Sunday 28 June 2015

to Northern Cobbler, Leicester

The newest business to open it's doors on the cosmopolitan Queens Road, Leicester is the quirky cafe-come-footwear store Northern Cobbler. Filled with merchandise and well made leather shoes, the business also retails homemade cakes and coffee and stays open later than all other cafes on the street. Perfect to catch up with friends on a late afternoon!



The space is light and airy and it seems the owners and brand have a penchant for wood! This creates a clean and minimal space that is not cluttered with tables and chairs. Instead the space is left open and, whilst there isn't an abundance of seating, we managed to get a large table with no problem at all and for hotter days there is the option to have your coffee and cake outside in the sun.





I, personally, quite like the large table as it allows conversation between groups to flow however there are individual tables for those preferring a more private outing.

The cafe is filled with a mismatch of furniture that showcases the items for sale in a really quirky way that, whilst not being to my own taste, is unique and interesting as when looking around the shop there is always something new to be spotted.





Enough about the surroundings and onto the most important part for me... the edibles! The counter top is laden with delicious homemade cakes freshly made that day- and once they're gone they're gone.


Carrot cake, peanut butter slices and red velvet cake line the wood making it really hard to resist a nibble with a drink. 



I spotted the savoury donut and was intrigued by the combination of tomato and spices that were said to be inside...


It was an odd but satisfying combination of flavours as the product looks identical to a donut and the mind almost expects a sweet and sugary taste. For a nibble, the savoury donut was perfectly nice however I won't be rushing back to get my fix of them. The cakes, on the other hand, I have been told are fantastic. All this food needed washing down and as I seemed to go to Northern Cobbler on the hottest day of the year so far it was only fitting that I skipped the coffee and try out the iced drinks.


My homemade still lemonade was to die for. I'm not usually a fan of overly sour or strong flavours but there was the perfect balance of lemon and I didn't pull a face when drinking it so I knew it wasn't too sour!


It was so refreshing- perfect for the summery days we have been having!

The shop is a complete anomaly and so different from anywhere I have ever been to before. Is it a shop? Is it a cafe? To tell you the truth it's both however if any of the well made, fine leather shoes take your fancy you'll be looking at a minimum of £200 so this is no greasy spoon! From parents on a school run to students and professionals sat with laptops, Northern Cobbler seems to appeal to all. It's a bit of a secret at the moment but as the word gets out and the concept is understood I have a feeling that this independent store will rival its near neighbour of Costa.

Have you every been to a cafe like this?

Happy Sunday everyone!

G x


Thursday 11 June 2015

to The Cosy Club, Leicester

In the centre of Leicester, behind the Highcross Food Court lies a doorway that you would be forgiven for not noticing. For those that are enticed into the Cosy Club however, a large expanse of wooden flooring, colourful walls and of course, cosy cushions and sofas fill the former knitwear factory. Join me on my flying visit for a quick dinner!


By night, the queue to enter The Cosy Club winds down the road as the well made, strong and tasty cocktails are infamous in Leicester's nightlife scene. By day, the open and airy space is transformed into a restaurant able to hold 130 people and therefore is surprisingly large to be called 'cosy'.


The walls still contain original date plaques and the venue has chosen to keep its history by including original textile pieces from the factory days on the walls. These lay alongside the colourful and eclectic mix of portraits, bioloical diagrams and bird paintings that cover every inch of the wallspace.

We sat at our table and took in the decor...


The Cosy Club combines quirky with cosy as hanging, simplistic lights contrast the plush sofa areas. It feels quintessentially British with florals and the Union Jack. It may be the word 'club' in the name and the styling of the menus but, to me, there is an air of secret prohibition party in the restaurant. 


The modern vintage theme is everywhere- including the menus!

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As we drove in, unfortunately we didn't sample the cocktails on this occasion however we did have a peek at the food menu! Lunch sandwiches and paninis are served until 6pm whereas the extensive a la carte menu is an all day affair. Dishes ranging from tapas and burgers to steak and seafood are listed by the dozen and on certain days offers are available making dining at The Cosy Club a very affordable outing.

I am a sucker for the pulled pork phase that the country seems to be going through and decided on the pulled pork burger complete with sweetcorn and sour cream relish and, of course, chips.


I asked for my relish on the side and it was presented to me on floral paper that continued the theme.


It was absolutely packed with barbecued pork!


As my friend was going out that night she opted for a lighter meal and chose a panini...but even she couldn't resist the pulled pork! Once again, she specified no jalepenos and the kitchen prepared our meals exactly as we wanted.

The restaurant was relatively quiet when we entered at around half past five however another friend spent their evening there for cocktails and described it almost unrecognisable to my experience. Packed with partygoers, she spent the evening sipping cocktails on a sofa and couldn't believe how busy the place got!

All in all, for a very affordable meal The Cosy Club is a very good option. The food is nice but is also very standard and not dissimilar to a dinner trip to Vodka Revolution.

I shall have to pop in one evening as the business of the bar is a good indicator that The Cosy Club is one of Leicester's best evening hotspots!

Have you ever been to a Cosy Club? Where are your favourite bars?

G x







Sunday 7 June 2015

to Bill's, Coney Street, York

The weather in the UK this week has FINALLY started feeling like Summer and what better way to kick start the sunny season by having a spot of brunch with an old friend?!

Back in my hometown of York it seems as though every other shop is a restaurant, cafe, bar or pub and the city is lucky enough to be home to some fabulous independent eateries. These local businesses are usually my restaurants of choice however this morning I ventured to Bill's. a chain originating from East Sussex, to sample their brunch menu and have a catch up.

The first thing that strikes you when walking into Bill's is the decor. Every crevice of the restaurant is filled with decorative hat stands, bottles and produce from Bill's own shop.


Industrial pipes crawl across the ceiling whilst decadent chandeliers and lamps hang from their joints. The entire interior exudes a vibrant energy as flashes of coloured labels and quirky bottles line the shelving and yet, as opposed to feeling busy the place simply feels cosy.


Brunch is served at Bill's until 12 noon and the menu really does have a selection for everybody. Lovers of eggs will be in heaven as eggs benedict, florentine and royale grace the menu alongside classics such as scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. There is also, of course, the standard full English breakfast and vegetarian counterpart as well as healthier options of granola and the not so virtuous all american pancakes!


The acoustic sounds of James Bay and Ray LaMontagne floated around the restaurant as a friendly waitress took our drinks order. Half tempted to be healthy I asked what was in the 'Bill's Green Juice' and was informed it is a concoction of spinach, apple, banana and grape amongst other fruits. Naturally I then opted for the chocolate brownie milkshake which came complete with whipped cream and flake...did someone say dessert for breakfast?!



My strong willed friend did a better job on the health front than me and ordered the watermelon, peach and raspberry juice. It arrived bright pink and garnished with a humongous piece of watermelon. She said it was delicious and I must admit even I was tempted by the attractive colour and sweet flavour.


It wasn't long before our food order was taken and alongside our breakfasts I also ordered a bread basket. As well as serving food, Bill's also produces its own juices, condiments, preserves and nibbles all available to purchase in the restaurant. Ordering the bread basket was a great way to try before you buy as our waitress brought over a selection of Bill's own jams to accompany the croissants in the basket.


The basket arrived full to the brim with toast, croissants and pain au chocolates as well as a generous amount of butter. Silly as it sounds, I really appreciated having a good amount of butter as the number of times I have had to ask for more butter when having breakfast out is unbelievable- brownie points from me on that front!


Our breakfast came next and again, I had ordered the not so healthy buttermilk pancakes complete with maple syrup, blueberries, strawberries and streaky bacon. It took me right back to my trip to Miami! 


I kidded myself that I was being healthy with the fruit and enjoyed the combination of sweet syrup and salty bacon...


My partner in crime for the day chose the complete opposite of me and was swept away by the sight of another diner's smoked salmon. Although my photograph doesn't do it justice, her plate was piled high with scrambled egg and a generous serving of smoked salmon and we both agreed we would have to come back to try other dishes as our first brunch had been so tasty.


As we finished our brunch I noticed a bar in the corner- I will definitely have to come back for dinner one evening as the A La Carte menu looked amazing and the cocktail list is calling me!


On warm days like today the front of the restaurant opens up like a french door allowing a breeze in and diners to feel as though they are sat outside. I can't wait to come back here for a cocktail and to watch the world go by!

All of the Bill's products are on display in the entrance to Bill's making it difficult to leave without being tempted into a purchase!


All in all we had a lovely brunch at Bill's. Both the food and service were really high quality and our breakfasts were SO tasty! My only downside would be the price of the drinks. For me personally, £4-£5 for a standard sized glass of milkshake or juice is pretty steep and perhaps these are more like London prices that I am not used to in my little city! That said, we chose to have these drinks as opposed to juices or soft drinks and therefore I can't really complain as I would go back to Bill's in a heartbeat!

I hope you're enjoying the start of Summer as much as me!

What's your favourite breakfast? Do you ever go for brunch?

G x




Thursday 4 June 2015

10 Ways to Get a Job/Graduate Scheme!

Hello!

Recently a lot of people have been asking me for tips and advice on how to go about the recruitment process as I was lucky enough to be offered a number of graduate schemes. From CV writing to telephone interviews and assessment centres the internet has so much information to give prospective candidates but I thought i'd share some of my own experiences with you, just in case they can be of some help! This post is by no means the 'right' way to go about job applications or interviews; it is simply a few things I did in my applications that I really, truly believe helped me to be successful. I imagine this post is going to be a long one as I am extremely passionate about this topic and found my recruitment processes really enjoyable so without further ado, here we go...

1) Start Early!

Even if the world of work seems like a lifetime away, trust me- it is not. When I was at school it was mandatory to complete two weeks work experience. This is a great time to establish contacts as many employers take on their work experience students after their placement. This happened to me and as soon as I turned sixteen I became a waitress in a hotel on a weekend for the next two and a bit years. Hotel work tends to be especially good for students as a lot of the time they adopt zero-hour casual contracts that allow students to dictate when they can work around their studies. Any work is valuable work on a CV as it all proves that you can demonstrate certain qualities in practice and obviously, the earlier you start working, the more experience you gain. If work experience isn't an option, try applying for internships, weekend jobs or thinking about an area that interests you and volunteering for a cause in that field. I know so many people that walked dogs for the RSPCA, helped out at after school drama and art clubs or taught swimming that are now doing really well off the back of those experiences.

2) Take Opportunities!

Employers are seeking more than just academic success when looking at candidates and this increases the importance of having extra activities on your CV. These don't necessarily have to be 'serious' extra maths classes on an evening but instead can be a great way to showcase some of your personality and give you lots to talk about in interviews. It may be that you play an instrument, sport or enjoy writing (like me!). If there is the opportunity to take exams and achieve grades in the instrument or sport take part in then go for it! This shows how dedicated you can be! Start a blog, enter competitions or awards at your school or University, attend fitness classes, learn a language...some of these opportunities won't be presented to you directly but search the internet and there will always be something of interest in your area. It is up to you to create your own future and by building a packed CV you're already halfway there.

3) Write a Killer CV!

This might be the hardest one of my ten tips as there are SO many different ways to write a CV and there will always be someone that thinks something could be changed. There are templates all over the internet, Connexions centres across the country and most Universities have a Careers Service all designed to help you perfect a CV and present yourself in the best way to employers. However you choose to layout your CV make sure it embodies these things;

     -A respectable font. No swirls and curls thank you very much. No 'fun' WordArt titles please, we aren't in junior school anymore guys and yes, I have actually seen a 26 year old's CV like this.

     -Consistency. Picked your font? Great! Now stick to it. Likewise keep to the same font size. If you have slightly larger subheadings make sure ALL the subheadings are this size. I hate to be patronising but so many people do not adhere to this and it just displays a total lack of care to the employer.

     -Relevant information. Tailor, tailor, tailor. Even if you just change your 'personal profile' to suit the job specification more closely. There is no point telling an accountancy firm how you've always had an interest in marketing. Similarly, to me, it is almost insulting to send in a completely neutral CV detailing how you are 'an ideal candidate for this role'. It is so obvious when CV's have just been pinged off to fifty different job adverts, don't bother wasting the employer's and your own time. Chances are you won't even get a reply. Yes it takes time, but I researched every single one of my companies and tailored my applications and trust me it pays off.

4) Have a Personality!

Admittedly, on paper it is trickier to put across your personality but in phone, video and face to face interviews it's really important to be yourself. Be someone that you yourself would hire. Be polite, courteous and professional but also be human as this shows the interviewer that you are approachable, easy to get along with and will fit into the company well. When asked questions, give honest and passionate answers that show your interests and personality- it's not a crime to make a joke in an interview if you think it is appropriate! Obviously it is very important to gauge your interviewers personality before opening your mouth however I treated all of my interviews as a formal chat and spoke about topics completely unrelated to the job as well answering the questions. These included cheese, holidays, music, Coronation Street and aftershave! I really think it helps to have an actual conversation with the interviewer as opposed to just sitting and answering the questions- the interview should be a two way chat. At the end of an interview it is highly likely you will be asked if you have any further questions. Lots of websites give examples of questions to ask and these tend to be corporate and progression based. Whilst these may be interesting I asked each of my interviewers about themselves and their journey in the company, how long they had been there, if they enjoy working for the company and if they have always been in the same role. This gives the interviewer a chance to talk about themselves and shows your interest in them as well as being on topic and allowing you to gain knowledge about the way employees are treated within the organisation. 

5) Remember the Name!

A relatively easy one but something I think makes a real difference. If you are sending an email find out the name of the relevant person and address it to them. In a phone interview it is likely that the interviewer will begin by introducing themselves, remember their name and thank them personally at the end of the call. These are little ways to personalise the conversation and I think it definitely makes you more memorable. When attending interviews I also try and catch the name of the person on a reception or also working in the office as well as chatting to them before the interview. If it is relevant, you can later bring up the conversation you had with the other member of staff in your interview to reinforce a point. Little things such as saying 'I was talking to .... on reception earlier and she was telling me...' give the impression that you are already getting involved in the workplace and will fit into the team easily. Always a bonus!

6) Praise Others!

This one is especially applicable at assessment centres. If another candidate mentions a good idea in a group task you're probably going to be slightly gutted at your own feeble contributions in comparison with their sheer brilliance. At my own assessment centres, if this was the case I remembered the name of the candidate and their idea- especially if it went down particularly well with the assessors. The chances are that later in your one to one interview you will be asked how you think the day has gone, what you made of the tasks and how you think you have performed. At this point, when answering the questions I would throw in the name of the other candidate and comment on how good their idea was and how it could have been developed. To me, this shows the interviewer that you are a team player and recognise when others have done well. It also displays your ability to listen, take on board and develop an idea and shows you are aware that sometimes others have ideas that may be better than your own but that you can utilise this constructively.

7) Listen to All!

Just as before, taking on board other peoples ideas and opinions is really important in group tasks at assessment centres. It is crucial to make your voice heard and contribute however, tactfulness and politeness go a long way in these activities. Allowing others to have their say and, if the conversation becomes a debate, listening to others fully before calmly relaying your own thoughts speaks volumes to assessors. It isn't about who can shout the loudest and, sometimes, merely observing when others become heated shows that you are dignified and professional.

8) Be Polite and Friendly to EVERYONE!

This should go without saying but everyone from the guy in the car park, receptionist and cleaner should have your utmost respect. Smile, say 'Good Morning' and chat to anyone and everyone you meet- you never know who you may be talking to! I enjoyed getting to know the other candidates and would introduce myself to them and ask about their University, course and where they were from straight away as this is a great way to gauge their personalities and can come in handy when working together later in the day. In my head, it also helps to have the other candidates on side. If they like you from the beginning they are more likely to listen to your opinions, take note when you are talking and have pleasant things to say about you. For assessors watching group tasks, I think it must be clear who controls the conversation by volume and who controls it by personality and respect and taking the time to get to know your fellow candidates can really put you in a good light. Similarly, if your assessment centre has a lunch break use this as an opportunity to get to know the assessors on a more personal and informal level as even when you are not completing a task, everything you do on the day will be taken into consideration.
9) Know What You Want!

What is it that you want out of a career? What type of company do you want to work for? Do you want to travel with your work? Do you want to specialise in something or spend time in different departments? Are you willing to relocate for a job? These are all questions to ask yourself before even applying for a job or graduate scheme. The answers to these questions should be your motivation for applying for a certain company and can be used to answer the inevitable question of 'Why would you like to work for us?'. If you're a home bird don't apply for a company that want you to travel. Decide if you want to work for a big name or if you'd prefer the comfort of a smaller business that can nurture you. It may sound obvious but do your research!

10) Finally, Don't Worry About Rejection.

It's going to happen and it's going to be okay. Just because one company didn't progress you to the next stage or hire you on the spot at your assessment centre doesn't mean you're a bad candidate. You are simply not what they're looking for on that occasion. I am terrible at maths (hence studying English) but even I can work out that if there are 400 people applying for 10 spaces- the odds aren't great. Someone has to get hired and if you're lucky it will be you, but it's mathematically unlikely. Not being accepted onto a graduate scheme or job is nothing personal and the entire experience, for me, was just a great way to practice my interview technique and become more comfortable with assessment centres. To put it into context, I worked hard enough and was lucky enough to be offered 5 graduate schemes. I was also rejected by another 9 be it after a telephone/video interview or after the assessment centre. There were also another couple that I just never heard back from. You need to be realistic about these things and just like entering a competition, there is always a higher chance you won't win. What's important is drawing upon the experience and using it to your advantage on the next occasion- by the time I had attended my sixth assessment centre I felt like a seasoned pro! 

I hope this post can be of some help to someone, somewhere! Everyone is employable and the trick is to just prove that you are to the right people! If you have any more questions then please let me know! 

Good luck to anyone applying for jobs right now and, in the words of The Hunger Games' Effie Trinket- may the odds be ever in your favour.

G x

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Budapest; Parliament and City Sights (Part Two)

If you've ever visited Budapest you'll know the city is scattered with monuments, statues and pretty, historic buildings. In the first part of my Budapest trip I explored the Castle District however today i'd like you to join me on a walking tour of the city's sights!

A great place to start is Gellert Hill and the Liberty statue that adorns it, looking out over the city. Standing at 14 meters and made of bronze, the statue commemorates the Hungarian lives lost in the war and remembers the Soviet Liberation of Hungary when the Nazi occupation ended. Just like in the Castle District, there is a steep hill to reach the statue but this takes no longer than fifteen to twenty minutes to scale...


The Liberty statue itself stands above another two statues holding a palm leaf to the sky.

From the height of the hill the views over Budapest are impressive even on a cold and grey day like this one.

The walk back down towards the city is home to another statue. This time of St Gellert- the hill's namesake. St Gellert was said to have converted the Magyars (the Hungarian population) to Christianity and legend has it that Pagans put him to death in this very spot by forcing him into a barrel then rolling him down the steep hill and into the river Danube below.

Walking back over the bridge and towards Pest you can see the Parliament building by the riverside- it was so pretty I couldn't help but make a beeline straight towards it,..


The building reminded me of a palace the Snow Queen may live in- it was something straight out of a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and so, so pretty.


The sheer size of the building is difficult to comprehend from these photographs but trust me, it is HUGE. Just like in London there is a regular changing of the guards and every so often the guards on duty march in time in a circle before rearranging their guns. They do this quite frequently so the chances are that if you wait around for a little bit you'll catch them and this ceremony.

As we walked back towards the main part of the city we passed through Freedom Square, an area that had everything from stock exchange buildings and a statue of Ronald Reagan to more war memorials.


Interestingly I learnt of another memorial that had caused a lot of controversy in Budapest as it was thought by some to commemorate the Nazi rule and downplay Hungarian involvement in the Holocaust. It's official title is a memorial to the victims of the Nazi rule. The statue features an angel, representational of Hungary and the country's innocence and a demonic eagle swooping towards it. After the Prime Minister commissioned it, riots and protests ensued and they were still going strong when I visited myself. 


Tributes to the Jewish people line the forefront of the statue making it a somewhat awkward place to visit as it is clear there are strong, mixed feelings towards the figure.

On a lighter note, as it got chillier outside we took to the nearest cafe to grab a hot chocolate and we definitely struck lucky! The Hungaricum Dessert Gallery is a small cafe specialising in all things chocolate- what more could a girl want?

The interior is not to my taste, with basic, minimal no-fuss furniture and no real theme however the products certainly make up for this! I opted for a deal that included a hot chocolate, slice of cake and two artisan chocolates for 1500 Hungarian forint- the equivalent of £3.51. There were around 15 cakes to choose from and well over 50 chocolates ranging from coconut, black forest and cookie to wasabi, chilli and quail egg. I spent SO long deciding on my chocolates but the waitress was lovely and didn't seem to mind at all. In terms of hot chocolate it was a case of white, milk or dark and then a menu of flavours to add. I opted for milk chocolate with orange and Oliver went for his standard dark chocolate and amaretto combination. Perfect for a winter day!


We strolled the streets towards the famous hot spring baths of Budapest and our hotel for the evening...


But not before stumbling across a statue of our William himself! As an English student I seem to have a knack of finding literary figures in different cities!

Have you ever been to Budapest? What is your favourite part of the city?

G x