Gareth's reviews
Review of Ryman The Stationer
02 Sep 09, 15:52
Drown in an overdose of pens and notepads 
Whoever decided that just a biro and a notepad were not going to cut the mustard clearly has a) a lot tyo answer for and b) and extremely well stuffed bank account. Shops like Rymans sell such a huge range of pens, notepads, wall planners etc etc you wonder who could possibly be buying this stuff. Forgive me if I sound sexist, but I think it's women. The girls always got higher marks than me at school as they embellished their work with fine red underolining and even highlighters, my manly scrawl got me no bonus marks. Even my wife mocks my scribblings, whilst neatly writing shopping lists in the back of her Filofax. Well, if you need to spend £8 on a notepad and £6 on a biro with delusions of grandeur, then this is the shop for you. But why, dear reader, have i given it four stars? Well, there was a man just inside the door who greeted me, smiled, asked how he could help and guided me to the correct place in the shop from which to choose my purchases. (Manly, padded brown envelopes if you must know). There was a smiling lady at the till who took my money once I'd decided what I wanted. This branch sells pretty much everything, shredders, scanners, guillotines, everything you need. The staff seemed happy to work there, happy to help and good at their jobs. At last! Even if it was only for a day, I found a shop in central London which didn't overcharge me and had staff good at their jobs. Rymans, you're my new best friend!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Crown and Two Chairmen
25 Jun 09, 11:19
Great for lunch, good guest beers
A very good pub for lunch, they normally have a few good offers on, recently it was a pint and a sandwich fort a fiver, which if you're reading this outside London may sound like a joke, but in the heart of London's buzzing 'meeja' land of Soho, that's pretty good going. Burgers here are also good, and the dining room upstairs has lots of comfy tables, but you might need to wait at busier times. Booze - good selection of beers, and they usually have a couple of decent real ales guesting at the bar. Staff are very good, what's not to like?
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Franco Manca
24 Jun 09, 09:26
The opposite of pizza hut 
This place has had some great reviews in the 'quality' press, so is there anything new to add? Not really, they do one thing and do it brilliantly, pizza. Wood fired ovens, sourdough infused bases which aren't ultra thin but retain some chewability and structure. simple, fresh toppings, not too much tomato. The odd bowl of salad, and a few drinks to choose from including some organic lemonade. It's fantastic. Stuck in the middle of the market in Brixton, it's a bit incongruous with the surroundings, but who cares when the food is this great? You'll never eat a Dominos pizza again!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Starbucks
18 Jun 09, 10:41
More of the same 
This is a Starbucks which lurks inside Sainsburys like a cancerous growth. I've marked this as 3 out of 5, as although I don't really like their coffee, this branch is entirely as expected. And if you've just dragged the kids round Sainsburgs and need some caffeine and lard before the final push over the top and heading home, who am I to be a coffee snob and tell you it's rubbish. As an occasional stop-over on a miserable winter's day, it's fine.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Mrs Robinson
18 Jun 09, 10:37
Pricey but nicey
This is one of those shops that locals seem to either love or hate. Haters don't like it as it's pretty pricey and is one of those places that charge a lot for stuff you don't really need. And it was a sign of the burgeoning amount of excess cash in the area in recent years that shops like this could open up and seemingly make good money. People like it as they sell a range of home furnishings and 'bits - lights, sofas, chairs, coffee tables, kitchen knick knacks etc which can be difficult to find anywhere else. If you want a 1970s Danish leather sofa, come here. If you want a cheap and practical sofa, go to Ikea. If you judge this place on the customer service - which I've always found very helpful and attentive, then their great. But if you don't like 'ponce shops' - stay clear!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Uniqlo
15 Jun 09, 16:08
Simple, functional and comfy clothes
Parent company is from Japan, and there is a something of the Muji vibe in the Uniqlo stores. The stuff they sell is simple, not too cool and reasonably priced. In the cooler months they sell loads of fleeces, wollen stuff and thicker jackets etc, and in the summertime it's t-shirts and 'tops' for the ladies. It may suffer from being a bit bland, but if I had to choose buying stuff from here or the joke shop that is Urban Outfitters, these guys would win everytime.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Dulwich DIY
26 May 09, 11:30
choice, service and randomness
If you're not an alpha male when it comes to DIY, and i confess I'm not, getting the right gear for whatever 'project' you're working on can be daunting. These guys are great, as they're really helpful, and lack the dominant patrionising gene that so many 'man skills' outlets seem to have. They're got loads of the stuff you'll need, plus even more you won't, which is why these guys score on the randomness factor - you can quite often come away with something you didn't really need but might be handy - a new bin, giant pencil, something to stuff yout keys into, or a lady impressing leather toolbelt.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Starbucks
11 May 09, 16:58
Trying not to be a hater... 
but really, even if I'm desperate for coffee, I'd rather drink Nescafe than their coffee. I'm happy to spend a couple of quid on decent coffee, but this stuff is too expensive for what it is, the food is pretty rubbish and the coffee just isn't any good!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Gosh
21 Apr 09, 14:44
Great comic shop even if you hate comics
If you love comics, you'll know this place. but what if you're interested in finding out more about comics, or, (say it ain't so) have a partner who doesn't like comics and you want to show them what it is you love about these things? Some comic shops would scare them off, but not GOSH Ok, Forbidden Planet is bigger, but what has this place got going for it. Knowledgable, friendly staff - unlike FP they seem happy to help you, and replies come in more than just monosyllabic grunts, good start There isn't a background rumble of 'disaffected teen/goth music playing all the time - this creates a calmer shopping environment if you're not in the 1% of the population who likes this stuff. They have a fantastic selection of imported comics, and always having something fresh in the house!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Recreation Ground
02 Apr 09, 14:23
Comedy club here was great
I can't really comment on the bar here, expect when I frequented it a few years ago it seemed to have a much, younger, up for it crowd. The other night seemed very quiet, mixed clientele.... with little atmos. Maybe that was because it was a Tuesday? Anyway, I was there for their new monthly comedy club - let's hope it last because for £3 plus a free lollipop(!) it was fantastic. top quality comedians, in a room with a bar, what's not to like?
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.