Aquarium HullDeep AquariumPublic AquariumLarge AquariumDeep KingstonKingston Upon HullYorkshire CoastEast YorkshireSubmerged AquariumForwardsThe world's only underwater elevator (cars travel through a transparent tube 33 feet through the water and pause midway to allow visitors a mid-tank view). The recreated ocean and submerged aquarium can be found at The Deep in Hull in England. Admission is about $15 per adult.Striking South London-set debut with Thomas Turgoose and Theo StevensonUK, 2017, 89 minsSouth London drama Butterfly Kisses attempts to handle a considerably darker topic than its coming-of-age set-up initially leads you to expect, and it’s a mark of the film’s class that it does it with a visual elegance that is well above par for low-budget UK estate realism.Rosie Day makes a strong mark with her knowing, spiky manner and husky delivery.A striking feature debut for director Rafael Kapelinski, Butterfly Kisses, made through Film London’s Microwave project, features a strong young cast headed by Theo Stevenson, plus striking black-and-white camerawork from Nick Cooke.

The film’s stylistic polish is arguably the flip side of a certain reticence in giving its narrative the definition it deserves, leaving this a striking, individual production but too understated to make a strong mark outside festivals.The film starts off in familiar downbeat Britpic vein, with three teenage boys hanging out and swapping hormonal banter: they are cocksure Kyle (Liam Whiting), affable Jarred (Byron Lyons) and relatively shy Jake (Theo Stevenson, a regular on TV’s Humans, seen here in rather darker mood than when he was the impish lead in Horrid Henry: The Movie). While the other boys boast about their success with girls, handsome but bashful Jake is fondly mocked for still being a virgin.The first section of the film sees the boys being stereotypically laddish – gasping at horse-themed porn with their school mates, and hanging out at a local snooker hall, where manager Shrek, a goofy but unreliably volatile character, doubles as their drugs connection. That Shrek is played by Shane Meadows regular Thomas Turgoose - contributing a boisterous, somewhat malevolent streak of humour - suggests that Butterfly Kisses owes a lot in characterisation and style to the Meadows approach, notably in his black-and-white Somers Town.The film steps beyond familiar territory as we see Jake mooching around a high window in his block of flats, spying on neighbours.

He’s simply interested in people, he says, and he certainly seems to have taken an interest in a tough-acting new girl in the area, Zara (Rosie Day). But Zara also has a young sister, and Jake earns extra cash as a babysitter.It becomes apparent quite early just where Butterfly Kisses is going, and because its real theme is so dark – especially in the unconventional context of a teenage boy’s traumas – the film is caught in a delicate dilemma. fish tank stand bristolIt can either be more explicit, at the risk of sensationalism, or underplay things, but then seem to be coy. fish tank water removal hoseGreer Taylor Ellison’s script pretty much hits the appropriate balance, but the moody aestheticism of the visuals tends to lessen the impact of a drama that eventually comes to a somewhat awkward close. fish tank motor setup

In particular, the initially subtle, then increasingly glaring use of a nightmarish horse leitmotif makes the film seem much more a stylistic exercise than a full-blown psychological exploration (Fish Tank, The Selfish Giant, now this - British estate realism does seem to have a thing about horses).Cooke’s photography certainly creates an ominous atmosphere that’s a lot classier than the rough-grained Brit realist norm, imparting a decidedly Eastern European aesthetic to the mix (Kapelinski is an alumnus of the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing in Warsaw as well as Britain’s NFTS). fish tank water surfaceNewcomers Whiting and Lyons are totally relaxed and convincing in their dialogue with Stevenson, whose not-quite-popstar looks and introverted delivery keep us guessing about Jake’s psychological anguish – and a scene in which he thinks his friends have discovered his secret is superbly played for tension by the trio.cheap wall mounted aquarium

As Zara, Outlander regular Rosie Day – young though she is, a seasoned TV stalwart - makes a strong mark with her knowing, spiky manner and husky delivery.Producers: Merlin Merton, Jacek SzumlasScreenplay: Greer Taylor EllisonCinematography: Nick CookeProduction design: Fleur WhitlockEditor: Andrew WaltonMusic: Nathan KleinMain cast Theo Stevenson, Liam Whiting, Byron Lyons, Rosie Day, Thomas Turgoosefish tank running cost calculatorI've had the pleasure of spending 24h in Berlin twice in the space of two months and I have to say, I'd love to go back when I had a bit more time to investigate things. I was there first to judge the European Search Awards then to attend the awards ceremony and each time I made sure I had a chance to make the foray into the city to taste of the local cuisine. I was staying at the Raddison Blu the first time, with its giant fish tank in the middle, soaring up several stories.

The second time I was at the Hilton, with its swanky lobby and amazing breakfast. Cake for breakfast is always going to be a winner with me though ;-) And of course proximity to chocolate! Right around both these hotels are several chocolate shops that are well worth visiting. There are a variety of places to visit but of course I'm all about the chocolate - and the wine ;-) Within about a five minute walk of both hotels is Bunte Schokowelt or Ritter Sport World. I could have spent ages here in the café alone with their Ritter Sport inspired pastries and cakes. You'll find this venue by looking for the brightly coloured flags. It isn't quite on the corner but near enough. There are tables and chairs outside as the weather gets warmer and inside the first thing you see is one of the cafes. On entering take the escalator to the next floor and visit the area where they teach kids how chocolate is made and the history of Ritter Sport. While I realise that this is not haute coture chocolate, they seem to be focusing on origin and food like the Chocolate Story in York.

The bags of mini chocolate squares were something I made sure to buy both times ;-) but the cake is absolutely something special and worth taking time to relax and try. Then about 2min down the road is Fassbender & Rausch one of Berlin's most famous chocolate shops and one of their most exciting. With everything from marzipan in little shapes to chocolates from various origins, this is probably one of the most serious chocolate shops I was able to find. Of course it is difficult to find too much about the bean to bar scene in Germany, let alone Berlin due to my lack of familiarity with the language but I know there is one. I just cannot find it so I mollify myself with a selection box of various origins. I love how they have really made an effort to make origin chocolate accessible here, with tasting notes for the chocolate as you might have with wine, ensuring people who are buying the origins know what they are getting. Thankfully I kind of already know ;-) Why not pop around into the cafe here and enjoy something hot or cold with a cookie or some cake?

It would make a lovely afternoon snack. Around the corner and one block along from Fassbender & Rausch is one of the chain of shops called Leysieffer. This is an interesting shop with more bars than I could imagine. While their origin chocolate is limited, they do have a series of vintage year chocolates. This is something Valrhona also does but slightly differently. They were slightly smaller but still had a café as well as the shop itself and all that chocolate so you could have some cake and a drink after chocolate shopping. Of course being spoilt for choice I defaulted to origin chocolate but the tea chocolate as well as some of the other flavours were tempting. Plus there was the marzipan and husband is a fan soooo... ;-) Now the Hilton was right in the middle of this trio of awesomeness but closer to the Raddison was the Bandy Brooks chocolate. This is a shop with filled chocolates and they mostly do ganache. They are more for the person looking to find something different and special but much like Hotel Chocolat in the UK I understand they create them centrally and distribute to their chain of shops.