Review: Hand & Heart, Nottingham

December 21st, 2008

Being a little bit different is all the rage these days. How often do you see marketing slogans which declare a shop, pub or restaurant to be not just your average…, or more than just…?

The Hand & Heart, a relatively recent addition to Nottingham’s pub scene, resists such trite descriptive phraseology; still, it has a much more legitimate claim to these platitudes than many of its competitors. It is, after all, set in a sandstone cave, and it hosts its own gallery and coffee shop. How many other pubs can say that? Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas Number One

December 11th, 2008

It recently came to my attention that Sir Terry Wogan, the radio host, former Eurovision presenter and all-round legend, has recorded a Christmas single with Aled Jones. I sincerely hope it takes the Christmas Number One slot. Take a look: Read the rest of this entry »

Finding a Cheap Web Host

December 9th, 2008

Have you heard of this drinking game? The idea is that you line up sixty small shot glasses of beer, then you down them on the minute, every minute, over the course of an hour. It sounds remarkably easy, but you can rest assured that you’ll end up with a bad head afterwards – assuming you last the course.

For the record, I don’t recommend that anyone tries this game. In fact, you can get roughly the same experience without the need for any alcoholic beverages – not to mention the unwanted side-effects to be had from such an ill-considered exercise in consumption. Just spend an evening online, searching for a reasonably-priced yet half-decent web hosting company. Read the rest of this entry »

The Campaign for Real Chips

December 9th, 2008

[Originally published 25 March 2007]

On Saturday lunchtime I went to one of my favourite food pubs, the Kean’s Head in Nottingham. This non-smoking establishment in the Lace Market area of the city serves a good range of quality real ales, and it has a decent menu, making it an ideal choice for a weekend lunch if you fancy something a bit more substantial than a couple of sarnies from one of the ubiquitous coffee shop chains. Read the rest of this entry »

No More Draws?

December 9th, 2008

[Originally published 15 March 2007]

The Football League is apparently discussing proposals to decide drawn games using a penalty shoot-out. As I understand it, should the teams be level after the regulation 90 minutes, the suggestion is that spot-kicks would be used to decide the match. The current points structure (three for a win, one each for a draw) would still apply, but a bonus point would be awarded to the team winning the penalty competition in the event of a draw. Read the rest of this entry »