Perfil de mali

Loads of whiskies lining the walls, weathered wood furnishings, Arran Ale… this snug pub feels like a bona-fide Scottish theme bar. Were The Ben Nev anywhere near Glasgow city-centre, it’d be packed with tourists around the clock.

But thankfully, it isn’t. Although busy at the weekend, this manages to be a great pub for a chat and is welcoming to young and old. The Malt of The Month is particularly cheap, and worth coming for alone if you like your whisky.

Several pubs with a celtic edge are emerging in Scotland, and with the current climate of national pride it’s not hard to see why. I place this above Uisge Beatha, Oran Mor and The Islay, as its mix of intimacy, style and drinks can’t be equalled by its busier rivals.

I’m in England now, and really miss the Ben Nevis. It’s the sort of pub you don’t get anywhere else.

Closely linked with the local music scene, Bloc often has bands playing in the corner, cheered on by the young arty crowd that populate it.

This is a basement bar on fashionable Bath Street, but where most of the nearby bars are rather upmarket and appeal to city yuppies, it’s all about the music here. There’s a scruffy look to the place which gives it a edge rather than making it look unattractive.

I particularly like the simple food - tasty home-made pizzas & burgers and drink deals (Tiger Beer was only £1.50 when last I went!) Alongside the sharp, knowledgeable staff, Bloc feels a little different and is a good alternative when on Bath Street.

The wackiest pub quiz master I’ve ever seen here rules the roost here on a Monday night. He’s a rather eccentric gent -mumbling into his mic, changing the rules halfway through etc. but puts on a good show and is part of The Cumberland Bar furniture.

This New Town pub is famous for its ales, and has a great selection on tap. I really like Waggle Dance, made with honey. Youngs ales seem to have a residency here, so if you’re a fan you’re well in.

As well as ideosyncratic quizzes and quality ales, you might be drawn here as a fan of literature. No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency author Alexander McCall Smith writes a series called '44 Scotland Street’, based on the goings on in a nearby fictional tenement; and many of the characters stop by here. In the books, the Cambridge Bar is known for its camaradarie, a melting pot for the New Town characters to mix and share their problems.

It’s true that the odd annyoying 'yah’ (posh English) may surface, but this a pretty, relaxing place with a lot of soul and it takes more than a few burks to keep me out.

Yes, it’s all true. Although Wannaburger looks like a Maccy’s or Burger King, this is proper food for adults with humongous portions and more standard prices.

The Blue Cheese Burger is yum btw, loads of melted roquefort cheese on a massive burger which was washed down rather nicely with a Corona. It’s all very well serving great burgers, but to some, if you haven’t got a license, you’re missing a trick!

...But have you noticed this?! The burger list is EXACTLY the same as the one in The Cambridge Bar on Young Street, a 5 minute walk away. I’m talking same burger names, same ingredients, very similar prices too.
Evidently, somebody’s been copying somebody else. The only exception I see is that Wannaburger don’t do a breakfast burger, but apart from that it’s uncanny. Weird.

Cafe Rouge is a popular chain, successfully serving French staples to the masses via its High Street restaurants. Dishes on offer include Toulouse Sausage, French Onion Soup and my favourite, Boeuf Bourguignon with lots of smoked bacon and mushrooms. Mmm.

It’s good that such classic cooking is being made easily available to all, but it’s a shame I can’t tell you anything about this Sheffield branch that’s any different to all the other Cafe Rouges I’ve been to. I’m sorry, but I can barely spot a difference!

The whole experience is very nice on the first few visits. The walls are brightly decorated and go for a rustic feel while staff members are always professional. CR’s menu offers plenty of choice, although to the more discerning fans of French cuisine it’s probably as adventurous as a weekend in Maidenhead; for instance, Soup de Poissons is absent - perhaps deemed to not be to British tastes.

During subsequent visits the charm wears off a little and you see the (metaphorical) cracks in the wallpaper. The rustic signs espousing 'boissons’, 'croissants’ and 'biere’ you realise, are not meant to represent France, but a British 'view’ of France where no Gallic word must be outwith the GCSE French curriculum…or maybe I’m nitpicking.

Perhaps the idea is to go once, enjoy your Bourguignon and not expect it to be different the next time. I though, like to see something new with each visit.
Other big chains like Starbucks manage to keep things fresh for their regulars by constantly inventing new coffees. It’d be nice to see CR do something similar.

Cappadocia has a loyal band of students and locals who don’t think a night out is complete until they’ve paid a visit here.

It’s a turkish kebab shop that does all the usuals really well: kebabs, burgers, pizzas and chips are all knocked together skillfully, but it’s the pakora that keeps me coming back.

Huge pieces of juicy chicken are marinated in spices before being fried up for the discerning (and often drunken) reveller. You can get this with chips, salad and garlic/chilli sauce too. It tastes amazing, and wipes the floor with any other carry-out in Edinburgh.

The staff are busy (the fun goes on 'til 3am) but enjoy a bit of banter too. If they like your chat, they’ll even let you sit down a while as you munch & nod your head in appreciation.

Finding the Thistle Street Bar is often the result of roaming round the cobbled roads behind George street and saying “I wonder what’s down there?”

It’s like finding treasure. The little place is lit low & ambiently and has little booths where your group can be left all to yourselves, which is a good antidote to the bars along George and Princes Street. Here’s a great place for a quiet wee drink.

Some interesting beers & spirits are available, and the boards above the bar are full of intriguing suggestions that become affordable as they’re discounted. I’ve tried many new malts and liquors in this place, which certainly helped me through the Edinburgh winter!

Unfortunately, the prices were really ramped up earlier in the year, but this is still a great little pub and a real quirky alternative when in the city centre.

I had to do a 10 minute report on this library recently, so I thought I’d share the useful bits with the Qypers!

Access:
The library is easy to get to, being on a main road and with the 7,10,14, and 21 buses stopping right outside. There’s also wheelchair access & bike racks.

Atmosphere:
This is bright and welcoming. Local schoolkids’ art decorates the wall, and there’s a well-stocked casual reading section with squashy chairs, magazines and even a small careers library!
The stacks look a bit old and could do with a shuffle however, and the carpet is a we bit threadbare in places. There are over 20 PCs for internet use, but these don’t dominate as most are housed in a seperate room, away from the main floor.

Diversity:
There is specialist software for blind users and books are available in many of the languages spoken by the local community. Large print material and a home delivery service is available too.

Welcome:
At times, the library can be understaffed. There is an information desk, but when only 2 library staff are available, both will be tend to be on the main lending desk leaving this unstaffed. It would be good if one staff member could 'float’ or be available on the info desk at all times.

Lots of new faces are coming to Leith, so it’s good the library tries to engage the community as best it can. I think such a thriving area could do with a new building or at least a renovation to brighten the place up, especially since the tram will be in place soon. That aside, this is a pleasant place to spend time in and should be able to provide most with what they’re looking for.

I love The Showroom.

By providing an indie cinema, it’s doing such a great thing for Sheffield culture. For instance, The Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival couldn’t exist without it.

There’s a great range of film that the nearby multiplex doesn’t provide, and the cool cafe bar provides free jazz & blues sessions as well as being a great late night venue in its own right.

The location is handy, being right by the train station and it’s also a really good place to eat.

In fact, if you’re in Sheffield and the Showroom is new to you, you should be asking yourself, “Why haven’t I been yet?”

The most striking thing about this pub is its setting.

Emerging from a leafy lane, the pub has its own clearing at the edge of Stannington Wood with a modest car park and plenty of picnic tables. This is a great place to laze outside on a summer’s day and you might want to incorporate a trip here with a walk nearby to see some of the local beauty.

Inside, you’ll find a proper Yorkshire local. The food is no-fuss, and the locals chat away in thick Sheffield accents. This is not a place to pose in or look for the latest cocktail. Instead, have one of Bradfield ales. During a football match or on a Friday/Saturday night things can get very noisy, so avoid peak times if you fancy a quiet pint.

The Robin Hood is also an Inn. Although I’ve never stayed, I hear good things about attractive rooms that let the sun in and a generous breakfast. Friendly service is part of the culture in South Yorkshire, so I’ll go out on a limb and assume that one.