Homework Assignment: From A Vampire On Stage To Dubbing In A Blink Of An Eye

Krisztina Nádorfi is an actress who is mostly known for her lead role in the musical Tanz Der Vampire (Vámpírok Bálja); what people may not know is that she is also big in the dubbing industry – actually, she might be the voice of one of your favorite characters!

Reporter: What was that movie or song or play that made you realize that you wanted to be involved in acting?

Krisztina Nádorfi: It was a play: Doctor Herz. My sister used to go to Madách Theatre a lot at the time and she kept going on and on about this play that I decided to see it myself and, well, I got stuck. I was about twelve when I saw it and it really got a grip on me. So it was in that moment that the idea of working in this industry came to mind. I was already singing in the children’s choir in the radio – so I had the music part down. From then on I spent all of my time in Madách. I had seen my favorites at least 20 or 40 times.

R: Such as?

KN: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the old version of course. Another example would be Vörös Malom.

R: And where did you study?

KN: I enrolled in the Aranytíz Musical Studió – and it was there that I really started to lay the ground work for this career. I kind of grew out of that environment so I moved on to Vasutas Musical Stúdió with Mária Toldi. Almost at the same time I also started to work with the Rock Színház, although that was not their name anymore. Either way they started to tour in Germany and were still looking for people for their adaptation of Dorian Gray and fortunately I got a part in it. That was the point where my so called professional career began: after the German Dorian Gray I played in Evita. No, I did not speak German. They just gave us the lyrics and we had two coaches who helped with the pronunciations. So the tour took up about four years. Afterwards I got situated in Sopron with István Mikó where I played in something every year, mostly musicals of course.

So this was the beginning for me. I tried to learn everything I could about this environment but actually it was the actor and actress colleagues who really helped me along the way. But this is a kind of thing that you cannot really learn while sitting at a desk in school. However it really depends on whether or not you have a talent for it.

Krisztina playing Sarah in
Tanz Der Vampire

R: How did the Tanz Der Vampire (VámpírokBálja) come along?

KN: The original idea was to present the show in 2006, but this was pushed back a year. The producer, Dr. Edit Simon, was an acquaintance who let us know that the show was coming to Hungary. We had no special treatment at the audition, seeing that in this case the producer had absolutely no say in the matter of the casting. But we were given a chance to familiarize with the play beforehand. It wasn’t too soon that we realized that this was no help at all... So just like anybody else, we sent in our CV’s and we were given an appointment. There was over 900 of us with three rounds of additions. There was an extra addition as they were still looking to fill parts; the stakes were so high that they didn’t manage to find every character they were looking for.  There was director Cornelius Baltus, with Dennis Callahan the choreographer on his side. You know this play is presented in the very same way in every country, although ours was the first one that had rotary stage. Which now they use in other shows abroad as well: like Belgium, and if I remember correctly Vienna as well. Basically Kentaur’s designs where such a hit that all the other shows wanted in on them. It was quite entertaining to see the pictures of my costume on other actresses. And not just costumes and stage, but also actors and dancers where contracted to play abroad. Anyway, getting back: The auditions were really rough. Looking back at it now I can see that they took it very seriously. The best part however was that Cornelius never looked at our CVs’ previous our singing on stage. They were there in front of him, but facing downwards. He was not interested in where we came from; he only wanted to know what we can do on stage.

R: Do you agree with Cornelius’ approach?

KN: 100%. I understand that people need the known people for audiences to go to the theatre. This is really the Hungarian mentality: If you don’t see someone either in television or in magazines you don’t care for them. This implies that you will not see a stage play if you don’t know anyone from the cast. Unfortunately there is some true to it, though. However this way the underdog never really gets a chance. This is why a person such as Géza Egyházi, who was previously a waiter, could become the lead in a musical of such humongous fame abroad! There is plenty of hidden talent out there who we never discover because of this closed mentality. There is need of directors who would take the time and polish these diamonds in the rough. So we end up with the same 10 people in literally everything.

R: I find that people who are already known have an easier time staying in the public’s eyes while not giving a chance for others.

KN: That is not necessarily true, seeing that sooner or later they will become old as well. There is and will be need for fresh blood. There is a great example, of Julia Roberts in NottingHill (Stárom A Párom): She is a star now, but she will be an old lady soon who will only resemble a star. Not to mention that even political affiliations are now concern for hiring actors. And it is my personal belief that art and politics should not be mixed; and actor shouldn’t have to shout out his political belief but stand out of the crowd to enforce art.

However, getting back to playing favorites, of course having a known name associated with a play is method used abroad as well. But abroad, just a few kilometers from us they take this really seriously.  I mean kids can sing in a way you didn’t think was possible.

Krisztina with Sándor Nagy on stage

R: I remember that before my very first day in a Hungarian school, my dad took us to see the musical. (It was September 2nd, Sunday). You were playing Sarah (the lead) and your counterpart was Nagy Sándor (playing Graf Von Krolock). Can you tell me, did you have a favorite Krolock?

KN: Not really. I loved to play with all of them as they were all different. They made each show different. We had plenty of fun on stage. This would count as background information (she said laughing): we were able to give a performance that moved the audience. Sándor, Géza ... Bálint Merán! They were all great. Also you can get kind of bored after playing the same part over and over – so we tried to entertain each other as much as possible.

R: I’m guessing you have no favorite Alfred then either? (Characters played by László Sánta and Tibor Héger).

KN: No, of course not. They were all fantastic. An example of our fun time on stage would be the scene where I drop my sponge – made of a material that jumps around of course – and it landed on places that weren’t in my radius. Plenty of times, Laci Sánta for example, would save me by pointing at it “Your sponge!” so I would have an idea in which direction I should start looking for it! Seeing that all of our moves where co-ordinated and there was really no place to be ourselves: the only chance we had to have fun was thanks to the fact that all of these actors played the part a bit differently.

Krisztina performing the maing song, 'Totale Finsternis (Total Eclipse Of The Heart)' with her

male counterpart Sándor Nagy

R: Do you have a favorite song? Both performing and/or as an outsider?

KN: ‘Piros Csizmák’ (Red Boots) (click here to hear the song!). I believe it is the best song and at the same time the hardest. The viewer may not know or see that we have a couple of songs before it that completely drain our energies, not to mention our lungs... This song is one of those examples when we breathe through our skin! But that extra kick makes it much better.

Me and Krisztina after the New Year's Eve show on
December 31, 2007

R: What ended your run with the show?

KN: My contract had expired. After a talk both they and I agreed that there was no need to extend it. It was time to let the youngsters have a chance at it.

R: Dubbing. That seems to be an interesting jump from musicals. Tell me, how did you get across this job?

KN: A friend of mine was dubbing and once I asked her to help me get in, seeing that I too was interested in it. It was just my luck that on the same day I left my phone number (this was at Filmhatár Stúdió) they needed someone and called me in instantly. And that is how it all started – and it seemed like a really good fit for me. It is important to be hard working, that way the directors will want to work with you, and they call you to other places; then the production managers get to know you and slowly my name was at every studio’s desk. But this is a whole different career. People think it is easy, it is not. You need to learn it the same way you would with any other profession.

R: Did you have any prior training?

KN: No, I was lucky enough to have a talent for it. Not many do. There are these training programs that help you speak better. People think of them as schemes to rob one of their money, but they are in fact very useful, not only for those who plan a future in the dubbing industry; also for those who have problems talking in front of people, or have basic communication problems. Think of job interviews where you need to sound your best; or if you embark on a career where you need to stand out in front of three and more people and speak in a way that you are understood. I can also give you examples of people who clearly aren’t meant for dubbing, even if they are great actors. You can of course learn the technique; however you need to be able to act with your voice. Biggest difficulty being that obviously you are not the one playing the part: You just need to provide a voice for the actor who has already played that role. But in this industry you need to trust the directors. If they know you, they work with you – it takes a long time to get to the good roles. It is a really, really, really slow procedure.

R: What was the latest work you’ve done?

KN: The latest? Erm… oh yes, it was a voice over for a dating reality show.

On her recent trip in the US

R: Can you mention any roles that you are particularly proud of? For example on the big screen?

KN: Yes, in Avatar I was the voice of an Asian technician in the beginning of the movie. It wasn’t a big part, but still, I am quite proud of that. I also voiced some of the characters in the movie Valentine’sDay (Valentin Nap). Another favorite would be the typical blonde: in this case Sherry, in the movie Must Love Dogs (Kutyátlanok Kíméljenek). That scene was even uploaded to YouTube with the Hungarian dubbing (laughs), people seemed to like it. (You can see the scene below!) I mostly enjoy roles that have something special about them, this last character was such a stereotypical character that I enjoyed it far more then I would’ve with others. I don’t particularly enjoy those Spanish and Venezuelan women who don’t really say nor do anything that needs any kind of emotional involvement. Although we do like these soap operas that go on forever – they pay the bills.

R: Can you tell us something about the procedure that goes on behind the cameras and the microphones?

KN: Of course. Many people, for example, assume that we get a chance to see what we are going to dub over beforehand. That is not the case at all! We have our headphones on and we hear the original. The very first time we see our scene is after the minute we get our scripts, so we see the lips movement, the length and the mood of the characters. And then action! A couple more takes and moving on to the next scene. We don’t necessarily do the scenes in order. It also depends on whether or not we are sharing a scene with someone else. Of course the situation is different when we are re-dubbing. Last time we were working on Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood, which naturally we all knew by heart, so we had an easier time.

R: Are there any other actors with whom you just love to work with?

KN: Yes, Gábor Forgács. I simply fall off my chair laughing when I’m working with him. He is a real blast! We did Miami Vice together and it was really a great experience.

"Hercules And The Muse", with
Krisztina in the middle

R: I have heard that you were responsible for the initiation of the cast of Vampires adopting a “flying dog”, as in a big bat in the city zoo. Do you still do charity work for animals?

KN: Yes, I try to be involved as much as I can. Unfortunately after you come to the realization that you cannot save every single animal, not matter how hard you try, it gets a bit harder. But if I get any requests to appear or judge, for example at contests, then I say yes immediately. I love these kinds of things.

R: Let’s say that you get a call from one of the big theatres tomorrow, offering you a lead role in the coming up musical. Would you accept it?

KN: Hypothetically, I would think about it … and where I am at right now, I would probably say no. It would be very tempting indeed! But … (She sat in silence, thought about my question for a minute or two.) Well, let’s admit that it is very unlikely.

R: Hypothetically, let us assume just the same.

KN: I would think about it because it depends also on the musical and the part I’m offered. Surprisingly, I do not miss it as much as I used to. I get my same kick of adrenaline from dubbing. Not to mention less stress! Also, the theatre pretty much destroys one’s social life. I and my fiancée are planning a family, and that would have to be put on hold for such a project. Maybe the only reason that would tempt me is to let my fiancée see me on stage, seeing that he never had the chance. I would probably be in a bit of a quarrel if it were one of my dream roles.

R: So there is such a role that could tempt you into saying yes?

KN: There is. I have always wanted to play Éponine in Les Miserables (Nyomorultak). But I never got the chance to. In these cases type casting comes in. We are pretty much told to stay in our own areas of expertise. But think of The Lion King: That musical won’t be available in Hungary for a very long time, as the contract stipulates that only African-Americans can be in the cast. It would be quite hard to find the two leads, not to mention a whole cast! … Now thinking about it, another role would be Éva from Valahol Európában. And although I missed out on these, my heart is at peace now.

R: Plenty of musicals have movie adaptations. Do you have a favorite?

KN: Well, I’m guessing the new Les Miserables will be it (coming out this December!). Look, come on! What do you want me to say? That I like all the classics? Hello, Dolly!, Funny Girl … I think that Hello, Dolly! is still one of the best ones. I know that it worked the other way around, but Mary Poppins is a favorite as well. What can I say? I’m still a child at heart. Rent would be another good example – it was done pretty well. Although I think that in our Hungarian version the actress who played Mimi, Gabi Mezőfi, did a far better job. Oh, and finally The Producers.

R: Thinking of the goals you set out for yourself, are there any things that you still need to conquer, or are you just trying to enjoy life at its fullest and try to be happy?
KN: The latest. Once you grow up from the idea that every dream can be conquered you start to appreciate things the way they are. It is also important to not hang on these ideals. It is not always just up to us, you know? So many things can come between you and your dreams and if you take it too personally you can’t really go on. There is always room for improvement. And being where I am right now, I can say that I have no complaints. What more could I want? Perhaps bigger roles? The time might come for that. People know me; know what I am capable of. They also trust me and that is very important. And that goes for everyone in this profession.

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To see Krisztina’s official fan page, visit this link: http://www.nadorfikrisztina.extra.hu/

To see Sándor Nagy's official page please click here: http://www.nagysandor.com/

Why Should You Enjoy Superman Returns In Spite Of Public Opinion

I thought about writing about all of the Superman live-action movies. But then I realized that there is plenty I can say about just one, while discussing the originals would be foolish, everybody knows them by heart! What you do need to know is that in Superman II, Clark and Lois finally get together, as Lois discovers his secret identity. Although Luthor appears, he is just a secondary character as the leading enemy is Zod, who managed to escape from the Phantom Zone. Supposedly Superman dies and it is from that point that this movie picks up from.

Superman Returns

The movie begins with Clark returning home to Martha Kent. He gets back slowly on his feet and returns to Metropolis to get his job back. However, plenty of time has passed and Lois' has moved on. Not to mention that she has won the Pulitzer price for her article 'Death Of Superman' (reference to the comics!). But is it too late? Lois has a husband and a son and although the return of Superman seems to get everyone excited, she tries to deny it. This brings them to the well known problem of falling into the traps of Lex Luthor who, this time around, is set to make sure he will kill Superman for good. He actually would have succeeded if Lois' husband wasn't the down-to-earth hero type as well. We also find out that Lois' son is actually Clark's too.

Let's just say that the biggest problem is obviously with the last sentence... There are geek studies that show that Superman CANNOT have sex with a human because he would - literally - kill them. Now, I am not trying to sugarcoat this. As horrible as that may sound we are talking about 'the man of steel' (and that is not a penis joke!), how is it supposed to work anyway?
Second problem is the husband, played by everyone's favorite 'guy the leading lady never actually picks': James Marsden. I love this man. He is such a great actor, and a looker too! I think that Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh were a great couple. Also, I did not know ms. Bosworth before watching this movie and I really liked her performance. I didn't like it in other movies, but I did here. She had totally convinced me of being a caring mother and a career woman. The less convincing character was actually the child, their little boy. He was the source of almost all of the comedic elements, which worked fine, but he didn't really sell it on the dramatic scenes. And there was plenty of cliché moments where I had to sigh.

You might have guessed, I loved the casting. I think that Kevin Spacey was brilliant. I never would've thought of him as Luthor, but I think that he nailed it. He had that extremely calm feeling to him and he only snapped when the circumstance required it. His henchmen were dumb, but let us be honest, those are always dumb. And the evil plan, well... I thought it was a bit far fetched for my taste. However, I can see that they wanted to go big with this movie, I'll let that slide.
Personally I have always loved the relationship between Clark and his mom Martha, so I would've liked to see a lot more of them. But based on cartoons and well, all of the recent comics, they don't really play with this. So I was happy to get as much as I did.

I've found that Routh got a lot of criticism, I think that was wrong of them. I can perfectly see that he was doing what the director told him. I have seen him in plenty of other roles, he is a terrific actor! You can clearly see what went wrong here and it wasn't the actors' fault. I know 90% of the actors here and I could clearly see that none of them have given their best performance. The script has many faults, but if you think about the fact that it is supposed to be the sequel to a movie that already had two sequels, then you can see they had plenty of work.

BUT the most important thing is that I HATE origin movies for heroes who EVERYBODY KNOWS!!! Do you really need to know who Superman is? He had an origin movie and he had a TV show devoted to every single second of his life. Even if it wasn't quite accurate to the comic, it still gave everyone a pretty good image of who Clark Kent really is over the ten years it was running. I am actually a bit scared of the Man Of Steel, as I cannot stand origin stories anymore... I mean, I get it when a whole new character like Thor (click here to read my review!) gets introduced to the public for the first time... but really? The thing I hate even more than that is the goddamn depressing angle that comic movies have taken with Nolan's Batman. I do not want another movie like! I like one thing about Superman and that is his humor.

Nobody seems to care for that! Superman can do his job for one single reason: no villain, no crisis could ever take away his strength to keep on saving the people around the world. And this movie focuses on that! It keeps track of his glasses; his hair; the awful way Lois treats Clark and the fact that he is a total loser when he isn't himself. When he does put the suit on, he smiles for the cameras, interacts with people and stays strong. And Superman throws something huge into the sun: NOW THAT IS PLAIN AWESOMENESS! What more do you want people??!!

I love this movie, I really do. I gives me everything I need, and even if it lacks in some materials, it makes up for them in other areas. The villain works great, the chemistry between all of the characters works fine. I personally prefer this one, we'll see what the new one will bring. Maybe if it'll be the first installment of the Justice League "dream", then I'll forgive it. BUT USE HUMOR!!

Next up, the rest of the Superman cartoon movies, before we head into the live-action DC series.

_ _ _ _ _

Clark Kent/Superman - Brandon Routh

Lex Luthor - Kevin Spacey

Lois Lane - Kate Bosworth

Richard White - James Marsden

Perry White - Frank Langella

What's Next On My DC List? (Games) Lego: Batman

I had a real hard time deciding which review to come next, so I decided to wrap up the Batman reviews before going to to another superheroes. We have already discussed him and Superman, and I have introduced live-action TV series based on DC comics like Arrow (click here to read review!). Shortly, we will come to those, anyway, let us wrap up Mr. Wayne's appearances in all of the available mediums, last up: games.

LEGO Batman

What you need to know about this game is simple, if you love everything and everybody in Batman, you're going to love this game. All of his well known enemies show up: Clayface, Poison Ivy, Riddler and of course the Joker.

The story: Batman and Robin have three big missions to complete. You get to choose the order of course when you start your game in the batcave. You get to choose between three missions: Batmobile, Batplane and the Batsubmarine (if that is its name!). In each there is an epic boss along with little fights. If you have finished one mission, you get to play it's counterpart inside the Arkham Asylum, where you get to play with another three missions: Joker's, Penguin's and the Riddler's. As you advance in levels you unlock more heroes, among them Batgirl and Nightwing. You can use them to ... (read under bonuses!)
The boss battle: At the end of each mission you encounter the epic boss, these are Joker, the Ridler and Penguin. Before you beat each one you need to get through the levels of course. The main thing you need for this game is a partner. In each level you have your sidekick with you, and even though the computer works perfectly, it is plenty more fun to play with a friend. I did with my brother, he had to be the sidekick of course :D. Most of the time you cannot just beat the boss, as they usually stand somewhere and shoot at you. Now, in these cases you need the help of that sidekick. As I said, the computer works fine, but having a friend know exactly what you need can speed things up a bit. It is hard to beat those bosses anyway! However, if you have played one level through, it is quite easy to play with the others. But random
Bonuses: You get to replay each level until you find all of the hidden objects and then you will have yourself statues in the Wayne Mansion. Among them a big Batman statue too. In order to get all the bonuses you will have to use different characters, that is why you need to unlock them. That is probably the best part: when you play alone. You see, with friends it is different, however, seeing that all of the characters stay true to the origins, it is so much fun to become the characters. There are plenty of Batman games, the fun part is having a chance to play with all the other version of him and his sidekicks. Not to mention his enemies!

This game is great, it belongs to the first LEGO games series, meaning that the characters do not talk just yet, the way they do in the new Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. I unfortunately haven't got my hands on it just yet, but it is up there on my "Top 5 games I want for Christmas" list!
Usually here I would tell you about things that don't work: I cannot do that. I love every little LEGO piece in this game! The idea is great, the graphics are wonderful and it is a blast for both Batman fans and LEGO fans (and who doesn't like LEGOs?). LEGO has set up a great franchise and have put the bar high: this game is up there too! They do not disappoint.
This is one game you need to get! The story isn't that long, but if you want to get the maximum point in each, you will find delight in replaying the levels, instead of a nuisance!

What The F*ck Is This Sh*t: On Disney Buying LucasArts

This post is about the internet outrage rather than an actual rant. I am happy this happened and down here you'll find exactly why:

People keep crying because Disney bought LucasArts. I honestly think it is a blessing. Let us recap what we have seen so far: 

• People hated The Phantom Menace, Clone Wars, and Revenge Of The Sith. 
• People hated that Darth Vader's iconic "Noooo!" from Episode III added to Episode VI.
• People hated that Hayden Christensen was added as the ghost in the end of Episode VI insted of the actor who played Vader originally in that episode, David Prowse.
• As far as I know people didn't even like the digital changes that were done to Episodes IV, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.

So, what could they possibly do that would be so bad? Everyone has experienced that if George Lucas actually had the money and the resources in the 70's to make the movie he really wanted it would've been, simply put: SHIT. Instead we have two trilogies, one is the classic for the older generation and the other is a classic for mine.

I personally like the first three episodes, you might know if you have read my Why Should You Enjoy Star Wars Episode I, II and III In Spite Of Public Opinion (if not, click on the title to read now!), what I hated is the The Clone Wars cartoon. I did not see the need for that, seeing that there already was a cartoon that explained what happened (Star Wars: Clone Wars) and it was a great cartoon. Not to mention that the drawing style I think was far better than this fake 3D-like-animation, which is probably the biggest shit I've ever seen.

Ever since Episode III has come out, the only thing I have noticed is that people want more movies. Instead, Lucas kept giving us great video games and horrible cartoons. Why? Beats me! When I heard that Episode VII was going to be made, my only thought was: AWESOME. I have wanted a a seventh episode since I can remember!

After the first time I watched the original trilogy, my brother gave me Dark Horse comics that talked about what happened to our favorite trio after the Deathstar had been destroyed. It was one of my favorite comics and one of the best stories.
I actually came up with a story myself at that time: we are 30 years after the end of Episode VI, and our favorite trio of Mark Hamill (Luke), Harrison Ford (Han Solo) and Carrie Fisher (Leia) introduce us their children: Leia and Han's twins and Luke's child. The next generations of Jedis. Of course, I am pretty sure this will not be the story, but I can dream!

Biggest problem is that people still think that Disney means corky cartoons and Mickey Mouse, as one of my friends pointed out. That is the biggest problem. You know what Disney does? They did the Avengers. That is right, they did one of the biggest movies in history that broke every single existing record and it is probably what gave the founding for Disney to be able to buy LucasArts in the first place. They take movie making quite seriously, you really shouldn't doubt them. Not to mention that until 2015 the only thing that will happen is that you will start seeing Star Wars merchandise in every Disney Stores around the world - just like with Marvel. And remember? People called Disney stupid for buying Marvel! I am sure that they'd like to disagree with you now!
I also read comments like "Disney is going to kill my childhood". And somebody cleverly replied: "Lucas already did that."

All I am saying is that maybe you shouldn't start judging too quickly. Personally I say go for it Disney! There is really nothing you can ruin anymore, after the Phantom Menace... I mean really, what the fuck is up with that movie?

PS: George Lucas is known for believing that the world will end in 2012. I was not surprised one bit to hear that he sold LucasArts. He just cashed in 4 billion dollars. I wonder when will he come back from the so called 'retirement' as a director - one or two months after realizing that nothing happened on December 21st? It would also be funny if he spent all his money until then... LOL. Either way, he became an idiot, if the last Indiana Jones wasn't a wake up call for others, for me it was a clear sign that if I want to see my favorite characters again, then somebody needs to take it away from him!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPDATE (2015. 08) Have you seen the trailer? This is going to be the best thing ever! I am so excited, can't wait! Thank you for taking it away from Lucas! And, notice that I forecast what would happen? I'm speechless!

Homework Assignment: 100 m2 Of Scotland In The Heart Of Hungary

I have a class this year called "Workshop", and the first assignment we had was to write a review. I decided to write a restaurant review about my favorite pub in Budapest. First assignment down, two more to go!

If you are an English major, or simply a UK fanatic you will be happy to hear that for a chance to taste the fine beers and foods of Scotland you don’t actually need to travel that far. In Mozsár utca, near Oktogon, you can find one of the finest pubs in Budapest: The Caledonia. 

“Caledonia” is the name the Romans gave to Scotland when they established their colonies in Great Britain. And as their culture flourished, all kinds of ethnic foods, like black pudding and haggis, as well as great beer brands like Belhaven, not to mention ciders like Gaymers (all available on tap!), became the elements that define Scotland. Here, in this little pub, you can discover all of these flavors. 

As you step in, you will see the bar before you with beers on tap and several shelves of Scottish whiskeys with pictures of historical figures; along with a big LCD screen TV to entertain the lad drinkers who come to the pub to get away from their every days – usually set on Sky Sports, a sport channel from the UK. For those that have a picky taste, other well known beer brands, such as Dreher and Kozel are also available on tap. As you turn to your right, you’ll see several tables and a little stair that leads to the floor above with plenty place to house the guests. 

As I have mentioned they serve drinks and food, but you will also find a little refrigerator next to the bar filled with Scottish sausages and sauces that are perfect for GB citizens in Budapest who miss the taste of their foods from home. 

The waiters are quite nice as they tend to your every need and they speak perfect English; in one case not even the rough Scottish accent of a girl who was asking about spicy sausages could make them blush. I cannot recall a time when at least a native wasn’t a guest at the pub when I was there! The foods are divine – and even if you don’t wish to try new tastes, you’ll surely find something a bit more Hungarian that is perfect for your palate. Even with a full house they still don’t make you wait any longer than any other restaurant. The food is prepared on the spot and always hot when reaches one’s table. Of course, one may object to the price of these meals, but ethnic food is quite hard to come by, even for restaurants.

Aside from their huge variety in beer and whiskeys, they also serve ciders, wine and of course cocktails. Although these can be quite pricey, you’ll be happy to hear that this is one of the places that serve Guinness the cheapest in the capital (only 480 HUF/half a pint!). 

This pub is recommended for both fanatics of the great British culture, as well as English majors who keep hearing about all these ethnic foods in their classes and would like to try some. It is also a great study spot, as it is very quiet in the afternoon, yet packed almost every night. 

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1066 Bp, Mozsár Utca 9 – Tel: (1) 311 7611 – www.kaledonia.hu