±±¾©Èü³µpk10

I work in W1 and I live in WC1, so my manor, along with the

pursuits therein, is clearly mapped out. But even so, one occasionally

needs the services of a little Sherpa Tenzing. This is where Hot Tickets

comes in.

A listings magazine is a means to an end. It should say what’s on,

where, and whether it’s worth going. The usual offerings are overweight

and boring, and more concerned with the medium than the message.

Hot Tickets dispenses with lengthy articles (apart from a celebrity

cover story, which is easily ignored) and instead favours bite-sized

insights from people directly involved in a film, bar or whatever, or

someone with a particular interest in the subject.

The listings themselves serve well. Film is one of the magazine’s

strongest areas: when trying to keep up with the openings onslaught,

whether mainstream or arthouse, all I want to know is ’is it any good?’

Short, sharp reviews by the country’s best film critic, Alexander

Walker, give the answer. Likewise the theatre and opera sections: simple

synopses sift out the pretty good from the pretentious.

And London’s art is equally well dealt with by Brian Sewell. Whether you

agree with his opinions doesn’t matter, his passion forces you to

consider the choices.

So much for the cerebral, now for the serious stuff: eating, drinking

and staying out late.

Here, I tend to stick to a few favourites. However, if for some

inexplicable reason I should find myself in the suburbs - Fulham,

Hampstead - I have committed to memory a few choice restaurant

selections from Ned Sherrin, a bon viveur who makes amateurs of adland

lunchers.

And so it goes on, through simple, intelligent round-ups, until we reach

the TV pages. If you’re staying in, it’s all here, what’s on and when,

plus a few highlights.

HT is free on Thursday, 85p on Friday. And if this eventually becomes

the only way to get your hands on it, then fine. It’s definitely not a

good read. Great. I’d rather be doing than reading.

Gary Sharpen is creative director, integration, at Saatchi & Saatchi.