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Qype: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in London

2008-11-19T09:45:00.001+01:00

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Hiding in a tiny alleyway half way down Fleet Street, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a rare treat. It's cheap, being Sammy Smith's and all, and you feel like you're in a little miniature world. I suppose, back in the day, everyone was smaller, so pubs only needed to be this big. These days, it's a tight squeeze, but get your elbows in, and find a place at one of the bars, and you'll get served soon enough.

When you get sick of the being hemmed in/too hot, walk down to The Old Bank of England, a Fuller's ale and pie house a short hop from here and get yourself a pint of Discovery to freshen up.
Check out my review of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Salisbury Pub in London

2008-11-18T13:57:00.001+01:00

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

There is no better pub round here than The Harp. I mean why would you ever go anywhere else? They've got a breville out back and will do you a sausage... wait a minute... what's this?! The Salisbury?! My word. There is a pub which is (almost) on a par with The Harp around the Leicester Square/Covent Garden areas, and it is this one. And as an added bonus, there's plenty of seating, so you might even persuade the girls from the office to come with you.

Recommended ale: Morrisey Fox.
Check out my review of Salisbury Pub - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: The Hoxton Grille in London

2008-11-18T13:08:00.001+01:00

London - Restaurants - International

Cracking food, great surroundings, crap service. This place is a bit desperately trendy, but has an interesting mixed crowd at lunchtime. It's owned by the same people who run Room in Leeds (which is somewhere I used to frequent!), and you can tell. My fellow diners were happy enough with their food, and my lamb shank was delicious (see photos), but the fact that it took an hour to arrive means, only 3 stars from Phil. Sorry guys.
Check out my review of The Hoxton Grille - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Bunker Bar in London

2008-11-18T13:02:00.001+01:00

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

Me me me, I've got an umlaut in my name. Check my diaeresis. I haven't actually, but the Beer Bünker has. Because of this, I walked past the "Bünker" sign and totally missed the entrance.

Anyway, I digress. It's a massive underground beer hall that stinks of chip fat and has a so-called microbrewery, although you wouldn't think so given the quality of the beer.

On the plus side, you're not likely to be short of room here, but I'm struggling to recommend it given the close proximity of The Harp...
Check out my review of Bunker Bar - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: The Real Greek in London

2008-11-18T12:49:00.001+01:00

London - Restaurants - Greek

Hmmm, what to say? Incredibly incompetent service here at lunch ("I've lost my pen so I can't take your order?!!") - I even offered mine but he wasn't interested. It's also quite expensive for what you get. However, the food was delicious, and I really like the trad pub decor, so I'll give it 3. A big downer for me really though, is that someone has contrived to convert a lovely pub like this, into a bloody restaurant. A real Greek tragedy.
Check out my review of The Real Greek - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London

2008-11-18T11:53:00.001+01:00

London - Nightlife - Clubs - Nightlife - Music Venues

This place is class. Worth every penny of the entrance fee everytime I've been.

It's a surprisingly small and intimate setting to see some really world class musicians. And, since it's now non-smoking, you can also chat to them whilst they're having a fag outside! I met Kyle Eastwood here and even resisted the temptation to mention his Dad...

Highly recommended.
Check out my review of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Annette in Hamburg

2008-11-10T12:47:00.001+01:00

Hamburg

Stodgy German eat-in takeaway which is EXTREMELY popular for lunch. You will struggle to get a seat in here for sure, so I was pretty excited about the food. However, it's not that great. The zigeuner schnitzel sauce is extremely sweet, like a chinese type sweet and sour, and tastes artificial. The breadcrumb was also quite soggy. The doner with jacket potato was nice though, with lashings of sour creme.

It's averagely priced, but has generous portions. Warning: you will come out of here smelling like a takeaway...
Check out my review of Annette - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Unicorn Gallery in Widnes

2008-11-05T12:00:00.001+01:00

Widnes - Arts & Entertainment - Galleries

Fantastic art gallery in a really unlikely location! You'd never find it if you were passing through, so it's worth mentioning on Qype. They have a great range of paintings to suit any budget - and I've also been very pleased with the high-quality framing service they offer.
Check out my review of Unicorn Gallery - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Room Restaurant in Leeds

2008-11-04T15:48:00.003+01:00

Leeds - Restaurants - International

Room is a great place to come on a date you want to impress. They are positioned as a modern funky place and have invested heavily in the right decor to prove it. Purple drapes, low light... candles, cool music. It's certainly the right ambiance.

The food is also good. My main gripe with this place is that it's just a bit snotty. In trying very hard to be cool and chic, it loses any sort of friendly vibe. It's also a bit of a ripoff - small-ish portions, although nice, and expensive wine.

Still, worth a look in.
Check out my review of Room Restaurant - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Oporto in Leeds

2008-11-04T15:48:00.001+01:00

Leeds - Restaurants

At the trendier end of the spectrum of central Leeds bars, but none-the-less we've had some pretty good nights out in here. My main gripe would be the popularity of the place, you generally have to be pretty pushy to get served in any reasonable time on busy nights (Fri/Sat), and it's not cheap either. Obviously if I still lived in Leeds I would drink in The Grove and not here, but when you had to go out with a group of girls, it's far and away not the worst choice!
Check out my review of Oporto - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Saturn Electro-Handelsges. mbH in Hamburg

2008-10-31T18:12:00.001+01:00

Hamburg - Shopping - Household Appliances - Shopping - Music, Videos & Games

Saturn is like nothing I've ever seen outside of China. A giant electronics emporium on about 6 floors with everything in the whole world in stock. We went in with a friend intending to buy nothing and came out with a Nintendo Wii and I've now done more exercise this weekend than for the past year.

Fortunately I managed to restrain Andrew from buying the 65 inch LCD, so we're on the good old 12 inch black and white portable...
Check out my review of Saturn Electro-Handelsges. mbH - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Fab Cafe in Manchester

2008-10-31T17:03:00.001+01:00

Manchester - Pubs & Bars - Bars

I never had anything but an amazing night here. A lot of my friends seemed to dislike it for some reason (sci-fi theme?!) but there was always a great fun crowd, loads of drinking and dancing, and Dr Who on the TV. Best night ever? When Joy Division came on. Love will tear us apart.
Check out my review of Fab Cafe - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Zur gemütlichen Tankstelle in Hamburg

2008-10-31T16:45:00.001+01:00

Hamburg - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Food & Drink - Sweets & Chocolates

Part sweet shop, part den of alcoholism, this is a weird old place. Still, if you really like sweets (I did once) and beer (I do now) and jaegarmeister (I'm getting into it), you could do a LOT worse round here!
Check out my review of Zur gemütlichen Tankstelle - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Marble Beer House in Manchester

2008-10-31T16:41:00.001+01:00

Manchester - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Can you sit down in the Marble Beer House? I did once, I think. It's got the layout of a tiny cafe, and yet is an ale lover's paradise, as they have a load of decent ales in at all times. I think it's all from the Marble brewery, so established brands they are not. Which adds to the appeal. There's also some decent crisps and nuts. Cozy!
Check out my review of Marble Beer House - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Hardy's Well in Manchester

2008-10-31T16:39:00.001+01:00

Manchester - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

I whiled away many a happy afternoon here during my mis-spent student days, and in fact, many of those afternoons turned into evenings. It was just about close enough to walk, about 10 minutes, and you had to walk because you didn't want to drink-drive, and if you did drive, your car would definitely get broken into. The bitter situation has improved over recent years and I would like to take credit (along with our mates) because we whinged about it everyday for 4 years to Clive. He likes a drink too!
Check out my review of Hardy's Well - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Sinclairs Oyster Bar in Manchester

2008-10-31T16:36:00.001+01:00

Manchester - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Definitely the cheapest pub in Manchester, nay, the world! Actually I have been to cheaper places in Beijing, but I can't recall getting 7 pints of bitter for under a tenner anywhere else in the UK. Sinclair's always has a fantastic atmosphere of very happy drinkers being merry. The building is a half timbered affair that the IRA tried to destroy but they moved it and put it all back together on its present site behind M&S. An oasis in a sea of rubbish shops. Lovely.
Check out my review of Sinclairs Oyster Bar - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Signature Room at the 95th in Chicago

2008-10-31T16:31:00.001+01:00

Chicago

A solid 5 stars for the best breakfast brunch I've ever had and indeed, the first place I ever tried eggs benedict! I'm sort of glad I didn't try them before, since I probably would have died of some sort of heart disease if I'd got into them at the age of say, 5. So, come here on a Sunday around lunchtime, make sure you book, and enjoy the all-you-can-eat feast to end them all. Being on the 95th floor makes it that little bit better as you wash brunch down with champagne. Mmm mmm!
Check out my review of Signature Room at the 95th - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Millennium Park in chicago

2008-10-31T14:39:00.001+01:00

chicago - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks - Arts & Entertainment - Parks

You walk in this downtown park and first glimpse the shining object that is the centrepiece, and think, 'what the hell is that'?!

That is 'Cloudgate', an amazing mercury-like sculpture by Anish Kapoor which will have you staring with childlike fascination (if you're anything like me) for hours.

The park is also home to a fine outdoor stage, which only this summer hosted a free gig from none other than the world's greatest living recording artist, Mr Andrew Bird. If I could give 6 stars for that, I would. Don't miss it.
Check out my review of Millennium Park - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Kingston Mines in Chicago

2008-10-31T14:35:00.001+01:00

Chicago - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Nightlife - Music Venues

Another fantastic blues bar on North Halsted, just opposite the legendary B.L.U.E.S. They often do joint nights where you can go in both venues for one price, like I did for "Blues Diva 2007"!

It's a much bigger affair, with no less than 2 stages and simultaneous rocking going on all night long. You are pretty much guaranteed a really fun night. Don't miss it.
Check out my review of Kingston Mines - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Seven Arts Centre in Leeds

2008-10-31T10:05:00.001+01:00

Leeds - Nightlife - Cinemas - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Nightlife - Music Venues - Arts & Entertainment - Theatres

Cracking bar, restaurant, cafe and arts centre in leafy Chapel A - LS7 Heaven as the locals call it, er, I think. My good friend Penny, a stalwart of the local arts scene and organiser of the renowned Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, the urban Glastonbury, took the plunge a couple of years ago and set up this place. And now, no one can chuck her out of the bar, because it's her bar.

There's a regular calendar of arty events, but if you're just there for the bitter and chat, you won't be disappointed either.
Check out my review of Seven Arts Centre - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Speiche Fahrradladen in Hamburg

2008-10-30T19:24:00.001+01:00

Hamburg

Fantastic tiny little bike shop in Bleicherstrasse opposite the Edeka. You could easily walk past this shop and not see it, but you shouldn't! Why? Well - if you can possibly visit at a time when it's open (long lunches!), then you could:

- hire a bike to cycle round Hamburg for almost nothing
- buy a new one customised to however you want it
- or the best option: get a fleamarket 30 euro bike completely overhauled!

Yes indeed I had my wreck of an old thing brought back to showroom condition overnight!

The guy is really friendly, but doesn't really speak English - so take your best German bike-phrasebook!
Check out my review of Speiche Fahrradladen - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Sessanta Due in Hamburg

2008-10-30T18:16:00.001+01:00

Hamburg - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza

Now this, is a really nice pizza place. Kind of Spanish perhaps (well they sell Sagres beer), and the service was ultra-friendly. I didn't eat, but my friend bought a really nice Pizza Tonno, and then I had loads of slices of that, and it was, as we say in Germany, sehr lecker!

For a quick bite to eat in the afternoon: recommended.
Check out my review of Sessanta Due - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Mutter in Hamburg

2008-10-30T16:50:00.001+01:00

Hamburg - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Mutter, a bar I have never managed to get into. No, not because of their door policy, but because all of the smokers of Hamburg and the rest of the world now congregate here and chainsmoke like beagles in a Huntingdon life sciences lab. Not I'm not one to whinge about passive smoking, far from it. But when the only way to survive in a bar is to don scuba gear... well, it's over for me. I can't swim anyway.
Check out my review of Mutter - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo in Venedig

2008-10-30T11:10:00.001+01:00

Venedig - Travel & Hotels - Airports

Actually, not *everything* is great about this airport. Believe me, if you've spent a night on the cold metal benches with lumps in them, it's not that pleasant. At least they do let you sleep here, but god, I never want to do that again!

Also another time, I came here and asked where the Ryanair check in was. Not actually in this airport. Whoops. Guess I can't really blame them for that one.
Check out my review of Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo - I am filchambers - on Qype

Qype: Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai

2008-10-28T10:15:00.001+01:00

Shanghai - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Fantastic landmark that defines the futuristic Shanghai skyline. I guess the architects had been watching a fair bit of Bladerunner when they designed this! Of course, you can't do much but go up it, and since it's almost 100% guaranteed to be really foggy in Shanghai, you get to see the insides of some clouds. That doesn't detract from the awesome engineering feat building something like this is! I believe it's the world's 7th tallest freestanding structure. Which is tall enough.
Check out my review of Oriental Pearl TV Tower - I am filchambers - on Qype