Daniel's reviews
Review of Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green
23 Dec 07, 15:18
Paradise, why not. 
What an incredible place.
At first glance this is a fairly normal 'gastro' pub in a fairly out-of-the-way location, but somehow the threadbare furniture and quirky Dickensian library feel of the place goes so much more than most.
The place is very charming, and feels much more exciting than typical pubs of this ilk. At weekends the upstairs 'club' area is heaving with people from all over London - not just Kensal Green - dancing to superb retro music.
Though not a smoker, it seems that it is important to think about the smoking area, since if you're like me then you'll end up having to spend as much time there as you will inside. So I'm pleased to say that this place has a great outdoor space which is filled with rusty vintage furniture.
So in sum, while it's fairly unlikely you'll ever happen to be in Kensal Green, Paradise is more than worth a trip to spend an entire evening.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Bar Red
23 Dec 07, 15:10
Maybe a little dated now? 
Bar Red seems to have stood the test of time since it has been around since I frequented Kingly Street back in the early Noughts. It is still there and seemingly still strong, as a recent visit confirmed.
Red is an understatement, as the decor is very much so. It is primarily arranged with booths on the ground floor area and then a more open, clubby space in the basement which is home to DJs most evenings.
The atmosphere is relaxed, and I was impressed by the quality of staff who were laid back and friendly which is a rarity in this area.
Ultimately there's nothing desperately thrilling to write about, but it still achieves a lot in an area of also rans.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Porterhouse
13 Nov 07, 19:51
Huge.
This is possibly the largest 'pub' I have ever been to! At first glance it's fairly impressive - interesting style and always hugely busy. But there's something missing...
Maybe because of its size, or because the bar staff are not particularly personable, I feel it lacks personality. And I feel that there are plenty more characterful places to go to in Covent Garden.
However if you're stuck for a place to take a large gang of people, you could do worse.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Apple Store
06 Nov 07, 14:19
My bite of the Apple. 
I agree with pretty much everything that has been said here, especially the fact they need to manage the sheer thousands of people who visit to check Facebook or Hotmail.
However I think it boils down to the fact that this is a brand experience, and an absolutely superb retail concept. To valid this statement, compare it to every other computer shop in London, especially those along Tottenham Court Road. Everything is pretty much delightful, from the customer service, the theatre, and the general design of the space.
It does work for gulls like me as well: I spent probably a little more than I should have on my MacBook Pro, but ultimately buying the thing in the shop is all part of the brand that you're buying into.
I'll be there to get my iPhone soon!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Snow and Rock
06 Nov 07, 14:15
Hmm... okay...
I'm umming and ahhing about what to give this branch of S+R since every visit has yielded a different experience. Sometimes the customer service has been terrible - really miserable lady who simply didn't want to be there; whereas the last time time I went a brilliant bloke helped me out in the trail running department downstairs.
The range of kit they have is superb, and are one of the few places I have been to who stock a good range of adventure racing products. However, it is by and large hugely expensive, since it only stocks the premium brands.
(The premium image of the store actually puts off a lot of people I know who claim the staff are snobby, and then who immediately jump into Millets or Blacks next door.)
So 3 stars, just for the inconsistent customer service, but otherwise great.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Trek King
06 Nov 07, 14:11
Alternative to Blacks or Millets.
I visited here the other day for 'emergency trekking supplies' - as you do - and visited since there was no Blacks or Millets in the area.
I normally go to the aforementioned two, and I have really disliked the service they provide since nobody who works in these places seem to be interested in what they're doing.
Trek King was a nice surprise: small shop, packed to the rafters with everything you could need, and the customer service was great. I found everything I needed so was very happy.
I wouldn't recommend it for outdoor sports though: it seemed to lack trail running or snow-sports kit.
I'd also recommend this place purely because of its independence as well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Turf Tavern
06 Nov 07, 14:07
Infamous Oxford pub
I think the Turf Tavern is famous for two things: firstly it's where Inspector Morse went to drink, and secondly, it is where Bill Clinton'did not inhale' during his time in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. It is a tiny, history pub, which is frequented by students and tourists alike. The main body of the pub is absolutely tiny, and has expanded over the years to accommodate more people. As such it has lost its character somewhat, and is just another olde Oxford pub, which is why it gets 3 stars from me. It does have a decent range of beers, and a good outdoor area for the summer, but so do plenty of other pubs in the area. Please note that it is very difficult to find, so please check the website before you attempt to look for it!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Blackwell's
06 Nov 07, 14:02
A labyrinth of books.
It probably sounds a little strange to be reviewing an academic bookstore that you find on the high street of most university towns in the UK. But Blackwells in Oxford is very unusual. Despite it's appearance outside - which makes it look like a tiny bookshop - it reportedly contains 200,000 titles, mainly housed in the huge Norrington Room, a vast subterranean chamber of over 10,000 square feet with over three miles of shelving. Such is its scale that it has a place in the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest display of books for sale in one room in the world, so as you can imagine it's quite a sight. A great place to go to browse.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Pitt Rivers Museum
06 Nov 07, 13:54
The most unusual/spooky/intriguing musuem in the UK?
General Pitt Rivers was an English British Army officer born in 1827, who also dabbled in archeology and ethnography. During postings overseas he became a noted scientist and amassed a huge collection of items from all over the world. This museum is the result of his donation to Oxford University, and is the most extraordinary place I have been to. The museum is situated behind the city's Natural History Museum (which in itself, while not to the scale of London's, is stunning). You enter a dark room, which is filled to brim with glass cases. Each glass case contains hundreds of objects of similar types, arranged by region, period, or any other of the many thousands of categories of items. It's difficult to describe the sheer range of curiosities on display, but the website tries: "a magnificent Tahitian mourner's costume, collected during Captain Cook's Second Voyage in 1773-74... a fine group of early masks worn by actors in Japanese Noh dramas... magic objects including amulets and charms... jewellery and body decoration... musical instruments..." - you get the idea. Each item has been tagged and described in painstaking detail on tiny little labels, useful for some of the - often quite creepy - items that are impossible to identify. The museum is free, and well worth a visit if you're in the area.
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Review of M Newitt & Sons
15 Oct 07, 17:34
Family butchers still do exist.
Newitt's is a butchers that has been established in Thame for over 40 years. Some might know about them through their tie-up with Budgens (supplying quiches - haven't tried them, but are supposed to be good), but what's also very interesting is that they supply Raymond Blanc's le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons. I can only speak for the quality of the meat: the beef is exceptional and any special requests are taken into account without any problems (especially at Christmas). However, their pies are supposed to be excellent, apparently having received many awards!! Talking of Christmas, something odd tends to happen: queues form almost 20-30 deep outside in freezing weather, just so people can get their hands on their Xmas meats, which goes some way to demonstrate the quality an independent butcher can provide. It's a shame you don't see many like them.
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