delusional” merch to celebrate getting Brexit done

    Conservatives release “delusional” merch to celebrate getting Brexit done

    In a move which has left many people on social media baffled, the Conservatives have released an official tea towel feature a picture of PM Boris Johnson with the slogan, “Got Brexit Done”, despite the fact that the UK doesn’t officially leave the EU until the 31st January 2020.

    The move has left many on social media questioning whether the account had been hacked or was even a parody account.

    Proudly made in the UK

    The tea towel, which is “proudly made in the UK” is selling on the Conservative’s website for £12.99 and apparently is the perfect way to “Show your pride in Britain and celebrate Brexit in your kitchen”.

    Delivery of the towel won’t happen until the 10th Feb 2020.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Twitter users were quick to slam the product and the Conservatives as “delusional” while another added that they thought the tea-towel would be sold in car boot sales for 50p within a year.

    Matthew Hodson commented, “I predict these will age like a fine yogurt.”

    You could always team the tea towel with a mug, with the slogan “I got Brexit done” for £15.00.

    In a poll by THEGAYUK in April 2016, 82 per cent of our readers thought that the UK was better off in the EU, while only 18 per cent thought that we would be better off out.

  • Grindr’s take on Eminem’s Dolly Parton Challenge is whithering

    Grindr’s take on Eminem’s Dolly Parton Challenge is whithering

    Grindr has slapped back at an attempt by Eminem to use its brand.

    It’s the social media story of the moment, the Dolly Parton challenge as it has become known, features four pictures of yourself in four different poses for four different platforms, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder – however, GayTwitter TM has obviously swapped out Tinder for Grindr.

    Entertainer Eminem thought he’d get in on the action and posted his challenge, asking his fans, “Did I get this right” but instead of Tinder he also used the world’s most popular gay hook up app, Grindr – inexplicably – as he’s not gay or bi – as far as we know.

    Grindr took no time in responding with one of the most whithering clap backs we’ve seen in a long time.

    Instead of welcoming the mention of its brand, Grindr responded with a simple, “Who”…

    The response became an instant hit and was liked over 100,000 times and retweeted over 11,000 times.

    Homophobic?

    Embed from Getty Images

    In 2018 Eminem apologised for using the homophobic slur “faggot” toward the rapper Tyler The Creator, in his track “Fall”.

    This isn’t the first time he’s used homophobia in his music, even going as far to explain his usage of the slurs to the Rolling Stone in 2013, as “… more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole,”

    Ah… next he’ll be telling us some of his best friends are gay…