Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: Lifestyle, North East

A Stay at Beadnell Towers Boutique Hotel

When we were invited to stay overnight at Beadnell Towers as a treat for Bo’s 40th birthday we jumped at the chance.  We’d been invited to the relaunch of this 18 room boutique hotel in the heart of Northumberland and couldn’t make it but after seeing the press pack we’d been desperate to visit.  Set in Beadnell Bay, which was recently listed at number 16 in The Sunday Times Top 40 UK Beaches, Beadnell Towers has undergone a radical but sympathetic restoration and refurbishment which pays homage to the character of the original stone building.

Beadnell Towers Hotel under Stormy Skies taken by Pixie Tenenbaum for Fashion Voyeur Blog

On the day of our visit there was a storm of epic proportions which brought the A1 to a standstill and delayed our check-in massively.  We aquaplaned our way there and instead of the 90 minute journey we expected, it took us a hideous 4 hours to get to our destination meaning we checked in right before our dinner reservation at 6pm, giving us just enough time to change.

Staff at Beadnell Towers are friendly and welcoming and offered to carry our soaking bags up to our room for us, after such a long and frustrating journey a warm friendly greeting hit all the right spots.

Walking through The Towers, you can’t help but be drawn in by the attention to detail, from the point of entry the tone is clear; Beadnell Towers is a home away from home.  They’ve thought about the things you might have forgotten, rainboots by the door, umbrellas incase of bad weather, beautiful toiletries in each room and a pantry on each floor with fresh milk and bottled water for guests to use at their convenience.  Management want you to use The Towers like it’s your home and it’s been renovated with that in mind; there’s a water cooler by the entrance laced with fresh fruit, a library tucked away at the back of the bar and pet bowls are provided.  There’s even a cute secluded roof terrace which we were shown, however didn’t get to use given that the weather was absolute garbage.

After a short walk up a huge open staircase with the original stone wall and some beautiful feature lighting, we’re shown to Muckle Hoose.  A suite like no other.  This double room packs a punch and a pinch me moment as the door opens to reveal its twin copper bathtubs sitting atop a backlit plinth behind the bed.  The room has everything you expect from a luxury boutique hotel – and more.  There are tea and coffee making facilities in each room along with locally sourced shortbread biscuits (the hotel are happy to provide more if you ask), an iron and ironing board if you fancy taking a load up with you, and a wardrobe for stowing luggage.

There’s a handy writing desk in the room, a huge TV which you can temporarily sync up your Netflix and Prime accounts to to use whilst staying in the hotel (just remember to ‘forget this device’ before you leave), a small thought, but one which makes all the difference especially when the weather isn’t so great, or if you have small children to entertain whilst you’re getting ready.

The bathroom is lavishly appointed, considering there are two tubs in the room; the separate bathroom has still been a huge consideration in the design of the suite.  There’s a huge double walk in shower with drencher heads, there’s easily enough room in there to move around too – these are meticulously planned and built bespoke for the space and it shows in the build quality and the amount of space in each room.  Jack and Jill sinks mean that two adults can comfortably use the bathroom at the same time with no waiting around and there’s the added luxury of automated low level, low wattage lighting as any night wanderers or insomniacs like me will discover.  These are all very thoughtful, very cool extras that will make you rethink your home spaces from the moment you check out.

Ok so what did we get up to?  Well, we didn’t actually have a lot of time given our utter debacle of a journey so we landed, had a quick change and headed straight downstairs to our dinner reservation in the hotel’s restaurant.  The restaurant itself wraps around from the hotel bar and constantly smells amazing.  We had a brief chat with the chef who advised that where possible it’s the ethos of Beadnell Towers to use local ingredients and produce in a mission to support other local businesses and growers – something we really liked.

Beadnell Towers Seafood Sharing Platter

As we sat and pored over the menu I drank a local gin, with tonic – a total rarity for me as I’m usually alcohol free but it was super refreshing, reminded me of Menorcan Summers and I wasn’t hammered after one – bonus.  The menu at Beadnell Towers is a treat just to read, there are some absolute culinary delights on there and it took us an absolute age to decide, but we finally settled on the most amazing Seafood Platter of locally sourced fish, mussels, crab and other weird and wonderful things.  As with everything that leaves the kitchen, the presentation of the more exotic food on the menu at Beadnell Towers is what draws you in – we overheard three other tables ask their servers what it is that we were having just based on sight.

Over dinner we got chatting to Deputy Manager Joann about Cadwell Park – the next place we’re visiting and we discover that her mum set a land speed record some years ago at that very race track so we bond over all things motorsport and she’s genuinely interested to hear about what we’ll be getting up to on track the following day so spends some time chatting with us.

Pixie Tenenbaum standing in front of two filled copper slipper tubs at Beadnell Towers Hotel in the Muckle Hoose Suite

After dinner when we decided to call it a night, we swung by the pantry to pick up some water and found it empty.  A quick visit to the bar proved fruitful, we were advised that if ever the pantry is empty, the same bottled water is kept in fridges behind the bar for guests too so it’s always nice and cold.  Once back in our room, we decided to test out those copper slipper tubs.  One of them is perfectly positioned for watching TV, the other not so much so you have to either turn off the TV in advance or attempt to force your partner to talk to you if, like me, you forgot and also drew the short straw.

We found two unexpectedly brilliant things about Beadnell Towers Hotel, they’re probably the two most important things when it comes to an overnight stay anywhere either in the UK or further afield, and quite possibly the most overlooked; these are the bed, and the breakfast.  At this hotel I’m assuming all of the beds are pretty much the same but can only comment on the one that we slept in in the Muckle Hoose suite and we can honestly say (both of us) it’s the most comfortable bed we’ve ever slept in.  We tried (very hard) to find out what type of mattress was on it and failed so have made a note to contact the hotel and ask because as a Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos sufferer, it was the most perfect mattress, period.

Secondly, the breakfast.  Worth visiting for alone.  The breakfast is fit for a king; for hotel residents there’s the obligatory continental set up – with a twist – as a lot of what you see in the buffet has been sourced locally.  You’ll find grains, cereals, fruit and yoghurt.  Then there’s a separate table set up with muffins, pastries and other deli type goods some of which we brought away with us for our journey – encouraged by hotel staff.

The real joy though is in the cooked to order breakfast menu.  Once you’ve steeled yourself with something from the buffet and some of the best freshly ground black coffee I’ve had since Spain and Milan, you’ll find yourself at sixes and sevens trying to select something from the concise, but mouthwatering breakfast menu.  From Craster Kippers to American style pancakes and the obvious choice of a Full English, each breakfast option is prepared fresh to order in the semi open kitchen.  Being a stalwart, Bo opted for the Full English breakfast, and being a fence sitter I opted for both the American style pancakes (in tribute to Miami) and Eggs Benedict because it’s a breakfast favourite of mine and I consider myself to be an excellent critic.

In between ordering and actually eating, we decided to head over to the kitchen for a chat with the chefs and they told us that occasionally new and unique dishes are added to the menu if local fishermen come up with something weird and wonderful in their catch.  As our food arrives at the table it’s clear to see that breakfast (in my opinion) is the dish that Beadnell Towers puts their passion into.  Most guests have travelled to Beadnell from around the North East or further afield to visit the magnificent coastline we have up here, the likelihood is that they’ve been out walking, hiking, boating or driving onward and exploring during their stay and this hotel has quietly considered all of that.  That’s why there are rainboots and umbrellas, drencher head showers to soothe aching muscles, sewing kits in the rooms to darn split socks and the most comfortable beds you could ever imagine to take a load off after a heavy day.   The creature comforts like TV’s which allow you to sync up your own streaming services, free and easy access to water and milk – little things which go unnoticed but make a stay that little bit smoother.

And then there is the breakfast.  Because after you have explored, or even before you have explored, you need to fuel up.  The hotel serves up a breakfast of champions; the Eggs Benedict is as good as Phuc Yea (my favourite Eggs Benedict ever), it doesn’t have that harsh change in temperature or texture and the eggs are cooked to perfection.  The Full English got the double thumbs up from Bo and I wasn’t offered any so I guess that means it was pretty awesome right?  The hands down winner though was the pancakes.  A small stack of light, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

After breakfast when we came to check out, we had to leave early as we had to pick up Plankton from his respite unit then get the bikes in the van ready to head to Cadwell Park for our track day (which you can read about here).  Because the weather had changed and started to brighten up, you could get a sense of just how pretty the immediate surrounding area is.  We’ll definitely make time to re-visit Beadnell Bay and explore the area, we’ve heard the fish and chips up there are amazing!

Pixie

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Slaley Hall Summer Soiree

Northumberland has two modes, Summer and Winter and it looks equally beautiful in either.  Bo and I were invited to Slaley Hall in the heart of Northumberland for the annual Summer Soiree, held during the height of Summer.  Not just any Summer, the Summer of 2018, yeah, the one where we had actual heat and sunshine at the same time.

With the sun high in the sky we set off for Northumberland with the top down, our sunglasses on, and not a jacket in sight.  We arrived at Slaley Hall in the evening with the sun beating down on us like noon on a Summer day, the setting literally couldn’t have been more perfect.  Slaley Hall is as welcoming as it is imposing, this gorgeous castle / manor house never fails to impress and seems to project a different persona from every aspect.  Tonight though, we were there for a showcase in conjunction with Duke Ata Bespoke, a menswear label by one of my BFFs held in the gardens, natch.

Guests were treated to sunset themed mocktails and cocktails prepared using Durham Gin (the house gin at Slaley Hall) on arrival, alongside canapés that looked like delicious mini ice cream cones but turned out to be some kind of weird tunafish wafer thing.  As we walked out to the gardens, the view opened out over beautiful, uber green grass and perfectly trimmed trees.  A live singer played on the lawn for us whilst we chatted and enjoyed the rare occurrence of some evening sunshine, think Nikki Beach, with grass.

After a chance to catch up and chat, we were escorted to the Japanese Ornamental Garden further down in the grounds of Slaley Hall.  A feature that’s pretty well hidden, almost like a secret garden which casts the most perfect light over it’s red and purple leaves and super still pond.  At the entrance to the Garden there’s a stone bandstand type structure, we’re told it can be hired for private dining parties and decked out with lanterns, or used for smaller wedding ceremonies and I can’t help but think what a gorgeous moment that would make.  Today though we’re assembled to hear from Duke Ata about his latest venture, the Duke Ata Clubhouse.  If you haven’t already read my post about the Clubhouse launch event you can find it here.  Duke and his team spoke about their quest to find the perfect base for the Duke Ata Bespoke brand and how as well as the bespoke tailoring range, the brand will now produce a ready to wear collection for men comprising suiting, shirts, socks and shoes, all available to view on the rack at the Duke Ata Bespoke clubhouse in Jesmond.

After his informal presentation, I grabbed Duke for a chat about some of the intricacies of how the Clubhouse will operate and in his usual relaxed tone, he told me that it’s there to be used, basically if a client wants an appointment the team will make it happen.  A driver will be sent to pick up the client from any North East location to bring them to the studio where they’ll chat about personality, style, likes and dislikes so that Duke can get a feel for what the client needs.  After that, the process begins and the suit is crafted to the exact specifications for that particular client.  It’s simple, but also elaborate and it’s a very client-centric approach.  Obviously I know all of this, I hang out there, I’ve even played the vintage piano that sits in the Clubhouse.

Sunset over Slaley Hall at the Summer soiree in Northumberland

At the end of the evening we make our way back across the manicured lawns to the main Slaley Hall building and I can’t help but notice just how beautiful it looks in the Northumberland sunset, right here in the UK.

Pixie

 

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

iPhone X & Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Cameras on trial

If you’re thinking of upgrading your phone, the chances are you’re looking at something produced by one of the two big leading cellphone manufacturers, Apple and Samsung.  If you’re anything like me, you’ll already know their release schedules and most of the expected features before the key notes take place and the releases are even announced and the chances are, you’re more interested in the camera and social media gadgets than the ability to make calls.  Sound familiar?  I was asked by Three UK to take the current new releases (at the time of writing) from both brands to test out the camera functionality, after all, who doesn’t love a good selfie these days right?

Where’s better to test camera functionality than the tourist trail in London?  Nowhere!  Armed with the iPhone X (pronounced 10 to mark the tenth anniversary of the iPhone) and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, I hit up the vibrant Bermondsey Food Market to see what I could capture, before moving along the South Bank via Tower Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe.  It’s worth me mentioning here that I’m an Apple fangirl.  Ever since I jumped on the bandwagon with iPhone 4, I’ve been a devout returner and my home is kitted out with Apple gadgets galore.  iMac, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, Air Pods, Apple TV, AirPort, you name it, I’ve got it – I kind of feel it necessary to declare my potential for bias before we move on.

Ok, so, under the guidance of my photographer friend Rob Percy, I started learning to get to grips with the latest Android offering from Samsung.  The S9 Plus is a big phone, bigger than any of the iPhone models and has an edge to edge screen meaning it’s easy to line up and snap pictures.  It is however pretty hard for an iOS user to get a handle on, to me the phone set up felt clunky, in comparison to the iPhone X (more on that later) it takes more clicks to complete each task, including unlocking the screen, which I found super frustrating.  Yes, both phones have facial recognition, but the Samsung still requires some extra faffing to get into where as the iPhone reads your eyes and unlocks instantly.  Let’s look at the merits of each phone and its respective camera individually:

SAMUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS

It’s a slick looking phone, clean lines, massive screen with a cool little curved edge that looks and feels expensive.  Not quite a point and shoot if you want to achieve the best photographic results as this particular phone allows you to shoot in raw format.  Be warned, this takes some mastering, it requires a lot of post production and manipulation but might just be worth it if you’re looking to ditch the DSLR.  Images created on this device are sharp and the light is automatically adjusted and refocussed in automatic mode – the more you’d select for ease and speed.  Editing is a little more tricky on this device if you’re moving from IOS to Android, I’d need way more than a day to get to grips with it but if you’re already using a Samsung phone and planning on upgrading, I’m assured the tools for image capture are the same as the previous model so you’re all gravy.  The S9 (as with other Samsung models) has a built in virtual assistant called BIXBY, and i hated its constant patronising, like an overbearing parent.  “Are you sure?” Yes I’m fucking sure BIXBY, Samsung are a million miles away when it comes to competing with Apple and Google in the VA arena, however, BIXBY does have some benefits in camera mode; if you point and shoot using BIXBY mode, the camera will highlight points within your screen capture to focus on and then provide more information, an awesome feature for travellers and tourists with a thirst for knowledge.

What you really want to see is the camera footage though right?  I’ve got to admit, the camera is insane.  It’s an amazing piece of kit packed into a cellphone and when you think about the cost which is around £800 (at the time of writing) it’s in the same ballpark as a mid range DSLR but has way more benefits than just being a camera.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Front Facing Camera
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Using straight lines to train the eye
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Demonstrating depth of field
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Bermondsey Food Market
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Bermondsey Food Market
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Food mode

One of the things Rob and I discussed during this camera trial, is that screen variation matters.  There’s a little bit of understanding of inception required for this bit; the pictures above were taken using a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus which has a particular type of screen optimised for that device.  When you view them on that screen you see them as they were meant to be, all crisp and clean and vibrant.  However when you take those images and view them on a different screen, as you’re doing right now, you dilute some of that quality as your own screen perceives, translates and displays them within the limitations of your own device.  Still with me?  Basically, they look the best on the device they were taken on and that goes for any device, what you see when you look through another screen shifts the parameters a little, to illustrate my point, here’s some third layer cellphone inception for you, an image I took on my iPhone X, of an image I took on my Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, viewed through the screen of whichever device you’re holding right now…..  Mind.  Blown.A test to illustrate the importance of screen variation in cellphones. The image of of a selfie which has been taken on a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and viewed on screen, then an image of the cellphone displaying that image has been taken using an iPhone X

iPHONE X

The iPhone X marks a departure from the expected format of cellphones from Apple.  Since the first iPhone, things haven’t changed that much and apart from size and internal features and functionality, the phone itself has largely remained the same.  That is until now.  The X marks the tenth anniversary of the iPhone and a brand new luxe take on the iPhone.  The home button and headphone jack are gone in order to make the phone more streamline (it actually looks very like the Samsung model) and there’s a new edge to edge screen to play with.  It doesn’t take long to get used to the missing home button, I’ll admit, the first 15 minutes were frustrating but it’s plain sailing and feels pretty natural after that.  The controls are simple; simple enough that my mum could use it with ease and that’s a pretty good guage for user testing.

The camera is a simple point and shoot and is optimised for use straight away.  According to Apple it’s a big step up from previous iPhone cameras and is the first phone in the line up to utilise Apple’s new technology and dual lens mechanism.  This means that the Portrait mode that is available on the iPhone 7 and 8 Plus models that every Blogger loves, is now available on the front facing camera too.  Just let that sink in.

Editing images in post production is easy, I’m not talking photoshop, FaceTune or filtering images with colour washes, I mean editing the settings to bend light, or enhance shadow within the image; real editing tools to make images strong and bold.  Simple slider functionality is available to edit each image as you wish and there are downloadable apps such as LightRoom if you do want to shoot in raw or using pre-set editing tools.  But what about the images?  Well, they’re crisp and require very little in the way of manipulation, however I’m going to say something a little controversial, I have both the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X and in all honesty, I think the camera on the iPhone 8 Plus is better.  *Gasps*  I know right?  Definitely a shocker but I’m not disregarding it, having Portrait mode available when you’re shooting selfies or anything else front facing is invaluable and therefore a winner.

iPhone X Selfie using front facing camera
iPhone X using lines to train the eye
iPhone X Depth of Field, The Shard
iPhone X The Dickens Inn
iPhone X Depth of Field St Paul’s
iPhone x Tower Bridge

You can see from both sets of images that a selfie looks different, the one taken on the Samsung uses light to blur out imperfections and highlight more vibrant colours, whereas the iPhone image offers a more HD style perspective, leaving you to correct anything in post production.  Both have their benefits and uses, and both are super smart, intelligent devices that will no doubt sell in droves and with only £100 between the two, cost isn’t really a deciding factor

THE VERDICT

Both phones are great, my honest opinion is that the majority of sales will come down to upgrading from a previous model by the same brand.  Generally speaking if you’re in the Android camp then you’re rooted there, and the same goes for established iOS users.  I liked the Samsung’s camera but hated everything else about it, it felt slow and clunky and not as slick as the iPhone.  It feels weird for me to say that because I’m also a Samsung fan, my TVs, refrigerator and washing machine are all Samsung, but they just haven’t done enough for me to leave Apple and rely on the device as my lifeline to the world.  Way too many clicks to do anything and despite the camera coming up aces, I’ll be passing on this one, sorry Samsung.

The iPhone X is a no brainer for me, I’m a fangirl, we’ve established that, Apple have stepped away from the usual release model with the X and I like it, it feels slick, it’s definitely heavier than previous iPhone models but it’s more compact than the 7 and 8 Plus models, with a bigger screen.  Yeah you guessed it, I bought it, but i’m betting you knew that was coming didn’t you?

Pixie xo

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Forsyth & Reed Breakfast Review

Clayton Road in Jesmond has undergone something of a resurgence recently.  From the OGs, those who spotted the potential on this largely undiscovered shopping street, like hair maestro’s Hooker & Young, to the newest kids on the block, Forsyth & Reed, Clayton Road has become a real destination.  The best thing?  There’s free parking.

Ok, that maybe a gross over exaggeration, it’s not the best thing about it.  The street is largely made up of independent North East Businesses and this time I’m in this leafy suburb to review the breakfast menu of hip new eaterie, Forsyth & Reed.  Early one (rare) sunny Saturday morning in March, Bo, Plankton and I landed on Clayton Rd right outside this quirky cafe.  The outside fixtures set the tone for the experience, black gloss fronting with heavy gold external downlighters and heavy red drapes – it feels like we’re about to step into an olde world theatre.

On the inside its an eclectic mix of old and new, with it’s bold sapphire blue wall and mismatched furniture it feels as if the owners responded directly to the wishes of every North East millennial.  A quick browse at the breakfast menu offers up a decent variety of options.  Whether it’s a simple bowl of granola or a Full English Breakfast, there’s something there for most tastes and we opt for Eggs Royale (me), Full English (Bo, obvs) and Poached Eggs on Toast with an optional sausage (Plankton).

While we wait, we sip on some of the best coffee I’ve had in a long time, thick but not syrupy and with a hint of bitterness that lets you know it wasn’t over roasted.  Preparation is fast and all of our food arrives at the same time meaning there’s no waiting around for somebody’s food and secretly hating them while you do so.  As we gaze lovingly at the breakfast feast on the table in front of us, it’s clear that preparation and aesthetics are equally important at Forsyth & Reed and both Bo and Plankton give me the death stare as I tell them they must wait until I’ve photographed it for you lovely lot, before they dive in and demolish it.

Eggs Royale
Full English Breakfast
Poached Eggs on Wholemeal with a Sausage

The breakfast is good.  I mean really good.  Poached eggs are easy to get wrong but these ones are perfection, small, round and full of flavour.  The egg whites are almost yoghurty, there’s no loose white and the yolk is soft and oozes when cut – exactly as it should.  Y’all know Bo is a difficult dude to please but he’s pretty confident that this is in his “Top 5” cooked breakfasts, he’s a very harsh critic so this is damn good praise.  Plankton ate both poached eggs in four bites, with no toast – that’s how good they were.  The eggs in the Eggs Royale were offset perfectly by the cooler smoked salmon and Hollandaise sauce.  Served atop a lightly toasted English muffin, just enough to give it a crisp outer edge, but still fluffy in the middle.  It’s how I’d like all of my breakfasts from now on please.

The space itself is busy, despite being new to Clayton Road, there’s a constant foot flow whilst we’re sat there and staff are friendly and attentive making sure that everyone gets a choice on where they’d like to sit and a drinks order is taken as soon as you’re seated.  The decor is what really draws you through the door though, despite having that deep blue wall the place is still light and airy.  There are a selection of newspapers and local magazines on display for customers to read and there’s no sign of the bullshit local rags, you know the ones I’m talking about Voyeurs.

We hung around and chilled long after we’d finished our breakfast, it has that feel to it, like you’re chilling in someone’s front room and there’s no hurry to leave.  If you’re a person who indulges in the sport of people watching, there’s a higher seated area in the window which offers prime viewing for such an activity.  There’s a constant stream of people who visit Forsyth & Reed in the time that we sit, and whether they’re ordering dishes from the menu prepared in the kitchen, or counter top cakes, everything that’s served looks delicious and the couples and families around us offer each other a taste of their food – a sure sign that it’s good.

On the go without time to stop for a cooked breakfast?  Then you’ll love this, remember that coffee I mentioned?  It’s half price as a carry out before 11am and before 11am good coffee is all you need right??

Pixie x

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Cocktail Tasting at Tapas Revolution

Almost a year ago to the day I was invited to the launch of Spanish restaurant Tapas Revolution in the newly revamped Grey’s Quarter of Intu Eldon Square.  Since then, Grey’s Quarter has become a destination for those seeking quick, easy access to great quality food and drink in Newcastle and it’s not just Spanish food on offer either.  The addition of The Alchemist has ensured that Grey’s Quarter stays open long after store closing time and has meant that surrounding outlets have had to seriously up their game when it comes to their drinks menus.

Fast forward to a year after an evening of tapas tasting and I’m back at Tapas Revolution for the intimate launch of their brand new cocktail menu which aims to offer something for everyone, along with a flavour of Spain…

Bo and I arrived at Tapas Revolution fresh from another launch event and were a little flustered.  We were greeted by our Bar Tender Marco and shown through to a private booth in the bar area of the restaurant which looks out over Old Eldon Square – it’s only a little thing, but it makes eating or drinking in the shopping centre a way more attractive prospect when you can actually see outside.  Once we were seated and decidedly less flustered, we were given a menu and asked to select three cocktails each which we decided to drink in rounds, rather than have on the table all at once.

First of all let’s address my awesome outfit, I wore vintage Pringle golf trousers with a topshop tee and a super cosy faux fur tee, might not sound like much but these are literally my current favourite trousers so any excuse I get to talk about them, I’m taking it.

On to the drinks.  The menu has had a significant revamp and it’s split into the traditional Spanish style Gin and Tonic menu which I was thrilled to see included two of my most favourite and difficult to find gins, Larios and Xoriguer (if you haven’t tried Xoriguer gin I urge you to find it, you’ll never look at a bottle of Hendricks again) all served with Fevertree tonics of varying flavours. Next to that you’ll find the cocktail menu, there are eight Spanish inspired cocktails to choose from and a selection of three Sangrias.  Cocktails vary from short to long and each has a strong vacation vibe in that you could easily imagine yourself sitting on Sant Tomas Beach watching the waves roll in sipping on one of these bad boys.  Even though the menu is concise, it’s difficult to make a choice because they’ve managed to select drinks that are very different from one another but you know, in the name of duty we managed it.  We went for:

ESPRESSO BLANCO MARTINI £8.50

Espresso Blanco Martini, Tapas Revolution Newcastle
ESPRESSO BLANCO MARTINI £8.50

Served in a traditional Martini glass, this smooth drink comprises Veterano brandy shaken with cold brew espresso, milk, dark chocolate liqueor, Kahlua and Frangelico.  Basically all the sugary alcohol that tastes like no alcohol at all.  It’s super easy to drink because of the added milk which makes it smooth and not as bitter as some Espresso Martinis you’ll find in Newcastle.  This was my favourite and truth be told, I ended up having three.

PASSION FRUIT & MARZIPAN BATIDA £8.50

Passion Fruit & Marzipan Batida, Tapas Revolution Newcastle
PASSION FRUIT & MARZIPAN BATIDA £8.50

A blend of vanilla and marzipan flavoured vodkas, condensed milk (yes really), tigernut milk and passionfruit juice shaken with pimento dram and Disaronno amaretto to create heaven in a glass.  This was Bo’s favourite and listen up Voyeurs, they should rename this one Lethal Weapon, it’s stealthy because it’s like sippin’ on a more-ish shake.  Creamy yet refreshing.

PIMENTO & MANDARIN DAIQUIRI £8.50

Pimento & Mandarin Daiquiri, Tapas Revolution Newcastle
PIMENTO & MANDARIN DAIQUIRI £8.50

A short cocktail served in a short stem class with a blend of Bacardi rum, mandarin, melon and pimento dram, shaken with caramelised pineapple and lime.  This one tastes as it sounds, it’s a little bitter and whilst it’s less exciting than the two above, it’s still a refreshing cocktail.  What you won’t expect though it the crunchy pieces that sit in the liquid, those tiny pieces of caramelised pineapple and lime give this drink some much needed bite.

BLOOD ORANGE & CHERRY ROYAL £7.50

Blood Orange & Cherry Royal, Tapas Revolution Newcastle
BLOOD ORANGE & CHERRY ROYAL £7.50

Another short cocktail vibrant in colour and topped off with fresh mint which I couldn’t help nibbling on.  this one has Larios gin, blood orange, aguardiente de cerezas, pimento dram all shaken up with lemon and topped with cava to cut through the sweetness and add a touch of fizz.  If there’s a drink that tastes like vacations by the sea then this is it, refreshing to the core and definitely one that looks as sophisticated as it tastes.

After we were cocktailed out, we opted for a jug of Sangria, the menu offers a choice of four typical Spanish Sangrias and one Skinny Sangria with 30% less sugar than the others.  We opted for a Sangria with a rose wine base.

BLOOD ORANGE ROSE SANGRIA £16

Blood Orange Rose Sangria, Tapas Revolution Newcastle

Made with rose wine, blood oranges, grapefruit, lemon, orange and lime, this offered a lighter, fresher, more citrus alternative to the traditional Sangria which is made with pineapple, strawberry and other fruits.  Not sure what to expect after conjuring images of drinking Sangria to excess in our high school days, Marco arrived at our table with a jug, a wooden spoon and two tumblers.  As you no doubt know, Sangria gets way stronger the further down the jug you get, no matter how much you stir it.  I stuck to the top of the jug whilst Bo demolished the bottom half.  As a Sangria it’s very unexpected, it’s light and refreshing, where some can be very dark and quite difficult to detect the alcohol, this one had a citrusy top note with a definite rose taste to it.  Pleasant and most definitely Spanish.

When it comes to pricing, the drinks are at the cheaper end of the scale for cocktails and that’s most likely because the primary function of tapas Revolution is as a restaurant.  However, you can visit just for drinks without buying food and even better, if you visit between 12-7pm Sunday to Friday jugs of Sangria are half price, cocktails are 2 for 1, and Larios gin and tonic is also 2 for 1.  That’s way more than a Happy Hour, that’s a Happy Day, and you can’t say fairer than that.

Pixie

Follow @pixietenenbaum