Claire's reviews
Review of Penny Lane Music Store
19 May 08, 12:56
music to my ears 
For a while Mid Sussex had a glut of music stores but a number seem to be disappearing now. Penny Lane is one of the survivors and a real enthusiasts dream. It's not full of copies of well known guitars as some stores are, but has has some genuine second hand gems. The owner is an expert and is very happy to give advice and do small repairs or re-stringing. I believe some lessons are offered and there are links with a local rock school. If you or someone in your family is just starting off as a guitarist, this is a good place to take the first step into getting your kit.
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Review of Dolphin Leisure Centre
15 May 08, 10:53
Showing it's age 
Rebranded as Olympus, but will always be the Dolphin to locals. Was Mid Sussex's first indoor pool when it opened in the seventies but is beginning to show it's age. The pool is rather odd, 33 metres, so no good for cometition swimming and with two shallow ends and a deep middle! There are no slides, rapids or wave machines and the much missed diving pool closed a few years ago to become the plunge pool for the new private Health club. The one thing in it's favour is a fantastic, seperate learner pool where thousands of youngsters have learnt to swim over the years. Extensions have been built with squash courts etc. but you wonder how many years the centre has left in it; especially as there are persistent rumours that Mid Sussex District Council might move it's campus to the site.
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Review of Pizza Express Restaurants
08 May 08, 09:01
It's a small branch afterall
This Pizza Express isn't one of their best. The branch is really small. It's in a good location though, right in the centre of Haywards Heath. Also the staff are very friendly. It's just a bit of chain restaurant, which yes I know Pizza Express is... but some of the branches manage to make it feel a bit more personal and real - this one doesn't.
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Review of Zizzis
08 May 08, 08:36
It's a converted church
Zizzi's in Haywards Heath is just off the main drag in a converted church. Inside there are loads of church pews, high backed chairs and old tables. The menu is what you'd expect for a Zizzi's, There is no real parking.
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Review of Sainsburys
06 May 08, 13:34
Get some food on the shelves 
Probably the same as any other Sainsbury's but why are the shelves always so empty? They had a big extension built recently and now stock all sorts of electrical items, gardening equipment, greeting cards etc. but the food shelves are virtually bare. Perhaps I'm shopping at the wrong time, or perhaps there's a problem with the store's ordering system, but so often shelves are literally empty and you come home with only half the amount of items on your list. This is a particular problem in the Fruit and veg section, but also with eggs and bread. It's the only big supermarket in Haywards Heath, perhaps things would be different if there was a bit of competition? On the other hand, the car park is good, the staff are very friendly and the queues are never too long.
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Review of Specsavers
06 May 08, 13:31
I did go to Specsavers 
A very pleasant experience. Recently I had to take a 15 year old in for an eye test and eventually a pair of spectacles; and it was a lot less daunting than I expected. Very friendly and professional staff, everything was well explained with no pseudo-medical jargon, and there was a good range of frames for a fashion conscious teenager. Prices were good too, and it took less than 48 hours to get the glasses made. It's all a huge step forward to the rather dingy places I remember from my childhood and the whole thing was very positive
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Review of Haywards Heath Station
06 May 08, 13:12
Ok if you've got a season ticket
For as long as I can remember this has going to be rebuilt, but at the moment it's the same as it has been for the past fifty years. It's one of the busiest Commuter stations in the country, so don't expect to get a space in the car park after 9 o'clock in the morning and if you need a ticket for a morning journey buy it the night before or allow plenty of time. The queues for the ticket office and machines are very long and time consuming. The tunnel under the track to the platforms drips when it's raining and there's no seperate newspaper stand now; so you have to use the cafe, which means queueing behind a load of yuppies having complex coffees manufactured before you can hand over your 40p for 'The Sun.' No wonder the 'Metro' is so popular. No page 3 but at least you can get a copy before your train goes. On the positive side, the station is full of character and you can spot a lot of famous faces waiting on the platform
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Review of Haywards Heath Library
06 May 08, 12:20
You can't beat a good book
Extended over the last few years and much better laid out than it was. The fiction books are now divided into categories, so if you want a Crime novel, or a thriller you can go straight to that section and not have to plough through the A - Z section in the hope of finding a suitable book. The new parking rules in Haywards Heath also means it's possible to park outside and pop in for some books, rather than finding the road clogged up by people parking for the whole day to avoid paying the railway station car park charges. The library also seems to act as a community centre, you'll see the same people huddled round a table reading the newspapers every time you go in! It's a very comfortable atmosphere
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Review of The Priory Restaurant
23 Apr 08, 17:56
It's had the Gordon Ramsey treatment
Went here for a Southern FM live at the local event with The Feeling. It was a great night and I thought the venue was excellent - huge! It's easy to find, just through Haywards Heath off the A23. I saw it recently on an episode of Gordon Ramsey's kitchen nightmares and it has rather put me off going for something to eat there.
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