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Ruby Grimshaw goes to see a film

I can’t be the only one who was wriggling uncomfortably in their seat and wondering whether to leave as The Tree of Life lurched into its second hour. It was billed as giving possible answers to human questions. It posed a lot more simple ones for me such as why is everybody staring vacuously at each other without saying anything, and how can a mother of three young boys have the time to skip through the meadows smelling the flowers and gazing soulfully at a fragile butterfly sitting on her white hand – a hand that had definitely not seen a lot of dish washing? Read the rest of this article »

Andrew Kay discovers why The Curlew at Bodiam has won that coveted Michelin star

I would be the first to admit that I can get over-excited by food. Nothing thrills me more that great cooking, well not much, and I have spent many days, weeks, even years, in the pursuit of it. Not everything I have found delight in has been prepared by award winning chefs; I have had some spectacularly good roadside food, great sandwiches and even impressive fast food (but don’t tell anyone about that).

This year saw the burghers of planet Michelin bestow a much coveted star on The Curlew at Bodiam. Michelin stars are hard to come by, there are very few in Sussex, but that does not mean there is no good food, far from it. But for The Curlew to achieve the accolade is good news both for them and for the people of Sussex as it draws foodie interest to the county.
Mr R and I decided that, given the drive, a lunchtime visit was in order. Situated just up the hill from Bodiam Castle the building is a stylish and beautifully restored coaching Inn. Inside the look is gentleman’s club with a modern and, dare I say, pretty twist. Anyway, it works. Read the rest of this article »

The Old Firm Casuals (as frontman Lars Frederiksen insisted they be known) performed a short humdrum set to a crowd trying in earnest to pretend they were at a good punk gig. Unfortunately the band were a cartoon parody of a punk band, with an admirable spirit and energy failing to make up for the bland music, lack of memorable songs and weak hooks. Personally, I also think that as soon as sweaty people start taking their tops off, the band should stop playing and demand a mass re-shirting. Yuck.

The Hydrant, 31 July
Rating:
Joe Fuller

Will Harris ponders over Pride

In my very first column for this magazine, penned when Gordon Brown was in office and the horrors of the Go Compare tenor had yet to be unleashed on the world, I wrote about Pride in Brighton and Hove.

I worried (as so many 24 year olds do) that the local gay community was “in danger of forgetting its noble, placard-bearing, ‘sing if you’re glad to be gay’ roots”.
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