Alex's reviews
Review of Aldo
02 May 08, 14:33
high end fashion? not convinced... 
Until quite recently I didn't realise this place did stuff for guys as well - I was always put off by the range of handbags that spilled out onto the West Quay main entrance bit!
I think they're trying to be a high-end fashion store but I just find their stuff overpriced to be honest! Women might be fans of the handbags but I'm yet to be convinced by their guys stuff!
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Review of ASK
30 Apr 08, 16:48
overly clinical...
ASK do pizza. And to be honest they do it very well. They also do a few of the staple pasta dishes too and some stuff that's not even Italian (scandal!). But being a chain this place always feels to me like it has no individuality - the restaurant has been done out in a very simplistic way, and Leisure World itself isn't exactly overflowing with artistic statements of uniqueness. The whole experience feels a bit clinical and pre-meditated, and you pay for the 'pleasure' too... It's alright for a meal, but if you're looking for that 'special' place to take someone then this isn't it!
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Review of The Pier Theatre
30 Apr 08, 16:23
Looks good - not so great inside!
The Pier Theatre is a really great name for a theatre at the end of a pier. The theatre has been there for decades and every now and then there's a big public discussion about whether it should be knocked down or not and somebody points out it's cultural significance and it stays. But there's very rarely anything of note actually on here - if it's worthwhile then it's in the BIC or Pavilion!
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Review of Jongleurs
29 Apr 08, 22:11
far too expensive...
If you want comedy find a local place that has a reputation for pulling in top comedians - the university in Southampton does a great comedy night, and a couple of the local pubs too. The Jongleurs charges far too much because people think it is the only place they can go for comedy so they get away with ridiculous ticket prices and the drinks here are horrendous too. If you're going for a party then I guess you might pay the price but if you're just after a few good laughs then forget it. The atmosphere is tense and there's always some drunkard trying to heckle ruining it for everyone. It's an alright night - but there's much better out there...
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Review of Kaos
29 Apr 08, 19:46
not as good as it once was...
Kaos is still a good night out, but it's not as great as it used to be - prices have gone up and the atmosphere has gone down. On the occasions I've been there's always been trouble and security have been mid-throwing somebody out as I've arrived. Nice pleasant welcome! Musically it's a really different venue - give it a whirl, but bear in mind what I said!
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Review of Bent Brief
29 Apr 08, 19:40
not a great pub...
This pub is a bizarre mix of local residents and students, that means the atmosphere here can really vary depending on what day/time of the week you pop in. Catch a bunch of students on a pub-crawl and it'll sound like a good place to be, but pop in when they're in exam season and you'll feel the eyes of the locals burning holes in the back of your head. Not actual holes, mind. They haven't got laser beams on their heads or anything - that'd be the sharks from Austin Powers that you're thinking of...
If you're going with a large group then pop in for a drink. But I wouldn't go here out of choice and I certainly wouldn't stay that long...
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Review of Bambuubar
29 Apr 08, 19:31
not nearly as classy as it pretends to be...
Bambuubar is located the ever-so-slightly 'chavvy' Leisure World but still markets itself as a high-end cocktail bar. The only problem is, it's a VERY long walk to the rest of the bars/clubs in Southampton that aren't at Leisure World, so it kind of limits your going out options if you start a night here.
Drinks are expensive, staff are rude, but hey if you fancy pretending to be classy try here... If you're actually classy, go somewhere else.
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Review of Hot Shots
29 Apr 08, 19:27
avoid it!
Yuck. A massive pre-club venue with its own bowling alley and arcade, pool and airhockey tables? The whole place just screams 'chav' at you, and funnily enough that's who it mostly attracts. That said it dooes get quite a large student crown ahead of the Ikon student night next door which give the place a bit of a lift, but generally I avoid it unless I have ages to kill before seeing a film at the nearby Odeon!
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Review of Fruit
29 Apr 08, 18:49
lacks atmosphere...
Fruit is a bar trying to be a club that looks a bit like a bar that wants people to come and drink and stay all night but isn't bothered if they leave. In short it's got a bit of an image crisis. Some of the theme night ideas they've come up with have been good - an Ibiza night and a Christmas party come to mind, but once they recognise it is just a bar and will always be just a bar then it will get busier. At the moment on usual nights it lacks an atmosphere, try as the staff do.
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Review of Bar Risa
29 Apr 08, 18:47
nice enough but can be troublesome...
I've been down to Bar Risa a few times and have usually had to leave quietly whie a 'disagreement' is taking place elsewhere in the venue. It seems like a pleasant enough place, and is quite large so I've always been able to get a table, I'm just not sure why it seems to attract the type of people who want to fight each other? It's also next below Jongleurs Comedy Club so handy if you don't want to pay Jongleurs prices!
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Review of The Square
29 Apr 08, 18:37
good cocktails but very bad service...
The cocktails here are great, but I never really liked this place - the other customers are always really rude, everyone pushes in at the bar so it takes ages to get served, and the staff have tried to short change me here on more than one occasion - whether intentional or not, they should be more careful. I also got ID'd once trying to buy a lemonade... Go figure...
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Review of Frog & Frigate
29 Apr 08, 18:30
Just not my cuppa tea...
The Frog & Frigate is probably not a place I'd go out of choice, I've been a few times with friends and always found the atmosphere a bit intimidating. It's like it tries not to be a 'locals' pub, but it clearly is... The regular music nights are quite good fun although the acts can be very hit and miss... Drinks prices are good considering this is Ocean Village territory!
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Review of Argos
24 Apr 08, 13:05
Gives a bad impression...
Boscombe. It's not really a nice place. It's not a place you'd visit out of choice if we're honest. It's a place thousands of tourists end up every year when they're trying to get to Bournemouth but walk the wrong way. And they end up looking round the shops of Boscombe. Argos is one of those, and nothing says "welcoming" like the massive steel shutters that are needed to protect the windows of Argos at night.
The staff aren't up to much here, not overly helpful and very slow to get what you've already paid for. Still, it could be worse, you could live here all year round...
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Review of Woolworths
24 Apr 08, 13:01
Service not as good as it should be.
I remember when I was young my mum having a massive argument with the manager of this store about an offer they had on, I think it was one of those buy two get one free offers or something, either way they were in the wrong and eventually gave us the due discount. Woolworths still has that somewhat 'cheap' feel to the store, even though it's recently been done up and tries to look nice. The staff here aren't overly helpful and always look miserable.
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Review of Woolworths
24 Apr 08, 12:59
awful, but thankfully it is no more...
This branch of Woolworths used to be a dump, there was always stuff all over the place, half the lights didn't work, half the staff didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing, and the security were always wrestling one shoplifter or another to the ground right outside the store.
Thankfully it has since closed and is currently being turned into a new TK Maxx, replacing the one down the road.
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Review of Argos
24 Apr 08, 12:00
Not overly brilliant in the efficiency department...
This Argos down at the bottom of town has is huge, which is quite pointless really considering it's a catalogue shop so they don't really have any products on the shop floor... bizzarre... Anyway, they do sell a huge range of goods, but I always find when I shop at this Argos that my stuff takes much longer to arrive at the pick-up desk than any other Argos I've ever been to! The exception to this is when I shopped here once at the very end of the day when stuff was coming through almost straight away - funny that, just as the staff want to go home!
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Review of Bewise
22 Apr 08, 17:13
looks poor even from the outside!
Bewise is the cheapest of the cheap, I've always avoided this place just simply because it looks so tacky from the outside! The stock, the hand-written price labels, the staff polo shirts, it just screams "badly-done"! I'm assured by a friend who has shopped here before that it is not all that bad compared to how it seems - apparantly there are some bargains to be had and it's very handy when kids go back to school for the essential uniform supplies.
Excuse me with the disapproving face of uncertainty but I don't believe her.
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Review of H & M
22 Apr 08, 16:28
not QUITE as good as the other pompey branch...
This is the less classy of the two H&M stores in Porstmouth, this one found within the Cascades shopping centre. Whether you be a man, a woman, or a child, there is something here for you. The only problem is finding something that fits.
I have found that this store often has a really narrow size range and if you're not a 'medium' then you might struggle to find something for you and might be better off checking out the other branch over on commercial street.
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Review of French Connection
22 Apr 08, 16:22
Not really what you'd expect from FCUK!
This French Connection is not as classy in appearance as some of the other outlets, despite its presence in the distinctive Gunwharf Quays quarter. The surrounding shops are well-presented, but FCUK already looks like it's seen better days. The staff didn't seem particularly interested when I was in there, and it showed in their presentation of the clothes. Overall the whole thing just reminded me of my old school report "Could do better...".
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Review of Gap
22 Apr 08, 15:26
clothing that's not too bad...
People reinvent themselves all the time - think Madonna, think Kylie, but Gap seem to have mastered a brand that constantly reinvents itself whilst maintaining its key credentials. Gap clothing always remiains at the forefront of mainstream fashion, which also gives it licence to set their prices where they like, because they know their loyal fanbase will pay for it.
Personally I've never been a massive fan of Gap merchandise or clothing, but I know people who swear by it. Take it or leave it, I'll often havea quick browse, but I won't buy something just for the name...
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Review of Peacocks Stores
22 Apr 08, 15:00
why does nobody ever go here?
Peacocks is the cheap and cheerful clothing store that I always avoid - not really sure why, something about it just says "don't go here". Primark is always busy - bustling with bargain hunters, but Peacocks is never busy. It's that old tale of avoiding somewhere that isn't busy because it obviously isn't as good as elsewhere.
Though recently I took a trip inside to see what all the fuss "wasn't" about, and didn't find it too bad - I didn't find anything I LIKED, but it wasn't too bad...
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Review of T J Hughes
22 Apr 08, 14:54
nightmare!
This place is a right nightmare! The staff are rude and unhelpful (including the management), the stock is piled so high you can't ever find what you want, and if you do find something you want it's most likely priced incorrectly so when you've queued to get to the till you then find out you've wasted your time.
Having said all of that, if you can successfully navigate your way through all of the above there are some really good bits here too... especially around Christmas time, ideal for those shopping on a budget.
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Review of Chelsea Football Club
22 Apr 08, 13:56
Not so great after all...
Chelsea fans think it's great, others - not so much. It's becoming ridiculously expensive to go see a game of football, here as much as anywhere. I wouldn't mind but you get manhandled when you go through the gates, you end up like cattle in a pen trying to get to your seat, and don't even think about getting a drink at half time because you'll never get to the front of the queue. Beautiful game indeed.
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Review of All Bar One
21 Apr 08, 14:29
Good location...
Shame about the staff, drink prices and pretentious clientele.
A beer in here can easily set you back £3 a time, which would be reasonable if it represented VALUE. But to qualify for the word ‘value’ in a review, the establishment needs to offer a decent service.
Sadly, that’s not the case here; the staff are very rude and a few of the customers ought to get over themselves. In the meantime, I’m popping next-door to Lloyds!
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Review of Lakeside 2 4 1
21 Apr 08, 13:50
Not great
After a pleasant morning out with friends (and a go on the excellent pedal-boats!), we were hungry, and this place seemed ideally placed for our needs.
Unfortunately, it was full of screaming kids – running round and out of control – and had an odd smell in the air. There was a huge queue for food, and they seemed to be operating an alton-towers-esque waiting system…
The tables were untidy and several dirty plates had piled up – it was apparent that they were incredibly short staffed, but still!
I won’t go back.
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Review of Pizza Hut
21 Apr 08, 11:58
tiny pizza hut... could be so good with a little effort...
This is a small Pizza Hut restaurant located off of Southampton's 'back streets', and so has always been busy whenever I've been here. You get your standard buffet at lunch or you can order from the menu, but quite frankly why would you do that when the buffet is cheaper?!
The staff can be a bit moody in here sometimes compared to the other restaurants in the area, but then it is busy, especially at weekends.
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Review of Woolworths
19 Apr 08, 16:54
Not very good anymore...
Every town has a Woolworths, including Twickenham. They still sell the old classics such as pick'n'mix, stationary, birthday cards, CDs, and home and garden equipment, but Woolworths is fast becoming the place nobody really goes anymore. I usually find everything they sell cheaper in Tesco - and Tesco staff are a bit more clued up! That said, if you're in the middle of Twickenham, and you NEED a bag of harribo, a frying pan, a protractor, and the new James Blunt CD, and you've only time to go into one shop, then you'll find them all here.
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Review of Topman
18 Apr 08, 13:46
trendy and cool on a whole new level
Trendiness and cool on a level you won't really find anywhere else, and that's just the staff. I always feel a bit out of place in here for not being as skinny as everyone else in the shop, it's like a condition of entry.
Some of the clothes are good for normal people, but on the whole I'm not much of a fan of the stuff in this shop, though I know some people who swear by it...
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Review of Original 106 FM
17 Apr 08, 17:19
Not so original...
Original 106 keep telling us they play great stuff that you don’t normally hear ont’ wireless, but this simply isn’t true.
Whenever I’ve tuned in, they’re either playing really bad music (and that’s why you never normally hear it) or one of Bon Jovi’s best known hit’s that’s already been played to death on TinPot FM down the road.
Must try harder…
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Review of Bank Fashion
17 Apr 08, 16:16
quite classy but nothing special really...
Bank is one of those stores that seem to have employees who double up as 'door staff' and you almost feel like you might be asked for ID on your way in! Not really sure what the point of that is, because the stuff in side is quite good but nothing special, and mostly very pricey.
If you've got LOTS of cash to splash then it's worth a look, but otherwise it's nothing special...
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Review of H & M
17 Apr 08, 16:13
never quite got it...
I've never quite got H&M. Everyone raves about how great it is but I rarely seem to find anything I like and when I do it fits awkwardly. These days H&M seems to be more a place for trendy types to be seen rather than for anyone to actually buy anything!
That said, my girly friends still love the place and are always picking stuff up there, so maybe it's swings and roundabouts... Nah, hang on, that's a playground.
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Review of Prezzo
16 Apr 08, 16:29
Hit and miss...
The Prezzo chain is usually a great place to go for a meal, though last time I ate at the Southampton branch I was left feeling a bit disappointed at the quality and the staff.
The first time I ate here I found the food and the service superb, but the second time the food took a while to come out, and it just wasn't as good as we'd expected and the staff kept us waiting for drinks and bringing the bill, and then they add on a service charge! So it would seem this one is a bit hit and miss... Good luck!
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Review of The Standing Order
16 Apr 08, 14:21
The lesser 'spoons in Southampton!
One of two Wetherspoons-owned bars in town, usually referred to as the "other" Wetherspoons because for some reason it never seems quite as good as the Giddy Bridge. The pub is long and thin, so has lots of secluded booths which are good when you fancy a chat but mean the place seems really void of an atmosphere.
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Review of Billy's Bar & Restaurant
16 Apr 08, 11:46
Get over it....
Billy’s used to be the life and soul of Harpenden, but recently, a lot of less savoury folk from Luton have made it their ‘local’, and it’s gone downhill.
I can’t help thinking that this now-slightly-pretentious bar needs to get over itself slightly, especially when it comes to drink prices!
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Review of Ikon
12 Apr 08, 08:44
Average Southampton club...
Ikon has a repuatation for being the 'chavviest' club in Southampton - you stick to the floor, drinks are spilt everywhere, the toilets are a mess, and the music is loud you can't hear properly afterwards for a good few days!
But if you just fancy a night out where you can have a drink or twelve and have a dance and probably pull then there's nothing wrong with Ikon.... The music stays usually fairly mainstream chart/dance.
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