A very good friend of mine lives in Bristol so on my most recent visit there he decided to take me to Bristol's newest and perhaps most stylish new Gay Bar. With a vibrant and relatively large gay scene Bristol is a hidden gem for a cheeky weekend away. It has 2 main clubs (Flamingos and OMG), a late night bar (Queenshilling) and a few other bars dotted between the city and Old Market (gay district). With the Queenshilling, Bent, the Pineapple and OMG all within close distance of one another and located at the bottom of the lively and fashionable Park Street, it seems this area is steeling gaycred from the previously gay hot spot of Old Market.

Open from 6pm until 2am Bent bar almost has the credentials to be a small club, thankfully however entry is free and drinks prices are more than reasonable. Two very grateful students of these facts entered the big orange door that looks something like a lockup/garage door, on a fun Friday night. Arriving around 9.30 we'd just missed the 2-4-1 cocktail (damn) however we still managed all night on a student budget. The decor inside is in your face but manages to stay individual with a modern edge. The orange and black decor is what I would imagine EasyJet’s First Class lounge would be like (if they had one). There are coved seating areas which provide for a great place to sit and encourage interaction with the friendly locals. The toilets are well designed and mimic many Mayfair bars. Music can be selected from a free jukebox and there is plenty of room to dance. As the night progressed more and more people entered to see what Bent Bar was like.

Overall Bent provided for a great night out and as a young contender within and expanding Bristol gay scene I'm sure it will be around for some time. Bent attracts the younger and cooler crowd which to me is a refreshing and welcomed change. Next time I'll be in time for Cocktail hour ('s). 

http://en-gb.facebook.com/bentbristol 

The best Cox i've ever eaten!

Walking through Soho today, the sun out, waiting for my afternoon date, a light went on in my head - I had an idea. A gift for my date, I decided a cupcake would be thoughtful without being too lavish. Ever since opening Ive been dying to have an excuse to buy a COX CUPCAKE. Located slap bang in the middle of Soho (brewers street), the shop fits it well with it's sexy shop front. Co-founder Patrick Cox (yes - the shoe designer) makes you wonder whether this is another "celeb" hoping to cash in on their name without providing a quality product (no names mentioned), however I was soon reassured. It almost creates a forbidden  feeling adding a bit of excitement to your guilty pleasure. Walking in you could easily be in an upmarket sex shop except everything is edible not just the underwear! A good selection of delicious looking treats stare at you, all wanting a home in your tummy. The hardest part of being in this place is deciding on which of the delicately made cakes to take home - the cola cupcake, the tiramisu? I decided I'd buy both and share them. Upon eating them It was obvious that the taste keeps up with the decor. Naughty and delicious, the cola cupcake comes with a popping candy to sprinkle on top before eating which adds a whole new element to your COX CAKE experience and yes this is an experience. The cola cupcake is a chocolate and cola (two of my favourite things) and the mix actually blends well in this case. The tiramisu cupcake is another work of art topped with vanilla and Marsala wine icing with coffee flavoured dark chocolate beans. The icing really helps compliment the strong coffee flavours of the tiramisu......delish! After my date and I demolished the 2 beauties my only complaint was that I hadn't bought more and sampled their whole variety of cookies and cakes. These lovelies make great little treats as a gift for a loved one, friend or soon to be loved one (ha ha). I shall defo be returning probably to sample one of their tongue in cheek - SOHO SPECIALS....


Tiramisu Cupcake.Cola Cupcake.


http://www.coxcookiesandcake.com/index.php


Gaynonymouse and unnamed date are soon to arrange a second date.

The Best of a Bad Bunch Boy!

G-A-Y Club, Heaven. Under the Arches, Villiers Street, London, WCN2 6N2.

Thursday night at London’s biggest gay spot; G-A-Y at Heaven. Walking through the metal detectors I question – am I at a club? Am I at an airport? Please be airport I beg, but the consolation prize is that it’s the beginning of another great night out. I walk through the detectors with that feeling we all get – am I guilty,? Will I get frisked? As always I’m safely through, next hurdle was the promo boys trying to get you to enter into PORN IDOL!!!  “No thanks” I quickly say, avoiding eye contact at all times. After handing in my flyer for free entry we head straight to the bar. Drinks are more than reasonably and start from £2.50, may as well get 2 at a time haha. Heaven is a huge and interesting building; there are many rooms with a variety of music to suit ALL tastes. The natural stone walls make you wonder what went on here years previous. The night progresses and more and more people fill the open space, to my delight lots of godlike creatures roam the club many of whom shirtless (where are these people during the day?). Our dancing is rudely interrupted by the infamous “Jeremy Joseph” who has started to introduce the night’s entertainment – Porn Idol. He introduces 4 judges, warms up the crowd and then outcomes the first contestant. At this point I am unsure at what lengths these people will go to, to win a paltry £100. It turns out these people will stop at nothing to win, removing all clothing and attempting to dance to the backing music provided. After their “performances” the judges turn evil, Simon Cowell evil. They rip each apart picking out every chink in their armours. Although at first this provides for a light hearted and humorous show, it soon gets boring and repetitive. It encourages the “bitchy queen” stereotype and I was more than glad when it ended awarding £100 to the best of a bad bunch boy. Once the spectacle is over the crowd carries on business as usual. Although I’m sure that the Porn Idol tag lures some to this famous nightspot, personally I feel the night would be better without it. Saying this, it lasts no long than 30 minutes and can be easily avoided by partying on in a different room.

Location - ****

Value for Money - *****

Music -****

Crowd -***

Overall Experience -***

Tip - Free entry vouchers available from G-A-Y bar or via the website -http://www.g-a-y.co.uk/g-a-y-club/nights

Who doesn't love to sit on a gnomes head?

Friendly Society 79 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1D 6QB

Saturday night on the town and I feel like trying somewhere different. Under the gazing eyes of Barbie and Ken, decorating the ceiling of this barmy bar, I couldn’t help but be fixated by the fab decor. One can’t begin to imagine what the designer’s state of mind was when decorating here. Whilst sitting on a gnomes head my friends and I discussed the endless quirk of this place; Lego stalls, bambi lamps, fish tanks and toilet bowls for speakers, the Friendly Society is saturated with character. Hidden away in a side street of Soho, this could easily be mistaken for a seedy strip joint, with a small sign above the normal door you are transported into madness as you walk down into the basement bar. An eclectic clientele mingle amongst each other giving the name of the bar a meaning and purpose, you really feel welcomed. Bar service is quick and polite unlike the bill; drinks are served as doubles and they will set you back around £8 a pop. The cheesy decor is matched with equally cheesy 80s and 90s music which really gets you in the mood for dancing, but the small bar doesn’t accommodate well for this. A truly unique venue that isn’t just a bar but an experience nestled between all the competition, once known this really stands out, a true gem in the gay crown of London.

Location - ****

Value for Money - ***

Music - ***

Crowd - ***

Overall Experience - *****

Tip – Arrive early to avoid disappointment, otherwise you might not get to sit on a gnomes head!

Another Great Swedish Export!!!

Although summer has been more than hesitant to show its somewhat reclusive self to the UK this year, this has not stopped me from discovering a real beautifully refreshing summer tipple. The sun may not be shining but Rekorderlig ciders are like summer in a bottle. I have managed to try the pear, apple and strawberry and lime Rekorderlig ciders and they are all delicious. Strawberry and Lime Rekorderlig is my new fave drink, it is becoming more and more available throughout the UK and is available in many supermarkets for around £2 a bottle. It can be a little pricey in some bars/clubs; when it is available, but is more than worth it. It is very sweet with the distinct strawberry and lime flavours really standing their ground in a most palatable way, at 4% you wouldn't even believe that it was alcoholic. So if  you haven't yet tried it put it on your to do list, you will not be disappointed.

Wonderland 2.0

Trinity Centre,  Trinity Road, Bristol, City of Bristol BS2 0NW

Bristol Pride night was a right “Scream” after a brill performance from the super talented Kelis. My friends and I decided to head to the alternative Pride party held at trinity and hosted by the Mutiny and Wonky nights (organisers of alternative gay nights within Bristol). The weather was dreadful, so luckily when we got there, they were letting people in quickly; we entered into the vast space. The high ceilings and stained windows made it a real quirky venue. The church building was decorated with hundreds of balloons all over the floor. Although the venue was very busy the bar worked well to prevent long waits for drinks. £5 for 2 Redstripes was the offer of the day, which for a Saturday night is fantastic, other drinks were reasonable too, I enjoyed a number of pear Kopparbergs for just £3.60 each. As we entered, Sisqo’s “The Thong Song” blared from the loud sound system and I was in HEAVEN! Old 80’s and 90’s classics continued to entertain the crowds throughout the evening from the Spice Girls to Madness. Alternative night meant for some alternative kinds of people, a real great mix of scene kids to some old enough to have been their grandparents. A great atmosphere buzzed throughout and added a real relaxed, euphoric feeling to the night. Due to the day long drinking I only managed until 2am - at least I left the party whilst it was still in real swing. This is their second annual pride event and I shall be sure to return to the 3^rd; a great change from the usual Bristol Gay Scene.

Location - *****

Value for Money - *****

Music - *****

Crowd - ****

Overall Experience - *****

This is a once a year event not to be missed http://www.pridebristol.org/tickets/?Id=4. The Trinity centre has many fantastic events and activities throughout the year - http://3ca.org.uk/.

Freedom

66 Wardour St , Soho, London, W1F 0TA.

Greeted by a friendly and smart host you instantly feel the chic and sophisticated atmosphere the bar aims to portray. Instantly I fell in love with the décor; white leather and purple seating with a mosaic mirrored wall really standing out in this reasonably small bar, it feels both luxurious and bang up to date with a hint of Moulin Rouge France. As a skint student I was slightly apprehensive what the drinks prices were going to be like. To my absolute shock and delight, we had luckily stepped in at the perfect time......HAPPY HOUR.  What made me even happier was that HAPPY HOUR runs every day until 8pm. ALL COCKTAILS £4.95, I ordered a favourite of mine – Mojito. I can’t say that I wasn’t worried that the cocktails would be readily bottled or using cheap ineffective ingredients, however the bartender proceeded to expertly mix perhaps one of the best Mojitos I have ever had (in England). At this point I felt it would be rude not to try another, this time feeling a little more adventurous (perhaps due to the strong cocktail), I asked the bartender to pick me a cocktail of his choice from the extensive list of both classics and modern twists. I was presented with a beautifully presented VERY BERRY, topped with a selection of fresh, ripe berries.  It tasted as good as it looked, really refreshing and fruity, an absolute Beaut. As it got a little later (around 6.30 – we started quite early), the bar started to fill with the many Londoners looking to rest from the rat-race. Smart, trendy, gorgeous are just 3 words that came to mind as impeccably dressed men and women entered the equally impeccably dressed bar. After several more delicious cocktails my friend and I left, walked outside feeling although we had just been in another world.... now back to reality, well not until tomorrow at least.

Location - *****

Value for Money - *****

Music - ***

Crowd - *****

Overall Experience - *****

Freedom Cocktail Bar also has a basement bar with a number of events daily, check the website for more details - http://www.freedombarsoho.com/

Tip – The Lady (sign) decorating the female bathroom doors has a slimmer skirt on that usual, she looks a little butch and can be easily mistaken for a man, avoid the embarrassment of entering the ladies, turn right.

Very Berry Recipe – Finlandia Cranberry vodka, Crème de Cassis and Strawberry liqueur mixed with raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, topped with bitter lemon.

G-A-Y Late

Open – 11-3 Everyday

5 Goslett Yard, Westminster, London, WC2H 0ER

Although the ridiculous queue stretched what seemed to be forever, the buzz of gay pride managed to survive until we eventually got inside (a long 40 minutes later). After being frisked by the menacing and unfriendly bouncers, we entered into G-A-Y Late. Luckily my 3 gay friends and I had been given a free entry voucher earlier in the day so this cushioned the pain of the 40 minute wait.  A short corridor leads you to a humble sized but well laid out room; 2 main areas for dancing are segregated by a middle section which seemed to be reserved for the posers of the place..........PERFECT. Britney, Beyonce and Gaga being predominant favourites for the music amongst other stereotypically gay classics - although current music also blared throughout the crowd. A double vodka and lemonade came to a healthy £7- when considering the location and free entry this is pretty reasonable. A great atmosphere throughout the gays teamed with the regular “Beautiful Person” made for a great night of laid back fun.

Location - *****

Value for Money - ****

Music - ***

Crowd - ***

Overall Experience - ****

G-A-Y Late is a great venue where you can get free entry every night if you manage to get a flyer from G-A-Y Bar (Old Compton Street) or from a street promo gay. Sunday-Thursday is great value with many drinks starting from £1.70. I have personally been here many times and there is always a healthy crowd of fun partiers to enjoy your night with.

Tip – On Sundays you can become a G-A-Y member and get your very own G-A-Y card, this allows free entry and queue jump to Late, Bar and G-A-Y at Heaven, It is free to join and definitely worth doing.

For more info - http://www.g-a-y.co.uk/?content=33