Category: Lifestyle

REVIEW| The Three Best Gins: It’s Gin O’Clock!

It’s official April is here, spring is here and yes that’s right so is British Summer Time!

So now we get an extra hour of daylight each day, to indulge in all our spring debauchery. Now as much as we could be referring to what goes down on Hampstead Heath… We at THEGAYUK will try and keep our debauchery PG for now. Indeed we are talking about all the debauchery that goes down in beer gardens and parks across the nation. It’s time to swap the winter whiskey for a refreshing G&T and don’t worry if you don’t know your Hendrick’s from your Gordons, we’ve got your back. Here’s our Top 3 Gin Guide for Spring 2019, with tasting notes and all. You’ll be a gin pro in no time.

1. Harahorn Norwegian Gin

Yes, you did indeed read right, Scandinavians make gin! The first gin to be featured on the top list is our Norwegian entrant Harahorn gin. Named after the Harahorn mountain in Norway and depicting the ever daunting image of a hare with horns, this gin is definitely an all-around favourite. By far the smoothest gin in our list, Harahorn is definitely the one to go for if you’re new to the gin scene. It’s a simple but delightfully smooth gin, with a neutral palette. Pair with blueberries for a subtle berry infusion and a flower or two, you know for the aesthetic. After all, if it’s not on Insta did it even happen?

Recommended For: Anyone new to gin, who want a safe first dip into the gin pool.

Instagram @harahorngin

2. Blue Bottle Dry Gin

Second, on our list, is our Guernsey entrant Blue Bottle Dry Gin. Now, this gin is indeed something special and can safely be considered an artisanal masterpiece. The gin which is brewed in copper stills at the Three Fingers Distillery in Guernsey combines a mirage of botanicals to create a truly unique taste. This gin is definitely one for the seasoned gin lover. With their tagline “Look for beauty everywhere.”, it’s definitely a gin that you will keep you yearning for more. With new tastes and experiences awaiting you, at every sip.

We recommend serving with a slice of grapefruit, to truly explore the subtle taste notes of this gin. Floral in nature, the juniper is enhanced by the bitterness of the grapefruit and the subtle undertone of vanilla comes through. The result, a truly unique tasting experience that will definitely have gin lovers hooked.

Recommended For: The seasoned gin lover, who wants to experience something truly unique on the gin scene.

Instagram @bluebottlegin

3. Conker Spirit RNLI Navy Strength Gin

Finally, the third and final entrant to our list is our English entry. Conker Spirit RNLI Navy Strength Gin hails from Dorset, England and is a gin that supports the life-saving work of the RNLI. The gin was created in partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and for every bottle sold, £5.00 is donated to the charity, to support their lifesaving work. So you can enjoy a cheeky G&T while doing good, definitely a brand we can get behind! The gin itself is smooth and by far the sweetest gin in our list.

Similarly to the Blue Bottle Dry Gin, we’d recommend serving this one with grapefruit. The sharpness of the grapefruit will ground the sweetness of the drink. Creating a truly indulgent citrus palette for you to enjoy. Perfect on a sunny spring day in the park! If you also enjoy a neat whiskey in winter, try this beauty with a squeeze of grapefruit juice on the rocks. Rare we like neat gin but this one is an exception to the norm.

Recommended For: Those with a sweet tooth, who enjoy a sweet citrus kick.

Instagram @conkerspirit

So there we have it. You are now indeed prepared to enjoy that extra hour of spring sunshine and hit the bar/park to enjoy a freshly made G&T. Let us know your thoughts below if you get the chance to try one of our favourites above or if you think we missed any from the list. Enjoy the sun and experimenting with your new favourite gins!

Photography: Georgia Faid @georgiafaid

Edited by: Daniel Dvir @danieldvirhere

18th April 2019
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Seat Ibiza 2002 – 2008

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly : The Seat Ibiza Mk3. Type 6L. 2002-2008

An irrelevant look at a certain car.

This Ibiza was a bit of a revelation from Seat. Finally, they had a car on the British shores that you actually wanted.

This was VW’s second attempt with the Ibiza. Compared to the rest of the family from VAG, It had a design flair all of its own. Ibiza 1 was sharp. That was designed by Ital. Ibiza 2 looked like a ripe butternut squash. And due to its shape, meant you couldn’t, sadly, lose it up your rectum!

Ibiza 3 looked as aggressive as a Spanish taxi driver drove. I would have said a Matador but have you seen the embroidery work in their costumes? Quite exquisite and so delicate. Anyway, gone were those fat dumpy looks, the Polo dashboard and the general dead feel of the car. Look at it from underneath and you’d think this was a VW Polo. Or a Skoda Fabia. From the top, it was all Spanish, all Seat and all very Mediterranean.

And that Mediterranean feel could also be felt through the ventilation system. Any car without a sunroof was incredibly hopeless in its ability to draw in fresh air. Aircon helped but what you really wanted was something that allowed the rush of air to pass through the cabin.

Opening a window wasn’t always an option. Closed windows give better miles per gallon and the thing could fly. You see, if you were wise and a bit ‘tight’ with the pennies, you’d have opted for the 1.4 3 cylinder diesel engine.

That’s right, a 3 cylinder diesel. Now VAG doesn’t have a good record with ageing 3 cylinders. The 3 pot petrol engines are crap. Remember the Polo? RUN! In diesel, it was great. 79 bhp felt like 179 and but that 195Ib ft of torque was most useful. These were diesels that didn’t sound too diesely and sipped the fuel like an introvert drinking a Babycham at a swingers party.

It was that magic 195Ib ft of torque that made the Ibiza 3 fun. They came with big alloys and low profile tyres so handling was always fun. It was all slick and it all worked in the way VW, sorry, Seat made them work. The 5-speed gearbox snicked in and out of the ratios with reassurance. And come night time, the dashboard was ALL red and ALL sporty and ALL racy and, well not blue like a VW.

Parked the right way, Ibiza 3 is a good car to look at with its big S as a nose. Park it so you can see those rear lights and your eyes are insulted by these ugly 4 pots in a baguette style slither of plastic like those from the dodgems of a 70’s Torremolinos funfair ride.

Thankfully, in 1.4 diesel form, it’s pretty quick so those behind you don’t have to endure that visual fright and for that one thing alone, I am saying the Ibiza 3 is a good car.

BUT ONLY IN DIESEL! with a sunroof. And aircon.

15th April 2019
CAR REVIEW | Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

★★★☆☆ | Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

What Have We Got?

I’m a lumberjack… and I’m OK, I cut down trees, I skip and jump”. We have the Jeep Renegade and these make me smile. There have been a few revisions carried out recently, most notably being the bumpers and change in headlights that add new aggression to the chunky monkey. New engines have also been added and for this, we have the 1.6 120hp turbo diesel. We tested the top of the range 4WD Trial hawk model in 2017 and it made my top 3 list. Does the new 2WD Limited model cut it?

Driving

The first thing that strikes you with this 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine is the throttle lag when pulling away. It might have become the industry ‘norm’ for this type of engine to respond this way, but it doesn’t make it right. It isn’t a problem once you are moving in traffic. Pulling into traffic is when you really feel it. You then have to adapt your driving style. In that, I mean rev the engine to around 1600 rpm and then when you can, let out the clutch and pull away.

That’s a lot of effort and ruins an otherwise enjoyable vehicle. The ride is soft if a little floaty and road noise is quite subdued. The engine is vocal when really pushed and doesn’t encourage all-out performance.

Inside

There haven’t been any major changes inside. The Jeep face and logos are still there in places around the windows and interior trim. It’s still put together well with no rattles. One thing that is noticeable was the appalling paint finish within the boot shut to an almost unacceptable finish.

As before with the inside, it is rather spacious and wide for what is a small SUV though still dark. The seats are comfortable and wide and the view out is good. Big screen pillars don’t obscure your forward view because they are so far forward. What isn’t, is the centre armrest. It’s too far back to be of any use to anyone.

Living With It

Throttle lag aside, it’s still a nice SUV that manages to break to visual mould in the crowded SUV market. It doesn’t bring anything new to the market or do anything different but what it does is do is make others think that you are in a car more capable of going anywhere when in actual fact, it’s 2WD so it won’t. Like wearing ladies high heels in secret, those outside won’t need to know this.

The Verdict

I still like the Jeep Renegade. There is just something about it that makes you pat it as a member of the family. Just when “retro” seems done, the Jeep still manages to invigorate this genre with it with cuddly looks.

It’s got a full personality all of its own x2, like being a 2×2 instead of a 4×4. It’s now Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in its cuddly looks and annoying engine. The throttle lag is my biggest gripe. If it was my money, I’d buy it with a petrol engine.

Love

Looks

Comfort

Space

Loathe

Throttle lag

Infotainment screen too low

Alarm/door opening beep

The Lowdown

Car – Jeep Renegade Limited 1.6 120hp TD

Price – £29,350 (as tested)

MPG – 57.6mpg (combined)

Power – 120HP

0-62mph – 10.2 seconds

Top Speed – 110 mph

Co2 – 129 (g/km)

15th April 2019
Kettle One and The White Haus

For those of you (like me) who like their alcohol a bit on the soft side, swimming with aromatic flavours, then you can’t go wrong with Ketel One’s new Botanicals range.

Flavours such as Grapefruit & Rose, Peach & Orange Blossom, and my favourite – the subtle Cucumber & Mint (oh so refreshing, mild, and not tasting alcoholic at all) will knock your socks off with a sophisticated and fresh taste.

These drinks are crafted with natural botanicals & fruit essence, with no artificial flavours, and when mixed with soda, deliver a small blip of 82 calories per serving, unlike like other alcoholic drinks (Tequila can you hear me?).

But after a recent promotional night at a Ketel One event, I am a true believer and will now be a follower of the brand. I am a huge fan of fruit-flavoured drinks, but this fruit flavoured vodka has the vibrancy and bounce like being a spirit, but it is a moderate and more natural and balanced choice. But most importantly, the drinks are so delicious you will want to try all three! Hopefully not at the same time.

Grapefruit & Rose is freshly squeezed grapefruit with a touch of rose (just like it says on the tin); Cucumber & Mint is also exactly as stated, and Peach & Orange Blossom is fresh juicy ripe peach with a subtle orange blossom finish. You can drinks these drinks any way you want, but for a true taste of the flavour, I recommend drinking them right out of the bottle (from a glass of course) to get the true flavour into your mouth. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!

The event I attended for Ketel One was held at the centrally-located (and fabulous) three story The White Haus on Farringdon Street right near the Holborn Viaduct.

The White Haus, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week including Saturdays, is a cosy restaurant/bar similar in style to a chalet tucked away somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Its vibe and decor make you feel like you are no longer in London. With a roaring fireplace, cosy corners with sheepskin throws, a private dining room downstairs, and a bookable cable car for six (probably the only one in London!), The White Haus is a place that is both cool and comfortable. And the food is just what you would expect, comfort food, whether you are there for breakfast and brunch, or for a taste of their A La Carte menu (Sandwiches, Salads and Mains – Steak, Fish and Pizza), or perhaps their Saturday brunch menu or a separate Function Menu, any need you have The White Haus will cater for it. There is also, of course, drinks – Cocktails, and Hot Drinks – just like what you would want apres ski – should be enough to get you to go there. So whether you go to The White Haus for some fresh, healthy and great tasting Kettle One drinks, or for something totally different, either way, you are onto a winner.

11th April 2019
CAR REVIEW | Abarth 595 Competizione 1.4 T-Jet 180HP

★★★★☆ | Abarth 595 Competizione 1.4 T-Jet 180HP

Bad Boy Abarth.

What Have We Got?

We have here something we shouldn’t have. The Fiat 500 I had booked wasn’t ready, so Tom at FCA offered me the Abarth 595 Competizione. I pondered if I could find more words for another brutal 500 Abarth. We’ve had the 695 Biposto and the 595 Rivale and they don’t get any better than those two.

It just so happens that I was able to find some words for this model. A model that left me in a bit of a predicament.
Driving

From turning the key and switching it on, to arriving at your destination and switching it off, both you and the surrounding area will know of your departure and arrival. The exhaust note from the Monza quad tailpipes of this 1.4 180 hp turbo engine bark and growl their intention.

And driving is what this car is all about. As for driving aids, you get reverses parking sensors. No frontal crash mitigation, no radar, no auto dip/full beam headlights, no cruise control. You are in total control. What you do is down to you. You literally are at one with the machine.

Inside

The interior of the Competizione is taken over by supportive cloth and suede covered Sabelt seats. You can tell they were not designed for the 595. The backrest adjuster is so close to the door that you have to open it to adjust.

The suede on steering wheel and binnacle was a nice touch. Shame then about the rather drab grey plastic of the dashboard and door cards. You feel a bit of body colour would add to a stripped out racy interior.

Living With It

Let us forget about practicalities here. The rear seat is no more than a padded parcel shelf and the boot is OK for a car of this size. You do however get climate control and a rather good thumping Beats Hi-Fi.

So let’s look at living with it as a driving machine. Here is where it excels. The ride is hard, leading to even harder, depending on the road surface. And this is a fun element because with the wide 205/40 tyres on 17” alloys, it tends to tramline quite a lot and this is exaggerated on hard acceleration where the steering wheel fights with torque steer. Hit the TTC button (Torque Transfer Control) and it will put the power to either front wheel with the most grip, and it makes it quite riotous.

Add that to the power of the engine and the lightning speed it responds to inputs from the loud pedal, and you soon find yourself behind the wheel of a car that you can exploit its high levels of adhesion. It will understeer momentarily until the TTC kicks in and then you find you are flicking it around with gusto.

The Verdict

You have to LOVE this car a lot to want one. As an everyday proposition, I can’t really recommend it. It’s not a bad car, quite the contrary, it’s just that it is ‘on the go’ all the time, sport mode on or off. As a weekend toy, you won’t find much better.

In many ways, the 595 Competizione is the bad boy of the Abarth range. The adrenaline-fuelled addiction borders on lustful cravings and coercion. It’ll lead you into a secluded carpark, shove its hands down your pants, make you do things you didn’t want to do and then leave you wanting more.

We’re off for a cigarette now. I don’t smoke but I need to gather my senses. I’m flustered and wasted!

Love

Snap happy handling

Speed

Intoxicating at its limits

Loathe

Drab interior

Ability to drink fuel

Lousy self-control to drive it normally

The Lowdown

Car –Abarth 595 Competizione 1.4 T-Jet 180HP

Price – £ 22,535 (as tested)

MPG – 47.1 mpg (combined)

Power – 180HP

0-62mph – 6.8 seconds

Top Speed – 140 mph

Co2 – 139 (g/km)

11th April 2019
CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Type Flying the Flag of a 70 year Tradition

Jaguar has a rich a varied history when it comes to sports cars and this year, they are celebrating 70 years of their sporting cars with the launch late in 2018 of the F-Type Chequered Flag editions, there are 3 engines 300PS 4 cylinder, 340PS V6 and the 380PS V6 that comes with RWD or AWD transmissions. All set-ups are covered in either the coupe or convertible body variants.

All models come with a host of extras over the standard R-Dynamic that they are based on. 3 colours available, Caldera red, Fuji white or Carpathian grey metallic.

Ian Callum, Director of Design said: In creating the Chequered Flag, we’ve focused on details which enhance F-Type’s presence and the promise of performance and in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70 years of beautiful, fast, Jaguar sports cars.

Highlights include a luxurious Windsor Leather interior featuring sports seats with embossed headrests, a dark brushed aluminium centre console trim finisher and in recognition of Jaguar’s motorsport successes, a steering wheel with discrete Chequered Flag logo and red leather band to mark the 12 o’clock position. Coupe models also come with a black contrasting roof.

Driving styles, it has to be said that the lower powered of the 3, to me at least, is the better to drive. For what it lacks in grunt measured in torque at 44Ib.ft less than the 339Ib.ft of the more powerful V6 with all-wheel drive, it makes for a more responsive car when it comes to the handling.

On the limit, the AWD V6 weighing 125 kg more, feels the more heavy, especially at the front. The front, where you want grip and feedback from the steering. The AWD model has a tendency to plough on with some understeer if you behave stupidly or apply the power at the wrong time. There is a fine balancing act to it. It’s rewarding when you get it right. The grip of the AWD system making for quick exits out of the corners. And the growl from the V6 is intoxicating.

The 4 cylinder RWD model, lighter and less powerful, is more fun to throw around. You can have some fun playing with weight bias more towards the rear on this car. It doesn’t require much thought when putting the power down but it will still bite if you overindulge your skills.

I’ve said it again and I’ll say it now, out of the 2 bodies, the convertible wins for me. In this Chequered Flag edition, it is now a bargain £5,000 more. Not so long ago it was £10k.

So the big question is, is the Chequered Flag edition worth the extra £6k more than the equivalent R-Dynamic models? It’s all in the little details that add up and any special edition comes with an extra premium price. It’s just that, yes, I do like it, I just wish it shouted about it a bit louder like the rally model.

Now THAT does shout out!

The Lowdown

Car – Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 300PS 4 cylinder

Price – From £62,335 (Coupe) £67,185 (Convertible)

MPG – 31 mpg – (combined)

Power – 300PS

0-62mph – 5.7 seconds

Top Speed – 155 mph

Co2 – (g/km) 179

Car – Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 340PS V6

Price – From £66,615 (Coupe) £71,465 (Convertible)

MPG – 28.3 (combined)

Power – 340PS

0-62mph – 5.1 seconds

Top Speed – 161 mph

Co2 – 224 (g/km)

Car – Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 380PS V6

Price – From £72,715 (Coupe) £77,565 (Convertible)

MPG – 26.6 mpg(combined)

Power – 380PS

0-62mph – 4.8 seconds

Top Speed – 171 mph

Co2 – (g/km) 223

8th April 2019
MOTORBIKE REVIEW | MotoShed’s ‘Road Runner’ Indian Scout Sixty

★★★★★ | MotoShed’s ‘Road Runner’ Indian Scout Sixty

MotoShed is a like-minded and free-spirited bunch of mates who have spent the last 20 years in various aspects of the motorcycle industry. Their experience is wide-ranging from bike building to race preparation, design, marketing and generally living and breathing motorcycles. They operate guerilla style, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. They don’t talk shit, they build cool bikes.

Their list of badass builds is long and distinguished just like their client list, including some names you might recognise; Jonny Rea, Fogarty, Adam Ant and plenty more.

Indian Motorcycles are America’s first motorcycle company, founded in 1901.

In 2016 they launched the Scout Sixty. It was on that launch in Spain where a couple of the MotoShed team hatched their plan to build ‘Road Runner’.

“The main thing I wanted to achieve was a more ‘sporty naked’ ride and I wanted to do under seat pipes, as nobody else had done it on a scout.”

A few hours kicking ideas around about how you could modify one and the under seat exhaust idea was born. They ordered a Scout the next day.

Standard Indian Scout Sixties ride very well. It’s a good looking, well-built bike out of the box, but Moto Shed could see there was potential for more, it just needed releasing.

There’s a more aggressive riding position with heavily upgraded suspension in the form of fully adjustable HyperPro shocks at the back and rebuilt stiffer front forks with black nitride coating. The increased ground clearance, thanks to a stiffer suspension, allows more lean angle. All of this means dramatically increased cornering performance. To further enhance this, the standard foot controls have been switched out for a set of Rizoma rearsets mounted on custom plates and there’s a set of lower Renthal bars. The more aggressive riding position means you can ride the Moto Shed Road Runner harder and faster.

What about the under seat exhaust?

On modern bikes with their ever-increasing electronics, packaging is always an issue. There are a lot of important components hidden away under the seat, such as the battery, ECU and miles of wiring. It’s an impressive packaging job by Indian Motorcycles.

In order to achieve a light-weight aesthetic, while retaining the factory look, the team had to get seriously creative, relocating the ABS pump, building a custom battery box for the smaller race-style battery, regulator, rectifier, ECU and extend the wiring loom to accommodate. Serious work, and all done to Incredibly high standard.

Once the space under the seat had been created, the team set about fabricating the under seat exhaust.

It really was the most complicated part of the build. Serious thought and skill was needed to route the pipes around the engine and through the new gap under the seat.

Managing the heat was a big concern so the exhaust was wrapped to try to insulate the heat and protect the bike and rider. There’s also a rear hugger/heat shield to deflect the heat and keep the road dirt away from the exhausts.

A Dynojet Power Vision CX system was incorporated to log data and help to perfectly re-map the ECU and fly-by-wire throttle. The guys say the fueling and throttle response is superb but man it’s loud.

Road Runner is dripping in bespoke parts. For example, Chris Walton of CW Engineering hand made the headlight nacelle, front mudguard and rear hugger and Steve Adams, an ex-Aston Martin upholsterer, re-finished the 1920 Solo Saddle Seat and Illusion Race Paint did what they do best.

A host of high-quality accessories and parts were chosen to compliment their work and enhance the performance and aesthetics of Road Runner. There are a black Galfer clutch lever, brake lever and master cylinder and a JB Speaker LED headlight. There’s even a unique carbon fibre water header tank, sourced from a renowned British Superbike team.

The team invested over 100 hours of labour in the Road Runner build, not taking into account the many long nights of discussions, planning and head-scratching that lead to what you see here.

If you fancy a Moto Shed bike in your life, they can be contacted on; build@motoshed.co.uk

4th April 2019
What’s it like to drive the Jaguar F Type Rally Racer

Along with Jaguar’s new F-Type ‘Chequered Flag’ limited edition run, Jaguar has also been busy turning 2 of their F-Types into rally cars and THEGAYUK were fortunate enough to be invited to have a play with the road going cars and trying this special build rally car.

(C) JAGUAR UK

The F-Type isn’t really a suitable rally car, and why have Jaguar done this?

Firstly it’s all about putting some fun into the celebration of 70 years of sports cars at Jaguar that all started in 1948 with the XK120. The XK120 spawned a number of victorious wins and being an open-top racer, it answers the second question. And that is, why the hell not! It’s a nice homage to the open top winners.

(C) JAGUAR UK

So what has been done to the road going sportster to make it a rally car? A number of things had been changed or altered and all in accordance with FIA approval. Instead of the usual 19” alloys, 16” rims with a more rugged 205/55 16 gravel tyre are fitted. 2” suspension lift with 60N/mm Eibach springs and three-way adjustable competition dampers.

Usual things have been added like a 5mm aluminium belly pan, hydraulic handbrake and the removal of luxury items. No side windows, no roof, no fancy door trims. Instead, the inside it plain, basic and filled with an FIA approved roll cage and full 6 point harness. Weight wise, the removal of such items has been matched by the race-spec items added so it’s pretty much the same as a road going car.

(C) JAGUAR UK

So what is it like to drive?

As you can imagine, it’s an open car so you are very much at one with your surroundings in as much as mud gets kicked around and that mud gets you and the interior. There is most certainly no need to wear your Sunday best for this Jaguar. Just climbing in leaves you covered in mud.

Engine and transmission are the same 300PS at 5500rpm delivering 295Ib.ft of torque from 1500rpm 2 litre Ingenium power unit mated to the standard automatic gearbox. The only difference is the final drive has been adjusted for a better 0-60 time and putting down the power to the limited slip differential at the back. You never get to top speed, but top speed isn’t what this F-Type is about.

No, indeed it is not. It is about swinging it around the dirt and going sideways. Thankfully we were not driving solo. Instead, we had 2 rally experts with us. Finland’s 9 times winning rally driver, Minna Sillankorva as co-pilot, offering advice (she taught me the perfect handbrake turn) and the UK’s own Jade Paveley in the pits.

This was the first rallying I have ever tried and to be honest, it isn’t as easy at it looks. I also wasn’t going hell for leather but instead, as Jaguar had said, I had fun in celebrating this 70th year with Jaguar.

29th March 2019
RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Swan, London

★★★★★ | The Swan, London

Tucked inside the world-famous Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank right next to the Tate Modern is a restaurant where you can get perhaps one of the best Sunday roasts in London.

The Swan, a multi-level restaurant and bar, has an excellent great-valued Sunday lunch that is very delicious. At just £26.50 for two courses, or £29.50 for three courses, not only do you get great food, you also get to sit a beautifully designed restaurant as well as savour an amazing view of the Thames (from all the tables) in surroundings that include white tablecloths, Robert Welch cutlery, all which looks very upscale and expensive but actually isn’t.

It’s best to make reservations for Sunday lunch as the day my friend and I were there the place was 90% full mid-afternoon. We, of course, opted to have the Roasts. I preferred the pork belly while he wanted the beef, and we both were not disappointed.

My Old Spot Roast Pork Belly, baked apple sauce with all the trimmings was delicious. A nice large slab of pork, resting in a fetal position over a mound of very soft cabbage, was very tender, moist and cooked to perfection. Served with quite a few large cooked carrots, a nice helping of browned potatoes, and a big yorkshire pudding, plus a cooked onion sitting in pork juice was an extra touch. My friend had the same exact trimmings but his Sirloin of aged Ayrshire beef was cooked exactly as per his request (medium well – though The Swan does recommend medium rare). He said his meal was very good. And luckily for me, he could not finish half of his portion, so I polished it off for him (thanks buddy)!

The two starters we had were very good. My friend had the Ellie’s Dairy Goat’s Cheese with salt baked Heritage beetroot, and glazed hazelnuts, and it was a very colourful (because of the different varieties of beets) and different. I helped him to finish it, and even though I am not a fan of beets, I particularly liked the orange and pink flavoured ones – so different and so good which gives a great taste to an otherwise dull vegetable. I had the Bitter Leaf Salad, Kentish Blue Cheese, poached pear with walnut dressing. It was on the small side but it was perfect as a prelude to the main course. It was simple yet very tasty as I was given several leaves that were filled with the walnut dressing with blue cheese and the bits of pear sprinkled on top – I can still taste the walnut dressing, unique and delicious.

The Puddings are a must must must! My friend had the Bitter Chocolate Marquise in salted caramel sauce with grue nib tuile (a chocolatey biscuit made with almonds). His dish was three layers of different coloured chocolate, including an inner portion that was like a chocolate mousse. It is a dish that is decadent and delightful! And he finished it all! I opted for the Almond & Apple Tart with Devon cream – and I was not disappointed. The tart was moist (and tasted almost like it was soaked in rum – but it wasn’t unfortunately), with a graham cracker crust, and almonds baked on top for a tart that is one of the best that I have ever had. Recommended!

There are cocktails and mocktails on the Sunday menu. We had two mocktails. My Mango Fiesta was just that – a fiesta! Multi-coloured and multi-tasty – very juicy and served up lots of flavour without any alcohol. The Seedlip & Pink Grapefruit that my friend had lacked the kick of the Mango Fiesta but it was nonetheless refreshing. The Swan also has an extensive wine list and a range of draft, craft and bottled beers.

Of course, The Swan is more than just Sunday lunch! There is an excellent regular menu with something for everyone, as well as a breakfast menu (I want to go back for pancakes), and a theatre menu (excellently priced like the Sunday menu). There is also a bar menu for the cosy bar downstairs, and just to add there is a room on the top floor for private events. But it has to be mentioned again that the views from the bar, restaurant and the private events room are spectacular, overlooking the Thames and north of it including St. Pauls and the skyscrapers of the City (and the Millennium Bridge just right outside). Just beautiful. And to also mention the service is very good. The courses were impeccably timed, and we were not rushed at all. But for an extra kick before you leave, have a cup of their strong Arabica coffee – it’s good if you like your coffee strong!

Their Midsummer Night’s Dream afternoon tea, inspired by the journeys of the characters found in the play is also a bargain at £28.50 per person. The people sitting next to us had it and I had to refrain myself from grabbing one of their cakes!

And let’s not forget that this Mother’s Day The Swan has a set menu (priced at £29.50 for 2 courses, and £32.50 for 3 courses) which will include starters of Cured Cornish mackerel, poached Yorkshire rhubarb, yoghurt and tarragon; Corn fed chicken, carrot and savoy cabbage terrine, celeriac puree; and Jerusalem artichoke veloute, truffled creme fraiche topped with artichoke crisps. Mains follow with Baked Stonebass fillet, charred asparagus, pea puree and morels; Roast lamb rump, leek and parmesan gratin, lamb fat potato; Roast free-range pork belly, confit shallots, roasted apple sauce; and Roast 28 day aged Sirloin, glazed bone marrow and a cauliflower cheese puree. Indulgent desserts are found in the Chocolate fondant tartlet, salted caramel ice cream; Bramley apple parfait, raisin puree and walnut crumb; Mango Bavarois, tropical fruit salad, caramelised white chocolate or a selection of British farmhouse cheeses

The Swan has the best of contemporary British cooking, and a proportion of their revenues goes to the Shakespeare’s Globe Trust, a charitable organisation set up to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance.

The Swan is a fantastic restaurant in a convenient location offering great views, amazing value, delicious food in a superb and cosy environment.

To book, please go here: https://www.swanlondon.co.uk

020 7928 9444

reservations@swanlondon.co.uk

Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
London SE1 9DT

27th March 2019
CAR REVIEW | Audi’s A1 Sportback S line

★★★ | Audi’s A1 Sportback S line

What Have We Got?

Here we have Audi’s A1 Sportback S line. This model sits around the middle of the 6 car line up. It’s suitably dressed to impress but did it impress us at THEGAYUK?

Driving

With looks to kill, you’d expect the A1 S line to be fun and entertaining to drive. Thankfully it doesn’t fail to deliver in this department despite its diminutive turbocharged petrol power unit of 999cc. Power figures suggest mediocre outputs of performance. The good news is that the 116PS at over 5000rpm and torque of 147.5 lb-ft is far better than adequate. Developed low down, it will hustle along quite briskly. Yet, despite its revvy nature, it won’t allow redlining in any gear. Changes are done by 6200rpm.

Those changes are carried out by a much improved DSG gearbox. Now it is able to deliver crawling take up without snatching as smoothly as it does changing up at speed.

Steering is communicative to a degree, there’s also some muted feedback, though a little more would be better and the brakes, standard silver, no bright shouting red Brembo callipers, pull the A1 up briskly.

Inside

It’s a mixture of good and bad. The dashboard is logical and the facia panel is adaptable for maps, big dials or info. It works well and it’s surrounded by blue neons that carry on into the doors. It’s just a shame then that this isn’t carried on around the vents on the passengers’ side and the rear doors are totally void of any fancy architecture, except for a light by the door handle.

Seats are also a mixture of good and bad. While they hug you in place during spirited driving, the seat base is very firm and despite several manual controls for the adjustments, lumber adjuster is both awkward to implement and even worse to gauge the amount such is the position of the handle.

Living With It

It’s a practical car. It has 4 doors and a wide opening hatch at the rear. It’s not the most spacious in its class but it will do all that is asked of it.

You won’t lose face when it comes to the carpark beauty pageant. The A1 has good looks on its side and if the badge is important, you have Audi prestige. And it does what it does well. The ride is more than acceptable and thankfully it is entertaining and the handling is fun.

There is just one snag.

The Verdict

There is a lot to like about the A1. Showroom and kerbside appeal will impress you and those who admire it from the outside. The nice touches that you expect from Audi are there in some places too but not everywhere. The silver trim across the facia is cheap to look at and cheaper to feel.

And I get that Audi is a premium brand. With the A1 starting at £17,700, it’s just that I find this S line model with all the options this car has, hard to swallow at £70 shy of £30k. That’s a lot of money for a small car.

Love

Facia neon illuminations

Peppy 1 litre engine

Gearbox

Loathe

Price

Boring rear door trim

Firm seat base and awkward lumber lever

The Lowdown

Car – Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI 115PS S Line S Tronic

Price – £ 29,930 (as tested)

MPG – 47 mpg (combined)

Power – 116PS

0-62mph – 9.4 seconds

Top Speed – 126 mph

Co2 – 108 (g/km)

23rd March 2019
RESTAURANT REVIEW | VIVI, London

★★★★★ | VIVI, London

(C) PR SUPPLIED

For those who remember Centrepoint 101 – the bar and restaurant on top of Centrepoint – 33 stories above ground – you’ll remember how great it was, more so the views and the cocktails and less so the food. Well, that space is now someone’s flat (boo hoo), so now we have the new Vivi.

Vivi, located in the wing that connects the original Centre Point building to Centrepoint House – the 1970’s tenement building – is a throwback to the 1960s when the Centre Point building went up – presenting food that is both traditional, safe but not very sexy. The venue itself is sexy, one flight up, overlooking New Oxford Street and the new piazza next to the now fully residential Centre Point.

It has a streamlined look with beautiful floor to ceiling windows that are used to great effect to maximize the space. There are gorgeous tables smack dab in the middle of the room as well as along the sides of the restaurant. It’s such a beautiful space, with an art deco chandelier that holds centre attention, it’s just absolute perfection architecturally.

So how’s the food you might ask? As mentioned before, it’s safe and traditional but you will struggle to find anything on the menu that is different. I’ve been twice now (the first time was during its soft opening – on its first night) and I have to say the food on my second visit was much much better. On their All Day Dining menu, the starter choices are fine but nothing really sticks out. They were out of the Quiche Lorraine on that Tuesday night of my second visit, so I settled for Grilled Leeks – four leeks served with a dollop of egg mayonnaise with mimosa dressing. It was good, as was the Waldorf Salad that I had on my first visit (both priced at £8.50). My dining companion on my second visit had the Prawn Cocktail – it was a massive glass stuffed with prawns with thousand island dressing over a bed of lettuce. For £12.50 – it was more than worth the price, and he said it was ‘great!’ But you might struggle to find anything better (Steak Tartare, Coarse Farmhouse Pate, and Cornish Crab, among others, add nothing unique to the menu).

It’s a bit of the same with the Signatures and Mains. Sure there is the standard steak dish – Rib Eye Steak (£34), but Rataouille (£14.50), Truffled Mushroom (£19.50), and Madras Monkfish (£24.50) are not dishes that particularly stand out. These are among the better choices (Beef Burger or Roasted Guinea Fowl Breast might good second choices). Chicken Kiev, one of their Signature dishes I had on my first visit, was just ok. Served with mash – it really wasn’t worth its £17.50 price tag. However, I had the Berkshire Pork Chop on my second visit – and it was superb! A large pork chop, perfectly cooked – nice and brown and meaty – served over a bed of hispi cabbage, with prunes and a prune sauce that was just superb and tasty. A surprise dollop of mash was also on the dish, though this is not mentioned on the menu – I had ordered a side of mash – which I am glad I did because both mashes were perfectly whipped – the way mash really should be! (The pork chop was worth every cent of its £20.50 price). My dining companion ordered the Salmon Hollandaise, and he said it was moist and very good. Served with spinach, it was a nice size portion (at £22.50), and the potatoes on the dish were just about perfect, very buttery with a nice sprinkle of dill – melt in your mouth tasty!

And the best was yet to come – the Sweets. On my first visit, I had the Apple & Rhubarb Crumble – it was a very large portion (almost like a mini pie!), but it was served cold. This time I had the Rum Baba – and it was unique and superb! Sponge cake soaked in rum with chantilly cream and caramelised orange sprinkled on top, with vanilla ice cream which was literally the icing on the cake. Absolutely delicious! And my dining companion loved his Millionaire’s Chocolate Bar – pure Cocao chocolate ice cream, chocolate bar and a chocolate crisp too boot! Just yummy!

Vivi has a few other menus on offer. Their Breakfast menu looks very good, and reasonably priced, and includes Waffles or Pancakes (£8.50), Full English (£15.00 – very full!), and Eggs Benedict, Royale and Florentine (£10.50 – £12.50), among other excellent choices. The Brunch Menu is a mix of the Breakfast and Main menu, while the Lunch Set and Theatre (5-7pm and 10-11pm) is great value – two courses £21.50 and three courses £24.50, and includes a complimentary glass of prosecco. Traditional Afternoon Tea is proving quite popular – Classic at £29.50 and Champagne at £39.

Of course, Vivi has a full-on bar, wine and beer menu. There are Back to Classics Cocktails – including the Pink Floyd Rhubarb, which was sweet and punchy with the rhubarb giving it a nice flavour. There are also non-alcoholic cocktails – I had the Refresh Your Berries shake that was berrylicious! Gins, rums, vodkas, tequila, cognacs and brandy are also on the list – pretty much anything you fancy Vivi has it!

Vivi is not just a name but it’s also an identity.

As roman numerals, Vivi gives a nod to 1966, the year Centre Point was born. And while most of us were not around at this time, we can still celebrate the old Centre Point by visiting Vivi. I just wish there were sexier choices on the menu, but everything else is flawless, from the service to the decor, to the ambience, and to the location – right next to Tottenham Court Road – you can’t get more central than that. Vivi has retro food in a very stylish setting – which alone makes it unique and stands out. Long live Vivi!

Address
Centre Point, 11 St. Giles Square, London, WC2H 8AP
Tel: 0300 500 0958
Book a table and find opening times here

19th March 2019