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ON THE OCHE
If the first rule of Flight Club is that you do not talk about Flight Club, then we're going to be black-balled in the next 120 words. Which would be somewhat disappointing, because the new darts meets bar meets technology, Temple Street venue, is every bit an arrow throwing nirvana. Even if flinging darts isn't your go-to pub sport, the boards are smarter than your average NASA mission control — the tech was genuinely invented by an astrophysicist — and they'll do all the maths for you. Because maths is not a pub sport, whatever Jim from accounts tells you. They'll also recommend moreish games — give Demolition a go — with each oche (they have 13) allowing a dozen people to play at once with tournaments that can connect up to 150. The 370 capacity club opens July 19, and you can hire the entire venue, if you're looking for a company-wide summer mixer. Bookings are open now, from £15 per hour, per oche. Decent
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AUDACIOUSNESS
Taking risks in order to achieve something — that's how Collins English Dictionary describes audacity. So we're thinking a festival dedicated to the concept will need to be both brave and bold with a decent dollop of daring on the side. On July 19 and 20 join young artivists (art activists — geddit?) on guided walking tours of the events and arty happenings that are taking place across the city as part of the Festival of Audacity. It's £5 for a spot on the tour and ensures you're in all the right places at all the right times, which looking at the programme, could be quite challenging. If you're set on going solo our top pick is Foreign Bodies: An underwater love story. The supremely international dance piece focusses on what it means to be a citizen of the world through a blend of styles, from contemporary to Latin to house, and an even bigger blend of origins in terms of soundtrack. It's free to attend and you can catch it at various spots throughout the festival.
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Venue: Edwardian Tea Rooms, BMAG, Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH; website
Choice: Pork belly bites (£7.95) Chooser: Tom, sous chef
Some time last decade, we had a nice slice of cake in the splendiferous surrounds of the Edwardian Tea Rooms and thought little more about the venue as a standalone lunching option. Fast forward to right now, and you can still get cakes, afternoon tea and all the old faves but under the chef-ship of Tom Cruickshank, you can forget any thoughts like "from frozen" and instead expect bags of flavour and hard-working twists on classics. We tried most of the mains from the updated menu and the standouts were the fish cake (£10.95), which is huuuuge and packed with properly flavoursome salmon and plenty of hollandaise, set off with a fennel and orange salad. The vegan sharing board (£11.95) gets you broad bean and sesame falafel as well as bhajis and all sorts of tastiness, though it's the mint yoghurt, the mango chutney and dipping sauce that really makes the platter sing. The pick, though, is the pressed confit of pork belly — deep fried, then stir fried in sweet chilli — served up with sticky, glossy homemade pineapple hot sauce, sesame and soy. Coming with a refreshing and well-considered salad of cucumber ribbons with coriander and lime to cut through the satisfying fattiness of the pork, this is a great lunch plate and one we'll be back for. Now to start the campaign for the ETR to be open more regularly in the evenings... Last orders are currently 4pm but we're sure chef will thank us for this suggestion. Opening times and sample menu
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