THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • The 15 best restaurants in London 2017

    There are thousands of restaurants in London ranging from the Michelin Starred to the greasy spoon. From Italian to Chinese from Hipster chic to LGBT enclaves. London’s cuisine scene has it all.

    The 15 best restaurants in London 2017

    Grills

    Brasserie Zedel (Piccadilly Circus) is steps away from Piccadilly Circus and is one of the most beautiful, elegant and affordable restaurants in London. The restaurant serves traditional French food at amazingly affordable prices. In what is perhaps the best dinner deal in London, they offer, for a mere £12.75, a three-course Prixe Fixe meal which includes Carottes Rapées, Steak Haché with Frites, and a Café Gourmand or a Tarte aux Fruits. It’s a very delicious and satisfying meal. (Tim Baros)

    Eccleston Square Hotel (Victoria) Just a brief walk from the chaos of Victoria Station lies the calm, stylish, uber-cool and uber-tech hotel within Eccleston Square. If you’re not a natural-born Londoner, sometimes the “buzz” is a bit overwhelming. Eccleston Square manages to create an ambience to instantly chill and transports you to a peaceful place. (Jordan Lohan)

    Bar + Block (Kings Cross) The Kings Cross area, if you haven’t recently been, is buzzing. Years ago it was a warren of prostitution and crime, now it’s gentrified with trendy and expensive apartments and a healthy choice of restaurant options. Bar + Block, in my opinion, is THE restaurant option in the area. It is, in fact, the perfect place to go for an excellent and very affordable meal. Located right next to Kings Cross Station on York Way and past McDonald’s and Nandos, Bar + Block, right underneath the Premier Inn, is an excellent find. In the space that used to be the dreary hotel bar, it has been remodelled, chomped and changed. It’s now a beautiful restaurant where the bar, dining area and kitchen are all in one superbly designed and spacious large room. But it’s not just the layout that’s fantastic, the food is also amazing. (Tim Baros)

     

    World

    Ping Pong (Soho) is a restaurant where the concept is Dim Sum – food that comes in small bite-sized portions which allow you to eat lots and lots of different types. Don’t assume the dishes will be quite small because the prices are quite low. Once the food arrives you’ll need a second table to capture the overflow! (Tim Baros)

    Thai Square is an oasis in the heart of central London. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds and pollution, stepping into Thai Square is akin to stepping into a whole different world, a world that is calm and tranquil and where one can find excellent food. (Tim Baros)

    Zaika of Kensington (Kensington) went above and beyond the usual expectations of Indian cuisine. The pricing of the dishes are on point for the quality and execution. The whole experience felt grand and glam. If you have a team of curry fans, Zaika of Kensington is the place for you. (Jordan Lohan)

    Jamboree Foodfest & Bar (Blackfriars) Don’t be put off by the corporate exterior. The building is accessorised with a fun red neon Jamboree sign and their colourful interior can be seen from across the traffic-magnet main road. Once inside you’ll feel as though you’ve walked into a London take on a barn dance bar. High ceilings laden with multicoloured bunting and exposed vintage bulbs, bare wood beams, walls, floor and tables. A clean spit-without-the-sawdust gaff. We approve. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Gastropub

    The Narrow Is Gordon Ramsay’s gaff and it simmers with locals who’ve come straight from the office or schlepped from their Limehouse pied-à-terres. It gives the riverside eatery a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Good service in a Ramsay gaff is like buff, topless bar staff at Ku Bar – totally expected. You won’t be disappointed. No F Words and the staff are knowledgeable and will treat you as though you were regulars. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Marquis of Wellington (Bermondsey) Loud, brass and cheap as chips. The locals are lucky to have this pub on their doorstep, and visitors to the area will enjoy it as well. (Tim Baros)

     

    Italian

    Tozi (Victoria) A breeze to get to – being a five-minute walk from Victoria. The decor is spacious, cool and contemporary. You’ll love the sleek, swift (and suiting smart shirts) service. Their menu incorporates some wonderfully unique ingredients, such as their home made chestnut infused rum. And oh the men. All the Italian men. Overall, I am all over it, and it has been decided that this place is definitely Tozi ‘Mazeballs. (Jordan Lohan)

    Stuzzico (Marble Arch) is tucked away in a section of London called Connaught Village, steps away from Marble Arch and the Middle Eastern restaurants of Edgware Road, Stuzzico, as small as it is, is a standout. Luca, one of the proprietors, will greet you with a warm Italian smile and will recommend dishes and especially wine that superbly complements each other. Its smallish menu will allow you to try various specialities of the Puglia region, but it all depends on what you fancy; fish, meat and/or pasta. (Tim Baros)

     

    Hip

    Wringer & Mangle To enter W&M you walk through a terrace, and past a Moroccan-style den, where lattice fencing, riddled with ivy, sections off an outdoor seating area surrounding a fire pit. Ideal for an aperitif. Cushions, candles and outdoor heaters will keep you snug as a duvet in a tumble dryer. While schmoozing with the trendy-Wendys, happening-hacks and look-at-me-Larrys, canapés were wafted around like incense at a pilgrims’ gathering. Regular visits a must. (Thabian Sutherland)

    Tabun Kitchen It’s recommended that you sit on the lower ground floor. It’s quaint, Mediterranean-styled, and very cosy, perfect if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the food without being in the hustle and bustle and heat of the main room. Faisel, the charming manager, will take you through the menu if you have any questions. And while the pizza was not sexy and the service a bit disjointed, Tabun Kitchen will not disappoint. It’s warm food and cooking style and abundant fresh and delicious flavours will blow you away.  (Tim Baros)

    Rudie’s Jamaican (Dalston) offers what they call a ‘Boss Burger’ – a rare breed of beef chuck patty that is topped with apple wood smoked cheddar, sweet honey mustard, red onion, tomato, pickles and jalapeño chilli – and it’s huge – worth the £12 price. With Dalston becoming the hip place to live, Rudie’s will most definitely live up to a similar mantra – it will be the hip place to eat. (Tim Baros)

     

    LGBT

    Balans in Soho is an absolute must if you’re visiting London’s gay centre. Open 24 hrs you’ll find a bevvy of hot staff serving good value, hearty food with delicious drinks. (Jake Hook)

  • What does the interior of the Celebrity Big Brother house look like?

    The pictures are here…

    See the inside of the brand new Celebrity Big Brother house.

     

  • When will the X Factor 2017 start and who is judging it this year?

    Summer 2017 sees the return of one Britain’s most popular show, the X Factor. When does it start, who is hosting it and who are the judges?

    when does the new series of X Factor start?

    Simon Cowell has already hinted that there will be many new surprises to delight and retain viewers.

    After last year’s dismal ratings, Simon Cowell has hinted that there will be many changes to the 2017 format of X Factor, including a new location for auditions, six weeks of live shows instead of 10 and no more novelty acts, like Honey G, that have blighted the show for years. For fans of the Jukebox, it will not be returning to the 2017 series after Simon ruled it out in July.

    When does X Factor 2017 start?

    Although the show’s first episode air date has not yet been announced, you can expect it to be at the end of August. This is when the show usually starts and takes viewers right up until Christmas. It has historically launched on the last weekend of August. Dermot O’Leary is returning for hosting duties.

    Who is judging the X Factor 2017?

    Don’t expect too many changes to the lineup from 2016. Simon, Nicole, Sharon and Louis Walsh will all be returning, however, there are rumours that several guest judges will be making a stop to shake things up.

    After years of fixing and rejigging the judging panel, this is the first time that the show will have exactly the same judging panel as the previous year. A source said that the “chemistry was perfect” among the judges.

    Where will the Judge’s Houses be in this year’s X Factor?

    As always, the location of the judge’s houses is a secret – you’ll have to wait until the shows to find out more.

    Who won last year’s X Factor?

    In case you’ve forgotten – so much has happened since last year’s finale, Matt Terry won out the series – followed by Saara Alto.

     

     

     

  • The show that made Jane McDonald famous is making a comeback

    A brand new series of The Cruise is set to return to our screens…

    Yes, the show that gave us Jane McDonald is coming back to ITV.

    Three new series of ITV’s hit documentary The Cruise, which will be set on board two Princess Cruises ships, are being lined up for next year.

    Wild Pictures will once again board The Cruise and reveal what life at sea is like for both crew and guests on board some of the ocean’s largest cruise liners. The new series follows the success of the previous two series, filmed respectively on Regal Princess in the Baltics and Royal Princess in the Mediterranean, which were a ratings success.

    The new series of The Cruise will include 6 x30minute episodes in the Mediterranean, returning to the 3,560-guest Royal Princess as she cruises from Greece to Spain and everywhere in between this summer. Two special 3 x 30 minute outings to Alaska and the Caribbean will take viewers further then ever before to bbreathtakingand exotic locations, which present new challenges for staff.

    The series is commissioned for ITV by Satmohan Panesar, Commissioning Editor and Sue Murphy Head of Factual Entertainment.

    Paul Hamann, executive producer at Wild Pictures, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Princess Cruises again on this successful returning series. Viewers are really fascinated by the world of cruising, the workings of such a large operation and the exciting destinations this series gives them a passport to see.”

    Viewers can join the conversation on Twitter via #TheCruise

  • Finally suspended from Twitter, Lucian Piane is off the platform

    It seems the folks at Twitter have called time on Lucian Piane’s account.

    The songwriter, former producer and judge for RuPaul has had his account suspended on Twitter.

    A user called Lois complain to Twitter about Lucian Piane‘s offensive and erratic Tweets. She received notification from the team on Twitter who said that Lucian’s account had violated their community guidelines.

    She said, “So now I guess I’m the girl that got Lucian Piane suspended from Twitter,” she tweeted.

    Lucian’s twitter account has tweeted a series of offensive messages and he apologised earlier in the year saying that he was in a “marijuana psychosis” – according to UCLA doctors. He claims he consumed 800mg of cannabis edibles in 48 hour period. He called the experience “eye-opening” and “enlighting”.

    The songwriter’s tweets descended further and further into chaos. At one point he made claims about the Obamas and Clintons. He also claimed that Barack Obama was gay and his own body and nearly everyone on earth was infected with brain-controlling parasites.

    He also uploaded a picture of his penis.

    The messages published on his account caused much concern and many fans feared for his mental health.

    His suspension follows other high profile LGBT folk, who have also been suspended including, Milo, Azealia and Tila Tequila

  • What time is Man In the Orange Shirt on BBC 2

    In his first screen drama, best-selling British novelist Patrick Gale tells two gay love stories, 60 years apart – stories linked by family, and by a painting that holds a secret that echoes down the generations.

    What time is Man In the Orange Shirt on BBC 2

    As part of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season, it will be showing the mini series Man In The Orange Shirt on BBC 2. The show features a cast which includes Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, David Gyasi, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and James McArdle.

    It will be shown tonight at 9 PM on BBC 2

    What is Man In An Orange About?

    Man in an Orange Shirt charts the challenges and huge changes to gay lives from the Second World War to the present: In 1944, British Army Captain Michael Berryman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) meets war artist Thomas March (James McArdle) in Southern Italy while chaos reigns all around them. Despite having a young fiancé, Flora (Joanna Vanderham), waiting at home for him, straight-laced Michael finds himself falling for Thomas’ bohemian charms. In 2017, an ageing Flora (Redgrave) looks on as her grandson, Adam (Julian Morris), tentatively forms a relationship with his client Steve (David Gyasi) in a more accepting world. But while the external obstacles have fallen away, a minefield of internalised issues and dangerous temptations still line the road to happiness.

    When will Man In An Orange show on BBC 2?

    The first of two episodes of Man In An Orange Shirt will be broadcast on BBC 2 on July 31 at 9 pm. It will be available shortly after on BBC’s iPlayer.

    The show was commissioned by the BBC to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

     

  • Man dies on operating table whilst undergoing enlargement surgery

    A man has died after suffering complications during a routine penis enlargement surgery.

    An otherwise healthy 30-year-old man has died after complications during an operation to enlarge the length and girth of his penis. Despite the regularity at which this type of operation is now done, the medical team ran into issues half way through the procedure, the Journal of Forensic Sciences reported.

    This is the first time anyone has died in a penile enlargement surgery. There are around 8400 surgeries of this kind undertaken every year.

    The surgeons were on to the girth section of the surgery, where the patient’s own fat cells are injected into the penis. Around 2 ounces of his own fat were injected when the fat leaked into his blood stream.

    The patient then suffered a lung embolism which led to him having a cardiac arrest. Despite CPR efforts from the doctors, they were unable to save him. The man died after two hours.

    “This is the first described case where a seemingly simple and safe procedure of penis enlargement by autologous fat transfer caused sudden death in a healthy young man,

    “Perhaps the risk of fat embolization is higher when pretraumatized tissue is subjected to fat injection, like in this case, where a penis elongation by loosening of a penile ligament was performed before the fat injection.”

     

     

     

  • When does the new series of American Horror Story start and who is in it?

    The brand new season of American Horror Story has been announced and fans won’t have to wait too long to get their fix!

    When does the new series of American Horror Story start and who is in it?

    FOX has revealed the premiere date for American Horror Story: Cult, the seventh instalment of the groundbreaking and award-winning anthology series from Co-Creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The Emmy, Golden Globe and AFI Award winning series will return to FOX on Friday 8th September at 10 pm in the UK.

    Who stars in American Horror Story?

    The first clues to the seventh instalment were unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con. Series veterans Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters have been confirmed to return alongside newcomers and out actor Colton Haynes (Teen Wolf), Leslie Grossman (Popular) and Lena Dunham (Girls).  Although series details remain closely under wraps, it has been revealed that the new season will take place on election night and Ryan Murphy has released a cryptic teaser video featuring a crowd of menacing clowns.

     

    Seventh Instalment of Groundbreaking Anthology Series Premieres Friday 8th September at 10pm on FOX

     

  • Lost LGBT Scene | The Anvil

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of the UK’s lost venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of the UK’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    The Anvil

    A rather sleazy bar within the Shipwrights Arms in Tooley Street.

    Description from Nigel (Thank you)

    The Anvil which used to be a  rather sleazy bar within the Shipwrights Arms in Tooley Street, London Bridge  (the pub is still there but long since gone straight). The upstairs had a dark cruising area and I distinctly remember the biker nights which were held every Thursday evening.

    I think it opened in the late 80s and only lasted a few years…we often went on a pub crawl between the Anvil, The Coleherne, The London Apprentice then lastly The Block!

     

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  • People share what being gay means to them

    To mark the 50 years of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, we asked readers what it means to be gay to them. Here are some of their answers.

     

    Everything. and it’s very strange because I never used to consider it an important part of my identity. (Jake, London)

    Freedom and independence, but an ‘edited life’. I come from a wealthy upper middle-class background and came out when I was 18. The deal I reached with my parents was to be gay in London and not talk about it at home or with family. Being gay is not part of the values and culture of our family, friends or community in the countryside. It’s joked about, but only a few are down right discriminatory. So I am free and independent in London and lead an edited life where work, family, and friends back home are unaware. (William, Wiltshire, England)

    It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That I could wake up every day knowing that I didn’t have to hide who I was, that I could breathe freely without worrying who knows my secret. But I always think being gay isn’t the thing that defines me, being gay is one of the many parts of me. (Matty, Manchester, England)

    To me ‘gay’ is a lifestyle, bars clubs, steam baths etc, I prefer the term ‘ men who has sex with men’ i.e. conventional in every way other than who I prefer to f*ck. (iphotoguys, Brighton, England)

    Being gay for me is about freedom. The right to choose my own life and how I live it. It’s about being confident in who I am and not being afraid to show. No matter the opinions of other people, always having the confidence in myself to live the life I want and deserve. (Aaron, Preston, England)

    Honesty. Genuine honesty. It also feels the most natural thing in the world. (Peter, Winchester, England)

    I’m finally the true complete person I was meant to be. I’m still Dad, Son, Brother, to my amazing family and they are simply happy because I am happy. (Graham, Dudley, England)

    5 years ago, being gay meant having to admit that’s I am different to all of my friends and my family. It meant that I had to stand out from the crowd when I had tried so hard to fit in before. It meant putting a target on my back at school and everywhere else I went. 4 years ago, being gay meant meeting a completely new group of friends, friends that I could be myself with and friends I knew I would have for life. It meant that I could sneak into clubs I was too young for and it meant exploring my sexuality. 3 years ago, being gay meant travelling the country to experience different “scenes” and finding my favourite places in the world. Being gay meant partying all day, every day with no excuses, regrets or apologies. 2 years ago, being gay meant reconnecting with an old friend who had newly come out. It meant meeting more new friends that I knew I would have for life, just like my school friends. Being gay opened me up to a world where there was no judgement only fun and funny times. Last year, being gay meant that I met the man of my dreams. It meant finding the one person who would love me for who I am and who I will grow into becoming. It meant changing everything I ever thought I knew about myself and finding new parts of myself I didn’t know were in me. This year, being gay has meant being part of a community that marches against people who refuse to accept the fact that we should be free to love who we love, however we choose to love them. This year being gay meant protesting for the Chechen LGBT community in my first ever protest. Being gay to me means having pride in who you are and not apologising for any second of it. (Leon, Birmingham, England)

    It means my fabulous children, twins, a boy and girl. They are in their 50’s now. They have provided a treasure chest of unforgettable experiences, specifically because they’re gay. So special ❤️❤️  (Simply Sharon, Louisiana, USA)

    That I can love all kinds of people but when I make love I do so without shame or reservation knowing that it is with a person based on mutual attraction, not social convention. (Philip, South-west England)

    It’s part of who I am and makes me who I am, I’m proud that I’m gay and I’d happily help the LGBTQ+ community to feel just as proud as I do. It makes sure me different in a world of sheep. (Bella, Bristol, England)

    Being yourself and for all people to accept who you are. (Ian Smith, UK)

    It made me more aware of what is happening in the world. I also learned to say NO because I got into learning what is allowed and what is an act against my rights. And I also love to turn some people off by showing them that their insults don’t get to me because I’m gay and proud. (Lukáš, The Czech Republic)

    Being myself and not living in fear of it. (Garry, England)

    Not only about sexual attraction. It’s being emotionally involved with a same sex person. (Erwan, France)

    Freedom, liberation, fearlessness, individuality. (M, London, England)

    Happiness. (Rajiv, Mumbai, India)

    Way of life. (Steven, Glasgow, Scotland)

    Being attracted to men. No more, no less. (Sam, UK)

    It means being who I am. Being able to live my life with out fear, and able to love my partner freely and together sharing our lives. (David, England)

    Being gay represents part of who I am. It also allows me to see the world from a different perspective and analyse issues in another way. (Sean, Peterborough, England)

    If I wasn’t gay I would never have met my wonderful husband. (Peter, Glasgow, Scotland)

    I hid my sexuality till I was 26 yrs old, I grew up in a military family so when my father found out he left a nasty and heartbreaking letter for me, which I still have to this day at 48yrs, my mother was so loving, but now,22 yrs later my father is amazing. He has accepted it, he has met my partner, even gets angry as to why we can’t get married in this country.  (Wayne, Sydney, Australia)

    I don’t know what it’s like to be Straight. As long as I can remember I have not known anything else. Although I have had relationships with Women. It never felt right. And now been with my lovely Husband for 18 years.❤️ (Richard, Birmingham, England)

    I am gay and thankful for all those who have gone before to make my life a good one with rights and privilege that I enjoy as a gay man based in the UK. (Elijah, Swansea, Wales)

    Came out five years ago after much denial, found my first boyfriend and never looked back. (Neil, Thurso, Scotland)

    Everything. (Daniel, Sydney, Australia)

    Happiness. (Paul, London, England)

  • There’s a sex practice that’s becoming popular with men – and its dangerous

    If you don’t want to cause permanent damage to your penis you might want to read on.

    If you’ve never heard of sounding – basically it where you stick a metal or glass rod down the opening of the penis into the urethra. However, doctors have warned that the practice of sounding could cause irreparable damage to the penis.

    Doctors at International Andrology, a central London clinic focusing exclusively on male urogenital health have seen a dramatic increase in the number of men presenting with urethral issues and infections in line with the rise in this sexual practice.

    The urethra sometimes referred to as the water-pipe, is the tube running along the penis, through which urine and sperm pass. A stricture, described as ‘a kink in a hose’, develops when the urethra is damaged leading to severe urination problems, pain and recurrent infections. It’s a dilapidating condition, that usually requires surgical intervention.

    Incontinence issues and reduced bladder control

    “Sounding” can also lead to incontinence since loosening or damaging of the urethra can result in reduced bladder control.

    “Urethral strictures are more common in older men, especially after the insertion of a catheter following prostate surgery, however, we have been seeing an increased number of younger patients suffering from strictures, which we attribute to the popularity of practices like sounding,” Mr Giulio Garaffa, a surgeon at International Andrology London comments.

    “Men should be really careful with such practices – only a few urologists have experience treating urethral strictures and in some cases, multiple operations might be required to fix the problem,” Mr Garaffa warns.

    Men interested in this activity should first understand the issues with introducing objects into the urethral and embrace clean practices such as cleaning items regularly and using lubrications specially designed for sensitive areas.