Our reviews are built on a simple principle: honesty over flattery, insight over influence. Whether we are covering a new restaurant in Manchester, a weekend festival in Glasgow, or a late-night bar in Shoreditch, every review reflects the genuine experience of our writers and editors. This policy sets out how we approach reviews, what you can expect from our coverage, and how we handle disclosure.
Independence and Integrity
No review on UrbanMixr.uk is commissioned or influenced by any commercial partner, advertiser, sponsor or venue. Our editorial team makes all decisions about what to review, when to review it and how to score or describe it. We never guarantee positive coverage in exchange for access, payment, advertising or any other consideration. If a review is critical, we publish it. If a reviewer disagrees with a widely held opinion, we stand by that judgement as long as it is evidence-based and fair. Our readers trust us to tell them the truth, and we take that trust seriously.
No Guarantee of Positive Coverage
Venues, restaurants, event organisers and PR agencies should be aware that accepting a press invitation, complimentary meal, ticket or hosted experience does not obligate us to publish a favourable review. We will always disclose any complimentary element (see below) but the editorial conclusion remains entirely at the reviewer’s discretion. We will not remove, edit or soften a review in response to commercial pressure. For more detail on how commercial relationships are managed, please refer to our Sponsored Content Policy and our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
Review Methodology
Every review published on UrbanMixr.uk is based on a first-hand visit or experience by a member of our team or a commissioned contributor. We do not publish reviews sourced from third-party platforms, aggregated user ratings or unverified submissions. Our reviewers are expected to visit anonymously whenever possible, pay for their own meal or ticket when circumstances allow, and take detailed notes on food, service, atmosphere, value and overall experience. When press access or a hosted experience is provided, that is clearly stated in the review.
Press Access and Hosted Experiences
Where a reviewer attends an event, dines at a restaurant or visits a venue as a guest of the organiser or owner, the review will include a standard disclosure line – for example: “UrbanMixr.uk attended this event as a guest of the organisers” or “The reviewer was hosted for this meal”. This disclosure appears prominently in the review, usually near the top or in a footer note. We do not accept payments, gifts or incentives of any kind in exchange for a review. Any material benefit received is purely to facilitate access and does not affect the editorial outcome. Our Editorial Policy outlines the broader separation between editorial and commercial activity.
Disclosure and Transparency
We are committed to clear labelling. In addition to the hosted-experience disclosure mentioned above, all affiliate links within reviews (for example, ticketing, booking or product links that earn us a small commission) are identified with a note such as “Affiliate link” or “We may earn a commission if you book via this link”. Reviews that are part of a commercial partnership – for example, a sponsored city-guide section – are clearly marked as “Sponsored Content” and follow the rules set out in our Sponsored Content Policy. Any advertising or commercial relationship is fully detailed on our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure page.
Corrections and Updates
Reviews reflect a specific point in time. Menus change, chefs move, venues close, and festivals evolve. If we are made aware of a significant factual error or if a venue requests an update following a change of ownership or management, we will review the piece and update it with an editor’s note. Corrections are handled according to our Editorial Policy and our separate Corrections Policy. Readers may contact the reviews team directly at any time using the email below.
Contacting the Reviews Team
If you are a venue, PR representative or reader with a question about a specific review, a request for a review visit, or a complaint about accuracy, please email reviews@urbanmixr.uk. For general editorial enquiries, use editorial@urbanmixr.uk. For factual or ethical concerns, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Eleni Georgiou can be reached at eleni.georgiou@urbanmixr.uk. We aim to acknowledge all substantive emails within five working days.
Our Team and Editorial Standards
All reviews are overseen by our Editor-in-Chief, Andreas Nicolaou, and coordinated by our UK Managing Editor, Emily Ward. Specific review assignments are handled by our Culture & Events Editor Sophie Larkin (arts, theatre, festivals), Food & Lifestyle Editor Daniel Mercer (restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels), and Music & Nightlife Correspondent Charlotte Hayes (live music, clubs, concerts). You can read full biographies and contact details on our Our Team page. For a comprehensive overview of how we source, fact-check and maintain editorial quality, see our Editorial Policy and our Sources & Standards page.