Sophie's reviews
Review of Around The World In 80 Dishes
29 May 08, 08:37
Disappointing selection! 
Around the world? To India and Italy and that was about it when I went! I expected a much wider selection of chinese, mexican, thai etc. etc. but it was predominantly curry. Other people I know have been since and found more variety but it has put me off going.
The food was ok but not great. It's location is it's main selling point in the middle of broadstreet, one of the major watering holes in the city centre, but I think if this is what you are after Jimmy Spices does it better.
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Review of Birmingham Moor Street Station
29 May 08, 08:33
Quaint 
This is quite a small station and the architecture is similar to many stations across the country. It's clean and well located next to the bullring and many of the cities major bus routes stop right outside. There is a small snack shop.
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Review of Snow Hill Station
29 May 08, 08:30
Dingey 
This dark and gloomy station could do with a spruce up! It's one of the smaller stations but with just one small newsagents and a coffee stop it could do with more amenities.
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Review of Birmingham New Street Station
29 May 08, 08:27
Second city, but second rate!
Considering Birmingham is the second city New Street is a real let down. It's big dark, dirty, old and ugly! Across the contry all the major cities either boast stations that have either been modernised or have a classic feel, New Street is hideous. A lot of the platforms don't have escalators and the narrow staircases are a nightmare.
The concourse is ok, they have the major concessions, M&S, Boots, WHSmiths, Burger King etc. and there are plenty of fast ticket machines, but the waiting room is lacking and the baggage storage is expensive.
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Review of The Glee Club
28 May 08, 16:24
Great venue! 
The Glee Club is famous for it's comedy nights however I've only been here for gigs (and once a burlesque night!) and it has been brilliant every time!
It really makes a change from standing in a sweaty pub / club. When the gig is seated there's less chatting and more attention on the act and as it's quite a small room it's really intimate.
One of the best nights out in Brum!
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Review of Waterstone's
28 May 08, 16:20
Really nice shop!
A bullring devote I was for a while tempted away from waterstones to Borders which is right in the middle of the shopping centre and all on 2 floors instead of Waterstones 5 however a recent visit to this older building reminded me how much better it is! It's not as busy, the staff are so friendly and helful and it has a really nice feel, more like a library than a book supermarket.
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Review of James Hull Dental Care
28 May 08, 16:14
Shaby interior
I hadn't been to the dentist in nearly 3 years and selected James Hull as it is part of a chain but accepts NHS patients so I figured it would be reputable but affordable, having been to an appointment I did feel disappointed.
The location is good right on the High Street which is on the 50 bus route and the outside is well branded. Reception is manned by young and glamourous receptionists and this is all very reassuring then you get directed to your waiting room and discover that the building is incredibly tall and narrow and you have to trek up several winding narrow stair cases. The rooms are all very pokey and run down.
I didn't have to wait for long and the dentist was friendly but the check up was not very thourough and when he told me I needed fillings I couldn't help feeling suspicious that he was more interested in my money than the condition of my teeth!
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Review of Tin Tin Cantonese Restaurant
28 May 08, 15:49
Bring back the buffet!
Tin Tins are crazy! They used to do a week day lunch all you can eat buffet for £5 (or you could get a takeaway for £4) this was a regular Friday treat for my colleagues and I and then they stopped the offer! The food is good but the surroundings are only the standard of a buffet place, it's dated, dark and very basic so no way justifies the expensive full price menu.
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Review of Krispy Kreme
28 May 08, 15:46
Why is everyone queuing?
There is always a massive queue at this counter, which I suppose is due to the fact that the Krispy Kreme is still quite a novelty in this country. They are tastey but at £1.20 each, and half your recommended calorie intake for the day is it really worth it? I think if you buy in bulk and share with friends it makes sense otherwise I think there are better ways to satisfy your sugar cravings.
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Review of The Jam House
28 May 08, 15:34
Mature venue
The Jam House has a good reputation, due partly to it's association with Jools Holland. I'd advise booking a table for dinner as this guarantees you entry for the night (which includes a mix of live music and DJ sets) If you don't want to eat get there early!
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Review of Old Orleans
28 May 08, 14:52
Big portions!
This place is good for friends and family, don't take your girlfriend on a date! The atmosphere is busy and fun and the decore is interesting (it's done out to look like a house inside). Things can get a bit rowdy in the bar area in the evenings due to the broadstreet location. The best kept secret is their lunchtime menu, it's great value, HUGE portions for about £6, it's just a shame more people don't realise as it is a bit too quiet in the day.
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Review of Ethos Urban
28 May 08, 14:47
Beautiful Flowers
A really beautiful selection of flowers, located next to a popular sandwich shop the lovely smell wafts into the square inviting you in. The 'gifts' are a bit pointless (jewelled keyrings and pens etc.) but the greetings cards are really nice, much more interesting than a high street card shop but for similar prices.
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Review of Thai Edge
28 May 08, 14:44
Not Good!
I agree with Su, I've only been once because we had really bad service. The waitress didn't crack a smile the whole time we were there, the dishes didn't arrive at the same time, she started clearning the table before everyone had finished and was leaning across people while they were eating. The food is ok, no way near the best Thai I've ever had. It's a shame as it's got such a good location in brindley place.
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Review of Bacchus Bar
28 May 08, 14:30
Novelty
The decor of this place is so over the top it's a bit like disney for grown ups. It's underneath the Burlington arcade so there's no natural light and the place is drowning in velvet, woodcarvings, murals etc. I quite like this as it makes a change from the bland chains that dominate Birmingham but if you prefer simple lines and natural light steer clear!
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Review of Flapper & Firkin
28 May 08, 14:26
Good venue but....
... I wouldn't come here just for a drink. It's quite a nice location but a bit difficult to find if you've not been before. Not a great selection of drinks.... I have definitely been served wine in a coke glass before! The toilets are as scanky as you would expect from a toilet venue and the smell permeates out into the bar!
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Review of Scruffy Murphy's
28 May 08, 14:22
Scruffy by name...
A rock pub with LOUD music it's pretty scruffy but means there's a nice relaxed atmosphere. The low celing venue downstairs is a cool place to see bands.
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Review of Square Peg
28 May 08, 14:15
Last Resort
You don't need to be told what a weatherspoons is like, the surroundings are all pretty familiar. The significance of this one is that there are so few bars at the shopping end of town this looks like the only option! If you are happy with weatherspoons stay put but if you're after more comfortable surroundings head away from the shops towards the mailbox / brindley place.
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Review of French Connection
28 May 08, 13:57
Sporadic service
I really like french connection stuff, although it is often overpriced. A good tip is to hang on for sale time as there are always really good reductions. This store isn't massive but has a good location close to Selfridges in the Bullring. I have sometimes had really good service but sometimes you have to hang around at the till.
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Review of Piccolino
27 May 08, 11:37
A cut above.
Brindley place is a lovely setting, and there are a number of restaurants to choose from, but I think Piccolino will give these established establishments a run for their money.
Enormous potted olive trees outside along with marble topped tables and padded seats are instantly eye catching and inviting and inside is no disappointment, very contemporary and stylish.
The staff were all very helpful and friendly and the food was delicious. I can recommend the calamari, swordfish, new potatoes and the selection of desserts to share!
We had 4 courses and drinks and it worked out at about £35 a head so quite expensive and we had to wait quite a while for the food but overall very good.
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Review of Tap & Spile
06 May 08, 12:50
Open all hours!
Just off broad street this place is leagues ahead of the horrible chain bars that line the main strip. It has a traditional feel with lots of character, it's quite big but split out on 2 levels with a warren of little rooms still feels intimate. The basement level opens out onto the canal near the mailbox. We went there at 1am on a Tuesday night and the party staying in full swing until the small hours.
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Review of Manzil
06 May 08, 12:44
Lack of spice!
We chose Manzils as it is the only curry house in the digbeth area, on reflection I wish we'd made the effort to look a bit further afield! There is some kind of maintence going on, you have to enter through a side entrance and the interior isn't very luxurious. The food was ok just very bland. I ordered a bhuna, not a hot curry I know but there was no spicy flavour at all! disappointing.
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Review of National Sea Life Centre
23 Apr 08, 16:11
Over too soon!
The Sea life centre is a nice trip out for families, however it’s pretty expensive. You can really only spin it out for an hour and a half, 2hours max so at £13 for adults it’s a lot to spend on a short amount of time. That said it is very nice, interactive and interesting.
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Review of All Bar One
23 Apr 08, 16:10
Good choice
Like the nearby Pitcher and Piano, All Bar One is a popular with office workers; it’s got outside seating next to the canal, a large main bar area and an upstairs space that can be reserved. They serve a menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers and tapas.
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Review of Pitcher & Piano
23 Apr 08, 16:10
Suited and Booted
This place is popular with the workers at the surrounding offices so the clientele are generally quite smart. There’s plenty of seating (they serve food) and a nice downstairs area with booths and areas can be reserved for groups in advance. It’s quite expensive but the wine / cocktails are nice. Located next to the canal it’s a lovely setting.
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Review of Revolution Bar
23 Apr 08, 16:09
Good Cocktails
At the top of Broad Street it’s a cut above most of the places along Birmingham’s most popular party street. It’s a bit more expensive but the cocktails are lovely and there is a lot of choice.
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Review of The Actress & Bishop
23 Apr 08, 16:08
Good venue, good atmosphere
This is quite a standard pub in many ways, traditional décor, ugly carpet and flashing gambling machines, however the location and atmosphere take it above average. Located in the smart St. Pauls area of the city it gives it an air of cool and exclusivity. There is a venue upstairs that’s just the right size for hip local bands.
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Review of Selfridges
23 Apr 08, 16:07
Pure luxury 
I love Selfridges!! It has been the making of Birmingham. It has given us a landmark and a great place to shop. It’s as unique inside as it is out, a complete opposite to the traditional London store it feels like a space ship inside. It has a pricey reputation but it actually has things to suit most budgets, from familiar high street brands to top designers. They have brands you won’t find anywhere else in the city and are constantly changing and updating. The food hall is very exciting a great variety of food to either eat in or takeaway.
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Review of San Carlo
23 Apr 08, 16:05
Busy
San Carlos feels a bit dated to me, almost a bit 80s. Having said that it is really nice, the food and atmosphere are good.
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Review of Lush
23 Apr 08, 16:03
LUSH!
Lush by name lush by nature! Some people find the smell a bit overpowering but I love it in the stores. It’s very girly, lots of bright colours and glitter and the packaging is gorgeous so it’s good for gifts. Their product range includes soap, shampoo, face packs, bath bombs and massage bars.
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Review of Cafe Rouge
23 Apr 08, 16:01
Stop the CD
Every Café Rouge seems to only have the Amilie soundtrack to play on repeat, this drive me mental! The food is ok, standard chain restaurant fare, I would recommend it for a night out, however they have a breakfast menu which makes a change from a fry up.
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Review of Shimla Pinks
22 Apr 08, 13:19
A curry experience
This is expensive for curry but you are paying for the experience. It's a massive place with a real buzz about it. The decor is really modern and quite unique, not like any other curry house I've been to before. There is real attention to detail right down to the cutlery and tablewear. Ladypool road is grubby this is glamour.
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Review of Nando's
22 Apr 08, 13:13
Best Nandos in Birmingham
I've given this 4 stars as I think it's above the average nandos. There are 3 in Birmingham city centre alone but this one is my favourite. Located right next to cineworld it's a good choice for pre film eats. It's quite big and not as busy as the other two so has less of a fast food feel.
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Review of Jimmy Spice's
22 Apr 08, 13:10
Proper Spice!
The phenomenon of the all you can eat buffet has proven popular in Birmingham in recent years but in my opinion Jimmy Spices does it best. The restuarant is large without feeling like an air hanger so there is still a nice atmosphere. There is a great choice of salads, italian, chinese, thai and indian dishes. You can see the chefs at work preparing food to order such as stir frys and fresh naan bread. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Only slight weakness is the desert selection of Mr. Whipy style ice cream and sweets.
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Review of La Tasca
22 Apr 08, 12:56
Great food and sangria!
Good venue for a double date or a night out with the girls. I recommend getting a jug of sangria (they have a variety of flavours) and ordering plenty of dishes. Tapas is quite good if you don't want anything too heavy as it doesn't leave you as stuffed as some other cuisine's.
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Review of Wagamama
21 Apr 08, 16:29
Fast Food
A great place to grab a quick bite, the seating is arranged in benches so it's quite informal and you can eat on your own or with a group of mates. It's a popular place so you might have to queue but the service is speedy so it won't be for long.
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Review of Urban Outfitters
21 Apr 08, 16:25
Stylish but pricey
I really like the stuff in urban outfitters but it is very over priced. There is a sale rail so you might get a bargain but cardigans and dresses are £45 +. It's also quite young and skinny. In addition to the clothes there's a good selection of gifts and cards, like carefully selected books, CDs, jewellery. The changing rooms are nice.
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Review of Reflex The 80's Bar
21 Apr 08, 16:01
Reflex - Don't Do It!
Sure, the service is what you'd expect and they serve beer, wine and spirits - all you'd expect from a bar. But as for the theme of the place... If you look up 'crass', 'rubbish' and 'this bar really sucks' in the dictionary... all reference this horrible horrible visit to the decade, that FINISHED 18 years ago - let it go people... please!
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Review of Apres
21 Apr 08, 15:59
All rounder!
A great bar for any night out! Really good food offers, I particularly like 241 pizza and pasta offers - and a free jug of Carling! they always show live sport but doesn't have any trouble like a lot of sport venues. It's also a great place to either start or end a big night, with ample room for dancing upstairs. One of my favourite bars in town!!
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Review of Baguette Du Monde
21 Apr 08, 15:57
Average
Baguette du Monde is an ok lunch choice, food is pretty good value and they have meal deal options but it’s a little bit bland. They claim to offer Panini’s but these are really just toasted baguettes which just isn’t the same! The salad bar is worth a look as quality and variety seems to vary day to day. The best option in my opinion is to go for a jacket potato.
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Review of Eat
21 Apr 08, 15:56
Tasty Treat
Eat in Brindley place is a great lunchtime choice. They have a large selection of sandwiches, baguettes, soups and salads. The soup is particularly exceptional but all the produce is of a high quality. Certain items are labelled as ‘less than 55 fat’ but other than that labelling is poor, you can check nutritional information on their website, which I recommend as the baguettes and toasties are LOADED. There is plenty of seating, although be warned you are charged more to eat in.
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Review of Hair Cuttery
16 Apr 08, 16:35
Not Lux
A really awful hairdressing experience, I had booked in for the end of the day and was not made to feel welcome at all. All the other staff were standing around waiting for the girl cutting my hair to finish; they were all talking amongst themselves acting as if I wasn’t even there. The girl had an unorthodox style. She spent an hour washing, drying and styling my hair before she made a single snip. She then proceeded to gather up big clumps of my hair and hack away at it. A very crude cut.
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Review of H & M
16 Apr 08, 16:31
Busy Store
H&M in the bullring is good destination for reasonably priced clothes. It has recently gained a menswear section (chaps previously had to trek to new street or Martineau place) but it’s only really for teenage boys. There are also maternity, plus size sections in addition to women’s wear and young trend. Be warned there are always huge queues for changing rooms and tills.
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Review of Boots The Chemists
16 Apr 08, 16:30
Flagship Store!
This is a flagship Boots store, it has everything! Baby stuff and photo developing is downstairs (they’ve got easy to use computer screens so that you can download pictures from your camera and get them printed either within the hour or 24 hours) they also have an NHS walk in centre. Upstairs is a huge range of cosmetics, skin care, hair care etc. etc. Staff are friendly and despite the huge store you rarely have to queue for very long.
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Review of Academy
16 Apr 08, 16:29
Dirty and expensive
The academy is the main mid sized music venue in the city, it’s dark, the floor is sticky and the drinks are very over priced. If there’s a band on you like it’s bearable for that, although if you’re standing downstairs make sure you are in front of the balcony otherwise the sound is rubbish. If you are thinking of going to a club night there and you are over the age of 20 think carefully about your decision!
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Review of Electric Cinema
16 Apr 08, 12:54
Good date venue
This is a perfect date location! It's the oldest cinema in the country, faithfully restored to it's 1920s origins. It's only got one screen so there isn't a large selection of films so you might need to wait a while for something you want to see to come up. You can choose between £5 standard seats or pay £10 to sit in the sofas at the back, complete with coffe table so you have somewhere to put your drinks and snacks. The venue is licenced so you can order beer and spirits as well as homemade busicuits and cake. Nothing better than settling down to a film you're keen to see with a vodka cranberry and a slice of cake!!
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Review of UGC Broad Street
16 Apr 08, 12:44
Now Cineworld
Cineworld is the best cinema in Birmingham, it has the best choice of films and pick’n’mix and they also have off peak rates so it’s cheaper if you go before 6pm.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Sunflower Lounge
15 Apr 08, 15:06
Indie Bar
A good indie bar / venue, a bit cramped but if you can bag a table upstairs then you're sorted. There is often a cool film / tv series playing on a projector on the wall. It might make me sound a bit old but the music is just a bit too loud, it's too small to dance but too loud to chat. If they turned it down a bit it would be perfect!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Vintage UK
15 Apr 08, 14:03
Too cool for school
If you like the vintage look this is the place for you. A large warehouse in digbeth, painted bright yellow so you can't miss it, chock full of vintage delights. For men there are plenty of vintage 501s, suits, shirts and jackets for ladies there is an abundance of 80s glitter, shoes, bags and accessories. It is a bit too cool for school though so be prepared if you are the type to get intimidated by indie hipsters. Prices are reasonable and they only take card payment for items over £10.
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Review of Henrys Cantonese Restaurant
15 Apr 08, 13:50
Tasty Chinese!
I went to Henrys with 4 friends so we were able to sample a variety of dishes and they were all of a high standard, not too greasy. I would particularly recommend the prawn toast and the beef satay. It was about £20 / head and the service was good.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Suits You
15 Apr 08, 13:45
Poor customer service!
My boyfriend and I went to buy some shirts. We were told a certain brand were 'slim fit' however when we got them home they were like tents so we had to take them back. When I returned to the store the next day the man who refunded my money asked who had served me the day before then laughed and said 'he'd do anything to sell a shirt'. Good for him but very inconvenient for me!!
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