Free Turkey roasts on Christmas day-what did it feel like?

I don't think there's ever been a pub story which has got more traction on the media, not a "positive" pub story anyway. Unless it's the "pub poisons 93 people who ate dodgy chicken" type of article, or "pub landlord shoots bloke who added Guinness onto the end of his round" kind of thing, you don't tend to see much news about individual hostelries, even less their charitable work. That's a shame in many respects as much good goes on in pubs throughout Britain on a daily basis, but I guess the newshounds figure "pub raises £250 for local hospice" ain't gonna sell many papers, and lets be honest they're probably right.

So we were probably even more surprised than you were when the Evening Standard, Talk Radio, BBC Radio London, SKY News, ITN London etc came knocking at our door looking for an angle on the "free roasts if you're on your own on Crimbo day" story. Yes the Wimbledon Guardian had gotten hold of it (and we were even quite chuffed at that) but when you've got people emailing you from Australia and the USA telling you how happy the story made them, you get to know what they mean when they say it's gone "viral". Even more surprising we thought given we've done a similar thing for the last five years, but I guess in those years it didn't get retweeted by George Galloway to 259K followers, setting up a chain of events which saw it spin around the world.

Obviously when literally millions of people read it you are bound to get the odd one who either doesn't get it at all, or alternatively writes the whole thing off as a cynical marketing ploy. To that end we had a couple of people telling us "homeless people don't have Twitter accounts" despite the fact the gesture wasn't specifically aimed at homeless people anyway. Equally, it was frustrating to read one guy from hundreds of miles away speculate that the Alex was probably "a dingy little pub that nobody ever goes in" (how wrong can you be in one sentence?) then go onto explain it was nothing more than a crude PR exercise. Thankfully most people though "got" it, and we didn't respond to any negativity online as we never do.

So what was it like on the day? naturally we were a bit worried, and having no idea whatsoever how many people were going to show up we catered for 200 and crossed our fingers it would be enough. We were slightly concerned just before opening when a trickle of single men who were unknown to us began to queue outside the door, but after an early flow it slowed down to a dribble then eventually to a stop. We served 29 people in the end with a free roast, none of whom looked homeless to me (that non PC comment will no doubt go down well) and their ages ranged from one young fella of around 22 to a couple of what looked like retired colonels who could've been in their 80's. The split was around 60:40 men to women I should think, and the average age 50 or so. I greeted all of them on arrival and got them a beer, took their names then told them we'd have a table in "about ten minutes or so". Then when the next person came in, I'd take their name then casually throw in "oh I'll tell you what, let me introduce you to so and so" and kind of got people together that way. I was able to sit people in groups of three and four, and there were a few fledgling friendships (and one budding romance!) formed.

We had four non paid helpers who very kindly offered their services via Twitter, and they were absolutely lovely. Our staff were brilliant too (because they are) and we were also helped on the day by the very big hearted Tom Elliot-Frey from Youngs.

The people who came seemed to love it, they all seemed to have a good old laugh and were unbelievably thankful when they left. All said they'd been wavering as to whether to come or not (which leads us to think there are probably heaps more people in the same boat) but were extremely glad they did. I reckon we'll do it again next year, although it won't get the media coverage as by then it'll be "old hat". If you're a publican yourself and considering giving it a go, I reckon you'll have no worries. If you need any advice (I know you probably won't but hashtag just saying) contact me at the Alex.

Now we've well and truly had our Andy Warhol moment, we can get back to just running our pub again, Happy New Year everyone!      

Negative social media, what to do?

We've probably all had it who work in the hospitality trade, particularly if you serve large numbers of customers every day. "Don't go to this place it's rubbish" on TripAdvisor (hopefully surrounded by "do go to this place it's really good" reviews). Or the old chestnut "we've been asked to leave for absolutely no reason whatsoever" on Twitter (because all venues do this don't we? We all ask people to leave for "absolutely no reason whatsoever").

Such things on Twitter and Facebook provide a bit of a dilemma for publicans and restaurateurs everywhere, do you get involved and try and explain your position, or do you let it blow over and let people get their gripes off their chest? My feeling is there's no right or wrong answer, but almost always conducting dialogue of this type with customers on a public forum doesn't end well. Either it drags on and on and other people (who weren't there/don't know the situation) get involved, or the operator eventually loses his rag and launches into the customer publicly telling him "never come back you tosser!". We've all seen such cases played out in the media and in my view it doesn't reflect well upon either party, amusing though it is for the newspapers (particularly if it's a well known chef as it always seems to be) .

As far as being a customer myself who occasionally refers to such sites as TripAdvisor is concerned, I think it's usually important to have a "nutter" filter when viewing potential places to visit. I've always felt that if the vast majority of people really like a venue, the odd one giving a 1 out of 5 review and saying "the place was packed and noisy" or "we had to wait 35 minutes for our pizzas" ought to be taken with a bucket of salt. Equally, I can't get away from the feeling that if said customer was so massively concerned with the noise, or the wait time, or the price or whatever it was, why didn't they take it up with the management at the time, or at least call them the next day to discuss it? That's what I'd do see, if (and it's never ever happened) I was asked to leave somewhere "for no reason whatsoever" I'd leave, then vigorously take it up with the management of the venue the following day. I wouldn't create a scene at the time as that would kind of prove the removers were correct all along, and I wouldn't lower myself to sounding off on social media, I think I'm better than that.

Not that all of this of course means that any complainers or people who mark you one out of five and the like are wrong, of course they aren't. People who complain or aren't impressed ought to be the oxygen which allows a good venue to improve, pointing out deficiencies or indiscretions which the vast majority of customers will also see but usually be too polite to tell you about. "Professional complainers" don't exist, they are a myth of the hospitality trade in my opinion. Also my opinion is that you should multiply the number of complaints you receive in a year by AT LEAST a factor of ten in order to assess how many dissatisfied customers you've had. Most people don't complain, and I've lost count of the times I've been somewhere and despite not being impressed with the whole experience have with a smile told the server everything was "really good". We don't complain as a whole, so when people do we in the trade ought to take them seriously.

But anyway back to Twitter complainers and TripAdvisor marker-downers. I'm pretty sure that as these people have a smart phone and are "savvy" on things in general, they have the ability to find out a venues phone number and/or email address. They have the ability, the intelligence and the nous to make their point to a venue and its management without seeking to publicly embroil them in an argument as well. Ultimately that's the way I feel that such things ought to be played out, and that's why I tend not to get involved if a customer is disparaging on a public forum. I obviously for reasons of professional courtesy wouldn't say to a customer "because you were drunk sir and being a pain in the arse" on a public forum, but I maybe more inclined to do so if he or she popped in and had a word with me. Equally I maybe (or almost certainly would be) more sympathetic to his or her cause if they took the route of actually speaking to us, rather than what they consider to be "the wider world" (even that's a myth, nobody listens to any of us really!).

So anyway there you have it, at the Alex we generally don't get involved in social media spats. We don't think it is helpful. If however you wish to contact us for whatever reason, our email address for reference is alexandra@youngs.co.uk and our phone number is 0208 9477691. My name is Mick, and if you fancy just bobbing in I'll buy you a pint and we can discuss anything you like.

Kids in pubs. Are we in the trade unreasonable?

Kids. What is or isn't acceptable behaviour (from their parents mostly) is a regular thing which comes up in pubs, and ones as busy as we are at the Alex feel it more than most.

Here are my thoughts on it, the mantra I try and live by. I think this is reasonable and sensible, although sometimes some parents don't agree.

SAFETY.

I'd quite like it if your child was safe while they are in the Alex. As such, I'd much prefer it if they stayed at your table, with you. That means I don't think it's OK if they take the fire guard away from the fire to get a closer look (I kid you not), I don't think it's OK if they sprint around the pub (up and down stairs) to show you how fast a runner they are, and I don't think it's OK if they wander into a separate bar from where you are sitting (we have four bars at the Alex, all with doors out onto the street). Also, I don't think it's OK for them to climb up the walls or things which are attached to them, nor do I ever want to hear the scream of a child who has run into a teapot carrying server and got it spilt down their back. So call me a stickler, but I'd quite like them not to smash their face in when they fall over, not to get burnt by hot drinks, not to walk out of the door and get run over by a truck, and I'd also quite like it if they left with the person who actually brought them in.

OTHER CUSTOMERS.

By and large (and this is in my humble opinion, formed after 20 odd years in the trade), people come into the pub to chill out with their friends, their family, or by themselves. Usually, customers quite like it if they can stay in their own little circle of people (or by themselves). As such, they aren't normally overly receptive to other peoples children (or indeed anyone they don't know) bothering them at their table. Equally, people screaming and shouting at the top of their voices (however old they are) isn't usually what is needed for a relaxing environment. As such, in my opinion ( I wouldn't say this to you but it is my opinion anyway) an emergency dummy might be in order if your child is prone to sudden outbursts of high pitched screeching. Unreasonable? Perhaps, but check out the packed pub which has only three empty tables, all of which are next to yours and all of which have been vacated by people now sitting as far away as they can get.

PROPERTY

It's really not OK for your child to draw on the tables in the pub with felt tip pens. Why do I mention it? I'm really not kidding, I've had to explain it to two separate families in the last 18 months. I don't mind picking up all the stuff which gets thrown on the floor, but damaging tables so I've got to sand them and re-polish them after you've left isn't cool.

So there you have it. My kind of wishlist if you choose to bring your children into the Alex for a bite to eat. Sorry if you don't agree, but please be assured that if I ask you to make sure little Johnny doesn't play in the fire or sprint up and down wooden steps, I aren't being difficult for the sake of it, I've actually got his best interests at heart.

Brasserie Zedel-The @14thefrog review.

Brasserie Zedel is where the Atlantic bar and grill used to be, on Sherwood st in behind the flashing neons of Piccadilly. I only know that because somebody told me obviously, I wasn't a frequent visitor to the aforementioned Oliver Peyton celebrity hangout. It's downstairs a couple of flights, and looks like a cinema when you're walking in. You kind of keep asking yourself if you haven't come to the wrong place as you walk past big billboards advertising crooners with cheesy grins and cabaret artistes. You haven't though, and when you finally emerge into the cavernous restaurant, it's a real sight to behold.

It's all bright and sparkly, with art deco lights and high ceilings. The waiters look like they're actually accountants who are doing a bit of moonlighting at lunch, and there is a real sense of theatre to the place (almost literally).We got in there just after it opened and were the first ones in, and the very nice lady on the reception jump stuck us in a perfect spot for people watching. They keep a section of tables back for walk-ins, and it was to there where we were steered. She politely informed us that the table was "booked in 90 minutes time", and while I don't suppose for a second that it was, it did let us know quite clearly that this was a table turning operation where buggering about would be severely frowned upon.

No sooner had our bums hit the seats than one of the accountants was over with the menus. The first thing you notice is that it's all in French, the second thing which hits you is that it's very reasonable bordering on cheap. They do a two course set menu for about nine quid, while three courses can be done for twelve. We didn't go for that option, although what we had didn't come to too much more.

I went for the French onion soup which has always been a favourite. It was utterly brill, with meltingly tender onions and the little gruyere croutes on the side so you could lob them in as you saw fit (I must confess I couldn't really understand the DIY element). Sarah had spinach and cabbage soup, which was much nicer than it sounds. We also got some bread which was fresh French stick, with that lovely butter that you always get in such places which is never available anywhere else.

For mains it was Onglet steak all round. They give a knife which looks like it's just been lifted off the "Jagged Edge" poster, but you don't need it really as the meat is as tender as something that's pretty tender. The frites are great, and it all comes in this red wine gravy (I cannot type the word jus).

Desserts were a lemon tart for me which was lemony enough to make you pull a funny face, while Sarah had pears in port with almonds and cream. My dessert was better. Then it was coffees and a pinot des charantes, the bill off the accountant bloke (perfectly totted up obviously) and out well within time. There's a 12.5% service charge which is fair enough as you get served by about 73 people, and it's quite good, AND it only amounts to about a fiver anyway. The bill was about £57 and the whole experience was great.

If you're in the west end and want to go somewhere good, cheap and quick then go here. I have read one or two negative reports (amongst hundreds of positive ones) but I'm at a loss to think of a single bad point. It's cheaper than Cafe Rouge and about a squillion times better. Well done to all. 

Chipotle-The @14thefrog review.

The first time I ever encountered Chipotle was in Minnesota about six years ago. I know I risk sounding like a spotty teenager on about a band who "used to be underground" when I say that, but it's true. I was impressed too, I'd never had a burrito, or "barbacoa beef" or "cilantro rice", nor had I ever eaten anything shaped like a "kagool" (one of those 70's collapsible jackets we all wore on belts around our waist) and wrapped in tin foil. It all seemed very windswept and interesting, as well as tasty and great value. Given all of that, I was very excited when Chipotle came to Wimbledon and couldn't wait to try it.


We went with the kids early tea-timish and it was fairly quiet on arrival. The staff were fully clued up into the American service etiquette, and the smiles and welcomes we're absolutely beaming. My guess is that if you went in when Brazil were playing in the World Cup you might find them a bit short-staffed, but to all intents and purposes you could have been in Wisconsin rather than dear old Wimbers such was the enthusiasm of the greeting. I went for the "barbacoa" on the insistence of my little lad who'd been before, along with some black beans, some white rice, guacamole, hot chilli sauce, lettuce and probably a couple of other things which escape me right now. Everyone else also had burritos (actually tell a lie my little girl had soft taco's) and we had some tortilla chips and some "guac" to nibble on. Drinks are in can or bottle form rather than post-mix, so all in all it couldn't be quicker or more efficient if it tried. Also, there's more people behind the jump than you can shake a shiny shovel at, so I reckon even if/when it gets busy you should get sorted out fairly sharpish.

So how was it? Well, the food was decent rather than being unbelievably good. I enjoyed it don't get me wrong, but I wasn't blown away in a "jeez I can't wait till we come back here again" sense. To tell the truth, I'm fairly sure this wasn't down to the food or the service though. It was down in the main to the fact that the seats in the restaurant area are made of stainless steel and are flippin freezing on your bum. There was no heating to speak of when we were there, the walls are matt white without a picture in sight, the whole thing is stark and the overall effect was that we kept our coats on and I couldn't wait to finish up and get moving. This isn't in a part of town where I'd imagine there'll be a huge take-away market (obviously I might be wrong but I don't think I am) and I think given that the design of the seating areas is ill conceived. It'll work alright in the Summer, but I can't see too many rushing back to sit in for the rest of the year. There's a really nice garden area out the back too, and if it was me I'd push the boat out and get a heater or two out there.                      

All in all I definately would go back again. Bizarrely though, Wimbledon will soon have three Mexican restaurants and the competition is obviously fierce. While Chipotles food stands comparison to @tortillaUK down the road, it is in a quieter spot on the high street by far and as a "dining in" experience is a mile behind. The one down the road is warmer, has more brick in the design, more oranges and reds and just feels more welcoming. London as Ralph McTell sang, can be a cold and a lonely place for much of the year. It takes more than a "have a nice day" to make us feel warm inside. A cushion or two on the chairs, a colour splash picture or two on the walls, a notch or two up on the heating is very much called for. I hope Chipotle prospers in Wimbledon, but I'd be surprised if it can without a modification on the current offering. 

AYA The @14Thefrog no holds barred review.

AYA is not in the best part of town to tell the truth. It's down by South Wimbledon tube, with one or three derelict shops as close neighbours and a closed down and boarded up boozer accross the road. Neither is it decked out to look particularly posh, the front windows go floor to ceiling and the unit could have been anything from a printers to a hairdressers before they took it over. That said, when we went on a rainy and flippin freezing Thursday it was banged out so they must be doing something right.

It's BYO. They don't sell ANY alcohol whatsoever so if you fancy a tipple and aren't prepared, you're staring down the gunbarrel at the Tesco's which is tacked onto the side of the garage accross the road. I bought some wine and beer there, and my answer to the "how did we do?" which was emblazoned accross the bottom of the receipt is "pretty shit really". The shops horrible and depressing. Anyway enough about Tesco's, but buy your booze from somewhere else before you come.

Inside the restaurant, all the staff and chefs look like extras from a James Bond movie. You know the opening sequence of pretty much every film where he's being chased by a random bad guy through the bazaars of Marakesh. Those guys who look at him as if to say "Hey!!! WTF!!!" when he knocks their fruit and veg display over with his Harley? they all work at AYA. They're pleasant enough here though, although my guess is if you went in there giving it Charlie big spud some gadgie from behind the char-griller would produce a machete like an elephants trunk and chop your fingers off (if he was in a good mood). Our waiter was a suavey looking bloke in a suit who looks like he probably shaves about once every hour and half, he was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable too. 

The menu has all the old middle eastern favourites (as if I know any), and we basically steamed in and started ordering willy nilly. We got some houmous ( I bet everyone who goes here does), some babaganoush (which coincidently is my favourite word in the world), some cottage cheesy stuff which I couldn't quite get my head around, some falafal and some Lebonese sausages. All of it was pretty good, but the babaganoush was absolutely sensational. It was so good, that if they'd told me at that point that they'd sold out of everything except it, I would have just ordered a bucket full. You also get this flat bread stuff for dipping, but I wolfed ours in about a minute which was a big mistake as it turned out. Despite me asking said waiter twice for some more bread it never arrived, although he was very agreeable and nice about it each time I asked him. The way he said "no problem sir!" and then didn't bring any, reminds me a bit of my barbers if you ever try and change haircuts. When he says "what are we having today sir?" you might as well tell him you fancy a Sigue Sigue Sputnik pink mohican for all the effect it'll have. You're still going to get a "two and four" anyway, and it appeared that we weren't getting anymore bread at AYA too. Never mind though, all the starters were fab. BTW, apparently not ordering these little mince meat pastry things (God knows what they're called) was a bit of a schoolboy error, next time.

For main I had a mixed grill. It had on it some lamb and chicken shish, and some minced lamb shish, and some other stuff which escapes me now. You get chips or rice, and I had chips (which were them big beefeetery type things). All the meat was superb, really really great. Quick aside here, if you're a vegetarian order plenty of houmous and babaganoush, savour it cos there's bugger all else to speak of. The chips would be better in my opinion if they were 3/8" fries or something similar, and also when I asked them for some hot chilli sauce they didn't have any which was a bit odd. I can't surely be the first person to ask for it. They did however have this other mild chilli which was mildly good. I cannot for the life of remember what my dining companions had for main, but they did say it was good if that helps.

The bill (including a tip for Omar Sharriff) came to £58 obviously without booze. Considering I went in there hungry and could barely walk on the way out, I have to say it was brilliant value. To be totally honest, it was worth it just for the babaganoush, and any quibbles I had about bread and chilli sauce are only minor. Next time I'm back (which will be very soon, I really enjoyed it) I'll not just BYO my beer, I'll bring me own bread and chilli sauce as well.

AYA is a smashing local restaurant, go. On the evidence of our visit don't take a chance either, book.

The Lawns Bistro "working Lunch", the @14TherFrog review.

One of the best meals I had in the whole of 2012 was within walking distance of where I live, at the Lawns Bistro in Wimbledon village. Lifes like that, you traipse all over London sampling the various scrummy bits of grub on offer, but once in a while you find a gem right under your hooter. Anyways I'd seen the "working lunch" advertised on a board outside for a while now and been meaning to go and give it a bash. It's kind of the £14 quid for two courses, £18 for three carry on, with wine extra I think. So last week, finally, we went.......

Now as a publican, it's rare for me to "do lunch". Where I come from, it's called "dinner" not lunch, and your evening meal is your "tea" (I know but I'm Northern, that's how it is). Given that, I'm not the kind of bloke who is going to go for a poncey little starter followed by a wedge of goats cheese on a little mound of lettuce. So looking at ther menu at the Lawns, I got to thinking that I could probably eat all of it. I was starving hungry, couldn't decide, and it looked fantastic, so I had a quick word in the shell-like of the waiter and he agreed to do us three starters and a main.

We opened up with this little mussel soup (they probably call it a bisque but that's their privilage). I'm not some kind of food poseur, but I think it probably had a bit of saffron it as well. It was unbelievably good, really fanstastic. Particularly so when you dunked your little bread rolls in which they kept bringing round. Very rich it was too, as you'd expect.

Next up was the chicken liver parfait, which is world champion standard. I could sit at home with a pile of toast and eat this till the cows have been home and gone out again. Just wonderful. Needless to say the bread kept coming and I kept eating, brilliant.

Oh and I forgot to say Sarah ordered some Pinot Des Charantes (that's probably not how you spell it). They make it in Cognac, and we went there once and loved it. It was beautiful drop.

Anyways where were we? Oh yes, next starter up was Geese rillettes. A rillette appeared to me (as I had no idea what it was) to be kind of pulled leg meat mixed with a spicyish dressing and served with toast and a kind of sweet jam (I'm going from memory here, I don't take notes when I'm eating). It was flippin lovely also, but I was now beginning to realise I actually couldn't "eat the whole menu", no way Jose, or Jean-Paul, or whatever it is.

For main I had a bavette steak and big chips. This was the most flavoursome piece of steak I've had in ages, pinker than something that's very pink in the middle, and the chips were absolutely fantastic. We kept on quaffing this posh mineral water which had tiny bubbles (the smallness of which baffled me for ages during the meal) and to be totally honest I can't remember if we had a dessert or not (I don't think we did). We did have some fantastic coffees, and a chat with the staff who were all wonderful. Ah and Sarah has just said "don't forget the chocolates", and we got these little chocoate sweet things with the coffee which were brill.

The bill came to about £80 for the three of us, and it was a completely brilliant afternoon. We all thought it was unbelieveable value, which probably explains why the restaurant was pretty much packed out. I'm a huge advocate of the Lawns Bistro, I love going there for an evening out. Now, having tried the lunch menu I'll be going there in the afternoon as well. Well done to all concerned with this place, you should be proud of it.