Out and About

The Lion King

2005-08-29T10:11:00.000Z

(The Lyceum Theatre-Covent Garden)

If you have never been to a west end music/play then Lion King should be your first experience of it! It is awesome...from beginning to end it is simply fantastic. If you have seen the film and think an on-stage rehash of it would be boring then you are wrong-the play whilst being true to the film has an identity of its own. The stage version has a great soundtrack just like the film but has a much more african feel to it.

The costume and stage design are fantastic. The opening scene is AMAZING it is like seeing real animals on stage-it wil blow you away. If there is only one thing you get to see on stage this year then this should be it...it is truly an experience you will never forget.

Tickets start from £12.50 and have been assured that even at that price you get a great view. If you go for a higher priced ticket then it is best to the avoid the grand circle and these seats are extremely high up. The Royal Circle gives you a good clear view.

Fatty Arbuckles

2005-06-28T12:58:00.000Z

Before venturing to the cinema we went in for a quick munch at Fatty Arbuckles (Surrey Quays, SE1). Fatty Arbuckles is an American style diner similar to TGI Friday’s (but a little more family friendly in my opinion). The staff were all smiling away, which is always a good sign and the service was good. Within 10 minutes of being there we had our starters (a big fat platter of food it was too!) It wasn’t as if the place was empty either. The meat was all well cooked and you will definitely be stuffed after the main course but you cannot leave without trying a dessert (that would just be wrong). The bannoffee pie is lovely and you get quite a large piece too so it is ideal for sharing…but you might not want to once you get tucked into it!

The meal with 4 soft drinks, starter platter, 2 mains and 2 desserts came to about £17 each and in my opinion money well spent. If you fancy something easy going and fun for dinner with a few mates this is an ideal place. They sell beer/spirits/cocktails too so you can get merry!

Saqqara

2005-06-26T11:49:00.000Z

Went wandering around Brighton and had a great time. Visited the pier, the marina, the beach and into various bars. But the one which made the biggest impact was without a doubt the Egyptian themed bar- Saqqara. It looked quite pretty outside and a group of us wandered in expecting the usual bar layout and were we surprised! We suddenly found ourselves among Faeroes and Hieroglyphics, a really fantastic layout.

It was quiet when we went in but the atmosphere was still pleasant, unlike some bars which just feel wrong when they are not packed. The staff were attentive and friendly. They served all the usual drink along with some really interesting cocktails (definitely give the Strawberry Fizz a try if you want to experience a little bit of heaven!) The prices were pretty decent too cocktails start at £5 and standard beer/spirit prices which was a pleasant surprise considering it was quite a posh bar. Saqqara also turns into a club in the evening we unfortunately never got to check it out at this time but I am sure it would've made a great night venue!

For more information check out their website

Tas

2005-06-26T11:13:00.000Z

This is a great Turkish/Cypriot restaurant (Borough High Street, SE1) with tasteful decor and a lively atmosphere. It has just the right level of music and the staff are attentive and appear just as you need them and so you are not left waiting for someone to attend to you.

The alcohol, as with most restaurants is a bit on the pricey side but not extortionate. The food is fantastic, if you don't fancy starters you can stock up on free bread and dip (a lovely little feature in my opinion).

The starters are just the right amount so you are unlikely to feel to full to finish the rest of your meal. But it's probably best to share one starter between 2 people unless of course you are feeling extremely hungry! Then of course munch away! The main courses are extremely filling and it may take a while to get through all the food but it is well worth the effort!

And once you're all done there isn't a rush by the staff to get you out of there so you can complete your evening in peace. It really is a great place to go with a large group or as a couple and an extremely reasonable evening out.

Including starters but excluding alcohol the average price is about £15-£20 a head which in Central(ish) London is an excellent deal. Oh! And that is including the service charge, what more could you ask for!

There are several of these around so check out their website here for more information!