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Friendly staff, fantastic cocktails and a buzzing atmosphere make the Black Dove a compelling place to drink at. I really enjoyed my couple of nights drinking there, the DJ played some fresh tunes and the bar staff put real care into making cocktails and knew their beers. Well worth a visit!

Wow! I just spend a fantastic four days in Brighton and my stay at Paskins was a big part of the enjoyment. The staff were really really friendly and welcoming, the rooms were cosy, nicely decorated and the service just full of little touches that beat the big hotel chains hands down.

I had a top floor double room, with a shared bathroom. The room itself had an indian theme to it, with lovely carved wooden coat hangers and patchwork bed throw. The room was cosy and clean, with, for me, the all important selection of coffee and teas, as well as a couple of fresh apples left every day (russets, my favourite!). The bathroom was again super clean and new, so any worries about sharing one were soon banished.

The mega highlight was the breakfast. As well as the usual fry up (local produce, organic and free range), there was a great selection of original options. I opted for scrambled eggs with anchovies on wholegrain toast on my first morning, I wasn’t disappointed, the salty little fish giving a really great contrast in flavour to the velvety (sooooo smooth, there must have been some kind of alchemy going on in the kitchen to make them that good) scrambled eggs. Every day, I also opted for the toast, with home made marmalade which was just fantastic with coffee. I also got to sample the bagels with schmeer (cream cheese and jam), fresh, huge and mouth-wateringly good, and the rarebit (spiced and complex, really good flavours). There was also a great little muesli/fruit/yoghurt buffet with a really fantastic, christmassy spiced fig and prune topping which I’ll be trying to emulate at home. My only regret is I didn’t try the porridge (with ice cold shot of whiskey!).

Paskins is set near the front, in Kemptown, which is vibrant and has a great selection of restaurants, bars, pubs and shops. I managed to get along to the Black Dove (3 mins away) and the Hand in Hand (2 mins) and had a great night in both.

I really loved my stay, I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in Brighton. Amazing :D

It’s a pizza chain, takeaway only and somehow more expensive than a sit in meal somewhere in town. However, the pizzas themselves are thick with topping and come in the usual huge array of possibilities. I’ve normally had them after a few pints at the UEA Grad bar and as a result have wolfed them down with the lusty hunger only drinking on an empty stomach can bring. Delivery is usually quick and the pizzas still good and hot, the special offers make group ordering cheap and easy. Their dough seems better than their neighbours Dominos, so of the two I’d choose the Papa.

I’m a big fan of local markets, I think they offer something which the supermarkets just cannot; individuality. The Little Red Roaster is a prime example; an offshoot of the coffee shop bearing the same name, this stall in the market can be found by following your nose to the rich coffee aroma it emits. It’s a popular place for those in the know, it offers a good range of coffee to drink there and then as well as take home as beans. They’re always trying out new blends but have the tried and tested ones too if you just want a cup of something you know, a caffeinated chum you can rely on. It’s a little oasis amidst the constant motion of the market itself, it’s a fantastic place just to take it all in and warm yourself up in the winter. The coffee is so fresh tasting and well selected, it serves some of the best in the city. I’m not a big chain basher, I love Starbucks if only for the ability to buy a gallon of coffee there in one serving, but on the other end of the scale, the espresso, this place beats up all the big boys hands down.

This is the perfect coffee shop for a leisurely read of the papers. They’ve got a wide range of coffees and teas, fantastic, and I swoon to think of them, muffins, and a really nice and cosy atmosphere. After a walk around town, it’s the perfect stop off place to regather myself before heading home. The staff are lovely, I admit to having a little crush on anyone capable of baking so well, and it’s obvious that they care about what they serve. There’s a neat second hand book shop just over the road so, Mr. J. R. Hartley, what better place to sit down and read a good book than the Cherryleaf Coffee House?

Bonus tip, people watchers! The registrars is just up the road, so you can often watch the weddingites sauntering around in their finery.

There seems to be quite a few negative reviews for the Sportspark, which surprises me somewhat as it’s probably the best sports centre I’ve used. I was a regular user of the gym, on a £30 per month “Gold Membership”, which entitled me to use whenever I wanted it. I mainly use the running machines, of which there are 10-12, as well as cross trainers (same again) and rowing machines. I found I could get in after work and get on a machine mostly as soon as I arrived, which isn’t too shoddy considering it’s a well used gym. I also liked to use the weights machines, which if you chose tactically could provide a good workout. Sure, it gets busy, but compared to some London gyms I’ve been to where I’ve paid £40+ per month, it’s positively breezy.

As well as the gym, the Sportspark has a fantastic climbing wall, two 25m (or sometimes 1 × 50m) swimming pools, indoor games areas for badminton etc, a martial arts and dance studio, an amazing gymnastics facility, an outdoor athletics area and outdoor games area, squash courts and a neat little cafe/bar. Prices are good if you’re a member and they often run introduction courses to activities which are particularly good value. There’s also the popular free circuit training on a Monday and Tuesday lunchtime which is a fantastic little workout!

I’ve used quite the place quite a bit, having used the gym and pool regularly, as well as going on squash and climbing courses (as well as subsequently using these facilities independently), done Taekwondo with the Saracens club, played badminton with friends, done athletics with the Circuit training people and I’m currently doing a gymnastics course at their new gymnasium (!).

I’ve found the staff are courteous and eager to help, the wet and dry locker rooms have been clean every time I’ve used them and in general I’ve grown to love the place. I’m sorry that some people have had bad experiences, but in terms of value for money and facilities available, the Sportspark is amazing and I love that it’s just a short cycle from my home.

I’ve been in the Compleat Angler a few times, mainly in the first year of my time in Norwich, since it’s just so handily near the station. The pub is fine, has a little bit of a “station pub” feel to it (like the Head of Steam at Euston in London, or whatever they call it now!). The ale seems to be well kept, I’ve not had a duff pint, and the outside terrace is fantastic, overlooking the river and shielded from the road. It’s nice to have a walk from here, along the river, to Magdelen Street, so well worth a visit if you’re planning a pub crawl from the station!

The beach at Waxham is a wonderful, sandy haven, rarely inhabited by more than a handful of people. Nearby is the fantastic newly restored Waxham Great Barn, with its associated Barn Cafe, an ideal stop-off point after a walk on the beach. The cafe offers a lovely cup of tea or coffee, as well as a nice selection of scones, cakes and sandwiches. I can recommend the cakes especially, they’re generously portioned and super rich and tasty. You’ll feel restored and ready to explore the coast some more after a visit, so well worth planning a visit if you’re in the area.

Ok, so it’s almost the 20th anniversary of “Nevermind” and it’s easy for me to remember teenage angsty “No Logo” rage against Starbucks. On reflection, although I love the indie shops, like Franks or Mustard, for example, Starbucks is just so damn convenient and good with it. This branch has some lovely staff, who have obviously been trained well by the Starbucks drill sergeant but have retained their personality. I love coming here on the odd day off, on a morning, to sit outside and just people watch. Sometimes it even gives you a primetime view of the Norwich Puppet Man, for that trippy “what’s in this coffee” feeling. It’s also handily near the awesome Millenium Library, so it’s so easy to get a great book and follow gravity down the hill towards a hot cup of whatever-takes-your-fancy.