James Butler

James Butler visits Giggling Squid’s founding restaurant in Brighton’s The Lanes to sample its largest menu update since the chain was established in 2002. The 16 new dishes include Thai-inspired snacks, Khao Mok Moo, seafood dishes, lamb shank massaman, tamarind duck and green curry sea bass. The review praises the tender meats, rich curries, fresh seafood and cocktails, while noting that some fish-sauce-based dips may not suit every diner. The restaurant’s picture-led menu and generous portions reflect founder Pranee Laurillard’s emphasis on Nam Jai, or generosity from the heart.

James Butler tries Domino's limited-edition garlic and herb dip ice cream, finding that its initial vanilla taste gives way to an increasingly strong garlic aftertaste and nausea. Colleague Joseph similarly describes the product as cloying and unpleasant, while Butler criticizes its excessive packaging and jokes that the remaining ice cream should be buried.

Ranch, a new Brighton diner on Western Road, is being positioned by owner Mohammad Golam Hossain as an affordable restaurant for the whole local community, with full meals starting at £9.99. Hossain, who previously operated currency exchanges and opened a Ranch restaurant in London, was encouraged into the venture by Nasim Khan, a former Denny’s franchise operator. The restaurant serves burgers, American breakfast food and desserts, with halal-friendly options including turkey bacon. A review praises the food, flexible side choices and attentive service, while the owners hope to replicate the London restaurant’s customer-focused success in Brighton.

A first-person review of Kimpton BEM Budapest praises the hotel’s fantastical Marcel Wanders design, folklore-inspired interiors, comfortable rooms, wellness facilities, complimentary social hour, Hungarian wines and inventive restaurant menus. The article also explores the building’s history as a granary, barracks, military hospital, Gestapo headquarters and secret-police base before its transformation into a luxury hotel. Recommendations for Budapest include the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, Instant-Fogas, Blue Bird Karaoke, Babka Deli and Time Out Market Budapest, alongside local advice from Visit Hungary’s Regina Galambos-Parti.

A highly positive evaluation of Chichester Festival Theatre’s first production of My Fair Lady highlights standout performances by Keziah Ibe, Hadley Fraser, Tony Jayawardena and Gary Milner, alongside effective comedy, striking costumes and memorable musical numbers. The production earns praise for balancing humour with character depth and delivers moments that captivate the audience, culminating in enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation.