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Features

Ibiza is...

Wow! Where do I begin? After spending the last two months working on

the white isle, it's time to get back to reality,

The adventure began Saturday 2nd August when my friend, Alex, met me

at the airport. We booked a hostel for six days so we had somewhere to

stay while we were looking for jobs as you can't apply for a job before you

go out there; you just have to start looking when you arrive. Our holiday

in June allowed us to do our research, so we got speaking to people and

were told which places to go to to find work and accommodation. The

main places being the Ship Inn and Upmarket.

So, after we had unpacked in our (very sweaty!) room we had an early

night to ensure we were ready to hunt for a job the next day. After a long

walk into the main area – San Antonio, we went straight to the Ship to

take down numbers from job ads. At the same time, we called some guys

to look at the apartment they were advertising - and this one was a

winner. For 250 euros, we had a washing machine, our own room, and

could pick up the internet from the pub below. This was a bargain as

some of my friends lived in absolutes shitholes. Imagine four mattresses

on the floor with five-six people sharing them, living with cockroaches for

company in cramped, hot conditions. Not nice. One of my friends lived in

a basement which resembled a prison cell, with no window. Another

shared a one bed apartment with eleven other people. Luxury, it isn't. But

at the end of the day, myself and thousands of other Brits didn't come to

Ibiza to live like royalty. We came for the experience of working in one of

the best clubbing countries in the world, meeting like-minded people and

involving ourselves in another culture.

Now we had a place to live, we had more time to look for a job. On our

first day, we sold club tickets by cold calling people in their hotel rooms.

Working six until eleven pm in as many hotels as you can for an average

of one euro per ticket sold isn't fun. After knocking on around forty doors,

my knuckles were killing me, not to mention my soul, as about three

people opened their door. That night, I made eight euros and Alex made

nothing. I gave it one more day and made twenty-five euros but it was

torturous and we both jacked it in. Luckily, as we were walking around, Al

got chatting to a photographer who went around bars and restaurants

taking pictures, then turning them into keyrings and he ended up working

with him. This lasted a couple of weeks, until he found a job selling

laughing gas in a bar.

My next job involved working as a PR for a bar. However, after the

second day I was sooo bored as it was on a quiet street. Being put

outside it for four and a half hours wasn't exactly thrilling. I'm not usually

a quitter, but I knew there were better jobs out there if I looked. There

was a trial later in the week for PR's for Clubland – a new night in Ibiza

that turned out to be the success story of the year due to its popularity. I

turned up to find five other people there and didn't know how many

positions were available so I was determined to get this job. I was told to

come back later that night for a trial. After an hour of going around with

the existing PRs, listening to how they sold the night to tourists, it was

my turn to do it with the bosses listening. Ten minutes later my bosses

told me I had the job. Success at last.

During my time working I discovered that PRing is illegal if you don't

have a licence. We always worked in twos so one of us kept an eye out

for the police. One of the girls was previousy arrested and threatened

with a night in jail if she didn't tell them who she worked for. Obviously

she relented and the club wasfined 1500 Euros. Most people were in the

same boat as each licence costs your employer 1500 Euros and most

workers work in San An which is like a little community where everyone

knows everyone.

The Policia Local and Guardia Civil seem to be really cracking down on

what Ibiza is famous for. Due to new licensing laws, doors must shut at

7am, people can be strip searched at one of the clubs and no after-parties

are allowed. However, it was good to see that they are cracking down on

local crime too. The ‘looky looky’ men stand along the promenade and the

West End aka The Strip (where all the bars are) saying things like “Hey

chicken nugget, you want skunk, pills, charlie, hash” whilst parading

around with flashing glasses and umbrella hats – you have to see it to

believe it. Also, it's actually the men that need to be more careful in San

An. The ‘looky looky’ women hunt in a pack of wolves for incapacitated

men to offer them sexual favours for money. Seeing them grab men by

their wrists in a wrench like grip and dragging them down dark streets

just shows how ruthless and desperate for money they are. It's sad to see

that some people have to go to those lengths to make money.

Another problem over there are the local and Italian men – they are all

perverts. When I was walking down the prom in the daytime, an Italian

reached out and stroked my side – I wouldn't mind if he was good looking

and spoke in a language I could actually understand! But it was the sheer

nerve that they had! Although, this had happened to a lot of the female

workers, along with young boys on skateboards slapping their backsides

as they went by. You can only imagine what their parents are like!

It certainly wasn't all negative though. I had some of my best nights out

there. With eight clubs on one island – you're certainly spoilt for choice!

There's either Pacha for the more flush and glamorous clientele, or El

Divino for it's Hed Kandi night. Privilege (the world's biggest club) was the

residency for Tiesto. There was the infamous DC10, Underground, Eden,

Es Paradis and of course, Amnesia. Hosting the best nights on the island,

it's easy to see why it pulls in crowds most nights of the week. It's nights

include Cocoon, Armada with Armin Van Buuren, Cream and the

legendary Manumission – now that was a sight to see – try youtubing it.

The atmosphere is electric and everyone is there to have a good time.

There's no attitude or rudeness, just thousands of clubbers out to have a

good time. The ice canons they had are AMAZING! They're cold blasts of

air and smoke which last a couple of seconds. Whilst I was there I got to

see the likes of Roger Sanchez, Paul Van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell, Judge Jules

and Swedish House Mafia – and those were just my favourite DJs. I also

had a claim to fame by standing about a metre away from Gary Dourdan,

star of CSI who played Warwick Brown, randomly in a pharmacy in Ibiza

Town. As I thought it was impossible for an A-list celeb to be in a place

like and for me to be so close, I didn't do anything and now I could kick

myself for not asking and grabbing a photo. Gutted doesn't even cover it!

My favourite parts of the trip included a weekly boat trip called

Shipwrecked. At 7am, a boat goes out to sea for three hours where

anything goes, with a bar and DJ on board. It was even better because

the sea was choppy and everyone was falling everywhere or hanging on

for dear life. Let me tell you – the three hours it lasted for passed in a

misty haze!

Another high point was the “Shit Party” - the biggest worker's party of the

year held in an abandoned zoo. It was organised by a man called Loco

who has ran them for 5 years. All of the money made from the parties

goes to a charity like the Samaritans and this year, it made 22,000 Euros.

Everyone had to go in fancy dress and there were some ingenious ideas

such as a toilet and looky looky men and women. The seal pit was

transformed into a stage area and there was a huge foam pit which

people where swimming in. All the DJs and photographers worked for free

and for most people, the night was a very messy one. There was a lot of

good looking men there – even a few stallions. Everyone was so loved up,

like little love hearts, but there's a few sly foxes out there to get you.

Nevertheless, it was the best party I have been to.

So, if you're thinking of going out there next year, go on facebook and

search for groups like Ibiza 2009 and Ibiza workers. Start now and make

contacts to guarantee the best time of your life.

Why we should learn to love our bodies

Summer. A season which sends even the sanest woman crazy. What is it

that makes women become so conscious of their bodies during the

holiday season? I’m sure you have heard the same stuff before from

some magazines and possibly friends and family: ‘You’re gorgeous how

you are’, ‘You look great,’ but for many women, this is not enough. It

doesn’t help that the world’s media are relentless on celebrities who have

put on even an ounce of fat, so what hope is there for us mere mortals?

You just have to look at the way that celebrities’ weight yo-yo’s as the

press pounce on them for either being too fat or too thin. It’s a vicious

circle and there are some regular victims. Take Kerry Katona for instance.

Back in her Atomic Kitten days there wasn’t so much pressure on her

appearance, nor on other women in the public eye. However, as the trend

for size unobtainable has increased, the media have picked up on this and

belittle anyone who might be a little bit bigger than what is expected if

you’re in the public eye. This could have arguably led Kerry to taking

drastic action by having liposuction. Sadly, this was only a temporary

measure and she has since put the weight back on. Yet again, the media

have jumped on this and have constantly informed the public about her

weight gain.

It seems that in this media-saturated world, we, the public, are taken in

by what the press say. Think about it, how often have you have body

envy over someone you have seen in newspapers and magazines?

Especially now that there are images of celebrities who flaunt their bodies

in skimpy bikinis on holiday and adverts saying how you can lose weight

by eating cereal for breakfast and lunch. Everywhere you look, there is

always something telling you how to lose weight, which diet works best

and what exercises to try at home. There shouldn’t be this much pressure

on women; we have much more important things to worry about. We

should be able to look how we want without being criticised and reminded

of how to look a certain way.

Ladies, make a stand and stick two fingers up to those who tell us how

we should look. Dove have been absolutely brilliant in promoting real

women in their campaign and I say it’s high time all magazines, designers

and anyone that says you have to be a size 8 and under to be attractive

do the same. But remember, you’re happiness is the main thing. Don’t

listen to anyone but yourself.

Interviews

An Interview with Judge Jules

I first caught up with Judge Jules when he performed at University of

Portsmouth’s Student Union back in March. Seven months later, I spoke to him again, both before and after the Ibiza season.

Before

Who should we be looking out for in Ibiza?

We've got a new semi- resident called Richard Durrand from Holland, who's been making some fantastic records. We have also got the club

brand Kiss Da Funk who are really good and a few other new DJs, in addition to the existing guys such as Sander Van Doorn, Lisa Lashes and

Eddie Halliwell.

What keeps you going back there every year?

I DJ all over the world but Ibiza is unique. It's the only place that is a clubbing destination in its own right, whereas everywhere else has clubs

but people aren't really going there specifically for them.

Do you prefer vinyl or CDs? How do you feel about the music format changing from vinyl to CD?

I've been playing on CDs for about five years and basically if you were only to play vinyl now, you couldn't really do the job, because a huge

amount of tracks simply don't ever come out on vinyl; they just get released via download stores. There are DJs who could sort of stick with

vinyl, but really it's cutting off your nose to spite your face because there's so much material you wouldn't be able to play.

What advice would you give to people who want to get into the

industry?

[Takes a big draw of breath] The younger you are the better because I think it's very important to prove to a promoter that you can bring your

own rent-a-crowd along, or you can attract your own rent-a-crowd to events. Generally speaking the younger you are, the bigger a social circle

you've got. I started when I was 17 and at 17 you know absolutely

shitloads of people whereas if I was to start now, I would probably attract about four people and two of those would be my two small children who

are eight and three.

How do you find being away from them?

Erm, it's not easy but it's my job. I try and keep trips away, whether

they're domestic or international, down to the bare minimum and get home as soon as I can.

What was the first record you bought?

Probably something that was bought for me by my parents, maybe Abba

or something like that I'd imagine. I don't really know to be honest. Something very childlike, probably, you know, a then-day equivalent of

Westlife.

Who are your idols/inspirations?

I wouldn't say I've got idols or people I look up to. I mean there are DJs I

think are good, but ultimately you've really got to cultivate your own style and believe in what you do. Also, those that don't really listen too much

to an external perception of what poeple think is good.

What did you do before becoming a DJ?

I've got degree in Law, but by the time I graduated I was, well, sort of bedded in with the DJing so I've not really done anything else.

What's been your best achievement/award won to date?

Just doing the job I always dreamt of doing is mine. So few people get to

achieve their boy-hood or girl-hood dreams and that is the greatest achievement of all.

Does your day differentiate when it's a set day to a regular day?

No, not really. DJing requires a lot of homework. I listen to about three hundred new tracks every week which takes probably ten plus hours a

week - I also edit all the tracks I play as well. Not forgetting any other radio show preparation and bits and bobs, but that kind of thing is spread

out through the week really. When you come to the day of a gig, you're setting out of the house pretty well prepared.

After

Was there one judgement in Ibiza that stood out? If so, when and

why?

It's good every week, but I guess the Radio One weekend always stands

out,

because for the last few years I've been on air from the club, giving me

the chance to speak on the mic (something I don't normally do at

Judgement), whichalways generates one hell of a scream-up.

How did you feel this season went in general, and in particular with the new licensing laws? Has it really affected Ibiza and what

it's about?

The changes have been made to after-hours culture and not to clubs in general, so it hasn't affected my DJ life on the island, but if you're a

deranged no-sleep 24 hour party person (which I'm not) you might feel that something's missing.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Lots of long haul touring – over the next six months I'll be going to: Brazil, Canada, US, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India, Dubai, Thailand,

Malaysia, Singapore, NZ, Australia (I think there are more, but these ones immediately spring to mind). And the release of my artist album 'Bring

the Noise', and my new Heroes and Villains t-shirt range which is available from my website.

Keep an eye out on judgejules.net to keep up to date with what Jules is

up to.

An interview with Tanya DeGrunwald

Steph Hall speaks to the freelance writer for Grazia, GLAMOUR, Cosmopolitan and The Guardian, about her experiences within the

publishing industry.

What is a typical day like?

T: You’ll struggle to find a journalist who’s a ‘morning person’ – and I’m

no different! I start work at 10.30am doing admin and making calls. I’m at my most productive in the afternoon, when I might interview a case

study, pitch ideas to editors or write an opinion piece. Often I work straight through until 7pm. Once my head is into something, I press on

and get it done.

What’s the biggest myth about being a freelance journalist?

T: That it’s like being Carrie Bradshaw – Sex and the City has a lot to

answer for! For starters, there’s no way Carrie could afford Manolos writing one column a week – she’d be making about £300 before tax. And

I don’t work at home – I rent a desk at a freelance office in central London. It costs £300 a month, but I make that money back easily

because I’m so much more productive and motivated than I would be at home alone.

It must be tempting to slack off – how do you discipline yourself?

T: Two things motivate me – being able to pay my rent, buy clothes and go out, and hitting my deadlines. Missing deadlines would trash the

reputation I’ve worked so hard to build up. On days when I feel really unproductive and don’t have a deadline, I catch up with boring admin –

like chasing overdue invoices.

What’s the best part about your job?

T: Every feature I work on is new which suits my short attention span! I

also have some great dinner party stories. I’ve been to a French naturist resort for Marie Claire and a New York ‘orgasm lab’ for Cosmopolitan. For

GLAMOUR, I’ve covered London Fashion Week and met Cheryl Cole, James Blunt and Erin O’Connor.

That’s certainly an interesting story to tell! What’s the worst part about your job?

T: Ensuring I have a steady stream of work takes planning. However

much I have on, I need to constantly pitch ideas so there are always new things in the pipeline. I also miss having colleagues to ask for advice if a

feature goes wrong! Negotiating fees can be tricky but I’m getting better

at standing my ground.

Is it true that journalism doesn’t pay?

T: The money isn’t great. An editorial assistant or PA to the Editor makes 16-18k, a junior writer makes 22-24k and senior writer makes 25-28k. In

theory, freelancers can earn more – up to 35k. But that’s only if you can

get enough work – and that’s a big ‘if’. Generally I find the fees from big publications fair. The glossies pay £800 for a report and £400 for a one-

page real life. The only time when I take less is if I’m offered a piece I know will be great for my career – like an overseas trip or a big celebrity

interview.

Have you been hit by the recession?

T: The whole industry has been hit. Magazines make money from

advertising (not sales), so when advertisers tighten their belts editorial budgets shrink, so editors use freelancers less. They’re also less likely to

send me on expensive trips with a photographer as these add up. On the other hand, I’ve heard people suggest that as permanent staff are laid

off, mags could actually start using more freelancers. Our fees are more expensive, but we don’t get paid benefits, so we actually work out being

cheaper. We’ll have to see how things pan out.

Did you go straight into journalism when you graduated?

T: No – I spent a horrible summer as an Office Angel, de-stapling (literally

removing staples from pieces of paper!) before working for 18 months as an office manager for a recruitment firm. This involved answering phones,

organising client parties, greeting candidates and being the boss’s PA. It sounds boring but it was the perfect post-uni job for me. [Tanya has a

2:1 in Psychology from Durham University]. I was 21, had no experience and no idea what I wanted to do next. That’s where I learnt how to

behave professionally. It’s all stuff that I still use today.

How did you get into journalism?

T: I did three months of work experience, ending up at B magazine (now

closed but a bit like Company), where I stayed for a whole summer, earning £40 per day. It wasn’t much cash but writing three-page features

was amazing for my portfolio. I freelanced for another three years, doing holiday cover for permanent staff and taking short contracts with new

launches. Eventually I landed my first permanent job [at eve] where

people told me I’d progressed faster my way than I would going the traditional route of editorial assistant, junior writer, then senior writer. I

wouldn’t recommend what I did though – it was tough.

What tips do you have for anyone who wants to be a journalist?

T: Don’t write articles in your bedroom and send them to editors.

However amazing they are, editors won’t commission you without a proven track record. Instead, arrange work experience – get into the

offices where magazines are made. Start meeting people, bagging experience and getting some great titles on your CV – even if you only

handed out the post! Don’t expect to land your first permanent job until you’ve done some casual jobs first, so be sure to ask whether editors

need holiday cover or an extra pair of hands for their summer supplements. Take advantage of the fact it’s a small industry – if you’re

good, you’ll get recommended.

What does the future hold?

T: Good question! I love the writing I do for magazines and in theory, I

should get more work the more well-known I become. That said, I’m keen to try new things – perhaps TV and radio. I’ve also written a really

successful graduate careers guide which I think has even more potential.

I’d love to run workshops for graduates who leave uni with no clue what to do next. I certainly know how that feels!

Tanya de Grunwald is author of Dude, Where’s my Career? The Guide for

Baffled Graduates (Summersdale, £8.99). To order – and for more career tips – visit www.dudewheresmyblog.com

An interview with Digital Harry

Venus bar was host to trance event Illumidance in April. I spoke to one of

the DJ’s to find out more....

Hi Harry! Firstly, what's your style of music?

H: I play and produce Driving Melodic Tech Trance.

For anyone unfamiliar with you as a DJ, how would you describe your sets?

H: I love being behind the decks. It gives me power to express my music. I love getting technical and using all the equipment available to me to get

the crowd really going. I have lots of energy behind the decks and love playing off the crowd to get people singing and having a great time.

How did you get into DJing?

H: A love for the music really. I really got into Trance music around

2003/2004 and wanted to be able to DJ. I purchased a midi-controller for my computer and started mixing MP3's. Then once I got to a stage where

I could beatmatch, I purchased my pioneer CDJ's. I've been mixing for

two years now and love every minute being on the decks.

How did you become involved with Vision Control?

H: Through a friend or a friend, Dan Identikal (the label manager), listened to my demo's via my housemate. I became involved with the

label and played at their launch party in London. When Vision Control moved down the coast to Hardsouth, I'd already played in the trance

room and so was invited back for Vision. I was made a resident DJ in January this year and am really enjoying working with them.

Are there any tracks you are working on at the moment?

H: My housemate (Lee Walls) is a very talented producer/engineer so I have worked with him. We currently have a track called Assault which I

hope will get massive support. We're currently working on two remixes

and hope to start a second original track after these. I also cut and chop tracks to fit my sets be it create an intro mix or add/remove a vocal.

To date, what has been your biggest gig/proudest achievement?

H: Finally penning my ideas and producing a track. I'm working with a friend - Lee Walls, on a new track called Assault. It’s a pounding Tech

Trance tune and I'm really happy with the result. We're going to start

work on our next track soon. I've also got one or two tracks of my own in the pipeline. Production is the next level in my career as a DJ and I'm

really enjoying working in the studio.

Who’s your inspiration?

H: I take a lot of inspiration from those closest to me. Some of my friends

are doing really well for themselves in other genres and the fact that they enjoy my music means a lot. I'm a musician and so positive feedback

from anyone is a real boost. I would describe myself as a cross between Jochen Miller, Simon Patterson and Ronski Speed.

Do you have any forthcoming gigs?

H: Twisted Mayhem at Venus Vodka Bar (Portsmouth) 15th May Vision Control at The Honey Club (Brighton) 5th June

Together Twisted at Empire Club (Bournemouth) 11th July

What does the future hold for you? Where do you see yourself in 2

- 3 years time?

H: I'm looking to advance my production skills further and hopefully get a

few successful releases under my belt. I'm happy with my rate of progression and have a bright future ahead of me working with Vision

Control and their record label.

Finally, what are your three top trance tunes?

H: 1: Simon Patterson - Us (Original Remix)

2: Ferry Corsten - Out Of The Blue

3: Kirsty Hawkshaw - Outsiders (Jose Amnesia Remx)

Travel: UK Cities - Liverpool

Home of the Beatles, the mighty Liverpool FC, Brookside (RIP) and the

new shopping mecca, Liverpool ONE, the city has something for everyone.

During the Easter holidays, my mum and I took the trip up North as an

alternative to avoid the crowds and inevitable delays at the airport. Why

Liverpool you might ask. Curiosity was the main reason. Neither I nor

mum had been there before so it was the perfect excuse.

With a student railcard, my return journey cost £57. That includes

underground travel and a direct train from Euston to Liverpool, taking a

mere two hours from the capital. Upon arrival, we checked into a place

called The International Inn which offered hostels, a boutique hotel (with

the most amazing shower I have ever experienced) and serviced

apartments. This is a concept I’ve not heard of before and an ingenious

one at that. For the price of £65 a night, about the same as your average

hotel within the city centre, you can have an apartment to yourself, some

of which sleep six people. Just google rented apartments in Liverpool and

you will be amazed at what comes up.

Situated about a 15 minute walk away is the main station – Lime Street.

From there, a 5 minute walk will take you to shopping heaven. The area

named Liverpool One is an architectural marvel. Ladies, my top tip is to

go to Boudoir Boutique in Cavern Walks where you can find original,

quirky dresses, shoes and accessories. I found a fab studded waist belt

and tassled bag for £20 and £25 respectively.

With your usual high street shops – including a four story Primark whose

window displays wouldn’t look out of place at Topshop, selected middle of

the range stores such as Urban Outfitters and American Apparel (which

for some reason I couldn’t pronounce properly – I pronounced it Ap-par-

rel, but it’s supposedly pronounced App-a-rul. Potato, potato I say! Check

out POP on Whitechapel for vintage finds, a favourite student haunt. L1

also housed designer boutiques in the MetQuarter and Cavern Walks

shopping centre – home of WAG favourite, Cricket. Although I didn’t spot

any WAGS during my visit, many of the local girls sported the uniform of

backcombed hair, heavy, dark eyebrows, you’ve been tangoed tans and

towering heels. It seemed that even a day’s shopping was considered

worthy of catwalk style fashion for these style conscious girls. You

certainly can’t fault the scousers for the effort they make with their

appearance! If only I had a can of hairspray and bottle of fake tan to

hand...

For those of you who are culture vultures, Liverpool offers two

cathedrals, the Tate gallery of the North, a slavery museum, maritime

museum, several theatres and the Liver Birds building. It’s no surprise

then, that it was voted the European Capital of Culture in 2008. Take a

walk down to Albert Dock as the museums (all of which are free), gallery,

Beatles experience, bars and restaurants are all here. My favourites were

Gusto, which served an amazing Nutella and marscopone calzone for

desert, the Pumphouse for pub grub and Pan Am, which served American

style food. The latter was previously home to This Morning when Richard

and Judy presented it, with its view of the Dock behind. Home to where

Fred presented the weather on the floating British Isles and where the

infamous streaker appeared.

If you do decide to go to Liverpool, you MUST take a trip on the yellow

Duckmarine. Is it a vehicle? Is it a boat? No, it’s both! Priced at £10.95

for students, you board the Duck on dry land and get a tour of the city for

half an hour. Sights include the Hard Day’s Night hotel which is a Beatles

themed hotel where the John Lennon suite costs a mere £600 a night (!),

you pass Mathew St, which is dedicated the Beatles as its home to the

famous Cavern Club, and underground, dimly lit delight, where the band

played their final gig. Other sights include the China Town and the places

of interest I have previously mentioned. Then, the moment everyone

waits for – the Duck turns into a boat! As you roll down a hill for

splashdown, scream like a small child as you hit the water and travel

around the docks for half an hour.

This is a great way to explore the city if you haven’t been there before as

you take in all the tourist areas. Everything is within a 20 minute walk so

you’re never too far from the action.

If you’re a night owl like me, head to Victoria Street for some upmarket

cocktails. Visit St John’s hotel bar which has opulent red lighting and

window seats – if this was Amsterdam, I dread to think what kind of

offers would come flooding in! The Living Room is another bar to visit –

try the Peach Melba Cooler, but just one mind you if you aren’t

particularly flush – it costs £5.95, but it’s worth every penny.

Concert Sqaure, off of the quirky Bold Street, offers your usual chain

favourites such as Lloyds, Walkabout, Reflex, and Yates. You can also find

the home of Cream, Nation, located to the back of the square. Tip: some

of these are small, dark back streets, so be careful! Explore the area in

the daytime to find plenty more bars, clubs and quaint, individual pubs.

Take comfortable shoes with you as you walk A LOT! I must have walked

about 50 miles during my five days there, but it’s the best way to see the

city as I found lots of unique places. To have a really good time, a week

would be sufficient to see everything. There’s loads of stuff shooting off of

every street and you can find some real gems. One of my personal

favourites was The Chocolate Cellar on Hanover Street. The only way I

saw it was the small flag blowing in the wind over the inconspicuous blue

door. Once inside, the smell of chocolate filled the air. It’s mainly a

chocolate house so to speak serving hot drinks and selling beautifully

wrapped chocolates – think Thorntons by times the quality and

appearance by 10! For £2.20, choose a milk, dark or white hot chocolate

served with a dish of marshmellows. A lump of chocolate is skewered onto

a stick and left in the cup for it to melt. I had great pleasure in mine

melting and scraping it out of the cup until there was nothing left.

Another great find was the American Pizza Slice, tucked in between a

vintage shop and newsagents. Situated on Whitechapel, you can choose

from a selection of toppings from the basic to the more interesting Cajun

Prawn or All Day Breakfast. Freshly made and available as a whole pizza

or an extremely generous slice, with all toppings under £2 per slice, its

the perfect stop off for those of you who are participating in a shopping

marathon (like myself – let’s just say I shall be a hermit for the next

month at least!), or those of you who just want a small, cheap snack as

you explore this lively city.

With the euro being increasingly on a par with the pound, it’s well worth

staying in Blighty and taking a city break. Liverpool offers something for

everyone whether you go with friends, your partner, parents or

grandparents. I suggest a budget of £250 if you’re a slight shopaholic like

me and want to make the most of your visit with fine dining and drinking.

Remember to ask if they take student discount wherever you go as you

may be surprised at what shops, tourist attractions accept it.

Instead of the usual hotels, try hostels at The International Inn as you

can stay in twin or double rooms or a dorm if you’re on a budget. The

hotel, Cocoon, located in the same building offers sumptuous beds, a

gorgeous rose head shower, iPod dock and LCD digital tv for around £43 a

night. If there’s a group of you, enquire about the apartments which

come fully furnished and equipped with all the essentials you need for

your stay – just go on google to find the best price.

For more information go to: www.visitliverpool.com

Manchester

Situated in the heart of the North-West, Manchester is the north's answer

to London. The cosmopolitan city is home to the mighty Manchester United, Shameless, two shopping centres and the night-time hotspots of

Canal Street, situated in the gay village, and Deansgate where you will find bars along this long stretch of roads. It is a favourite with soap stars

and footballer's as some of the amenities are fairly exclusive and expensive. Further along are the Deansgate Locks which are home to

more affordable places such as Revolution, Loaf and Pitcher and Piano.

This is the perfect destination for a weekend away as it only takes 127

minutes from Euston to Manchester's main station, Piccadilly. Book your tickets in advance as you can save a fortune! I went from Sheffield and

found it was cheaper to buy two singles totalling a mere £6.60. It is worth shopping around for your accommodation to find some deals; I went on

www.lastminute.com and found that serviced apartments were cheaper than some hotels in the same location. For £55, me and a friend stayed in

a studio apartment opposite Canal Street and 10 minutes away from the main station and shops. It looked exactly how it did the photos and we

were blown away by what we got for our money. It definitely made the trip more memorable as you can cook what you want and party as you

get ready with an amazing shower (free products included!), sound system, TV and DVD.

We didn't have a clue where anything was, but just get yourself a map and it's pretty easy as everything is well signposted and the locals are

more than happy to point you in the right direction. Arndale (one of the two shopping centres) is situated in the city centre with all your favourite

stores under one roof. Pick up a guide as we found we got lost going in circles, literally! The bigger centre, Trafford, was much easier to navigate!

This is just on the outskirts of the city, so hope on the number 250 bus which takes you there directly for £3.50 - bargain! Like the Arndale, it

houses all the shops you would expect as well as Selfridges and stores that are usually found in the larger outer-city locations. Who knew two

whole days of shopping could be so exhausting! You can imagine our relief when we found the huge restaurant floor and refuelled with a stop

at Giraffe for some amazing noodles and desert. You can get student discount here so make sure you take full advantage if you're planning on

spending lots of money.

If shopping isn't your thing then you can always experience the highlights

of a city by going on an open top bus sightseeing tour. You can also visit the Imperial War Museum North, the Museum of Science and Industry

and Manchester Art Gallery. Why night spend your evening at the theatre

at The Royal Exchange and Lowry where you can see acts such as Sean

Hughes, Tim Minchim and Dr Christian Jensen from Embarrassing Bodies?

Whatever you decide to do, experience the buzz of the metropolis that is magical Manchester.

For more information go to: www.visitmanchester.com

Reviews

Restaurant Review

Abarbistro, White Hart Road, Old Portsmouth

Situated next to the Isle of Wight ferry terminus and the camber is the

ABar, a restaurant offering mouth watering dining in an airy,

contemporary environment. Although pricey, it is a great place lunch or

dinner. At the same time, it may seem like it’s for a certain clientele, but

looks can be deceiving. You can have bar snacks such as a cone of chips

for £3 or one of the starters. It is a suitable venue for all ages for any

occasion.

With a bar area, two dining areas and tables outside the front and the

back of the bistro, it is perfect for that casual drink or three course meal.

Although ample in size, it is well worth booking during holiday time and

on sunny days as it gets packed out. It is suitable for all ages

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and no request is too much

for them. They are efficient and fantastic at making sure you are satisfied

(although not to the extent where it becomes annoying). Also, they don’t

try to ram drink and any other extras down your throat.

The bar offers a seasonal menu Monday-Saturday and a set menu on

Sundays. I went on Easter Monday with my family and had a faultless two

course lunch. Starting with olives and foccacia, priced at £2, I was

pleasantly surprised about how much it filled me up. It came beautifully

presented on a thin, black slate with two thick slices of salted foccacia and

a selection of green and black olives. The soup of the day (pea and ham)

was an unappetising shade of green – the kind you get in a retro 70s

bathroom, yet tasted delicious. For the seafood connoisseurs of you

reading this, try the ‘bucket o’prawns’. Considering you can have it as a

starter, you might want to reconsider what you have for your main as she

had 27 prawns. 27! For the grand sum of £5 – bargain. Follow this rule if

you choose to have mussels as well as Nan was soon to discover. Dished

up in what looked like a huge saucepan and served with ciabatta, they

can be chosen as a starter or main.

For my main, I chose the South Downs Sirloin steak with fat chips and

green peppercorn sauce at an eye watering £18. But let me tell you, it is

worth every penny. Although only four chips were served, they were the

size of fish fingers but twice the depth. My knife cut through the steak

exquisitely and with the thick, peppercorn sauce, it melted in my mouth.

Words cannot describe how immense this course was. If I could eat one

meal for the rest of my life it would be this.

Other mains available were a huge sized portion of fish and chips (served

in a metal cone), crab, tomato and chilli penne, salmon steak wellington,

and favourites such as burger and chips and sausage and mash.

The ABar Bistro also offers a soup of the day, catch of the day and pasta

of the day, including a range of mouth-watering deserts so all tastes are

catered for. So if you are looking for somewhere special, look no further.

Frankie & Benny's (Steph Hall and Tom West)

Walking into Frankie & Benny’s restaurant is kind of like walking into a

theme park; photos of Giuseppes and Marios stare across the wood-

panelled walls at each other, and appear to judge you as you place your

order, throwing disapproving glances as you ask for a burger instead of a

pizza... I wouldn't call it intimidating, just cliched. Still, it didn't put me off

of my food. And the bumps that I felt in the ambience were smoothed out

by efficient service from our friendly and enthusiastic waitress.

Starter:

T - A more erotic bruschetta I have never encountered; juicy, tangy

tomatoes on a gorgeously garlicky ciabatta that simply exploded in my

mouth, and a balsamic vinegar that got my juices flowing in anticipation

for the main course. A well-executed starter that reflects the proud Italian

heritage of the business.

S - Like Tom, I too had an orally tantalising experience, with a mushroom

alfredo; button mushrooms in a creamy cheese sauce. It was a pleasure

to see a decent sized portion for a starter. Served with garlic bread

(which seems to be a staple of most dishes), it was the perfect dish to

whet my appetite.

Main:

T - Hi, Frankie & Benny's? Tom calling. A piece of advice: it's okay to give

me more than two onion rings, did you know that? Honestly... I had the

F&B New York Chicken. What was there was cooked to perfection, despite

my needing to employ the services of a microscope to find the portions

served up. Whether or not the miniscule servings were intentional, I now

fear that every main course on the menu will be an equal disappointment.

S - My main course was a disappointment given the deliciousness of my

first course. I ordered the Cajun Chicken Pasta Bake (priced at £8.95,

which is fairly dear for a pasta). It consisted of about two dollops of pasta

in a watery carbonara sauce, with "fresh roasted peppers" making a

background appearance. This is the first time I've been dissatisfied with

something at F&B.

Pudding:

T- I couldn't finish my half of the Giant Cookie Sandwich. All I'll say is

that it provided a gut-wrenchingly sweet satisfaction, that made up for

what was lacking in the main course. Couldn't finish it, but I didn't care a

single bit. All I wanted to do was go and sleep it off; a rather well-

performed finale for our lunchtime feast.

S - At £6.75, we had high hopes of this dish redeeming the whole

experience and that it definitely did! However, it was almost rock hard.

After several attempts at pretty much hacking in to it, we succeeded as

the cookie softened with the melted ice-cream.

Overall:

T - A satisfying experience that I would indeed repeat again; I'll give

them another chance to put a decent amount of food on my plate!

S - An enjoyable experience. Our table was ready by the time we had

ordered our drinks at the bar and we weren't rushed into ordering our

food. One thing I noticed was the constant push to order more drinks, but

apart from that, and the let down that was the main course, I had a great

time.

We would definitely recommend this to a friend, although we would tell

them to steer clear of the pasta bakes and smothered chicken!