The welovelocal Blog

We’re a month into 2010. How are the New Year’s resolutions doing?

If we were given some money for good intentions we’d all be millionaires on January 1st. I will stop smoking. I will stop drinking. I will lose weight. I will stop eating chocolate. The list, as I’m sure you’re well aware, is endless.

The question we have for you at the moment is how well are you doing? Have the good intentions slowly transformed into that familiar, comfortable malaise? If they have, we’re here to apply a size 9 to that gradually expanding derriere.

Call us Mr and Mrs Motivators with a broader use than just SHOUTING AT YOU! Not only can you find the addresses and phone numbers of gyms in your area at welovelocal, you can be convinced that the gym is a great place to go, too. Honest.

And don’t just take our word for it. Hear the wisdom of some of our other locals…

Tom B, for instance, is a huge fan of Paris gym near Vauxhall in London. “Paris may not be the poshest health club but it’s certainly the best equipped, best run and probably the cleanest gym I have ever seen”.

Patricia, who lives near Cardiff, is loving the city’s Esporta Health & Fitness Clubs. “I would highly recommend this fitness centre to anyone from gym bunnies to those who haven’t exercised in years”.

And Kate from Bebington is now a regular at the JJB gym in the Wirrall. “I have never been a big fan of the gym but I find myself wanting to go there. I have managed to fit back into my size 8 jeans now so I’m made up!!”

So what are you waiting for? The lifespan of a good intention shouldn’t be one day. 2010 is still in its infancy. Imagine how good you’ll look in the summer if you crack on now?

It’s Cherrrissstmass! Which means there’s loads of outdoor ice rinks springing up. Time to get your skates on, people…

It’s dark and bitterly cold outside. So why is bunging on a few skates and going bum-over-boob on a load of ice such an appealing prospect? We’ve no idea, but we’re not going to question it too much. It’s a magic thing and, as we all know, magic doesn’t hold up to close inspection.

These ice rinks – or arenas of wonderment as we’ll now call them – are everywhere. We thought we’d flag up a couple of our favourites because, when it’s all said and done, there’s nothing better to do and nowhere better to go when there’s bugger all on the box, it’s dark and depressing outside and you’ve a load of warm coats and a loved one to drag down on to the ice with you.

But where can you do an impression of a jumper in a washing machine while you perch precariously on two thin slices of metal? And where can you feel the terror of leaving somewhere with less limbs than when you arrived? Be sure to send us your suggestions below, but here are a couple of ours.

Winter Wonderland, Cardiff

Parked in the civic centre, right outside the National Museum & Galleries Of Cardiff, Winter Wonderland is a belter. Local radio station Red Dragon broadcasts from the site, there’s a cool little bar and fairground nearby and there’s a load of ice on which to make a complete prat of yourself. What else do you want?

Natural History Museum, London

Where else can you feel like a better person and a complete berk at the same time? The ice rink outside the Natural History Museum in London, that’s where. Fill up on a load of knowledge inside, lose your dignity on the ice rink outside. Brilliant!

The Ice Factor, York

Rumoured to be the final time the ice rink will appear in this picturesque setting, we strongly urge welovelocal’s York locals to make the most of this beauty. At the Ice Factor, skaters navigate their way around an oak tree (some more successfully than others), while the Law Courts, Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower look on. Not to be missed.

Somerset House

The rest of the UK may balk, but Somerset House could just be the Daddy of all Chrimbo ice rinks. Set in the breathtaking surroundings of Somerset House, you’d be hard pushed to find a more beautiful skating backdrop in the world. It’s also the tenth birthday of the ice rink at the House, which means there’s even more reason to celebrate this wonderful city-centre staple.

So, you’ve heard our suggestions. Got any in return? The comment box is below…

It’s Christmas time, the hot toys are flying off the shelves. Do you want to know where to get those Go Go Pets or Ben Ten goodies?

We love Christmas. It’s great isn’t it? Christmas spirit, goodwill to all men, dazzling lights and… erm… rampant consumerism. Amidst this rapacious desire to part with hard-earned cash in December, we can’t help but be utterly fascinated by the race to crown this year’s ‘must-have’ Christmas toy.

This closely fought battle is already in full swing with our favourite, The Go Go Pets, already flying off shelves around the country. And what are the Go Go Pets? Small, furry robotic hamsters that run around the house in a blue exercise ball. It’s likely they’ll be packing out landfill sites this time next year, but right now, and with a recession-friendly price tag of £10, they’re as good as it gets.

Other big toys this year are the Ben Ten Action Cruiser, Princess Peppa’s Palace and the Bakugan Battle pack. There’s loads of them out there, far too many to mention in fact, but what’s most important is knowing where to get them. Stand by, then, for a list of welovelocal’s favourite toy shops.

The daddy of them all is Hamleys in London. Sara B agrees, “Of course this is not a toy store for the faint hearted and you are unlikely to find many pound sale specials here but if you are feeling flash and want to find the perfect gift or simply just want to have a gander at what you could buy if you were mega rich then you won’t be disappointed”.

In the Midlands, The Entertainer in Birmingham gets Richard P’s vote. “If you are looking for a popular item or just want somewhere to pick up a present or gift for a child then this is a good starting point if you are in the city centre”.

For something a touch different, Anita M recommends the Early Learning Centre in Exeter. “I love the fact that all of the toys are learning tools, incorporating good old fashioned fun as well. My kids love this place”, she says.

And finally, Marie E tells us to stuff it, but in the nicest possible way. Writing about the Build A Bear Workshop in Brighton, she says, “You pick the bear (or whatever animal) you want, choose a heart, stuff it yourself and then kit it out with all the latest togs. Perfect for a gift for the little one in your family… nice for the bigger ones too!”

So there you have it. We’ve flagged up the toys, told you where to find them, time to go forth and spend like a maniac! It’s what Christmas is all about, right?

Yes, we’re going off-piste. No, we don’t care. Come on the twins, say we!

It’s been the biggest upset since… ooh… Sharon got a bit miffed at Dirty Den’s death on Eastenders. Those terrible twins, John and Edward Grimes, saw off the challenge of Lucie ‘Bookies Favourite’ Jones on X Factor last night and everyone’s been crowing about it endlessly since. We thought we’d wade in to the debate by shouting quite loudly, COME ON THE QUIFFS!

Sure, they can’t sing, they can’t dance and, for the most part, they look awful. For those of you who are old enough to remember the Kit Kat advert, that means they’re ‘going a long way’. Oh yes.

X Factor is not a singing contest. Don’t get hoodwinked by Simon Cowell who is desperate to use the programme as Danyl Johnson’s launch pad (it’s a done deal already – you’ll spend worse fivers at the bookies). The X Factor is all about staying in on a Saturday night, getting entertained and, if you’re really lucky, getting entertained by potential pop stars.

Let’s have a reality check here, folks. Not all pop stars can sing. Not all of them are even good looking. Sometimes even their songs are rubbish. Great pop stars, however, are a little bit different, they’re beamed down from another planet and they’re always entertaining. See where we’re going with this?

The rest of this year’s contestants are bland, rubbish and look like the boy/girl next door for a very good reason – it’s because they are. John and Edward are brilliant. They write in huge letters with dayglo spray paints. The others use Bic biros. Yawn-mungous. Bow down and kneel at the alter of Jedward’s genius!

Before we wrap this up, we should also pay some respect to our second favourite contestant – the vanquished Lucie Jones. If, like us, you fancy getting involved in the futile attempt at getting her re-instated, her local radio station Red Dragon is having a go here.

If you’re not that bothered and fancy a laugh, why don’t you have a look at Paul B’s wearied review of ‘Clothes Shop’.

Simon Cowell and his motley gang have inspired us to unleash our inner X Factor. Are you game?

Love it or hate it, Saturday night belongs to the X Factor. Call them wannabe muppets or the stars of tomorrow, we’re absolutely smitten by the  dozen hopefuls they’ve amassed for the live shows (it’s down to nine already! NO!). Bonkers John & Edward, lovely Welshies Lucie and Lloyd, Geordie Joe and the controversial Danyl… we think they’re all great. No, seriously.

Don’t read too much into this next segue, but we thought this was a perfect opportunity to big up that much maligned activity of the drunken. Oh yes people, we’re talking KARAOKE. Cha’mone!

Some of you will love it, some of you will think we’ve lost our remaining few marbles, but let us say this: we’ve shed a tear in a very hard East End pub because the landlady, who couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket, sang a massively heart-wrenching version of Elton John’s ‘Sacrifice’. For three and a half minutes, as dogs howled around Forest Gate, she was centre stage and the centre of attention, and we wouldn’t deny anyone that pleasure.

So, climbing down off our high horse, we thought we’d big-up some makeshift arenas where the common man (and woman) become megastars. Just like X Factor.

The Karaoke Box in Frith street is a controversial pick. Daniel C isn’t a fan, and Rob M isn’t a huge convert but, and in true karaoke fashion, “if you don’t have a good time, you’re doing something very wrong”. And that will do for us.

Next up is the Pad Thai Restaurant & Karaoke Bar in Birmingham. Is combining food and tuneless singing a good thing? Russ M isn’t so sure: “My tip - book a room. You can embarrass yourself in private”

And finally, we turn to a big advocate of mic swinging and alcoholic consumption. Theresa from Bristol is a huge fan of Karaoke-Me! “You can choose any song from a huge range, line them up and take it in turns to deafen each other whilst reading the lyrics from the plasma screen”. She wrote this while singing ‘I Will Survive’ and necking a Smirnoff Ice. Possibly.

So where do you go to scream your lungs out and annoy diners? Tell us below. You know it makes sense…

You’ve had a big night, you need to kick start your day. What to do? Where to go? The best local café for a great breakfast, obviously.

We’ve all been there. Eyes widen gradually as a harsh morning contrasts wildly with the previous night’s misadventures, tomfoolery and ill-advised antics. The head is banging, movement is snail-like and painful. The words ‘never again’ are frequently uttered at this point. After another ice age passes, you decide to get out of bed and think about your next move. And it’s an obvious one: you go for a good breakfast.

We’ve all got our favourite cafes, each one filled with hazy memories of a greasy plate bringing you back to life. Egg, bacon, (veggie) sausage, fried tomato, black pudding – what’s your poison?

Welovelocal is stuffed with great places to get an amazing breakfast. We’ve ventured into every single one of the places below and can confidently state that here be the ‘Greatest Hits’ of the breakfast world. If you disagree, you can pop us a suggestion below…

Regency Café, London

Old skool in look, old skool in delivery. It’s likely you’ve seen the Regency in many a fashion photoshoot, but unless you’ve been there, you’re unlikely to have tasted as great a breakfast. Kyra K from Nunhead loves the ambience.

“The most memorable thing about this place is the sheer volume at which the owner/ proprietor, Marco ‘The Voice’ Schiavetti, bellows out the orders to customers as the dishes arrive piping hot from the kitchen”.

Ramon’s, Cardiff

A favourite of the local student population, this is cheap eats served with lashings of grease and a side order of lard. It is amazing. We’ve seen queues snaking out of the door on a Sunday because you just won’t get a cheaper and tastier breakfast anywhere in the UK. Or further afield if you believe Ben: “A Stellar Greasy Spoon without comparison in Cardiff, Wales, UK, Europe, the World, even the UNIVERSE!”

Bunters, Nottingham

Welovelocal has been known to large it at Nottingham’s Rock City on occasion. When we do, and when we’re suffering the next day, we’ll always go to Bunters. Compact and cosy, Bunters has seen many a human emerge from a hungover fug. Sideshow knows exactly where we’re at: “Probably the best greasy spoon in Nottingham. It’s perfect when you’ve nailed 18 pints at Ritzys the night before”. Quite.

City Cafe, Edinburgh

Far more refined is this little eaterie. Between Cowgate and High Street lies a little oasis of calm with the slightest hint of 50s glam. Offering much more than just a breakfast, City Café is a great little place to while away a few hours. According to Alisa it has a “lively atmosphere, pool table and great music”. What else do you need when you’re feeling sorry for yourself?

So that’s our advice. What’s yours? And where else should we visit when we feel like we’re shuffling dizzily off this mortal coil? Tell us below folks, please…

Need some local knowledge? Seen our local guides? There’s no need to be a stranger in a strange city any more…

We’ve been bigging up the businesses on welovelocal for a while now. And why wouldn’t we? They’re all amazing places, frequented by amazing people. Occasionally, however, you just need to blow your own trumpet and, to be fair, we play a pretty good tune here at welovelocal.

You write the reviews, but we lovingly collate them and bung them into what you could crudely call a ‘city guide’. It’s got everything you need to know about everywhere you need to go in the UK. From Ashby De La Zouche to Drumnadrochit to Llanelli, we’ve got the inside track on everything from pubs to florists to, oh yes, funeral directors – it pays to forward plan.

Are you going on a trip? Or do you fancy taking a look outside your local box and using more than five shops? Then take a look at our local guides. They’re at the bottom of our homepage, in a section cunningly titled ‘Most Popular Cities’.

For instance, if you wanted the lowdown on Bristol, we could tell you that Bar 155 is a “fabulous wee local”. If you were making your way across the Severn Bridge, we’d tell you that Nice in Cardiff was the “best gift shop in the city centre”. Off north? The Vinyl Exchange in Manchester is a good place to “while away an afternoon”. See? Great isn’t it? And that isn’t the half of it!

But don’t let us keep blasting forth with a trumpet and our glorious racket. The city guides are there to be explored. So why don’t you make like Captain Cook and get exploring?

Summer is officially over (like it ever began!?!), but we love autumn and think it’s about time to make the most of a great season.

It’s the autumn equinox today, which means summer is officially over. Yes, we know, it didn’t really get started did it? We love autumn though. Seriously. We absolutely LOVE IT.

For starters, there’s less expectation on autumn than summer. It never promises so much, which means we’re less crushed by disappointment when it doesn’t deliver. When it does deliver, though, everything just feels right with the world.

Waking up to a sunny day with a fresh breeze is one of the greatest feelings in the world. There’s something about the autumnal light that makes everything look a little magical. There’s also the wonderful feeling of being cosy under a big coat with a slight chill hitting the face. Throw in a few trees showing the red, yellow and brown of its changing leaves and you might as well be in heaven. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Seeing as the greatest season in the world is upon us, we thought we’d highlight a few activities that will help you make the most of the coming months. For us, there isn’t a better time to get out and about than now – it’s getting darker and the days are getting shorter, so get out there while you can.

OK, so boating is an activity you’d ordinarily associate with the summer. Unless you’re particularly inept and frequently go for unplanned swims when you’re lolling about on a lake, we think that autumn is the best time to hit the park pond. Think about it! You’re in a wide green space, the scenery’s great, the local hoodlums aren’t throwing eggs at you because they’re hot and bothered. What’s not to like? If you’re in Cardiff, a visit to Roath Park could be for you.

For some of you, the extra nip in the air may be a little too much. Worry not ye folk of delicate dispositions! How about getting in the car and heading to one of the UK’s fab safari parks. You get it all – animals, scenery and the car heating cranked to bikram yoga proportions. Result! We can’t say for certain that these locals enjoyed it in the autumn, but Woburn Safari Park has been a big hit.

Mark Twain called it ‘a good walk spoiled’, but welovelocal calls the game of golf ‘a fantastic way to see the changing seasons providing you can keep a lid on your frustrations as the ball shanks into the lake for the fifth time’. Granted, it isn’t as punchy as Twain’s phrase, but we’ll work on it. Are you in the Reading area? What about Mappledurham Golf & Health Club. Folk love it.

So we’ve had a boat, we’ve mentioned a walk, we’ve also appealed to the petrol heads amongst you. While it isn’t exactly planes, trains and automobiles, the next on our list is pedal power. If you don’t own two wheels with reliable brakes, what about hiring a trusty steed and hitting the road? There isn’t a better way to see London, that’s for sure, so why don’t you take a short stroll to Go Pedal before dodging renegade taxi drivers around the capital. Do it!

Any more suggestions for us? What do you like about the autumn, and where do you go when it’s a heavenly day? Let us know…

London fashion week hits the capital, so we thought we’d tell you where the big designers go when they love local.

It’s upon us again, isn’t it? London plays host to fashion week, and with it celebrating 25 years of British fashion, this year is set to be best year ever.

Britain has always been innovative in the fashion industry and it’s here that designers unveil their collections to a select industry audience who visit the capital from around the globe.

Let’s be honest, not many of us will be attending the shows, so we thought we’d celebrate this wonderful fashion-fest by letting you know where some of Fashion Week’s featured designers shop.

British designer and ex Vogue journalist, Luella Bartley, who studied at Saint Martins College before launching her eponymous fashion label, had this to say about Rough Trade Records in Notting Hill:

“I love it here because it’s like an educational experience - you always learn something. After a quick chat I get an idea for the collection…”

Henry Holland of House of Holland, who made headlines with his wordplay T-shirts that both celebrate and poke fun at the fashion crowd, absolutely loves The Button Queen in Marylebone.
“It’s an amazing store. Whenever I visit, I feel like I’m on the film set of Mary Poppins or Harry Potter.”

London’s rightly got a reputation as a hotbed for emerging design talent. Erdem is a great example. After the Canadian-born designer studied at the Royal College of Art, he set up his own successful label. Celebrated for his unique take on elegant prints and color, he is one of fashion’s big rising stars.

“Harvey Nichols is a great store”, he says. “It’s always supportive of young talent, which makes the shop floor mix inspiring. I particularly love the menswear department and I never leave without visiting the Fifth Floor food hall.”

From a newcomer to an old hand. Vivienne Westwood has been a groundbreaking force for years now and her Red Label fashion is up there with the best of her work. If she needs to nip out and pick the best vegetables, however, there’s only one place to go: Chelsea Farmers Market.

“It has the most delicious, locally produced, organic food”, she says enthusiastically.

London Fashion Week, of course, starts this Friday (18 September). If we’ve inspired you enough to take a peak, we’d recommend having a look at the fash-pack’s closes guarded secrets – London Fashion Weekend. Check out Somerset House and 180, The Strand, London, from 24-27 September.

And remember what a wise man* once said:

“Dress cute wherever you go, life is too short to blend in.”

*OK, so ‘wise man’ is wide of the mark on a few fronts. It was Paris Hilton.

Football this, rugby that… are you sick of the new sports season already? Is it time to reclaim sports stadia for different uses?

We’ve only had a few weeks of the new football season and already it seems like it’s been grinding on for decades. Don’t get us wrong, we don’t mind a bit of footie or rugby, but sometimes it’s nice to not be bombarded by it. There is, after all, plenty of other things going on in your local area.

So this week, and like Graeme Swann skilfully did in the Ashes, we thought we’d spin the sports theme a little (see what we did there? *groan*). Plenty of you have written reviews of your favourite sports arenas, but we thought it would be nice to highlight those with alternative uses, too. Y’know the places where you can ‘SHOUT ABOUT THE REFEREE’S DUBIOUS PARENTAGE!!!’, and then take in something completely different at the same venue a few weeks later.

Call it a sports blog for those who aren’t particularly interested in sports, if you will. We’re not going to lie, it took us a bit of fine tooth-combing to come up with some of your faves, so we’d appreciate your help if you can think of any more (bung us a comment below).

So what have we got for you? Read on…

The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

The home of Welsh rugby is an intense cauldron of nationalistic fervour when the men in red hit the field. A great atmosphere is guaranteed at a sports event, but if you’re not too keen on hearing ‘The Men Of Harlech’, how about a few songs belted out by some of the world’s biggest acts when they swing through the Welsh capital city. I don’t mind revealing too much about my age here, but I saw Dire Straits with my Dad when the Millennium Stadium was called The Arms Park (it was amazing), and I saw U2 here a few weeks ago (it was OK). When the Monster Trucks roll through town, they’ll also stop here to mash up a few cars and generally bring the ruckus to Cardiff.

Steve M from Cathays reels off a list of the things he’s seen, and is of the opinion that there’s nowhere better: “This stadium is far and away the best I’ve ever seen. For ease of access, seating, acoustics, lighting and atmosphere, there really isn’t anywhere else like it!”

Twickenham Stadium, Richmond.

Across the Severn and down the M4 lies English rugby’s home: fortress Twickenham. Like the Millennium Stadium, it’s an intimidating place to play (if you’re not wearing a white shirt), but the atmosphere is second to none. OK, so it’s a little more genteel than its Welsh counterpart, but Twickers loses nothing in its intensity of feeling.

What Twickenham is less well-known for is its brilliant capacity to host some of the biggest gigs in the UK. REM, The Eagles and Iron Maiden have all filled this hallowed space.  Most of you prefer Twickenham as a rugby venue though (Bah! You traditionalists!).

“With a capacity of 80K the noise is superb”, says a slightly more deaf Adrian M from Willard.

Planet Ice Arena/Skydome, Coventry

For something completely different, how about the Skydome/Planet Ice Arena in Coventry? On the weekends and occasional weekday evenings you’ll be able to see The Blaze not give a puck as they smash up their opposition during a fast’n’furious game of ice hockey.

Far more relaxing, however, is donning a pair of skates yourself and gliding around the ice to some soothing music. Banish the memories of grizzled men beating each other with sticks by taking a partner and getting all romantic about it. All together now… Aaaaaaaah!

“Apart from falling over, everything about this place is just fantastic”, says Craig from Coventry. We couldn’t agree more.

So come on, we’ve started the ball rolling… suggestions please!

The image is by KTDEE on Flickr