It was a shock yesterday when I heard about one of my favourite bars, in fact the 2nd best bar in Newcastle according to the latest index, Popolo announced it was closing down. Not only a shock to everyone who loves it, apparently the staff did not know a thing either. I love that end of the town, it’s a pretty cool place to go and chill, nice bars away from The Diamond Strip, and had a good number of people which is why it was surprising to many to hear about it’s closing.
Today it emerged that all may not be lost, and Popolo may be opening it’s doors again, but in a new location…The Quayside. The word is that they are moving there to a much bigger place, in fact 3x bigger across 2 floors. Where will this be? So far there is no word. I was down the quayside a few weeks ago and it’s a ghost town in comparison to the past; Offshore, Chase and Jimmyz all closed, and places such as Pravda, Blue/Julies 2 and Casa gone a long time ago.
If the size and fact it’s supposedly on 2 levels are anything to go by, Jimmyz could be the place as it was quite a size, Chase also has a basement and split level too, both of these venues have been on the market recently following their closure. Either way will they get back the atmosphere it created on Pilgrim Street? A firm favourite among 21-35 year olds, the award winning cocktail bar attracted the trendy-cool but down to earth crowd, with a laid back vibe.
So that’s another bar in Newcastle shutting it’s doors, at least for now.
Located right next to the Central Station you’ll find Jalou. Formerly known as Destination, Jalou has taken on a new look, with stylish décor and a vibrant cocktail menu to match. Perfect for meeting friends, going out with the lads or lasses, or having a casual drink. Upon entering you’ll have to walk down a couple of steps to get into the bar, where there is a large seating area outside complete with tables and heaters. Head on inside for the bar, with plenty of standing space, and lots of tables and chairs for you and your mates.
The music on offer is house, with most people being around the 21-30 age range. You can party all night long for free, with the bar staying open until 2am at weekends.
Drinks At Jalou
Jalou is a cocktail bar, which also sells a variety of other drinks such as draught lager, alcopops, bottles and of course wine. Cocktails are from £7 to £9, and they do a large selection of Mojitos if that’s your flavour. Classics can also be drank, classic martinis, old fashioned and margaritas are on offer. Something which should not be missed is the Cookie Monster for £7.50.
No VIP style bar would be complete without the choice of full bottles of spirits and champagne. Get a bottle of Prosecco, or if you’re a player upgrade yourself to some Cristal.
Under Pouring Drinks At Jalou
The cocktails at Jalou used to be brilliant, and something which you had to go to the bar just to experience. However lately, they have been rather disappointing. On several occasions I have seem cocktails being under poured, and no real care, time or effort has been taken to make the drinks. It seems now they are trying to churn out as many drinks for as little cost as possible, mixing up big batches of cocktails to split between glasses if you order more than one, and packing the glass with ice to fill it up. The image below was a Cookie Monster I bought a few years back, and they don’t look much like that anymore, with stale oreos used, and not a well made cocktail at all.
Jalou free pour cocktails, which means that the bartender should be skilled and trained to be able to pour out a legal measure accurately, but this does not seem to be the case. They offer a cocktail making masterclass which I think they should let their staff go on.
Sadly I would no longer advise getting a cocktail, and stick to a regular drink.
Jalou Dress Code
Dress code is an unusual smart-casual, with an edge on smart, although don’t be surprised when you see guys wearing baseball caps, as this is a common theme. You may not be admitted if you are seen to be dressed too casually.
Hit Or Miss?
Despite the problems with cocktails, Jalou is still worth going to. The atmosphere is good, with RnB music being played out, a good crowd, outdoor seating at the front and a dancefloor in the middle, it continues to be a good night out at the Weekend, and is free entry. Check out more Newcastle Bar reviews to find other great nightspots to visit in the city.
Jalou, Neville Street, Newcastle NE1. Closest Metro Station: Central Station Closest Other Bars: Head Of Steam, Long Bar, Revolution, Tokyo, Flortias, House Of Smith Official Website: Jalou.co.uk
The Bluebeards Revenge describes itself as the ultimate shaving experience for men. It was designed by a real life “bluebeard”, tired of having to combat tough stubble.
There is a paraben free range of luxury shaving products including everything you need for your shaving regime, including everything from shaving creams, pre and post shave solutions and a selection of razor blades.
I have been going through my old fragrances which I still have and came across Tokyo by Kenzo. It was released in 2007 but it’s now been discontinued, so I am glad I still have a bottle. It was never going to be a firm favourite, but it’s still quite a nice scent.
I like the bottle, the infamous Kenzo looks like it’s going to fall over bottle, a similar style to other Kenzo fragrances. The design on the bottle represents a night city sky such as Tokyo, with the bright lights of the city emphasised on the bottle.
The fragrance itself is a very intriguing one, and almost unique in it’s style. It’s a spicy and oriental type of scent, warm and inviting, so as you can imagine, it works it’s magic best on an evening. Once the initial spicy notes settle, you get a real sense of the woods which are pleasant to smell.
As this one is quite spicy and woody, I would say that it’s best worn on an evening, while out. Due to it’s unique characteristics and the fact that not many people have owned it, if you can still find a bottle, you’ll be the only person in the room wearing it.
This is a nice scent, but for me, the evening and night time fragrances have to have that little bit extra, something that bit special, and I don’t think this has it. That’s probably why I don’t wear it so often. During the day it’s a good time to experiment and try out different scents, but for an evening, I want the killer cologne, and although this is nice, it’s just not that.
Perhaps I’d wear this on a casual night when I want to smell good but not going on a big night out, it will do well.
For the longevity, as it’s a woody and spicy scent it will linger that little bit longer, and you can get 6-7 hours out of this one. It’s moderately strong, so it will have a nice projection, so there’s no need to over-spray.
Best season to wear – Autumn Scent type – Spicy/Fruity/Fresh Age Recommendation – 25+ Best Worn – Nightwear, Office, Date Night, Casual
Male grooming should be an important aspect of your life, and you should incorporate it into your daily routine as much as possible. This does not mean using 4 or 5 products every single day, but you should put some effort into keeping your skin looking fresh and healthy. Two good products to get you on your way are a facial scrub, and a moisturiser. I have these two from Scaramouche and Fandango.
The bottles are branded and marked with large colour coded initials, which is a nice touch. A facial scrub should only be used a few times a week, as it’s quite harsh, and removes dead skin cells and exfoliates your skin. The FS is a really nice scrub, smells good and does a nice job, not foaming up too much.
The HY hydrator keeps the skin soft and hydrated, hence the name, which is something you will benefit from. Both of these products will keep your skin smooth and soft, which will make shaving an overall nicer task.
If you are looking for a moisturiser/hydrator or a facial scrub, I can recommend giving these a try from Scaramouche And Fandango, which will set you back £10 and £8 respectively.
Taking over from the old North Bar is Science. A new bar to the Newcastle scene, it’s been going since late 2013 and located just up from the Central Station if you’ve never ventured to the old North bar before. It’s a very small venue, and used to be an old ticket office for the station. Gone is the disco balls and retro porn posters, which have been replaced with science décor including the periodic table of swearing, and an animal rug.
Drinks are what you would expect, with plenty in terms of bottles and cocktails and draught beer. Dress code is quite relaxed, casual is fine but you may feel out of place with most people in Newcastle going it smart-casual on a weekend.
One of the best features are the blackboard tables. Chalk is on the tables, which means you can have a laugh with your mates and write whatever you feel like on the tables. This quirky little gimmick is quite innovative, and provides you with a bit of fun while chilling with your friends, and is something new and different from bars in Newcastle.
A cool bar to hang with your friends, or take a girl for a relaxing drink.
Essential Info
Opening Hours: 7 Nights A Week, ‘Till 2AM (Weekends) Weekend Entry Cost: £FREE! Music: House & Beats Recommended Age: 20-40 Guestlist/VIP: NO Bottle Service:NO Stag & Hens:NO
Address / Directions
Science Lounge Bar, Neville Street, Newcastle, NE1 5DH Closest Metro Station: Central Station Other Nearby Bars: Jalou, Centurion, Revolution Official Facebook: Science Bar Facebook
Joop! Thrill MAN is quite a recent fragrance, and was released in 2009, so is not too much of an old classic just yet. It comes in a pretty standard red bottle, no flashy gimmicks or novelty bottles, just a non eye catching bottle.
The scent itself is a very inviting one. It’s warm, and you can really get a sense of the vanilla when it first hits you. It’s designed to be a sensual and sexy fragrance, and it does give off those kind of aromas. For this reason, I would recommend wearing it on an evening. It would work great when going out with a girl, or just a general night out. There are only small hints of woody type notes, which are more spicy than musky, so if you prefer these you will not find it here.
Best season to wear – Autumn/Winter nights Scent type – Aromatic/Spicy Age Recommendation – 25+ Best Worn – Evening, Date Night, Casual
Situated near Revolution on Collingwood street aka The Diamond Strip, you’ll find Floritas. Dubbed as a Miami Bar and Tropical Garden, Floritas is a favourite for those looking to enjoy a cocktails or two, chill out or dance the night away. On entering the bar there’s seating, with a bar on the left side, and dance floor opposite. Nearer the back of the bar there is more seating, with an outdoor area to chill out in, which is primarily used as a smoking area.
Music on offer is the usual house beats, which goes on all night on weekends with occasional live music such as bongo playing. Dress code is smart casual, leaning towards the smart. The clientele can be a real mix, but at weekends this usually attracts the younger crowds of 20-25 year olds.
Drinks
There’s a vast array of drinks on offer; From draught beer to bottles, wine, alcopops, spirits and shots, as well as a large choice of cocktails. Cocktails start at around £6 which will get you favourites such as the Double Cush Wor Kid, Pink Lynchberg and classics such as a Mojito and Old Fashioned. If you’re in a large group of just feeling like you want to splash the cash, full bottles of spirits and champagne can be bought, with Absolut going for £95 and NV Moet for £70.
Opening Hours: 7 Nights A Week, ‘Till 3AM (Weekends) Weekend Entry Cost: £FREE! Music: House, Chart, Hip Hop, RnB Recommended Age: 20-35 Guestlist/VIP: YES Bottle Service:YES Stag & Hens: Dress Smart (Fancy Dress may be allowed at discretion)
Address / Directions
Floritas, Collingwood Street, Newcastle, NE1 Closest Metro Station: Central Station Other Nearby Bars: Madame Koo, House Of Smith, Revolution Official Website: floritasbar.com
Think of 50s style, glitz and glamour and you are thinking of House Of Smith. It’s located on Collingwood Street aka The Diamond Strip, close to the Central Station, and like the bars in this area is more of a trendy style of environment. If you’re looking for a nicer, higher class of bar with table service, this is a contender. House of Smith is owned by The Apartment Group, who also own Floritas and Madame Koo which sit next door to HoS. It used to be called Baby Lynch, which was “The neighbourhood bar in the city” but they decided to change it to a trendy cocktail bar, much like the other bars on Collingwood Street.
The Crowd & Music
The crowd and music is much like you find throughout the Diamond Strip. As these bars are all next to each other or close by, you’ll probably find yourself bumping into the same people in bar after bar, if you’re going around these bars as that’s what a lot of people do.
Nightclub Nights
House of Smith is home to several nights including Club Tropicana, Waikiki, Pin UP, Jungle, Press Play, S@S and Say The Word.
Dress Code
You should dress up fairly smart, especially if you’re going at the weekend. A shirt and smart jeans will be fine, a jumper, smart T-shirt or
Drinks
A large selection of drinks, with cocktails starting at around £7.50, or if you’re feeling extravagant go for a full bottle of champagne or spirits including vodka, tequila, rum and whisky. Drinks prices are quite high, even for the average price of the area.
Hit Or Miss?
House Of Smith can cost £10 to get in at the weekend, and once inside the prices are huge. If you want a VIP night and want to pay for a booth and bottle service, once again this is higher than most places. Since it does not really offer anything other bars on the same street does better, I have to say you should give House of Smith a miss. It is not terrible and not the worst place to end up on a night, however there are better alternatives. Going for one drink could be feasible, but not if you have to pay for entry.
Information
House Of Smith, 26 Collingwood Street, Newcastle, NE1 1JF
Opening Hours – 7 Nights a week. Till 3AM (weekends)
I have tasted and bought some of the best and most premium vodkas which you can buy; From household names such as Grey Goose and Belvedere, Ciroc, Russian Standard and Stolichnaya, to lesser known premium brands such as Crystal Head, Roberto Cavalli and Wyborowa.
My latest is this Beluga vodka, and this is it. You can get a pack which includes a glass, something great in itself. The glass is a heavy, thick glass, with a metallic Beluga fish on the glass, which is trimmed with metal at the bottom and finished with the Beluga branding. The vodka itself is brilliant. It’s so smooth and crisp, you can taste it without a horrible aftertaste, it’s a very fine vodka. It’s probably the smoothest I have tasted, and I was so confident of the taste I tried a little neat, something I have ever really done with vodka, and it went down well.
About the vodka
Produced in 2002 in the world famous Mariinsky distillery, it’s a classic Russian vodka. Refined and rich taste is made from malt spirit and the purest of water from the Siberian artesian wells. You can pick up a bottle of Beluga Noble Russian Vodka for around £45.
In my opinion it’s better than Grey Goose and Belvedere, it has a much smoother taste but maintains the kick you want from a vodka when mixing your drinks. If you are looking for a premium vodka, then this should be near the top of your list.
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