Nick's reviews
Review of Liverpool Football Club
28 May 08, 22:39
Atmosphere... 
...And it has it in abundance. My one and only visit to Anfield was in 2002 when Liverpool took on Leicester in the League, so I can only imagine what it is like on European nights. Major things that intrigued me was the deeply-poignant Hillsborough Memorial and the Shankly Gates. On a minor level I was taken aback at the amount of cute ladies at the game (which have inspired subsequent and numerous visits to this wonderful city). But the thing that took my absolute breath away was just before the teams ran out and You'll Never Walk Alone played out. A cliche I know, but the hairs on the back of my neck really did stand up, so passionate and heartfelt is the fans rendition. I am a proud Arsenal fan, but this was the one and only time I ever felt like swapping teams for that moment so that I could join in.
Drawbacks were the narrow and slightly cramped seating (I've figured out how they cram 45,000 in there!) and the McDonalds behind the Shankly statue (I believe they have since gotten rid of that fast-food abomination).
These are minor points really. This is a great club, with a great stadium in a great city. I can't wait to go to back to Anfield one day and thats coming from a Gooner!
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Review of Aston Villa Football Club
28 May 08, 22:13
DON'T finsh your train journey at New Street Station! 
Went to Villa Park to see Arsenal (my team) beat Villa 2-1 in 2002. Got to say I wasn't greatly impressed with the stadium. I actually sat in the Holte End, which surprised me as this is the fanatical home end. That said they were a lively bunch and had to endure them calling Dennis Bergkamp "rubbish" (this is a family website) when he was the best player on the pitch! The atmosphere managed to liven up a bit more when the home fans spotted Steve Bruce in the television gantry, and aimed the customary virtriol at a Birmingham City FC employee. Not exactly picturesque from the outside, I found it looked rather archaic and uninspiring.
My team won and I didn't get my head ripped off so I shouldn't really complain, but I do think there are better football stadiums in the country which is probably why it hasn't staged any semi-finals for a good few years now.
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Review of Millennium Stadium
28 May 08, 21:50
Amazing Stadium
Only went there once for the Arsenal v Liverpool 2002 Community Shield, but was greatly impressed with it. As you get off at Cardiff Central station you need no directions as it is in the shadow of this formidable stadium. Its location is unusual but also its genius - its right in the middle of the town centre, so really easy to get to the main bars. Great facilities, fantastic atmosphere and is absolutely huge! As a Londoner I'll plump for the new Wembley Stadium as the better venue of the two but not by much - this truly is an excellent stadium.
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Review of Wembley Stadium
28 May 08, 21:11
The Cathedral Of Football 
I’ve been lucky enough to have been to the new stadium 5 times now, twice in the corporate ‘Club Wembley’ section and the normal areas. Make no mistake, this is an awe-inspiring stadium. From the moment you pull into Wembley Park stadium you are hit with the unavoidable sight of this incredible structure. That first walk down Wembley Way makes your hairs stand on end. Once inside the stadium is equally incredible, fantastic views from every seat under that impressive arch, with the two big screens nestled within the upper tier seating. In the normal areas there are lots of food and drinks bars. Club Wembley is amazing also, as you are greeted personally by well-turned out, polite staff. Really feels like you’re entering a hotel lobby, with an attendant in the lift also! The seated area behind the stands in Club Wembley offers fantastic views of London too. Further good points include the hand-dryers in the toilets, which are so powerful they make the skin on your hands ripple, and I’ve got skinny hands! Dry in literally 5 seconds. Also the executive boxes are stylish and huge, fitting 20 in comfort!
The negatives include the expensive food and the fact that after midweek England games they force you out of the stadium, leading to the most unnecessary congestion on the way home. In fact it took me longer to get from my seat to Wembley Park (55 minutes) than from the station to Holloway! And if you want to sit in a comfortable stadium seat you’re better off at the Emirates Stadium.
You forgive all of this when you experience the electric atmosphere during a good England game. A rightly lavish centrepiece structure for English football. Now all we need is a World Cup-winning national team to play in it.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Covent Garden Underground Station
28 May 08, 20:09
AVOID 
I detest using this station, far too cramped. Whether you use the lifts or use the stairs it takes forever to get of there. I can't even believe that even being a station with four lifts there is still congestion. I do all I can to avoid this station, using Holborn or Leicester Square, as I know I won't be late for work just trying to exit the station. Given that it is actually only 15 seconds on the tube between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, and Michael Johnson could run the distance in 19.32 seconds, its worth the two minute walk from there to get to Covent Garden.
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Review of Arsenal World Of Sport
28 May 08, 19:42
Ooh To Be A GOONAH!!! 
Once upon a time this was the mecca for me. As a young Gooner growing up seeing our first 'superstore' spring up around the corner from me was amazing, in the very conveniently-placed Finsbury Park station concourse. Was the only place to get the latest club catalogue to get a good look at the new kit for the forthcoming season, especially important in those days before the internet. Sadly the store has been surpassed by many other club's stores, which were much bigger than the AWOS, and finally The Armoury at the Emirates. Still had a couple of cabinets filled with club memorbilia and constant Arsenal footage in the screens as well as wares to sell. Its currently undergoing an extensive renovation so I await to see what happens to it. If it remains as it was then I suggest The Armoury at the stadium 30 minutes walk away, as it is 4 times bigger, better interior and is more of a shopping experience. But this little shop will always have a special place in my heart!
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Review of The Old Ship
28 May 08, 19:23
Great For Riverside Drinking
Stumbled across this place on a short walk from Hammersmith and was pleasantly pleased with what I saw. Lovely place to drink on a nice summers day away from the main central area of Hammersmith. They throw nothing away here in terms of fittings, as the rowing boats, oars and the (probably pre-war!) cash register will testify. Service is fairly swift even when busy, which it certainly does! One problem: even though at first glance the toilets look quite nice the floor is often flooded with a unique urine/paper towel sludge and need to sort that out.
That said, a nice place to do some good old-fashioned Bank Holiday drinking.
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Review of Reflex
02 May 08, 23:33
Absolute dive
A horror of a place. Only went in there because at midnight it was one of the few places still open. The interior is incredibly underwhelming, the crowd are either too old or too young, and the whole place smells of urine. The toilets are so badly kept that the overbearing stench takes over the venue. It pains me to say this as a non-smoker but the smell is so bad I actually harked back to the days when smoking was allowed. The only good thing I can say about it is that they played Ghostbusters with the video playing on screen.
Now that Destiny is shut (sadly not for long) this is the undesirable venue of Watford. Not for me.
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Review of Holloway Road Underground Station
02 May 08, 23:31
Slow lifts!
Had a recent refurbishment, seemed to have sorted out the flooding after rain and is much nicer for it. No escalators, just a staircase and two lifts. As the staircase has only 63 steps (not as much as it sounds) you can easily beat the lift down/up without have to charge down/up the stairs. Frankly the lifts are so slow I suggest you only use if you have heavy bags/children/injuries. Shame the planned Emirates Stadium renovations could not have been completed for this, as the proposed extension would have eased congestion on match-days. The machines always work, just need to sort the personel situation out, there always seems to be a staff shortage. Good station though.
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Review of Archway Underground Station
02 May 08, 23:26
Use alternative route!
Station is in decent nick, but it’s the Northern Line that really makes it a pain in the rump. If you need the Morden via Bank train you can be sure that the next two trains will be via Charing Cross. When your via Bank train does eventually turn up, it’ll be redirected via Charing Cross when you get to Camden Town! A gripe with the station is that they seem to be constantly fixing the escalators, so you always have to endure the 100+ steps to get to the platform. I only live 10 minutes walk away from the station and need to get to Leicester Square for work, but I’d rather walk 20 minutes to Holloway Road station and get the Piccadilly Line, at least the trains are quicker and more frequent!
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