Kerry 's reviews
Review of Digital
18 Apr 08, 23:00
An old flame revisited 
I used to drive to Zap (now Digital) from my hometown of Southampton as a hungry 18 year old. Alright I was 17 but don't tell anyone. I was bang into my hard house and loved the Zap and all its glorious weirdos. I spent many a crazy night in there flinging myself about and talking to people I probably shouldn't have.
I don't really club so much now but have been to Digital in the past year to see Gallows and British Sea Power. It's small enough to feel like you're part of the act...well Gallows spread themselves right around the place anyway so you didn't have much choice in the matter. Both were excellent gigs and strangely well suited to a place known for its strutting dancefloor lovelies.
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Review of Concorde 2
18 Apr 08, 22:49
I love this place! 
Concorde 2 is a little bit dark and a little bit mucky but that just adds to the romance of this splendid gig venue. Without meaning to sound pretentious...it's very 'Brighton' They have club nights here too such as Fat Boy's Big Beat Boutique.
It's not fantasically easy to get to on foot but that just adds to the excitement as you walk along the seafront on Madeira Drive (mind the boy-racers!) If you're the designated driver then it's no problem at all as you can park virtually outside for free in the evenings.
I've seen some amazing bands at Concorde 2 and have loved every second of being squeezed in with all the other musos, jumping around and getting a bit damp. That's what the Concorde 2 is all about. I went to Concorde 1 once as well...before it got shut down. This is the perfect replacement.
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Review of Komedia
18 Apr 08, 22:41
A bloody good night out 
'The' comedy venue in Brighton...definitely one of my favourite things to do with mates of a weekend. I've been countless times and have always had a brilliant night.
The Krater Comedy Club at Komedia never fails to impress with it's line-up of talent. The regular compere Stephen Grant is rock solid and holds the whole thing together seamlessly. His comedy can be a little Brighton-centric but what do you expect from a Brighton based comedy club? He's damn funny so you'll love him even if you're not from these parts.
I've seen a few bands upstairs in Komedia too...the perfect intimate venue to get up close and personal with the artists (not like that you mucky pup). My favourite gig was British Sea Power a few months ago. I've seen them a few times in the past year but they seemed really at home at Komedia...just brilliant.
The food can be a little on the basic side and it can take a while to get served at the bar but push all this aside because it really is a small negative compared to the fantastic entertainment on offer.
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Review of Tesco Stores
18 Apr 08, 22:28
The one and only...
...'proper' supermarket in Hove really. Well the only one you can park at and get pretty much everything you need.
Jamie S is right...the barriers at the car park entrance can be a right pain in the arse but it seems someone with sense is now in charge of them and they remain open all the time. Of course the only problem with this is that non-shoppers park there and clog up the spaces. The bloody cheek of it.
They can run out of stuff so if you go after work of an evening don't be suprised if they don't have all of the veg you've carefully written on your list. They also seem to have the supply/demand equation on houmous all to cock. I'm a daily houmous consumer and there's nothing that vexes me more than an empty houmous shelf. Just not on.
Apart from that Tesco in Hove serves me well...and I'm now in the habit of using their green re-usable hessian bags so you won't find my plastic bags floating about on the landfill site.
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Review of Churchill Square Shopping Centre
18 Apr 08, 22:19
Spend, spend, spend!
Churchill Square is the 'High Street' in Brighton basically. It's got most of the big names (although M&S, Boots and Top Shop are outside on Western Road). There's a Debenhams and a BHS...River Island, Next, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, Zara, Jane Norman, USC, Envy, Aldo, Dolcis, Schuh, Pumpkin Patch, Expo, Superdrug, WH Smith, JD Sports, Accessorize, O'Neill, Republic, Habitat, HMV, Virgin, Game...ummm and lots more.
There's a fair amount of parking and it's not too expensive but it's better and probably easier to use the buses if you can. They're so frequent you'll never be waiting around. If you're coming in by train it'll take you about 10 minutes to walk to the shopping centre.
There's a food court on the top level but I have to admit I don't really use it. I think there's a Quizzno's, McDonalds and maybe even a Spudulike...not sure though. I only live up the road so I usually go home for my post-shopping nosebag.
You are spoilt for choice for shopping in Brighton as a whole but Churchill Square more than serves its purpose...and is great when it's wet outside.
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Review of Marwell Zoological Park
18 Apr 08, 22:10
I got married here!
OK so that might not be the basis on which you decide to go to Marwell but this is just a fantastic place to visit whatever your age. The animals roam around in acres of land and the staff are heavily involved in conservation programmes.
There's zebras, big cats, meerkats (my personal favourite) giraffes, rhino, penguins, monkeys, kangaroos, birds, reptiles...you name it they've got it. It'll take you all day so you'll need comfy clothes and shoes and a big packed lunch. Don't feed it to the tigers though...they're not keen on cheese & marmite sandwiches. Well unless it's good quality mature cheddar of course. They do have plenty of places to refresh yourself in the park but it'll save you some money if you take your own.
Admission charges are reasonable and there is a family saver ticket if you're taking the kiddywinks. Not only is it great fun but you learn a lot too. Yes even the grown ups.
Marwell House is bang smack in the middle of the grounds and offers conference facilities as well as being licenced for civil wedding ceremonies. I got married there in the summer of 2004 and we were treated like royalty. All of our guests were allowed into the park for free so many of them turned up early to have a look round. They laid on a road train to take guests from the car park to the venue and the first thing I saw as a married woman was several zebras and an ostrich. How cool is that?!
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Review of Gars
18 Apr 08, 21:58
Above average Chinese
I've only eaten at Gars once but was very impressed. You'll pay a little more than you would in any other Chinese restaurant but it really is worth it. It's got a nice contemporary feel to it and the food is really very good. The menu is impressive without being overwhelmingly large. The dishes are beautifully presented and the perfect size to fill you up nicely without feeling like you've eaten your body weight in noodles.
The only downside to my visit was the close proximity of other diners. There was about 6 inches between our table and the couple next to us. It could have been quite uncomfortable but the couple were so weird it was actually quite entertaining. She was clearly 20 years his senior and was telling him in rather rubbish code what she was going to do to him when they got home. Hilarious!
I can't guarantee they'll be there when you visit but Gars is definitely worth a trip.
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Review of Plough Inn
18 Apr 08, 18:48
Astonishingly good
Ok...I admit...The Plough at Pyecombe holds a special place in my heart. I had my first date there with my other half...awww.
We go there pretty regularly now and not just because of the fuzzy, warm feeling it gives us but because it really is one of the best pubs I've ever been to. It's really easy to get to as it's just off the A23 as you leave Brighton. It's got a nice cosy bar at the front with a great selection of real ales (apparently...I'm a geeky tee-totaller) and fantastic bar food.
You'll find the spacious restaurant in the huge conservatory attached to the back of the pub. The menu is Italian and Mexican...and it's huge! The food is incredibly good and very reasonable considering the size of the portions. They do a crackin' roast on a Sunday too. I've never found a single flaw with the place and I've been there more times than I can remember.
The staff are real characters too and treat you like long lost family members even if you've never met them before. Just a real winner all round. Surely I've said enough to tempt you...
Oh and I nearly forgot the stunning garden that backs onto the Downs...beautiful!
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Review of ATS Euromaster
18 Apr 08, 18:28
Quick, efficient service
Scotty and his team at ATS Euromaster in Portslade will sort your tyre worries out in no time at all!
They're a smiley, helpful bunch who know their trade well and get you back on the road with minimum fuss and at reasonable prices. They're easy to find too...right next door to the best radio station in Sussex...Southern FM.
Next time you get a flat (tyre I mean)...get straight to them...you won't be disappointed.
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Review of Southern Grill
18 Apr 08, 18:18
Best toast in Sussex!
I work in the Portslade area and wherever you work you need a good greasy spoon to keep you going. The Southern Grill is just that plus a little bit more.
Me and the girls from work visit at least once a week for a large brew and a pile of white, buttered toast. For some reason toast always tastes better when someone else makes it but somehow the Southern Grill team have got this down to a fine art. Just the right level of crispiness and melting butter without being in the slightest bit soggy. Where did they learn that?! At Toast School no doubt.
When we're up for a proper treat then we go the whole hog and plump for the fry-up. They'll do pretty much any combination you desire and it doesn't arrive swimming in grease. It's dead cheap too and you always get a big smile from the staff when you walk in the door.
Now I'm hungry...
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