• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Billingshurst
• Category: Food and Drink

Billingshurst RH14 9SE

becky42 said

In my personal opinion not the best but not the worse Chinese take away in the village. The owner, Ricky, is always friendly and chatty and sometimes its nice to go in just to chat to Ricky. He always has treats for the children and the children love visiting him. I think this is the oldest Chinese take away in the village so something must be right! The food is ok but they can be very heavy handed with the MSG and you spend the rest of the night drinking water non stop. My husband usually has a takeaway from here when he stumbles out of the pub but always regrets it in the morning when he has been up all night drinking water to combat the MSG. Of course if you remember you can ask them to leave out the MSG. The food is reasonably priced and competitive with the other take aways in the village. Its always busy in the evenings and at the weekends, so there must be doing something right or it could be just that they have the right location situated next to the train station.

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Billingshurst
• Category: Food and Drink

Billingshurst RH14 9SU

becky42 said

In my opinion this is the worse Chinese takeaway in the Village but having said that they do make decent fish and chips! The menu offers a vast selection of choice and they have a much larger selection than the other takeaways and different dishes too but when it comes to taste the food is a big disappointment! I ordered some squid and it had to go in the bin as they cooked it old style - what I would call 70s Chinese food style - the chop suey days! I don't order from here very often but when I do it is because I have forgotten what a disappointment the last visit was and vow never to eat there again each time! They do offer free delivery the only Chinese in the village to do so but it is just as easy to collect. The service isn't very friendly as the lady behind the counter never smiles and just seems to be grumpy all the time. The older lady in the chippie is much nicer and chattier. I would avoid this place and visit one of the other take aways instead!

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Billingshurst
• Category: Restaurants

Billingshurst RH14 9PB
01403 780380

becky42 said
Friendly Service and good food
This is a small intimate restaurant and is the latest Indian restaurant to join the village. It is known for its good food and that Robbie Williams had dinner there, the photo is on the wall to prove it! The service is friendly and helpful and they welcome children but do not have high chairs or baby changing facilities. Booking is advisable as it can get very busy especially at the weekends. A take away service is available and if not busy they can deliver to your home at no extra charge. There are few different things on the menu that aren't found in other Indian restaurants we love the prawn dishes. I also find the food here less oily than some other places. It is reasonably priced and they do have set dinners and lunches. For a while they did Sunday buffet lunch which was a lot of fun especially for the children to try new things!

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Billingshurst
• Category: Restaurants

Billingshurst RH14 9AE

becky42 said

Its very expensive for the kind of food it serves and sometimes not particularly clean! If you are going there once in a while or just passing then that is fine. We sometimes take the kids there for a treat and the last time we went I was a little disappointed with the cleaniness of the toilets, the knives and forks and the kids high chairs. The kids first choice also wasn't available off the menu for their main course or pudding so that was a disappointment for them. There never seem to be enough staff to help or serve. Parking is always available as there is a Travelodge attached to it. The kids were entertained with tatty crayons and colour sheet. It has been months since we have been and are unlikely to go back any time soon, I think McDonalds is probably a cheaper and better option!

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Horsham
• Category: Restaurants

Horsham RH12 1EQ

becky42 said

This place has got much better in the last few months, it went downhill for a while not sure if that is because of a change of chefs or what but they now have a set children's menu which is a real plus at around £5. To my surprise the kids loved the Pizza bread as the topping wasn't runny and mushy and the kids ate more of that than their own meals! I love the pasta here as it usually seems fresh and tastes great. I had pizza last time and that wasn't a disappointment either. I have yet to try one of the specials as the pasta is good enough for me. They have high chairs for young ones but if you have a buggy then that can cause a problem as the tables are very close together and the second floor is only accessiable via a staircase and that applies to the toilet. There is no baby changing facility and nappy changing has to take place on the floor of the toilet which is big enough just a little uncomfortable. I like the restaurant because it is situated in the middle of Horsham so a great place to pop into after the shopping has been done. The staff are not overly helpful or friendly and sometimes it is a bit difficult to understand them. There isnt usually a smile with the service but its better than alot of the restaurants in the town.

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Horsham
• Category: Restaurants

Horsham RH12 1HH
01403 249274

becky42 said

I have very mixed feelings about this place! Sometimes it can be fantastic and at other times a real disappointment. Its not cheap either £2.35 for a kids apple juice which I think is a bit of a rip off when the kids meal is only £5. Sometimes the staff can not do enough to help but at other times they can't seem to cope and its not even busy!! We turned up one Sunday and only half the restaurant was full and we were told that there were no tables! I visited during the school holidays in the evening, the chef gave the kids hats but we had to ask for crayons and drawing books and the waitress wasn't really interested in serving us and at the end of the meal we were over charged by £40 and it wasn't even busy. We went back the following week on a Saturday and it was busy but the waiter was helpful and gave the kids crayons and drawing books even the toddler which was fantastic. However the service was slow and it took another 10 minutes for the bill to arrive even though we asked twice and due to the slow service we had to top up the car park with another half hour. Its not all bad there, you must book and be prepared for the service to be slow. The food is ok nothing amazing just another Pizza Express so you know what you are going to get. The kids menu is a bit lacking in choice but we coped.

• Added: 5th of September 2008
• Area: Billingshurst
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Billingshurst RH14 0EG
01403 700063

becky42 said
A favourite with the Kids
We live nearby and have an annual membership to Fishers Farm. It is very handy to have to spend a wet morning or afternoon without breaking the bank, although it can be very expensive for a day visit, however everything is free once inside, no need to pay for tractor rides or any of the other activities. There is barn where a few of the animals are and the children can climb into the pens to touch the animals. There is the usual tractor ride around the farm. A firm favourite of my boys is the the bug barrel ride. There is also the new splash area which is very child friendly especially for the little ones. The new alpine activities are really designed for over 6 so if you have a younger one as well they can a bit bored here whilst the older one is playing. There is lots to do and most of it outside but there are four indoor play areas for children of various ages. There is also a theatre where children can go on the stage to feel the animals and of course the famous Xmas panto is not to be missed. If you have young ones the panto is a fantastic first experience for them as it isn't as dragged out as the other ones. Its fantastic amateur dramatics. We love it.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Croydon
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Croydon CR0 4DQ

becky42 said
Traditional Chinese Cakes
For something a little unusual to your usual doughnuts and cream cakes that you find in a English bakery try the Tai Pan Bakery located at the Wing Yip Centre on the Purley Way, Croydon. They offer a vast range of traditional Chinese cakes from fantastic flakey pastry egg tart to the coconut filled cake and more. The char siu bun can be as filling as a sandwich and is fantastic hot which they can heat up for you for an additional cost. You have the option to take the cakes away or eat them in a tiny coffee shop ambience. It does get very busy and crowded there but is also wonderful if you want to stop for a cup of tea before travelling home after the shopping in the Chinese supermarket. They also have a selection of birthday cakes which are very creamy and taste very different to the English cream cakes. The sponge is very light and I have yet to taste a cake which is as light as this from an English bakery.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Croydon
• Category: Restaurants

Croydon CR0 4RF

becky42 said
Decent Chinese if you can get there!
Situated over two floors, although usually only one floor is open unless it gets real busy. The restaurant is fantastic for a vast range of dim sum and the turnover is fast so you can grab a quick bite to eat or have a leisurely lunch, its up to you. The weekends are a nightmare especially Sunday as half of the South East Chinese population is there meeting friends for dim sum so get there early but you will probably still need to get a ticket and wait. No reservations are taken unless it is for the a la carte menu. The evenings are calmer and the ambience less frantic than the lunch rush. The staff are ok and not all of them friendly but usually the service is pretty decent. Parking is plentiful which it needs be situated on the busy Purley Way. We go there about once a month to shop at the Chinese supermarket and for a bite to eat. Its a good place to go if you can be bothered to travel on the Purley Way but on the plus side it is easier to get to than London. Go for the experience and then make up your mind if you would go back again!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Ashington
• Category: Beauty and Spas

Ashington RH20 3JR
01903 892874

becky42 said
Don't let the building put you off!
Some people maybe put off by the two buildings as they look like sheds but inside the treatment rooms are scrumptious, warm and inviting. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and individual treatment is given to each customer. Treatments can be tailor made to suit your requirements. Manicures, pedicures and tanning treatments are carried out in the second building and the main treatments such massages, facials are carried out in the main building. There are a variety of different massages including the fabulous hot stone massage which is plus one for a massage with a difference. Although it can get very busy they will always try to fit you in during the week, there are three staff on hand, usually all busy so often you will get the answer phone and have to wait for someone to call back which is the only negative to the place. I love this place and although I don't live in Ashington and we have three/four beauty places in Billingshurst I always travel to Cherubs for a bit of pampering!