As the sit com TV character Del Boy once said, “lunch is for whimps, I’ve got my correspondence to catch up with….”

WELL, for all those cash conscious city-slickers out there, who aren’t getting to the Gym, or are missing their lunch, two Londoners have concocted a price comparison website to compare the cost of nights out in the city. Slick…

www.designmynight.com leads you to the best destinations, drink deals and happy hours around the capital. Whether it’s luxury cocktails in Clapham or a cheap pint in Piccadilly, with this new site you’re just a click away from your perfect tailor-made night out. Our promise? Any night. Any budget.

Set up by two London lads who loved the city but loathed the expense of London nights out, www.designmynight.com aims to deliver the insider track on the best pubs, bars and clubs to suit all pockets and all tastes. It’s the new Londoner’s guide to quality yet price conscious nights out. Get the low-down on the latest drink deals, promotional offers and discover the real reviews on what places are hot or not in the busy London landscape.

OH, AND REMEMBER, IF YOU MISSED LUNCH, BECAUSE THE BOSS WAS WORKING YOU RAGGED, THEN YOU’LL BE ABLE TO PIG OUT ON A BUDGET IN THE EVENING…YES, REALLY?

Of 3000 UK office workers polled in a Business Survey about their working conditions and attitudes: it revealed that 31% had felt pressure to work harder and take shorter lunch breaks because of the current economic climate or due to staff cuts: amongst graduate trainees, this figure rose to 43%. Over half of those surveyed (56%) said they took less than 30 minutes for lunch, and 18% said
that they usually worked through their lunch break.

LUNCH IS FOR WHIMPS

The survey highlighted some considerable differences across industry
sectors: 38% of respondents in the banking and insurance sector enjoyed an hour’s break, whilst 35% of those in the catering industry said they never took a lunch hour.

It also appears that most UK workers fail to claim back the expenses that they incur in office time. 60% said they did not claim back money that they had spent on team drinks: 50% of employees in the promotions, charity and travel/leisure sectors didn’t claim back the cost of taxi fares that they had used for work. Most workers (58%) said that they didn’t make an expenses claim because they had lost the receipts or didn’t make time to complete a claim form. Interestingly, almost 42% of the respondents said
they had not made a claim because they had no clear explanation of what was eligible and how to make a claim from their employers.

EXPENSES NOT CLAIMED

Whilst some employees may not claim the expenses owed to them (except our MPS), the survey also showed that many had no concerns about using office facilities for personal use. 71% thought it acceptable to use an office phone to make personal calls (rising to 84% among the legal sector and 90% for the PR, marketing and advertising industries). Using the Internet for personal use
(particularly for online shopping) whilst at work was regarded as acceptable by 54% of the survey’s participants.

It also seems that using the Internet to look for a new job during working hours is part of the office life. Over 60% said they would do so, but only during lunchtime – or if their boss couldn’t see what they were doing. However, 38% thought that it was just too risky and wouldn’t consider it at all.

Business Environment’s marketing manager, Steve Moore who commissioned the survey said: “The survey has produced some real insights into the challenges facing UK business today. It’s apparent that the current economic climate is already having an impact on some employees who are now working longer and harder as a result. Interestingly, in recent months, we’ve noticed that more clients are taking advantage of the free fruit
baskets at our centres. We’ve also seen a sharp rise in the number of our clients using their free employee membership of our on-site gym
facilities. As a result, we’re will be looking to add gym facilities at
more of our locations this year.”

Steve also commented that BE planned to repeat the survey in six months’ time and again at the end of this year. “It will be fascinating to compare results from the three surveys” he said, adding “I’m very much looking forward to seeing how organisations meet these challenges, the impact they have on their employees and finding out which industry sectors that have adapted most effectively”.

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POYP, and foodie contributor SALLY BEERWORTH, have at least one thing in common. They know where their bread is buttered when it comes to their first true love.

We’ll leave you to decide what that is. “Oh Maggie I wished I’d never, seen your face……” Rod Stewart, (Maggie May)

When someone asks me (somewhat skeptically) what I love about living in London, I normally mention the quality of restaurants. Even I am unconvinced that this justifies the bad weather and the customer service (or lack there of.)

It occurred to me last night that despite the thousands of places I could choose to have dinner; my favorite place to eat is a small hole in the wall that is often over looked by the city’s food snobs.

I first went to Maggie Jones’ in Kensington two years ago with a friend who spoke with a passion for the place, that would normally be reserved for a lover. I will leave you to decide whether this is a good thing or not. When we walked in, I knew instantly why she had fallen for the place.

MAGGIE JONES

Maggie Jones looks like a French farmer has gone out and borrowed some furniture from the surrounding farmhouses. His wife has then gone and put a pot of roses and a candle on every table, as well as scattering her kitchen dishes around the walls. The place has a shabby chic look that some places spend years trying to attain.

The menu of course has also come straight off the farm – steaks, saddle of lamb, and loin of pork. Like most French restaurants it operates under the assumption that vegetarianism is some kind of practical joke that the French are not yet in on. If you are careful you can ensure that even any vegetables you order has a dose of French excess…I recommend the cauliflower with cheese for this purpose.

The staff all appears to be suntanned male French farm hands, which are too toned and fit to have ever actually eaten anything from the menu. I cannot decide what is prettier – the décor or the wait staff. Actually I have just decided.

Bread and salad are served on arrival and they taste so good, that despite being full you can’t help but order 2 courses…to begin with that is.

I find myself compelled to order the pate – a recent addition to my list of preferred dishes, I am unsure how I managed to go without it for 33 years. I wash it down with a bottle of New Zealand wine, which is a little bit out of place but I assume that the farming couple had a spare case out in the shed. It is the only way to explain why they deviate from their French theme.

When my lamb arrives I could almost weep, I don’t because I don’t my make up to run in front of the waiter of above average attractiveness. I pinch my thigh to stop myself from crying. Something I cannot sustain when the chocolate pot arrives for dessert.

Maggie Jones has ruined me for other restaurants. I cannot imagine eating anywhere else if I have a choice. I guess that is a sign of true love.

Sally’s website can be found HERE.

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Fancy dining at 135m above the River Thames with a string of top chefs cooking up a treat for you in October – all in aid of charity?

Tickets for the 2010 London Restaurant Festival go on sale to the public today where the Merlin Entertainments London Eye will be transformed into fine dining restaurant for a record of 11 nights; and will feature the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Richard Corrigan, Angela Harnett and Giorgio Locatelli.

RAMSAY’S CHARITY DINNER NIGHT

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s highly popular dining night will again be auctioned off for charity this year where he will be supporting the charity StreetSmart, which helps raise money to provide clothes and food for the impoverished.

Said London Mayor Boris Johnson, who backs the gig: ”London’s unbeatable restaurant scene has become home to some of the world’s most creative chefs. The sheer scale of the capital’s gastronomic delights is testament to the vibrancy of our city and the London Restaurant Festival is a fantastic way for people to experience some amazing dining experiences.”

Opening in just over four months, the 2010 London Restaurant Festival (4-18 October) in partnership with American Express, today revealed the impressive line-up of top London chefs who will be cooking in London’s most sought-after pop-up restaurant. After its sell-out debut last year, the 2010 festival will see the return of gourmet dining on the London Eye for eleven nights (an increase from the six sold-out nights last year).

CAPSULE CUISINE

One capsule will be transformed each night into the capital’s most exclusive restaurant, completing one rotation for each course. Each evening, ten guests will enjoy dinner 135m above the River Thames with what’s been described as the UK’s most exclusive chef’s table.

WHO’S ON SHOW?

This year the eleven chefs invited to take part include London’s leading chefs and restaurants including:

Gordon Ramsay,
Angela Hartnett,
Richard Corrigan,
Giorgio Locatelli,
Atul Kochhar and
Mark Hix.

Other top London restaurants serving up exclusive meals will be The Ivy which will see Gary Lee, Head Chef of The Ivy, create a special 20th anniversary menu which will celebrate The Ivy’s much loved and diverse dishes from the past 20 years. Other top restaurants including the popular Hakassan and L’Anima will also be taking part.

Two new international chefs to be added to the London Eye line-up (and who have recently made London their new culinary home) include New Yorker, Daniel Boulud who has just opened his first London restaurant ‘Bar Boulud’ and Michelin starred chef Joel Antunes who has returned with his new restaurant ‘Brasserie Joel’.

STREETSMART

Last year, the Gordon Ramsay night was auctioned off at a charity event where a mystery bidder paid an impressive £23,000. Once again the three-Michelin starred chef has agreed to auction off his 2010 Festival night to raise money for the charity StreetSmart, which will be the official charity for the 2010 London Restaurant Festival.

The charity works with London’s homeless to provide food, clothes and shelter and is well known for working with London’s restaurant industry to raise money. As well as the auctioned Gordon Ramsay capsule, a percentage of the ten other capsules sold will also be allocated to the StreetSmart charity.

THE BOOZE ON OFFER

Each person to buy a capsule will have a top London chef create a delicious four-course meal for them and nine guests. There will also be a Champagne reception which will be hosted at the brand new Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel and will be provided by the official London Restaurant Festival champagne sponsor G H Mumm. A varied wine selection which has been designed to complement each menu will also be served. As well as having one of the most stunning views in London, the ten diners will be able to meet the chefs who will be personally cooking for them all night.

Tickets are available HERE.

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