Review - Aura Cocktail Bar

Several weeks ago I was invited to visit a cocktail bar in Kettering called 'Aura'. I had liaised with them a fair bit via our respective Twitter accounts and finally at last the dates all matched up and I went down on a Friday evening which coincided with a music night they were holding featuring local singer Olivia Winterflood.

The evening promised much as I had heard good things about the entertainment and atmosphere at Aura but I hadn't heard a great deal on the food front as it's a fairly new addition to their offering and that can always be a dubious time to visit. When another local bar/restaurant opened a few months back (it shall remain nameless) Facebook was awash with bad reviews about the food, prices and service. Not good, especially with several well known restaurants located closeby in Prezzo and Chimichanga. It's a brave move, but a calculated one when you consider that in a place like Kettering, the vast majority of the town's nightlife is situated in a half mile radius.

Being the hapless singleton that I am I took one of my good theatre friends Megan along with me to gauge her response also and to give me some needed company should the food and entertainment be found wanting!

My initial thoughts entering Aura were that it was somewhere I felt quite at home and welcome. It has that sort of atmosphere that few places locally produce, which remain me of some of my old uni haunts. The music wasn't booming out from speakers and the venue had a good amount of people swilling about. The worst thing when reviewing is when your the only person in the place and you can hear a pin drop. The staff were all really friendly  when we were ordering our first drinks before they could be 'warned' I was reviewing the place, which can cause an artificial reaction.

We decided to skip starters and go straight for the mains which offered (at time of visiting) a limited selection, whilst still providing good meat / vegetarian options. To be honest, I prefer the smaller menu when somewhere initially starts offering food as it can prove unwieldy to the kitchen and I'd prefer somewhere doing 10-15 dishes well rather then 30+ to an okay standard. I point out here that since visiting Aura have added several new additions to the menu including a really tasty looking handmade steak and ale pie and that classic favourite of a generation, ham, egg and chips. I like the new choices as they offer something more 'earthy' and 'British'.

I went for the Char Grilled Steak Ciabatta, with onion confit and beer mustard mayonaise. It came with a portion of fries, small side salad and coleslaw, all presented sumptuously and separated by individual serving bowls. I like this touch as I've lost count of conversation I've overhead when something like coleslaw was added to a dish without the customer saying they didn't want it and the whole plate having to be returned etc. It's also a very clean, considered way of presenting food, rather then shoving a great pile of different food types all on one plate.

It was all really very good. All the food was hot and ready to be devoured (I hate when half the plate is luke warm to cold as it shows inadequacies in the kitchen). The salad was light, fresh with a lively dressing and the coleslaw was creamy and crunchy, just what I would expect when eating out. The whole plate was bursting with flavour and freshness, and I found myself skipping from one thing to another as I couldn't make up my mind which I liked more. The steak was probably the only thing I could pick fault with. I was offered rare or well done when I ordered so I opted for rare (I usually have my steak medium-rare so little to squabble about), but I did find it too chewy, especially towards the end of the meal. It tasted great still don't get me wrong, but I am a steak snob and I think offering a 'medium' option would eliminate this in the future.

Megan choose the Roast Chicken Salad, with coz, baby gem lettuce, garlic croutons, tomato and creamy dressing. I'll keep this part of the review relatively short, she ate it all and refused to share any of it with me. That should tell you enough, but for the more avid reader I will develop this somewhat but saying the presentation matched mine and again the chicken was flavoursome and tender, with the salad mirroring mine in freshness (not a limp leaf in sight!).

The evening developed when the live music started, being provided by Olivia Plus One at 10pm. I had seen Olivia performed once before, as Eponine in a local youth production of 'Les Mis', where I thought she was outstanding. Hearing her sing, years after that theatre production, I can safely say she's even better then she was before and is probably one of the best local singers of her age in the area. I can make this bold claim having performed in over 35 local theatre productions, gone to countless open mics and now owning my own theatre company, so I'd like to think myself relatively qualified.




The sound quality and acoustics at Aura lend itself well to this kind of music and scope, with the place full by the time the first song was being sung. In hindsight I'm not that surprised, not only does Aura look good on the outside, but offering live music on a Friday night in a central town location is a good attraction. Most open mic nights for instance that I go to are on when the pubs are generally quiet and to draw a few extra people in. Maybe they should try mixing the open mics with live music events such as this to develop an audience so that the people who are in on a busy weekend night return during the week if they enjoyed themselves.

Speaking of events I will draw everyone's attention to a charity costume party that Aura are holding on the 1st of November (see poster), with tickets now just £5. As many of you will know I am a massive advocate for helping charities and local community groups and I think events such as these should be be supported to the max. The theatre company I run, C&D Productions (please 'Like' our page on FB by clicking here) has helped countless groups since our inception and I firmly believe that places like Aura doing their bit is a fantastic move in the right direction. I'd urge anyone not doing anything to pop down on the 1st of Nov, there will be a street raffle and all sorts happening.

Before concluding I would like to make a special note of the two young ladies that I dealt with most, Chenience and Becci. Both were amazingly friendly, welcoming and warm, not just to me but to everyone else I could see them speaking with, Chenience in particular was a delight. So, would I go back? Yes! The whole evening was great fun, the food was generally top notch, the music added a really good additional layer of atmosphere and the whole place seemed alive. Also there wasn't a bad pint to be seen and I think Aura offers really good value for money. Well done all, a great success!

* As always I would love if everyone could visit our Facebook page, 'Like' it and continue to support all our work in the community. We've got a bunch of great plays coming up from 'A Christmas Carol' in December, to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' in February, We are always looking for actors/actresses, or people to help backstage and even direct. If you know anyone who might be interested invite them to 'Like' our page and email us on chris@cd-productions.co.uk - Thanks for reading all and I hope you had a great weekend!

Important links - www.facebook.com/CDProductions.theatre  /  www.cd-productions.co.uk

Why The Rush?

In this age we are always rushing about going from A to D without bothering to stop at B or C to take time to speak to a parent or give yourself 20 minutes to watch the mad speed we all hurtle about in. I took some time out of my day yesterday to take a walk with my mum to visit my nan’s grave, via a shop to buy some flowers. 90 minutes out of my day was a pure delight, we talked about bygone days of my youth and how my mother and hers would walk amongst the graves (visiting my grandfather) and would look for child names from the headstones they passed. Towards the end of our walk I naturally ran up some steps which ended at the top of an embankment which led nowhere, as if half finished. With my mum chuckling to herself I asked what can humoured her and apparently I would make the same mad dash in my very early years. Apparently some things stay with us unconsciously years after they last happened. Was it a trace memory of my childhood that made me run up the steps to see where they led or was it the same curiosity I have held on to since my childhood that urged me into action.

Less about my childhood and more of Chris the adult, I have found myself in the last 6-9 months slowing down a little and trying to appreciate experiences and people more. It’s certainly a hard ask, I work 8:30-5:30 Monday to Friday and have theatre related meetings and rehearsals 3-4 evenings in the average week with a gap of an hour or so between one commitment ending and another beginning. I do try to maximise that time though by eating (always a good idea!) and giving my cat some much needed TLC which he rightly demands when I’m home.

I have a friend who when we used to go into the town centre at the weekends during the day would get really stressed out when people weren’t moving at the same breakneck speed as him. More often than not several curses would utter from his lips as he swerved and veered around and through crowds to reach his destination. This was a very stressed out guy and I’m pleased to report and he has calmed down much since then, but if I asked him now why he was always in such a rush he’d probably just shrug his shoulders in reply.

The same can be experienced when out on the roads driving. I drive at the speed limit. Always. Throughout my life I have been happy to bend the occasion rule and live quite close to the edge, however for some reason I just can’t bring myself to knowingly speed. I’ve actually had people beep and swear at me for doing 30mph in an 30mph zone, why though? Because I’m obeying the legal limit and ensuring I lower the risk of causing or being involved in an accident which could potentially end someone’s life? I just don’t get it. What can’t wait an extra few minutes? I’m always amused when cars zoom past me at 45-50mph in said zone only for me to draw level with them at the traffic lights a little further down the road. The worst is when the cars have young children in them! What example are the parents/guardians setting their kids, by shouting and swearing to high heavens at me for obeying the law. Don’t get me wrong, I’m never unduly slow and ensure that progression is maintained on the roads but I’ll admit I’ve dropped my speed down to further frustrate the odd car behind me when I know they can’t overtake if they've given me loads of grief.

The point I’m trying to get at (and hopefully not overly labour) is that we could all do with slowing down a little and appreciate the people around us. We are only on this Earth for a short time in the grand scheme of things, we never know how long people will be with us or how long relationships or friendships will last. So why not slow down a little, recharge those batteries and give someone you care about a little more time, they might not always be there, appreciate them whilst they are.

As always please do visit our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/CDProductions.theatre and our website www.cd-productions.co.uk

Bygone Fields of Gold

 Every weekend I like many other go to the local supermarkets to find food for the week ahead. It’s a well-meaning gesture that I will make lunch myself, save time during my precious hour before work recommences and also save myself a few quid. A gesture though is nothing more than a good intention unless it is followed up by the associated action and it is sustained. The latter is the hardest part of any bargain you make yourself or others as it is easy to use an momentary surge of emotion to force you into action at that precise moment in time. Hours and days after that moment when you bought bags of carrots, celery and grapes you are left with a struggle to keep it up.

The key may be that you don’t buy 10kg of each chosen fruit or veg that you fancy as you’ll undoubtedly get bored of it and if you need to maintain a routine in its infancy then the key is variety and engagement. If I buy small quantities of lots of different things then it allows me control to vastly alter the availability each day and keep the selection on offer fresh. The other option is of course to run the gauntlet and buy the various items on a day to day basis but here’s the rub. If you do this and you’ve had a crap day thus far you then face the temptations of  the aforementioned terrors.

Now I’m not talking ghouls and goblins, wraiths and demons, not at all. I’m talking about those golden arches, that offer sanctity and relief for people across the globe. MacDonald’s is a giant, not to be confused with the jolly green one of yore. It’s invasion and conquest far outstrip the great feats of Napoleon, Genghis Khan and Darius the First all put together. If I want to walk or drive from work to the nearest supermarket which is a mere 5min walk from my offices I have to contest with going past MacDonald’s, Nando’s, Pizza Hut and several others before I reach Tesco. It would be far easier surrendering to the pizza buffet hour or grab a Big Mac then pass the sights and smells these outlets offer and reach the fortress of every little helps.

This isn’t a lecture of saving money or eating healthy, more it has become an article on the invasion of temptation that exists in our culture now. To quote Henry Wotton from Oscar Wilde’s ‘A Picture of Dorian Gray’, “the only way to resist temptation is to yield to it”, that is the message which seems to have conveyed to us all the time. I remember standing in Saint Wenceslaus square in Prague over ten years ago marvelling at the beauty that existed from the ‘Old World’ but also surprised that in a 360 degree turn I could see five separate MacDonald’s outlets glowing gold like a buried treasure suddenly unearthed.

We have allowed convenience to become an excuse for laziness and a lack of care. If I really cared about saving money, losing weight or maximising my lunch break I’d stick to the routine. I read somewhere recently that the human race has slowly started to lose the ability to self-regulate and control our own behaviours. It’s true though.. think back to when you’re parents or grandparents would ‘do without’ this and that, it’s not just a story from the war or great depression, it was them making the decision to stick to their guns. If they had let loose and decided they would indulge ‘want’ they could have gone out and robbed a neighbour’s house or tried swindling someone down the street. The vast majority didn’t though, if they couldn’t have something they simply didn’t, but they survived and carried on. A trip into any store would likely present you with situation after situation of children screaming and crying because they want this or want that. You want to know a secret? If they don’t have that chocolate or Xbox game, they will survive into tomorrow (unless the child is diabetic and needs an emergency sugar boost of course!).

This article was initially entitled ‘Lunchtime Terrors’ but whilst writing it I realised that it’s not just a situation that exists between 12-2, it’s an everyday occurrence and way of life. So next time you say to yourself ‘I need ….’, check yourself, and ask yourself if you really do..

Thanks as always for reading and if you could give my FB page a ‘Like’ I would be forever in your debt! J

www.facebook.com/CDProductions.theatre   /   www.cd-productions.co.uk

The trouble with Blogging

I love blogging. It allows me to write about anything I’m passionate about and gives me a brief break from reality. I can also write about whatever takes my fancy and feel excited about at that time, be it during a football match, in the run up to a theatre production I’m directing, or even after a hopefully tasty meal at a local restaurant. With the invention of modern technology I can even write articles on the move and away from my computer, which means you can capture the true moment which prompted you to write about it in the first place. So.. what’s the trouble I hear you ask?

Finding bloody time! I hate that life seems to rush by with a thousand things I need to do, which prevents me taking the time to write. The immediate response quite rightly is, ‘you don’t NEED to do anything’, but in my case I beg to differ ever so slightly. I run a theatre company, I direct rehearsals, organise social media and all the other trappings you don’t think about such as make-up and costume. That carries with it a responsibility to my cast to make sure everything is arranged properly and thus deliver the end product – a cracking piece of theatre.

I also have a 9-5 job so my time is severely limited. I think the key word is ‘time’. I remember a conversation I had with a friend recently which in a nutshell was about him having thousands of photos on Facebook of events and places we had gone but couldn’t actually recall the emotions or feelings he experienced at the time as he was so focused on snapping away. We’re all guilty of not giving ourselves enough ‘me’ time which is vital for you to appreciate your life and the people around you. Having time to step back from the spotlight also allows you to decide what things you do or don’t like or enjoy. So often society or the media dictate trends and people we should herald or berate, but why? Because it is fed to us through a drip while we busy ourselves at work or commuting or anything else that doesn’t enrich our lives. It’s easier to be told something then take time to find out for yourself, and thus when having a conversation with someone who asks me my taste in books, music, film or theatre, I tend to give an honest answer which leaves a puzzled look on their face as it’s something they’ve never heard of. I do encourage people to go away and look up whatever my answer was.

The last paragraph gives us an answer to the title of this article, I’ve just written that with a great energy and enthusiasm because I care about the subject matter. Whilst I do welcome people to offer suggestions for articles for me to write I do prefer plucking something out of thin air and typing away for however long and looking at the end result. An article packed with honesty and genuine opinion. I will be reviewing several local restaurants and venues over the next week or two as a nod to all the Northants peeps that read this blog. In any case, farewell for now and speak soon!

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