1574 by TNT Magazine

Oct 28-Nov 3 2013 Issue 1574 tntmagazine.com

ISNPA!SS W YEAR’

A TO THE UK’S TOP ATTRACTIONS WITH BAD GRANDPA

OOOH! AAAH! Best places to watch fireworks in London

BITE-SIZE EDINBURGH Scotland’s must-sees when you’re on a tight schedule

L O R T A P SNOW udget b r u o y r e v e t world – wha e h t in s e p the top slo t u o s s u s e W ISSUE 1574 / £1.95

+ JET SKIING IN FRANCE TRAVEL TIPS TOP 5 SPOOKY BREAKS LATE DEALS

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CAROL DRIVER ACTING EDITOR carol.driver@tntmagazine.com

EDITOR’S LETTER The clocks went back at the weekend, which means only one thing – winter is on its way. If that doesn’t inspire you to book your next trip, what will? With that in mind, we’ve got a top travel section lined up for you this week. We go on a whirlwind tour of Edinburgh, taking in all the best bits on P36. Then, flick to P42 where adrenaline-fuelled activities are calling from France. Finally, for all you snow-bunnies, our round-up of the slopes is on P46. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK LONDONDIARY

4-5

LONDONLISTINGS

6-8

DRINK

FOOD

LONDON SOUND

CHATROOM

LONDON SCENE

LIFESTYLE

MONEY

NEWS

SPORT NEWS

SPORT FEATURE

TRAVEL

31-50

FEATURES

NEWS

DIARY

TIPS

UK TRIP

LATE DEALS

HOTSHOTS

TOP 5

SHORTBREAK

WOUNDED WALLABIES

BIG TRIP

CLASSIFIEDS

Could this Europe tour turn things around for low-ebb Australian rugby?

WHIZZ! BANG!

It’s bonﬁre night! Here’s a guide to the very best places to watch the ﬁreworks.

COOL VILLAGES

Just arrived in the capital? Check out these almost-rural areas in the big smoke

MUST-SEE SCOTLAND

On a tight schedule? Here’s the ultimate checklist of what to see in Edinburgh.

EAU LA LA!

Photos: Getty; Thinkstock

From jet skiing to paddleboarding, TNT dives into the waters of France

HIT THE SLOPES!

We round up the very best must-ski runs around the world for every budget.

36 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

Editorial Acting editor Carol Driver Contributors: Michael Gadd l Alasdair Morton Caroline Garnar l Andrew Westbrook l Andy Jones

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EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES 0203 011 1066 To contact the various editorial departments via email please use the following email addresses: entertainment@tntmagazine.com lifestyle@tntmagazine.com sport@tntmagazine.com travel@tntmagazine.com

Final frontier: Space is the place in this for adults-only late night soiree

SALES/MARKETING/EVENTS Sales manager Jaqui Ward Phone 020 3137 5950 Email jaqui.ward@tntmagazine.com Sales Executive Matt Syder Phone 0207 9890491 Email matt.syder@tntmagazine.com For all general enquiries please call 0207 989 0567 or email sales@tntmagazine.com Design / production Head of design and production Lisa Ferron Phone 01225 442062 Email lisa.ferron@tntmagazine.com Design / picture editor Patricia Montenegro Phone 0203 011 1066 Email patricia.montenegro@tntmagazine.com Subscriptions / Distribution Manager Caroline Penn Phone 01603 559004 Email caroline.penn@tntmagazine.com ACCOUNTS Emma Overton Email emma.overton@tntmagazine.com STARTRACK MEDIA LTD Directors Kevin Ellis, Ken Hurst Stuart Bidgood Publisher Startrack Media Limited Distribution Emblem Direct Ltd Printed by Wyndeham Peterborough Limited News AAP Pictures Getty Images, TNT Images, Thinkstock TNT Magazine , 114 Coppergate House, 16 Brune Street, London E1 7NJ tntmagazine.com

Shhh... SECRET LONDON science museum lates: space Kensington

This month’s lates evening focuses on space, that cavernous area above us about which we know so much but about which we still have a great deal left to learn. As well as the pay bar – which makes walking around the museum after dark extra quirky – there will be a talk from a shuttle flight director, live music, a punk space comedy gig, a pub quiz in which you can put your space-trivia knowledge to the test, a silent disco underneath actual rockets and a speed dating event as well. free

October 30, 6.45pm-10pm Science Museum, SW7 2DD

South Kensington

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bobby mair

Yayoi Kusama exhibition

hoxton varieties

After running away with all the plaudits at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Canadian stand-up Mair is bringing his epic new show to London, which sees him take on everything from being Justin Bieber’s cousin and why everyone living in the Middle East should get to vote in US elections. A mesmerising show.

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition, entitled White Infinity Nets, displays several of the renowned creative’s pieces which brought her to prominence in the 1950s. Famed for her enticing monochrome approach, this is the first time an entire collection of her work has been shown in Europe.

Oct 31, Nov 1-2, 9.30pm 41 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road sohotheatre.com

Until Nov 9, Tue-Sat, 10am-6pm Victorio Miro Mayfair, W1S 1FE Oxford Circus victorio-miro.com

An East End variety series begins this week that runs the gamut from cabaret to DJs, live music and comedy. Lady Leshurr kicks things off on Friday with subsequent events including exhibition Archive Imagining the East End (Nov 13-28), a vintage fair and tea dance (Nov 16), a Hitchcock film night (Nov 20) and more.

£10+

FREE

£3+

Nov 1-28, times vary Hoxton Hall, N1 6SH Old Street hoxtonhall.co.uk

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Nonsense: Tony Law features at this comedy fest

Greenwich comedy festival Greenwich

Comedy stars including Andrew Lawrence, Alexie Sayle, Andrew Maxwell, David O’Doherty, Mark Watson, Richard Herring and Maximum Nonsense-maker Tony Law will be taking to the stage at this three-day festival of laughs. Veteran funnyman Arthur Smith will be touring Greenwich’s most iconic sites, too, and there will be a Comedy Academy taking place over the weekend as well for aspiring stand-up stars of the future. £10

November 2-3, times vary Various venues Greenwich

alternative london tour

Bruce devlin’s sunday roast

The secrets of the East End are brought to life in this alternative tour that takes you behind the scenes of creative hipster hub Shoreditch and curry mecca Brick Lane to unveil the history you don’t so often hear about what really went on – and what goes on – in this vibrant area.

Devlin hosts this Sunday evening roast ‘n’ stand-up show at Backyard Comedy club which is loaded with top comedians and insightful interviews that take you behind the scenes of the entertainment world. This evening features Carl Donelly, Gail Porter, Wendy Wason and Jo Caulfield.

FREE

Photos: Science Museum

greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk

Tue, Wed & Thur, 12pm & 7pm. Fri, 12pm, Sat, 12pm & 3pm Spitalfields Market, E1 6DT Liverpool Street alternativeldn.co.uk

£5

Nov 3, 7.30pm Backyard Comedy Club, E2 0EL Bethnal Green backyardcomedyclub.co.uk

Explosive London The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the highlights of this year’s Bonfire Night. Here are the displays not to miss WORDS ALASDAIR MORTON Bonfire night is a peculiarly quaint and eccentric British tradition that commemorates the attempted attack on the House of Lords by the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, spearheaded by Guy Fawkes, by blowing up loads of fireworks and rockets into the sky. It is, safe to say, one of the most spectacular nights in the British calendar. One of the undisputed highlights of the Bonfire Night events in London this year is going to be the annual Lord Mayor’s Show. It has been running for almost 800 years and is as traditional, British and regal as the name would suggest. A three-mile-long procession kicks things off during the day, welcoming into office the 686th Lord Mayor of The City of London – this one is not Boris – all of which is started initially with an 11am flyby across London. After this, there will be 21 bands, 150 horses, 23 carriages, carts and coaches as well as vintage cars, buses, fire engines, penny farthings and loads more, not to mention more than 7000 participants who will be taking part, all led by the giant 14-foot-tall wicker giants of Gog and Magog. 6

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Marching bands, gold-adorned carriages and more fanfare than you can imagine then follows as the procession fills the streets of London, with the roads and streets closed off to ensure maximum focus on the event as it makes its way between Mansion House and the Royal Courts of Justice in Aldwych. Around 45 minutes after the first floats have set off, the State Coach leaves Guildhall and travels to Mansion House to pick up the new Lord Mayor who then makes their way to St Paul’s, where they receive a blessing, and then head on to Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street before ending up at the Royal Courts around 2.30pm. After witnessing this stately action, you can then grab yourself a free guided tour of The City, which will take you behind the scenes and reveal some of the more unknown facts about this most important part of London, its heritage and all the juicy stories that have taken place throughout the city’s jam-packed history. After this though it is all about what will be the absolute highlight of the day – the evening fireworks display.

“To mark the end of the Lord Mayor’s Show and the beginning of a new mayoral year, London’s newly confirmed Lord Mayor will launch a magnificent fireworks display over the river,” says event organiser Dominic Reed. “It’s one of London’s most spectacular annual displays and you’ll be able to see the fireworks for miles, but for the best view of all head down to the riverside between Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges, either on Victoria Embankment or on the South Bank.” The fireworks show will be one of the most spectacular in all of London, set off from a barge moored on the Thames and visible from across the city. It will be, though, best viewed from the banks of the Thames. You best get down there early to nab yourself a good seat for the show, as there are going to be more than half a million people lining the streets. ❚ MORE BONFIRE NIGHT EVENTS ›› The Lord Mayor’s Show. November 9. Free Mansion House, EC4N 6JD Mansion House lordmayorsshow.org

VAL D’ISERE – DECEMBER 20-29, 2013 BY ACTION-OUTDO ORS.CO.UK

Join The TNT Snowblast Tour to Val d’Isere this Christmas! Mayoral: the show has been going for almost 800 years

TNT Magazine & Action Outdoors have partnered up to bring you The TNT Snowblast Tour – have a White Christmas to remember in Val d’Isere

The TNT Snowblast Tour – 9 day trip to Val d’Isere, France. 20th Dec – 29th Dec 2013

Spectacular: the evening’s fireworks display is set to stun

• 6½-day liftpass for Espace Killy ski area • 6½-day Ski or Snowboard and boot hire • 12 hours of group Instruction • 7 nights accommodation at UCPA Val d’Isere • ALL meals, including TWO Christmas celebrations • Après-ski events every day • TNT Ski merchandise • Return coach from London

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Overwhelming: more than 7000 people will take part in the show *Includes £50 discount valid through to Nov 25th.

EALING CRICKET CLUB WEST LONDON

THE SCIENCE OF FIREWORKS OXFORD STREET

A fireworks display that takes on a celebrated movie theme, this year it’s all about ‘stage and screen’ with the rockets and Catherine Wheels accompanied by music from the likes of Star Wars, Skyfall, The Dark Knight (below) and Phantom Of The Opera. There will also be glow in the dark novelties on sale, too, alongside the warming mulled wine.

Learn how the rockets and explosions are actually created as Dr Tom Smith, who has worked on the London New Year’s Eve fireworks for almost 15 years and who was a consultant for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, reveals the chemistry behind what actually occurs and creates the sounds, colours and bangs. Interesting stuff.

£6

Nov 2, 7.30pm Ealing Cricket Club, W5 2HS Ealing Broadway ealingcc.co.uk

£12

ALEXANDRA PALACE BONFIRE NIGHT NORTH LONDON This famous Bonfire Night event is back with a bang this year after a four-year hiatus – and they are sure to make up for lost time. As well as the fireworks themselves, from 2013 British Fireworks champs Star Fireworks, there will also be a funfair, street food market, a German bier festival and Oompah band, ice skating, a DJ and a headline musical set by tribute band Noasis. £6+

Nov 2, 2pm N22 7AY

Alexandra Palace

WIMBLEDON PARK SOUTH LONDON This south-west London event has two shows to its name – the first will be a calmer, quieter show of fireworks, you know, for the kids. The second will be a louder and far more exuberant display that turns it up to 11. £8

BROCKWELL PARK FIREWORKS SOUTH LONDON If you are going to get anyone to create your fireworks display then why not make it the folk who wowed and stunned the world with the magnificently orchestrated bangs at the London Olympics Opening Ceremony? That’s what Lambeth Council has done with this Brixton bash that has a funfair, too, as well as the much-kept secret of its very special finale. £8

Nov 5, 5pm Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, SE24 0NG Brixton brockwellpark.com

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Nov 5, 7pm Wimbledon Park, Revelstroke Road, SW19 7HU Wimbledon Park merton.gov.uk/ news-events/fireworks

RAVENSCROURT FIREWORKSSHOW WEST LONDON This west London show will basing its display this year on a superhero theme, with a funfair and foodstalls to get you in the mood. £7

Nov 2, 7.15pm W6 0UL Ravenscourt Park lbhf.gov.uk

Nov 5, 6pm-7pm The Royal Institution, 21 Albermarle Street, W1S 4BS Oxford Street rigb.org.uk

alexandrapalace.com

LEGOLAND FIREWORKS WINDSOR Let your inner child run riot at this DC superheroes-themed display which will come accompanied, of course, by loads of little people with round yellow plastic heads. £18

Nov 1 & 2, 6.30pm Windsor SL4 4AY legoland.co.uk

BLACKHEATH FIREWORKS SOUTH LONDON

VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS FIRE FESTIVAL SOUTH LONDON

There’s a funfair, food stalls and a bar at this popular south London event, which regularly attracts in excess of 100,000 visitors. Oh, and it is free, too, although Lewisham Council would appreciate any donations.

This is not, as the name suggests, a fireworks display but a fire festival, the culmination of which is its Bonfire Night display. There will be a Tea House Theatre show explaining the origins of fireworks with parkour dancers, gymnasts, and then there will be the big event itself with a climactic fireworks display. Oooh!

Nov 2, 4pm Blackheath, Shooters Hill Blackheath Road, SE3 0TY lewisham.gov.uk

Nov 3, 6pm Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, SE11 5HY Vauxhall vauxhalltrust.wordpress.com

FREE

£10

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DIRTY MARTINI Bar

This bar has long been a favourite for tourists and suits in Covent Garden, which means we usually avoid it like the plague. However, this brand new branch in Bishopsgate, just right of Liverpool Street Station, has a different vibe with an ’80s-esque decor, super friendly staff and killer cocktails. THE GRUB You can get bar snacks to line your stomach, although you may want to eat beforehand as the food isn’t cheap and the portions are small. Sharing platters are a good option, though, with veggie, Mediterranean, fusion and seafood to choose from. Other classic snacks include beef or chicken skewers, breadcrumbed calamari, flatbread and wedges. All tasty, but not exactly hearty. THE SCENE

Given its name, Martinis are clearly the top drawer here: shaken, stirred and everything in between. You can have it dirty, ahem, or they also serve cherry blossom, espresso (our fave), mango and chilli and more. Prosecco and champagne cocktails also feature, which is why it’s worth hitting up the happy hour, when you get 50 per cent off Martinis, Prosecco cocktails and bottles of wine as well as £10 off champagne (Mon-Wed 3pm-10pm, Thus-Sat 3pm-8pm). BILL PLEASE Cocktails are £8.50 or £9. Wine from £4.95 for 175ml glass. Bar snacks cost around £6, platters from £14.95. VERDICT Better than its Covent Garden branch, but still a pricey night out. BEHIND THE BAR

158 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4LN

3 OF THE BEST MEAT PIES

dirtymartini.uk.com/bishopsgate

Liverpool Street

Get dirty: the new branch of Dirty Martini has a retro vibe

PIEBURY CORNER

EAT MY PIES

M. MANZE

Missing the great Aussie meat pie? Here are some Brit versions to warm you in winter. On Holloway Road, Piebury Corner’s awardwinning wares start at £2, plus there are ales and ciders to pair with your pastry.

Andy Bates created Eat My Pies to restore pie-making back to Great British glory. Visit one of his three stalls at King’s Boulevard, White Cross Street Market and Broadway Market, for a wild rabbit and bacon pie.

M. Manze has been around since 1902, and is still adored for its pie and mash. Enjoy yours the proper Cockney way with Manze’s homemade liquor, a sort of dyed-green gravy. Visit stores in Tower Bridge, Peckham and Sutton.

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BITE SIZE FORZA WIN(TER) Forza Win is a pop-up Italian supper club which enslaves its menu to the seasons. This means from now until December 21, diners can tuck into a sharing platter of ginger pig porchetta with polenta roast potatoes, with a minestrone soup with basil pesto to start, and poached winter fruits with ricotta for dessert. They will also warm you up from the inside with their hot, spiced cocktails and entertainment comes in the form of a folksy five-piece band. The dinners take place in a secret location, email bookings@forzawin.com with your preferred date and number of guests to find out where. Tickets cost £35. forzawin.com

TRICKS AND TREATS The Breakfast Club is getting into the Halloween spirit with ghost-o (sorry). With horror film nights and a “Voodoo silent disco”, they are finishing off with a Halloween Detention club night on Friday November 1 at their Spitalfields branch. They have teamed up with FRAME Shoreditch to kick off the night with a Thriller dance class at 7.30pm, followed by a party in a ‘mad scientist’s laboratory’. Wicked! thebreakfastclubcafes.com

Photos: supplied

GAME ON! In honour of National Sausage Week (4 to 10 November), the Lido Café has given the humble hotdog a gourmet makeover. Inspired by their passion for all manner of game, they have come up with… drumroll, please… the gamedog! The venison and wild boar ‘dog’ comes with juniper sauerkraut and cranberry ketchup. Drool.

Tradition: Gow’s restaurant is 125 years old

GOW’S SEAFOOD

With the air of a gentleman’s club, the low-lit, wood-panelled, starchtableclothed dining room below the more informal bar is the place to make deals with a firm handshake and hearty pat on the back. It’s also not a bad date spot, as the testosterone’s not overbearing in the evening, plus the oysters for which it is famed are an aphrodisiac after all... THE GRUB Previously owned by the Gow family, the bar used to be a fishmongers, while the restaurant below has been serving the fresh oysters and seafood to diners for 125 years. They certainly know what they are doing as the selection of fresh Colchester oysters we sampled were seriously tasty – the tempura ones with sweet chilli jam and a set served with bacon and cream were particular highlights. A main of haddock with leek puree, soft poached egg and, quite literally, a brick of creamed potatoes, was smoky yet delicate, while a superbly tender fillet steak with peppercorn sauce and Portobello mushroom was a masterclass in meat. A brownie, perfectly gooey on the inside, gently crisp on the outside and served with fresh berries rounded off proceedings perfectly. THE SCENE

It’s shameful to have a meal like this without a bottle of wine. We enjoyed a bottle of Muscadet Sur Lie, which complemented the oysters perfectly. BILL PLEASE Oysters start a £14 for a dozen, while mains range from £13 for bangers ‘n’ bubble, to £43.50 for steak and lobster. A bottle of wine starts at a very reasonable £14.95. VERDICT You really get the impression that the serving staff love where they work, and many of them have been there for years, which says a lot about the traditions of the company and the quality of the food they are serving. We can see why they are proud, as the atmosphere is as sophisticated as the menu, and the food is simple yet delicious. We may not have been brokering a deal, but we gave ourselves a firm pat on the back anyway for a night well spent. BEHIND THE BAR

thelidocafe.co.uk 1 Old Broad Street, EC2M 1PR

ballsbrothers.co.uk

Liverpool Street

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Acoustic alt-rock: Seether strip it back for this intimate London show

ALASDAIR MORTON FOR THE RECORD There have been many odd couple pairings in rock ‘n’ roll over the years, with Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt , Metallica deciding to collaborate with New York legend Lou Reed on the Lulu project. Yet none as odd as the latest, with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong teaming up with Norah Jones. In a move sure to find problems aplenty with the punk rock faithful, Armstrong has collaborated with the queen of muzak on an album covering tracks by the Everly Brothers, entitled Foreverly. “I thought it would be cool to remake the record because I thought it was sort of an obscure thing and more people should know about it,” Armstrong told Stereogum.com last week. And while the three-chord diehards will no doubt criticise him for it, we can’t help but feel his latest project is pretty damn punk actually – unexpected and totally against the grain of current trends. Good on him, we say.

SEETHER Union Chapel, N1 2XD TUES, NOV 5 | 7PM | £15

The million-selling South African rockers took their name from the Veruca Salt song of the same name but have never recorded it before. Until now, with the single featuring on a new retrospective that they’re taking on the road. The band loved the Nineties alt-rockers Veruca Salt so much they named their band after their 1994 hit single but have since made a name all of their own though as alternative rockers of some repute. They burst on to the scene back in the early Noughties and have clocked up no fewer than 11 number one hit singles in their native homeland as well as millions of albums sold around the world. “Thirteen years ago when a demo of Needles [the band’s early calling card] came roaring through our speakers and tearing down our hallways, we knew greatness was at our fingertips,” says Ed Vetri, President and CEO of Wind-Up Record who brought Seether to the world. And his early enthusiasm for the band has paid dividends, as fans around the globe will attest. This tour though sees the band in a new light, stripping back the distortionlaced power chords and driving rhythms that have characterised their output, for a more gentle and pensive acoustic take on their back catalogue. Rather than roaring out of the speakers, as Ventri recalls of his early introduction to the band, they will be playing an intimate night that will see their 11 number ones and more performed in a whole new light. It’s sure to be a show that will delight fans of the band who will get to see them in a different way. Highbury & Islington

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NEW BAND

GOLDFRAPP GIG FRI, NOV 1. 7PM £27.50

The sultry synth-pop princess Alison Goldfrapp brings her electro-stylings and glammed up wardrobe to town in support of the band’s latest sixth album, Tales Of Us. With the likes of Chvrches proving electro-pop is all the rage right now you can be sure this one will be packed to the rafters. Hammersmith Apollo 45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH Hammersmith hammersmithapollo.com

BUGGED OUT: EROL ALKAN

FAMILIA 1ST BIRTHDAY

CLUB

SAT, NOV 2. 9PM-4AM £10+

SAT, NOV 2. 10PM-11AM £13+

Erol Alkan’s last show was back at Easter when he played a mammoth ten-hour set and he is back after an eight month London hiatus for this headline show in which he’ll be sure to be dipping into his new EP for label Phantasy. Support comes in the shape of Ewan Pearson, Kiwi, Nadia Ksabia and Dark Circles.

Familia has been filling the monthly Egg London calendar with colour and exuberance over the last year and this weekend celebrates a one year anniversary as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) once again takes over Egg London to the tune of two of the biggest artists around, Cristian Varela and H.O.S.H.

XOYO 32-37 Cowper St London EC2A 4AP Old Street xoyo.co.uk

Egg 200 York Way, King’s Cross, N7 9AX King’s Cross egglondon.net

BEAR’S DEN THE BUZZ SO FAR This London three piece have had one hell of a year playing with Mumford and Sons, touring the US with Daughter as well as taking to the road Down Under with Matt Corby. Their new EP Without/ Within sees their songwriting mature, their altfolk tuneage taking on a scale to match the arena shows they have been playing. Which makes it the best time to catch them on their forthcoming headline tour. THE CRITICS SAY “Beautiful melodies, backed by heartfelt lyrics” Aled Schell, the405.com

Without/ Within is out November 4 through Communion Records. Play Village Underground. Nov 4. £10 EC2A 3PQ Liverpool Street facebook.com/bearsdenmusic

Photos: Getty; Thinkstock

THE PLUG

BILLY JOEL

FUZZGUN’S ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE

FALL OUT BOY

GIG

CLUB

GIG

TUE, NOV 5. 7PM £65

WED, OCT 30. 11PM-3AM £3+

TUE, NOV 5. 7PM £25

The man who is in love with an uptown girl is back in the UK for the first time in seven years and playing the grand theatre that is the Hammersmith Apollo. By the time he kicks into We Didn’t Start The Fire you’ll be chanting along in unison with one of the best selling artists of all time.

There is a fancy dress zombie theme at this Halloween bash so get out your most gruesome threads! The DJs from Age of Panic, Project Mayhem and The Rock Show will be taking over the Borderline for one night of rock, metal and punk in what is sure to be a bloody, fleshmunching party full of the undead hordes.

These emo-rock oiks have never been popular, in fact quite the opposite. But damn, they have some catchy tunes. Best known for their Dance Dance and Sugar, We’re Going Down smash hits off their 2005 LP From Under The Cork Tree, they are back with a new album, the ambitiously titled Save Rock And Roll.

Hammersmith Apollo 45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH Hammersmith hammersmithapollo.com

The Borderline Orange Yard, Manette Street, W1D 4JB Tottenham Court Road mamacolive.com

O2 Academy Islington N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel o2academyislington.co.uk

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Win a year of fun with Bad Grandpa To celebrate the release of Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, in cinemas now (cert 15), we are offering you the chance to win one of two pairs of Merlin Annual passes for you and your adrenaline junkie friend. 86-year-old Irving Zisman is on a journey across America with the most unlikely companion, his 8-year-old Grandson Billy in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa. This October, the signature Jackass character Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy (Jackson Nicholl) will take movie audiences along for the most insane hidden camera road trip ever captured on camera. Along the way Irving will introduce the young and impressionable Billy to people, places and situations that give new meaning to the term childrearing. Enter at tntmagazine.com/competitions www.jackassmovie.co.uk/ 14

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The duo will encounter male strippers, disgruntled child beauty pageant contestants (and their equally disgruntled mothers), funeral home mourners, biker bar patrons and a whole lot of unsuspecting citizens. Real people in unreal situations, making for one really messed up comedy. Competion start date: October 22 Competion draw date: November The Merlin Annual Pass brings together 31 top attractions, making it the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest attraction. Attractions include THORPE PARK, Alton Towers Resort, The Dungeons and Madame Tussauds to name but a few. Find out more and for terms and conditions please visit merlinannualpass.co.uk ÂŠ 2013 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. www.facebook.com/ Like us on JackassMovie.UK

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J. Willgoose, Esq The Public Service Broadcasting frontman on his musical inspiration, Scottish whisky and climbing Mount Everest INTERVIEW ALASDAIR MORTON

It’s been a hell of a year with first the album and now the DVD – tell us how it all got started? I was listening to an archive show on Radio Four by Tom Robinson, which mentioned that there was a release of BFI films online. I had a rummage around and made a song out of an old film called Coughs And Sneezes Spread Diseases. I remember having the idea to have a concept album where each song was a public service information film. But then I thought ‘That is a terrible idea’ but I did it anyway! Was it your goal from the start to “teach lessons of the past with the music of the future”, as you’ve said of your music...? Haha, I wrote that three years ago for the Edinburgh Fringe programme to whip up some hyperbole. We do, though – there is an interesting blend between the modern-ish music and the voices of the past. What do you look for in particular in these public service information clips? I look within a genre and have a rough idea about what a song needs to be about. There’s a song called Now Generation [which is] a tongue in cheek fashion song skewed towards the corduroy end. With that I was looking for kitschy Sixties and Seventies fashion footage and found a film all about corduroy! It was really lucky. What’s the strangest film or clip you have come across? I did look at a film called Boys Beware. It was an appalling film. The idea was to do a tongue in cheek update of its fear of sexual predators –to bring it in to the modern era and celebrate everything that has changed. But it is hard to do that and be clear that you are coming from that angle. You have to be careful or you could end up sounding like you are anti-gay rights. How did song Everest come about? That one came about quite randomly, i was watching a film called South about [polar explorer] Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expeditions, which is silent, as well as [silent film] The Conquest Of Everest [about mountaineer Edmund Hilary’s ascent of the

world’s tallest mountain]. Some of the lines in it seemed as if they had a poet with them. Quite lyrical and epic in a way you don’t get today. What are your musical influences? My background is guitar music. Oasis were the one that ignited the teenage spark to get into music. Some of the influences on War Room EP was a Jamaican dancehall compilation. And on Spitfire there is a load of Krautrock – I didn’t want to write a song celebrating the English side of the war at the expense of the German. I thought it would be nice to have a Krautrock beat to celebrate culture since the war. You’re known for your audio-visual show – which elements come first? There is some musical inspiration. I think about what I have seen recently that I would like to write about. The samples only come into it [after] 70-80% of writing the song. Then we edit the video to fit the song. It is not like writing to fit the picture but we have the luxury of editing the picture to fit what we have written, so it is kind of reverse engineered. What made you decide to play some out of the way places on the 46-date album launch tour, like little towns in Scotland? They Scottish Highlands dates [were] really

exciting. We played a festival in Ullapool last year and the guy who booked us said he had a great run of Highlands dates that Mumford and Sons, Jake Bugg and Paulo Nutini had done. So that’s what we did. It is a beautiful country, and the whisky is great! Given the album and DVD’s name, are you a supporter of the BBC Yeah. We wouldn’t be anywhere without Radio 6 Music. For independent music they’re an absolute life line! You played a load of festivals this year. Did you got to many as a punter? I always had a great time at Bestival – I saw The Beastie Boys in 2007 and they were amazing. Had you been to Glastonbury before playing it this year? I went in 2005 and picked a bad place to camp as we woke up one morning to find we were totally flooded. Mud is a common experience but your tent totally under water? My advice is make sure you camp at the top of a hill! Inform-Educate-Entertain DVD is out November 4 courtesy of Test Card. Plays The Forum, Nov 20. £20 9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY Kentish Town mamacolive.com/theforum

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Beer goggles: a rom-com with a difference

DRINKING BUDDIES FILM review STARRING: Jake Johnson, Olivia Wilde | 15 | 93mins | Out November 1

THOR 2: THE DARK WORLD FILM STARRING: Chris Hemswoth, Natalie Portman | 12A | 120mins

This post-Thor/ post-Avengers sequel sees sibling relations between Hemsworth’s Thor and his nuisance of a brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston – above) come to the fore as they’re forced to team up to work out their issues and defeat Christopher Eccleston’s dark elf warlord. On general release October 30

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It sounds, based on the title, like the sort of post-American Pie gross-out film you’d expect to have loads of crass comedy, leering at exposed flesh and central characters you find fun to laugh at but have precious little empathy for. Drinking Buddies is, however, nothing of the sort. Leaving the gross-out humour at the door, it’s a carefully observed rom-comdrama about life, love and liquor. Jake Johnson’s (TV’s New Girl) Luke and Olivia Wilde’s Kate are colleagues at a Chicago brewery, best mates and yet also both in relationships with other people despite their close affections for one another. Will they get together? Should they get together? Have they missed the timing that would have been right for them to get together in the first place? Another entry in the mumblecore movement that favours natural lighting, performances and improvisation, Joe Swanberg’s film meanders through its characters’ lives, allowing us to spend time with them, observe them, their habits and their frailties, and it’s an involving journey. Luke’s looking at marriage to Anna Kendrick’s sensible partner, Kate is attached to Ron Livingston’s wine drinker, with the foursome in a mess of misplaced emotions, fading trust, and second guesses. The performances are all top-notch, and the star-wattage lifts this above other mumble-y movies towards the mainstreams. It’s smart, insightful and wholly relatable. Definitely one not to miss. GOOD FOR: Proof that rom-com need not to be a Hugh Grant-styled toxic term

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MARK STEEL: IN TOWN

GIGGLE!

COMEDY

Left-leaning comedian and Radio 4 presenter Mark Steel takes to the road with a tour where each show is based on the town that he visits, opening up the secrets behind said town as well as looking at how London is made up of many different areas, each different and often opposed to one another. A revelatory night out.

MARK SMITH What’s this week’s show all about? It’s a mixed bill of stand-up comedy. There will be two brilliant acts and me on compering duties. I can’t really tell you what the other guys will be talking about, but it promises to be excellent.

Hackney Attic Hackney Picturehouse, E8 1HE. Nov 4 £14 Hackney Central picturehouses.co.uk

POP ART DESIGN

THE EVENTS

EXHIBITION

THEATRE

This newly opened exhibition looks at the link between artists and designers in the 50 years since pop art exploded onto the global stage and changed the way we look at what constitutes art. It brings together more than 200 works from celebrated artists including Peter Blake, Roy Lichenstein and Andy Warhol.

This short new play looks for answers in the aftermath of a mass killing and features a different community choir each night, serving as both participant in and audience to the attempt of surviving gay priest Claire (Neve McIntosh) to understand the young, disturbingly detached perpetrator and so rebuild her shattered life. LK

Barbican EC2Y 8DS. Until Feb 9, 2014. £12 Barbican barbican.org.uk

Young Vic theatre The Cut, SE1 8LZ. Until Nov 2. £10+ Waterloo youngvic.org

PHILOMENA

THE COMMITMENTS

FILM

THEATRE

Steve Coogan and Judi Dench star in this Brit drama which dazzled critics and audiences alike at the Venice, Toronto and London film festivals this year. Co-written by Coogan, it tells of Dench’s titular character who was forced to give up her daughter for adoption and who embarks on a search 50 years later to find her taken son with the help of Coogan’s journalist.

Roddy Doyle’s version of his 1987 novel set in working-class Dublin proves little more than a jukebox musical in terms of plot and character, but the talented young cast sing up a storm of Sixties’ soul. Killian Donnelly is sensational as obnoxious lead singer Deco, wolfing down chips as he belts out a Marvin Gaye classic. LK

On general release November 1

Palace Theatre W1V 8AY.Until Jan 26, 2014. Leicester Square thecommitmentslondon.com

Who inspired you to take to the stage? My best friend Jonny started doing comedy at uni so I decided to give it a go as well. I tried it and I enjoyed it. Now I’m still trying it and will do so until I get found out. You often talk of your showbiz name – if you could change it again after a dalliance with Winston, what would it be to? Ha! I really couldn’t do that again could I? I can’t change my first name again otherwise it gets confusing. And I can’t change my surname or my parents will disown me. What is the strangest show you have ever done? Taunton, Somerset. 2010. Can’t say anymore for fear of a panic attack. Croydon Fairfield Halls. Nov 1. £8 Park Lane, Surrey, CR9 1DG East Croydon marksmithcomedy.co.uk

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London’s coolest villages There are pockets of London that make you feel as though you’re not living in a concrete jungle. Honest. Here are five of the best WORDS JADE BREMNER

£2.

Cups with knitted covers Keep your tea warm and cosy tigerstores.co.uk

Just rocked up in London? Sick of the grit and grime of the big smoke already? Don’t worry, help is at hand. There are pockets of the capital in which you could mistakenly think you’re living in the country. Seriously. Sandwiched between office blocks and council estates are these bustling pockets of almost-rural life. In them you’ll find independent shops, pubs, restaurants and a real community vibe. Here are our faves.

Stoke Newington, N16

£4.

Japanese Blossom Bowls Slurp tasty noodle soup in style dotcomgiftshop.com

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iPhone Speaker Dock Bright pink retro design iluv.co.uk

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the most desirable areas to live right now. Arty-types playing on MacBooks all day long occupy the high-ceilinged, Victorian houses with vintage wooden floorboards. SHOP: HE Tidiman is an old-fashioned family butchers that has been here for more than 50 years. They’ll cut your steaks as thick as your fist, and the quality of the meat is incredible (57 Broadway Market, E8 4PH). DRINK: You can’t get more villagey than a proper tea shop. Gossip is a modern take on

WHAT: An organic haven, there’s probably more fresh produce in this area than on a working farm. ‘Stokey’, as locals say, is hugely multicultural and dotted with indie boutiques and gift shops. And there are community flea markets at the weekends. SHOP: Lucky Seven is one of the remaining few independent record shops in London. They sell tastemaker vinyl, carefully selected books as well as Marvel Comics (127 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0UH). DRINK: Jolly Butchers (jollybutchers.co.uk) is a place where punters actually chat to one another, rather than giving that scornful London expression we all know so well. EAT: Restaurants range from Sardinian to Spanish with the odd kebab shop thrown in for good measure. The Keralan cuisine at Rasa (rasarestaurants.com) is well worth a try, and it’s exceptional value for money.

the UK’s fave brew. Here they sell funky cups, pots and shedloads of different flavoured leaves (62 Broadway Market, E8 4PH). EAT: Come to Market Cafe’s Fifties decorinspired interiors for truffled rarebit, squid salad and tagliatelle – all bloody delicious, though a tad more expensive than your average cafe (2 Broadway Market, E8 4PH).

Broadway Market, E8

Crouch End, N19

WHAT: The canals, ye olde shop fronts and a hip east London twist make this one of

WHAT: In Crouch End you’ll find high-end chains such as Waitrose, plus spas, nail bars

Crouch End

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YOUR VIEW CATHERINE HILTON

Physiotherapist Lives: Enfield

“I have an uncle in Walthamstow and we would visit him to go to the village festival every year. It has a cool historical feel, like in Shakespearian times.”

SOPHIE BOITZ

Unemployed Lives: Whitechapel

Stoke Newington

Photos: Getty, Facebook

and indie restaurants, all of which are frequented by yummy mummies. SHOP: Vintage design store Scarecrow Boutique (scarecrowboutique.com) sells shoes, clothes, jewellery as well as petticoats, masks and feather boas. DRINK: Head to independent milkshake and smoothie shop Shake My Shake (shakemyshake.com) which scooped the British Smoothie Championships 2012 prize. EAT: Banners (bannersrestaurant.com) serves hearty portions of Jamaican goat curry in its warm hotchpotch setting of antique furniture and popcorn machines.

“I love Greenwich Village, especially around Christmas time. It has a holiday-themed market and there are carolers everywhere. It’s great the rest of the year as well.”

BEHRAM ASKARI

Student Lives: Pimlico

Walthamstow

Walthamstow Village, E17

Greenwich, SE10

WHAT: It’s not all rude boys and rappers. In the leafy village, there’s a different ilk. An active Residents’ Association organises fetes, street parties and street theatre. SHOP: You’ll spend lots of time in The Village Store (spar.co.uk), with its fresh instore bakery. There’s also a pizzeria selling bases slathered in Napoli-sourced tomatoes, mozzarella and organic ham from Dorset. DRINK: The owners of the cosy Nag’s Head (thenagsheade17.com) let their cat roam around the pub like it’s a living room; they also love a Sunday jazz jamming session. The friendly place attracts beardy ale drinkers. EAT: Eat17 (eat17.co.uk) is all about UKsourced grub. The pork is from Surrey; chickens and eggs from the West Midlands; and juice from Devon. Dishes include piggy puffs and apple ginger puree, plus bubble and squeak cake.

WHAT: Nautical-themed Greenwich is where time began. Not only can you hop over to north London on the Emirates Air Line, but you can enjoy independent restaurants, offbeat shops and a rocking weekend market selling top local produce. SHOP: Joy (joythestore.com) is all about random gifts and ridiculously pretty outfits. Take home an emergency moustache, a ‘Gay Bar’ of soap, or a floral retro-style dress. DRINK: Sup decent local brews at Greenwich Union (greenwichunion.com), which only serves Meantime Brewery beers. Particular favourites are the Chocolate Porter and the Raspberry Wheat. EAT: Noodle Time is popular with students and locals, offering more than 120 dishes from Asia for just a few quid. Try a huge bowl of chicken soup noodles (10-11 Nelson Road, SE10 9JB).

“Brick Lane during the week has a great village feel. I like the atmosphere and the people. Go to Old Spitalfields Market and eat at Giraffe. The food is great.”

ANJE RICHTER

Student Lives: Bromley

“My friend just moved to Stoke Newington and she loves it. I can’t wait to visit. There’s so much going on there. It’s a really happening place with bars and cafes.”

FEYRE ADI

Student Lives: Bayswater

“I love most of the villages in London but my favourite has to be Wimbledon. I love the environment. I want to go back and go into all the shops. There are so many.” TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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We are the UK’s most successful tax refund company with over 20 years experience Taxback, 167 Earls Court Rd, Earls Court, London SW5 9RF *Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm

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cash-SAVING TIPS

how you spend it!

Xxxxxxxxx

Alicia Bainbridge, 22

Cheap booze Chip in with your housemates and buy a half-price case of wine xxxxxxxxx from Tesco. This offer is available on white and red Xxxxxxxxxxx and includes top brands. There are six bottles in each case (working out as little as £5.50 per bottle xxxxxxxxx for some pretty decent plonk). We reckon it beats Xxxxxxxxxxx a bag of goon any day. This deal is online only, but delivery is free. See tesco.com/wine xxxxxxxxx

Photos: supplied and Instagram

Get grazing Xxxxxxxxxxx If you’re entertaining and need some nibbles, visit graze.com and get a healthy box of nuts, xxxxxxxxx seeded snacks and dried fruit delivered to your Xxxxxxxxxxx door for £1.94. With such healthy snacks, you will balance out the adverse effects of copious beer drinking, we reckon. For first-time buyers only, usual price is £3.89. jump(er) to it Are we the only ones getting exciting about Christmas already? Probably. But if you are a festive freak like us, buy yourself a Christmas jumper for £11.99, usual price £39.99, from fabshopper.co.uk. Sign up to hellou.com to get the special offer, among other bargains.

LIFESTYLEMONEY

Job Telesales From Croydon Lives Canada Water How do you budget? I’m saving to go travelling so everything I earn at the moment goes towards that. I’m trying my best not to spend very much! Do you have any tips for saving money in London? Take packed lunches to work every day instead of eating out – it’ll save you a fortune! Also, I’m a

vegetarian which helps as it’s much cheaper to buy vegetables than to buy meat. What was your last big blow out on? I bought plane tickets to go to Singapore this month with my boyfriend. What non-essential items do you spend money on? Having nights out in London can be really expensive, so a lot of my money goes towards my social life when I’m not saving it.

how THEY spend it! Engagement bling Kanye West has proposed to Kim Kardashian with a 16-carat diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz, worth ‘well over £1million’. Surprised? No. Sickened? A bit, yes.

❚ This isn’t Kim K’s first marriage, nor is it her first £1million+ Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring. She may have swapped husbands, but her ring is weirdly similar to the one Kris Humphries bought her.

Kim’s new bling

❚ What would it take for you to marry the man with the worst hair in the world? It took a £1.2million diamond for Melania Krauss to say ‘yes’ to Donald Trump.

❚ Lorraine Schwartz must be a rich woman as she also designed Beyonce’s engagement ring, bought by hubbie Jay-Z for a cool £3million. ❚ Mariah Carey dons a £1.5million pink diamond sparkler, although we have to wonder if she bought it herself, as Nick Cannon may be doing alright, but that’s a lot of pocket money for a TV show host...

We are recruiting SANTAS for part and full time roles (hours negotiable) in our Brent Cross, Bromley and Watford Xmas grottos. No experience necessary. Beards and bellies can be supplied! ELVES also required. Download our application form at www.magentastar.co.uk or call us on 01442 218000

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tntjobs.co.uk Finches Ski & Snowboard T: 0208 699 6768 www.finchesemporium.com We are an independent Ski & Snowboard Store in South East London run by the same family since 1947.

Job of the WeeK: Snowboard equipment & clothing sales Location: Forest Hill, South East London Salary: based on age & experience You will have the opportunity to run an established snowboard department. Tasks include sales, marketing, buying & customer service among others. Must be adaptable & have enthusiasm & drive & a passion for all things snow. Angela | 0208 699 6768

LEYLAND SDM T: 020 7275 2979 www.leylandsdm.co.uk Leyland SDM is the local DIY store of choice with 17 stores on some of Central London’s most prestigious roads.

Job of the WeeK: Full /part time experienced retail sales assistants. Location: Central London Salary: Starting rate £7.21 per hour • Maintaining high standards of customer service delivery • EPOS & till operation • Stock handling & merchandising • Maintaining high standards of store presentation and cleanliness • Any other dutiesrequired by management. Online at www.leylandsdm.co.uk | email cv and covering letter to sandra@leylandsdm.co.uk

PINES & NEEDLES T: 020 3384 9420 www.pinesandneedles.com Fun Christmas tree company, looking for outgoing and fit tree salesmen

Job of the WeeK: Christmas Tree Site Staff! Location: 15 Sites Across London Salary: £7p/h basic plus daily and end of season BONUS and COMMISSION We need confident and customer friendly team players to help people buy their tree at our London stores. Daily and seasonal prizes and bonuses are offered. Commission is offered for those assigned as Managers. Jim Cartwright | 020 3384 9420 | recruitment@pinesandneedles.com

PINES & NEEDLES

Job of the WeeK: Christmas Tree Delivery Drivers

T: 020 3384 9420 www.pinesandneedles.com

Location: Central/Outer London Salary: Between £60 and £120 a day

Fun Christmas tree company, looking for Xmas tree delivery drivers

to our customers all over London. You will need experience of driving in Central London in a

We need confident and customer friendly team players to help delivery our Christmas trees Extra Long Wheel base van. It will be long hours and hard work but lots of fun. Ismail Asmal | 07951545532 | roosterstransport@gmail.com

THE DINER T: 02073971262 www.goodlifediner.com A fun expanding group of American diners serving all aspects of American food from burgers and pancakes to some new southern classics.

Oliver Kinross Ltd T: 0207 628 7299 www.oliver-kinross.com Oliver Kinross Ltd is a leading provider of international B2B conferences and exhibitions in the energy and technology sectors.

Job of the WeeK: Chefs of all levels Location: Central London Salary: Depends on experience We are looking for chefs of all levels to join this fun dynamic group. You must be able to work under pressure and deliver food to the highest quality. Full training will be provided. lizzy@goodlifediner.com | 07557124922

Job of the WeeK: Sales and Business Development Executive Location: London Salary: 36K OTE Oliver Kinross Ltd is looking for a Business Development Executive to join its Global Events Team. Applicants will have excellent communication skills and the ability to hit targets. We offer worldwide travel and uncapped commission. Jack Fowler | 0207 628 7299 | jack.fowler@oliverkinross.com

Looking for your next job? New jobs online every day To advertise your job of the week contact Jaqui Ward | 020 3137 5950 | jaqui.ward@tntmagazine.com

JOBS

ts.

ur for

s e

AMAZING Staff Wanted!! Do you love fooD? Are you pAssionAte About wine? Do you wAnt to hAve fun AnD get pAiD? one of london’s most sought after pan Asian restaurants, e&o in notting hill are looking for energetic & enthusiastic front of house staff to help us deliver great service in an upbeat & professional way. the right person will be a team player with natural charm & be able to give an informative, fun dining experience. in return we will provide you with training, staff discounts & the opportunity to earn great money in a fantastic place. please only apply if you are fluent in english & have had a minimum of a years experience in the hospitality industry. A valid work permit/visa is a Must. this is a full time position in notting hill area with a competitive salary made up of nMw and tronc. send your Cv& photo to sam@rickerrestaurants.com AwesoMe sous Chefs, CDp’s AnD CoMMis Chefs reQuireD At lonDon’s fAvourite pAn-AsiAn restAurAnts Chefs at all levels required at ricker restaurants-e&o (notting hill), eight over eight (Chelsea) and Xo (belsize park) are some of london’s most loved neighbourhood pan-Asian restaurants. we would love for you to have at least 1 years’ previous experience in busy london kitchens. you also need to be willing to work your socks off, and be focused on career progression. you will be working alongside a great team for these amazing restaurants, and be part of the ricker restaurants group. in return for your hard work, we offer great rates of pay and the chance to be part of a wonderful team of people who know how to give londoners good food, and a good time. Apply here today with your Cv to neil@rickerrestaurants.com. include 2 references/referees so we can find out why you’re so awesome.

Work for some of the most prestigious Catering and Event companies in London! Clients include; Film Premieres, Promotion Companies, Sporting Events, 5* hotels and City Firms

• • • • •

·Qualified Chefs up to £12 p/hr ·Events Staff and Hosts up to £10 p/hr ·Silver Service and Butlers up to £10 p/hr ·Baristas and Deli Assistants up to £8 p/hr ·Kitchen Porters/General Assistants up to £7 p/hr Rates depend on experience. Uniform required and proof of right to work

To apply please send your CV to joinus@admiralgroup.com quoting TNT in the subject line New Recruits, Admiral Group, 20 Cousin Lane EC4R 3TE or email joinus@admiralgroup.com

www.admiralgroup.com

Check us out at www.rickerrestaurants.com

Agree with us that cinema could be better?

The Light Cinema is the newest, most exciting cinema group in Europe and we are rapidly developing our offer, which is radically different. We focus on service and value with hospitality at the heart. We have identified a key position within our organisation for an experienced, charismatic, motivated individual who can develop our food & beverage offer.

Could this be you?

Based initially in our sensationally successful multiplex cinema on Merseyside, you will manage the development of our food & beverage offer that will then be rolled out in all of our cinemas. As we expand, so will your role – and we see no limit to the opportunity.

ARE YOU JOB HUNTING?

Visit tntjobs.co.uk for vacant positions in all industries across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. At tntjobs.co.uk you’ll find out how to land your perfect job, an A-Z list of employers, job alerts, career news and information, visa advice and details of recruiters.

JOBS.CO.UK Solving your recruitment problems!

If you are still reading it probably means you are interested and think you could perform this role, so just check out the qualities we are looking for to make sure: • Love cinema • Dedicated to making the total experience better • Vision and vigour needed to achieve this • Experience in food & beverage sector • Deep understanding of changing hospitality market • Charismatic and team leader • Experienced barista and bar manager • Track record in events management • Highly creative • Love people

the Role:

The role of the Cafe/Bar Creator Extraordinaire is to develop a new offer to sit alongside the expansion of the Light Cinema Experience. You will also join the management team in operating and maintaining the unit to maximize profitability while ensuring that company standards, policies and procedures are maintained. Oh, and we’ll pay you well too! send your details together with your CV to phil.dove@lightcinemas.co.uk

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Stag do: we may not be happy about the cold and rain, but we are loving the Autumn colours!

Trust me, I’m English! (Sorry.) APOLOGETIC BRITS SEEM TRUSTWORTHY UK

The British habit for apologising for everything makes them seem more trustworthy, new research reveals. While the Brits’ habit of saying sorry, even for things they could not control or have not done wrong, may seem a little odd when you first arrive on these shores – you bump into them on the street, spill their pint, yet they are the ones who say sorry! – it actually makes them seem more responsible, new research by the Harvard Business School has revealed. Experiments were carried out in which people apologised for an insignificant act before then asking a favour, and people were more willing to do the favour for someone who had apologised than someone who had not. So before you snigger at a Brit for saying ‘sorry’ when you bump into them, think about how it makes them, and you, look. TWEETS OF THE WEEK @jimmycarr 1 in 6 women have dyed their hair for so long they can’t remember what their natural shade is. My advice, check the cuffs. @Queen_UK President Obama just called. Answered in German as a joke and he hung up.

WIKILEAKS FILM FLOPS AT BOX OFFICE AUSTRALIA

Julian Assange movie, The Fifth Estate, is a flop in both the UK and USA. The film, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the WikiLeaks co-founder and tells of the website’s leaking of classified documents, received lukewarm reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and 24

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has failed to make an impression at the box office as well. The Fifth Estate has picked up $1.7m in the US and $1.6m in overseas receipts, which is a paltry figure compared to it $28m budget and its position as a potential awards candidate. The film was also panned by critics who said the film was unwilling to take a stand over the journalistic and moral debates at the heart of the WikiLeaks debate. One person who is no doubt smug at the film’s under-performance is Assange, who had refused to be involved with the movie and had attacked its ‘inaccuracies’.

SURFER PUNCHES SHARK IN THE FACE HAWAII

A surfer literally fought for his life when he was attacked by a tiger shark. Jeff Horton was sitting on his board with his legs dangling in the water just off the coast of Hawaii when he saw a dark shape move towards him. The shark bit Horton’s board, causing him to fall on top of the shark. He grabbed its fin and punched it repeatedly in the head. With a good blow to the eye, the shark let go and Horton managed to swim back to shore. That’s one hell of a story to tell your mates.

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS

A jobless father of nine who gets £32k in benefits has said he would rob the rich if he didn’t get this money

Around the world: what does your home country lead in? Melanoma maybe?

Who me? Yep, we can’t believe MJ still makes $160m either

PUTTING EVERYWHERE ON THE MAP WORLD

Britain is the world leader in fascism, Australia is the kingdom of deadly animals and melanoma, New Zealand is all about sheep and rugby, while South Africa is valued for its Ostriches. This is all according to a tonguein-cheek map created by Doghouse Diaries, a ‘web comic’ site run by three American friends who don’t appear to take themselves, or much else, very seriously (see the ‘About’ section in the website). The creators state on their site: “Most countries lead the world in something – sometimes good things, sometimes not so good things, and sometimes funny things. This map shows what each country does best compared to all other countries.” Citing a wide range of sources, from the World Bank to Wikipedia, they’ve clearly done some, ahem, serious research, and this map will now be taught in schools across the world (not really).

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE FOUND FROM 1994

Photos: Thinkstock, Getty

A message in a bottle that was thrown into the sea by a “bored” schoolgirl while on holiday with her family in 1994 has washed up 19 years later. Lucy Elliott, now 31, wrote the letter during a family trip to Looe in Cornwall when she was 12 years old. She stuffed it

The number of mirrors a town in a Norwegian valley has used to reflect sunlight so they can enjoy a light winter

into a plastic drinks bottle and threw it into the English Channel. The note was reportedly found 1207km away, near Hauge on the south coast of Norway by Kurt Johnny Haaland. Lucy had written her name and address and said: “I have two cats, one brother. Please write back. From a bored 12-yearold girl.” Lucy, from Woodford Halse, Northants, said: “It’s incredible. I can remember writing it like it was yesterday.”

LIST REVEALS WHAT DEAD CELEBS ‘URN’ US

Michael Jackson, Albert Einstein and Elvis Presley are still raking in the cash, despite being, well, dead. Listed on the Forbes Top-earning Dead Celebrities list, the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, still brings in$160million; more than alive-and-well Madonna, who topped the Celebrity 100 list by making $125m. Presley is still worth $40m, despite dying in ‘77, while Einstein, who has been dead for 58 years, is worth $6.2m.

The speed in miles per hour that the winds are expected to rise to this week in England. Great

The amount in millions of pounds that Simon Cowell has raised for charity by singing the Power Rangers tune.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Deb tells me, ‘Your job, as my husband, is to be fat and chubby, so that no matter what’s going on with me, I look great We’re not sure we’d ever call Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman ‘fat and chubby’. You?

SPORTNEWS

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[Caption]

ANGE TO TAKE OZ TO WORLD CUP FOOTBALL

Ange Postecoglou was appointed Socceroos coach, replacing Holger Osieck who saw the side through World Cup qualification but suffered 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France. Melbourne Victory manager Postecoglou has previously coached the Australian under-20s, and won two titles with the Brisbane Roar in the A-League after two premierships with South Melbourne in the old NSL. “The Socceroos belong to the people of this nation,” he said. “It’s my job to make sure we represent all that is good in Australian football.” He is the first Australian national team coach since Frank Farina was sacked in 2005.

ITALY’S NRL PLAY FOR PRIDE, NOT MONEY

New Zealand Silver Ferns were too classy for Malawi at Wellington’s TSB Bank Arena in their 70-32 win. But the scoreline says nothing of the spirit and physicality of the clash, as Laura Langman found out in this encounter with Tina Kamzati

RUGBY LEAGUE

Australian or New Zealand fans will have had a tough task choosing their second favourite team as the Rugby League World Cup kicked off. Italy will be getting much backing, after their warm-up match victory over England with a side led by NRL stars Anthony Minichiello, Guerra and Kade Snowden. Then came the news the Azzuri aren’t getting paid to play, just £200 a week to cover expenses during the tournament. They played after Australia-England in Cardiff on Saturday, against hosts Wales, and face off with Scotland and Tonga in their remaining pool matches. All going to expectations, they could be in with a shot of a quarter final meeting with the Kiwis. Manly legend Peter Peters, on tour with the Italians, said they’re “playing for the heritage of their parents”. 26

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KO GOES PRO IN A DAGGY VIDEO CLIP GOLF

New Zealand golf sensation Lydia Ko is turning pro, and announced it in a wacky video with All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg. In the fun YouTube clip, Dagg badgers 16-year-old Ko about when she is going to turn pro and, right at the end, challenges her to a game of speed golf: “Well, if you can beat me, you can definitely turn pro.” Ko has missed out on $1.2m in winnings because of her amateur status, but after winning four pro titles is still ranked fifth in the world. She’s been the world number one amateur for two years without a break from that position.

BIG WEEK FOR ... This week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one Sebastian Vettel doesn’t have a mortgage on – in fact he hasn’t won it for two years. Let’s forget he won it the two years before that, because that’s what you have to do with F1 this year – such is Vettel’s dominance. If the German Red Bull leader didn’t lock up the Championship in India at the weekend, surely this is the weekend he’ll do it, on the 800m Yas Marina circuit. Watch the big one live on Sunday at the very sensible 11.30am on Sky Sports F1 and BBC.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK I was the only player he signed twice at Manchester United. In my first season there we won the English Premier League by a record 18 points Mark Bosnich plays a straight bat to Sir Alex Ferguson, who called the former Aussie goalkeeper a terrible professional in his new book

[Caption]

PREVIEW BRILLIANT BATIS OUT TO SLAY KANGAROOS RUGBY LEAGUE

FRI, 8PM, PREMIER SPORTS There’s always excitement when a Fijian team is involved, whether it’s rugby union, sevens or, as we have this week, rugby league, as the Batis take on the World Cup favourites Australia in both sides’ second match of the tournament Fiji were impressive in the 2008 World Cup, winning through to the quarter finals with a 42-6 win over France and only narrowly losing to Scotland. In that quarter

they beat Ireland, who they faced in their opener, and ran into the Aussies in the semi-final. Australia have won nine of the 13 World Cups, but aren’t the holders after New Zealand beat them convincingly 34-20 in the last final in Brisbane. Fiji have some NRL talent to draw on, including the Sims and Naiqama brothers, but draw any name of the Aussies out of a hat and you have a superstar. The spine of Slater, Cronk, Thurston and Smith is considered key.

THE CHAT | ALL GLOVED UP, NO-ONE TO FIGHT Wasn’t Anthony Mundine supposed to be fighting someone last week? He sure was, but his opponent, US legend Shane A Sugar Mosely instead was on a flight back home after Mundine’s promoter didn’t come good with the $1m he wanted to take to the ring. Mosely is a massive name in boxing, while Mundine isn’t a blip on the US radar, so the future hall of famer was asking well over his usual asking rate to fight at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. It was unusual to want all of his money up front, but with poor ticket sales and pay TV take-up, it appears Mosely’s Golden Boy minders were on the money in being so strict with their contract. And fair play to them for sticking to their guns when the promoter (not Mundine’s people, it should be said) didn’t come through with the goods. Mundine is now trying to resurrect the fight and his career.

Michael Clarke better watch out, as Glenn Maxwell echoes the sentiments of players on George Bailey’s stand-in captaincy in India

TV HIGHLIGHTS RUGBY UNION

Photos: Getty

He’s been brilliant for the group and has really settled into Pup’s shoes quickly. As much as we’re going to welcome Pup back, it’s been great to have Bails as skipper for this series

Leicester Tigers v Harlequins Giants of Premiership Rugby. Sat, 5.30pm, BT Sport

RUGBY LEAGUE England v Ireland World Cup action free-to-air. Sat, 2pm, BBC One

ATHLETICS [Caption]

New York Marathon The world’s most famous 42.195km run Sun, 2.30pm, Eurosport TNTMAGAZINE.COM

Wounded Wallabies Australian rugby is at a low ebb, but there are signs this Europe tour could turn things around WORDS MICHAEL GADD

It’s an understatement to say Australia come to the UK for their first autumn international with the odds stacked against them – third in the Rugby Championship, a 3-0 clean sweep Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks and pay cuts to the side confirmed last week due to the worrying financial state of the Australian Rugby Union. But all’s not lost as the world’s national sides prepare for the 2015 World Cup. Australia’s 41-33 loss in the third Bledisloe showed a spirit and competitiveness not always there in recent months. James O’Connor’s a talent lost to the Wallabies, but with Quade Cooper making the number 10 jersey his again it could be the start of something. They’ll get a perfect indication of where they’re at when they take on England at Twickenham on Saturday in the first of five tests in Europe. Former England scrum-half Dewi Morris says while England coach Stuart Lancaster will be keen to try some things over his side’s four matches before the Six Nations, Ewen McKenzie’s Wallabies will cop something close to the best they’ve got. “This is the perfect start to England’s preparation for the home World Cup – these Tests, then the Six Nations and then three Tests in New Zealand,” the Sky Sports analyst says. “It’s safe to expect a very strong line-up against Australia.” After briefly dropping scrum-half Will Genia, McKenzie has handed the number nine jumper back to the Reds leader. “I still can’t work out why Genia was dropped against Argentina,” says Morris. “I’ve seen the guy play plenty, he’s in my part of the field and he just has to play for Australia.” Nic White, who started against Argentina, will be his understudy. Ahead of the third Bledisloe match, former All Blacks nine Justin Marshall called Genia “the best halfback in the world”. After falling out of favour under former coach Robbie Deans, Cooper is now just about entrenched as Australia’s starting fly-half. He brings an X-factor that also comes with risk factor – Morris says England will see the 28

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reformed bad boy as a threat as much as an opportunity. “I’m not the greatest Quade Cooper fan, because I like my number 10s to be able to tackle,” Morris says. “The options are great for the Australians though, so they have to make the most of it. He’s turned it around from where he was, and seems to have got through some dramas, but this will be a big test for him too. “I’m a Robbie Deans fan but the Cooper drama may have been one battle he fought too hard. He may have been a bit stubborn there, dropping him.” England’s counterpart Owen Farrell brings no surprises, but is a steady pair of hands with a lethal boot if discipline slips up. Another X-factor for Australia comes in Israel Folau, the rugby league via AFL convert who’s completed his brief rugby apprenticeship on the wing and won rookie of the year playing at fullback for the NSW Waratahs. It’s where he’ll play for the foreseeable future for the Wallabies too, as the position allows him to inject his size, speed and natural freakishness from anywhere in the park. “When the Lions tour was coming up they were singing the praises of this Folau lad, and I wasn’t sure,” Morris said. “Then I saw that try, and it was sensational. He can do things that people can only dream of. “He’s still learning the game, but wherever he’s playing you’ve got to make a spot for him. He’d walk into the England side too – he’s just one of those talents.” With all the talk of the flashy playmakers, the area where Australia’s autumn could be made or broken will be the scrum. Australian hooker Stephen Moore said he expects his pack to have a target on its back in Europe and be considered the weakness oppositions will expect to exploit. Morris watched the pack closely in the Championship and Lions series and unfortunately for Moore, says he’s right. It was the scrum where Australia lost the third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions, and it was the likes of England’s Alex Corbisiero who was their tormenter.

Freakish: Israel Folau would make any national team

Danger man: England’s Owen Farrell is a points-scoring machine

Back in charge: Will Genia will lead the Wallabies from the scrum base

“If Australia don’t get the scrum right, and they haven’t in recent times, it’s going to be a torrid series for them over here,” Morris says. “Ewen McKenzie should know having played there. It isn’t rocket science.” Moore’s said the Wallabies are improving with the scrum rule changes, but Morris says they haven’t gone far enough. “The scrum has to be stationary and square, and the half is instructed to put it in by the referee, but he doesn’t have to do it straight away,” he says. “What the Australians need to do is have a look at some old footage of Australia with

“

Photos: Getty

England and Wales will be tough for them

”

Nick Farr-Jones, getting the timing right and the ball in and out of the scrum quickly. With Australia now ranked fourth in the world, behind England, talk in Australia of the first Grand Slam tour of Europe since 1984 is a bit farcical, says Morris. “I think if Australia leave with two or three wins I think they should be satisfied – the England and Wales games, and the Ireland game will be tough for them.” The Wallabies also play Scotland and Italy, who they would expect to beat. In dashing the tourists’ clean sweep hopes though, Morris has a not unpredictably English disclaimer. “The Aussies are down and out a bit, but what better time than a date at Twickenham to turn it all around,” Morris says. “You can never underestimate an Australian side, they always find a way.” Watch England v Australia live on Saturday, 2.30pm, on Sky Sports 2

2013 JOHN EALES MEDAL HOOP WINS TOP HONOURS Wallabies openside flanker Michael Hooper was Australian rugby’s best player over the last 12 months, so said the match-by-match votes for the John Eales Medal last week. Hooper was behind Wycliff Palu after votes for the spring tour (autumn in the northern hemisphere) and British and Irish Lions series, but injury to the number eight gave him a chance to charge home. In the end, Hooper was unrivalled with a total of 297 votes with Palu behind him on 185 and Israel Folau, who won rookie of the year, third with 177. “It’s very special,” Hooper said. “When it’s such a great group of guys and you get along off the field it’s good to be recognised on the field and to have guys to play out there and to go through the hard yards together. There’s so many guys I enjoy playing with every week and once you get a taste you want more.”

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BOTTOMS UP! Japanese Shrine Parishioners wait to pull their team Damjiri (weighing up to two tonnes) at the Autumn Harvest Festival.

Photos: Main: Getty

INSIDE

BITE-SIZE ‘BURGH /36

EAU LA LA! /42

BORING? SNOW! /48

On a tight schedule? Here’s where to start in the Scottish capital. Trust us, you’ll definitely want to return

From white-knuckle jet skiing to peaceful paddleboarding, the waters off the south of France are ready to entertain you

No matter your budget or skill level, say goodbye to wind and rain and hello to fluffy white powder (we’re talking about snow FYI) TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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TEDDY BEARS TO GO ON TRIP OF A LIFETIME Do you dream of visiting Tokyo but simply can’t afford it? Well your teddy probably can... For between £12-34, Japanese holiday company, Unagi Travel, is offering to whisk your stuffed mate away to Tokyo and will be taken on a whistle-stop tour of the city. Your cuddly toy will see sights such as Shibuya, historic Asakusa and Tokyo Tower. A tour of the country’s onsens, or hot springs, is also being advertised. You will be able to enjoy your toy’s travels too, as the company will send you photos of him/her enjoying their trip. Of course they also promise to deliver them safe and sound back to your arms, where they can then tell you all about it...

Photos: Facebook

HOLIDAY IN A SHED? If you fancy a traditional trip to the Italian countryside, you can’t get much more rustic than staying in an old farmer’s shed. It is a tad more luxurious than it sounds, as the sheds have been converted into holiday homes and are proving popular with people looking for somewhere unique to stay. And they really are unique: this style of building only exists in the Valley of Itria in Puglia. Named trulli, they are round with conical roofs and made out of local limestone. Previously used to store tools and cattle, the valley of sheds is now a UNESCO world heritage site and holiday destination.

A NIGHT IN PARIS If you prefer high flying to zipping through a tunnel, you’re in luck as EasyJet has launched a new route from London Gatwick to Paris. Depending on the time of year, the flights could be cheaper than your Eurostar trip, so remember to check out its website before you book anything. Other new routes include Newcastle, Brittany and Jersey, although we feel Paris has a more romantic allure about it. With the winter weather rolling in you could check out the catacombs underneath the City of Lights and have a fumble with your date in the dark. Now that’s romantic.

TRAVEL WARNINGS The Australian government has issued a warning against travelling to Mombasa amid fears of attacks on popular tourist spots, including bars and nightclubs, in the wake of the Kenyan mall travesty. “Extremists may be planning attacks on nightclubs and other places frequented by foreigners along Malindi Road in Mombasa,” said the alert. It did not say which group or groups might be involved. However, a spokesman for Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan President, told Reuters that visitors to the coastal city were safe, and described the warning as “unnecessary and uncalled for”.

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TRAVELDIARY Helen Elfer

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Anime comes to life

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hell and safety One of my favourite things about going abroad is that in nine countries out of 10 (errr, I made that number up, but it seems like a lot) they couldn’t give a flying stuff about health and safety rules.

Fall over on uneven pavement in India? Should’ve looked where you were going. Fall off an elephant in Laos and break your arm? Next time you’ll hold on a bit tighter. Get food poisoning from a street stall in Malaysia? You’re welcome not to eat there again, and by all means tell your friends not to either. But suing, or making a fresh web of regulations to prevent ANYTHING BAD EVER HAPPENING AGAIN? They’ve obviously got better things to do with their time. Sometimes it seems like Europe is the only place daft enough to get bogged down in zillions of rules that replace everyday common sense. The latest barmy bit of lawmaking involves protecting us from that most dangerous, high-wire of activities – yep, dunking bread in olive oil. From this year, bowls of oil served at the start of meals in restaurants across Europe will have to be replaced with tamper-proof nozzles and EU-approved labelling. It’s supposed to improve hygiene and reassure diners that olive oil in restaurants hasn’t been diluted. But since when has anyone ever given a toss about diluted olive oil? What’s next, bringing each and every ingredient vacuum-packed to the table in case of interference? If you ask me, the legislators need a break – somewhere sunny in the Med. They can unwind over a nice long, olive oil soaked lunch in the sunshine and come up with some better things to worry about.

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It’s time to get down and geeky with the cosplayers, illustrators, anisong artists (that’s the musicians behind Japanese animation soundtracks) 8-10 and, of course, the gazillions of fans at this three-day celebration of all things anime. So don your best neon wig, slap on all the make-up you’ve got (that’s boys and girls, naturally) and book a ticket. Nov

WHY: More than 85,000 anime fanatics are expected to attend the festival, where there will be a massive ‘I Love Anisong’ concert, endless karaoke sessions and, of course, stalls selling all the figurines, costumes and DVDs you could want. The Regional Cosplay Championships will be a highlight.

Trans’Urbaines France

You will need to be achingly cool if you want to fit in at 30 Clermont-Ferrand’s annual Les Trans’Urbaines hip-hop festival. It’s a streetwise mix of gigs, beatboxing, films, workshops and open mic nights at venues across town. You can even try your hand at graffiti art. oct

hiphopclermont.com

diwali India

DO IT BECAUSE: Even if you don’t quite ‘get’ the whole world of anime – and it is quite an out-there craze – just seeing the amazing costumes fans will show up wearing in homage to their favourite characters will make it worth a visit. animefestival.asia

Turnip festival Switzerland

Richterswil on Lake Zürich goes back to its organic 9 roots with Räbechilbi Richterswil, Europe’s largest turnip festival. The humble vegetable is celebrated with this dedicated fair and a huge illuminated parade. Tons of carved white turnips with candles inside them will illuminate the town. nov

räbechilbi.ch

Latin festival Denmark

Yes, you can celebrate Diwali – the Festival Of 3 Lights – anywhere in the world, but where best than its home country? Expect homes to be decorated, festivals with thousands of clay lamps, and fireworks exploding in the sky for this five-day Hindu festival. nov

Vibrant Cuban salsa and reggaeton music is the name 16-17 of the game at this series of Copenhagen concerts. Get those bottoms wiggling in the Cuban dance workshops at the weekend, too. nov

latinfestival.dk

Photo: AFP

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Relax: spa time in Budapest

readers’ tips Parlez-vous Francais? TIP I’ve promised myself I’m OF THE finally going to get round WEEK to learning French in 2014; it’s been one of my new year resolutions for years! So, in March, I’m finally off to Paris for a threemonth language course. Cheese, steak, wine and lots and LOTS of French hotties … bring it on! Charlotte Adams, via email

YOU ASKED FOR IT... Laura Lindsay from lonely planet

planning a girlie weekend to Q I’m Budapest, what do you recommend we do on our three-day break next summer? clare

A Budapest is the perfect city for a girls’

SHARING’S SAVING Hostels aren’t always the cheapest option if staying more than a few days and there’s a few of you. Large hotels, particularly in Asia, will put an extra single in a room with two doubles in it. Pete Travis, via email

WIN Send us your words of wisdom. The top Tip of the Week published will wins a fiver. Tweet your tip to @tntmagazine.com Email traveltips@tntmagazine.com Text TNT and your message to 81707* *Messages cost 25p each + standard network rate. 18+ billpayers only. Send STOP to end. Number may show on bill. A2B 08700460138

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weekend away, as the city is bursting with spas, shopping and nightlife hot spots. In summer, the city comes alive as open spaces and abandoned buildings are transformed into great night venues. Start your visit to the city by heading to the Disney Castle-esque building, the Fishermen’s Bastion, atop Castle Hill with great views of the river Danube and Budapest’s impressive parliament building. The enormous castle quarter, Varhegy, is also home to the Royal Palace and many monuments, museums and restaurants. You can reach it by hopping on the funicular railway, which is a lot more fun that walking up the hill! Then, cross the Széchenyi Chain Bridge to the Pest side of the city and explore the Belváros area where you will find fabulous girlie shopping on Váci utca and incredible sweet treats at Budapest’s finest café Gerbeaud. In the evening, bar hop along the river front strip of V Duna Korzó, enjoying great views of the castle as you enjoy your tipple. Dance the

night away at live music club boat, Columbus, which is moored close by. Cure your hangover the following day with a trip to one of Budapest’s world famous spas. In the east of the city, Széchenyi Baths hosts a collection of a dozen thermal baths and five swimming pools complete with a bevy of chessplaying locals in the iconic yellow spa building. A true Hungarian experience! For something a little more stylish, the Gellért baths offer an experience akin to swimming in a cathedral. The baths have both outdoor and indoor swimming, making it the perfect spot whatever the weather. Both spas charge between £10-£15 for the day. In the evening, check out Budapest’s unique “ruin bar” scene. Nightspots pop up across the city in abandoned buildings and outside spaces throughout the summer. One of the original examples is Szimpla Kert in Erzsébetváros, a popular leafy part of the city, but check out romkocsmak.hu for the latest hotspots when you visit. Spend your final day enjoying Budapest’s summer weather at Margaret Island, a 2.5km island oasis in the middle of the Danube River. Grab a bike or horse drawn carriage and nip between gardens and swimming complexes. If you are lucky, there might even be a concert or play at the open-air theatre.

spanish seaside, baby! Tossa de Mar, one hour north of Barcelona, is a secret destination for Spaniards. It’s a mix of Venice’s narrow cobbled streets, Mykonos’s white buildings and the amazing food of Barca with the ocean on your doorstep, scooters and an underwater world to snorkel. Heaven. Beware, I’m pretty sure many a baby has been made here! Skye Worrell, via Facebook

View: Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh

Edinburgh SCOTLAND scotland

GETTING THERE Trains from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh from about £130 for a return ticket (eastcoast.co.uk). Direct return flights start around £60 with easyJet (easyjet.co.uk).

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BEDS FROM £10 5 min walk from this wonderland City centre Student discount 7 days a week in Bar 50 Free WiFi All rooms en suite Towels and linen provided

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Close to pubs and clubs

25/10/2013 10:46

UKTRIP

Must-see Edinburgh

On a tight schedule? Here’s where to start in the Scottish capital. Trust us, you’ll want to return Words LAURA CHUBB

As the most visited tourist destination in the UK after London, Edinburgh is as historically and culturally rich as the Big Smoke, and – dare we say it – more picturesque. This almost unanimously loved city, is one of Europe’s most beautiful and – luckily for us – is easy to access. If you’ve only got a couple of days to explore, these are our top five must-dos. You’ll be back for more, guaranteed. Edinburgh Castle What: OK, we had to kick off with it. Set atop the volcanic Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has been a royal residence since the 12th century. It’s the city’s most iconic edifice. Why: Try to time your visit for around 1pm, when a field gun inside the castle walls blasts a round of shellfire to mark the hour (every day except Sunday). A memorial bench to commemorate Tam the Gun, a sergeant who fired the ‘One O’Clock Gun’ for 27 years before he died of cancer, is the best place to sit for an eardrum-splitting. Fact: King James IV spied on subjects gathered in the castle’s Great Hall through a specially designed barred window above the fireplace. When Mikhail Gorbachev was set to visit the castle in 1984, the KGB asked that the window be bricked up for security purposes. Hmmm. See: edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Photos: Wikkicommons - The Real Mary Kings Close, Thinkstock, Getty

The Scotch Whisky Experience What: Riding a whisky barrel through a replica distillery is just one of many highlights over the course of this tour. You’ll be taken on a sensory journey of discovery, appreciating the sights, sounds and smells of whisky production. It ends with a peek at the world’s largest collection of Scotch Malt Whisky and includes a free dram. Why: Really? You need more convincing? Fact: When whisky is distilled, it is completely colourless. The colour comes from the casks in which it matures. See: scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk Arthur’s Seat What: Think of Edinburgh and what might not immediately spring to mind is a volcano. Presiding over Edinburgh’s skyline, this craggy peak was formed when a glacier eroded

an extinct lava-spewer about 350 million years ago. Why: At 823ft high, Arthur’s Seat doesn’t pose too tough a climb, but it does afford an incredible view of the city below. Fact: Arthur’s Seat is also known by the less fortunate name of ‘Pratt’s Hill’. This is because in 1840, Mormon apostle Orson Pratt travelled to Edinburgh and found only eight members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So he climbed the hill and asked the Lord to give him 200 souls to convert. Apparently it worked out. See: edinburgh.org Mary King’s Close What: An underground warren in Edinburgh’s Old Town said to be haunted by plague victims who were walled up in the close in the 1600s and left to die. Why: A tour of Mary King’s Close gives a fascinating insight into life in the city between the 16th and 19th centuries. Walking the dark, spooky passages with a costumed guide is a nerve-jangling experience, and you’ll be told more than your fair share of ghost stories and urban legends, too. Check the website for tour times. Fact: People have reported scratching noises coming from inside a chimney on Mary King’s Close, where a child chimney sweep is said to have died. The Close has even featured on TV’s Most Haunted. See: realmarykingsclose.com Hogmanay What: The Scots like to do New Year properly – and that means a massive party called Hogmanay, which sees more than 80,000 people taking to the streets of Scotland. Why: Huge street parties, fireworks displays, an atmospheric ‘torchlight procession’ and live bands all feature. This year, Pet Shop Boys are performing an open-air gig – their only UK performance – ending the duo’s hugely successful Electric world tour, which has toured the world. Fact: The Loony Dook is a tradition that sees more than 1000 ‘loonies’ jump into the freezing waters of the Forth Estuary in NEXT WEEK an attempt to numb their New Year’s Brighton – wild Day hangovers. or mild...? See: edinburghshogmanay.org tntMagazine.com

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DEAL OF THE WEEK TUNISIA

£191

Enjoy a seven-night break, staying at the fourstar Skanes Serail Hotel in Skanes is from just £191pp (Call 0800 1116271; lowcostholidays.com) Price includes all-inclusive basis. Flight departs Gatwick on December 3.

< £250 GRAN CANARIA Seven nights in Gran Canaria from £232pp with lowcostholidays.com (Call 0800 1116271) Staying at the three-star Tisalaya Park Apartments in Maspalomas on a bed and breakfast basis. Flight departs Stansted, on November 19. PARIS Two-night break to Paris from £151pp with easyJet Holidays (holidays.easyjet.com)Staying at Best Western Prince Montmartre hotel on a bed and breakfast. Flight departs from London Luton on November 25. FUERTEVENTURA Seven nights at the four-star Club Caleta Dorada in Caleta De Fuste is from £249pp with lowcostholidays.com (Call 0800 1116271) Price includes allinclusive basis. Flight departs Gatwick on November 27.

BUDAPEST A two-night break to Budapest Christmas Market is from £110pp. (holidays.easyjet.com) Price includes bed and breakfast at the Atrium Fashion Hotel. Flight departs from London Luton on December 4.

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MAJORCA Seven nights at the hotel Marina Luz is £291pp on bed and breakfast basis (holidays.easyjet. com) This adult-only boutique hotel in C’an Pastilla is situated facing the Cove of La Estancia with Mediterranean Sea views. Flight departs London Southend on November 2.

> £500 JAMAICA Enjoy seven nights in Jamaica from £677pp (Call 0800 2800212; lowcostholidays.com) Price includes staying at the three-star Sunflower Resort And Villas in Runaway Bay on a room-only basis. Flight departs Gatwick on November 28.

SHARM EL SHEIKH Book a seven-night stay in the threestar All Season Badawia Resort in Egypt from £253pp (Call 0800 2800212; lowcostholidays.com). Price includes all-inclusive basis. Flight departs from Stansted on November 21.

MEXICO A seven-night holiday staying at the four-star Radisson Hacienda Hotel in Cancun from £510pp with lowcostholidays.com (Call 0800 2800212; lowcostholidays.com) Holiday is for room only. Flight departs Gatwick on November 20.

MOROCCO Enjoy a seven-night break at the fourstar Blue Sea Le Tivoli in Morocco for £283pp (holidays.easyjet.com) Holiday price includes a half-board basis and flights. Flight departs from London Gatwick on November 7.

ORLANDO Seven nights staying at the three-star Champions World Resort in Orlando from £519pp with lowcostholidays.com (Call 0800 2800212; lowcostholidays.com) Holiday is for on a room-only basis. Flight departs Heathrow on November 21.

DAILY TRAVEL DEALS GO TO tntmagazine.com/travel/latedeals where new travel deals are updated daily. There are more than 30 deals live at any time. Also sign up for TNT’s weekly travel newsletter, which will be emailed to you every Wednesday with the most up-to-date deals and guides to over 170 destinations. Sign up at tntmagazine.com/travelemail

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BULGARIA Early season ski holiday for £194pp (holidays.easyjet.com) Spend seven nights on a self-catering basis at Pirin Country Club Apartments in Bansko. Flight departs from London Stansted on December 7.

£250 – £500

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TOP FIVE

SPOOKY BREAKS

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TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA

The homeland of the original Prince Vlad III (or Vlad the Impaler), Dracula’s home province is rich in creepy castles and blood-soaked myths: perfect for Halloween holidaymakers. While Bram Stoker, Dracula’s author, has painted Romania’s largest region as a dark, foreboding place of mountains, cob-webbed castles and sallow-faced nobles with sharp teeth, it’s actually quite the daylight destination. But that doesn’t mean it’s without its smattering of scary locales, the kind of places in which you’d expect to find a menacing menagerie of wolves, bears and bats. Bistritza, name-checked by Stoker, is one of them. So is the Saxon fortress town of Sighisoara, the birthplace of the 15th count himself, whose deeds were even more dastardly than those of the infamous vampire. Sighisoara is an essential stop on any tour of Transylvania, with a muchphotographed plaque referring to the father of Vlad the Impaler, which reads enticingly “Vlad Dracul”. Hire a car and visit ‘Dracula’s Castle’ – or Bran Castle – close to the city 00 40

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of Brasov. Complete with a museum offering Dracula mugs, T-shirts and tea cloths, Prince Vlad himself stayed here for a few nights. The Transylvanian Society of Dracula runs a tour following in the footsteps of the villain, and includes spending Halloween in the castle. There are plenty of other creepy castles where you might imagine the old count flapping his cape and laughing in suitably sinister fashion. This includes the Poenari Castle ruins in Wallachia, where Vlad lived. He turned the former citadel of the Basarab rulers into his own fortress, perched high on a steep precipice. After his death, the castle fell into ruin, but it is still standing in part, and said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. You need to climb 1500 steps to get there. Up the spook factor on your trip by staying at the Dracula Castle Hotel in the town of Turda, complete with stone grotto bathrooms and a medieval banqueting hall. romaniatourism.com

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XXXX, XX SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

There’s no place in the US spookier than Salem, which is forever branded with the hysteria surrounding the great witchcraft trials of 1692. Throughout the month of October, this fabled town celebrates its macabre past, in which scores of villagers were sentenced to death by hanging. Choose from ghostly walking tours, haunted house visits, street fairs, trial reenactments, spooky theatre, seances, carnivals and zombie parades. hauntedhappenings.org

Photos: Getty, Thinkstock

XXXX, XX AOKIGAHARA, JAPAN

A cavernous forest at the foothills of Mount Fuji, locals claim this ‘Sea of Sad Trees’ hosts paranormal phenomena. Though it offers breathtaking views of the mountain, it is also the world’s second most popular suicide spot after San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. In fact, there are a host of unofficial trails marked in the area for the annual ‘body hunt’ conducted by brave local volunteers. It’s not unusual to find scattered bones or incomplete skeletons in its depths. japan-guide.com

XXXX, XX LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE, FRANCE

Party on the rooftop

Be sure to wrap up warm to stave off the chills when you visit the ruined home of Gilles de Rais (1404–1440) in the Loire Valley. Here, the man who inspired the tale of Bluebeard, killed hundreds of children – first raping them, then cutting open their stomachs to admire their organs – and stuffed their dead bodies in the walls, dropped them down chimneys, and buried them around the site. Nice. loireatlantique.co.uk

XXXX, XX EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Don’t be surprised if you see a few amorphous blobs floating past you as you delve into the Scottish capital’s legendary underground. They are the reputed ghosts of the hundreds of people believed to have lived, as well as died, in the sub-city vaults of Edinburgh – otherwise known as ‘The City of The Dead’ – between 1788 and the early 19th century. Get a sense of their utter misery by taking a haunted walking tour, or check out the undeniably spooky Mary King’s Close. cityofthedeadtours.com

HAYARKON 48 OVERVIEW This is the place to stay when you visit Tel Aviv, Israel. Hayarkon 48 was opened in 1998 by two cousins who had travelled extensively and knew what young adventurers needed in a hostel: cheap, simple, and clean. It is only two minutes from the beach, a 20-minute walk from Old Jaffa and five minutes from the famous Carmel Market. Close by is a variety of supermarkets, bakeries and shopping centres and Allenby Street – the city’s night-life area. WOW FACTOR Beers here are cheaper than in the bars so drink up before you head out. And the hostel is only a block from the beach. But its real strength is the staff. ROOMS It’s a clean place which offers private and dorm rooms and also has a great kitchen. There’s also a lounge with a widescreen TV and a free pool table, 24hour reception, no curfew, free wi-fi and showers with hot water 24 hours a day. BILL PLEASE One night in a dorm is £17; £20 for a dorm with air con. It’s £68 for a private room. Discounts for extended stays available.

48 Hayarkon St, Tel-Aviv, Israel hayarkon48.com

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Unique: Le Grande Motte’s buildings are reminiscent of children’s building blocks

Fishing village: Le Grau de Roi

South of France LE GRANDE MOTTE & LE GRAU DU ROI

GETTING GETTINGTHERE THERE Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Return easyJet flights from Gatwick to Montpellier cost from around £70.

FRANCE

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MONTPELLIER

Water world: spend your days in and on the water 42

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Eau la la! From white-knuckle jet skiing to peaceful paddleboarding, the waters off the south of France are ready to entertain you WORDS CAROLINE GARNAR

It’s a Monday morning and, opposed to the usual spot of tucked under my office desk, my legs are dangling over a drop of around 70 metres as I gently float through the air over the coast of Le Grande Motte in the south of France. Feeling the fresh sea air on my face, looking out at a sundappled horizon on one side and the long stretch of sand on the other, and hearing nothing but the speedboat below slicing through the water – the roar of its engine reduced to little more than a gentle murmur – I conclude that parasailing beats even a double-shot espresso when it comes to waking me up. And this is but the beginning. With the next stop promising a thrill ride aboard ‘The Raptor’ powerboat, followed by an afternoon lunching on a catamaran, a gentle paddleboarding session on a lake and a not-so gentle hour of jet skiing, this day could convince even the Boomtown Rats that Mondays ain’t so bad. With my feet safely back on terra firma, they are soon whisked from underneath me again after I board The Raptor. Besides wearing a wetsuit and a hooded poncho, the tidal waves that greet me slap-bang in the face every time the super-speedboat spins or breaks, ensure that I end the ride soaked through regardless. Like a 20-minute-long rollercoaster ride on the water, I was ready to jack in my job right there and then and stamp my CV with ‘driver of The Raptor’, but after the driver tells me this is one of only a handful of powerboats of this kind in the world, and that he had to go through six months of intense training before he was allowed to drive it, I decide it is more fun to be a passenger anyway. Lunch is a more civilised affair: after a walking tour of the harbour, I board a slick catamaran, which glides over the water like warmed butter on toast. Sitting back on the bow netting, I take in La Grande Motte’s coastline. In the 1960s, this area was little more than “sand and mosquitoes” tells Catherine Simon, head of promotions and communications at its tourist office. Local architect, Jean Balladur, was hired to design hotels to line the seafront and port in order to lure in tourists who were currently flocking to Spain. It worked. Today, La Grande Motte’s population swells from around 10,000 to 80,000 during the summer months. The resort is not only unique thanks to Balladur’s penchant for circular windows, pyramid structures and primary colours – creating a town that looks like it could have been made with a child’s building blocks – but the watersports too are a huge draw. With good weather all year round – winter temperatures reach around 20°C (what the Brits call “summer”) – you can hit the waters in all seasons. Plus, you can bounce around the

waves in open water off the coast, peacefully paddle in one of the lakes syphoned off from the sea, or simply weave through one of its harbours – a particularly impressive one being the nearby Port Camargue, where the healthy-of-pocket own a property where they can tether their yacht up at the bottom of their garden.

“

It’s a rollercoaster ride on the water

”

It is on one of the lakes, though, that I later find myself paddleboarding. A first-time stand-up paddler and a pro at falling over, I am prepared to spend a lot of time in the lake, rather than on it; however, I am surprised at how stable the board is on the water. Larger than a surfboard, it’s easy enough to get started on my knees, and even when I have to jump up to my feet, both at the same time so I don’t lose balance, the board keeps me steady and buoyant. ››

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OK, I confess, I do fall in once, but that is because I can’t work out how to turn (N.B. Most of the instructors speak very little English. Either travel with someone who speaks French, or prepare to work with hand gestures). I panic as I head for a boat (albeit at around 5kmph), and end up toppling in. I was also getting pretty hot, so could pass it off as a refreshing dip. Saving the best for last, we take a short drive to Le Grau du Roi to head out on jet skis. La Grande Motte does offer jet skiing, however we want to explore more of the area, and on reflection I would recommend you stay in La Grau du Roi and take a day trip to La Grande Motte instead, as Le Grau du Roi has bags of charm and a more rustic French vibe. With life surrounding the working harbour, locals mingle with visitors in the street cafés, shop in the open market and fish off the pier. After boarding our jet skis, and with a simple ‘this is the start button, this is the accelerator’ briefing (in French!), we chug steadily out of the harbour, following the instructor on his Batmobile-esque version of a jet ski. How he doesn’t take off I have no idea, as his machine apparently has 50% more power than mine, and I am crashing across the waves at 85kph –

which, on water, feels like the speed of light. After my initial nerves evaporate, I turn into a complete speed demon, going full throttle as well as trying out donuts and flips (I’m kidding about the latter, I’ll save that for next time). I can honestly say I’ve never had so much fun on the water, and we have such a huge stretch to play on – running alongside the Espiguette beach, which, at 9.6km, is one of Europe’s longest. We are out there for around an hour and I come back exhausted and exhilarated – and walking slightly peculiarly. Ready to pass out after a day of huge exhilaration, I decide that The Boomtown Rats should try doing watersports in the south of France the next time they get the Monday blues. ❚ Parasailing £42 for 10 minutes, Jet-roi.com; The Raptor £21 for 20 minutes, hydrojet7.fr; Paddleboarding £30 for 1 person, £25pp for 2, £23pp for 3 and £21pp for 4-6 people. Equipment hire only £10 per hour or for £42 for 5 hours, paddle-center.com; Jet skiing £38 for 20 minutes, Jet-roi.com. For more ideas on what to see and do in the south of France, visit en.destinationsuddefrance.com

NEXT WEEK We take a trip between Belgrade and Montenegro “in a trash can”

MIDRANGE

LUXURY

EAT

Au Petit Bonheur is a pretty little seaside restaurant with simple dishes made delicious thanks to the fresh ingredients. Try the fish soup (£8.50) or the Croustillant of Saint-Nectaire cheese with hazelnuts and sultanas, green shoots, candied tomatoes, balsamic and Salers Gentian liqueur vinaigrette (£10). restaupetitbonheur.free.fr

An atmospheric street-side café, Gepetto specialises in bull meat (£20 for 450g). Although delicious, don’t expect it with a side of French fries, as the ‘big mumma’ in the kitchen refuses to serve anything French – in France. ristorante.gepetto.free.fr

La Grande Motte does not allow any building directly on its unspoilt beaches, and so the ‘flat-pack’ Yacht Club Beach pops up from April to September, allowing you to dine on its gorgeous seafood right on the sand. £12.70 for a seafood salad. yachtclubbeach.com

DRINK

Le France is a gorgeous spot for sundowners thanks to its canal-side location, close to the fishing harbour. A draft beer is just £2.50 and if you want some food, a main course salad will set you back less than £8. 27 Quai Colbert, 30240 Le Grau Du Roi

Lie back on a sofa carved into wood (with cushions to keep you comfortable) and sink your toes into the sand for sundowners at Plage des Artistes. A food menu is also available, with salads as huge as they are delicious. From £4.25 for a beer, £6.80 for a cocktail. plagedesartistes-restaurant.fr

Why drink with the common folk when you can set off on Catamaran Lucile 2 for a sunset party? Take to the seas for two hours with a cocktail and music for £21 per person, or £42 with a meal. catamaranlucile2.com

SLEEP

Hotel Les Acacias is a quaint twostar hotel only 80 metres from the Le Grau du Roi’s beach. It’s basic, but with rates starting at £50, you won’t get much cheaper in the rather pricey south of France. hotel-les-acacias.fr

I highly recommend the super quirky and comfortable Oustau Camarguen Hotel in Le Grau du Roi. The eclectic interior, pretty tree-lined pool, sun-dappled room terraces and chic bathrooms make this the perfect place to rest during your trip. Rooms from £95 per night. oustaucamarguen.com

The Novotel Le Grande Motte Hotel is a five-star resort a short drive away from the waterfront. It has a golf course, swimming pool and the food in its restaurant is stunning. Be prepared to pay for it though – just a bottle of water here costs £3. Room rates from £120 per night. accorhotels.com

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Photos: Caroline Garnar and Pro Traveller’s Trevor Claringbold, Getty, Thinkstock, Wikkicommons, Facebook

BUDGET

Situated at the foot of Mont Bouquet Mountain, lies the beautiful Mont Bouquet Lodge & Activity Centre. We offer 16 Luxury self-catering chalets with private terraces and 4 basic rooms overlooking the beautiful scenery. Our on-site facilities include; • Swimming pool area • Bar • Free Wi-Fi facilities • Free private on-site parking • Laundromat • All chalets are fully equipped with kitchenette, bedding and towels. • Optional breakfast and lunch baskets can be booked for your convenience. The two facilities that make us stand out among the rest: • Activity Centre on-site • Shuttle service • Min night stay: 2 Nights Discount prices for children under 12 years Accommodation prices starting at €30p/p sharing per night

We have an All Inclusive 7-Day Holiday Package € 699 p/p that includes: • Chalet accommodation • All breakfasts & dinners • 2 Activities of your choice • Pick up and drop off transportation from airport or train station • All lodge facilities

www.montbouquetlodge.com +337 8002 8293 +277 2211 4377

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Snow sports AROUND THE WORLD

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Boring winter? Hell snow! No matter your budget or skill level, say goodbye to wind and rain and hello to fluffy white powder (we’re talking about snow FYI) WORDS LAURA CHUBB

Whether you’re a nervous novice, a confident intermediate or an all-out expert, we’ve searched out the top snowy spots for you to get sporty at this winter. Skint, modestly moneyed or flush? Doesn’t matter – we’ve found the best for every budget. So no excuses, winter hermits. Use our guide to pounding the powder, and there’ll be no getting fat on the sofa in front of DVD boxsets. We’ll see you on the slopes! SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNERS Budget La Clusaz (laclusaz.com) in France is good for long-term skiiers, as the more days you ski, the cheaper it gets. At about £140 for a six-day pass, it boasts 23 green runs and 30 blue, ranking it among the best resorts in Europe for beginners. The quintessentially French mountain village is a delight, attracting a lot of return visits from skiers and boarders who fall head over heels for its traditional charm. It also gets super-busy at weekends, which is great for a party (although makes for some crowded slopes). Midrange Eastern Europe is great for snow bunnies on a mid-range budget. Borovets (bulgariaski.com) in Bulgaria has pistes of varying length and difficulty, so if it turns out you’re a natural, you can get off the beginners’ runs (of which there are three) and take on more of a challenge. Borovets also boasts a thriving apres-ski scene promoting the message ‘More beer = less fear’ to beginners. Sensible? No. Fun? Yes. Ski passes start at £175 for six days. Once a budget resort to compete with the best of Eastern Europe, Grandvalira (grandvalira.com) in Andorra has become more mainstream in recent years, pushing the prices up a notch. Still, it’s much cheaper than the major resorts of France and Austria. There are 18 green runs – the ‘nursery’ slopes – and a whopping 38 blue runs, also with gentle gradients for beginners. There are lots of British-run ski schools, too. The village of Pas de la Casa has the liveliest après-ski scene, with some going so far as to call it ‘raucous’. Soldeu is a little more chilled – go to British-run Fat Albert’s

for live music and big burgers. A pass for six days will set you back around £200. Luxury Crans-Montana (tourism-crans-montana.co.uk) in Switzerland is the perfect spot for novices looking for a touch of class to balance out any indignities on the slopes. Stretching across two towns with soul-enriching views across the Rhône Valley (well-known for its wine), there’s also a dearth of British tourists, which makes for a genuine escape from London life. (Though be warned – the Russian clientele is growing.) While there is an upmarket feel to much of it – with designer shops, five-star hotels and even a Michelin-starred restaurant at your disposal – there’s also a good number of bars that keep revellers occupied into the early hours. Train your snow legs on 17 different blue runs, with a six-day ski pass setting you back about £275 from December 21-April 11. SKILL LEVEL: CONFIDENT Budget It’s back to Bulgaria for what is arguably the ski capital of Eastern Europe. Bansko (bulgariaski.com) benefits from a long season (roughly December to May) and plenty of good powder. Together with 64km of pistes to explore, this cute medieval town has many cultural monuments and historic sites, while slightly further afield is the Pirin National Park – a Unesco World Heritage site home to epic limestone mountainscapes, glacial lakes, waterfalls and caves. There’s also a wealth of cheap accommodation options at Bansko and a decent clubbing scene. Set aside around £150 for a sixday ski pass including skis and poles. Midrange With 13 trails over 500 acres, Happo-one (snowjapan.com) is Japan’s number one ski resort. The views across the Japanese Northern Alps are breathtaking, the powder is deep and dry, and there isn’t the mad rush for tracks you might encounter in European resorts. The Hakuba valley – about 300km northwest of Tokyo – offers plenty of activities, including ›› snow rafting, hot air ballooning, mountain biking and TNTMAGAZINE.COM

Different levels: whether you spend most of your time in the sky or on the floor, we’ve got you covered

Perfect match: get stunned by the natural beauty and pissed on the local beer trekking. After a long day on the piste, be sure to head to your nearest onsen (hot spring) to relax those aching muscles. Lift passes, costing about £146 for six days, can also be used in three other ski and snowboard resorts in Hakuba. Alternatively, Alpbach in western Austria (alpbachtal.at) offers slopes suited to those who have graduated from the nursery runs but aren’t quite fearless yet. There is a large British presence here – the largest of any Austrian ski village – but it tends to be a laidback brand of Brit that makes it to Alpbach, owing to the subdued bar scene. A lift pass for six days costs about £175 during high season, with discounted rates for not just kids but teenagers too.

spread of terrain (128 acres), and there’s no shortage of firstclass food and drink. A ski pass costs approx £355 for six days. SKILL LEVEL: EXPERT Budget In the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland, Zakopane (zakopane.com) offers steep slopes that are definitely not for novices. Be adventurous and take to the snow in villages

Luxury For guaranteed great snow, try Tignes (tignes.co.uk) in France. At an altitude of 3500m, it is one of only two ski areas in the country – the other being upmarket Val d’Isere – listed as a ‘snow-sure resort’ in The Good Ski & Snowboarding Guide from Which? As well as having plenty of self-catering apartments, Tignes is rich in hotels ranging from two to four stars. If you get bored of plain old skiing and snowboarding, Tignes also offers a programme of more offbeat winter sports, including dog-sledding, ice-diving and ski-joring (see our Best Of The Rest panel, right, for more). Ski passes start at about £215 for six days: whether you rank your cost up in a four-star or keep it cheap in a twostar is up to you. Aspen in Colorado is a good choice for those fortunate enough not to be counting the pennies. At Snowmass Ski Resort (aspensnowmass.com), half of the 90 ski trails are suited to intermediates. Colorado’s second-largest ski resort is also renowned for its crowd-free runs, owing to the sheer 48

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Be a Happo-one: Japan’s popular ski resort

such as Bialka, Poronin and Bukowina Tatrzanska, which combine challenging terrain with the traveller’s satisfaction of straying from the beaten path. Big ski jumps can be found around the Krokiew area. Pay £309 for the week, with your accommodation and airport transfers included, and add another £80 if you want lessons too.

BEST OF THE REST ALTERNATIVE WINTER SPORTS

Midrange For serious skiers looking for a quiet place to perfect their craft, you could do a lot worse than Cesana or Sansicario (vialattea.it) in Italy. Located in the Milky Way area – home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding ranges in Europe, and used for the Winter Olympics in 2006 – Sansicario and Cesana are the perfect alternatives to the region’s larger resorts. So quiet are they that you’ll often get the slopes to yourself. On the other side of the coin, there’s no nightlife and you might sometimes be obliged to share the snow with families. Still, you’ll be paying startlingly low prices compared to the majority of the Milky Way – about £160 for six days. St Anton (stantonamarlberg.com) in Austria provides a party after you’ve taken on challenging runs and off-piste areas, with the Moosewirt bar proving most popular with caners. There’s also great snowboarding for freestylers at Stanton Park. Lift tickets are about £199 for six days . Luxury Drop some serious dollars at Whistler Blackcomb (whistlerblackcomb.com) in Canada – one of the word’s bestknown ski resorts after it hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can ski and snowboard across two mountains, and the resort has committed to teaching classes of no more than four people, so you’ll receive close attention at the Snow School if you want to go from expert to certified legend. The resort has also just invested $2.5m (£1.5m) in new snow-grooming equipment, so the quality of the slopes will be top notch. A six-day lift pass costs from £235 if you buy it online before November 15. There are also several deals that include accommodation that run until this time, such as five nights’ accommodation with a four-day ski pass for around ›› £58pppn. Book now to bag yourself a bargain.

Mush! Dog sledding We’ve hit the slopes on skis, bonked on our snowboard (in the boarder way, not the rude way) – hell, we’ve even regressed and gone sledding. So are there any winter sports left? You bet. Here are just a few to get you started.

1 SKI JORING Think waterskiing but on snow. You can be pulled by horses, dogs, or even a snowmobile. Once you get somewhere approaching competent, you can work in jumps and obstacles. 2 SNOW KAYAKING Snow kayaking swaps rapids for slopes. Though it might strike you as a sort of glorified version of sledding, the crafts can get up to some serious speeds, so it’s best not to charge right down a mountain – start out with some gentle runs first. And wear your thermals. 3 BROOM BALL The challenge with broom ball – pretty much ice hockey, using a ball instead of a puck – is that you don’t get the luxury of wearing skates. Rather, you take to the ice in your trainers, and hit the ball with a plastic ‘broom’. We advise you pile on the protective pads, should you slip. 4 ICE DIVING For the incredibly brave, ice diving lets you scuba under thick sheets of ice. The diver is tethered to the ice to prevent anything going too horribly wrong – you really do not want to get stuck. Thick, pre-heated wetsuits keep out the cold and a full dive mask prevents direct contact with the freezing water. This is one of the more extreme adventure sports and you’ll need to undergo rigorous training. 5 DOG SLEDDING Not so much a sport as a particularly lazy way to travel, letting a pack of fluffy mutts pull you along the white stuff is a fun means to sightseeing. Also a great way to end a long, hard day getting beat up on the slopes.

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Another great Canadian snow spot is Banff (skibanff. com) in the Rockies, with an average nine metres of annual snowfall and advanced runs taking up about 25 per cent of all terrain. The place is packed with luxury resorts, and also offers five-star favourites such as the Fairmont if you need pampering after a tough day out in the cold. Lift passes cost from £170 for five-days. ❚ The Snow Express (snowexpress.co.uk) coach service from London Victoria takes you direct to the Alps from £65, and the excellent Snow Carbon (snowcarbon.co.uk) eases your conscience and takes you by train all over Europe with returns ranging from £150-350.

BEST FROSTY GETAWAYS

Want to continue the chilly theme off-piste? Here’s our pick of the coolest hotels

ICE HOTEL, ROMANIA Situated atop the Fagaras Mountains, these remote rooms are reached by a cable car climbing 2034m. Temperatures stay at a suitably icy -2°C. Animal skins and Arctic sleeping bags help stay the shivers. See: icehotelromania.com

Xxxxx

HOTEL DE GLACE, CANADA Just a few minutes from Downtown Quebec City, this hotel offers ice beds with pelts for protection. Rather cannily, a Nordic relaxation area with saunas and spas helps to warm things up. See: hoteldeglace-canada.com KAKSLAUTTANEN, FINLAND Stay in a snow igloo in Finnish Lapland, 250km north of the Arctic Circle. Wimps can escape to an igloo made of glass if they find it too chilly, or even a log cabin if they pussy out completely. You can also take a reindeer safari. See: kakslauttanen.fi

Peace: the slopes are a good time for self-reflection...

KIRKENES SNOW HOTEL, NORWAY Snow-laden rooms make a chilly change to this hotel’s cosy restaurant, where Arctic food – salmon, whitefish – is cooked over an open fire. See: kirkenessnowhotel.com

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...and for doing silly stunts with your mates

Photos: Getty, Thinkstock, Facebook

ICE HOTEL, SWEDEN The original ice hotel is an opulent affair boasting icepillared hallways and ice-carved chandeliers. More than 80 rooms offer ice beds carved by artists and sculptors, in which you can snuggle up under a reindeer skin. See: icehotel.com

VAL D’ISERE – DECEMBER 20-29, 2013 BY ACTION-OUTDO ORS.CO.UK

Join The TNT Snowblast Tour to Val d’Isere this Christmas!

Be there THE AFRICAN SPECIALISTS 30 YEARS OVERLANDING IN AFRICA Adventure tours and safaris at unbeatable prices. Game drives in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti INCLUDED in the price. Options to gorilla trek and visit Zanzibar Island. We also arrange Kilimanjaro treks and volunteering. Talk to us now about your African adventure.

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14:13 Conditions apply on special offers.

MISSING something?

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go to the snow this Christmas & NY Val Thorens, Fri 13th - Sat 21st Dec 2013 from £130pp C

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Package includes

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The TNT Snowblast Tour – 9 day trip to Val d’Isere, France. 20th Dec – 29th Dec 2013 • 6½-day liftpass for Espace Killy ski area • 6½-day Ski or Snowboard and boot hire • 12 hours of group Instruction • 7 nights accommodation at UCPA Val d’Isere • ALL meals, including TWO Christmas celebrations • Après-ski events every day • TNT Ski merchandise • Return coach from London

£645*

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BLARNEY CASTLE, CLIFFS OF MOHER, GIANT’S CAUSEWAY & BELFAST

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*Terms and conditions apply. Prices quoted are for specific departures only. All trips subject to availability. Discounts are off the base trip price only, and do not apply to food funds and local payments. Flights not included. For full terms and conditions please visit www.topdeck.travel

Christmas & New Year in Europe TRAVEL

2 DAY Brugge Christmas Markets

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There’s no better way to experience a winter Christmas than taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the famous Brugge Christmas Markets for the weekend.

Spend your Christmas visiting one of Europe’s hidden gems – Brugge! Explore the amazing architecture, see the meandering canals and sample some delicious Belgian specialities of chocolate, waffles and beer! We even take a day trip to Belgium’s capital, Brussels.

From the Eiffel Tower, to the Louvre museum, the famed French cuisine and the amazing Parisian cabarets, the sights and sounds of Paris will stay with you long after your Christmas feasts have been eaten!

What’s Included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner, 1 night multi-share hostel accommodation, return coach from London (including ferry crossings), walking tour of Brugge and escorted services of a European trained Topdeck Trip Leader & Driver.

What’s Included: 3 breakfasts, 3 nights multi-share hostel accommodation, Belgian Christmas lunch, return coach from London including ferry crossings, walking tours of Brugge & Brussels & escorted services of a European trained Topdeck Trip Leader & Driver.

24 – 27 Dec 2013

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Ring in the New Year in one of the most famous cities in Europe. Alternatively, you could cruise along the waters of Amsterdam’s famous canal network, or enjoy a night in the equally as famous (and utterly bonkers) Red Light district!

Join the world’s most famous New Year celebrations with Topdeck at Hogmanay in Edinburgh! This huge street party gets more popular each year, and Edinburgh never fails to disappoint.

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What’s Included: 3 breakfasts, 3 nights multi-share hostel accommodation, New Year’s Eve drinks, snacks & fireworks party, return coach from London including ferry crossings, canal cruise dinner, orientation tour of Amsterdam & escorted services of a European trained Topdeck Trip Leader & Driver.

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Join Topdeck in Berlin for New Year and celebrate in Germany’s party-loving capital! Stay in quality hostel accommodation and enjoy an included walking tour of Berlin. This is your chance to experience some of Europe’s best nightlife, so join like-minded Topdeckers in Berlin and see out the year in style!

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VAL D’ISERE – DECEMBER 20-29, 2013 BY ACTION-OUTDO ORS.CO.UK

Join The TNT Snowblast Tour to Val d’Isere this Christmas! TNT Magazine & Action Outdoors have partnered up to bring you The TNT Snowblast Tour – have a White Christmas to remember in Val d’Isere The TNT Snowblast Tour – a 9 day trip to Val d’Isere, France: 20th Dec – 29th Dec 2013

£645*

Book online at: www.tnt-snowblast.com BROUGHT TO YOU BY

*Includes £50 discount valid through to Nov 25th.

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BEST!

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■ FLIGHTTOUR 28 DEC-3 JAN ✔ 6 days skiing ✔ Flights & resort transfers

£499

■ MAKE OWN WAY 28 DEC-4 JAN

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✔ Return transport from London ✔ Ski lift pass ✔ Ski/Snowboard hire ✔ Optional b’fast & dinner daily in resort ✔ Legendary Skifest parties & theme nights ✔ Amazing Xmas & NYE celebrations

£379

✔ 6 days skiing ✔ Optional Geneva Transfer

! TOP QUALITY SNOW

Know before you go.....

✔ All Fanatics tours stay in self contained apartments ✔ We DO NOT use complexes designed for schools and youth groups ✔ We only use high altitude resorts with outstanding snow records

RUGBY LEAGUE WC RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP IN THE UK! ■ Semi-Finals Wembley SAT 23 NOV ■ Final Old Trafford SAT 30 NOV

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HOGMANAY EDINBURGH’S MASSIVE NYE PARTY! ■ 3 Night Hostel 30 DEC-2 JAN

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■ NZ v FRANCE Paris SAT 9 NOV £169 ✔ Match ticket ✔ One night hotel ✔ Optional Eurostar Dublin SUN 24 NOV £179 ■ NZ v IRELAND ✔ Match ticket ✔ One or two nights hotel

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JOIN OUR HIGHLY ACCLAIMED ANZAC TOURS ■ Gallipoli & Western Front Tours - 3 to 15 days

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■ COACHTOUR 27 DEC-4 JAN ✔ Depart London Fri eve ✔ 6 days skiing

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