Kerry H.

Review of Charnley Arms

13 May 08, 10:29

Good value

OK...so turning up at this pub just off the M6 on the same day as Man Utd were playing Wigan on the last day of the season probably wasn't a good move but once the 50 or so fans had left the pub it was fine!

We stopped off there for lunch during a mega motorway journey. Their menu offers the usual pub grub but with a two for one meal deal it's a bargain. They don't do many veggie options...and the one I picked they'd run out of. That said the veggie burger I had in the end was decent. My other half had an almighty sausage in a giant Yorkshire pud...looked good.

Not a bad spot if you're sick and tired of service stations...and you get a good feed for half the price.

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Review of The Stork Inn

13 May 08, 10:21

Perfect pit stop

It was late on a Friday night...we were two thirds of a way through a mammoth Brighton to Glasgow road trip...eyelids started to droop...

Instead of subjecting ourselves to a night at the hotel de M6 at the nearest services we headed just a few minutes off the motorway at Lancaster and stumbled across The Stork. Built in the 18th century...this is a proper country pub with high quality b&b accommodation. We were welcomed in and by a jolly cluster of locals at the bar. It was one of the farmers' birthday...he may have been trolleyed but he became our new best mate in a matter of minutes. He broke the ice by sticking a quid in the juke box and getting us to pick the tunes...nice touch!

Anyway that's by the by really...the pub is beautiful...the rooms are great...the breakfast splendid. It set us right up for our onward journey.

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Review of H & M

09 May 08, 07:53

Take a size up

As is the way with H&M you generally don't fit into your normal size at the Brighton branch...which can be quite soul destroying for some! Or maybe I just need to lay off the pies...

Anyway...this is a pretty big branch spread over two floors. I can usually only face going in there mid-week because at the weekends it is chaos. You'll queue for an age to get in the changing rooms or to pay for your stuff if you haven't run out of patience by then. That said it's always great for a bargain...and there's a huge accessories section too.

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Topshop

09 May 08, 07:24

Gutted

I am and always have been a Topshop girl...but this branch is such a let down. I always thought I would never fail to find something I liked in the mighty TS but this just isn't the case in Brighton. Their stock is rubbish...the layout is rubbish...the changing rooms are a bit minging...and the queues for the cash desk are long and slllllllloooooow. It's enough to make you want to burst into tears and teleport yourself to Oxford Street.

This is a thriving, fashion conscious city...come on Topshop...sort it out.

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Review of The Chambers

07 May 08, 18:11

Good starting point

Chambers on London Road in Southampton is a big place usually pretty busy and very lively. It's a great way to start the evening off if you're out and about in town. They show the footie on big tellys if you need to know what's going on in the world of sport...oh they do great pizzas too. It can get a big warm in there when it's packed...what with big pizza oven and all. Apart from that nothing to moan about here!

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Review of Fat Jackets

07 May 08, 17:21

Good Spuds

I'm not usually one for 'food courts' in shopping centres but I was ravenous and a jacket potato seemed like the only way to go.

Apart from being offered pickle with my cheese & beans spud (weird) it was all good. The potato was nicely baked...no rock hard bits of skin that you can't cut through. That's important in a jacket. The lady serving was very polite and smiley...and I was most interested to see that they put the cheese on first with the beans on top. I'd never even considered that as an option but let me tell you...it works.

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Review of La Tasca

07 May 08, 17:12

Go Spanish

This is the second La Tasca I've visited in the UK and I have to admit I didn't even realise it was a chain! That's a good sign I promise. The menu is great...very varied and plenty on there for picky veggies like me.

We went on a busy Saturday night and the place had a great atmosphere. It was full but we weren't squished up against other diners. It's a big place. The service was excellent too...our waitress was super-efficient without flapping around us.

My only tiny gripe was that my avocado salad was seriously lacking avocado...apart from that ALL GOOD!

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Review of Pitcher & Piano

07 May 08, 17:02

Smiley, smiley, smiley!

I'd written off the entire Pitcher & Piano chain after a bad time at their Southampton branch but this was much better all round.

The staff were REALLY friendly...I thought our waiter was going to offer to cut my burger up and feed it to me himself! Our food was good too...nice veggie burger with big potato wedges...my other half enjoyed his fish finger buttie too.

The only downside of the whole experience was the flat beer. We went to get it changed...still flat. Not ideal.

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Review of Museum & Art Gallery

07 May 08, 16:49

Perfect on a rainy day

I'm more of a fan of contemporary art but still enjoyed my trip to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The building itself is very beautiful and tardis-like...vast inside! Many of the pieces are from the Pre-Raphaelite era...so you'll love it if that's your thing. It can feel quite moody and sinister in there but that simply adds to the atmosphere.

There's a huge cafe if you need an 'interval' and the obligatory gift shop serves you well too. The staff dotted conveniently around the building are more than helpful if you're lost...or wondering what it all means...!

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