Author: Paul Southgate
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Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Ah, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Well, if you’ve ever wondered how the other half live, allow me to spoil the surprise: they live in palaces. Real ones. Not those “we slapped a few chandeliers up and called it a palace” palaces, but the sort where you half expect a sultan to wander past, polishing a…
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Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi: Bright Lights, Dim Experience
Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi is, on paper, everything you want in a high-end Indian restaurant. Hemant Oberoi, the man himself, is culinary royalty. You expect fireworks—layers of spices, textures that dance, aromas that seduce. What you don’t expect, though, is a restaurant that feels like a dentist’s waiting room lit by a thousand suns. Seriously,…
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Black Tap Review: Burgers & Cocktails – The new Champagne and Caviar
Opulence, once the reserve of caviar and Champagne, now seems more accurately embodied by a burger stacked so high it could double as a skyscraper. At least, that’s how I felt standing in front of Black Tap in Abu Dhabi, considering the mounting tower of melted cheese, crispy onions, and whatever “award-winning” accolade they’ve slapped…
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Raclette Abu Dhabi: Melting Expectations, Not Hearts
Raclette in Abu Dhabi: a place that promises so much on paper—great location, a fun concept (melted cheese! Who doesn’t love that?), yet somehow manages to feel like the restaurant version of a failed soufflé: collapsed and baffling. The service? Blisteringly fast, but not in a Michelin-starred way. More like they’re trying to push you…
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Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi: A Beloved Retreat with Room to Revive
It’s a bit like popping on “The Godfather” for the tenth time—still brilliant, still a masterpiece—but suddenly, you catch sight of the wobbling sets, the lines that don’t quite land, the ageing veneer. That’s how it felt returning to The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi this time. My wife and I have spent more nights here…
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Australasia review: One of those special places
Manchester is one of those cities that you walk into and feel, not just see. It has a pulse, a buzz, a kind of gritty glamour that most cities only wish they could fake. It has an energy, an identity that makes it thrilling just to be there, like you’ve stepped into a world that’s…
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Moxy Hotel Manchester: I’m not cool
Remember when hotels had reception desks? A little counter where a stiff-faced concierge handed you your key card, and you might awkwardly ask them where the lift was, even though it’s clearly signposted? Well, that’s history now. First, it was trendy for hotels to ditch the front desk entirely, replacing it with a vibe where…
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KIBOU Review: Refreshingly elegant
Stepping into KIBOU Japanese restaurant in Clifton is like stepping into a vivid daydream conjured by the most inspired of culinary minds. It is, quite simply, now firmly my favourite place in Bristol. The food is very, very good. No, scratch that. The food is so delectable it borders on divine. Start with the soft…
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Up, Up, and Away: The Magic of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
In a world where events often feel like they’re churned out on a conveyor belt of mediocrity—each one more predictable than the last—the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is the glorious exception. Held every August at the sprawling Ashton Court Estate, this isn’t just another date on the city’s calendar. It’s a spectacle, a piece of…
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Jin Bo Law Review
Now, I’m not typically one for ultra-stylish bars. I prefer a place with a bit more grit, a bit more history embedded in the walls. But let me tell you, Jin Bo Law in Aldgate has completely won me over. First, let’s talk about the view. Bars perched atop buildings are a new phenomenon for…
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The Travel Critic 