In this section I have written reviews of 97 places to go from first-hand experience of clubs, restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs and shops I've visited, sometimes 'en homme', but mostly as Vicky. On each review page you will find a link to the venue's web-site (if it has one) and to a map showing its location, along with some pictures (if I have any) of what goes on. If you need any more information, please e-mail me, though in most cases, calling the place itself or visiting their web-site often pays dividends.

Vicky's Venue Review

Key to Symbols
The 'My Cup of Tea?'TM rating system is only a reflection of how much I enjoy a particular place and is likely to vary at whim with my mood! As a guide:
•	represents a really good cup of Assam properly mashed with boiling water in a pre-heated tea-pot with just the right amount of semi-skimmed Jersey milk served in a fine china tea-cup
•	represents watery 'tea-style beverine' dispensed from a vending machine with milkette served in a plastic 'cup-alike' swill holder
I've added an additional key as well to distinguish between t*friendly, gay and straight venues as below (venues without any symbol are 'straight'):
•	means the place is geared specifically towards the transgendered community
•	means the place is geared towards the gay community (typically of mixed gender) but has proven to be tranny friendly

Clubs

Venue	Type	My Cup of Tea?	Updated
Trans-MISSION London, UK			January 2005
Reflex London (Kingston-on-Thames), UK			May 2004
Discothèque Le 7 Cannes, France			July 2003
Tootsies London, UK			January 2005
Pink Punters Milton Keynes (Bletchley), UK			September 2004
Exit Amsterdam, The Netherlands			May 2004
Club DV8 Birmingham, UK			January 2004
Green Mango Chaweng Beach (Ko Samui), Thailand			November 2003
Le Klub Nice, France			July 2003
The Granby Reading, Berkshire, UK			March 2003
The WayOut Club London, UK			December 2002
The Philbeach Hotel (Lipstick) London, UK			November 2002
Club Revenge Brighton, UK			August 2002
Tip Top Stockholm, Sweden			June 2002
Club Angelic Milton Keynes, UK			September 2004
The Harlequin Brighton, UK			April 2004
Star Club Chaweng Beach (Ko Samui), Thailand			November 2003
Full Tilt @ The Electric Ballroom London (Camden), UK			March 2003
Napoleon's Manchester, UK			March 2003
Shadow Lounge London, UK			January 2003
Heaven Night-Club London, UK			August 2002
Club 46 Bristol, UK			March 2002
Kinks 'n' Queens Stockholm, Sweden			May 2001 updated June 2002
The Taxi Club Sydney, Australia			March 2002
L'Esquinade Club St. Tropez, France			July 2003
Ted's Place London, UK			September 2001
Stormes at The Black Horse (now closed)			July 2002
Paula's Pink Pussy (now closed)			July 2002
Silicone Dolls (currently closed)			May 2002
Ron Stormes (now closed)			May 2002
Pandora's (now closed)			April 2002
Stormes at Stepney's (now closed)			April 2002
The House of Drag (currently closed)			October 2001

Bars and Pubs

Venue	Type	My Cup of Tea?	Updated
AMX Bar Manchester, UK			June 2006
Taurus Manchester, UK			April 2003
The Birdcage London (Chiswick), UK			January 2004
The Fox and Hounds Colchester (Little Bromley), UK			July 2003
Le 6 Nice, France			July 2003
Velvet Manchester, UK			April 2003
Spirit Manchester, UK			March 2003
The Oxford Hotel (Gilligan's and Ginger's) Sydney, Australia			March 2002
The Golden Lion Walsall, UK			January 2004
Equator Birmingham, UK			January 2004
Enigma Birmingham, UK			January 2004
Missing Bar Birmingham, UK			January 2004
The Queens Head Brighton, UK			August 2003
The Queens Arms Brighton, UK			August 2003
Zanzibar Cannes, France			July 2003
West 5 London (Ealing), UK			July 2003
The Piano Bar Manchester, UK			April 2003
The G-A-Y Bar London, UK			April 2003
The Stonewall Hotel Sydney, Australia			March 2002
The Wickham (Level One) Brisbane, Australia			March 2002
Le Divan Cannes, France			July 2003
Chez Nano St. Tropez, France			July 2003
New York, New York Manchester, UK			February 2003
Old Castle Green Bristol, UK			March 2002
Old Market Tavern Bristol, UK			March 2002
The Meadfoot Tavern Torquay, UK			November 2001
View Manchester, UK			October 2005
The RAbar (now closed)			September 2003

GOING GAY

It is almost inevitable when going out and about as a tranny that some of the venues that are the easiest to be accepted in are those which are primarily aimed at the gay community. Some people may be apprehensive in going to such places, for a number of reasons: Firstly if they are not gay themselves, they may be concerned about being branded as gay by those that discover where they have been. Secondly, they may worry about being chatted up by gay men, and fear it could spoil their night out. Lastly, they may be apprehensive about what goes on and what they might see. From my own experience, attending gay venues is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. For starters most gay men are not attracted to trannies, which they essentially regard as women (interestingly, I have been chatted up by gay women!) I have almost always found that I have received more, unthreatening, friendly, warm compliments from gay men than from other trannies, and met some extremely lovely people too. It would seem that the level of promiscuity and drug abuse amongst gays is higher than that of the straight community but unless you are actively seeking such things, they are just as easy to ignore as drinking alcohol is if you are the nominated driver. Although I class myself as bisexual, I am not attracted to other men, and thus do not feel I am gay as such. However I enjoy gay events and venues as much as, if not more than, some of the tranny specific ones as not being quite as specialised, there is a wider range of people present and a more natural party feel. Most places have a really fun atmosphere. Unless you are repelled by the idea, I would whole-heartedly recommend trying out some of the gay places I have visited (and others too) - I think you will find it a memorable and most importantly, a thoroughly enjoyable adventure.

Restaurants

Venue	Type	My Cup of Tea?	Updated
Restaurant 109 London (Richmond), UK			March 2003
Carluccio's Caffe London, UK			December 2002
Pizza on the Park London, UK			May 2002
Steph's London, UK			August 2002
Silks and Spice London (Chiswick), UK			September 2002
La Perla London, UK			October 2001
Balans London, UK			September 2001

EATING OUT

Over the past few months, I have been to a number of restaurants, all straight, and instead of writing up each one individually, there are a number of common themes emerging which I hope will help you choose somewhere nice yourself, as there are many more restaurants to choose from than I could ever do justice to. First off, as long as you follow the simple guidelines below, you can go and enjoy a meal anywhere. If you are really, really nervous about getting into difficulties then by all means go to one of the tranny-friendly restaurants. But unlike clubs or pubs, going out for a meal is one night-out that you can reasonably expect to enjoy at any suitable restaurant whether specifically 'tranny-friendly' or not. For my money, I'd rather choose somewhere for the quality of its the food and atmosphere rather than its attitude towards the transgendered. Probably the most important thing to bear in mind when off out for a meal is to dress sensibly. You don't see many women in transparent basques, 7 inch heels and skirts up to their bums eating in restaurants. Wear something appropriate for the location and occasion! The second thing is to avoid mass-market restaurants unless there is a group of you. The girls and I visited 'Old Orleans' a chain of Tex-Mex restaurants that can be found all over the UK (we visited the one in Brighton). The rest of the clientele were straight, rowdy and a bit drunk and we did receive one or two unsavoury glances but as there were 9 of us, no one made a fuss. Also, we acted responsibly and courteously and were treated with equal respect by the waiting staff. I would not have chosen to go here alone or in a small group, nor would I go anywhere like Pizza Hut or the local Tandoori. Staff and customers in restaurants like that are not likely to be terribly understanding or forgiving! If you are going out in a small group, choose a place where you would expect the owners to treat everyone with respect. Small, family run, slightly more upmarket places are likely to welcome all customers and have staff who are trained to act accordingly. This has certainly been the case with, for example, Restaurant 109 and also a number of small places that me and the girls have visited. It's not uncommon for the proprietor to come over and have a chat as they are genuinely interested in what you are up to and that makes the whole thing more relaxing for both you and the restaurant staff. Finally, act with respect. Don't be loud or obnoxious, or be offensive to the staff because you are paranoid that that giggle you saw was because of you. Stay calm and relaxed and enjoy the occasion and you will find that everyone else in the place, whether staff or customers, will be just as nice in return.

Hotels

Venue	Type	My Cup of Tea?	Updated
Ibis Manchester Charles Street Manchester, UK			June 2006
Ibis Manchester Portland Street Manchester, UK			October 2004
Ibis Birmingham New Street Birmingham, UK			January 2004
Thistle City Barbican London, UK			January 2004
Campanile Hotel Milton Keynes (Bletchley), UK			November 2003
Royal Albion Hotel Brighton, UK			August 2002
Richmond Hill Hotel London (Richmond), UK			May 2002
Tower Bridge Novotel London, UK			April 2002
Brigstow Hotel Bristol, UK			December 2001
The Place Apartment Hotel Manchester, UK			June 2004
The Britannia Hotel Manchester, UK			April 2003
Hollywood International Hotel Manchester, UK			February 2003
Crowne Plaza Hotel Leeds, UK			December 2002
First Hotel Amaranten Stockholm, Sweden			June 2002
Club Quarters, Gracechurch London, UK			May 2002
Oxford Koala Hotel Sydney, Australia			April 2002
Cliff House Hotel Torquay, UK			November 2001
Rose Court Hotel London, UK			April 2002

Shops and Retailers

Venue	Type	My Cup of Tea?	Updated
Westward Bound Plymouth, UK			September 2003
Aratto Nice (and Paris), France			May 2002
DragBag (now closed)			April 2003
Doreen Fashions London, UK			April 2003
Honour London, UK			March 2003
Gerry Shaw Sydney, Australia			March 2002
Dauphine's of Bristol Bristol, UK			August 2001
She 'n' Me London (Hammersmith), UK			March 2003
Axfords Brighton, UK			September 2002
The House of Priscilla Sydney, Australia			March 2002
Transformation London (and nation-wide), UK			August 2001

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[ Version dated 18 Mar 2008 :: Execution time 9.31 ms ]