MARVEL MAN JOE RUSSO BUYS INTO SCOTS CHEF AND OPENS RESTAURANT

AVENGERS: Infinity War director Joe Russo turned up by taxi to launch his own restaurant in Edinburgh after falling in love with the cuisine by Scots chef Sean Clark during a visit to the capital seven years ago. 
And Marvel filmmaker Joe who rushed to his new Under The Table restaurant from St Andrews where he was hanging out with Tom Holland for Sands International Film Festival,  said he and Scotland have a special bond - after his daughter and other family members also studied at St Andrews. 
Joe, who has invested in the venture alongside Sean and former wine merchant Paul O‘ Donoghue said: “It’s super exciting. This is my favourite chef in the world by the way so this is why I’m so glad he’s able to expand his experience from The Table onto a more informal every day event for the people of this town. 
Joe, who opened Simone restaurant in LA in 2018, added: “Anything I can do to get people support him and to get people to come and eat his food, because it’s some of the best food you are ever going to eat, it’s a good day.”
Talking of his love of Edinburgh, he added: “One I love the Scots and two I love these guys. I’ve been supporting this town for a long time. I’ve been supporting Scotland for a long time now. We shot Endgame Infinity War here at Waverley Station almost seven years ago now and my daughter graduated from St Andrews, and two nieces and a nephew graduated from St Andrews so, my family has a real foothold in Scotland.

“This town in particular is a very special town, a very artistic town, craft oriented, you have Iain Macpherson the cocktail panda who just won three awards, an incredible mixologist, on London this last week. And the Table is one of my favourite restaurant experiences in the world for many years now. So the fact that, like I said, we get to support them in opening a new venue, that’s now informal is a really good thing.”
Guests enjoyed a selection of canapés including venison and pigs ear ragu.

SCOTLAND’S FIRST LISTENING BAR COMES TO GLASGOW

Glasgow’s renowned South East Asian Bar & Brasserie, Mamasan, begins a new chapter as it transforms into Scotland’s first listening bar with a programme of impressive global DJs and exceptional sound quality set to soundtrack the city.  

Starting this weekend (Good Friday, 29th March), it reinvents itself as an audio bar, following a comprehensive hi-fi overhaul and the installation of a bespoke, state-of-the-art sound system designed by sound engineers to elevate late-night cocktails and dining to an unparalleled auditory experience - a first for Scotland. With DJs from Belle & Sebastian and Sub Club already signed up to play, Mamasan enters a new era as the country’s first dedicated listening bar.

Despite being named the vinyl-collecting capital of the UK, Glasgow hasn’t had an audio bar concept to call its own. Until now.  Originating from 1950s Japan, the listening bar concept blends intimate dining with audiophile-grade music listening. These venues, which emerged in Tokyo's small bars, cafes, and record stores, serve as a hub for music lovers seeking a relaxed environment to appreciate high-fidelity sound.

Catering to a change in nightlife habits and a love for high-fidelity audio, the new Mamasan direction introduces a trio of new core pillars Bar, BBQ and Records. With an exciting roster of programming set to play: Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastianfame as well as Harri from Glasgow’s iconic Sub Club, & Nick Peacock from The Buff Club and session drummer & DJ Toni McVey, who plays with Joesef, and recently completed a tour with Jungle. Curated by music specialists, Open Ear, guests can expect an interesting lineup of global musicians playing vinyl in the heart of Glasgow. This auditory feast is complemented with a brand new cooked over fire casual sharing menu crafted in partnership between top Scottish chef, Finn Steel-Perkins, and Great British Menu star, Ali Borer, alongside innovative cocktails from the bar.

The cutting-edge sound technology in Mamasan, complete with Danley’s renowned audio file quality, ensures every record is played back with the integrity and richness it was originally intended to convey. The venue has collaborated with leading music-tech brands including Technics, Pioneer, Master Sounds, Small Town Audio and Danley to unlock the full potential of recorded music, to elevate the guest experience for audiophiles and vinyl lovers alike. 

Alongside the music, guests can indulge in experimental cocktails from Mamasan’s bar or enjoy a brand-new Thai BBQ menu, featuring innovative sharing dishes, all cooked over coal on a bespoke grill. With fire at the heart of so many South East Asian flavours, Ali Borer of London’s renowned Thai BBQ restaurant, The Smoking Goat, and Mamasan head chef Finn Steel Perkinshave crafted the menu together in an unique collaboration that pushes boundaries with flavour. All of Mamasan’s fish, meat and produce are slowly cooked or smoked over fire, using a combination of charcoal, wood and freshly pressed coconut husks to develop a real depth of flavour. 

Brad Stevens, Founder of Mamasan, commented: “When Mamasan opened in 2020, our vision was to create a stylish dining concept that was as much about the drinks and music as the food. Due to the restrictions in place throughout the pandemic, we couldn’t finish the job we started. Now our new state-of-the-art sound equipment, combined with incredible Thai BBQ food and drinks means we’ve elevated the guest experience and we can’t wait for Glasgow to join us at Scotland’s first dedicated listening bar for an outstanding line-up of music.

Speaking about programming, Kevin McCrorie of Open Ear Music and DJ Matthew K said: “It’s a great honour to curate the lineup for Scotland's first audiophile bar. In a world where any song is available to anyone at the click of a button, it's important to have a place where music can be heard as it was intended. People will get the opportunity to hear music, with clear, pristine sound on an amazing system, yet will still be able to hold a conversation without the volume being overpowering. For a music loving city such as Glasgow, this is a much welcome addition.  Look out for some special names over the next few months.”

Mamasan Bar, BBQ & Records is open seven days a week from noon until 1am, with curated DJs spinning vinyl from Friday + Saturday from 9pm, and Sunday from 2pm.   The spring music programme is below, to book your table please visit mamamasan.co.uk.

GLENEAGLES HOTEL WELCOMES BURNS NIGHT WITH WINTRY COCKTAILS

WHEN it comes to Burns night there are few venues in Scotland as impressive as the famed Gleneagles, nestled in the heart of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire. 

The revered hotel which has captivated travellers for nigh on 100 years is inviting discerning customers to indulge their Burns night this month at The American Bar, winners of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award at The World's 50 Best Bars. 

The showbizlion.com believes there is nothing better than a luxury hotel which offers both adventure and outdoor pursuits combined with fine dining and a drinks menu to challenge your tastebuds. 

In keeping with true Scottish tradition, Gleneagles are pleased to present the Honeyberry cocktail - an elevated Scottish Whisky cocktail using  Aberfeldy 12 year whisky, Honeyberry and Kefir 13. 

Combined together the liquid is a perfect complement to whisky and when combined, results in an Alexander-style cocktail – creamy but deceptively light with a spicy finish. 

Renowned Head of Bars, Michele Mariotti, has taken its luxury offerings to the next level, focusing on locality and taking an innovative approach to incorporate ingredients sourced from the Gleneagles’ rolling hills of Perthshire, resulting in a truly unique bar experience. 

Whether guests choose to visit The American Bar or The Century Bar, they can indulge in the most tantalising and inventive cocktails crafted with the finest ingredients found both locally and within the hotel's existing ecosystem.

Gleneagles' American Bar offers beautiful decor that playfully evokes the glamour of the 1920s and ‘30s.  The walls of the bar exude opulence, wrapped in a unique Scottish heather dyed cashmere, woven exclusively for Gleneagles.

The stunning original fireplaces, restored to their former glory, boast lilac marble and custom-made brass mirrors, while vintage glass column wall lights add a touch of old-world charm to the luxurious cashmere panelling. This bar is a visual feast for the senses, transporting you to a world of excitement and elegance. 

The bar team is passionate about creating imaginative and exciting drinks, as demonstrated by their highly anticipated Book of Berries menu launched in 2022. Inspired by the 20th-century Observer Books, this menu features eighteen cocktails, each dedicated to a single botanical berry sourced from the local area and produced sustainably.

The Book of Berries menu is not only a celebration of the classic cocktail, but also a statement of Gleneagles' commitment to creativity and sustainability. By using waste and non-prime parts of produce, the bar team has created an extraordinary cocktail menu that showcases the diversity of botanicals and their origins.

The menu's hero serve is the Juniper Martini. 

To showcase how the different varieties of juniper can enhance the taste of this ultimate classic, the team partnered with South Loch Distillery in Edinburgh to create three bespoke gins, each using only one botanical - juniper. 

In addition to the Martini, the Book of Berries menu boasts a range of exciting cocktails, such as Blueberry, which uses Gleneagles’ Garden Café blueberry muffins to create a vodka-based cocktail, and Avocado, which incorporates leftover avocado seeds to create an orgeat, which is then combined with white rum and Amaro to make a Mai Tai-style cocktail. 

Another standout cocktail is Banana, which uses leftover peels that are caramelised to infuse bourbon, creating the ultimate twist on a classic Old Fashioned.

Gleneagles Hotel's Century Bar, designed by David Collins Studio, is a masterpiece of artistry and sophistication, inspired by the changing seasons of Scotland. The bar's elegant interiors feature garnet red as the central theme, with locally sourced accents that pay homage to the country's rich heritage. By day, the bar is the perfect spot to rendezvous with family and friends over coffee or a bite to eat. By night, the Century Bar transforms into an alluring space where guests can indulge in a glass of champagne or a rare malt whisky from Scotland's finest collection.

At the Century Bar, where a journey of flavour awaits, the menu features four categories of cocktails, each with its distinct style and essence. 

The Great Adventure Book menu seeks to celebrate the contrasting landscape of Scottish countryside, split into four sections The Lochs, The Seas, The Forests, and The Glens.The menu dives into a wild and beautiful world of the great outdoors, encouraging guests to embark on their next big adventure. Though for those who would prefer less adventure and more sipping, a ‘Too Long Didn't Read’ summary is a perfect place to pick the tipple from. Visit the Century Bar and indulge in a full sensory experience that's wild, beautiful and uniquely Scottish.

Burns, if her were alive today, would surely choose to sit and take in all the opulent surroundings as he wrote his wit and wisdom. 

SIX BY NICO MERCHANT CITY GLASGOW HAS ARRIVED

SIX By Nico have opened their new flagship restaurant in Glasgow’s Merchant City - and they launched with a Mad Hatters Tea Party. 

Theshowbizlion.com has watched the ascent of Six Company, the Glasgow-based company behind the Six by Nico restaurants, since thry began their incredible journey in 2017. 

 

Now, having  opened fifteen sites throughout the UK and Ireland in the same time frame, the brand is moving into a new phase with a new look Six by Nico restaurant in its hometown of Glasgow. 

The new Six by Nico Merchant City on Albion Street will provide the experience guests all know and love in elegant surroundings that compliment all aspects of their product.

 

An earthy and inviting interior  is inspired by the number SIX, and designers Studio Two developed ideas for Six by Nico by using the six-legged dragonfly as its muse, honing in on characteristics of the insect's body form, colour, and natural habitat.

 As Six by Nico continues to develop the brand across multiple venues, restaurant sites will gain a harmonious design style whilst maintaining individuality inspired by locational concepts.

Since St Andrew's Square, Saltmarket, and Trongate are all part of the neighbourhood known as Merchant City with its rich history around trading goods such as tobacco, sugar and salt, designers opted for an earthy, rich colour palette inspired by the tobacco leaf.

Authentic timber panelling is influenced by mahogany cigar cases, fixed seating is upholstered in antiqued leathers reminiscent of opulent home lounges and joinery pieces are embellished with antiqued brass hardware. Furniture pieces are complimented by plush patterned fabrics like those seen in the wealthy merchants homes.

 

Studio Two said, "We're excited to be working on such dynamic schemes with a strong creative brand who continue to push boundaries within their sector".

 

Every six weeks, Chef Nico and his team completely reinvent their food offering, serving a brand new six-course tasting menu, each one themed around a different location, memory, or idea. 

The menus combine different ingredients, flavours, and dishes to create a brand-new dining experience, drawing inspiration from both home and abroad. Every six weeks, foodies in Glasgow will be treated to a completely new six-course menu at the new Merchant City location, with the first concept theme based on The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. 

 

Six Company Chief Executive and founder Nico Simeone said, “Our team is driven daily by the challenge to constantly create and reinvent. We are dedicated to being different, never resting on our laurels, and continuously striving to create the best customer experiences. Marking our six-year journey with such a significant evolution of experiences in our home town and reaffirming our commitments to the city seems like the best way to celebrate the next stage in our company vision.“

Since launching their first restaurant in 2017 in their hometown of Glasgow, Six by Nico has served over 350,000 customers across the city's locations in Finnieston, Byres Road and Glasgow Southside and a staggering 2 million dishes. 

The Six by Nico brand has created 49 tasting menus since the conceptual brands launch in Glasgow and raised over £700,000 in two years for the groups charity partner Beatson Cancer Charity. Since the partnership's inception less than two years ago, the restaurant group and their customers have raised funds across their fifteen Six by Nico locations in England, Scotland, and Ireland as well as 100% of the proceeds from the Beat 6 restaurant in Glasgow Bearsden going directly to Beatson Cancer Charity. 

 

For further details on Six by Nico Merchant City and to book now for The Mad Hatter's Tea Party please visit https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/glasgow

 

Please view The Mad Hatters Tea Party menu here

 

Address: Six by Nico Merchant City,  84-86 Albion St, Glasgow G1 1NY |www.sixbynico.co.uk

 

GLASGOW’S MADRAS CAFE HAS MORE AWARDS THAN TABLES

GLASGOW’S Madras cafe has snapped up another gong as 2023 South Indian Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Asian food awards - and they now have more awards than tables. 
The eateries latest trophy makes it the most awarded Indian restaurant in Glasgow as it adds to its collection of glass and silverware - including Trip Advisor Best Indian restaurant in Glasgow.
In fact, the restaurant in the city’s Howard Street now boasts so many awards it has more trophies than its 16 tables that seat 50 diners.  
Owners Altaf Hossain, chef Shabu Natarajan and JD Tewari have worked tirelessly for the last three years to build a solid foundation and they can’t wait to give back more to the community this year. 
Altaf said: “I think we’ve become the most awarded Indian restaurant in Glasgow. We have won twenty awards in total with eleven being presented to us in just the last year. 
“Winning the prestigious award that honours our south Indian dishes is truly a moment of triumph for all of us at Madras Cafe and I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to each member of our extraordinary team. 
Dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to delivering the best culinary experience have undoubtedly played a pivotal role in achieving this accolade.
To our chefs, who craft each dish with precision and love, thank you for elevating our culinary offerings to new heights. Our head chef Shabu’s creativity and skill shine through in every bite. 
Our front-of-house staff ensure that every guest feels welcomed and cherished.
I think this recognition will inspire us to continue striving for excellence, innovation, and the highest standards of hospitality. To our guests, Thank you for being the driving force behind our success, and here's to many more accolades in the future.”
Dishes like the golden crisp Masala Dosa and Chicken Chettinad with its coconut herbs and spices are two South Indian dishes which have proved popular with regular and new diners including celebrities like Liverpool and Scotland player Andy Robertson and top Masterchef contender Sagar Massey.
Altaf and his team now want to give back to Glasgow and say: “We hope to do even better in 2024 in our service and offering new dishes to our guests. We would also like to do more charitable work, and more engagements in the community.”
To celebrate their win, Madras Cafe is offering 20 per cent off its food menu throughout January. 

BARBIE INSPIRED COCKTAILS, MOCKTAILS AND BURGERS AT INGLISTON COUNTRY CLUB

BARBIE inspired cocktails, mocktails, burgers, goujons and desserts have come to Scotland allowing fans of the movie to live their dream at Ingliston Estate and Country Club in Bishopton. 

The Renfrewshire venue decided to get creative with a mix of pink delights that will get the boys as well as the girls excited for the forthcoming movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. 

They have created everything from a Dreamhouse Milkshake which boasts whipped cream, strawberries, vanilla and strawberry  ice cream and milk to an alcohol infused KC Colada with strawberry syrup, Bacardi carta blanca, strawberry purée, lime,and pineapple juice with a blue colada mix and a Sparkling Barb with pink gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and rose Prosecco with cherries on top. 

The kitchen created a special recipe pink sauce to Barbify its popular dishes including burgers, fish n chips and chicken goujons and all customers can get that added to their main dishes for free. 

And delicious desserts include the incredible Raspbarb Tart, Pink Doll Viennese and a fabulous Mansion Meringue. 

Staff at the Renfrewshire venue just twenty minutes from Glasgow launched the special Barbie inspired treats which are available until 30th July  by wearing pink and they can’t wait to host Barbie fans big and small over the coming weeks.   

Sales and Events manager, special events, at Ingliston Estate and Country Club Lynn McDermott said: “The Barbie movie is something we are all excited about here in Ingliston and we wanted to have a bit of fun with our customers. We know that people will be coming to see us before and after watching the movie and we have such a fairytale style venue that it seemed fitting to join in with some Barbie and Ken inspired treats. Our ‘pink’ theme continues on August 27 when we welcome Denise Van Outen for a special inclusive Discolicious Brunch with some drag performance on offer too.

https://www.ingliston.com/events/

BROCKMANS ORANGE KISS COMES TO GLASGOW’S MALO

GLASGOW revellers are getting the chance to enjoy award-winning super-premium Brockmans Gin new tipple Orange Kiss at Malo. 

The showbizlion.Com has had the opportunity to try out the new drink and it features the flavours of Triple sec and fresh Valencia orange deliciously crafted with traditional gin botanicals.

Right in time for the summer, Brockmans Orange Kiss Gin's delicate citrus flavour profile perfectly captures those balmy sunset occasions shared with friends and loved ones. 

The well-balanced flavoured gin makes Orange Kiss perfect for sipping neat, in refreshing long drinks and creating creative twists on classic cocktails - making Orange Kiss the ideal gin for the spring/summer season.

Brockmans, renowned for being the Properly Improper Gin, typically uses a bold and daring blend of

traditional gin botanicals with more unusual and non-traditional ingredients. Brockmans Orange Kiss

uses Valencia Oranges and Triple sec, with juniper and coriander seeds to provide its balanced gin

foundation. 

Cassia bark and Angelica root provide an earthy and perfumed complexity and the addition

of almond oil contributes to the smooth finish.

Brockmans Orange Kiss Perfect Serve cocktail is a twist on the classic spritz, an opulent long serve which

blends Brockmans Orange Kiss, sparkling wine, pink grapefruit soda and a dash of red aperitif to create a

distinctive and refreshing cocktail to enjoy in the sunshine.

Brockmans Orange Kiss’ striking glass bottle is tinted with a translucent deep red-to-orange gradient

from top to bottom. The design harmonises with the current Brockmans Gin range by showcasing

Brockmans’ distinctive crosshatch on the body and signature initial debossed on the bottleneck.

Here’s three ways to enjoy the brand new concoction this summer. 

Orange Kiss Perfect Serve

50ml Brockmans Orange Kiss

50ml Sparkling Wine or Prosecco

100ml Pink Grapefruit Soda

10ml Red aperitif liqueur

Build in a wine or highball glass over ice cubes, stir gently to

combine and garnish with a slice of orange

Orange Kiss & Tonic

50ml Brockmans Orange Kiss

150ml Premium unflavoured tonic water

Build in a copa or highball glass over ice cubes, stir gently to combine and garnish with a slice of orange,

and optionally, a sprig of thyme

Orange Kiss Margarita

20ml Brockmans Orange Kiss

30ml Premium Tequila

25 ml Lime juice

15ml Sugar syrup

Shake vigorously and fine strain in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lime

Orange Kiss Collins

50ml Brockmans Orange Kiss

25 ml Lemon juice

15ml Sugar syrup

Top with soda water

Build in a highball glass over ice cubes, stir gently to combine and garnish with a slice of orange

70cl | 40% ABV | RRP £34.00

GLASGOW’S THE DHABBA HELPS TRNSMT REVELLERS WITH RUM TIM TIM COCKTAIL

GLASGOW’S The Dhabba restaurant has come up with a special rum cocktail to help revellers at TRNSMT festival this weekend. 

July is rum month with Saturday July 9, world rum day and the North Indian restaurant has created the RUM TUM TUM cocktail with VAHDAM® India Turmeric and Ginger tea, honey and rum to help revive those who might be flagging after the music weekender. 

The tasty concoction combines the peppery citrus bite of ginger and turmeric which are loaded with anti oxidants, and anti inflammatory properties.

 A drizzle of honey also adds digestive properties, can coat a sore throat and gives the drink a welcoming sweetness alongside the heart strengthening rum that will kick start you into next week. 

Rum has always been a sought after drink in Scotland and from the 18th and 19th century was a popular beverage in Glasgow. 

Water, sugar, lemons and limes were initially added to rum to make up the “Glasgow Punch”. 

In Candleriggs Merchant City which  is home to The Dhabba North Indian restaurant and it’s sister restaurant Dakhin,  Peter Gemmill, John Cauldwell, Frederick Hamilton and Robert Cumming began refining sugar in 1667 in their Wester Sugar House and eleven years later  started to distil rum. 

The nearby Tontine building also was home to the sugar exchange while 138 Gallowgate was the address of the Easter Sugar House in 1669. Eleven years later in 1680, it began rum production and was the sole distiller for a decade. 

All around Glasgow rum production became a huge industry with Stockwell Street housing the South Sugar House in 1700. 

Navdeep Basi from The Dhabba said: “We wanted to celebrate world Rum day with an original offering and our RUM TUM TUM cocktail sees us mix the finest ingredients with Oprah Winfrey’s favourite VAHDAM® India tea which we have just introduced to the restaurant. Our restaurant’s homes in Candleriggs are closely associated to Rum and we reckon its the perfect pick me up for TRNSMT weekend.”

RUM Tum Tum cocktail 

Boil the kettle and add our turmeric and ginger tea bag to a cup.  Add 1/2 cup of raw organic honey and let it cool. Give it a shake with a generous dash of white rum and add a slice of lemon in a glass of your choice. 

Vahdam ginger turmeric tea

Honey syrup 

Cane sugar

Lemons 

White rum


Ice 

THE IVY EASTER SPECIAL MENUS WILL MAKE YOU BUNNYHOP

The Ivy Buchanan Street has launched an Easter Specials menu to celebrate  Spring. 

 

We love getting into the spirit of Easter and The airy is one of those restaurants that makes theshowbizlion.com roar. 

Nothing can beat it’s special atmosphere, excellent service and tasty food - and for a special occasion - or an exquisite catch up with friends it’s the place to go. 

During these Covid conscious times it’s spacious enough to give you breathing room too. 

The stylish eaterie  is celebrating the Easter season with a series of delicious specials incorporating limited edition cocktails, a spring lamb dish and showstopping Easter Nest dessert. 

The enticing offering will be available to guests for Easter weekend only (Friday, 15 until Monday, 18 April) alongside the brasserie’s inimitable classics, fusing fresh seasonal ingredients and delectable culinary twists.

 

The Grilled Lamb Cutlets (£25.95) will be served with a crushed pea and herb purée with slow-cooked  lamb shoulder, asparagus, baby courgette, sun-blush tomatoes, red wine and olive sauce, while chocolate lovers will go crazy for the Easter Nest (£9.25), a nod to the humble bird’s egg, featuring a divine chocolate sponge, piled with dark and white chocolate mousse and Kataifi pastry and topped off with chocolate eggs and lemon balm. 

 

Complementing the dishes in true style is the limited edition cocktail menu – featuring an Easter twist on three classic aperitifs, a Chocolate Negroni (£10.25), an Easter Egg Martini (£10.95) and a White Rabbit G&T (£10.25).

 

To book a table visit TheIvyGlasgow.com

DUCIE STREET WAREHOUSE REVIEW: FRESH AND FAB


Manchester has always been one of theshowbizlion.com’s fave places to go for a weekend and we always love a walk by the canal. 

Manchester’s Ducie Street Warehouse is right beside it in the centre and the venue was recently refurbished. 

It even even hosts a doggy friendly mini cinema. 

It’s vast with industrial style ceilings, and large enough for you to have your own space- important in these Covid aware days. 

It’s also warm and friendly enough for you to feel at home with plenty of pot plants and greenery to bring the outside in. 

Diners can choose to eat in the relaxed foyer area which acts as a reception area for the adjoining Nomad hotel or they can venture deeper into the bespoke restaurant at the back.

 It’s cosy despite the overall size of the place.

 There’s also an outside terrace overlooking the canal if you don’t mind a slight winter chill in February 

Kitted out with giant lampshades and Art Deco style mirrors alongside modern art prints it feels like you could be in New York. 

Funky music plays over the sound system as an eclectic mix of diners enjoy delights including spices parsnip hummus, king prawns in romesco sauce, whole roasted spiced celeriac shawarma or a 16oz roast sirloin to share. 

Theshowbizlion.com opted for the Loch Duart salmon with Asian greens and a soy dressing on the side. We cannot rate it enough. 

It was beautifully cooked, moist and the greens were perfectly al dente and fresh. It felt clean.

The hummus was an easy eat - and with just the right seasoning so it didn’t claw if you excise the pun. 

The tomato was definitely the main flavour of king prawns in Romasco sauce and they were succulent. 

The butternut squash and avocado salad also got a thumbs up from the lioness and the sugar snap peas were crunchtastic.

Dessert of date-based sticky toffee pudding proved a winner and we liked the gold leaf piece on top  and the gluten free veggie lioness went for the sorbet rather than the poached plums. 

A three course meal works out around £35 a head for food with all the trimmings.

FRANKIE & BENNY’S TREAT SCOTS STUDENTS WITH FREE VEGAN DOGS

FRANKIE & Benny’s have a special treat to celebrate the start of the new university year and a much-anticipated return to full in-person learning for students around the Uk.

 The talian-American restaurant brand recently completed phase one of a country wide free vegan hotdog giveaway to students. 

 When looking at how the brand could provide students with a tasty treat and some much-needed cheer, the ‘Vegan Hotdog University Tour’ was the obvious choice. 

The much-loved UK brand has for many years run their student offer (20% off food), as well as priding themselves on offering a broad choice of vegan and vegetarian options.  

 The first phase of the ‘Vegan Hotdog University Tour’ kicked off at Nottingham Trent University in late January 2022, followed by successful stops at Bristol Uni, Manchester Met, Leicester University, Birmingham City University, Nottingham Uni, Plymouth Uni, Sheffield Uni and Leeds Beckett. 

Off the back of phase one and following the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students across England, Frankie & Benny’s will continue with the activity, this time focusing phase two of ‘The Tour’ on Scotland and Wales. After a short break, the‘Vegan Hotdog University Tour’ will restart and head to the following sites:

 

• Glasgow University on 7 March

• Edinburgh University on 8 March

• Newcastle Uni on 14 March 

• Cardiff Met on 21 March

 

Be sure to continue to follow the tour and any relevant updates onFrankie & Benny’s social: @frankienbennys, as the brand will be handing out vouchers at their upcoming university stops (for freebies in restaurants), with students also in with a chance to win Frankie’s for a year when they sign up with the brand.  

 

The ‘hero’ of the whole tour has been the famous ‘Vegan Dog’, a new vegan option on the Frankie & Benny’s menu and one that is proving very popular with vegans and non-vegans alike! The juicy plant-based hotdog is served on a soft glazed roll, with fried onions, gherkins, fiery chillies, BBQ sauce and delicious vegan mayo.

Gabby Barysaite, Senior Brand Manager, Frankie & Benny’s, said: “Our recent ‘Vegan Hotdog University Tour’ has proved to be such a hit, and with such positive feedback from students across the country, it’s a programme that we’re committed tocontinuing – with a focus on universities in Scotland and Wales.”  

She continued: “We pride ourselves on our vegan and vegetarian menus and as a company it’s something that we’re always looking to adapt and update. We hope that some of the students that tried our vegan hotdogs at their universities were suitably impressed and will look to plan a trip to their nearest restaurant soon.”