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Whose job is it? Well, we have got through a difficult summer with an appalling lack of work both on the radio and street, however at least now the work is getting a little better and hopefully will continue in that vein at least until Christmas. Yet as the work improves, complacency is once again creeping into the cab trade with drivers refusing trips and quite frankly, some just being plain rude to passengers. As you are aware, I do still work the cab and see at first hand the antics of some drivers. I’m not necessarily aiming these comments at Dial-a-Cab drivers, but just drivers in general. As an example, I was recently sitting on the Raft rank at Victoria with two cabs in front of me; a passenger went to the first cab and the driver shook his head, obviously refusing to take the fare. The passenger then went to the second cab and because my window was open, I could see and hear what was going on. The second driver wouldn’t take the fare because the first driver had refused it! An argument ensued between the two licensed taxi drivers and by now there was a queue of returning holidaymakers and business people who were becoming involved by moaning that all they wanted was to just get a cab to go home! The first passenger then approached my cab and asked if I would take him to Finchley Central. My first |
Mike Son’s bits and pieces… |
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 thought was that it wasn’t a bad job anyway, so what was the problem? Now the first few passengers would not get into the first two taxis and a passenger from the middle of the queue left his partner waiting there, approached the first driver who had refused the fare and took his number. I heard him say he was reporting him, adding that he worked for TfL. What a palaver just because a driver didn’t want to go from Victoria to Finchley Central. Incidentally, when the passengers first came out we had been on the rank for almost 20 minutes. It’s no wonder that minicabs are so successful. Code of Conduct |
be commended for his efforts.
Frustration? Mike Son |
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Eating heaven at the Barbican Centre! |
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If you are on
Dial-a-Cab, then no doubt you’ll be aware that the Barbican
Centre is Europe's largest
multi-arts and conference venue, presenting a diverse range of art,
music, theatre, dance, film and creative learning events. It is also
home to the London Symphony Orchestra. But what you might not know
is that a revolution is blowing through the Barbican Centre with the
recent opening of two new dining spaces that completely upgrade the
in-house eating experience for performance-goers, residents and
anyone in or around the City.The Barbican Foodhall is now offering an amazing selection of foods to buy or consume at the counter-top bars and the deli-tables. Guests can buy anything from an Italian ham and parmesan sandwich to shrimp pad Thai with grilled coconut relish. Upstairs, the Barbican Lounge will feature small plate menus based on dairy, meat, fish, fowl, vegetarian or pudding as well as gourmet bar snacks such as steamed endamame or pepperabica peppers stuffed with feta and Greek country cheeses. General Manager Nikki Woods told Call Sign: "This is now a haven for foodies. The concept is to create a destination for people who have a genuine love of food. Our menu is filled with moreish small plates so guests no longer have to suffer food envy or make any difficult decisions. You can try a little bit of everything…and then just order a little bit more if you fancy!" The gastronomic experience will be located on the lively waterside and begins on Level G with the Barbican Foodhall. Here you will be able to eat your way around the world in a spectacular street food market that is open seven days a week and overflowing with stimulating and surprising ingredients, deli-tables, counter-top service, a restaurant and even a book bank where you can grab a book to read whilst eating or having a coffee! As you walk in, you’ll find floor to ceiling displays of the finest produce – including succulent and juicy olives courtesy of Olives Et Al, organic oils from the world’s premiere producers, award winning cheeses, chutneys, relishes and pastas. There is also smoked salmon from one of the most prestigious producers in the UK, Severn & Wye Smokery and luxury confectionery from ‘best of British’ sweetie inventors, Hope & Green. Not enough? How about being tempted by an intriguing choice of food stalls selling Cornish pasties with Branston pickle, marjoram infused mackerel, fennel, glazed damsons and goats cheese pie and New Orleans shrimp étouffée. Visitors can either eat in or take away. The restaurant seats 200 and is an ideal place to meet friends in an informal, buzzing atmosphere where resident chefs will conjure up a different menu every day, depending on what makes their taste buds tingle that morning! Prices start from £7 for a main course. If you are looking for something a little more formal, then head upstairs to the rather funky looking Barbican Lounge. Both the bar and restaurant walk out on to a stylish terrace area featuring seating pods interspersed with seasonal plants designed by three time RHS Chelsea Flower Show winner, Kate Gould. The terrace stretches along the Barbican lakeside, providing wonderful views of the complex itself and beyond to London old and new. For those on the go, they also offer a Dine & Dash menu where they guarantee diners will be out of the door in 50 minutes or get their money back! If you have a little longer to spare, you could always spend some quality time at the Barbican Lounge bar, which will feature London’s first Macaroon Mixologist, where the legendary French delicacies are twinned with a range of new and traditional cocktails. There’s an eating heaven at the Barbican Centre... |
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