THEGAYUK

Category: Lifestyle

  • How Many Balls In A Gay Football Team?

    Just one… you dirty minded minx. Jokes aside the London Titans FC are celebrating their 10th anniversary this weekend.

    One of London’s most popular LGBT football teams, London Titans FC, will be celebrating their 10th birthday this weekend by hosting a tournament on Wandsworth Common from 10AM.The club which is now 50 players strong started life after the first kick off on Sunday the 16th October 2005 and has enjoyed steady growth as has the interest in football in the LGBT community and gay players in professional footballers.

    Much attention has been focused on gay footballers in recent months with 3 high profile players coming out as gay in just a few years – and two more Premier League players, it has been reported, are ready to come out of the closet.

    Saturday will see the 11-a-side tournament take place from 10:00 – 16:00 on pitches 1 – 4 at Wandsworth Common, with spectators asked to arrive from 10:00 onwards. Saturday evening will see the award ceremony held at the Two Brewers followed by drinks and the Rugby World Cup final, before players head to XXL for a special night of birthday celebrations and Halloween excess.
    Phil Steer, comments:

    “As a club we’re really proud to provide an accepting and competitive space for players to experience the game regardless of their sexuality. Over the last 10 years we’ve come a long way and it’s great t see the community that has grown around a love of the game free from the homophobia you may find elsewhere. We’re excited for the Birthday Tournament as it’s a way to celebrate this journey, and we hope that the community will come out and support the players this Saturday.”

  • CAR REVIEW | Vauxhall Corsa VXR – The Four Wheeled Hooligan. We Love It.

    ★★★★ | Vauxhall Corsa VXR

    The Vauxhall Corsa is a familiar sight on UK roads; no surprise considering it’s the second best-selling car of 2015 with over 57,000 having found homes this year.

    Although the majority of buyers will be drawn to the low purchase price, cheap running costs and smart (if inoffensive) looks, there’s a variant that adds something extra, excitement. Step forward the VXR.

    Originally launched back in 2007 and heavily reworked along with the rest of the Corsa range at the start of 2015, the VXR takes aim at cars such as the Fiesta ST and MINI Cooper S. Compared to these, it looks something of a bargain at just shy of £18,000. That may be slightly pricier than the ST but it offers more power and a level of standard equipment higher than the cheapest fast Ford. For serious driver’s there’s also the optional ‘Performance Pack’ that’s fitted to our test car.

    Regardless of options, the VXR comes with a muscular 205hp from the 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, enough for 0-62mph in a rapid 6.5 seconds. That’s almost half a second faster than the Fiesta ST and enough to make the VXR very entertaining. The engine is certainly effective but lacks the kind of aural fireworks that make for a truly great motor. It’s also some way behind rivals in terms of carbon emissions and economy. While I did manage 40mpg on a long run, my average for a week was nearer 35mpg. A heavy right foot can see this drop below 30.

    Still, it’s unlikely you’d buy a hot hatch for cheap running costs. Of more interest will be how it goes round bends, an area the Performance Pack really helps with. For £2400, you gain bigger Brembo brakes, stiffer suspension, larger wheels with sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and a race bred Drexler limited-slip differential.

    Opt for the pack and the first thing you’ll notice is the suspension; those after a comfortable life should look elsewhere. In day to day use the VXR is very stiffly sprung and can get a little bouncy at times. The pay-off is fine body control when you’re going for it with very little roll and a neutral balance, a good thing considering the vast reserves of grip the tyres serve up.

    For me it was the Drexler diff that made the biggest difference. Unlike electronic systems that simply slow a spinning wheel with a dab of brakes, this mechanical device prevents one wheel spinning by locking up making them spin together. Not only does this improve traction but it actively pulls the nose of the car into bends where a normal car would start understeering.

    Eventually the nose does run wide but the amount of speed you can carry up to that point is incredible. The VXR may be fast and great fun to throw around but it’s never the most talkative of companions, you’re much more likely to have the wheel writhing with torque steer than sending gentle messages about what the road surface is doing.

    Style wise, the VXR wants you to know how quick it is. There are gaping intakes and a chin spoiler up front, a faux diffuser and a couple of big exhaust pipes out back, side skirts, a big rear spoiler and 17 or 18” inch wheels barely hiding those big Brembo brakes. For real boy racers, there’s even a pack that adds carbon fibre effect flourishes to the grille and mirrors. If it were a person it would most definitely be wearing a tracksuit and chunky gold jewellery. It would be an attractive chav though.

    The interior is dominated by a pair of figure-hugging Recaro seats (leather is a £1045 option) that along with the chunky leather steering wheel really set the scene. A leather handbrake grip and gearstick gaiter are nice additions although the gearknob itself was a bit too big for my dainty hand. The upper half of the dashboard is nicely finished in soft touch plastics with piano black and chrome trim helping it seem quite upmarket at first.

    This illusion is somewhat undermined the first time you reach for the cheap feeling heater controls or feel the hard and scratchy black plastic that covers much of the doors and lower dash. This isn’t an expensive car however and you do get a lot of performance kit for your cash, with that in mind it’s just about acceptable.

    Those wanting their hot hatch to be as practical as possible should bear in mind the VXR is three door only, While that undoubtedly helps the looks, the heavily winged seats don’t lean forwards very far making rear entry tricky. Space in the back isn’t terrible though and the boot is far bigger than you’d get in a MINI too.

    To sum up, the Corsa VXR Performance Pack feels a bit like a four wheeled hooligan. The exterior styling is brash, it can be physical to drive and it’s a little rough around the edges inside too. On the flip side, it’s vast amounts of fun, fast and not too expensive either. If you’re so inclined, I think it would be an absolute riot on a track day and you’d probably surprise some more expensive metal too. Come and have a go if you think you’re ‘ard enough.

    Pros

    Exciting to drive
    Good value
    Looks like a hot hatch should

    Cons

    Coarse engine
    Expensive to run
    Could be more feelsome

    The Lowdown

    Car – Vauxhall Corsa VXR Performance Pack
    Price – £17,995 (£21,590 as tested)
    Power – 205hp
    0-60 – 6.5 seconds
    Top Speed – 143 mph
    Co2 – 174g/km

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    Reviewed by Alan Taylor-Jones

  • Sport Stars Who Came Out Of The Closet

    Despite there being thousands if not hundreds of thousands of men and women in professional sports, very few have come out as lesbian, gay, bi or transgender.

    We take a look at the brave few who have come out as LGBT over the last couple of years.

    Tom Daley

    Probably one of the most famous coming out stories of recently years. Daley decided to come out as bisexual through a video on YouTube. He later came out as gay on national TV on a Keith Lemon show.

    Gus Kenworthy

    Olympian medalist Gus came out in 2015 in an interview with EPSN.

    Liam Davis

    A high profile footballer, Liam Davis came out as gay in a newspaper interview in 2014. He said,

    ‘I personally hope that over the next 10 years I’m not the only gay footballer out there. Nobody wants to be forced out, but I hope they can look and see there is someone out there who has done it.

    Ian Thorpe

    Swimming champion Ian Thorpe came out as gay in 2014. The gold medal Olympian said, “I’m not straight. And this is only something that very recently – in the past two weeks – I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that.”

    John Fennell

    A then 19-year-old, Canadian Luger John Fennell came out during an interview in which he called hiding his sexuality a ‘suffocating’

    Ian Matos

    A Brazillian diver came out shortly after Tom Daley revealed his sexuality. He came out despite being told to stay in the closet until after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    Thomas Hitzlsperger

    German born Thomas came out as gay in January 2014. He was a football player for Aston Villa and West Ham.

    Caitlyn Jenner

    Caitlyn Jenner made headlines this year after revealing that she is a woman. She was an Olympian champion known as Bruce Jenner. She is the highest profile professional athlete to ever come out as transgender.

    Sam Stanley

    Sam became the first professional English pro rugby player to come out in 2015.

    Keegan Hirst

    27-year-old Keegan Hirst came out in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.

    David Benson

    David a baseball player in the United States became the first pro baseball player to come out as gay. He did so on the same day that Keegan Hirst came out.

  • COCKTAIL RECIPES | TERRIFIC TANQUERAY

    In anticipation of having a Halloween party this year, me and my partner-in-refined, Grace, got together for an evening trying and testing out some gin based cocktails. (more…)

  • CAR REVIEW | Mazda CX 3

    Mazda are one of the latest manufacturers to produce a competitor for Nissan’s popular Juke crossover.  ★★★★

    Called the CX-3, it promises a more upmarket feel inside and out when compared to the little Nissan or the Renault Captur. Beneath the distinctive styling is the platform of the Mazda2 supermini albeit without that car’s smaller engines.

    While the CX-3 may be roughly the same length as the Mazda2, a more upright seating position gives noticeably more room front and rear along with a bigger boot. Even so, you wouldn’t want to cram three adults in the back for too long especially if they’re tall. Think of it as good for its size but bear in mind a similarly priced Skoda Yeti would give even more space inside.

    The Skoda wouldn’t have quite the same level of style as the Mazda though. While the Yeti doesn’t look bad, the CX-3 is a handsome little thing (even in refrigerator white) that avoids looking like its trying too hard to be different like some competitors. Those looks are carried through to the cabin which proved to be a very pleasant environment to be in. There’s a good selection of high quality plastics and leather effect materials but a few too many hard and scratchy surfaces considering the £17,000 plus price tag.

    The infotainment system is worth a mention though. The screen is touch sensitive but there’s also a rotary controller between the front seats similar to BMW’s iDrive system. It takes a little getting used to at first but proves much more accurate than prodding at a screen over bumpy roads. Menus are attractive and the sat-nav worked very well too; it all seemed a cut above systems from many rival manufacturers including premium brands.

    While an unusually large 2.0 litre petrol engine is available with two power outputs, I selected a 1.5 litre diesel to test. This 105hp unit will likely be the volume seller of the range thanks to its combination of punchy performance and the promise of over 70mpg in front wheel drive guise. Four wheel drive is available but you really need to ask whether the economy and emissions penalty is worth it. Unless you live out in the country or down the end of a farm track, I’d argue it isn’t.

    You might think 105hp isn’t a great deal of grunt but then the CX-3 doesn’t weigh a vast amount; this means 0-62mph takes just 10.1 seconds. It never feels fast but then it never wants for more power either. There’s plenty of grunt from low in the rev-range which makes for easy-going progress on motorways too. As with all cars these days, you won’t be matching the official fuel consumption figures but I still managed 50mpg over around 300 miles on a mixture of roads. I don’t hang about either.

    Unfortunately, handling proved to be a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a fair amount of body roll but it always feels keen and willing to entertain around corners. Over long undulations at speed it feels quite soft and wallowy which lulls you into thinking this will be a comfortable car. Unfortunately over more pronounced bumps and rough surfaces, it tends to fidget and bounce more than you’d expect. A Renault Captur would be more comfortable for sure although I still preferred the Mazda’s sense of fun. It could be better though.

    The Mazda CX-3 is a very likeable little car. I was impressed by the combination of real-world economy and performance on offer; it really was a surprise when compared to rivals. I also felt it looked great inside and out even though the colour did it no favours at all. Unfortunately it is expensive compared to rivals and doesn’t quite have the fit and finish inside to justify the price. I also felt the suspension setup seemed a little unfinished. The MX-5 shows Mazda can clearly make a car that handles, a little of that magic wouldn’t go amiss here. Even so, it’s still my favourite baby crossover.

    Pros

    Handling

    Styling

    Economy

    Cons

    Expensive compared to rivals

    Interior feels cheap in places

    Pricey

    The Lowdown

    Car – Mazda CX-3 1.5 2WD SE-L Nav Diesel

    Price – £20,995 (£21,535 as tested)

    Power – 105hp

    0-62mph – 10.1 seconds

    Top Speed – 110mph

    Co2 – 105g/km

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: Shikumen (Shepherds Bush)

    Dim Sum are an absolute pleasure, they fill me with joy (and best of all, variety satiety).

    I regard them as little presents, neatly wrapped with contents of treasure. Having a quick lunch at the Shikumen with good company and lots of these little presents, make good for an hour of paradise.

    The restaurant itself has a moody feel with lots of dark woods and patterned trellising providing privacy. Lots of pretty traditional ceramics are on display on the tables, ready to receive some wonderful tea the Shikumen have on the menu. We tried the Dragon’s well (Zhejian, £2.80) and Yunnan Pu-Erh (£2.50), which were both lovely, aromatic and topped up swiftly by the staff.

    Even though both myself and guest had decided on dim sum all the way, I did have a glance at the a la carte menu and was pleased to see a range of interesting dishes; black cod, squirrel fish (Seabass), Pork with bitter melon etc. Their alcohol / drinks menu was also extremely extensive, and I spotted a green tea creme brûlée on the dessert menu, making Shikumen very tempting for a re-visit over dinner sometime.

    Our dim sum began to flow to the table very quickly, just what you need on a lunch break! All the dishes we had came in three or four pieces, and we had probably over ordered (curse of the tidbits tummy!).

    Pumpkin Seafood Dumpling (£3.80) – Beautiful little balls of sunshine, brightly coloured from the pumpkin, encasing a sweet whole prawn cocooned inside. My friend remarked on how these looked like the little Indian saffron sweets you can get. These worked really well in a little dip of the chilli condiments that are brought to the table to offset the natural sweetness of the dish.

    Chicken Taro Croquettes (£3.50) – Now these really did look fantastic. Chicken and mushroom in a deep, rich savoury gravy, deep fried in a crispy pastry web- little grenades of textures and flavour. These were probably my favourite, and there was definitely an air of nostalgia to the dish as it almost had a chicken and mushroom pie feeling to it.

    Pan-Fried Turnip Cake (£3.20) – My other favourite of the dishes served, this sweet, garlicky, soft (almost fish-like) fleshy textured savoury cake had me going back for more and more. Everything about the dish i found enchanting, in as much as in appearance looks very simple almost bland but its texture and flavour are actually quite complex, wonderful.
    Roasted Duck Pumpkin Puff (£3.80) – More balls of sunshine, golden and crisp exterior with a spongy, duck filled gravy inside that had strong peppery notes and a nice little appearance from pine nuts for an added texture and buttery-ness. Crabmeat & Prawn Dumpling (£3.80) – Stunning and almost floral in its presentation, topped with caviar. A lovely, mellow and aromatic flavour with silky seafood, complimented by a hit of sharp spring onion. Baked Venison Puff (£4.20) – Presented on a triangle shaped piece of puff pastry, glazed and topped with sesame seeds. This was very sweet initially but moments later came forth a bit of heat and spiciness, which was welcomed. Another appearance from pine nuts worked with the soft texture of the venison. Char Siew Bun (£3.20) – The staple dish of any dim sum menu. It came to the table in a familiar bun presentation. Sweet red onion made for a crunchy experience, and it was refreshing to receive the bun itself not overly sticky (which can be the case more than often in some places). I would say Shikumen’s pricing with their dim sum menu is spot on, I would definitely come back to a Shikumen restaurant, if not only to get my teeth into that green tea creme brûlée!
    Shikumen are adding a single red dumpling to every order of Xiao Long Bao throughout October to honour President Xi Jinping’s State visit to London. STARS: ★★★★

    PRICE: £££

    Venue Address:

    (Check their website for other locations)

    Shikumen Shepherd’s Bush

    Dorsett Hotel

    58 Shepherd’s Bush Green

    London

    W12 8QE
    Venue phone: 020 8749 9978
    Tipping policy: http://www.shikumen.co.uk/shepherds-bush/contact/

    Reviewed by Jordan Lohan | @lohanjordan

  • House Hunters Take Just 12 Minutes To Decide If They Want To Buy

    The average house-hunter takes just 12 minutes to decide they have found their dream home after stepping over the threshold, a new study reveals.

    Younger buyers are even more impulsive – most 18 – 24-year-olds make one of the biggest decisions of their lives after just nine minutes inside the property.
    In a revealing new survey, commissioned by entertainment channel Watch ahead of new series Honey I Bought The House, over half of house hunters fear they might never find the home they are looking for.
    With the pressure to find a house and put an offer in, only a quarter of the hopeful home-owners would agree to buy a property only their other half had seen and they had not.
    Which is exactly what Honey I Bought The House asks its contributors to do in exchange for £15,000 towards their deposit.
    The survey revealed that the average UK home-buyer views six properties and clocks up 240 miles before choosing ‘the one’.
    They go through the process three times during their lifetime, spending around 90 hours scouring websites and estate agent windows.
    The typical hunt sees the average couple having four quarrels.
    Steve North, General Manager for Watch said:

    “Buying a house is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

    “Finding the perfect home is rarely straightforward. It’s time consuming, pricey, not to mention stressful.

    “Honey I Bought the House takes a nail-biting approach to the reality of buying a first home.

    “Their partner could be thrilled with the new property and sign the mortgage papers, but if they don’t like it they risk losing that precious deposit.”

    People in East Anglia travel the furthest in search of their dream home – 130 miles per property, while those in the North East cover just 40 miles.
    Londoners forked out over £100 on petrol while looking for their most recent house purchase compared to just £54 for people in Yorkshire.
    There were other costs incurred by home-hunters last time they went through the purchasing process, such as more than £200 on mortgage or financial advisors.
    They also forked out over a grand for solicitors and admin fees and £349 on other costs throughout the whole process.
    The first episode of Honey I Bought The House features a couple of first-time buyers, Paul and Sophie, who are offered the chance to get £15,000 towards their deposit and three weeks to secure an offer on a property.
    The catch? Paul must work alone to find their dream home and hope that Sophie agrees with his final choice or risk losing the money.
    The outcome? Tears. Lots of them, and a fascinating insight into the dynamics of a couple buying a house.
    Honey I Bought The House starts on Watch from Monday 19th October at 9pm.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: Zaika of Kensington Restaurant Review

    Who loves a good ruby? Indian cuisine isn’t something i have regularly, and perhaps it’s my childhood memories of my Granny’s (who grew up in Vizag, India) infamous egg curry. Apparently it was delicious but not to the palette of a 7 year old. ★★★★

    Dining with me at Zaika of Kensington, my best friend, who grew up in Nepal and we immediately connect and get chatting to our waiter, Mustaq. Throughout, his service was perfection and in response to our enquiry on his favourites the restaurant had to offer, he demonstrated great knowledge of the menu and even some of the dishes backgrounds, and i love hearing interesting legacies of food and its history.
    It’s history that you’re immediately hit with as soon you enter Zaika, in terms of the building’s architectural aspect. Grand high ceiling with dramatic mouldings, austere window frames, a perfect marriage of classical and contemporary. It is clear they want to give you the impression that this is not your usual curry house, and that continues into the food served too.
    We dined at an odd eating time, so the restaurant seemed grandly desolate. We were happy with the echoes of our cackles for company but both agreed that Zaika would have a great vibe during a busy evening.
    To start, Aloo Palak Tikki (£8.50), essentially little potato and spinach cakes that were cooked handsomely, crispy exterior and fluffy on the inside- plain in flavour but intentional as they come served on a bed of cold and creamy, spicy chickpeas. The whole dish was drizzled in a sweet yoghurt and adorned in pomegranate jewels. So very pretty and a clever configuration of flavours and textures.
    Jhinga Dakshini (£9.50) – nugget-like and light gram flour battered tiger prawns, not the most impressive sized prawns which was a little disappointing, as like my men, i enjoy them a bit beefier. Again this appetiser’s flavour was on point, the paprika-y prawns served with a sweet, turmeric, pale yoghurt. The flavours in both appetisers were really well balanced and full of flavour without being overly seasoned or spiced as to dominate the palette before the main courses.

    Nihari Gosht (£23), lamb that is slow cooked over night, and upon offer was then deboned at our table and served to us. Lightly aromatic, lovely and creamy; the lamb was silky soft, and still retained all its wonderful natural flavours. Lamb is the meat of choice in Northern India’s Awadhi cuisine, which Zaika’s menu focuses on. Although there is plenty of choice in terms of meat, poultry and vegetarian.
    I couldn’t not order a tikka masala for a main, it being one of Britain’s favourite dishes, so we tried the Paneer version (£14.50). Constantly impressed by Zaika’s flavour balance, this was more spicy for a tikka masala but a scattering of desiccated coconut subtly slurs underneath all that spice and cools the palette. The paneer was firm and almost sweet which worked really well.
    No matter how well you feel you cook your rice at home, it always surprises me when you have rice from an Authentic Indian restaurant, and it’s always ridiculously superior, and Zaika’s Zaffrani Pulao (£3.75) was no exception.
    A treat via Truffle Naan (£3.75) which was everything a naan should be; crispy and chewy. Delicate truffle notes and light. A winner for sponging up remaining sauce on your plate to the point my plate looked untouched.This was plenty of food for us both, but still wanting to explore their dessert menu and akin to the magnetism of a tikka masala, a good traditional Indian kulfi is always welcomed at the end of a big meal. Zaika’s Classic Kulfi; Mango & Pistachios (£6) is one not to be missed. Beautifully crafted and presented a top a strip of khaki coloured pistachio nut smudge, which I really wanted to just lick off the plate, it was so divine. The kulfi themselves were surprising in as much as they were not overly cold and even those with the most sensitive of teeth could even bite straight into. Wonderfully rich and creamy, a light mango morsel paired with a deep almost marzipan flavour in the pistachio pebble of kulfi. We asked for a small version of the dish and upon touchdown on the tastebuds, that decision was immediately regretted.
    Suitably stuffed and smiles on our faces we waddled back to the tube (5 minute walk from the restaurant) and agreed that Zaika of Kensington went above and beyond the usual expectations of Indian cuisine and we would both happily come back. I feel the pricing of the dishes are on point for the quality and execution. The whole experience felt grand and glam, with office Christmas party season approaching, if you have a team of curry fans, Zaika of Kensington is the place for you.

    Make a booking here

  • BAR REVIEW | Storeys, West London Rooftop Pop-up

    This weekend’s weather is looking a smidge Indian-summeresque.

    What better way to appreciate the year’s last warm rays than to hang out on top of an old BBC carpark’s roof, consuming coconut mojitos, devouring beautifully tender and crisp calamari while taking in West London’s fabulous high-rise and urban views, all to Louis Vuitton man-bag swinging funky beats? ★★★★★

    STOREYS White City London is a innovative pivot created out of old packing crates, recycled wooden planks, discarded beer barrels with art installations made from abandoned TVs and dated speakers. Splendidly alluring – it needs to be seen. Street art you’ll drop your work worries for cakes the walls, amalgamated with the street food and a clientele from an assortment of the Old Smoke’s streets, giving the rooftop experience a Peckham/Hackney undertone but with West-End implications.
    The eco lavs won’t be to everyone’s taste, but what they don’t have in plumbing they make up for with a bewitching reclaimed-material chemistry.
    The pop-up’s season is coming to an end this weekend – the menu for Thursday 8th October can expect an evening of dance performances and music as new app Happy Track celebrates their launch party. Storeys’ upcoming event programme will also feature rooftop yoga sessions with Serene Social every Saturday from 9am-10am for a fresh and healthy start to the weekend.
    STOREYS closes its doors for the summer on Sunday 11th October with a spectacular closing weekend party, featuring a line-up of Storeys’ favourite DJs, games and drink specials.
    You can now purchase advance Q jump tickets online -http://www.storeys.london – which include an arrival cocktail.
    STOREYS is located on top of the old BBC building’s carpark in White City. Doors open 5pm Friday, and 11am at the weekend, with daytime game areas and DJs playing into the evening.

  • BAR REVIEW: The Icebar London, Rocks

    There’s only one drinking hole in the Old Smoke where your extremities will last 40mins, you have to dress like a Snow Queen, and you imbibe out of crystal-clear glasses made from Northern Sweden’s Torne River water. ★★★★

    (more…)

  • BRITISH MEN Are Clueless When It Comes To Calories and Overeating

    British men are clueless about the calories in their favourite foods, according to a new study.

    One in six blokes believe they are allowed to eat between 3000 and 5,000 calories a day – considerably more than the recommended 2,500.

    And many men think that consuming 53 grams of saturated fat daily is within the recommended amount, when this is also twice as much as they should be having .

    So great is the lack of awareness that the average man will unknowingly consume DOUBLE their daily intake of calories on an evening out with their mates.

    The poll of 2,000 men, commissioned by Fitness First, reveals blokes are baffled by the nutritional content of foods such as burgers, kebabs, crisps, curry and pizza.

    The research revealed that alarmingly, on an average night on the town, men consume at least three pints, a bag of sharing crisps and a portion of chips – which equates to an additional 2,544 calories.

    Indeed more than half of blokes admit they have no self-control when it comes to what they eat and drink on a lad’s night out.

     

    Kate Toland, Head of Marketing at Fitness First said: “We were really surprised by the findings of this report – the level of confusion about calorie content is more prevalent than we’d anticipated.

    “It’s good that men are taking a relaxed approach to food – we would never encourage obsessive calorie counting. However, it’s the difference between being fanatical and understanding that a curry and a few pints will take you way over the recommended daily allowance.”

     

    The study found the average male believes there are only 350 calories in a standard 225g bag of sharing crisps, when in fact there are almost 1200.

    Blokes also assumed there were only 444 calories in a portion of chips, when the reality is at least 795.

    And many men would think nothing of consuming a chicken korma curry with rice and naan, but would underestimate the number of calories by 400.

    Even a pizza can leave blokes puzzled – with many assuming a cheese and tomato is 706 calories rather than the actual 1296, and a pepperoni is thought to be 787 calories rather than a stonking 1712.

    Other foods which caused bewilderment include hotdogs, salted peanuts, tortillas and kebabs.

    In fact, the only snack food where men OVER-estimated the calorie content was a standard cheeseburger, with men guessing the calorie content to be around 540, when it’s closer to 300.

    Kate Toland from Fitness First continues:

    “Our researchers discovered that while the average male likes to look lean and stay fit, being low on time or energy can affect their approach to food.

    “Most men cite their busy lifestyles as the reason why they don’t pay much attention to what they eat, and this is likely to affect the amount of times they exercise as well.

    “Exercising regularly to counteract calorie intake is a great way to achieve all round health. Even 30 minutes of exercise three times a week will put men on track for a win in the fitness stakes.”

     

    FOOD TYPE ESTIMATED CALORIE CONTENT ACTUAL CALORIE CONTENT

     

    Cheeseburger 539 316

    Doner Kebab, 600g 741 1000

    Chips, 333g 445 795

    Sharing crisps, 225g 350 1179

    Sharing tortillas, 225g 362 1117

    Pint of beer / lager 343 180

    Pint of cider 342 210

    Korma curry, naan, rice 637 1069

    Margherita pizza, 8 slc 707 1296

    Pepperoni pizza, 8 slc 787 1712

    Hotdog, 455g 494 1078

    Salted peanuts, 100g 410 619

     

    by Emma Elsworthy