roryosullivan.co.uk

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

The Torriano is a superb pub tucked away a short-ish walk from Kentish Town station. The Landlord and Landlady are very welcoming to all and as an independent pub it’s not full of gastro-pub decor and all that nonsense it’s a good honest boozer open to all, you’ll see families with their kids mixing it up with musicians, media folk, builders and everyone in between including the odd friendly dog.

The hidden patio area tucked downstairs out the back makes a nice ares to relax in when the sun is blaring especially when the bbq comes out, and in the winter the comfy sofas make it a good cosy spot to hang out in especially on sundays with the papers.

The Torriano offers the usual range of beers and a good selection of wines. It also offers free wi-fi should you need to check your email.

I’ve been quite a few times there now, for the quiz night a couple of times as well as for parties in the recently refurbished basement which looks like you are in a dive bar with hanging curtains and blood red walls. They also put on regular events including gigs.

The pub has been under threat from property developers but an appeal with the council seems to have been successful in keeping the pub going.
Check out my review of Torriano - I am rawedge - on Qype

I’m a Shane Meadows newbie, I’d not seen This is England or Dead Mans Shoes so didn’t have any expectations of the film. I knew the basic premiss in advance from the trailers and knew of the Eurostar affiliation but that was it.

The film shows the growing friendship of two young out of town boys bought together through odd circumstances in the Somers Town area of London.

Beautifully filmed in black and white the story of Tommo and Marek flips from farce to farce via affection for a particular female and the gritty London some of us love and hate. With Tommo crashing at Mareks without the knowledge of the laters father and the boys earning cash from a neighbour their friendship expands as the boys get to know each other. Shane Meadows does extremely well to show how differing personalities and cultures form part of the heart of not just friendships, relationships and parental love but the places around us.

The young actors playing the two lead roles are brilliant, the dialogue is delivered beautifully like a real conversation between teenage boys and not an overly scripted attempt to make people think that it is what kids talk like that seems to be in mainstream media

Despite a slightly sentimental ending that doesn’t really take away anything from the film this is definitely worth a watch

rating: 4 stars