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If fingering your butt hurts, here’s what you need to do

If it hurts your butt when you get fingered, you should read on.

The ass is pretty darn resilient and there’s a pleasure to be had from anal sex, but there are a few golden rules to make sure you keep safe and reduce pain.

Hello Lube, my friend.

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Use a good amount of lube and have a towel handy that you can wipe your hands, as it can get quite messy. **That** scene in Brokeback Mountain – as hot as it looks, is just not that realistic. A bit of spit and shove isn’t going to cut it. Use a good lube – and there are a few to choose from on the market. You might find that you get on with some better than others. Try the trial or travel sizes until you find the perfect lube.

Time goes by… Slowly.

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One of the most misleading things about porn is that you can’t just stick it in – and that includes fingers. You need to take it gradually. You could start off with a bit of rimming and then move on to a finger – then if that feels good maybe two. Don’t just go for it. You will cause yourself a lot of pain.

One finger, two finger, three

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You could do a bit of prep yourself before sex. Perhaps while you’re in the shower – or if you douche you could get your butt used to the feeling of a finger or two up there before you get down with your partner. Using warm water to douche could help you relax as well.

Cut those damn nails.

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You say that it hurts after fingering, are your boyfriend’s fingernails ragged? If he’s got claws that a Gruffalo would be proud of it’s time to invest in some nail clippers for him. He may be, unknowingly tearing your insides – which will make the whole experience uncomfortable.

Smoothly does it

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Keep the fingering motion smooth and long and thin (goes right in). He shouldn’t curl up his fingers inside you – this is going to cause discomfort. No vigorous finger jamming like he’s Donald Trump giving a speech.

You could always try a desensitising spray or lube.

Numbing lubes could be the way to know, but make sure you look out for sides for trauma and if you still fill discomfort, stop immediately.

Anal Training

You could go down the anal training route. There are anal toys that act like dilators, we call them anal trainers. They start from a small and thinner insertable that gently stretches your anus. When you get used to the smallest size you can go to the next size. Each time, take it slowly and use lube. Eventually, you should be able to take the largest toy, without too much discomfort.

So to recap: take time and use lube.

If you’re really concerned that there’s something wrong book an appointment to see your GP.
The advice listed above is not intended to replace or take the place of that of your own doctor, GP or medical professional who knows your full medical history. If in any doubt make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
*Disclosure links contained in this article point towards our very own shop, this was not a paid placement and there are other shops available.

12th September 2019
Court summons for homophobic crimes have plummeted, despite soaring reports of hate crimes

The number of court summons and charges for those arrested for hate crimes has plummeted, despite hate crime reports doubling over the last five years.

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC’s 5 Live has found that despite the rise in homophobic hate crime reports the number of people actually going to court to face justice has fallen by 10 per cent, meaning that fewer people are being prosecuted for homophobic hate crimes, despite police calling on victims to come forward and report incidents.

The report also found that the number of reports soared from 5800 in 2014/15 to over 13,000 reports in the last year.

But the number of cases that led to charges or court summons fell by 10% over the same time period.

A BBC Radio 5 Live Freedom of Information (FOI) request found that 13,530 people were recorded as the victims of homophobic hate crimes in the last financial year, compared to around 5800 in 2014/15.

Over the same period, the number of people actually being charged or issued with a court summons fell from 1157 (20% of complaints) to 1058 (just 8% of complaints), meaning just a small fraction of those arrested for a hate crime actually land up in court or being charged with the offense.

A hate crime is defined as “any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice”.

5 Live Investigations sent a Freedom of Information request to 46 police forces across the UK and received full responses from 38.

Data from Police Scotland was only partial and not included in the analysis.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said that many of these crimes involved no witnesses and a lack of evidence.

© jvanderwolf Depositphotos.com

“Police will investigate crime reports and will pursue action against those responsible where there is evidence to do so”

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “Targeting someone because of their sexuality is completely unacceptable. It undermines our fundamental human right to feel safe and can have a devastating impact on victims and the wider community.

“Police will investigate crime reports and will pursue action against those responsible where there is evidence to do so. Unfortunately, with many cases, there are often no witnesses to these crimes and scarce evidence – this may lead to police being unable to identify a suspect,” he said.

Different parts of the country have seen more dramatic rises in reported crimes, according to the figures.

Both West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Police have seen reports homophobic hate crimes increase five-fold

In West Yorkshire, there were 961 reports and in South Yorkshire, there were 375 reports over the past five years.

The proportion of crimes that resulted in a charge or summons, however, fell over the same time, from 19% to 4% in West Yorkshire and from 10% to 3% in South Yorkshire.

Two of Britain’s largest police forces, the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, have also seen an increase in the number of reported crimes, while the number of cases that led to charges or summonsed fell by around a third, to 165 and 50 respectively, over the past five years.

A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said, “We recognise that our sanction detection rates have fallen … as many of these non-violent offences present less evidential opportunities and victims often feel that there is a barrier between bringing the matter to court and prefer to make police aware of each offence.”

“We are committed to improving our total number of sanction detection rates and successful prosecutions and continue to remind communities to report hate crimes even if they do not want to go to court as it helps the police to provide a true picture of the abuse,” he added.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday 11 September from Breakfast at 6 am and all day for further details.

11th September 2019
Is it safe to use a banana as a sex toy?

Ever wondered whether it was safe to use a banana in the bedroom?

It might seem like a no brainer – after all banana are a bit penisy – and are cheap as, well bananas but they might not actually be the best thing to use as a sex toy.

There are two main issues. One they are very squishy once out of their skins – I wouldn’t recommend using a banana with its skin still on, because the ends are quite rough and could cause internal damage.

Secondly, bananas don’t have a flared end, like dildos and butt plugs, which means if you lose your grip you’re going to have to poop it out, or maybe even mush it out. Which might be your thing, but probably won’t feel great.

What’s more, if you end up having trouble passing it, you could end up in casualty, which let’s face it is not the best way to spend a Sunday morning.

Sex and Fruit

silviarita / Pixabay

Using fruit and veg could be a great way to excite and reignite your sex life though. Using soft fleshy, non-acidic fruit such as honeydew melons or watermelons can be an exciting way to get new sensations. Simply put a hole in it and thrusting in and out will provide interesting brand new feelings.

Alternatively, you can always use other foodstuffs such as chocolate spreads or even Marmite, who recently brought out body paint.

Caution must be used when inserting anything into your butt that doesn’t have a handle or gives a good grip. People have ended up in A&E after failing to retrieve a cucumber, banana or carrot that’s gotten lodged in their rectums. Anything that gets stuck up your butt will be a painful experience that can actually lead to death if left untreated. We would urge anyone who has gotten anything stuck up there to seek medical advice immediately, no matter how embarrassed you feel.

Oh did I say use lots of lube…>

Alternatives?

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If you’re looking to insert something of a edible variety, why not try a lollipop or ice cubes, which will melt.

It’s best to use toys that are actually designed for insertion, such as dildos and vibrators. Don’t forget if you’re using toys together and share them, to use a fresh condom before using it on your partner, and wash them properly after use.

If you are going to insert a carrot, gherkin, cucumber or banana, make sure you’re relaxed. Some of these veg can be much larger than a penis, so using lots of lube and taking your time is a must.

11th September 2019
What’s the best lube to use with a dildo or butt plug?

Whether you’re going for a mini vibe or a traffic cone type of toy, you’ll need the right lube, so which is the right one to use?

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – any butt play is going to need to start off with some kind of lubricant. The anus isn’t self-lubricating so you’re going to need lots of it. Depending on the size of your toy you’ll need different lubes for different activities.

If it’s a smaller prostate massager like the Optimale P Male Slate, which you’re probably not going to be moving in and out and is just going to sit inside you, then you could try just spit. It’s free and simple – everybody has access to that.

https://www.thegayshop.co.uk/product/optimale-p-male-slate-os/

However, if you’re going to be using a huge toy, like the American Bombshell Destroyer that you’re going to be riding to show off your skills on Twitter, then you’re going to need a lube that will stop friction and the damage that could cause you.

https://www.thegayshop.co.uk/product/american-bombshell-destroyer/

You should check with the manufacturer of the toy because some toys can’t be used with some types of lube other than water-based. Oil-based lubes are likely to rot or even melt your toy, so keep them away. Depending on the material your toy is made from you shouldn’t even keep toys together without a layer of protection between them, like a cloth or a cotton bag.

Some toys though are silicone lube safe and this is probably one of the better lube types to use for toy play because silicone lube lasts the longest. Silicone lube tends to be a little more expensive than water-based but generally lasts longer so you could end up using less of it. We like using the ID Millennium lube which comes in a variety of sizes. If water-based is your thing then look no further than the Liquid Silk range of lubes. Liquid Silk has a great smooth texture to it – plus the whiteness of the lube has the added bonus of looking a bit like spunk!

For extra help in getting the lube where it actually needs to go you could always try a lube dispenser, a genius way of getting lube deep inside your butt rather than just at the entrance.

Another suggestion is numbing lube if you’re using a massive toy, however, be careful when using numbing lube. Pain felt while inserting a toy is a useful and important messaging system for you. If you don’t get any feedback from your ass, you could be damaging yourself with tears.

10th September 2019
DILEMMA | My great boyfriend has a micropenis, what can I do?

Dear Dilemmas
I have an incredible boyfriend, we’ve been dating for about six months.
We had a long dating period – where we didn’t have sex but decided to go on a series of dates to get to know each other.
It’s been great to do this because we’ve created a really strong emotional bond. However, After about 2 months we decided to have sex.
Problem is he has a micropenis. It’s very small. It’s not a total loss – he’s great at sex in general, he gives good head and takes time with everything else. Anal sex though is just out of the question. He really isn’t big enough to get inside me… and that’s a problem.
I’m a versatile guy and I don’t want to have a relationship where I’m going to be the top forever. As I said he’s the perfect guy. I don’t want to break it up, but can you make it work if the body parts don’t add up to what you need in the bedroom?
Thomas

Dear Thomas

It’s wonderful that you’ve found the perfect guy where you have a strong emotional bond and you took the time to know the guy before having sex – and it sounds as though you realise that dicks, no matter their size only make up a part of what makes the man – but they can be an important part, so let’s see what your options are.

As you’re six months in you have a couple of options open to you. You could break it off if his size really is a deal-breaker, but are you prepared to let go of the “perfect guy” for this reason alone? Breaking it off because of his size will be a saving grace for both of you. He deserves someone that sees past what you see as a flaw. Remember one man’s small penis is another’s delight.

However, there are some ideas you can try out.

It is likely that your boyfriend is totally aware of his penis size and you guilting him about it is a surefire way to turn this relationship toxic. So why not have an open discussion with him about what you want. If you want to be topped but have found it impossible to do this with your boyfriend don’t talk in problems talk in solutions.

Toys

Discuss the idea of introducing toys to the bedroom – where he can top you with a dildo. With a dildo, you can go as big as you want. Both he and you can have fun working your way up to sizes you never dreamed of – and you can do the same to him. It takes the pressure off both of you and size doesn’t matter.

Positions

You didn’t mention what positions you tried for anal sex. There are some positions where you can achieve penetration, even if he has a small penis. One of which is you on your back, your pelvis raised, with your legs behind your head (or as near as you can get). If you want doggie, simply pull your cheeks apart so that there’s no butt cushion and your hole exposed.

Sleeves And Extenders

There are also penis extenders and sleeves which increase the girth and length of the wearer’s penis. See what he feels about wearing one. He may actually want to top you, but his inability to do so could be frustrating the hell out of him too. These sleeves allow heat and feel to transfer right through them, so it’ll feel like he’s actually inside you.

Threeways

Have you thought about opening your relationship to having a threeway / fourway? It’s not for everyone and both people in a relationship have to be on board, but it might be an avenue worth exploring. Just make sure you talk about boundaries and expectations before you get a third or fourth involved.

Reading back over your message there’s a lot of hope in your relationship. You are clearly loving this guy and everything that he brings to the relationship, so celebrate those parts and find solutions for the bits that don’t work so well – and as you said he also gives really good head.

Have you got a dilemma? Click here to get some advice.

10th September 2019
FILM REVIEW | The Shiny Shrimps

★★★★ | The Shiny Shrimps

A gay water polo team struggles to compete amidst personal dramas on their way to the Gay Games in the fun, camp and hilarious film The Shiny Shrimps.

In French with English subtitles, and directed by co-directors and co-authors Cédric Le Gallo (a real-life Shrimp) and Maxime Govare, ‘The Shiny Shrimps is a cross between Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Pride, with a road trip film interspersed with lots of melodrama!

When straight world champion swimmer Matthias Le Goff (Nicolas Gob) makes a homophobic remark on television, he tries to redeem himself, at the direction of the swimming federation, by being tasked to train The Shiny Shrimps – a Parisian gay water polo team (and purely not athletes) who are in the sport purely for the social aspect of it as well as to be able to perform dance routines and dress up in competitions. So Goff has a huge task ahead of him. all the meanwhile trying to impress his young daughter.

Other men on the team have their own issues; Cédric is married with two kids and his partner says the water polo team is taking him away from his family, while Jean has health issues he’s yet to divulge to the team, and another team member is newly out and is about to have the time of his life. We are too when the Shrimps travel, by bus, to the Gay Games in Croatia.

It’s a road trip like no other; they camp it up to the extreme while love, and sadly homophobia, comes into play. And once they get to the games they’ll attempt to make their mark in any way they can.

The Shiny Shrimps is so much fun to watch it’ll make you want to join some sort of sports team to experience what you’ve just seen in the film. And the cast are having lots of fun, with each actor perfectly suited for in roles. The Shiny Shrimps is une joie.

‘The Shiny Shrimps’ is out now in UK cinemas

10th September 2019
Which online adult stores offer the cheapest shipping

The boom of online shopping hasn’t just stopped at online groceries, now you can get your favourite sex toy and lube direct to your door, but which sex shop offers the best shipping deals?

©-narimbur-Depositphotos

There are a number of online adult stores based in the UK. They include the well-established gay brands such as Prowler and Clone Zone but also Bent and our very own TheGayShop.

All of these shops offer home delivery, but what does it cost?

For our experiment, we looked at the price of shipping a bottle of Liquid Silk 250ml to a UK mainland address. Here’s what we found.

THEGAYSHOP came out with the cheapest P&P coming in at £3.75 – using Royal Mail while Love Honey was the most expensive costing a whopping £3.99 for postage, however, they did use Royal Mail’s tracking service.

So here’s what the various brands charged for delivery of 250ml bottle of Liquid Silk.

Prowler charges £3,75

THEGAYSHOP.co.uk charges £2.50

Regulation charges £3.15

Bent / Esmale charges £3.54

CloneZone charges £3.95

LoveHoney charges £3.99

GayMegaStore charges £5.75 (did not stock ID Glide)

All of the stores also offer free stand delivery on orders when you reach a certain price.

Prowler free delivery on orders over £25

TheGayUK free delivery on orders over £40

Regulation free delivery on orders over £50

Bent / Esmale free delivery on orders over £20

CloneZone free delivery on orders over £25

LoveHoney free delivery on orders over £40

GayMegaStore free delivery on orders over €120

Disclosure: TheGayShop is a division of Pineapple Rock Ltd. and profits go towards funding THEGAYUK.com. This is not an advertisement and the contents have not been paid for by any party.

9th September 2019
Gay couple have glass bottle thrown at them in vicious homophobic attack

A gay couple in Newport have told of their harrowing experience when a homophobe threw a glass bottle at them

A young gay couple has spoken about how they were harassed when walking to their car from the railway station after a night out in Newport, Wales.

Bleddyn Harris and David Barraclough both in their twenties were harassed by a man who hurled homophobic abuse at them on the pavement outside Newport Railway Station at about 10.30pm on the 31st August. The couple were returning from a night out. Bleddyn explained how he had given his partner his coat to keep him warm and was reaching into the coat pocket to retrieve his car keys.

The man then apparently threw a glass bottle at the pair. Luckily the bottle missed them. The assailant then escaped the scene in a car, which had at least two other occupants.

Speaking to Wales Online, Bleddyn Harris recalls, “We were walking back from Le Pub to my car because it was late and we were doing the usual couple things – linking arms,

“I could see this guy from afar and he was already kicking off. In my 26 years as a gay man, I know the look. He was shouting and yelling.

“We had stopped because I wanted to get my keys out of my boyfriends pocket.

“Before I knew it he’s telling us we need to f*** off and this bottle came smashing at my boyfriend’s feet.

The man is described as in his 30s and strangely was wearing a hat covered in fairy lights.

Harries took to Twitter to speak about his ordeal saying, “Last night, my boyfriend and I were walking back to my car (linking arms) from a gig when a guy threw a glass bottle at us and told us – in not so many nice words – that we need to go elsewhere. Homophobia at its best. This is why we still need pride”.

https://twitter.com/bleddynharris/status/1168060870099951617

Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Bleddyn was keen to stress that this type of occurrence was all too common, saying that there was an “undercurrent of phobia towards non-binary, trans individuals and people who are bi”.

He said despite the incident he was not going to hide who he is, saying “I will continue to be as fabulous…it will embolden me”, but was worried that it might leave his boyfriend “second-guessing” whether to hold his hand in public in future.

Do LGBT+ people fear holding their partner’s hands in public?

In 2019 we asked readers of THEGAYUK.com whether they’d be comfortable in holding their partner’s hand in public. 85 per cent of people said that they would feel uncomfortable holding their partner’s hand in public. Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.

Percentage of LGBT+ couples who feel comfortable holding hands in public

2016 50%

2018 41%

2019 15%

Worryingly the LGBT+ community is getting warier of showing public displays of affection on the streets of the UK. In 2018 when we conducted the same survey, only 41% said they wouldn’t feel they could hold hands with their partner and in 2016 that figure was 23%.

9th September 2019
Homophobe landed £140 fine for painting anti-gay slurs on garage
A 55-year-old man has been ordered to pay £140 in damages after spraying a homophobic slur on a garage door.
- Was ordered to pay £140 in damages.
- Parsons denied the allegations
- Parsons was identified on CCTV
A vandal who used spray paint to daub a garage door with homophobic slurs has been ordered by a court to pay £140.

Michael Parsons, 55, was hit with the fine after he appeared at court in South Tyneside last week to admit the criminal damage.

On January 16 this year police received a report that homophobic slurs had been spray-painted on a garage door on Lane Head in Ryton.

Officers identified Parsons from CCTV footage in the back lane in which the pensioner could be clearly seen committing the offence.

He was arrested but claimed he had just had foot surgery and required the use of crutches so could not have been responsible.

But the vandal was left red-faced when police showed him CCTV of him leaving a nearby supermarket without his crutches.

The 55-year-old had entered the store with them on his arms but accidentally left them in the shop before leaving unaided.

After being confronted with the footage, Parsons, of Greenfields, Ryton, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage.

He was handed a conditional discharge at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on August 29 but was made to pay £140 because of the homophobic nature of the graffiti.

Following the case, investigating officer PC Ferenc Szilvasi slammed Parsons behaviour and said he had shown no remorse when questioned by police.

He said: “This mindless vandalism left the victim with significant damage to her door but it was the nature of the graffiti that was so upsetting.

“She was very distressed to be targeted by this vandal and I am glad that we have been able to get her a result at court.

“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and I want people to know that we will take action against offenders.

“He is a prolific criminal who showed absolutely no remorse and tried to claim that the person in the footage could not be him.

“The only reason he admitted the offence was because of the overwhelming evidence against him and I am glad we have secured a conviction.

“Magistrates ordered Parsons to pay the money he did because this was recorded as a hate crime and I hope that reassures victims.

“Being you is not a crime and nobody should be targeted for who they are. If you have been a victim of hate crime then please get in touch.”

What is a Hate Crime?

A crime is considered to be a hate crime if someone has been targeted because of who they are their race, faith, religion, disability, gender identity, age and sexual orientation.

Anyone can report a hate crime – victims, families and friends, carers or someone unrelated to a victim who has been a witness.

You can do this by calling police on 101 or by filling in an online reporting form at the Northumbria Police website.
9th September 2019
THE UNDATEABLE GAY | The foot fetish

When it comes to sex, I’ve always found myself to be plain and simple. Not boring, I would like to point out immediately. But I’m not one for these chains and whips activities.

I mean, I’ve got nothing against anyone who chooses a slightly kinkier sex life than me. Each to their own, that’s what I always say. It’s just not my cup of tea. Or should I say a pot of freshly brewed coffee? I know it’s very unBritish of me, but I can’t stand tea.

I think my dislike for tea stems back to my childhood. At the risk of sounding Freudian, I blame my dad. Until I was seven, my mum would always serve me a bottle of tea every afternoon. Yes, I know. A bottle. At seven years of age. Perhaps that’s where my oral capabilities come from. Years of sucking on a bottle, drinking my brew.

But one day, my father got home from work and he demanded that my mother throw my bottle away. From that day in the early 1990s, I’ve never touched a drop of PG Tips again.

Anyway, back to my tale of the fetishes. I had a boyfriend once who used to demand I call him a slag whilst making love to him. Had me screaming, “you slag!”, he did. Little did I know that he was sleeping with half of London behind my back. Ironically, he was making me speak the truth. Maybe that was his way of absolution.

A few years later, I met a man who used to like to slap me during sex. Now before anyone becomes concerned for my safety and calls the police, it was only playful slaps across the boat race.

It did very little for my sex drive but it seemed to turn him on no end.

I could cope with a little slap every now and then but one day he started to scratch my back in the heat of the moment. Now scratching was still fine with me. I mean, I’d be left with a few red lines down my back for a day or two but there was no lasting damage.

But then one day, the teeth came out to play. And I’m not just talking around the neck like most normal people. The biting got so bad that I had to take to wearing roll neck jumpers, long sleeve tops, and gloves to cover up the bite marks. So I made the suggestion that he find a fellow gay who enjoys Odaxelagnia.

For those who can’t be bothered to google that word:

Odaxelagnia is being sexually aroused through biting, or being bitten. It’s also considered a mild form of sadism.

Just when I thought I might find a man who enjoyed a plain and simple sex life, along came Jamie. Now Jamie wasn’t a fan of kissing on the lips very much. Oh no, he liked to rummage his face in my armpits and kiss those instead.

The day he text me and told me not to wear any deodorant that night was the day I feigned a migraine and never did he grace my armpits again.

And then there was Neil. He was a Scottish man so that should have sent alarm bells ringing immediately.

He arrived one night on my doorstep, carrying a bottle of Scotch. How romantic to be bearing gifts, I thought. Especially Scotch. I’m rather partial to a wee dram, truth be told.

After a wee dram or three, he started to kiss me. On the lips. RESULT. No armpits. I laid back and breathed a sigh of relief to be finally getting the plain and simple sex life I’d been craving.

“Let me suck you!” He demanded.

Who was I to say no? As he continued to kiss his way down my body, he got to my flies. Mini Mark was poised and ready for action.

But as I looked down, I found him at my knees. Maybe the scotch had clouded his judgment and as I tried to re-direct his head back up, his lips continued on their journey down my body.

Before I could say Loch Lomond, I felt my sock being ripped from my foot.

And before I could say Reflexology, he was sucking my big toe.

8th September 2019
RESTAURANT REVIEW | Jidori, London

★★★★ | Jidori, London

£72 for 10 dishes, with one dish better than the next, with cocktails? Where does one find a restaurant like this? Japanese restaurant Jidori, that’s where.

Now with two branches, one in Covent Garden and one in Dalston, Jidori is a yakitori restaurant (skewered chicken) whose name is taken from a special breed of free-range chickens renowned for their flavour and freshness – and after having eaten there, I can attest that Jidori’s chicken is just simply flavourful and delicious. But Jidori is also more than just chicken, they have lots and lots of other incredible dishes, starting out with their House Pickles dish. How can pickles be so good and different? Well, Jidori’s comes beautifully presented and also includes mushrooms, cauliflower, white radish and carrots – a very good selection and a steal at only £5.

On our visit, I and my dining companion had bits and pieces from the varied menu, including the Karaage from the small plates menu. These were four nicely-sized chicken wings (more meat and less bone) which were deep-fried in sake and ginger, cooked with katsu bread crumbs, and were just absolutely sumptuous, with a mustard and mayo dip that only added to the flavour. These were absolutely delicious (£7). Another star dish that was so unlike anything I’ve ever had before (no chicken here!) was the Tuna Tostada. It consisted of tuna, avocado and jalapeño on top of a crispy fried rice shell, and where the tuna was not very tuna-tasting, but overall it was an amazing blend of food and flavour in a small package – highly recommended (£9). Dish number 4 was the Gyoza (prawn or vegetables) dumplings (£6), onions sprinkled on top, with a black vinegar dipping sauce. These were your standard run of the mill dumplings and the least overwhelming of the 8 dishes we tasted, a bit pricey at £9 but they were still very good.

From the Kushiyaki menu (poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled) we had the Nasu – Miso glazed aubergines on a stick, with sesames and onions sprinkled on top, were gentle and good and a nice dish to have in between the chicken dishes (£4.5). Dish number 6 was the Tsukune (Yakitori) – minced chicken with egg yolk as a dipping sauce. The chicken here (two pieces – both on sticks) tasted like meat as it was in the shape of a sausage – very good and very different, and very hardy (£5.5). Also from the Yakitori menu, we had the Momo – 6 small chicken thighs – 3 on each stick – which were flame-grilled and had a distinctive flavour and were just absolutely juicy, moist and the miso and coriander added quite intensely to the flavour – these are highly recommended at a bargain price of £5.20. Dish 8 was a side of the Rice, egg yolk, sesame & nori.

Desserts were not to be missed! For something a bit different go for the Ginger ice cream with miso caramel and, to give it a twist, sweet potato crisps and sesame seeds on top – very yummy – and I was a bit jealous as my dining companion had ordered it :(. We didn’t try the Milk pudding, strawberries, shiso and cucumber granita but I had the Yuzi & lemon sorbet with unpasteurized sake – very refreshing on what was a very very hot day.

Also refreshing were the drinks. The Ginger Ninja was what was desperately needed on that hot day – it was a blend of gin, fresh ginger juice, yuzu and Asahi beer. Yellowish in colour, the mixture of the ginger juice and beer was just perfect (£7.5). My dining companion had the Umeshu Spritz. He likes wine so he enjoyed it which included Japanese plum wine, Aperol, gin, ume bitters and soda. For me, it had a strong wine taste but for him, it was just perfect (£6.50).

Also perfect is the restaurant itself and the waitstaff. As we didn’t know what to order as most of these dishes we had never heard of before, the waiter gave us his suggestions and we went with them, and we were glad we did! The restaurant is cosy in a Japanese sort of way with several rooms and floors (in Covent Garden) with plenty of space for singles, couples and larger parties, with a Karaoke room that is available to hire for groups of 8-12 where Jidori offers a tasting menu which covers a lot of the Jidori classic dishes, plus use of the room, powered by Lucky Voice (for 2.5 hours) all for £40 per person. On weekends they offer 2 sittings per evening of 6.30pm – 9pmAND 9.30pm – midnight. On weeknights, they offer one sitting per evening.

The Dalston branch has a bit of a different menu but no doubt the quality of the food, and the prices, are just as good as Covent Garden. Jidori is excellent value for the money, and where the food is different yet delicious.

https://www.jidori.co.uk

8th September 2019