It can often be exciting to try a new cocktail bar; the Artesian started off fairly sedately but ultimately delivered the goods.

The bar itself was decorated a bit oddly. The light-fittings were particularly strange, looking like some kind of medieval torture implements. It was also quite packed with tables.

The cocktail menu was pleasingly packed with goodies. We started off with a margarita and a Hemmingway daiquiri. These were perfectly acceptable, but lacking a degree of concentration. The best margaritas are still made at home. A strawberry hill daiquiri was an improvement on the Hemmingway, with nice strawberry fruit and plenty of booze-action.

We had time to kill so we dallied for another couple of drinks. The Zombie was a truly moving experience; five types of rum and Pernod with plenty of fresh fruit juice. This was a recipe for feeling better about life; heroic cocktails certainly make me feel better. An Artesian punch was our last effort, quite delicious it was too. Again, a booze-laced drink was much better than the first two cocktails.

Overall, a pretty good bar, especially if you chose cocktails with plenty of booze. It was a touch pricey, with our five drinks costing £90 (including service), but we shall return.

Contact details on their website.

The hotel Number One Aldwych is two minutes away from where the partner works; I can go and prop up their bar, knocking back a drinkie or two whilst he busts out of work.

They have a wide range of cocktails on offer, which are not frighteningly expensive for a bar in such a good location. The bar is pleasingly decorated; suitably minimalist which comfortable seats. Sometimes the service can be a bit slow. But the uniformly high quality of their cocktails makes it worth the wait.

Today we both had cantaloupe daiquiris, which really hit the spot in terms of being innocuous and fruity whilst being reasonably booze-tastic. Every cocktail I've had there has been pleasing. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Contact details on their website.

A study has been reported on the BBC that alcohol consumption can lower the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. This is good news for me as there is a genetic component to it and my parents and grandparents all had it. None of them drank enough, in my opinionated opinion.

Goroka, the current speciality coffee pod in the Nespresso range is, alas, deeply sub-interest. It is too bitter with no depth of flavour; quite simple and unsatisfying if I am honest. This is a shame as I have had some great coffee from Indonesia, from where this hails. I'll stick to Ristretto and Arpeggio, the strongest two blends. They make damned-fine cups of espresso.

I am currently drinking Meantime Brewery IPA, it remains my favourite beer of all time. Earlier I had a bottle of Meantime Oktoberfest-style beer, and it is to that which I wish to draw your attention. Sainsburys are currently flogging it for £2.20 a four-pack, which for beer of that quality is a real bargain. The 'Taste the Difference' range of Meantime beers are normally good value at £4.39 a four-pack so this is an incredible bargain. Get yourselves to Sainsburys now!

This is the world's most expensive coffee which is made in Indonesia from beans that have been eaten and crapped out by civet cats. I had this when I was in Flores (wild place, man), it was smooth but very silty. Not amazingly nice, if we are honest.

I mention this because the coffee is now available (albeit blended with Jamaican Blue Mountain) in the UK. For a limited time you can get it in the Peter Jones department store coffee shop. If you really want to, of course. But just think how you can scandalise the boring, picky and fussy eaters of this world by offering them a cup of cat shit coffee.

Lawks, this is 9%, just what I need on a boring afternoon.

Chimay Bleu 2007, 9% abv
A rich, malty nose, bursting with goodness. This doesn't smell that alcoholic, even with its butch strength. It tastes very rich and malty, with good length and a reasonable degree of complexity. Again, it tastes surprisingly dry despite its alcohol-level. I wouldn't say this is a refreshing beer, it is a tad too weighty, but it is a great drink. Their Grande Reserve is also really good; some people suggest it ages really well, but don't listen to those nutters.

My trip to France has been a tale of woe so far, beyond picking up some Pibarnon 2001 for a knock-down price. Dinner was, perhaps, even more depressing than what approximated for lunch.

We had a recommendation to go to a microbrewery in Lille called Les 3 Brasseurs. Going to a microbrewery is usually an interesting experience, and one can generally expect beer of passable quality. It was piss-quality at Les 3 Brasseurs.

We tried all of their beers. The Blonde, Blanche and Brune all tasted pretty similar, which was bad enough. Worse was they tasted disgusting. They had a strange flavour of that shameful concoction known as 'mixed herbs', and mixed herbs that had been left lying around for too long. There was no life, freshness or style. They were simply dirty with a freaking awful flavour. The only differentiation between them, beyond the colour, was that the Brune had a vague hint of bitterness. The Ambree beer was not so utterly vile, instead it was totally bland and characterless. I'd rather be offended than bored and this was piss boring. I hated all the beers with a passion and found the drinking experience there to be completely depressing.

It did not cheer me up that the food was also total crap, the dried-out tarte-flambees were notably awful. The final nail in the coffin of this dire dive was that the service was hopeless from our complete twat of a waiter. He might have been less mortifyingly awful if he was less drunk.

I cannot recommend highly enough that you avoid Les 3 Brasseurs if you should find yourself in Lille; I bet the Buffalo Grill opposite is less of a misery-inducing dump.