The essential guide to food and gyms in Medway

 

Kieran Watkin's dishes the dirt of the best places to eat both on and off campus, as well as where to burn it all off! (written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire)

Not all university students have to live off tins of baked beans and pot noodles. Some may attempt to cook, some may wish to order a takeaway, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you could always sample the local cuisine of Medway. Here to help you with a few picks of the best fine-dining establishments is the Medwire’s very own guide to eating in Medway:

On campus:
The university campus has various cafes and restaurants for students. On the Kent campus, the newly refurbished No.1 Bistro in the Rochester building offers everything from maple pancakes at breakfast to lasagne in the afternoon.
On the Greenwich campus, there is Costa Coffee and a range of hot food in the Pembroke building, with food available in the Canterbury Christ Church buildings.
The Pilkington building offers the best choice for hungry students with a varied menu each day. The campus bar, Coopers, also offer pub grub. Watch out for their special curry nights too! The Drill Hall Library and the campus shop, Essentials, offer various snacks and drinks too.

Chatham:
Just a five-minute walk from campus is Chatham Dockside, where a host of fast food outlets and restaurants are all conveniently located next to the waterfront. For a quick snack, Burger King or Subway should do the trick. For cheap meals, Dean’s Diner and Pizza Hut will leave you and your wallet looking healthy. Student favourites The Real China (all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet) and Nandos are both available here. Fancy something a bit upmarket? Dine on Italian cuisine at Zippers or be treated to a bit of Mexican spice at Chimichanga.
Dockside is also great for coffee too, from the fantastic range of Panini’s at Caffe Fratelli to the Australian-inspired flat white at Boomers café. You can also grab a bite to eat and wash it down with a nice cold pint at the Ship and Trades pub, just off Dockside towards St Mary’s Island.

Gillingham:
When you come to Medway, you will realise that takeaways are aplenty. And I mean aplenty! You just have to walk through Gillingham High Street to see for yourself. There’s everything from kebabs to southern fried chicken, Thai to Indian; there is something for everyone.
Our favourites however? For oodles of noodles, head to Tai Won Mein where for just a fiver for head, you’ll be full for days. Dixy’s Chicken in Gillingham will almost certainly cure a hangover after a heavy night at Bliss, just off the High Street. And if you love American food, head to the Hollywood Bowl opposite Medway Park for one of Gillingham’s best-kept secrets.

Rochester:
In the cathedral town of Rochester, hundreds of café’s and tearooms with freshly made sandwiches are surely enough to tickle your taste buds. Pubs are aplenty here too, so it’s the perfect place for a Sunday lunch.
Our pick? Head to the yummy Serendipity cupcake bar for Rochester’s finest cup cakes.

And after you’ve eaten to your hearts content? Well ensure you don’t have a heart attack by signing up to Medway’s finest selection of gyms and recreational facilities
- Medway Park, Gillingham (Tel: 01634 336655)
- Roko health club, Gillingham (Tel: 01634 382333)
- Waterfront health and leisure club, Gillingham (Tel: 01634 280033)
- Virgin Active, Rochester (Tel: 01634 292900)

The Spain Diaries: No.2 - sun, swimming and…more sun and swimming!

It’s safe to say that when you go on holiday, you expect to relax. In fact, when you go to Spain, it should be pretty much guaranteed. With the gorgeous sunshine, sizzling temperatures and stunning scenery, there’s no better way to watch the world go by then sunbathing in the Costa Del Sol.

And that’s exactly what I did do when I arrived in Spain on a recent holiday. After completing my first year at university, I wanted nothing more but to get away and forget about my impending results. Staying with family in the Spanish countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the UK, and the Internet, I was able to relax and unwind.

Despite coming over to Spain several times in the past to see my Grandparents, who live in a very traditional, quaint Spanish village called Tapia in the heart of the Costa Del Sol, the area never fails to amaze me. Mountains in the distance, covered in olive groves in between which are tiny casa’s and villages, all majestically dazzling in the sunshine. Paradise right!?

Paradise indeed. As we sat, drinking ice cold cervezas from the pool, we couldn’t help but laugh at the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere the locals seem to embrace. The Spain we see on the news might be rocked by riots and financial ruin, but it’s not apparent when you’re over here. Despite the hardship, all the people are friendly and welcoming, smiling and nodding “ buenos tardes” and what not throughout the day.

But with temperatures this high - high 40’s most days - who has time for small talk? The only way to enjoy this weather is a dip in the pool, looking out at the glorious views and enjoying the company of your family. As my pictures show, I did just that!

 

Previous Spain Diary entries:

- No.1 - the BA experience

The Spain Diaries: No.1 - the BA experience

Recently, the jourknow went on his second holiday this year to the sunny Costa Del Sol region of Spain, and following my previous diary format from my New Zealand adventures, I’ll be giving you a weekly insight into just a few of the sights and smells from my holiday in the sun.

Now it’s always been said that as soon as you set foot in the airport awaiting your departure, your holiday begins. The duty free, the flying, the screaming baby sitting next to you - these are all experiences which kick off the start of your summers break, and my journey to Spain was no different.

Well, it was a little different. You see, it was actually quite nice for a change. Always being one to sniff out a bargain, I was lucky to book a flight out with British Airways from London Gatwick to Malaga for only £50. Having never flown with the national airline, I was quite looking forward to the experience, and was surprised that when I tweeted BA, they were kind enough to tweet me back, telling me they were looking forward to me travelling with them.

On arrival at the airport, the BA check-in was a dream. All you had to do was key in a few details into one of the self-service check-in desks, print off your boarding pass and hand over your luggage. With BA, you’re allowed 23kg of luggage (3kg more than most other airlines), along with a piece of hand luggage and an option laptop bag. Pretty good if you’re planning on taking a lot with you on holiday.

Thinking that I was going to spending ages in the queue, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had enough time to truly experience the joys of duty free. A lovely meal in Café Rouge followed by a quick spray of all the perfumes quickly passed the time, and before long I was sat comfortably my window seat, waiting for the plane to take off.

The BA experience on board was fantastic. The free drinks and light meal all come included with the ticket, so it was great to save some money rather then spend it on highly inflated prices you usually pay for on your low-budget airlines. The service was great too, with cabin crew very friendly, ensuring the flight was comfortable for all passengers on board.

It was refreshing to relax, unwind and enjoy the start of my holiday before my holiday really began, and I was really happy with the service provided by British Airways. Many people might think they’re expensive as a chartered airline, but surprisingly, their service was far cheaper then any no-frills airline.

And it certainly kicked off a holiday that was full of sun, swimming and lots of San Miguel!

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Review of the Week: Soho

This weeks Review for the Week is asking you to get out of the house and experience culture, fine food and the bright lights of London town. In particular, the jazzy, tourist London landmark of Soho.

Having never ventured to London’s ‘red-light district’, I was bursting at the seams to go and experience what all the fuss was about. I’d heard many a wild rumour regarding a night out at Soho, so meeting with friends for a meal and a few drinks sounded like the perfect way to tickle my taste buds with the sights and sounds of what Soho has to offer.

The best way to start your evening in Soho is to get there early for a meal in one of the many restaurants. From London’s very own Chinatown to gorgeous bistro’s and American themed diners, the area offers a variety to wet the appetite for any tourist. I met friends at the cheap but cheerful Bistro 1, which had a nice cosy feel about it. The food, £10.99 for two courses, was a fantastic price for Soho, but be warned, the quality matches the price.

After drinks, book into a showing at one of the various theatre’s in the district. Current shows include Singing in the Rain at the Palace Theatre or Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre. If you’ve never experienced a West End show, then what better way to kick off a fantastic evening then catch one of these award-winning performances.

After the show, you’ll find Soho teaming with people as the atmosphere intensifies as you near midnight. This is the perfect opportunity to socialise with your friends, work colleagues or indeed the locals at one of the many bars or pubs lining Soho. Grab a cocktail, pint or glass of wine and sit and admire the world go by. I’d recommend the Pornstar cocktail, available from various bars, which comes with its own shot of Champagne. Look for the places with the cheaper prices, although you’ll find many of the bars offering deals on selected drinks.

To round off the night, you have to visit one of the swanky clubs Soho has to offer. From jazz and blues at Ronnie Scott’s to cheesy pop at G.A.Y, the atmosphere is intense as revellers flock to the dance floor. Here you’ll also find the odd celebrity performing, and there’s often many ticket promoters outside offering discounts to get in. Get there early if you wish to avoid the queues.

Of course, Soho like much of the city never sleeps and during the day you’ll find plenty of café’s, record shops and the odd sex shop catering for your individual needs. Just make sure you bring plenty of money to really enjoy the day.

Even if you go in the day, Soho still has lots to offer. From it’s religious backgrounds to it’s mark as the ‘Gay centre’ for Londoners, it’s certainly the place to go for a day or night out in the capital city.

5/5 stars

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

The New Zealand Diaries: No.16 - The final countdown

I have said it before and I will say it again, New Zealand really is a magical, intriguing country to visit on holiday, and one I had fallen in love with over the last few weeks of my adventure down under.

On the last day of my holiday, the sun sadly turned to rain, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the last few moments I had left on the South Island. Looking to make the most of the last day, my family and I set off to enjoy a few of the sites of Dunedin city.

Our first stop was at St. Clair’s beach. This golden beach, with waves perfect for surfing, is usually packed with tourists and locals on a sunny day, but on a windy and wet day, it was empty. The beach offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean, and was surprisingly peaceful despite on the edge of the busy city.

Taking photos and walking bare footed across the sand, it was great to feel the sand between my toes one last time. Despite the weather, the temperature was still warm, and the weather held off whilst I took some fantastic shots of the beach.

After the beach, we did a quick shopping trip in the city centre. Shopping in New Zealand is a mix of commercial chains and boutique stores, and there’s certainly something for everyone in Dunedin. Stopping off at the Cathedral for a few pics, I then went in search of gifts to give to my family. Luckily, a tourist shop is situated right by the cathedral, so I didn’t have too far to go.

We then went for one last meal at an amazing steak house on the busy high street. Enjoying my succulent medium-rare steak, it rounded off a month’s worth of food that I had thoroughly enjoyed eating.

Getting in the car and heading towards the suburbs, we stopped off at one of Dunedin’s most iconic buildings, the train station. Despite mainly used for freight and tour trains, the station is a fantastic structure of colour and gothic architecture, and inside was even more spectacular. Here you’ll find many tourists wondering around, and the atmosphere was lively. You’ll even find the Cadbury chocolate factory nearby, which sadly I didn’t have time to visit (maybe next time!)

Our last stop was at the mysterious Dunedin Chinese Garden. Having never been to a Chinese garden before, I was unsure of what to expect as we walked in. A Chinese garden, it turns out, is mainly a garden structured around a big pond, with a waterfall, water plants and rock features. Although there were fewer flowers than I had expected, the garden was spectacular to look round, and was a peaceful, quiet haven away from the busy city.

The garden also hosts Tai Chi classes, a tearooms and an activity centre, which allowed you to try on different costumes (which I did, of course), play mind games, and solve puzzles. It was a peculiar place, and despite being a recent project, it seemed to have just as much history as the rest of the town!

So that was it. After a quick visit to see our cousins, one sleep and a tearful goodbye to my family, I was back on the plane heading for old Blighty. It’s hard to sum up my time in New Zealand, there’s just not enough words to describe the fantastic time I had over there. It really was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday that I’ll never ever forget. In fact, I’m even tempted to move out there when I’m older! If you ever get the chance to go to New Zealand, or are stuck for holiday ideas, I hope these diaries have tempted you to splash out and enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. You’re guaranteed a fantastic time!

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:

No.15 - Jumpy for your life!

No.14 - A town fit for a Queen
No.13 - A bit of a flutter
No.12 - A day at the Museum

No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

　

Martha and the war against school dinners

School dinners hey. Who can remember those roast dinner days where you had a slither of meat that looked like a piece of processed mush, smelled like dog food and tasted like plastic? Or those delicious yet disgustingly made turkey twizzlers?

To be honest, school dinners were never that bad. And before Jamie Oliver came in and offered healthy alternatives for twice the price, they were something to look forward to. I remember the long line of hungry kids in primary school queueing up for the day’s special, or the choir of voices as the cook came out with seconds.

School dinners are just as integral to our education system as those cold days playing football in the rain or forgetting your lines in the nativity play. Everyone child across the country at some point will experience a school dinner.

But just what constitutes a school dinner nowadays? Last week, I was fascinated by the plight of one school girl from Scotland, 9 year old Martha Payne, who has set up a blog showing startling pictures of her school dinners from her primary school, or rather lack of dinner.

The pictures she has posted show ominous amounts of food that, if I was eating, would probably last a few mouth fulls. One days meal constituted of a burger, with melted cheese, in a bun with two potato croquettes and three slices of cucumber, with a ‘rocket’ lolly for dessert. Not only does this strike me as such a small amount for a growing child, but it’s hardly healthy either.

Her blog, NeverSeconds, has raked up an impressive six million hits and growing, and has support from newspapers and even Jamie Oliver himself (the man that I thought most school children despised!) Despite causing controversy among her teachers and the local council, her campaign is very impressive and definitely strikes a chord with the nation, with many other disgruntled schoolchildren across the country (and even the worldwide) uploading their pictures of puny portions.

So despite an original ban implemented by her teachers and the council, Martha’s story has garnered huge support and the ban has now been lifted. However, it alarms me that despite the criticism of school meals, the government have started to tamper with school meals and food provision. Already a consultation is running into stopping the funding for free milk for young children and nursery schools. There have also been widespread calls for breakfasts to be introduced to children that get free school meals, which I expect the government will turn down also.

It’s a shame, because I remember having fond memories of free breakfasts in primary school during my Sats tests. Not only was it reassuring and calming to have breakfast before sitting exams, but it also ensured I was given a nice, healthy breakfast. Kids nowadays, particularly those at secondary school, miss out on breakfast - so free breakfasts would enable kids to eat healthily. And surely having a healthy breakfast means kids will respond better in lessons too?

Jamie Oliver might have changed the face of school dinners, but he hasn’t really saved them. If school dinners are going to survive, the government needs to stop talking to the experts and start listening to the kids and parents. After all, they’re the ones that know best.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia/ Neverseconds blog

Martha is helping raise money for Mary's Meals, a charity that works with local volunteers to supply school meals to local children and communities. You can find out more here.

The New Zealand Diaries: No.13 - A bit of a flutter

There's a time for everything in life. Your first sip of an alcoholic beverage, your first kiss and so on. Life is full of interesting opportunities which we should take advantage of. Live today like there's no tomorrow, that's the saying right?

Which is why, on my recent trip to New Zealand, I decided to try betting for the first time. And wow, what an experience it was.

Now when I say betting, you immediately think going into a betting shop and placing a bet on a football team. But what I actually mean is I had a flutter on a few horses when I attended the Omokau Races.

Oo, fancy I hear you say!? Well, it was rather cool. Situated right in the middle of nowhere, similar to most of the towns and villages in New Zealand, Omokau Races is a fantastic track which attracts horses from across the country to compete.

But the thing that's very different is that it's not horse racing as we would associate horse racing to be. The popular horse racing in New Zealand is actually harness racing, which involves the jockey in a small cart/ harness, being led by the horse. In the UK, we call this trotting.

It's bizarre to see, as if you've wondered back into the Victorian era. But that's the brilliant thing about New Zealand, it sticks to tradition. So following tradition, my family and I set off for the annual Omokau family fun day on a sweltering summers day.

The event was packed, with plenty of activities for everyone. Besides the racing (there were about 12 races throughout the day), there was the opportunity to take part in a ladies fashion show, jump on the bouncy castle and sample locally produced food.

But the racing was the best part. This is where the Kiwi's get into their own, all lining up by the track to cheer on their favourites. To place a bet, it's pretty simple. You can go for a top three finish, a win or you can place a bet on a collection of horses. It's really up to you.

It's best to place a bet with the mindset that you haven't come to win. Start the day with a few dollars, say $50, and don't rush into betting all at once. I had a few bets and they failed, sat out for a while and then placed two more. On the last two, I had won back all my money and broke even (very rarely happens, I'm told!)

It's a day of fun. A chance to place a bet, bask in the hot sun and enjoy a picnic on the lawn with hundreds of Kiwi's all having a good time. For me, this was one of the best days of my trip, for it really was an alternative day out!

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:
No.12 - A day at the Museum

No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

The New Zealand Diaries: No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

If you were to describe one of the delicacies from New Zealand, a food export which rivals all others, one would say lamb. New Zealand Lamb is world famous, there's no doubt about it. Tender, fresh and high quality.

So would it surprise you if I admitted the only bit of lamb I 'had' was a picture taken next to one? Because, wants you see the beautiful, gorgeous animals strolling across the fields, you find it very hard to contemplate eating one!

The New Zealand sheep are cute and cuddly, surrounding towns and villages across the South Island. Sheep are popular with farmers, despite the government drive to focus farming on dairy. From village to village, you'll find at least half a dozen or so farmers tending to their sheep.

Sheep are big business in New Zealand. Besides the meat which is found and highly regarded across the globe, their wool is world renown too. 'Merino wool' is luxurious and highly expensive, a favourite with tourists who visit the island.

Sheep have something of a high status in New Zealand too. Forget your television or radio presenters, the real celebrities are often New Zealand's animals. We recently had 'Happy Feet' the penguin, but before him, came 'Shrek' the Sheep. Shrek's story is known throughout the world; a sheep who, after 6 years in the wild yet never sheared, was found and became the nation's new hero. He met the New Zealand PM, and was even flown to an Iceberg in the Pacific Ocean. Crazy huh?

But it just goes to show how much New Zealand cherishes their fluffy friends, even if it does sound immature and barmy. Yet, it put me off lamb whilst I was there. There was something deeply unsettling about waking up to a field of sheep, and then anticipating a few lamb chops for lunch. No thank you!

Alas, I am not a born again vegetarian. I just appreciate sheep a little more than I used to. So Father Christmas, the only thing on my list this year is a few fluffy lambs for Christmas! BAAAAA.

The second to last photo is of Shrek, courtesy of the Otago Museum

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

The New Zealand Diaries: No.6 - Christmas down under

If I was to pick one thing that I missed whilst in New Zealand, it would not be my family. It would not be my friends, nor my life at university. I mean, of course I missed these things, but if I was to name one thing that I really missed, it would have to be the spirit and the festivities of a Christmas in the UK.

In New Zealand, it is hard to make comparisons between there Christmas celebrations and ours back home. Yes they still celebrate it with presents, a few decorations and the annual Boxing Day sales, but that is it. Christmas in New Zealand is very plain otherwise, and I found myself pining for the traditions of the UK.

The first obvious difference was the weather. Never have I experienced a Christmas where the weather is 30c. It is the most bizarre thing, opening presents with all the windows open - forget chestnuts roasting on an open fire. It was so tiring opening presents, that we did not even open them till the afternoon, about the only traditional thing we did do that day.

My celebrations started off with a lie in, rudely interrupted by the prospect of a trek through the New Zealand bush. Sounds fun right? Well, it was I guess. We spent three hours exploring remote rainforest and rapids, clearing our path through the woodland, stopping off now and then when we found an oasis of natural spring water. Half way through, we found ourselves splashing about in white-water rapids, helplessly clinging on to rocks as we cooled off from the tiring trek. Not your usual Christmas morning!

Returning home, it was all systems go as the bird was stuffed - I point black refused having a BBQ, let the English boy have some tradition - and the veg was prepared. I guess Turkey is quite popular in New Zealand, it certainly took us a while to locate one, most of the supermarkets were sold out. After unwrapping presents, pulling crackers - festive ones I had bought over from England, they do not seem to sell them over in NZ - and eating good food, you could say tradition was restored.

But even the Turkey did not feel right. It just did not feel like Christmas. The few weeks build up before Christmas were replaced by the excitement of my holiday, so I guess you could say that I was preoccupied with my holiday then worry about the annual Christmas break. Which is exactly how I felt the Kiwi's view Christmas as; just an opportunity to get the family round, fire up the BBQ and sit back with a beer and a glass of wine. They do not really do the whole decorations thing, they are not bothered about good food and do not really care about getting up early the next day to queue for the latest bargains.

If I could use one word to say what New Zealand was missing at Christmas, I would say it was the 'commercialised' nature of Christmas (OK, maybe that is four.) I know we forget about the real meaning of Christmas, and all respect to the religious guys and girls among us, but to me it means going mad on presents, eating lots of food, watching great TV and queueing up the next day to buy lots of cheap bargains.

So forget the weather, forget the real meaning of Christmas - all I want for next Christmas, is a good old dose of commercial crap and advertising!