• Added: 23rd of April 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Arts and Culture

London W1F 8RP

MartinKemp said
London's best record shop... in my opinion
I'm not fantastically well educated in the London Music scene. I don't think i have the temprament. I like music, but I don't buy as much as I want and I always forget the names of bands and albums that I want when I enter a record shop... which is why Sister Ray is brilliant... Their staff seem to spend all their spare time reading every single music magazine known to man. You could probably ask them anything about contemporary music and they'd have an answer. That's pretty cool. and they don't seem to mind being questioned either, which is fantastic.

situated in Soho, it's quite large with an extensive back catalogue and a nice load of new releases. It specialises in mainly alternative stuff - ranging from indie, metal and post-rock through folk and contemporary composistion. So if that's your scene and you hadn't been there already, it's well worth a look.

• Added: 22nd of April 2007
• Area: Southend On Sea
• Category: Restaurants

Southend On Sea SS1 1BW
01702 348088

MartinKemp said
Oh, trendy vintage chic cafe activity in Southend? Well I never.
Well. I am surprised. Being born, bred and raised in southend on sea (a wee seaside blackhole in the south eastern corner of essex), I believed it to be merely a mess of bad haircuts and rude faces and that little would ever change.

Well, perhaps the tide is turning...

Specimen a) is The Horrors. Everyone's heard of them now, I'd imagine. But rumour has it that whilst I was gallivanting around London town, they were starting a "art-goth-rock" movement in my hometown. I was only alerted to this by a Guardian article, which almost certainly spelled it's death. But that doesn't matter - what does matter was that something vaguely relevant happened in a place that I believed to be as relevant to contemporary culture as the size of Jordan's breasts are to Will Self's intellect.

Specimen b) The Glasshouse. Now, this is by no means as cool, and having only been back home a few times in the 8 or 9 months, I can't say whether this is a one off or part of a growing trend. It's basically a really nice cafe, wonderfully decorated with the kind of nice "vintage" furniture and pretty statuettes that wouldn't look out of place in the cafe at Liberty's. But, most exciting of all it has a grandfather clock and knight of armour! All set against pure wooden white walls, exposed brick wall and, at the back, a glass ceiling. For a town where that has it's own unique form of Chlamydia, this is physically brilliant.

And the food? Well, it's well presented, a good selection of modern cuisine, maybe slightly french-influenced in places. I had the sea bass with asparagus and puff pastry and I almost wet my pants. Delicious, perfect, and complimented by a wonderful glass of Pinot. My friends tucked into risotto so rich she couldn't stop grinning and a bangers, mash & onion rings combo that was the only disappointment on a delightful saturday lunchtime.

All in all, it's a lovely little place that allows you to escape from the horrors of the high street and enjoy some excellent food and stylish surroundings.

Booking is probably required in the evening, but the place is surprisingly large (featuring a downstairs and private dining room too) so you will probably be able to chance it quite successfully.

So, something is happening in Southend. I would've killed for a cafe like this when I was living there. Next they'll probably open a contemporary art gallery with pieces by local people "healed" by Resonance FM, whilst Jarvis Cocker will executive produce a film about gorwing up in Tracy Emin's Stomach , which is exactly like Southend Pier. The only way is up.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Barbican
• Category: Arts and Culture

London EC2Y 8DS
020 7382 7105

MartinKemp said

Along with the national theatre & south bank centre, this is one of the best and most beautiful arts complexes in London. I long to live there, and have spent many a long hour following the yellow line to the centre and sitting in the paradise of a water park.

Recently, I saw Joanna Newsom play here and it was one of the most beautiful and startling concerts I have ever been to. She's got such power in her voice! Sorry, this is supposed to be about The Barbican...

I've had a few good meals here - the balcony bistro is very good, but as with all arts centres, quite expensive. The food was gorgeous though, and there was a good selection of wines.

Forthcoming events include Complicite's new devised piece of theatre in September, which I reckon will be one of the most astonishing things that'll ever grace a stage. Definitely something to look forward to.

There's a Cinema, amazing Library (massive number of CDs and music scores), exhibitions and a tropical garden. oh and a drawbridge.

A wonderful, magical place. If i'm going there, I know i'm going to come back over-excited about what the human race is capable of.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London WC2H 0EB
020 7437 5660

MartinKemp said
The Perfect Coffee Shop
I was surprised that no one had reviewed this before. It is simply the ultimate coffee shop, in my opinion. It does and has everything a coffee shop should have.

One of the great attractions, aside from it being situated in one of the most famous bookshops in London, is music. It is attached to a music shop that has such a fantastic selection of music i start to salivate just thinking about it. It used to be called Ray's Jazz Cafe, but it got absorbed into Foyles and I don't think it is any more (to be honest, I'm not sure...). Frankly, it's name is not important - the important thing is that they also have live events - normally during the late afternoon/early evening - perfect for when you've finished work and fancy getting a coffee with friends. I've heard some incredible things there - often by people I've never heard of, but it's always interesting - and frequently challenging. I've heard a man with a trombone play a incredibly intentse 20minute track which, as i remember, seemed to involve a lot of notes you wouldn't normally find on a piano. And this was at 5pm in the afternoon one thursday!

The staff and lovely, and there's a fantastic mix of people there. It goes without saying that the coffee is superb - there's one guy with dreadlocks that'll make you a cappuccino to die for... It's really that expensive either and with a nice selection of cakes and other items to eat - most of it homemade - you're not going to get hungry.

Also, there's free wifi which seems fairly reliable when I've used it.

If you like interesting music, good coffee and a lovely atmosphere, give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Westminster
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London WC2H 9AW

MartinKemp said

My friends and I have generated many a happy memory in this place. Good location near Covent Garden and Neal's Yard (for all of you Rough Trade fanatics) makes this remarkably convenient.

Coffee is always good, never fantastic, but ethical as Mr Buraco pointed out.

Inside it looks a bit like a sauna: scandanavian wooden walls but no hairy fat men in towels, thank god.

I tend to sit down in the basement - it's often less busy and is quite a pleasent escape from the crowds on the weekend.

The food is average if a little over-priced and i can't really picture any of the staff, so they certainly didn't insult me.

Worth a look if you're in the need for a caffine fix and a sit down, and the Monmouth Coffee Shop round the corner is busy.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Waterloo
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SE1 8TJ
020 7401 7151

MartinKemp said
Groovey '60s Pub
Having only lived in London for a couple of months, it constantly amazes me the number of great places that are literally right on your doorstep. This is essentially my local, although i don't go as often as i should.

This pub is great - it's busy, it has a great crowd, brilliant design and excellent food and drink. It's a perfect london pub - not owned by a chain and not populated by derelict no-hopers.

There's a great selection of drinks - not only do they do strawberry beer on tap (Fruli?), they also do a special collection of Gins (including Hendrick's - the world's best!)

The bar staff are friendly and pretty, and the food looks amazing (although I've never eaten there).

Special things to point out are the great high-backed leather chairs and the lovely dark lighting. Really nice for a relaxing beverage with some friends.

Highly recommended if you find yourself near waterloo and looking for a drink.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London W1F 9BL
020 7734 1415

MartinKemp said

This is one of many cafes around the Carnaby Street area. In terms of coffee and food, this is amongst the best. The Sausage Roll is a particular favorite of mine... although i do think it is over priced. The coffee is excellent, organic and fairly-traded. I'm also a big fan of the special teapots they serve tea in - very pretty.

It's downfall is the music - terrible pseudo-buddha-rap-world-house. why do they do this to us? Yes, i understand that the business idea is some kind of eastern-inspired haven to rejuvenate tired shoppers... but really...

Good for a quick sit down or take away, but staying in there for 40mins or more becomes exceedingly tiresome, despite the delightful teapots.

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SE1 9RL
020 7378 7776

MartinKemp said
a fairytale beneath the railways
It's a beautiful place - like entering another world. With a space like that, it's going to be difficult to anything too wrong. But, having said that, i feel as if they could do so much more with it. I was there for the St Patrick's night celebrations - very entertaining and some great music (except the last band, who were absolutely appalling- bog standard boring indie). Sadly, the bands were completely let down by the terrible sound - a difficult space to make sound good, but i'm sure they could've done a better job than that.
Apparently, the st. patrick's day celebrations were not a "normal" shunt night, so I'm going to go back soon and maybe I'll get a better impression of what the place is like on a regular basis. I hope that the artists that curate it take more advantage of it than the st. patrick's guys!

• Added: 24th of March 2007
• Area: Westminster
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W1B 5PW

MartinKemp said
Vintage Coffee & Cakes
Having strolled around the vintage shops of Kingly Court, what better way to finish off your spree than with coffee and cake? C'est ici is on the bottom floor of Kingly Court. My friend and I only went to the "cafe" section, so can't really comment on the rest of the place.

It seems to be a bit of an odd mix. The name is French, the restaurant food seems to be Greek, or at least Mediterranean, whilst the coffee and cakes are not of this earth- I've never had such a succulent carrot cake in my life! I can also highly recommend the small chocolate treats they do. These cakes are so good that even if your cat had died, a small man with a beard had tried to touch you and Jade Goody was marrying into your family, you'd still be remarkably content and happy whilst eating them.

The coffee was also of a remarkably high standard fairly traded too, which is good.

The dcor was fairly traditional, all clean lines and woody textures nothing special. It's only failing, as with many coffee shops that try to be bars and restaurants was the music. Who wants to listen to bad European euphoric dance whilst trying to enjoy a coffee? When the CD finished, the owner got disgruntled and annoyed, whilst I think most of the customers and the rest of the staff were relieved.

Overall, a rather lovely place good for popping into for a quick coffee and cake post-shop, but I don't think I'd enjoy spending an evening there unless the food is as good as the cakes!