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  • Hotel Review | Roslin Beach Hotel

    Hotel Review | Roslin Beach Hotel

    by Jamie Tabberer

    With 62 rooms and suites, the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex’s Southend-on-Sea, or Southend, is one of only a small handful of first-class hotels in this enduringly charming seaside town of 182,000. Its competitors, meanwhile, tend to fall into one of two camps: the retro/in dire need of a facelift, and those belonging to soulless budget chains. The Roslin, then, is something of an anomaly.

    Decor and style

    First up, its smart, impeccably whitewashed exterior and excellent location are instant selling points. An agreeably light, bright interior – full of wedding-ready whites and creams, plush textures and subtly luxurious touches, like mini chandeliers in the dining room – are crowd-pleasing but gentle. In fact, my only gripe with its appearance was an overabundance of artificial flowers, particularly in the reception area. They were convincing (I was initially delighted when I saw them) but I’d still prefer, if natural, a third as many flowers…

    We later discovered our room (which did feature a lovely natural flower arrangement) was similarly simple, tasteful and comfortable, with soft greens added the the colour palette, and curtains and furniture featuring soft, soothing patterns.

    The spick and span bathroom, complete with Elemis toiletries (in my opinion, among the best out there), was lovely. But my favourite aspect of the room was the small balcony looking out to sea; my guest and I arrived just an time for an impromptu sunset photoshoot. The room and the sky were with both wonderfully photogenic.

    Food and restaurants

    The on-site restaurant, boasting AA two Rosettes, also boasted an excellent view. The food, although expensive, was absolutely spectacular.

    To start, delightfully arranged seared yellowfin tuna. The sections were bite-sized but big enough for the delicious contrast in taste, colour and texture between the burnt char and the fleshy middle. The pan roasted trout that followed was crisp, impossibly fresh, and quite substantial, accompanied by a rich smoked mussel butter. Dessert – a double chocolate sphere with milk ice cream, melted by the addition of hot chocolate sauce in front of you by your waiter – was full-flavoured and theatrical. Afternoon Tea looked to be the same, and was demonstrably popular with locals and families celebrating birthdays, engagements and more.

    Hotel location

    This sea-view property enjoys a prominent position on the Thorpe Esplanade – a great spot for jogging. Southend Central train station can be reached in 11 minutes by taxi, while London Southend Airport – the capital’s newest and smallest airport, with a single runway – can be reached in 12 minutes. From here you can fly to many European countries, including blockbuster destinations in Spain, Italy and of course the UK.

    Southend itself overlooks the Thames Estuary (where the River Thames meets the North Sea). A mini break destination historically popular with East Enders, it can be reached from London Liverpool Street in under an hour by train, or under 90 minutes by car.

    During our weekend visit at the beginning of summer the town centre was remarkably quiet. While enduringly charming – the retro thrills, spills and lights of Adventure Island are magnetic – you get the sense Southend isn’t the tourist hotspot it was in years past. But there are still reasons to visit the town. Not least Southend Pier Museum, still the world’s longest pier. Measuring 2.158km, it’s an instantly bewildering sight, like the lone skyscraper of a city skyline.

    Southend gay scene

    Southend’s gay scene is quiet – there weren’t an abundance of guys on the usual apps. Albeit The Cliff gay pub, with the eye-catching rainbow night lighting of its exterior, is a local institution and has regular drag karaoke and themed nights. At the hotel itself, the staff were seemingly made aware of my sexuality and across the board went the extra mile to make me feel comfortable and welcome.

    For more information about the Roslin Beach Hotel, visit roslinhotel.com.

  • 10 cheap, basically free ways you can reduce body fat fast

    10 cheap, basically free ways you can reduce body fat fast

    Not only is burning off some fat going to help your self-esteem, but it will also help you live longer. Ignoring all the talk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, lowering your body fat will help you move and sit more comfortably, protect your joints and your back, and can help you feel really good about looking after yourself.

    jarmoluk / Pixabay

    That being said, it ain’t easy. If it were we would all be flashing our 6-packs morning, noon, and night.

    1. Stop drinking so many calories

    Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay

    This isn’t exclusive to alcohol, but we as a nation drink way too many of our calories. Sugary drinks, booze, fancy coffees, energy or ”sports” drinks, even plain old orange juice, they’re all packed with calories and sugar. And since you’re drinking them, those calories don’t seem to fill you up the way food does.

    It may seem boring but stick to water as much as possible.

    2. Drink more water

    congerdesign / Pixabay

    Just to hammer this point home, drink a butt load of water to keep your body hydrated and feeling full at all times. Drink a glass of water with every meal and keep your metabolism online.

    Plus it’s free!

    3. Eat more

    CREDIT: mythja-bigstock

    Oh yeah, we’re telling you to eat more in order to reduce your body fat. By that, we mean more greens… sorry. Add a fistful or two of veg to every meal. Spinach with your omelette, broccoli with your chicken, a load of leaves on your burger; all of these are nutrient-dense but low on calories and will help you feel fuller without being fattening.

    4. Sleep!

    CREDIT: Dmytro-Sidelnikov-bigstock

    Your muscles grow and recover while you’re sleeping, so if you’re smashing out sessions at the gym but burning the midnight oil you’re not going to see the benefits from your hard work. Plus you’ll be knackered, won’t be able to train as hard the next day, and are far more likely to eat more in order to stay awake.

    5. Lift some weights

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    A six-pack cannot be achieved by cardio and crunches alone, so you’ll need to pick up some weights in order to rev up your metabolism a bit. Adding 1.5kg worth of muscle to your body can potentially burn an extra 1,050 calories a week, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

    If you’re not bothered about building muscle and getting bigger, then train for strength with big, compound movements such as the power clean and squat. That way you turn every workout into a fat-burner.

    6. Low-intensity cardio

    CREDIT: bigstock-monkeybusiness

    Now I know what you’re thinking, “But you’re always going on about high-intensity training!” And while HIIT is often our go-to form of cardio, don’t discount the benefits of some steady-state cardio.

    Low-intensity steady-state (LISS) cardio lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with increased fat storage. It also burns calories (obviously) and can even be used as active recovery the day after an intense training session.

    7. Fill up on fibre

    © yevgenromanenko Depositphotos

    Fibre is great at keeping you regular and is an important part of every bottom’s day-to-day life. But wait, there’s more. Research has shown that fibre can boost your fat-burning by as much as 30%. Add whole grains and fruits to your diet and aim to eat about 25g of fibre per day.
    8. Spice up your life!

    SLAM IT TO THE LEFT! … sorry, got carried away. Developing a taste for spicy food can give your metabolism a serious boost. So add some chillis to your next stir-fry and some paprika to your next batch of homemade burgers to torch some extra body fat while you eat.

    9. Get plenty of D, vitamin D

    CREDIT: ©-Iakov-Depositphotos

    Vitamin D is essential in order to preserve muscle tissue and is best obtained from your food, so we recommend getting your D orally. Giggle. Which is good because depending on sunshine would be frustrating as hell in the UK.

    You can get 90% of your recommended daily intake from a 100g piece of salmon. So eat plenty of fish, eggs, milk and cereals to get your intake up.

    10. Fat-burning workout once a week

    CREDIT: Flynt-bigstock

    Add a fat-burning workout to your weekly routine, something that will have you sweating, burning calories, and building muscle.

    We’ve got a load of ’em, so sign up to our weekly workouts to get them sent straight to your inbox once a week.

    This article first appeared on our partner site, GayFitnessUK

  • MOTORING | The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Seat Marbella 1986 – 1998

    MOTORING | The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Seat Marbella 1986 – 1998

    The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    SEAT UK

    An irrelevant look at a certain car.

    Seat Marbella 1986 – 1998

    A holiday in Spain. The guaranteed hot summer breezes off the Alboran seas. Where am I? Marbella. And I’ve painted a rather lovely picture of that seaside resort. The car company, Seat, have a history of naming cars after places in Spain. Their new Tarraco was named after Tarragona. It adds sex and style to the car. That memo might have been lost on the Marbella.

    Seat rhymes with Fiat and Fiat owned a large percentage in the Spanish motoring subsidiary. Well, it did until sometime in the ’90s when it decided to let it go. Seat needed to soldier on and make good what they could.

    So a quick flick with the pencils and over a lunch of paella and a glug of sangria, the Seat Panda evolved into the Seat Marbella. And that was the little car’s problem. It was a Panda. Ok, that isn’t a problem. The Panda of 1980’s design was right on the target. A sophistication package of space utilisation and genius packaging. One of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s finest to this day.

    Problem was, Fiat had the good grace to continue the development of the Panda. It gave it new engines, fancy quality interiors and an Omega rear axle from the Lancia Y10. This, in turn, made the Panda a bit more happier over the bumpy bits.

    Seat’s answer was to give their Panda Marbella some plastic cladding along the sides and a sloping front in the hope that you wouldn’t notice the old-style cart springs at the rear. They hung so low that you had to be quite stupid not to see them.

    And for Marbella, it didn’t really get any better. It still soldered on with the OHV 903cc petrol engine from Fiat’s back catalogue of 1955. Blistering it was not. With a 0-60 time of 19.3 seconds, the Citroen 2CV6 could give it a run for its money. And the 2CV6 was cheaper too. The “nothing available” list of options you could get on your Marbella made the 2CV6 vulgar in its luxurious appointments.

    Surely Seat gave you value for money? Not really. For your 4858, you got a top of the range GLX complete with wheel embellishers and a heated rear screen. For 200 more, you could get the much improved Panda. And Panda also had better resale values too.

    While it had a cute cuddliness about it, it was a bad car. It rode bad, drove bad and sounded bad. You see, while Fiat’s marketing board went into over-drive with a new limited edition every month, Seat and their overpriced and out of date box gave you unpretentious motoring that wasn’t as badly built as it could have been.

    As long as you have access to another car to use, there is something endearingly beautiful about the Marbella. It was closer to the original concept than Fiat’s MK2 Panda and that’s why the no-frills Marbella was the good choice.

  • Gay Travel | Vienna – Culture, Clubs & Nude Beaches

    Gay Travel | Vienna – Culture, Clubs & Nude Beaches

    Vienna has a reputation for music and culture, trust me, you’ll hear a lot about Mozart and Beethoven while you’re there, and it’s that cultural appeal that draws in a lot of gay travellers like yourself. But there’s more to Austria’s capital than just museums and art.

    How gay-friendly is Vienna?

    Official Vienna tourism website: www.vienna.info

    It’s usually a good sign that a city is gay-friendly when the tourism board has a dedicated gay travellers page on their website.

    Vienna is incredibly gay-friendly, with gay couples walking comfortably hand-in-hand and LGBT rights assured across the board. Gay marriage, gay adoption, all these rights are protected by the Austrian government despite the influence of Catholicism that once dominated the country. They host their own Pride parade, as well as being home of the Euro Pride celebrations 2019.

    This isn’t a city that will leave you feeling like the only gay in the village as there’s a thriving LGBT population that are out, open, and welcoming.

    Vienna gay scene

    I was lucky enough to visit Vienna during EuroPride 2019, meaning the entire city was transformed into an open-air gay bar; swarming with international lovelies alongside enough gorgeous locals to make your Grindr overload.

    However, for the rest of the year there are still plenty of gay venues to chose from, despite the fact that Vienna doesn’t have a dedicated gay neighbourhood.

    Located on one of the oldest streets in Vienna – the Tiefen Graben – WHY NOT is a relatively small gay club that’s something of an institution in Vienna, having been around since 1980. Open every Friday and Saturday, WHY NOT plays popular house and dance music with 3 bars on 2 floors, and even a pole-area… just in case.

    Pitbull, Vienna’s first bear & butch club, opened in 2009 and – in their words – provides sweat-producing beats for that pure testosterone rush. While some of that may have been lost in translation, it still sounds filthy and fabulous.

    Museums and operas, oh my

    Image by Gerhard Bögner from Pixabay

    If you’re not into the scene, there’s still a load of gay-friendly activities to keep you occupied during your visit. The cultured gays of the world will feel right at home in Vienna with plenty of museums and galleries to visit, as well as the State Opera and the Volks Opera for those looking to experience some of the world’s best opera performances.

    Even if you’re not super into art or history, the MuseumsQuarter is definitely worth a visit, and the Kunst Haus Wien museum is known to show LGBT exhibits and artists such as Mapplethorpe and Pierre & Gilles.

    The best time to visit Vienna

    We visited Vienna at the beginning of June and we were sweating our balls off! The best time of year to visit Vienna is typically April to May or September to October, either side of the intense heat of the summer months. Plus higher temperatures tend to bring with them higher prices along with even more tourists.

    So if you can avoid the busier summer months I would recommend it. That being said, the summer sunshine is great if you want to swim in the Danube and strip off at the beach.

    Nude beaches in Vienna

    Yes gentlemen, there is a nude beach right smack in the middle of the city, on the shores of the Danube River itself.

    Donauinsel (Danube Island) is a long narrow island in central Vienna, between the Danube river and the parallel channel Neue Donau. Nude sunbathing is permitted on both sides of the Neue Dona, starting from Steinspornbrücke and ending at the southeast end of Donauinsel.

    It is not a secluded beach, so this is not the nude beach to visit if you’re shy. Expect to get glances from the 190,000 visitors that come to Danube Island, not to mention the swathes of tourists that sail along the river itself (some might even take a few pics… not that we would ever have done such a thing).

    FKK (pronounced ‘eff-ka-ka’) is written on the roads to guide you to the right spot, it’s printed on a sign or stenciled on a wall or sidewalk indicates freikörperkultur or nudist area. The area directly across from the marker on the Donauinsel is also designated as a gay beach on many maps.

    There are even some restaurants on the dam where you can eat and drink without having to put your trunks back on.

    For more information about Vienna and it’s gay scene visit www.vienna.info

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    ★★★★★ | The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    Covent Garden is now Paris in 1831. Well, it is for 150 minutes when St. Paul’s Church in the heart of Covent Garden plays, to great effect, Notre Dame cathedral in an excellent outdoor production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

    Victor Hugo’s classic tale of survival, injustice, and love is played out in the grounds of the church by the actors from Iris Theatre. They are an award-winning theatre company created in 2007 to produce site-specific work centred around it’s Covent Garden home, St. Paul’s Church.

    A priest and a hunchback both fall for the mysterious and beautiful Esmerelda who solely longs to find her long-lost mother. When the unhappy pair try to take matters into their own hands they set off a chain of events that no one can control.

    Revolution then sweeps over the city of Paris and the mob breaks against the walls of the cathedral. Will the hunchback find true love? Will the priest save his soul? And will it take the people of Paris to save Esmerelda?

    Benjamin Polya’s adaptation is superb as the scenes move around the church courtyard and then brilliantly the most dramatic scenes of the play take place inside the church, perfect timing as the outdoors gets a bit chilly and the darkeness and smoke in the church adds great dramatic effect to the finale of the play.

    This very affordable production is for the entire family.

    The Hunchback Of Notre plays at the Iris Theatre until 1st September 2019, www.iristheatre.com

  • THE UNDATEABLE GAY | Goes to Prison

    THE UNDATEABLE GAY | Goes to Prison

    This week, The Undateable Gay goes to prison… Not as an inmate, but to run a social event for gay and bi prisoners.

    jraffin / Pixabay

    When I was first invited to visit a male prison and do an interactive social group with the LGBT community inside, I sh*t myself and nearly didn’t commit to the project.

    What the fuck was I going to talk about? Yes, I grew up on quite a rough council estate where crime was high but luckily I’d avoided prison, unlike many of the boys I grew up with.

    The closest I’d ever been on the wrong side of the law was the time I got thrown into the police cells at Brighton nick for being drunk and disorderly. But that’s a story for another day.

    As I pulled up at the prison, it was very daunting. There was this massive building in front of my eyes, surrounded by barbed wire. It was lucky I’d taken a couple of Imodium that morning, let me tell you.

    I was given a tour when I first arrived and it’s very surprising how much it actually looked like the Bad Girls set. I was scared of bumping into any real-life prisoners. I wasn’t sure what the rough, macho, non-gay ones would make of this mincing homo.

    As 2 pm came closer, it was time for me to be escorted to the chapel to begin my LGBT group with the gay prisoners. Yes, it was being held in the chapel. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

    As I was being taken into the chapel, an officer stopped me at the main doors and asked for my name. I obligingly gave it and she announced I wasn’t on the list so I couldn’t gain entry.

    Looking very confused, another officer came to my rescue.

    “He’s not a prisoner. He’s the guest speaker!”

    Realising her mistake, she let me through but I couldn’t help blurting out, “Do I look like a prisoner?”

    I sat down in the chapel after I’d organised the chairs into a circle, a la Alcoholics Anonymous style. My only other option was a straight line and that was far too formal for my liking.

    Sweaty palms and heart palpitations, I saw the big hand heading towards the 2. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been told I had a man who murdered his husband and an arsonist, among others.

    As they entered, my butterflies escaped through the bars. The husband killer came in and shook my hand, whilst hugging me and kissing me on the cheek. The rest made similar entrances and greetings and automatically put me at ease.

    I’d been far too focused on the fact that I was in a prison and forgotten that in reality, I was just talking to fellow human beings who also happen to be gay. And just so happen to have made mistakes.

    Each person had their own individuality and within seconds, I’d forgotten I was even inside a prison. We talked, we laughed and we discussed sex. A LOT.

    After an hour, a prison buffet was bought into the room for us. It looked bloody delicious. Even though I must confess I was a little wary of eating it after being told it had been prepared by the prisoners in the prison kitchen.

    One of the gay prisoners, Mike, who I took quite a shine to (and he to me), assured me that as long as I wasn’t a paedophile, the food was quite safe to eat. I told him I was guilty of many things, but that wasn’t one of them.

    Whilst shoving a prison-issued cheese roll into my gob, a big Zimbabwean prisoner came and grabbed me by the arm,

    “You look so good! My cell number is 427 if you want to come back later!”

    I nearly choked on my cheese roll and managed to choke out the words,

    “I think you’d split me in two!” which was met with roars of laughter from the whole group. His tight grey jogging bottoms left little to the imagination and it was clear to see he was MORE than well endowed.

    They talked about their lives and it left me feeling rather humbled. Yes, I got bullied at school for being gay but on the whole, I’ve been widely accepted by my family and friends. But some of these men have been abandoned by their families for being homosexual. One of the men was even imprisoned in Russia for attending a gay pride event. It certainly opened my eyes.

    I think it was refreshing for them to be a part of this social group and be able to freely express themselves and their sexuality without any fear.

    Before I was leaving, the prisoners were begging me to go back. They loved our afternoon and it went on much longer than I expected.

    After three hours, the officers were having to chuck me out because we had gone on for far too long and I was putting out the schedules. But it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. Much better than any money I’ve ever raised for charity. Actually doing a random act, something worthwhile on the front line, from one gay boy to my fellow LGBT community.

    My final words were from Mike.

    “I get out in seven weeks. How can I contact you?”

    I quite fancied him. He was just my type so it would have been rude to discriminate against him just because he’s in prison. So I made sure to tell him how to contact me.

  • Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    When one the world’s most famous gay authors makes a clap back against religious bigotry towards gay people – he does it well.

     

    Beautiful Thing writer, Jonathan Harvey had a few words for a person on Twitter who claimed that giving into sin, and in particular being gay, could “ruin” us if we let that sin “rule” us.

    In the Tweet, Lisa Bedrick, who describes herself as having a BA in English and a “minor in Bible” wrote, “Maybe gay people are born gay. We are All born with an inclination toward some sin, but we can either have self control over that sin or we can let it rule us and ruin our lives”.

    https://twitter.com/angel28kc/status/1159958159689166848

    The Tweet has gone viral with over 7,000 responses to it.

    Gimme Gimme Gimme creator Jonathan Harvey wasn’t having any of it and clapped back, “Jesus would be ashamed of you dear. Your humble braggery about your perfection is a fuckin sin dear. Pipe down.

    He then tweeted Lisa directly, adding, “I’m a bit worried about your claim that Jesus loves you. I’m not sure he will if you spread incorrect information like homosexuality is caused by child abuse. He’ll see that as bearing false witness and the bible considers that a no-no.”

    However, Jonathan wasn’t the only celeb to get involved, Lord Michael Cashman wrote, “Take your opinion about other peoples lives wrap it in tinfoil and place it in the fridge of your god and if you really are a true believer allow them to decide.

    “You commit the ultimate blasphemy by sitting in the place of your god and telling and judging others. Move along”.

    While Drag superstar Lady Bunny, wrote, “Maybe some straight people are born straight. Even though they’re born with an inclination to yell at sports games with hot dogs on their breath while wearing fanny packs & Uggs, gays pray that they’ll exercise fashion self control b4 they ruin the world!”

    “Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    Inexplicably, Ms Bedrick followed the tweets a few other questions and comments which were beyond EXTRA.

    One read, “This might make some of you mad but I think this is a valid question. Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    In another, she said that she thought that homosexuality was caused by sexual abuse, saying “Regarding homosexuality, my heart goes out to those who are because I could have been there. I think it is caused by being sexually abused, and I was. But All things are possible with God. You might not like the opposite sex due to fear from sexual abuse, but you can overcome. ;)”

    Jonathan had a response to this doozy of Tweet, saying “The only thing I’ve ever been abused by is your humongous ego, y dozy melt. Yours, a gay.”

     

     

     

     

  • Theatre Review | Evita, London

    Theatre Review | Evita, London

    ★★★★ | Evita, London

    One of the biggest, best and most well-known of shows has made another return to London.

    Evita, which has been around since 1978, tells the story of Eva Peron (a/k/a Evita) who was the wife of Argentine President Juan Peron from 1946 until her early death in 1952 at the very young age of 33. She has been immortalised in this show that was written by the duo Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with this being perhaps their most popular and famous collaboration.

    The songs in this show are epic. “You Must Love Me,” “Buenos Aires,” and of course “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” – perhaps one of the most famous songs ever written for a piece of musical theatre, are all here. Madonna brought Eva to life in the 1996 film version which made Eva perhaps more popular than when she was alive.

    Now there is a new production in the gorgeous venue that is the Regents Open Air Theatre. In a set that can be called bare-bones (there is, unfortunately, no proper set, just a wide staircase that leads up to the orchestra), it allows the cast to sing and dance to their heart’s content.

    Samantha Pauly is tasked to play the lead role – it’s a role, if you remember, where Elaine Paige and Patti Lupone both nailed. Pauly doesn’t quite nail it – she doesn’t quite have the voice and vocal range of these two divas, but she admirably gives it her all.

    The character of Che, played superbly by Trent Saunders, is our narrator who guides us through the story, and sings superbly in the anthem “And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out).”

    Che continues telling the story when Eva meets and falls in love with Juan Peron, and in the process literally kicking his current lover out of the Presidential Palace, her rise in popularity and then, unfortunately, her sudden illness which leads to her death.

    But this production doesn’t quite convey the magnitude spell Eva had, and it leaves out the balcony where she used to wave to her admirers. Also, some scenes don’t quite add up: when a little girl suddenly appears (in a ghastly getup) to beg for money and then walks off with a wad of cash, and when the cast, and Eva, perform in their underwear – these are scratch your head moments.

    But all of this aside, it’s a huge huge musical with amazing songs, great dancing by a cast who works hard to entertain you, and all performed in a beautiful setting.

    https://openairtheatre.com

  • CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60 Cross Country

    CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60 Cross Country

    ★★★★ | Volvo V60 Cross Country, Volvo’s Luxury Woodland Cruiser

    What have we got?

    Hot on the trail of the newly launched Volvo V60 range, Volvo launch their new “life style” version for those who need a bit more from their estate. When we say more, we mean an added ability to go off the beaten track and into places unknown.

    But has Volvo just jacked up the V60 by 60mm, clad it with some plastic and given it a 4 wheel drive system to make this Cross Country a viable off-roader? THEGAYUK went to find out.

    Driving

    One thing that impresses with the Cross Country is its ability to ride remarkably well on the road. The trouble with raising cars is it tends to at the detriment to the on-road handling dynamics. It’s no R-Design in driving style but then it was never supposed to be. On the road, it had a reasonably good blend of comfort. That increase in height allowing perhaps just a little more suspension travel to compensate. 

    The 187bhp D4 diesel engine spreads the torque power well to the driven wheels through an 8-speed automatic box. Over 25mph, the system automatically selects the front-wheel drive.

    The XC60’s off-road capabilities are more impressive. Considering these were fitted with on-road tyres, they had the ability to climb a reasonably wet hill with surprising vigour. Hill descent also showed up no nasty surprises either. Locking wheels were attended to by a system with rapid-fire adjustments.

    It has to be said that road tyres will give limited adhesion in the most arduous conditions but Volvo dealers are able to upgrade you to a more suitable off-road rubber should you wish. 

    Inside

    The inside of the V60 Cross Country is identical to the standard V60. In this guise, we had blond leather (probably not the best in a mud plugger), silver trim and quality materials. All adding to the premium feel that Volvo has headed into. It is a class-leading layout that feels a bit like home.

     

    Living With It

    As with the standard V60’s, there is very little to dislike about it in Cross Country guise. It does all that you would expect a Volvo V60 to do. The boot is the largest in its class and the cabin is nicely made. It just happens to be able to do something else.

    However, it does have its limitations. You need to be aware of the surrounding environment. Doing something stupid, and we mean REALLY STUPID in the V60 Cross Country, will get you stuck in the mud. Read that as: pilot it straight into a muddy bog and it comes to a stop!

    That said, my co-pilot and I almost did get it stuck fast. In typical ‘Gun-Ho’ style we floored it out of what caught out the car in front.  

    Get it stuck and it will result in a long possible overnight stay in the car while you wait for a man in a Land Rover to come and get you. Be sensible and realistic and you’ll be surprised at where this car can take you off the beaten track. Thankfully the cabin on the V60 is spacious and comfortable and the rear load area long enough to accommodate two sleeping bodies.

    Verdict

    This won’t be the big seller of the V60 range. Volvo even predicts it won’t be especially when there are the 3 popular XC ranges within the Volvo family.

    So has this been worthy of all the development hassle? Yes, it has. It uses XC60 architecture so development has already been carried out and proven. What this is then is a car that still shows Volvo have the ability to make an elegant estate design for those who don’t want a large SUV but need to get away from it all.

    It just seems a shame, that such a beautifully designed estate car will be used to get muddy. Then again, you can’t have your cake and eat it.

    Love

    The design

    Ride and handling

    Cabin space

    Loathe

    Infotainment can be fiddly

    Starting and drive mode buttons look gaudy

    Predicted depreciation highest in the range

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V60 Cross Country

    Price – £38,300 (starting from)

    MPG – 45mpg (combined)

    Power – 190bhp D4 diesel

    0-62mph –  7. 6 seconds

    Top Speed – 130 mph

    Co2 – 143 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    CAR REVIEW | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    ★★★★★ | Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

    If you’re a bit self-conscious or maybe a bit of a shrinking violet, this truck is definitely not for you.

    On the other hand, if you’re looking for something unique and something that will make a statement, this is it.

    Make no mistake though, the Isuzu D-Max Arctic trucks AT35 isn’t just a statement piece, it’s a very capable and hard working vehicle.

    Pickups or trucks as some call them, have come a long way in recent years. In the ’80s and ’90s, pickups were a utilitarian vehicle, built to work, with minimal luxuries and low levels of equipment and refinement. In the 2000s things changed and manufacturers started making pickups that were comfortable as well as functional.

    A luxurious pickup ticks a lot of boxes in my world, however, there is another step up on the pickup evolutionary ladder…….the Arctic Truck.

    The Arctic truck is probably the highest evolution of the species.

    When a dealer receives an order for one of these monsters, a standard vehicle is delivered to the dealer, then shipped to Arctic Trucks where the transformation takes place.

    The AT35 is based on the strong and durable Isuzu D-Max pick-up which is extensively enhanced by Arctic Trucks who inject 25 years’ experience of developing 4×4 vehicles capable of taking on the most gruelling conditions.

    The transformation involves carrying out a 30mm body lift with complimentary 20mm suspension lift, to give the vehicle enough ground clearance to conquer just about any terrain.

    With the huge ground clearance and suspension travel, you need a quality shock absorber set up to control the abuse this truck is built for. Arctic trucks selected Fox suspension as the brand of shock absorbers to fit to this hard core pickup.

    All this extra ability is wasted without bigger, better wheels and tyres and Arctic trucks take care of this by fitting 17” x 10” Alloy Wheels with locking wheel nuts, wrapped in 315/70 R17 Nokian Rotiiva Tyres to provide the traction needed while traversing a mountainside.

    In order to keep those huge wheels and tyres covered, there’s an oversized fender package front and rear with arctic trucks mud flaps.

    When your truck is this big, getting in and out of the cab is harder than you think. These guys take cars of that by fitting side steps and there’s also a rear receiver hitch bar for attachments such as a tow bar.

    The end result is the all-new Isuzu D-Max AT35. A pick-up truck engineered to excel in the most

    arduous conditions, and is the result of technical collaboration between two respected off-road and pick-up specialists.

    Our test vehicle had some choice extras such as the sports bar mounted lazer lights and front bumper lazer lights. These were unbelievable and turned night into day. We also had the chrome rear sports bar and the lockable mountain top roll cover. This was great for keeping the rear bed secure when I parked it on the street overnight. Another practical and aesthetic addition was the aluminium underguard kit. This covered the underside of the engine and gearbox and the rear diff. Very useful when traversing rocky terrain.

    Isuzu’s D-Max Arctic trucks AT35 comes with very comfortable leather upholstery with heated front seats, electrically height adjustable driver’s seat. There are 5 adult seats and plenty of room, front and rear.

    As you would expect, it’s loaded with equipment; Projector headlights, electric windows all around, automatic air conditioning, steering wheel mounted audio & cruise controls, keyless entry and push button start system, plus much more equipment that you would reasonably expect on this calibre of vehicle. For example; This Isuzu has Bluetooth® Connectivity, DAB Radio with eight speakers (2 x front door, 2 x rear door, 2 x tweeters & 2 x roof mounted), Apple CarPlayTM & Android AutoTM plus satellite navigation.

    In the middle of the soft-touch dashboard is a 7″ multifunction colour touchscreen and reversing camera.

    In this day and age, we expect a suite of safety features on our vehicles. Isuzu’s AT35 comes with ABS (anti-lock braking system), ESC (Electronic Stability Control) & EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). You also have BAS (Brake Assist System), HSA (Hill Start Assist) & HDC (Hill Descent Control) & rear parking sensors with a parking camera.

    With only 164 PS (162bhp), the AT35 isn’t what you would call fast. In fact, if you try to hustle this thing, you will find yourself frustrated. It’s slow off the line and when you put your foot down, it’s slow to respond. However, this style of driving is completely missing the point. I spent my time cruising around, stress-free.

    Because of the imposing nature of the AT35, people treat you with respect. I found nobody tried to cut me up or block my progress, people were polite and kept their distance. It was very relaxing for a change. Add to that the go-anywhere nature of the vehicle and I was in heaven. There’s almost no terrain this can’t conquer so you feel pretty invincible but conspicuous. It turns heads like a supercar. Sat at traffic lights, driving through town, on a country lane, in fact just about anywhere, this stands out. People are polite and even wave or take a picture. I couldn’t help thinking that if I was in a supercar, the response would be somewhat more hostile.

    Fuel economy is reasonable with quoted figures being fairly accurate; Urban 30.4 – 38.7mpg. Extra Urban 40.9 – 50.4 mpg. Combined 36.2 – 45.6mpg.

    Another ace up the Isuzu D-Max Arctic trucks AT35’s sleeve is the confidence-inspiring 5 year/125,000 mile warranty & 5 year UK & EU roadside assistance.

    In summary, I wouldn’t hesitate to have one of these as a daily, I loved driving it. We took it off-road at every opportunity and never struggled, not one bit. It’s very capable, well built, well equipped and looks outrageous. I was constantly looking back when I walked away from it. However, It’s not subtle, and for some, might be a bit too obvious.

    Price:

    Manual Transmission

    £38,545.00 CVOTR†

    Automatic Transmission

    £38,545.00 CVOTR†

  • FORD PUMA | The Cat’s Second Life

    FORD PUMA | The Cat’s Second Life

    Ford sparked outrage earlier this year when they announced their new SUV for the ever-competitive B segment market. They called it The Puma. 

    Many took to Twitter to voice their concerns and outrage for the car that had been in production for just 4 years. Judging by their profile pictures, the mass were still adolescents, never going to buy this car or more importantly, had not really known what the original Puma was or what its concept to production was all about.

    Ford have, it would seem, stuck closely to that original premise of the original Puma. It was an adaption of the small Fiesta platform. It’s just this time, it happens to be in an SUV shape and style that is fashionable. Back in 1997, the coupe was fashionable. 

    I’ll grant you, that the SUV is a bit “Christ not another” but this is what you, the motoring public apparently want. Small volume coupes are long in the tooth now and when developed, need cooperation between several groups. Let’s not mention Toyota and BMW. Fiat and Mazda. And yet, several years ago, joint cooperations were acceptable. Citroen and Maseratti for instance. 

    And so, Puma is another SUV. From an exclusive unveiling at this years Goodwood festival of Speed, I can tell you that it is all rather stacking in its favour. I’ll admit, I’m not over keen on the SUV segment, but Ford design chief, Anko Leemants was on hand to show us around the design language he used within his team to get to where Puma is today.

    You could sit there, sceptical in mind when designers spout of familiar words to describe a design but Anko put it into perspective quite well. One of the key factors was its look being “optimistic” and it certainly has a young puppy dog expression about its face. It lacks the over used aggressive look that so many have used over the past decade.

    In our times of change where we need to step back, consider the future and encourage kindness and love, set to the current backdrop of aggression and fierceness, this new look is greatly appreciated. There aren’t many cars out there at the moment that encourage you to look back and smile. 

    The rear pillars have a welcomed return to normality of softness instead up angry kick-ups. The front screen pillars are broken at the bottom to promote a sense of float in their design. 

    The main premise it would appear is that the Puma has been designed to be “The Most Beautiful Car You Can Ever Own” Now I did stand back a bit too that claim. You can’t say the Puma doesn’t have a nice look about it, but the trouble with an SUV is that they are never going to be beautiful. Ignoring if I may, beauty is within the eye of the beholder, in this instance, my eyes, but the new SUV from Ford isn’t sleek and/or beautiful. Purposeful and cute, yes it is and that suits it well for the new crop of B segment players coming along.  

    Another designer used word of the unveiling was that the Puma should be an Icon. Trouble is, as, with madonna and her latest offering, icons can have a tendency to fall from grace. Let’s hope the Puma doesn’t before its official launch in February 2020. On visual spec, it is rather eye-catching. Even the boot shuts are nicely painted. Let’s see how this all translates next year when it is available for road tests.   

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