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  • COMMENT | It’s so easy in today’s gay culture to idolise “traditional” beauty, but most of us don’t look like that

    COMMENT | It’s so easy in today’s gay culture to idolise “traditional” beauty, but most of us don’t look like that

    The Path to Body Positivity can take a long time, columnist Joe Guy writes about his experience.

    jarmoluk / Pixabay

    I’ve always had a tough relationship with my body. Being disabled meant that I have always looked different to everyone else.

    For example, we are born with 7 muscles in our necks. I was born with 3 which are all fused together in a ball. This means my head is slightly wonky. Other than neck pain, this doesn’t directly affect my life (with the exception of the canvases in my flat looking wonky). That knowing of being different, not looking ‘normal’, immediately creates an imbalance with you, like you’re never quite on a level playing field with everyone else.

    For me, this manifested into thinking I was ugly. I remember from being a young kid and every time I would throw a penny in a fountain, blow out my birthday candles or have a loose eyelash; my wish would be the same. I would wish I looked like everyone else.

    Now, don’t get me wrong, I have amazing parents and family who would always tell me how beautiful I am. I never felt like I wasn’t loved. I was loved by everyone… just not myself.

    I then took these feelings and ate them. I would buy multiple packets of cookies and scoff them all at night when everyone was asleep. They would be hidden under my bed, behind my wardrobe, in my school bag. And so, naturally, I gained more and more weight. This was never a problem for me until I had to move school aged 13. On my first day, I walked into a classroom and saw the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. I remember he had these big blue eyes and I still recall feeling like I was going to throw up. I quickly became obsessed and made it my mission to be his friend. 

    It worked. We became close friends and eventually lovers. Privately, he was always really sweet. We’d have sex, kiss, cuddle and he’d tell me how much he liked me. Publicly, he’d point out if I got sweaty, mock me loudly if I was eating chocolate and I was always the butt of his jokes.

    I took it all with a smile because I loved him.

    I went on my first diet aged 14. I told my parents I would be cooking for myself and would make small meals full of vegetables.

    I began following workout DVDs. I’d do everything I could to lose weight, fast.

    My relationship with him lasted 3 years and I spent the entire time willing to do anything for him to love me.

    It was never going to happen, he was confused about his sexuality and didn’t know what he wanted. This made him both physically and mentally abusive towards me. He would text me if I posted a photograph online saying I looked huge or, if I changed my profile picture on MSN, he’d tell me how ugly I looked in it.

    I allowed this because I felt grateful he even paid any attention to me. He and I were always off and on and, in-between our off times, I got attention from other people in my year group. I had lots of sex in High School (sorry, Mum!) but this never boosted my body confidence because I believed everything my boyfriend was telling me, that I was ugly and fat and that nobody really wanted me. I was only good for sex.

    We broke up at 16 when I decided to stay in Sixth Form and he went to a different college. Free from his clutches, I started to feel good about myself again. I also ate like crazy and gained my weight back.

    Then I fell in love for a second time.

    He was a nerdy guy that I struck up a friendship with when I noticed he sat alone. He was funny, sarcastic and he had a beautiful smile. I was smitten but it was somewhat unrequited. I decided the only way to make him like me was if I lost weight. Yet again, I went on a diet. This guy was always very kind to me. He never commented on my body or my weight. He never made me feel ugly. Yet, I still took it upon myself to assume I was. 

    This pattern has carried on throughout my life. My confidence in myself and my body has always been based on men. If men paid me attention, that meant I was attractive.

    At University, I found myself in a long distance relationship with someone I’d spoken with online since I was young. He was funny and interesting. Unfortunately, he was also a heavy drinker. When he’d drink, he’d become abusive to me. He’d go on a drunken Skype rages about how fat I’d gotten since I started University. He wasn’t wrong, I had gained the typical Freshers 15 and then some. This time, I didn’t diet. I just carried on eating. And eating. I would binge on takeaways and booze and cakes. Once he and I broke up, I poured my affection into food instead. I would go on websites like FitLads but it’d break my heart when people didn’t message me first. I always felt I knew why: I’m too fat and ugly to be loved.

    This feeling, like I wasn’t enough like I didn’t even deserve to be loved carried on right through my 20s. Until last year. I met someone. It wasn’t a love affair, we only kissed once, but I never felt self-conscious the entire time I was in his presence. He was more interested in me, as a person. We’d talk about our favourite TV shows, we’d laugh at stupid jokes and I never once felt I should be grateful he paid attention to me (even though he was SO gorgeous). I felt on top of the world that maybe, just maybe, someone would like me for me. Could it be possible? Am I actually deserving of being loved? I came to the realisation that I was locked up in a jail cell whilst holding the key the entire time. This boy hadn’t done anything special to make me feel this way. It was how I thought about myself. At the same time, I also realised that I had become extremely unhealthy. I was tipping the scales at 20 stone, I was eating 3 takeaways a week. I was struggling to breathe, I was sweating constantly. I wasn’t just overweight but morbidly obese.

    I have since lost over 5 stone and what has been interesting is how much of my lack of confidence is still to be shifted too. I feel more confident in how I look on the whole but I still carry those same fears. I may be thinner but am I actually pretty? Is my hair too thin? I’ve got stretch marks from losing weight, will anybody want to look at me? I now realise that I still have a long way to go truly loving myself and my body. But it’s happening bit by bit. With every selfie, I post where I actually smile because who cares if my teeth look a bit weird? With every crazy outfit, I wear because I’m still working out my style. I do things for me, I dress how I want to dress because I like it. And when I look in the mirror, I feel pride. I have moments of weakness, sure. And there are definitely still issues I have to face in that I still attach some of my self worth to the approval of men. But I’m working on it. Self-confidence is a matter of both mind and body. All I need is time.

    So, here’s my advice. Tell the guy you like, you like him. Compliment someone on their outfit. And compliment yourself. It’s so easy in today’s gay culture to idolise “traditional” beauty but most of us don’t have the six pack and the thick hair and the flawless skin.

    The first step to accepting yourself is accepting we’re all different. And damn it, being different isn’t a flaw… it’s a beautiful gift.

  • What to watch at the BFI Flare: London’s LGBT+ Film Festival

    What to watch at the BFI Flare: London’s LGBT+ Film Festival

    BFI Flare, London’s LGBT+ Film Festival, is back in its 33rd year and will take place from 21st – 31 March 2019.

    It will be ten days of films and events for our community, a celebration of all things LGBT that promises to offer a vibrant space for all of us who are able to attend. Flare will also be ten days of seeing people you only see during this festival – and a time to meet up and grab a drink or a cup of coffee in between screenings. It will also be a great opportunity to meet new friends and some of the filmmakers and actors.

    BFI Flare will present over 50 features, more than 80 shorts, and a wide range of special events, guest appearances, club nights and much much more. Here is a very brief summary of some of the highlights:

    Flare will open with the period drama Vita & Virginia, charting the passionate relationship between Virginia Woolf (played by Elizabeth Debicki) and aristocrat Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton).

    A must-see for the gay male crowd will most definitely be Mapplethorpe, which stars sexy Matt Smith as the legendary photographer in this no-holds-barred exploration of the controversial and one of the most feted photographers. Another one for the boys is Papi Chulo which stars Matt Bomer as a heartbroken gay television weatherman who forms an unlikely friendship with an older straight migrant worker.

    Another must-see will be the closing night gala screening of JT Leroy. Starring Laura Dern and Kristen Stewart, the film tells the story of how Savannah Knoop (adapted from her memoir) became JT Leroy – a fictional character who came true to life and bedazzled New York’s downtown scene for years.

    The UK premiere of Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life takes place during the festival and paints a portrait of one of the world’s most successful gay porn stars – Agassi – in a life of highs and lows.

    Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger portray two women who fall in love in 1950’s Scotland in the film Tell it to the Bees, while in Rafiki two young Kenyan women attempt a relationship despite it being illegal in their country.

    On the documentary front, a queer Lucha libre wrestler is profiled in Cassandro, The Exotico, while Halston is a portrait of the American Fashion legend, complete with rare archive footage. Another legend, Montgomery Clift, is profiled in the self-titled film in the search to discover who was the real Clift. Tongues Untied features the work of black gay filmmaker Marlon Riggs, while in Transmilitary, four soldiers risk dismissal to fight for transgender fights in the U.S. armed forces.

    Events/debates include: Trans Creative at the Movies: a discussion that will feature transgender moments in film; At Lethal Lesbians will be a talk about how queer females are deadlier than the male species. In Operation Spanner: Then and Now – 16 men were prosecuted in the late 1980s for their participation in consensual S&M sex sessions, will be explored in two short films and in a discussion.

    The Big Gay Film Quiz is back as well as the very popular Club Nights that take place in the BFI Southbank’s Benugo Bar & Kitchen – great weekend nights out to let your hair down and boogie the night way.

    Also, don’t miss The 25th-anniversary screening of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert which will take place during the festival.

    Full details, and to buy tickets, please go to this link:

    https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/flare/Online/default.asp

  • The Color Purple Actor dropped from show after anti-gay Facebook post surfaces

    The Color Purple Actor dropped from show after anti-gay Facebook post surfaces

    Seyi Omooba axed from the theatrical tour of the Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome production of The Color Purple after “homophobic” Facebook post surfaces.

    Actor Seyi Omooba has been dropped from the production of The Color Purple after a Facebook post from 2014 in which she said that she did “not believe homosexuality is right” went viral on social media.

    The Facebook post from 2014 went viral when actor Aaron Lee shared a screenshot on Twitter saying Omooba owed an explanation to the gay community for her words.

    In the post, Omooba said that she does not believe people “can be born gay”.

    She added, “I do not believe homosexuality is right, though the law of this land has made it legal doesn’t mean its [sic] right.”

    Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome said that Omooba “will no longer be involved with the production” after admitting that the post had “caused significant and widely expressed concerns”.

    The statement reads,

    “On Friday 15 March a social media post dating from 2014, which was written by the The Color Purple cast member Seyi Omooba, was re-posted on Twitter. The comments made by Seyi in that post have caused significant and widely expressed concerns both on social media and in the wider press.

    “Following careful reflection it has been decided that Seyi will no longer be involved with the production. This decision was supported by the Authors and Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

    “The audition process, as ever, was conducted professionally and rigorously, led by an exceptional casting director with actors who are evaluated on what they present in the audition room. We do not operate a social media screening process in the casting of actors”.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

    THEATRE REVIEW | Standing at the Sky’s Edge – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

    ★★★★ | Standing at the Sky’s Edge

    Standing on the Sky’s Edge is a new musical which centres around Sheffield’s Park Hill Flats housing estate, and cleverly overlays three stories of three families over three decades as they take residence in the now infamous building. From the ground breaking optimism of the buildings with “streets in the sky” in the early 70s; through the estates decline in the 80s and 90s and onto the current regeneration projects, the show delicately weaves the lives of the seemingly unconnected families together whilst looking at the social and economic changes faced by the city and its residents.

    Richard Hawley (known for his music with The Longpigs and Pulp) provide a mixture of new and old songs which melt seamlessly into the narrative and which are well spaced, well performed and slot nicely into the proceedings; whilst Chris Bush’s script is warm, witty and brims with northern charm and humour.

    But mostly, and at the show’s heart, are stories about love and how it can be tested in so many different ways; wrapped up in a love letter to any building which you can call home and to the city itself.  A husband who has given up, and a wife who won’t; a young couple who face tragedy and a young woman trying to break free of the ghost of girlfriends past all address the central issues with genuine emotion and a warmth radiating from the stage.

    The production is instantly accessible, with characters that feel familiar almost immediately, and some fast paced and assured direction from Robert Hastie, providing a feel of the business and hustle and bustle of the estate. The ensemble cast blend beautifully together as the years portrayed merge into one; and Faith Omole took everyone by surprise with a singing voice so serene, it quite literally stopped the show.

    Despite being a very local piece of theatre, there is enough in there to entertain those unfamiliar with the flats or its history; and makes the trip to Sheffield worthwhile, and being home the message, loudly and clearly, that home is where the heart really is.

    Standing on Sky’s Edge is at Sheffield Theatres until 6th April 2019.

  • Witch-Influencers and New Wellness Trends

    Witch-Influencers and New Wellness Trends

    From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, we are increasingly becoming mentally and physically engaged to the outside world.

    CREDIT: Romina Introini

    We are in the midst of the social-media age and sometimes it really is hard to just switch off from it all, take a step back and really focus on our mental and physical wellbeing. Very clearly, this isn’t good.

    Now I could go the obvious route on saying just switch off your damn phone for an hour before bed and don’t look at it first thing in the morning but for some of us, that really isn’t an option. By all means, I recommend it if you can do it but when your job directly involves using your phone on an hourly basis, it’s not such an easy feat.

    Recently though, I was invited to attend an interesting talk on Witch-Influencers and New Wellness Trends by the lovely team at The GLAMOUR Beauty Festival 2019. Now I’m not usually someone who gets caught up in the allure of spells and charms to sort out all of life’s worries and problems but a lot of what was said really struck a chord with me, on the concept of self-preservation.

    CREDIT: Romina Introini

    The entire talk, that was hosted by Angela Scanlon and featured Emma Lucy Knowles and Giselle La Pompe-Moore as guests, was entirely focused on the notion of self-empowerment and giving yourself a positive mindset for achieving your goals and in doing so, taking time for yourself to reflect and recenter your thoughts and emotions daily.

    Now, this is something I can definitely get on-board with!

    The guest speakers went on to outline their own practices of using various charms and objects such as crystals, that they use on a daily basis to centre their thoughts and achieve their goals. For me personally, the totem aspect of their rituals is something that I find relatable. No, I don’t have crystals over my writing desk at home but I do have keepsakes. These are objects that hold meaning for myself and I associate them with certain memories or emotions. Albeit you could argue there is a difference, I personally don’t think there is.

    I’ll give you an example. When my uncle Dennis passed away, he left me a number of watches. One of them is a solid gold Swiss watch that honestly, I’m petrified of losing every time I wear it. Now long story short, my uncle is someone that was very inspirational to me. He travelled the world, went on great adventures and stressed the importance of education to me, in understanding the world and its myriad of cultures. This inspiration has made me an avid traveller and was one of the primary factors in me pursuing my degree and subsequent career, as a writer.

    So this watch now symbolises to me my uncle and all that he stood for. This association has made this watch a totem for me of self-preservation and self-belief. As now when I wear it, I genuinely feel that I can achieve anything and he is stood right there with me. It’s even in front of me now, as I’m writing this feature.

    So to me, my watch sounds very similar to a crystal with empowering properties. Wouldn’t you agree?

    I think we all have these keepsake items in our lives, no matter what they may be and these are our symbols of support, love, empowerment and everything in between. They are our crystals, spell jars and tarot cards and like our Witch-Influencer friends Emma and Giselle, I think it’s important we take time to appreciate these objects.

    Let them refocus us and remind us of who we are and what we want in life. This appreciation is how we can switch off from the social-media age, how we can survive it and most importantly, how we can thrive in it!

    Finally, I just wanted to say thank you again to The GLAMOUR Beauty Festival 2019 in association with Boots at the Saatchi Gallery in London, for inviting me along to this talk and helping me find my own way of switching off.

    If you’re interested in attending the festival. Look out for news on their next event in Manchester later this year, on their social media.

     

  • Education expert warns drama, music and sports for girls will be next if No Outsiders isn’t reinstated

    Education expert warns drama, music and sports for girls will be next if No Outsiders isn’t reinstated

    As more schools announce that they are suspending the No Outsiders programme, an education expert says that the lessons must continue “in the community where it is most needed.”

    Speaking to THEGAYUK the University of Birmingham’s Colin Diamond says that the No Outsiders lessons must continue after four more schools in Birmingham followed in the footsteps of Parkfield Primary School and stopped the teaching of LGBT rights following complaints by parents.

    The No Outsiders lesson was the brainchild of Andrew Moffat, where the ethos was to promote LGBT+, disability, religious and gender equality and to help students question transphobia and homophobia in primary schools.

    He said, “We must be resolute and hold to the values of the Equalities Act and the Birmingham Curriculum Statement. Local dialogue is essential – but there are red lines here. No Outsiders and in particular the teaching of LGBT issues must continue.

    No music, drama and girls’ participation in sports

    RemazteredStudio / Pixabay

    In a stark warning, Diamond warns that if no action is taken that subjects such as music and drama could be wiped from the ciriculum could be wiped from UK schools.

    If No Outsiders did not continue in school Diamond added, “If it does not, I guarantee that the next targets will be music, drama, liberal humanities and girls’ participation in sports.

    “No Outsiders is taking off in schools across the UK: it needs to continue to thrive in the community where it is most needed.”

  • COMMENT | Is the gay community homophobic?

    COMMENT | Is the gay community homophobic?

    For a community that has a history of persecution, horror, and division it will always shock me that even to this day, the gay community remains deeply divided and discriminatory to itself.

    In this article, a bit more of a serious one for a change, I want to explore some examples of this discrimination and my thoughts as to why I think this is so.

    To start, I will freely admit that I am a white gay man 32 years of age (middle class if that means anything) with an average upbringing. I was not bullied at school for being gay, I was bullied for looking like Harry Potter long before HP was ‘cool’.

    My family, until recently, has been fairly stable and while I have been through a lot professionally and personally in my own life since I was 18, most of my views and experiences come through the eyes of others. Having spent a number of years working with social care cases my empathy and ability to see your own pain and map of the world is something I treasure. And something, for this piece at least, gives me some insight that I hope you find relatable.

    In this article, I don’t have time to go into the racism, ageism and various other ‘ism’ issues in the community but I will acknowledge them for the moment. I have no doubt all are linked, but racism and ageism isn’t necessarily a sexuality thing as straights have the same issues. We’ll get to them in another article. For the moment, I want to focus purely and simply on gay men hating other gay men for their sexuality.

    The dictionary defines homophobia as a;

    “dislike or prejudice against homosexual people”. There are many different definitions out there, including one that defines it as “a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards or people that are perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender”.

    But let’s start with the simplest one as I prefer simple arguments. A “dislike or prejudice against homosexual people”. For this article, I am going to focus on gay men vs gay men. There are plenty of documented cases of gays vs lesbians, gays vs bisexuals and gays having a bash at transgender. The level of disgusting hate I see on F2M people’s profiles aimed at them from other gays is just an embarrassment on us all.

    Now, this is not to say that all gays despise other gays. Far from it. But, there is enough evidence from all our experiences and local communities to say that there is an issue with gays hating and discriminating against other gays for being gay. Or rather, a version of gay that they don’t agree with.

    A good example of this is the ‘straight gay’ hating on the ‘camp gay’.

    Camp gays are widely seen by a number of other gay men as loud, annoying, embarrassing and a hangover from a day when gays were just seen as loud, camp and annoying. When they look at pride marches all they see is the camp gays and automatically assume all pride are this way and pride, the scene, and gay culture is geared solely for the camp gay. Think back, at least one of your friends that don’t really do the scene or rolls their eyes at a young camp gay guy has these opinions. And the fact that they will actively avoid the scene and prides is evidence of these underlying prejudices and resentment that fuels their preferences today.

    Now, many of you will say ‘so what?’.

    If someone wants to avoid the gay scene and community that should be their right and freedom right? And yes, you are correct. As someone that believes in free will you would be correct. But it doesn’t just stop there though does it? Take a look on social media, many of them go on little tirades of hate towards the scene and anything gay doing a job even Mary Whitehouse would be proud of. If you want to disconnect from the community and reject your history that is absolutely fine, but this online hate that is aimed at anyone daring to be ‘loud and proud’ is nothing short of homophobia.

    If a straight man/woman did it we would accuse them of it, so why is it different because another gay man does it against a gay man?

    In straight men at least, often such a phobia comes from their own fears and issues around their sexuality. How many staunch anti-LGBT people do we see be revealed to have secret gay hook-ups or eventually come out as gay when that hate runs out and what you are left with is a realisation. Therefore can the same logic be applied to the gay man that rejects his gay brothers? If things like pride, camp behaviour, ‘loud n proud’ are visual ‘in your face’ reminders of their sexuality and are therefore something to be avoided?

    I can’t say that as I believe homosexuality means different things to different people and everyone expresses that differently. But this ‘hate’ comes from something. Otherwise, why would another gay man attack another gay man in such a fashion when they are plenty of straight people out there that would happily do it to us anyway?

    I have no answers to this just some insights that it does happen and casual homophobia is everywhere. Maybe if we start to accept it for what it is, and start challenging it when we see it, maybe (just maybe) the gay community has a cat in hell’s chance of being the inclusive community it professes itself to be.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | VIVI, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | VIVI, London

    ★★★★★ | VIVI, London

    (C) PR SUPPLIED

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre, London

    ★★★★★| Betrayal, London

    Heartthrob Tom Hiddleston shines in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Betrayal, now playing at the Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.
    Betrayal is one of the late Harold Pinter’s more well-known works (from 1978), and it also clocks in at a snip 90 minutes, but it’s 90 minutes that’s full of drama, tension, and in this new stage version, very well acted.
    In a play that goes backwards and forward in time but is never confusing, Hiddleston plays Robert, a successful book publisher who is married to the beautiful Emma (Zawe Ashton, from television’s Fresh Meat and who more than holds her own on stage). Emma, you see, has been having, for several years, an affair with Jerry (a very good and very good looking and sexy Charlie Cox – best known for television’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Daredevil’), who also happens to be Roberts’ best friend. But there is more to it than this. Jerry and Emma have had a flat for their not so secret trysts for years, and Robert has known, because Emma told him, about the affair.
    Meanwhile, Jerry also has a wife and child. But as the plot goes back three years, to a time when Emma and Robert were very happy, to the beginning of the play when Emma announces to Jerry that she and Robert are splitting up, its one betrayal after another in a show that cleverly uses a chronology to tell the story in reverse. ‘Betrayal’ is also about a clandestine love affair, and lies told, in a show portrayed on stage by actors who are at the top of their game. And the three main cast members are always on stage, with one hovering in the background creating an eavesdropping like mood. 
    Hiddleston displays a very vulnerable side of him as the spurned husband who seems to be the innocent one amongst all the betrayal. And as Robert Hiddleston, near the end of the show which is actually near the end of the middle of the show, breaks down as he learns from Emma about the affair. It’s powerful stuff by a master of the stage (Hiddleston was also very superb in 2013’s ‘Coriolanus’). Ashton is good as the woman at the centre of two men who really really want her, while Cox brings a lure of sex appeal and confidence where we can see why Robert keeps him as his best friend and why Emma is having an affair with him even though she has her own family. All in all, Betrayal, with a set that is stripped to the bone, is very dramatic, and theatre at its best.
    Betrayal must end on June 1st, 2019
    For tickets, please go to:
    https://www.pinteratthepinter.com
  • TV REVIEW | Drag Race Season 11 Episode 3 Stink. Stank. Stunk.

    TV REVIEW | Drag Race Season 11 Episode 3 Stink. Stank. Stunk.

    A week of heights and lows for this week as the girl’s praise and worship.

    After a bit of a confusing mini-challenge (where non of the girls really gave a convincing enough argument for being let in backstage,) we quickly started at the big challenge of the week: Diva Worship.

    Two teams (led by Nina West and Ra’Jah O’Hara) had to create their own religion based on a Diva and host a show based on this. So basically the idea is to do a parody of one of these religious TV shows even we in Europe can see if you own a working satellite.

    Nina West’s team pretty much settle on Britney within minutes. It’s obvious why: her story and drama are fresh in everyone’s mind, but not so fresh it seems mean. Also, she has turned it around and survived so yes, a great target. Only Silky turns Sulky: she wanted to do Whitney. But her teammates all agree: doing her is not funny, as we all know how her story ended.
    Still, the team seems solid and quite aware of all the Britney-isms out there. When Ru talks to them it’s clear she feels confident they will do well.

    Okay, then team Ra’Jah O’Hara … Yeah … okay … After a lot of good suggestions, they settle on Mariah Carey claiming they know the most about her. Well, they don’t seem to know she isn’t Whitney Houston, as most of the songs and movies they mention during their challenge are hers.

    Their talk to Ru should have made them aware they were on the wrong track. Not even realising the diva they could have used was Ru herself was even worse.

    They were lucky someone had the sense to shoot down Diana Ross as the icon worshipped, they might all have been eliminated on the spot.

    Team Nina West are absolutely flawless – with Nina herself and Miss Vanjie as the absolute standouts.

    The only disappointment seems Silky as her energy seems rather low (for the second time in an acting challenge.)

    Poor team O’Hara. The only knowledge they have of Mariah seems to be two titles and the things Ru told them five minutes ago. It’s.just.a.mess. It might be the worst acting challenge in herstory. Poor Ross Mathews looked beyond relieved when it was over and advised the girls to do well on the catwalk.

    Next thing we know we’re presented with one of the oddest of dressing room sections where Vanjie and Brooke Lynn cuddle up and kiss each other on the mouth (could this be the first Drag Race romance?!!) Yvie paints every bit of her body pink – yes EVERY bit!!

    And … non of the girl’s bar Silky seem aware of what being Muslim is? That is really odd. Poor Mercedes (the first Muslim contestant on the show) seemed to not want to discuss it anyway, so maybe it’s best just left alone.

    Que the Runway. Both Ru and Michelle Visage look amazing this week!!

    Then the catwalk walk begins!

    Category is: Fringe!!

    Several stand out looks and overall high quality (though still Yvie, you really didn’t have to paint all of that, we never saw it!!)

    Within seconds team Nina West Team has won, with Nina the leader who ruled with conviction crowned this weeks winner.

    (Que Untucked where Silky threw a tantrum because her team had … won? She then claimed the only reason she hadn’t won this challenge herself was she held back because of her religion. The rest of them soon called her out saying she was only sulking because it hadn’t been about Whitney. They were right.

    Then, after some fighting Silky bizarrely decided to tear off most of her clothes saying she’d been ready to lipsync for her life: Erm, Silky, your team WON!! The unflinching stoic response of the rest of the girls – especially Yvie was absolute art.)

    Meanwhile, onstage all girls are judged and all blame their entire group. No-one is thrown under the bus.
    This is good.
    But …
    You can see how the surprisingly low energy responses and lack of knowledge of the group as a whole frustrate Ru. You cannot be a Queen without a drive and at least some knowledge of LGBTQ+ icons and history.
    Even when she listed a list of people they could have done there was never an “aha” moment.
    This is odd.

    There was only one person who had an excuse for not being completely informed about Pop-culture.

    My heart went out to Plastique Tiara during this entire episode and Untucked, she seemed so lost and quiet. No-one seemed to believe her when she talked about not being aware of pop culture. But yes, it can happen in the environment she grew up in.

    https://twitter.com/plastiquetiara/status/1106393941748957188

    But she was the only one and as Ru said: the others should have helped her. But they clearly couldn’t even help themselves.

    Back onstage: Ru is done and all the team is up for eviction. Which … O.M.G.
    For a second it looked like Ru’s House for Drag Toddles with the bizarre antics that went on on the stage. The look on Ru’s face watching it all should be gif-ed to eternity.
    Thankfully it’s over soon.

    Poor Honey Davenport, you see how much it means to her and you feel her pain when her death-drop from stage turns … well, out wrong. Still, she is sent away and the scene in her Untucked leaving video is beyond heartbreaking.

    A sad end to a very confusing episode.

  • FILM REVIEW | Benjamin

    FILM REVIEW | Benjamin

    ★★★★ | Benjamin

    Comedian Simon Amstell has directed and written his first film – it’s called Benjamin.

    He actually also could’ve called it Simon. Benjamin follows the life of filmmaker Benjamin (played by the charming Colin Morgan). He is a frustrated, self-doubting filmmaker, and is not very optimistic about his latest film – ‘no self.’ He is also not very optimistic about his love life – an ex is very angry at him for writing negatively about him in a film. Benjamin’s best friend is comedian Stephen (Joel Fry), who after ten years on the stand-up scene is almost ready to throw in the towel.

    But one day Benjamin’s publicist/friend Billie (Jessica Raine) takes him to a chair opening party (yes, that is what it is called) where Benjamin meets the adorable French Noah (Phénix Brossard). Noah is younger than Benjamin but over time their relationship blossoms. But as Benjamin’s insecurities about relationships, and life, get worse, will he be able to confidently promote his new film while at the same time keep up his crumbling relationship with Noah?

    Anstell wrotes scenes for this film from almost every relationship he has ever been in. And lead actor Morgan can actually pass for his younger brother, while Stephen, a comedian, was perhaps modelled on Anstel’s early career.

    Benjamin is a great date movie – for both gay and straight couples. It’s charming and original.’ And while it won’t change your world, it’s a great first effort from Anstell – hopefully, he can continue to make more charming movies such as this.

    In Cinemas and on Digital 15th March

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