December 2014 – Page 10 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

FOOD REVIEW: Great steak at the Iron Duke

Posted on 08/12/2014 by Besi

The Iron Duke is a unique venue boasting a small theatre and established restaurant to complement the bar.

THE RESTAURANT has a new chef, Russell Tisbury running the food franchise and when we visited at 6pm on a Saturday night the bar was already full and bustling.

My dining partner started with a peperonata brushetta with melted goats’ cheese, balsamic reduction, pesto and dressed leaves (£4.95). He reported it was delicious, in fact one of the best starters he had sampled for some time. I chose the Thai infused crab cake, a little pricey at £6.95, but nevertheless very tasty and not too spicy. A soup of the day at £3.95 was the final choice on the starters menu.

For the main course I plumped for the 12 hour slow cooked pork belly (£11.95) with herbs and garlic, roast potatoes, glazed roots, kale, caramelised apple compote and jus. Perfectly cooked, not too dry and beautifully presented. The gravy was to die for and was perfect for serving with pork belly.

My partner chose the Reef and Beef, which included pan seared rib-eye steak topped with garlic king prawns served with hand cut chips and dressed leaves. He asked for it to be served medium rare and they got it spot on. He is still waxing lyrical about the quality of the meat and we will be returning very soon for an encore and to sample the lamb, bean and chilli burritos and the beer battered halloumi.

Both courses were really substantial leaving us no room left for a desert. Deserts on offer were sticky toffee pudding served with butterscotch sauce and vanilla seed ice cream and warm gooey brownie served with chocolate sauce and vanilla seed ice cream.

The diners on the next table sampled both deserts and assured us they were very satisfactory.

Apart from the main meals, burgers are available at £8.95 (toppings £2.50 extra). Filled ciabattas at £7.95 are just £5 from noon-3pm from Monday to Friday. The bar offers a very good selection of wines with the house wine at £13.95.

Iron Duke

7 Waterloo Street, Hove

Telephone: 01273 734806

Food served: Monday–Thursday 12–3pm and 5–9.30pm; Friday and Saturday 12–9.30pm; Sunday: 12pm till gone

Rainbow Families meet Mother Claus

Posted on 07/12/2014 by Besi

Rainbow Families is an informal non-profit social group for lesbian, gay and other LGBT parents and their children in Brighton and the surrounding areas.

ON SATURDAY, December 6, sixty same sex familes and their children attended the Rainbow Families Christmas Party at BHASVIC sixth form college on Old Shoreham Road.

There was more than 100 children present to enjoy the buffet and games before Santa or was that Mother Claus made an appearance around 2.30pm and gave a present to each child present.

Mum of six children and committee member of the LGBT Community Safety Forum, Sam Colderwood, said: “What a wonderful event. It is fantastic to see so many happy contented childen here enjoying themselves.”

For more information about Rainbow Families, click here:

Mayor hosts reception for Euro Games organisers

Posted on 07/12/201417/12/2014 by Besi

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Brian Fitch and the Mayoress his wife Nora hosted a reception, on Saturday, December 6 in conjunction with BLAGSS for the organisers of The EuroGames in Stockholm in 2015.

The EUROGAMES is an LGBT sporting and cultural festival which takes place in Europe for three years out of every four. The fourth year is reserved for the Gay Games and Out Games which are often staged outside of Europe.

The Swedish organising team had visited Manchester and London before arriving in Brighton, on Saturday, to encourage people to register for the EuroGames 2015, which open in Stockholm on August 5. 2015.

EuroGames encourage participation from everyone — regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic or artistic ability, age, physical challenge or health status. The purpose is to offer a safe environment for an expected 5,000 LGBTQ competitors and participants.

The EuroGames Stockholm cultural programme offers exhibitions, activities, attractions and a film festival.

The political programme hosts a conference with seminars, workshops and lectures, as well as an opening dinner at the City Hall of Stockholm for national and international participants and a closing cermony in the art deco Olympic Stadium which staged the summer Olympics in 1912.

The sports programme consists of over 25 sports such as Volleyball, Track & Field, Same-sex dancing, Badminton, Swimming and much more.

Jakob Jansson, President of EuroGames Stockholm 2015, said: “BLAGSS are a great organisation doing a great job here in Brighton and we look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm next Summer.”

“We want to make the UK contingent the largest one at the games – beating France and Germany. The UK has such great heritage and strength at sports and we know its LGBT teams and individuals will really enjoy Eurogames in Stockholm.”

For more information about the Stockholm EuroGames. click here:

For more information about Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society, click here:

Kemptown MP says Autumn Statement “good news” for Brighton and Peacehaven

Posted on 07/12/2014 by Sarah Green

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, backs a number of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement.

THE MP, who has successfully campaigned for a new hospital in the constituency and for improvements to the A27, voiced his support for increased funding for the NHS and a £15 billion investment in road infrastructure.

He said: “As someone who has campaigned tirelessly for the new hospital here in Brighton, I was delighted at the announcement that an extra £2 billion a year is being made available for frontline NHS services.”

“The welcome investment in our road infrastructure will also make a real difference, and I am optimistic that the improvements to the A27 will help ease the burden on other roads in my constituency such as the A259.”

Other measures introduced included increased support for small and medium sizes enterprises (SMEs) through the extension of the Funding For Lending Scheme, guaranteeing up to £500 million of new bank lending to SMEs, and expanding the British Business Bank with an additional £400 million. The Government will also review business rates and look to create a modern system for a modern economy.

As a former businessman who started up his own company in Brighton, Simon say he knows just how important small businesses are for the local economy.

Business rates relief has been doubled for a further year, and inflation-linked increase in business rates capped at 2%. There will be a full review of the structure of business rates, and increase in rates discount to help our high street shops, pubs and cafes by 50% to £1,500 next year.

There was further positive economic news with the latest figures showing that the services industry in the UK – which accounts for a large part of the economy – grew stronger than expected in November, rising to 58.6 from 56.2 the month before (a reading above 50 indicates growth). Employment in the sector also continued to rise strongly.

The services industry accounts for roughly 78% of overall UK GDP, and about three-quarters of all jobs, thought many of them are low paid.

He continued: “The services industry is an important part of the local economy here in Brighton and so the strong growth in the sector is a big deal and is very good news.

“As a result of the difficult decisions that the Government has taken, the deficit has been cut by a half. Thanks to the hard work of the British people there are 2 million more private sector jobs and 750,000 more businesses. There is still much more to be done, but we must stick to the long term economic plan that’s securing a better future for our economy, for our country and for hardworking taxpayers. We can’t risk it all by going back to Labour’s failed ideas of the past.”

Hove MP backs A27 investment announcement

Posted on 07/12/201407/12/2014 by Sarah Green

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined details of a £350m investment assigned to improving the A27 corridor in the Autumn Statement.

MIKE WEATHERLEY, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has backed the financial package which highlights that “the UK is the fastest-growing major economy in the world”.

Other highlights from the Autumn Statement include:

· A cut in Stamp Duty for 98% of those who pay the tax.

· The tax-free personal allowance to be increased by a further £100 in April 2015, to £10,600.

· Children to be exempt from tax on economy flights.

· Spouses to inherit their partner’s individual saving account (ISA) benefits after death.

· An additional £2 billion funding for the NHS.

· Business rates to be cut and capped, with extra Help for the High Street.

· The government to clamp down on tax avoidance by multinational companies.

Mike said: “The autumn statement included a bounty of positive measures for the country and some excellent investment for the South East. I was particularly pleased with the long-overdue investment for the A27, which will bring welcome relief to anyone who uses the busy road. Improvements such as this are possible as a result of the Government’s sound management of the economy.”

PREVIEW: Infinity Foods Café

Posted on 07/12/2014 by Besi

Infinity Foods Café, the first and original veggie and vegan cafe in Brighton, opened in November 1998 with a real buzz.

NOW BACK with a blast, the newly renamed Infinity Foods Kitchen opened its doors in October. Not only has the whole interior been redesigned but so has the food!

The interior now has a fresh, clean look with sustainable wood and hemp seating upstairs for a relaxed lunch over-looking Gardener Street. Downstairs the kitchen has a new counter with a quick till area at the front.

A take away fridge next to where you walk in is packed with goodies: sandwiches, paninis made with Infinity Bakery ciabatta, bento boxes, mezze boxes. Everything ready to grab and go for a speedy healthy lunch or snack.

The counter along the left side is filled with hot daily specials, jacket potatoes, thali, soup, salads, dips and much more, all veggie, vegan and organic.

But don’t miss the breakfasts with the special offer for Gscene readers (see coupon in the printed magazine): vegan pancakes with maple syrup and fresh fruit, veggie and vegan cooked breakfasts and more available for a delicious start to the day.

Infinity Foods Kitchen
50 Gardner Street, Brighton,

Telephone: 01273 670743

Open: Monday-Friday 10.30am-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

FOOD REVIEW: Rickshaw – 5 cuisines in 1 restaurant

Posted on 07/12/201407/12/2014 by Besi

Rickshaw offers a unique dining experience, serving Asian fusion cuisine from five countries in one single venue.

YOU CAN sample Chinese cuisine in the Beijing Suite, Japanese cuisine in the Tokyo Lounge, Indian cuisine in the Indian Summer Hall, Thai cuisine in the Bangkok Bar and Korean cuisine in any one of those four dining rooms.

Relax in the surroundings of the traditional Tokyo Lounge and enjoy some sushi, while your partner eats some Chinese or Indian dishes at the same table.

Before eating, enjoy a classic cocktail. I tried the Oriental Summer (£7), a spectacular cocktail with vodka mixed with Amaretto, Southern Comfort, orange juice and a splash of grenadine syrup. Cocktails on the menu cost just £6 or £7, with the top of the range Bitter Champagne cocktail costing £9. All cocktails were well-mixed, beautifully presented, great value and highly recommended.

For starters we had Pork Ribs Gangjeong (£7) – marinated pork ribs in sweet chilli garlic sauce. Quite delicious. The large and juicy New Zealand mussels in Green Thai Sauce (£7) were recommended by the management and were a revelation, complemented with a mild green sauce.

For a flavour of Japan we tried the Japanese Goyza (£6) – crispy dumplings of chicken or vegetables served with Japanese sauce. If you want both chicken and vegetables tell the waiter when ordering. The dumplings were crispy and the sauce spot on.

For our final starter we tried Salt Pepper Chilli Squid – squid lightly coated in flour and finished with sea salt, ground black pepper, spring onion and sliced chilli. The squid was tender and the batter light and tasty.

For the main courses my dining guest went with the recommendation of the management and tried the Fillet Steak Signature Dish (£19); a six ounce piece of the high quality fillet beef, served sliced and rare (unless you order otherwise) and covered with a dense, mild green sauce and a rice of your choice. It was stunning, the beef was perfect and my only suggestion is that some people might prefer the green sauce served separately on the side so they can choose exactly how much they want or don’t want on the beef.

I had the Thai Sea Bass (£14) – a crispy sea bass fillet topped with Thai herbs and sauce, garnished with basil leaves, fresh green peppercorn, grachai, lime leaves and brown rice. This was seafood at its best with the mild flavour of the fish perfectly teased out by the selected herbs.

Between us we shared a Korean Bibimap (£11) – rice served in a hot stone bowl with a variety of cooked vegetables and finished with a choice of toppings of marinated chicken, teriyaki mushrooms or prawns. This was my favourite dish of the evening, Korean cuisine at its very best!

For desert we somehow found room for the Banana Fritters (£7), which were served with ice cream and honey, and the Hot Chocolate Pot (£5) – a provocative coriander and red chilli chocolate pot ganache. Both puddings ticked all the boxes and my guest, a food critic from Barbados, said the Hot Chocolate Pot was the best desert she had sampled for a long time.

We washed each dish down with a glass of Prosecco Brut di Valdobbiadene (£23) – a light fresh and elegant wine with a slightly lemony and crisp palate.

House Wine costs £15 and the wine list included a good selection of wines from Italy, France and South America, ranging in price from £18-£79.

Service was first class, and the staff were polite and chatty without being intrusive. As well as offering a great all-round dining experience, Rickshaw is an ideal place to meet for a cocktail, drink before the theatre or to have a meeting during the afternoon.

Between 11.30am and 6.30pm each day try the Oriental Fusion Tapas deal which offers a selection of tapas dishes at £4 each or four dishes for £12. If you like sushi there is a Sushi Mixed Platter at £7 and £12, or a sharing platter at £20. Check out the website for some great value Christmas deals.

Rickshaw

36 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AB

Telephone: 01273 911811

Open: Monday-Thursday 12-10.30pm; Friday & Saturday 12-11pm; Sunday from 12pm

For more information, click here:

PREVIEW: Aladdin in Worthing

Posted on 06/12/201406/01/2015 by Besi

Lola Lasagne is appearing just down the coast in Worthing’s Traditional Panto, Aladdin this Christmas.

A FAMILY pantomime set to dazzle and delight. Fasten your seat belts for a magical ride of mystery, sparkling romance and dazzling adventure with this year’s lavish production of Aladdin, where everyone can escape to a world of magic, where adventure beckons on this pantomime flight of spectacle, slapstick and song!

Cheer on Aladdin, Wishee Washee and Widow Twankey as they do battle with the evil sorcerer Abanazar.

Will our handsome hero find true love with the delectable Princess Jasmine?

Maybe with a little help from the Slave of the Ring and the Genie of the Lamp we’ll reach a happy ever after ending!

Starring Jon Lee (S Club 7) as Aladdin, Tom & Jack (Heart Breakfast) as PC Ping and PC Pong, Kieran & Sarah (Britain’s Got Talent) as the Genie of the Lamp and Slave of the Ring, Stephen Richards aka Lola Lasagne as Widow Twankey, Terry Gleed as Wishee Washee and Jade Chaston as Princess Jasmine.

Event: Aladdin

Where: Connaught Theatre, 3 Union Pl, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1

When: Till January 4

Time: For times, click here:

Cost: Tickets from £12

To book online, click here:

FOOD FREVIEW: Sunday lunch at ‘the country pub in the heart of town’

Posted on 06/12/201407/12/2014 by Besi

I’ve sampled Sunday lunch at many venues over the last few months, but few tick the ‘value for money’ box as the food served by Aaron (aka Spice) at the Bedford Tavern in Hove.

THE MAIN course was priced at £8.95 with desert at £3 and a glass of wine with your meal costings just £1.

I chose the eight hour slow cooked belly pork with crispy crackling. It was cooked to perfection, as were the seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes. The stuffing in particular was quite special. Too often Sunday lunches are spoilt with soggy vegetables and hard roast potatoes. No problems here. Perfect vegetables to complement the best belly pork I have had for many, many moons.

My dining partner unusually had two vegetarian options to choose from. He chose the beetroot sausages with feta, roasted fennel and vegetables. He said it was delicious and a welcome change from the usual nut roasts offered on Sundays as the vegetarian option by many restaurants and bars.

Other main courses on offer included a vegan option, roast vegetable filo parcels with butternut squash, roast chicken wrapped in smoked bacon and for lovers of meat, roast leg of lamb with garlic and thyme and topside of beef with mustard and pepper crust.

For desert my guest chose the warm chocolate pudding served with ice cream which he said was “perfect” and I tucked into the selection of cheese and biscuits which were served soft and breathing. Both deserts were excellent value at £3.

Everything was washed down with a glass a house red wine costing just £1.

The food was really first class, beautifully presented and great value for money. We had a wait for the main course but were kept up to date on the delay which kept us very happy.

Sunday lunch is served from noon till gone. Get there early to guarantee a table as it is not possible to make a telephone reservation.

Bedford Tavern

30 Western Street, Hove,

Telephone: 01273 739495
Open 12pm daily, Sunday lunch served from 12pm till gone

Today is Small Business Saturday

Posted on 06/12/2014 by Sarah Green

December 6 is Small Business Saturday (SBS), which provides a great opportunity to celebrate and show support for Britain’s 5.2 million small and medium-sized businesses.

SImon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

WHETHER it’s a local manufacturer, builder, restaurant, tea room or bookshop, all of these companies keep local communities going: creating jobs, driving growth and ensuring our high streets survive and succeed.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and supporter of SBS, said: “I like to support small local businesses as often as I can, using businesses ranging from printers like WASP down the road from my constituency office in Peacehaven to local independent coffee shops like the Red Roaster on St James’s Street, and I would encourage as many of you as possible to join me tomorrow in doing the same.”

Small and medium sized businesses are working to improve Britain’s recovery. The Government is helping, with greater business support, access to finance and competitive taxes to help them thrive. The result is more than a hundreds of thousand more small and medium enterprises operate in theUK than in 2010.

Last year, SBS generated around £468 million. There are special events taking part all over the country – backed by cross party support and organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses, Young Enterprise, The Prince’s Trust and others.

Simon added: “We are fortunate to have many excellent small businesses here in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven. They are part of what makes the area so special. I wish good luck to all of them on Small Business Saturday and every success for the future.”

Call us now

Month: December 2014

FOOD REVIEW: Great steak at the Iron Duke

The Iron Duke is a unique venue boasting a small theatre and established restaurant to complement the bar.

Rainbow Families meet Mother Claus

Rainbow Families is an informal non-profit social group for lesbian, gay and other LGBT parents and their children in Brighton and the surrounding areas.

Mayor hosts reception for Euro Games organisers

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Brian Fitch and the Mayoress his wife Nora hosted a reception, on Saturday, December 6 in conjunction with BLAGSS for the organisers of The EuroGames in Stockholm in 2015.

Kemptown MP says Autumn Statement “good news” for Brighton and Peacehaven

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, backs a number of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement.

Hove MP backs A27 investment announcement

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined details of a £350m investment assigned to improving the A27 corridor in the Autumn Statement.

PREVIEW: Infinity Foods Café

Infinity Foods Café, the first and original veggie and vegan cafe in Brighton, opened in November 1998 with a real buzz.

FOOD REVIEW: Rickshaw – 5 cuisines in 1 restaurant

Rickshaw offers a unique dining experience, serving Asian fusion cuisine from five countries in one single venue.

PREVIEW: Aladdin in Worthing

Lola Lasagne is appearing just down the coast in Worthing’s Traditional Panto, Aladdin this Christmas.

FOOD FREVIEW: Sunday lunch at ‘the country pub in the heart of town’

I’ve sampled Sunday lunch at many venues over the last few months, but few tick the ‘value for money’ box as the food served by Aaron (aka Spice) at the Bedford Tavern in Hove.

Today is Small Business Saturday

December 6 is Small Business Saturday (SBS), which provides a great opportunity to celebrate and show support for Britain’s 5.2 million small and medium-sized businesses.

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The Iron Duke is a unique venue boasting a small theatre and established restaurant to complement the bar.

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Rainbow Families is an informal non-profit social group for lesbian, gay and other LGBT parents and their children in Brighton and the surrounding areas.

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The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Brian Fitch and the Mayoress his wife Nora hosted a reception, on Saturday, December 6 in conjunction with BLAGSS for the organisers of The EuroGames in Stockholm in 2015.

Share this:

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, backs a number of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement.

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined details of a £350m investment assigned to improving the A27 corridor in the Autumn Statement.

Share this:

Infinity Foods Café, the first and original veggie and vegan cafe in Brighton, opened in November 1998 with a real buzz.

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Rickshaw offers a unique dining experience, serving Asian fusion cuisine from five countries in one single venue.

Share this:

Lola Lasagne is appearing just down the coast in Worthing’s Traditional Panto, Aladdin this Christmas.

Share this:

I’ve sampled Sunday lunch at many venues over the last few months, but few tick the ‘value for money’ box as the food served by Aaron (aka Spice) at the Bedford Tavern in Hove.

Share this:

December 6 is Small Business Saturday (SBS), which provides a great opportunity to celebrate and show support for Britain’s 5.2 million small and medium-sized businesses.

Share this:

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