THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Mews Of Mayfair

    A short walk from Oxford Circus tube, tucked behind shopping chaos is the tranquil Mews of Mayfair. The clientèle appeared to mainly be tourists which is not surprising as the menu design is a marriage of classic familiar dishes (Fish & Chips, Burger, Club Sandwich etc.), alongside more refined sophisticated dishes including Duck Egg, Salt Baked Cotswold Chicken, Superfoods Salad, and rare breed beef.

    The team within Mews of Mayfair were all really lovely, welcoming and engaged in conversation with us both. I find especially in London that service can be almost robotic and cold at times, but the team here were faultless and this was consistent as I observed the service with the other diners.

    To start my friend ordered the Mosaic of Wild Duck & Red Deer- and why wouldn’t you want to order the mosaic to start? Their creative flair continued through to the taste of this well-constructed starter. Essentially a pate paired with a raisin bread, and the flavours in this were superb.

    I chose the Orkney Isles Scallops served with pork belly and artichoke. Again the Mews of Mayfair showcase their expertise in the execution and presentation of this dish. Butter-like scallops served in a shell on top of a rock/seaweed filled bowl it was great to see their presentation going that extra step further. I was really impressed with the scallop and would highly recommend it.

    For the Winter period the restaurant have come up with their take on a Bambi Burger, on the menu as Venison Burger. With this dish only being available til Christmas I went for this and had it cooked medium. Served in a brioche bun with a gin and redcurrant sauce, this really was a good burger. My friend opted for their traditional Mews burger but with added meaty chunks of lobster atop the meat, which was cooked to her liking perfectly.

    With so many new restaurants opening with meat as their headlining dishes it’s important to be able to get a burger right, which the Mews of Mayfair have done so here. There were plenty of caveman flesh in face style grunts from us during eating the burgers. Always a good sign.

    Dessert. Here is where the show was stolen. I would come back here just to have the desserts alone, and I do not have much of a sweet tooth so this is really a big credit to the restaurant. I chose the Chocolate Delice served with honeycomb, yoghurt and hazelnuts. Pow in their presentation and an “oh god” moment with the first mouthful. The Chocolate Delice really is something special. Rich and mousse-like with subtle orange notes and light honeycomb with globes of cream and yoghurt.

    We also had the Roast Williams Pear served with croissant ice cream. The pear was perfection and such a great match with the ice cream- seriously good ice cream, and I should know after many a summer spent in Italy.

    I will definitely be back, not only for the dessert and friendly service, but to next time try something a little more adventurous with their main courses. Portion sizes throughout were good value for money, especially with the desserts (£7.50 most expensive for one) and the food arrived at the exact right amount of time between courses, making this a good venue not just for dinner but lunch (we dined over lunchtime).

    REVIEWED BY: Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 10 Lancashire Court. New Bond Street, London, W1S 1EY
    VENUE PHONE: 0207 518 9388
    WEBSITE: www.mewsofmayfair.com
    RATING: ★★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Discretionary service charge of 12.5% added to bill

  • Over THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND Homophobic Incidents Not Reported In The UK

    Commission launches new project to help tackle LGB and T hate crime.

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  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Manhattan Grill

    The Manhattan Grill sits very comfortably on the West India Quay of Canary Wharf. This place is brimming with style, but most importantly a talented team who know exactly what they are doing, and you can tell that they love what they do. With head chef, Damian Trejo having cooked for the likes of Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, the Manhattan Grill provides a star factor at every angle from start to finish.

    Our experience starts in their G&Tea bar where we have a gin tasting session with the lovely Sam. Sam takes us through the tasting and stories of 7 gins where we hear of London’s first distillery, olden porn sellers, and where “Soho” originates from, to name a few.

    Tasting highlights for me were the French Saffron gin, the Monkey47 (a Black Forest German gin sold only in 500ml bottles, giving it the exclusive edge), and the Opihr (a gin where the recipe was based on a spice being taken and infused into the gin from every port on its journey).

    The bar was fairly busy for a Tuesday evening with a mix of cosy couples and booted businessmen. The restaurant was extremely quiet with the majority of tables being taken by solo suited chaps.

    We couldn’t decide what to have for starter so our friendly (and rather good looking, a recurring theme in the staff) offered to have the kitchen do us a tasting platter of the starters. Juicy King prawns in mixed chilli garlic butter, Black pearl scallops with pea puree, Devonshire pork belly, and Baked Blue Swimmer crab cake. So pretty all together on the plate this should feature on their menu as a tasting platter.

    The pork belly was far too salty for me although it was matched with a fruity cabbage- the flesh itself was heaven. The scallop with pea puree was insanely good – if I had to pick just one out of their starters, it would be this. Very closely followed by the crab cake; meaty, light and just the right amount of herbs. I also tried the clam chowder which tasted like a holiday I once had in the U.S – lovely.

    In between courses you are invited to join a sommelier (free of charge), to try some classic wines and some interesting wines from South America, South Africa and Australia. Again, here the Manhattan Grill reinforces that they know their stuff and are going to make you feel special along the way. It also came to light that this company invest in their employees, sending them on courses and trips that are of interest, which clearly adds to the staff’s happy and passionate buzz.

    Following our waiter’s suggestion on his favourite main I went for the Rib-Eye and my friend had the Fillet. The meat was superb and cooked to perfection- I asked for mine to be cooked however the chef wanted me to have the meat and it was a winner. Restaurant’s such as the Manhattan Grill that revolve around one important ingredient, means that it has to be on point. The meat was faultless.

    For sides we had the macaroni cheese (although I wish we had opted for the version they do with lobster), seared mushrooms, and onion rings. I am a sauce monster – gravy, dips, marinades the lot. So I naturally asked to taste a selection of the restaurant’s sauces; Chimichurri, Bearnaise, Bourbon Peppercorn, and red wine. Unfortunately, the sauces were a let down- I found the Chimichurri over oily and the Bearnaise bland. Bourbon Peppercorn saved the day on the sauces and it went particularly well with the Mac N Cheese.

    After both gin and wine tasting, a starter platter and a hunk of meat we decided to share the restaurant’s Key Lime Pie for dessert – light pastry and super citrus filling it was the perfect way to end the meal.

    The experience from start to finish was 5 stars, there is no doubt about that. However I cannot forgive the issue with the sauces and over salted pork I’m afraid, hence a star has been deducted. You will certainly both arrive and leave with a smile on your face, and a slightly bigger belly than when you entered! Both myself and my friend said we would be back to dine and drink again. We had a fantastic time.

    REVIEWED BY: Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 22 Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf London, E14 4ED
    VENUE PHONE:
    WEBSITE: http://manhattangrill.co.uk
    PRICE: £££ (explained)
    STAR RATING: ★★★★ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Discretionary service charge of 12.5% added to bill

  • UKIP Parliamentary Candidate In Homophobic Recorded Rant

    The Mail On Sunday has released a recording of Kerry Smith, a senior UKIP member, making seriously offensive remarks about gay, lesbian, bi and trans people.

    Kerry Smith, a UKIP parliamentary candidate has been caught in a recording calling gay men “Poofers” and a likening the LGBT acronym to a BLT sandwich, “with a Q on the end.” Smith is the party’s PPC in South Basildon and East Thurrock. The recordings of his phone calls have been released by The Mail On Sunday.

    In the recordings, he also is heard to refer to a Chinese woman as ‘ a Chinky’.

    At one point in the recording, he is heard talking about former UKIP Youth chairman, Olly Neville saying,

    “Olly Neville – the sun shines out of his rear end. He’s now setting up BLT UKIP on Facebook.

    “What the old poofter groups call themselves. I just call it a BLT like the sandwiches. It’s them letters BLT with a Q on the end, bacon, lettuce and tomato.

    “It’s got our logo done with a rainbow. F**king loopy. That’s been approved by the NEC. That’s f**king disgusting.”

    Olly Neville came under fire by the party’s leadership in 2013, when he said he endorsed same-sex marriages. Mr Neville claimed UKIP was “on the wrong side of history” on gay marriage and proceeded to publicise on Twitter emails that were to sent him by party leaders.

    A statement released by UKIP on behalf of Smith said:

    “I wish to issue a wholehearted and unreserved apology to those who I have offended within the party and anyone else.

    “With regards to the leadership and management of the party I was completely wrong and my comments were fuelled by frustrations.

    “At the time of this recording, I was considering my resignation due to major management changes which I have since discovered I completely misread and misunderstood.

    “For the record, I was also on a strong morphine-based prescription medication for a back injury.”

    Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP has refused to sack Smith over the phone calls, while the MoS claims that a “well-placed” UKIP insider said:

    “Kerry wants to make a full apology and is hoping it all blows over.”

    TheGayUK approached UKIP’s LGBT society for comment.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dickens With a Difference, Trafalgar Studios, London

    ★★★ | Dickens With a Difference, Trafalgar Studios, London

    What can be more festive than Charles Dickens with his depiction of Victorian London in ‘A Christmas Carol”? Trafalgar Studios has chosen to present a spectacle of an all together different and darker aspect to Dickens’ work over this year’s Christmas period.

    Miss Havisham’s Expectations
    ★★★
    If you’ve not heard of the iconic Miss Havisham then it’s about time you treated yourself to this embittered, grief-stricken woman. Sitting in her rotting wedding dress amongst the remnants of the wedding breakfast that never was, in a dilapidated mansion overrun with mice? Training up a child to wreak havoc on men? That’s my kind of reaction to a messy break-up. Being jilted at the altar and conned out of money is bound to turn a girl’s head a little. ‘Miss Havisham’s Expectations’ adds a new dimension to the story we’re told in ‘Great Expectations’. Finally, in Di Sherlock’s play, she gets to tell her side of the story. Self-aware, funny, sweary and in the full knowledge that she is a fictional character; this Miss Havisham dances, practices conjuring tricks and speaks her mind very clearly. Her views on Dickens’ treatment of women are particularly illuminating.

    Critically acclaimed actress Linda Marlowe (currently Sylvie Carter in EastEnders) gives a superb performance. The sets are adequate; the wedding dress was maybe a little too modern and the play does have the odd moment but on the whole, this monologue packs a punch and is worth a look.

    Sikes and Nancy
    ★★★
    Dickens wowed Victorian audiences with his dramatic readings of his work. Here, James Swanton, takes on the scene from ‘Oliver Twist’ where Nancy is murdered by Bill Sikes. This is high melodrama, bought to life by one man with only a few chairs as props and a clever lighting set to accentuate his storytelling.

    Swanton takes on numerous characters through shifts in voice and facial expressions and takes us through the build-up and aftermath of the crime on what is a thrilling ride. It’s a show that’s received much acclaim and even Dickens aficionado Simon Callow classed it as remarkable.

    A word of caution: There’s a lot of facial contortion, character voices and melodrama. I enjoyed it but my companion was left cold by the show.
    Miss Havisham’s Expectations
    Tuesday 9th December 2014 – Saturday 3rd January 2015

    Watch the trailer and buy tickets here: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/miss-havishams-expectations/trafalgar-studios/

    Sikes & Nancy
    Performance Dates Tuesday 9th December 2014 – Saturday 3rd January 2015

    Read more here: http://www.jamesswanton.com/sikes–nancy.html

    Buy tickets here: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sikes-and-nancy/trafalgar-studios/

  • Clinic Gains Funds To Run Club Drug Clinic For London Boroughs

    Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) has been funded to run a Club Drug Clinic specifically for the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.

    The CNWL Club Drug Clinic is a dedicated service for anyone who has developed problems with ‘club drugs’ including students, clubbers and a range of other users. In partnership with the Antidote/London Friend service, the CNWL Club Drug Clinic also provides a culturally competent specialist service for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) people.

    The clinic’s staff are addictions experts who specialise in problems associated with psychoactive drugs including GBL/GHB, Mephedrone, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA, legal highs and research chemicals.

    The multi-disciplinary team provides a range of evidence-based tailored treatment and recovery interventions including, medically assisted detoxification, psychological therapies, peer support, family work and assistance with employment.

    The clinic also offers a range of additional services including on-site sexual health screening including HIV and blood borne viruses, mental health assessment and referral and liaison and referral for physical health problems including ketamine-related bladder harm. The service is at the forefront of developing the research evidence.

    Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Owen Bowden-Jones, who established the clinic in 2010, said;

    “UK drug services have traditionally focused on heroin and crack cocaine addiction. Club drugs, such as Ketamine, Mephedrone, GBL and so called legal highs, present new challenges. These drugs are often used by people who don’t fit the traditional stereotype of a drug user. Instead, our clients tend to be working professionals in their 20s and 30s who started taking drugs socially in clubs or at University.

    “Despite the common reputation of club drugs as relatively harmless and recreational, the clinic has seen club drug use escalate and cause psychological, physical and social problems such as psychosis, dependence and relationship breakdown. These issues are similar to the problems we see with more traditional drugs.”

    For more information about the clinic, visit www.clubdrugclinic.com.

  • THEATRE REVIEW: Northern Ballet’s Peter Pan, Leeds Grand Theatre

    Join Peter, Wendy, Michael and John as they fly off against a backdrop of stars to Neverland in search of adventure. Teaming up with the Lost Boys, the friends are never far away from Captain Hook and his band of pirates, who have a score to settle with Peter Pan. But as the battles ensue and the Lost Boys are captured by the pirates, it is down to Peter Pan to save the day, with a little bit of help from Tinkerbell. ★★★★

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Anything Goes – Sheffield Crucible Theatre and National Tour

    ★★★★★ | Anything Goes – Sheffield Crucible Theatre and National Tour

    It’s all aboard for high camp on the high seas, as the SS American sets sail from New York to Southampton and Billy Crocker stows away on board to chase the love of his life, Hope Harcourt. When he discovers that Hope is due to marry hapless fop, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Billy teams up with a gangster, Moonface Martin, Erma, the Gangster’s Moll; and a sassy lounge singer, Reno Sweeny, in an attempt to win her hand. But can Billy avoid the sailors hunting the stowaway, get away with a number of dubious disguises, avoid his unsuspecting boss and get Hope to agree to marry him before the ship docks in Southampton?

    Featuring the songs “I Get a Kick out Of You”; “You’re The Top”; “De-Lovely”, and “Anything Goes”, this 1930’s set musical comedy, which was written 80 years ago, is still an utterly joyous delight. The story has everything you could want from a whimsical musical – a will they/won’t they love story, a genuinely funny, laugh out loud script, some subtle slapstick and elements of farce, mistaken identity, disguises of varying quality, feisty heroines and, of course, a delightful and timeless score and songs which make it impossible for you to resist tapping your feet.

    This art deco tinged production is packed with well-timed comedy, spectacularly choreographed set pieces, good vocal performances and an uplifting sense of fun which proves utterly irresistible. Stephen Matthews delights as the naïve, bumbling toff, Lord Oakleigh, who is bursting with a dark family secret. Hugh Sachs (from TV’s Benidorm) shows his comedic talent as Moonface Martin, in a performance which is reminiscent of Nathan Lane in The Producers; and Debbie Kurup was a sassy bundle of energy in her performance as Reno Sweeney, heading up the tap dancing, show-stopping denouement to the first act and a lively and vivacious opening to the second act.

    The show is well directed and choreographed and is brimming with such energy and you can’t help but get swept along by it. This production is a welcome and well-timed revival of a criminally underperformed show, which has a surprising number of parallels between the 1930s and modern day, in terms of the economy and the public’s interest in celebrity. But the rapturous standing ovation and the number of people singing, tap dancing and laughing as they left the theatre is the most accurate measure of the success of the show.

    Sheffield Theatres annual Christmas musical is rapidly garnering a national reputation as one of the most hotly anticipated theatrical events, and after their award-winning productions of My Fair lady and Oliver! over the last two years, Anything Goes continues the trend.

    Anything Goes is playing at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until the 17th January 2015, before embarking on a national tour covering a total of 30 venues up and down the country between now and October 2015. Visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and http://anythinggoestour.com for information, tickets and tour details.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Apartment 40C

    ★★★★ | Apartment 40C

    Relationships are difficult things; from their tenuous beginnings through to their rocky patches, moments of pure joy and sometimes bitter dissolutions. Apartment 40c looks at the lifespan of a relationship of a New York couple by looking at their lives over the course of three pivotal evenings.

    Tom Lees and Ray Rackham’s clever new musical uses six actors to play the same two characters at different points in their lives. The characters often mingle on stage, unaware of the existence of their older or younger incarnations.

    Fresh-faced Alex Crossley and Alex James Ellison lend a romantic comedy element to the piece, playing the couple when they first meet in the apartment. Lizzie Wofford and the handsome hunk Drew Weston play the couple as they hit a difficult patch with brooding resentment, differences of opinion and betrayal threatening their once blissful intimacy. Nova Skipp (last seen in the incredible Damn Yankees at The Landor) and Peter Gerald play the couple in later life, returning to the apartment to arrange its sale.

    The story is well balanced with comedic moments, poignant numbers and rousing passionate songs. The music and lyrics are as good as you’d hear in any big West End musical (if not better, at times). Tom Lees and Ray Rackham’s show has a touch of Sondheim about it in places but ultimately has a unique and very distinct style of its own. The cast are spectacular with a standout performance from Lizzie Wofford who has the most amazing voice and is a breathtakingly accomplished actress. Drew Weston’s torso is worthy of a mention too. The sight of his six pack as he strode on stage in nothing but a towel led to a lot of shuffling and creaking of seats in the theatre.

    The set is well constructed and barring a few weak moments, this is an outstanding musical and a rare treat. Catch it while you can and I can almost guarantee that you’ll also catch some rising stars of theatre.

    Apartment 40C runs until the 20th of December at the London Theatre Workshop.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Treasure Island, the Curse of the Pearl Necklace, Above The Stag

    Well it’s almost Christmas and the silly season has started, and what better way to spend a couple of silly hours than at the Above the Stag theatre in Vauxhall at their yearly pantomime Treasure Island and the Curse of the Pearl Necklace?

    Though this is the first of their pantos I have seen, over the six years since their first one in their old home in Victoria, they have played to sell-out audiences each year and it’s easy to see why. Definitely not the show for the family outing with mum, dad, grandma and the little ones, this is the show you creep out to enjoy with your mates.

    I’ll have to confess pantomime is not really my thing. I usually go out of my way to avoid it, but maybe if they were more like this one I’d go more often. The script by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hopper abounds in witty one-liners that come so fast and furious it’s almost impossible to keep up. They have retained most of the pantomime traditions that we have grown up with, and the audience catches on quickly, shouting out “behind you”, “oh yes you are” and joining in the community singing with gusto.

    Another of the panto traditions they have retained is the character of the dame, here in the guise of Jim Hawkins’s mother, Sally and Philip Lawrence gives quite the stand-out performance of the night. Whether it be delivering the naughty dialogue, joking with the audience or delivering the odd ad lib, he is the master (mistress?) of every situation, and frequently had us all in fits of laughter. Hugh O’Donnel as Ethel, the Merman (get it?), who acted as our narrator and guide, was equally hilarious, delivering all his lines with his tongue firmly lodged in one cheek. In a fairly large cast, though, absolutely no one let the side down.

    In the past I have been known to criticise Andrew Beckett’s direction (in The Gay Naked Play and You Should Be So Lucky) but here he is obviously in his element. My problem in the other plays was that too much of the action was played out front, encouraging the cast to mug too much to the audience, but that is exactly what is required of pantomime, and here it works splendidly. Aside from a section at the beginning of the second act, which flags slightly, the swift-moving action holds one’s attention throughout and moves seamlessly from one scene to another.

    One should also mention the superb set by David Shields and Daniel Johnson’s excellent musical direction.

    If, like me, you can be a bit allergic to the usual Christmas fare, then this irreverent, naughty, adult orientated gay romp is definitely for you.

    Treasure Island and the Curse of the Pearl Necklace plays until January 10 at Above the Stag and I’d advise you to book early, as it will no doubt sell out completely.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | White Christmas, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

    ★★★★★ | White Christmas, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

    Army pals turned song and dance men, Phil Davies and Bob Wallace, are on their way to Florida for Christmas, when they stop by at Jimmy’s Nightclub to audition Betty and Judy Haynes, a sister act, for their new show. For Phil and Judy, it is love at first sight, but for Bob and Betty, it is a frosty start. Phil secretly swaps their train tickets and the pair follow the sisters to Vermont, where they are booked to play at the hotel which is owned by Phil and Bob’s former Army General, and, which is on the brink of closing. Calling in favours from their showbiz contacts and their old army pals, Phil and Bob try to put on a show to save the hotel and make it a Christmas to remember, but, as Bob Wallace discovers, falling in love can be very distracting.

    Written by Irving Berlin, and containing a number of classic songs, including Love And The Weather, Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me, Sisters, You’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm and, of course, White Christmas, this feel-good Christmas story is welcomed back to the stage in a simply brilliant production by West Yorkshire Playhouse.

    The production contained a well-rounded and consistently solid cast throughout, with the vocal performances across the board being of a very high quality. Melanie La Barrie belted out Let me Sing and I’m Happy, somehow seeming to channel the spirit of Ethel Merman into her performance. Darren Day was much better vocally than expected in his understated performance, but the standout cast member was Oliver Tompsett, whose charisma filled turn as Phil Davies showcased his ability to sing, dance, act and take on the comedy aspect of his role superbly.

    The set allowed the stage to open up into an abundance of space to undertake the well-choreographed and enthusiastically performed set pieces. There was a real tinge of 1950’s Americana in the costumes, certain aspects of the set, and the large set pieces; which were reminiscent of the old MGM Musicals. The on stage orchestra were spot on and the sound in the theatre was crisp, clear and well balanced between vocals and orchestra.

    If pushed to find fault with the production, the dancing in the set pieces could have been slightly tighter and the set did seem a touch sparse at times, but with a production that was so enjoyable, such quibbles seem slightly unfair.

    This is certainly one of the theatrical highlights of the year for me, and notwithstanding the twee nature of the show itself, you can’t beat a bit of good, old fashioned, family friendly and feel good entertainment at this time of the year.

    Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is currently playing at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until the 17th January 2015. For information, to book tickets or for details of their new season, visit their website at http://www.wyp.org.uk