• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Kettering NN16 8JH

yogiyoung said
Unspectacular frontage - diamond inside!
Backstreet boozers have had a bit of a bad rap of late. Credit crunched and out of favour, they're the sort of place that generally get set to the side when people feel the pinch in their wallets.

What's good about The Shire Horse is that it has a great bunch of regulars and it's on the walking route from town to the football ground. Which means that if demand from one falls away, the other will sustain it.

Thankfully there's no sign of abatement from either crowd. I love a Saturday afternoon pre-match in this joint, when you get all the rowdy banter in a light-hearted, friendly way.

Plenty of real ale and magical musings of every sort make this a diamond alehouse.

You want to get yourself down here and see what's great - because it truly is.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Food and Drink

Kettering NN14 6ET
01536 418882

yogiyoung said
Oh Danny boy - you have a fan!
Few are the takeaway places that can combine a range of different types of food - and do them well. The kids that run this shack are clever, know their cooking, and know how to keep a happy fanbase.

I'm a big fan in particular of their burgers - nice, bulky and meaty but with just the right amount of heat applied. I'm not keen on burgers you get from takeaways that don't seem quite cooked - but I'm glad to say these are bang on. I think the meat is pretty good quality in any case, a rare pleasure these days from foodsters of this genre.

Haven't touched the kebabs but the pizzas are pretty good too. I'm a plainer the better kinda pizza eater and to be honest, this brings out the food's true colours since you can taste the ingredients. Danny comes up trumps with the margarita affair. Long may it thrive!

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Food and Drink

Kettering NN15 5PB
01536 726068

yogiyoung said
Two Wongs would make a Right
I wish there were more fantastic Chinese takeaways like this. The food is terrific - none of the gloopiness some traditionally associate with most Chinese dishes. A distinct lack of MSG means you don't wake up in the morning with that dried-out feeling in your mouth, and the containers you get the food in can be used again if you like taking sandwiches in to work.

I'm a regular consumer of the Chinese foodstuff and I have to say, if all of the ilk were of a comparable quality I would be more than a little chuffed. I recommend that Wongs open up a new place so we can get our fantastic food a little quicker next time!

I do recommend the Kung Po from this place, and I'm a fan of the moist fried rice. If only I could make stuff like this, I'd be a dude.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Kettering NN16 0BU

yogiyoung said
Nobby's guaranteed a great evening out
The Alexandra Arms is home to the celebrated Nobby's family of brews. For anyone like me who's a bit of a real ale supper, this means that you can be guaranteed a fabulous night out. Convivial chat will ensue wherever you lay your bum, and the beer just won't stop flowing when you get shoulder to shoulder with Nip, the friendly custodian of the bar.

The beer garden's a lovely way to while away the hours. It's not a 'garden' in the typical sense of the word - there's a jumble of oddments outside, it's wholly paved and there are a range of unusual birds. Sadly not of the 'not-feathered' type; an aviary features and gives you something to watch while your eighth pint of Nobby's gives you a stinking headache to anticipate the morning after.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Northampton
• Category: Restaurants

Northampton NN1 1SR

yogiyoung said
Lovely food - great deal!
I love it here for two reasons: One, it's a great teaser before going off to watch a movie at Vue; two, it's cheap as chips for the food you get.

Aroma, if you haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet, is of the 'eat as much as you please' camp. I preferred it when they used to go all out as 'eat as much as you can' but I understand a phalanx of fat Americans jeopardised this marketing tack and in fact rendered many a EAMAYC restauranteur penniless.

Anyway, Aroma gives you a MASSIVE range of foodstuffs from which to choose. Plus - and this always makes a good EAMAYP resto for me - some of the main courses include those jumbo prawns that have a lovely fresh taste to them.

Tragically, me and the OH stocked up on too many spare ribs and could only manage to go back for five different plates of main course. I imagine fat people would rock out on eight or more.

Recommended.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Northampton
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Northampton NN1 2EA

yogiyoung said
Great location for lunchtime nosh-up
I have to say teapot is bang on when it comes to location, location, location of this place - right overlooking the market square and just by the main shopping centre, this is a great example of what Wetherspoons does well. Tasty food, decent-sized portions for the moolah and the best range of well-priced drinks anywhere.

Went in the other day for the beer and burger special. For less than a fiver you can grab yourself a beef, lamb, chicken or veggie burger, about 10 chips, and a beer or glass of wine of your choice. Assuming you're not driving that is - if so, jam a cold J20 down your throat for the same price.

I'm a big fan of this kind of place because the staff are friendly, the atmosphere is definitively laid-back - and you can down some cold ones while the missus does what she does best, shop...

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Kettering NN16 0DE

yogiyoung said
Largely undiscovered gem
If you're looking for a place to shed the crowds and groove with some top chilled-out tunes, this should be the first place on your list.

The reason most people miss out is because it's located just off the main strip. Not a kazillion miles from the Earl of Dalkeith, it really should be higher up most people's priorities when it comes to pre-club drinks and nosh.

If you've ever been to a latin American pub you'll be in good company here, because it's resplendent inside with a huge swathe of themed artefacts and bits and pieces that make this as kooky as it is cool. The beers aren't too pricey and the punters are wild, but in a nice, relaxed way.

If you have style pumping through your veins you NEED to try this place for size.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Restaurants

Kettering NN16 8ST

yogiyoung said
Levi Roots reggae reggae sauce - heaven on a sub!
Life's made of moments like this. Entered Subway after choosing against a Maccy D's romp. Fancied something a little tastier and definitely healthier to boot.

So on entering I was made aware of the new chicken reggae reggae sauce sub. I instantly watered my mouth with the delicious consequences of my ordering act.

A truly superb meal in several mouthfuls was to ensue. Lots of super-tasty chicken in Levi Roots' fabulous sauce - arguably the best sauce on the market today, and a real taste of the Caribbean. Heavy on molasses, and uber-tasty in a barbecue marinade kinda gig.

Tremendous effort Subway - shame about the greasy chairs, but your food is good.

• Added: 3rd of October 2008
• Area: Northampton
• Category: Restaurants

Northampton NN1 1DA

yogiyoung said
Ask a waiter - great results!
Went to Ask in Northampton last week and was expecting your typical Italian chain food restaurant nonsense. Concrete pizzas and stringy pasta.

Imagine my surprise, therefore, to discover that the fodder on offer was in fact top class and absolutely the opposite to my preconceptions.

The dining rooms are light and airy with an emphasis on amplifying conversation round your table rather than reminding you what Mama used to play on her ghetto beatbox. An absolutely superb meal for the six of us and a couple of super tasty bottles of vino rosso to finish up the experience and be magically relaxed and restored ready to face a night on the booze.

• Added: 22nd of September 2008
• Area: Kettering
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Kettering NN15 6DX

yogiyoung said
Top sounds, good beer, great telly
Only a few hours ago did I walk past this place and discover the Ryder Cup on the big screen.

This place gets better by the day. A refreshing change from the usual Everards rubbish, this is a spectacular pub when you want it all on a plate. Food, great live music, smashing beer, nice outside space when/if the sun ever comes out, and very welcoming staff. Clientele not half bad either. Definitely a good place to come if you like looking at girls.

I've been to few better or more convivial haunts in Kettering of recent months, and recommend it to anyone who wants a slice of nice.