Roxy Ballroom Leeds

Yesterday, I was invited by Tia from Roqaa PR to try out one of Leeds new bars; Roxy Ballroom. It's a new bar where you can not only have some great beers and cocktails, but play ping pong or snooker in a sociable and relaxed environment. As soon as I heard two words, I knew that I wanted to try this place out; beer pong! It's a students' dream!

I loved the laid-back and 'unpolished' atmosphere of Roxy Ballrooms; the owners told us how keen they had been keen to keep the original features of the place and included various characteristics, such as the graffiti and mesh fences, to give the place the look of an American basement-style sports bar. The location is great, just above Cafe Nero in the Trinity Centre, and provides a great view and feeling of space once you've headed up the stairs into the bar.

We were lucky enough to be given the VIP room for the evening, which includes your own pool table, ping pong table and a huge fridge. Hiring this room costs £20 an hour for one table, or £30 for both. However, the space can fit over 60 people so the price per person is really great value. Furthermore, Roxy will stock the giant fridge with anything you want, including cocktails, beers and wine so all you need to do if help yourself. It's the perfect combination of a house party vibe in a more special environment - plus you don't have to clean up the next day!

The 'Ping Pong Punch' was scrummy and we all had great fun attempting to play ping pong, although I can't pretend that it ended very successfully! Outside the VIP room, games tables cost £4.50 per half hour, except on Friday and Saturdays after 5pm which costs £6. Beer pong is free, except the cost of four cans of beer - pretty good huh?

Tomorrow night, Roxy Ballroom will also start serving food with the launch of their new kitchen. Fitting in with their chilled out vibe, you will be able to order a variety of pizzas, grilled sandwiches and sharers to munch on. I love the look of both the shredded pork and chipotle chicken grilled sandwiches served with potato wedges for £8 each, along with the smashing jaffa ice cream pie for a sweet and cheap £4 dessert. Delicious!

Overall, it's a great bar and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. I was also excited to hear about the soon-to-open Roxy Lanes - this time, the sport is tenpin bowling! Doesn't bowling and cocktails sound like a fabulous night out? I can't wait to try it out! In the mean time, get down to Roxy Ballroom for an original and fun-filled night to remember.

Jess

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A Warning Against EE

Now this isn't the type of post I normally write, but it's come to a point when something needs to be said about the terrible company EE. Prepare for a complaint, my readers!

My housemates and I signed up for a broadband contract back in August for our student house. EE looked like a great deal, especially as we got the contract half price as I was an Orange customer. It was easy to sign up to and the internet connection works well. But then everything started to go quickly downhill.

Initially, we want to pay the line rental upfront for the year, which would have saved us over £50, then pay the monthly broadband of just £2.50. This never happened, despite phoning up and reporting the incorrect bill every single month. Last month, I was finally informed that due to a system error, NO upfront line rentals were applied to any contracts which began in August and September - so check your statements if this might have affected you too!

Had EE contacted any of their customers to inform them of this? No, they had simply continued incorrectly charging customers like myself until they noticed (and are in fact, still charging me and probably others incorrectly). Finally, after being told this last month, I was promised a reduced monthly fee, so I would still save what I would have done if I had paid the line rental up front, and promised two months free broadband as a 'goodwill gesture.' Today I checked my bank statements - I have been charged again. It's simply not good enough and I am thoroughly upset and frustrated.

Every time I phone up the customer service desk (which has been every single month without fail so far) I have been met by polite and helpful staff. They bend over backwards to sort my problem, apologise profusely and I hang up feeling like everything has been finally resolved. Then I discover, none of these promises ever actually happen. The correct billing, alongside various 'goodwill gestures' I am offered after each phone call, never actually materialise. The following month, I am billed incorrectly again. I phone up, a member of the customer service team apologises, notes that nothing was applied to my account and promises that this time it is sorted. And guess what? It ISN'T. Each month this process is repeated and I am completely sick of it. I don't know what it will take for any action to actually be taken, and as my complaints directly to the company have had no effect, perhaps this will give EE some encouragement to finally fix the matter. Although I may be putting too much faith in the power of the internet!

I would never recommend EE and if you are tempted by their offers, don't do it. The resulting hassle, alongside the actual price you will be charged per month, will cost you far more than it is worth. It's disgusting that such a big company can get away with taking my money every month without fail. As a student, I know how hard it can be to make ends meet and my strict budget simply doesn't have room to be overcharged every month and not refunded. I simply hope that, as a result of this post, I might finally get a solution from EE and a few more people will now know not to use this company.

Have you also had problems with EE? Let me know in the comments below!

Overnight Oats with Acai and Goji Berry Tea

Hey there! I've had quite an eventful week this week, starting with a dartboard falling on my head which has given me a lovely bout of concussion and my first ever trip to A&E! As a result, I've been stuck in bed for most of the week feeling rather sorry for myself. However, yesterday I discovered Whittard's Healthy New Year Blogger Carnival Competition and decided that it looked like a great pick me up.

Whittard Teas want bloggers to share their healthy, detoxing or simply wholesome recipe perfect for that January feel-good fix. My poorly head certainly feels like it needs something fresh and energising, so I decided to use some of Whittard's Acai and Goji Berry Tea as the base for my recipe. Breakfast is the one meal that I frequently forget about and I want to focus on improving in 2014, so I decided to create an overnight oats recipe, using tea.

You will need:

2 mug of porridge oats

1/2 mug of hot water

Acai and Goji Berry Caffeine Free Fruit Infusion Tea (c/o Whittard) or similar fruit tea

Handful of fresh or frozen berries 

Any other fruits, spices or nuts you might want to add

1. Brew your tea for at least an hour in 1/2 mug of water, until cool and strong. I used loose tea, which I store in this lovely pot I got for Christmas, and gives a rich, fruity flavour. 

2. Pour your oats into a bowl (I added about two third's of a mug's worth). Strain your tea if you used a loose blend tea like I did, or squeeze out your teabag and remove from your infusion. Add to the oats mixture and stir.

3. Add any fruits, spices or nuts you have to hand into a bowl and stir. I simply used a handful of frozen berries for a simple and cheap addition of vitamins and flavour.

4. Leave to steep overnight and in the morning, heat up over the stove or in the microwave for about 2 and a half minutes. Add a little honey or sugar and enjoy!

The beauty of overnight oats is obviously that they are ready and prepared for you in the morning - all you need to do is warm them up! They are also endlessly adaptable - this simply mix can be constantly changed by adding different fruits - such as apple, blueberries or raspberries - spices, including cinnamon and nutmeg, or even a variety of healthy nuts and raisins. How you do like to make yours? I'd love to see some recipes!

Jess

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