london bars

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

a visiting american colleague just asked me what bars to go to 'to experience the real london'. he's not really the fetishising red bus and phonebox sort and i've resisted the temptation to send him to all bar one in leicester square. where should he go?

― barbarian bars (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

The Foundry is a cool BAR in the Hoxton/Shoreditch area.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

The Foundry is A PUB. Face it.

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

Tomato tomato.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

as i said on another thread, the foundry, whilst being a pleasingly eccentric PUB, is far too COLD

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

by Bars he probably meant any kind of drinking establishment because 'pub' sounds really gay in an american accent!

i dunno what's a good london pub though - erm... London Pub by russell square?

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

China White.

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

OnAnon

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

Tiger Tiger!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

Does he like high-class prostitutes?

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

fucking old street.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

London :(

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

The Met Pub

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

10 Downing Street!!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Waxy O'Somethings

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Smersh

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

Stingray

Playschool

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

oh yeah and i hear there are some high quality bars inside PENTONVILLE PRISON!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

Marshmallow Triptych

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

The Case Is Altered, in Bushey.

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

The Moon Under Water in Colindale.

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

http://img01.beerintheevening.com/88/88b988a8f80febfaebb16049575ca9e9.jpg

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

The Man On The Moon on chalk farm road

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

xxxpost he's already done tiger tiger and pronouned it 'kinda lame'.

i'm not sure whether he would like high class prostitutes.

he is a fan of nyc's trendy meatpacking district, apparently, so i imagine he will like old st...

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

What to make of this sprawling venue combining chic London street style with eccentric country manor glamour? A four-floor member’s club, bar and restaurant set in a beautiful old West End building, the interiors by fashion designer Russell Sage say everything about its stylish weirdness: the café and restaurant on the ground floor resembles a hardware store with shelves packed with light bulbs, Marmite and Coleman’s mustard and clothing, while an upper floor trophy room is packed with stag horns, stuffed animals and oil paintings. Food is high-end European cuisine from a former chef at Marco Pierre White’s private club Drone, and the upper-floor bar menu created by Jasper Tay, formerly of Milk & Honey, specialises in classic cocktails with twists, including tributes to the world’s leading modern-day mixologists. Try the Fitzgerald, a Tom Collins with Bitters; and the Old Cuban - Mojito with champagne. The first and second floors are for members, there’s a ballroom-like dance floor, and romantics among you will enjoy the warm glow from the lamps and candles in the private dining space. Marvellous!

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

Oooh, The Bunch Of Grapes on Knightsbridge!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

The Man On The Moon on chalk farm road is the worst. pub. ever.

he's not so much of a dick that i'll send him to a wetherspoons.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

he is a fan of nyc's trendy meatpacking district, apparently, so i imagine he will like old st...

omg yes! it'll be his home from home.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

Hush is a 70’s styled lounge bar (satin/velour/greens/browns) with an eye for the ladies. That lunch. Situated but a credit-card’s throw from Versace, take the weight off your Manolo’s and have a fortifying Fashionista inspired cocktail from a 40 strong list. Relax as you muster your strength for an afternoon’s commando raid on Knightsbridge or just simply look like you are. Bags are the new jewellery, you know…

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

if you want to 'experience real london', don't go to east london, it's full of people trying to do same. go to fucking harlesdon or something.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

if he catches the wetherspoons on a curry club night i think he'd really love it

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

I am drawing a map of Hendon right now.

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

if you want to 'experience real london', don't go to east london, it's full of people trying to do same. go to fucking harlesdon or something.

but surely 'the real london' IS loads of tourists, trying to 'discover it'. It's a self perpetuating experience.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

aha. 43 south molton. mebbe he can go there. he's rich and nominally creative.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:16 (twenty years ago)

This is my local London BAR:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/Qlki4Lgi-kTPX4LhPtT1qw

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:16 (twenty years ago)

I suppose 'real London' = pubs though, it's true. Pubs popular with many London ILE people include The Swimmer (at The Graften Arms) in Holloway, The Lord Clyde in Borough, The Lord John Russell in Bloomsbury, The Champion in Fitzrovia, The Blue Posts (Newman Street) in Fitzrovia, The Old Red Lion Theatre pub in Angel, The Lamb in Holborn and The Glasshouse Stores in Soho.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

dude 'London ILE' != 'real London'

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

And the Foundry, which is also a pub.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

although i do recommend the Lord John Russell if he wants to experience real London barmaids

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

"if you want to 'experience real london', don't go to east london,"

Not quite true: east London is more than just hoxton and shoreditch after all. There's some fantastically "real" boozers in Tower Hamlets, Stratford, West Ham et al, though they might not take too kindly to a trend-spotting yank in their midst.

And then there's Yates's in Lewisham...

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

"if you want to 'experience real london', don't go to east london,"
Not quite true: east London is more than just hoxton and shoreditch after all. There's some fantastically "real" boozers in Tower Hamlets, Stratford, West Ham et al, though they might not take too kindly to a trend-spotting yank in their midst.
And then there's Yates's in Lewisham...

-- Hello Sunshine (fiver_the_bunn...)

tower hamlets is full of city boys!

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

stratford is full of grime bloggers!

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

If only The Flying Scud was still open.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

shoreditch isn't even east london! it's like just outside the congestion charge zone.. that's like calling Euston 'north london'!!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

ground cava bar in ravey st (next door to smersh) is excellent (though tiny). if your friend hangs out in the current meatpacking district (and i'm not talking about hogs & heifers), then i'm assuming money isn't a huge issue so how about loungelover?

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

Send him down the Nailgun Arms.

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

'but surely 'the real london' IS loads of tourists, trying to 'discover it'. It's a self perpetuating experience. '

otm.

it's meaningless saying somewhere's more real because it's boring. if i wanted boring i'd send him to watford or milton keynes.

anyway, he's a bit of a try-hard so he'll like somewhere he can see lots of other try-hards trying hard.

mebbe this thread should have been titled 'nominate your favourite london pubs and bars'. go on. do it. both pubs and bars allowed and no quibbling over nomenclature please.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

loungelover good idea.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

Come on! Try telling my mum that Watford's boring.

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

i think the trouble is that most of our favourite bars/pubs are probably just kind of nice places to spend a lot of time in, rather than 'exciting places' that have like loads of cool things that you want to go to once (and perhaps never again but doesn't matter)

especially pubs because most of the time the company is the best thing about a pub.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

how about some of those Ye Olde Pubbe places that are like from medieval times (do we have those in london?)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

south london's so bad for nice friendly pubs to spend hours in that i've just come over all nostalgic.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

oooh Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese?

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

most of the time the company is the best thing about a pub"

Hence places like this:

http://www.fancyapint.com/main_site/thepubs/pub2051.html

are great for letting an afternoon drift by in because everyone's so friendly and the bar staff know what everyone in E11 wants to drink without having to ask. It won't be cropping up in Time Out any time soon, though.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

My mate was just on the phone for 20 minutes telling me about all the strange local pubs in Streatham.

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

It only took 20 minutes?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Apparently there are more Wiccans in Streatham than anywhere else in the country. On full moons, they run about the Rookery in robes. I suspect he may be making that up, though.

He tried to tell me that the White Lion (or whatever the pub at the top of my street is called) is the oldest pub in London, as it had been a pub since the 8th Century or something, to which I cried "ha ha! but at that time, Streatham was still in Surrey!"

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

Fancyapint says it all:

Nearly three years ago we found the White Lion 'quite possibly the most unpleasant pub I have ever experienced'. So does a clamber up to mediocre-plus offer us a contender for most improved pub? It's a smallish single room bar with a flagstoned floor, a mix of honourably battered wooden benches, chairs and tables and potentially inviting - if equally ancient - settees. A big screen shows day time racing and Sky football and the pool table is in good nick. The advertised Abbot was off, so once again it was that universal fall back of John Smith's smooth. Does anyone ever demand that as first choice? The smattering of modern-art-style portraits around the walls (presumably by some untalented friend of the manager) provide an incongruous distraction. Streatham High Road has the objective distinction of being the longest High Road in Europe, and the subjective one - from Radio 4 'Today' listeners' vote of being the worst High Road in the UK. There are worse pubs in Streatham.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:37 (twenty years ago)

It's a horrible pub. I'm much more interested in the one that's kitty corner from my new flat, but I'm not posting that in case the stalkers find it. ;-)

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Ahem. MONTAGUE ARMS to thread!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

how about some of those Ye Olde Pubbe places that are like from medieval times (do we have those in london?)

These are for tourists! You want manky reddish-brown places with carpet on the walls and a threadbare pool table and menacing blokes with no teeth and a comatose whore in the corner. Or nice shiny places with overpriced beer, inadequate lighting and utterly superficial beautiful people.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

i'd totally take someone to The Holloway for a pint!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

Tottenham Swan

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

Lounge Lover is a beautiful bar, but somewhat (ie very, even by London standards) expensive.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

black lion, kilburn high road. lovely.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

if he's never been to London before he may actually like soho, though it seems no one here would consider it

I have never met an american who wasn't impressed with the French House in Dean street and i's Francis Bacon history etc even though it's called the french house and it only serves half-pints and any Londoner who's been there is horrified by this

same with that tiny downstairs unnamed bar # 96?? Greek St. he'll love that it seems so secret

and the Hanway St bars, though how any of this is "real Londn" is obv. questionable... and the pub on St Giles

― Thea (Thea), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

I used to like Soho far more, but I'm still mourning the death of the Doghouse.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

Oh my lord, the Doghouse's chocolate coctails. Their happy hours were the death of me.

― Kate Classic (kate), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

dean street's got a lovely boozer up the top end...can't remember what it's called though. er...crown and two chairmen? that's nice, in soho terms.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

We took some Danish visitors to the Princess Louise and they loved it. Best to go later on in the evening, when people have had a few, better atmosphere.

― Vicky (Vicky), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Is the Doghouse dead, then? When did that happen? I can't remember how many nights I can't remember spending in its tie-free alcoves...

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

Died a few years ago and was renamed Suga Suga (vomit). I loved that place, it was my default central London bar.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

Progress sux.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

So does Suga Suga.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

I've never been, but any venue that has a review like this on View London must be worth avoiding.

And that's before we even get to the "cool and casual" dress code.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

"Damn them! Damn them all!"

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

OK, that was supposed to be posted on the "old movies" thread...

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 13 December 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

the prince george on parkholme road in hackney.

and the pub on St Giles

the angel! this is lovely. and it's the place they used to take condemned men for their last drink before being hanged at tyburn.

hanway st gets a vote from me too.

― emsk ( emsk), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

The Angel is about a mile and a half from Tyburn, surely. Did they stop for a piss on the way?

― snotty moore, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 01:47 (twenty years ago)

the angel on st giles? not a mile and a half, surely! the angel in angel, very probably. i assume there were jeering/cheering crowds lining the streets, either way.

― emsk ( emsk), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 01:50 (twenty years ago)

It's about a mile and a half from st giles to Marble Arch.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 07:27 (twenty years ago)

the angel! this is lovely. and it's the place they used to take condemned men for their last drink before being hanged at tyburn.

now that's good factin'! but what/where is tyburn?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 07:51 (twenty years ago)

tyburn gallows were where marble arch is now.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 08:36 (twenty years ago)

Where was the that place we saw Blur? That was OK.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 08:52 (twenty years ago)

Despite seeing Blur there?

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

It's about a mile and a half from st giles to Marble Arch.

is it?? blimey. i have no conception of distance, apparently.

― emsk ( emsk), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

I also mourn the loss of the Doghouse. Honey vodka, mmmmm. I had my stag night there when it was in transition, it was still called The Doghouse but had been taken over by the Suga Suga people. Obv I was too drunk to care about that at the time, but I haven't been back since. And not because I was barred or anything! I didn't pass out in my own vomit until I'd left the bar.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

No that was Freud, Alba, which is worth a mention despite being stuck in 1992.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

The Enterprise in Chalk Farm is a good solid boozer.

The Dove in Broadway Market is great. A boggling selection of Belgian beers and they do the meanest bangers and mash. Only downer is the bar-staff, who are so rude, it's almost funny.

― Mestema (davidcorp), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

I really need to check The Dove out.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

I had Sunday lunch at the Dove a few months ago for the first time in years and the guy waiting on our table was the nicest person you could imagine. Mind you, when we came to pay, he'd disappeared and the people at the bar weren't that helpful, it's true.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

The Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street is the best pub in London. The Uxbridge Arms is good too if the Churchill gets too busy (which it always is).

― James Ward (jamesmichaelward), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

Haha yes, the Montague Arms for some NOIZE, the dancing granny, the only non Sam Smiths pub I've found yet which still serves Ayingerbrau in the Fat Man box, the strange taxidermy accessories etc etc hooray! Queens Road Peckham big up, yourself.

There are no good pubs anywhere in WEST LONDON James Ward yes, you heard me.

― Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

i need to find new london drinking spots. i don't think i like any of them any more

― sfx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

Start one of your own.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

not a good idea. i'd become a roaring alcoholic very quickly and would bar pretty much everyone withing a month.

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

what's the latest someone has stayed in a pub or bar in London on a weeknight since the license/hours change? not including places which already closed later than 11.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

i would also want any pub that i owned to be subject to old-style drinking laws and close between 3pm and 6pm

― sfxxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

sfx, you dont like that one off queensbridge rd anymore?

― terry lennox. (gareth), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

it would have a lounge and a saloon bar, would have only one *medium sweet" white wine in stock, would encourage the smoking of hand-rolled cigarettes and the bringing along of dogs, and would not serve women unless accompanied by a man

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

so is it true that london pubs are staying open later? my mother informed me of this news

― POOP BITCH (Mandee), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

yeah, to be fair i do still quite like the gorge. it's just a bit white and middle class for a dalston boozer

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

*george*

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

sounds like the Eclipse ;)

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

i took the guy to the pub on the park in hackney and he seemed to like that. he has also now visited the albert in brixton and likes that. he intends to visit lounge lover this w/e. the french house might also get a visit. thanks for suggestions.

― barbarian cities (jaybob3005), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:52 (twenty years ago)

yeah, to be fair i do still quite like the gorge. it's just a bit white and middle class for a dalston boozer

I like the Prince George. I also used to like the Prince Arthur / Lady Diana before it shut down. I switched to the Prince George after that.

I wish I'd tried the Norfolk Arms (was on the corner of Sandringham Road and Cecilia Road) at least ONCE before they knocked it down. I like the sound of what I've heard of its heyday in the 1970s-80s.

― Oak (small items), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

i used to live opposite the norfolk arms. it was perfectly ok. someone did punch a friend of mine once, but even that was done with the minimum of disruption to other patrons.

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

I've heard that it was a real nest of subversives, trade unionists and good-for-nothing Hackney Council and other public service workers back in the day. A real social hotspot c.1970s-80s, according to what a former regular told me.

― Oak (small items), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

i liked it. it was a bit more real than the george. however, you never got to see nigel out of eastenders, moxey out of auf wiedersehen pet and green from scritti politti all in a line at the bar there.

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

Ah I remember someone mentioned to me about a year ago that they knew someone who lived next door to Green. Not noticed him in there myself. My visits to the PG are fairly infrequent and more in Summer when I prefer to sit outside.

Have you ever been in either the Three Compasses or the Spurstowe Arms? I haven't myself (the Three Compasses looks a bit rough and, although I like the look of the Spurstowe Arms from the outside, it's looked a bit godforsaken whenever I've peered in.. not sure if it's been tarted up recently - you'd think it would be a prime candidate for elevation to quasi-Prince George status around there).

― Oak (small items), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

i've been in both and wouldn't recommend either.
i think the spurstowe enjoyed a period as a homo pub, but it definitely isn't now. i say that coz it's full of george crosses and union jacks now but it still took them a few weeks to scratch the rainbow stickers off the window. i imagine this may have led to some unwelcome confusion.
i only bought a pack of cigarettes in the spurstowe when the shop nextdoor was shut so i'm not sure if that qualifies, but i did go in the compasses for a drink once, just to see what it was like. one female customer ended up chinning another woman before i'd finished my pint!

― sfxxx, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

The George Crosses thing at the Spurstowe makes sense. Just peering in through the front door there was an air of quiet menace about it (and that wasn't based on seeing any flags or insignia).

― Oak (small items), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

who can tell me the name of the pub that i am sure is on john st/doughty st, in clerkenwell? its v near dickins old house, and that is a nice pub, where no one ever goes. i would take someone there for a good london pub.

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

holloway: where the bars at?

― terry lennox. (gareth), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

Holloway is VOID of decent boozers, save The Swimmah, innit?

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

I dunno, the [really attractive] barman in Nambucca gave me free cocktails last night. That, to me, gives it decent boozer status. But I am easily won over by free drinks.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

(and cute barmen, but no matter)

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

I NEVER get free drinks :'(

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

wear less clothing

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

― FiFi (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:59 (twenty years ago)

I would give you drinks Adam!

It was mainly because my friend Claudia and I were almost the only people in there.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

I would give you drinks Adam!

Yes please.

― Klaus Darko (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Surely he should have charged double in such circumstances, in order to maintain a healthy profit margin?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

They were bored and experimenting with making up drinks. We were a grateful focus group.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

Lagerita was it?

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)

dude the three compasses is great! whenever we've been in there we've been made to feel SO welcome, like "shit! wow! thank you for coming in our pub!" welcome (but er not with the desperation that implies on reading it) - my mate didn't have the right change once and was scratting around in her purse for it the barman was immediately all "oh don't worry if you're a bit short, just give us whatever, it's fine". and the regulars are friendly. but no one hassles you. and the drinks are cheap. and there was a lock-in.

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 15 December 2005 01:36 (twenty years ago)

Nambucca is vile. It's like an anti-pub or something.

― RickyT (RickyT), Thursday, 15 December 2005 09:49 (twenty years ago)

the compasses might be better now. this was pre-revamp back in the day when it was a bit grottier than it is now. the most fearsome london pub i've ever been in was that one that used to be in the middle of ridley road market and is now an afro hair accessory place.

― sfx, Thursday, 15 December 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

Nambucca is another barub.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Thursday, 15 December 2005 10:58 (twenty years ago)

let talk about pubs around holloway road. i wonder how many pubs there are along its 1.9 mile length. a pub crawl along there might be interesting, down one side, then up the other on a second trip

the pubs on holloway road seem to fall into two categories, huge pubs with faded red carpets and regulars with no teeth, and 'rat and parrot' style modern pubs. (while many dislike nambucca, i quite like it on occasion).

and, since we are in the area, why not think about seven sisters road as well.

― charltonlido (gareth), Sunday, 18 December 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

the most fearsome london pub i've ever been in was that one that used to be in the middle of ridley road market and is now an afro hair accessory place.

The funny thing is that, in summertime, people still gather across the road from there and drink canned beer wrapped in brown paper bags. They are almost certianly former patrons of the now-closed pub in some cases.

dude the three compasses is great!

Do they have any real ales?

and, since we are in the area, why not think about seven sisters road as well.

I've been in the Twelve Pins once (across the road from Finsbury Park Station). A rather bare and uncomfortable Irish pub. Arsenal fans go there on match days. On the same evening I had arranged to meet someone in the pub on the other side of the road (corner of Blackstock Road). It seemed very rough and unappealing.

I think they are mainly Irish pubs all along there (and quite a few of those on Holloway Road as well).

― Oak (small items), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

two categories, huge pubs with faded red carpets and regulars with no teeth, and 'rat and parrot' style

I hate rat and parrot pubs and avoid them at all costs.

I quite like the former category (these are mostly Irish) but the problem is I much prefer real ales these days and they never have any of those. I don't mind Guinness - in fact for a while I used to drink it all the time - but given a choice I go for somewhere with real ales.

― Oak (small items), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

i saw a full-on hair-pulling, eye-scratching girlfight outside of the twelve pins this summer.

― lauren (laurenp), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

is the the twelve pins the one that used to be the george robey? i went in there once, about 3 years ago, with a girl i randomly met flathunting. i dont remember anything about the pub though

― charltonlido (gareth), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

It's been the 12 Pins as long as I can remember, ie. longer than 3 years.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

i think it was the george robey up until maybe...10 years ago. i dont know, i wasnt in london then, but i think it was a famous music venue

i may be mixing it up with the place that hosted megadog events, that was around finsbury park too, i think

― charltonlido (gareth), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

According to this, The Sir George Robey was at 240 Seven Sisters Road, which became the Powerhaus. The Twelve Pins is No.263.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

ah, ok, i'll probably have a look later this week

i may also have been confusing the george robey with the rocket, (north london university?)

― terry lennox. (gareth), Sunday, 18 December 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

What's that pub on Seven Sisters Road, on the corner of Blackstock Road, or almost on the corner? I remember thinking that always looked very uninviting.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 18 December 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

That's the one I referred to just now - on the opposite side of the road to the Twelve Pins. I can't remember its name but, yes, dingy and unappealing and some of the customers appeared dodgy when I went in (I had arranged to meet someone there).

― Oak (small items), Sunday, 18 December 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

Oh yes, sorry, missed that. Thinking about it, I'm pretty sure the Twelve Pins is the only Seven Sisters Rd pub I've ever been in (and there only once).

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 18 December 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

What london pubs and bars have that summer 08 feeling?

I think this year i'm ready for drinking outside, lets make this a sitting outside and drinking beer time, I think you deserve it, deep down I think you do too

― Hello Everyone!, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:27 (eighteen years ago)

pub on the park (london fields) kind of wipes the floor with the competition afaic

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:33 (eighteen years ago)

what's the competition? some guy on a bike selling red stripe cans?

― blueski, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:36 (eighteen years ago)

i have not sat in a pub garden with a pint so far this year :(

― blueski, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:37 (eighteen years ago)

The Pub on the Park is one of those pubs, like the Trafalgar Tavern, that is too bludy well known for its own good and becomes annoyingly busy whenever the sun comes out.

I would like to know of a few more decent beer gardens in the more central bit of North London. You know, unassuming local, little garden out the back, proper pub tables. Until then, I'm still at the lounging in park/spilling out onto Lamb's Conduit Street stage of summer drinking. Not that I'm complaining.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

i've never been IN the Pub On The Park

― blueski, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:40 (eighteen years ago)

Any pub along the riverside in Richmond is awful nice when the weather's like this...

(x-post... it ain't North at all)

― Savannah Smiles, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:40 (eighteen years ago)

the shakespeare's head, behind sadler's wells!

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:40 (eighteen years ago)

i can't get there til 6:30 though, soz

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:40 (eighteen years ago)

best beer garden in Zone 1, now that is a challenge

― blueski, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:42 (eighteen years ago)

South London: Rose and Crown near Southwark tube has the largest beer garden round those parts. Founders Arms by Tate Modern is not great but it's on the river. The George at London Bridge is not bad - good ales, large outdoor space although no grass in sight. The Anchor at London Bridge have decided that now is the ideal time to renovate, won't be open till June some time.

― ledge, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

I've never been to the beer garden at the Shakey Head, I bet it's ace though, everything else about that pub is.

Also Exmouth Market! Almost all the pubs and bars have tables outside and in this weather they're all about as good as one another. Cafe Kick might win overall though.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

is that the one with "baby foot"?

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:47 (eighteen years ago)

Exmouth Market is good. Shepherd Market, off Piccadilly, is under-frequented. Not in a "not busy" sense, just that no-one I know goes there very often.

― ledge, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

Shepherd Market is lovely, if a bit too full of chartered surveyors on a busy day, very French feel.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

clerkenwell green (although it's hardly a 'green') is a decent size outdoor drinking spot.

but the most central decent actual pub garden i can think of is the edinboro castle in camden

― braveclub, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

The Edinboro Castle is good!

― Hello Everyone!, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

There is a good summer pub crawl to be done going North from Southampton Row I think, all those dark little pubs that spill out onto nice green Bloomsbury squares.

Charlotte Street and the area around it = perfect for summer drinking.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

Has the Canonbury Tavern reopened yet?

― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:13 (eighteen years ago)

i think i'd rather drink around Museum St. - slightly quieter and more outside tables

― blueski, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

no garden exactly, more like an alley, but the lord john russell is a favorite central summer spot

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

Any pub along the riverside in Richmond is awful nice when the weather's like this...

(x-post... it ain't North at all)

it's worth walking for 5 minutes from Richmond along the river (in the Kingston direction) to this German place that does platters of sausages and MASSIVE beers.

― tpp, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:58 (eighteen years ago)

xpost Yeah, but I can't remember, is there still construction blocking the sidewalk there? (LJR)

― G00blar, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:59 (eighteen years ago)

near the hammersmith bridge are some godlike outdoor pub spots

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 16:02 (eighteen years ago)

so is anyone doing this drinking thing?

― Ed, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 16:29 (eighteen years ago)

Not me, not now, not tonight.

― G00blar, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 17:16 (eighteen years ago)

i have to w3rk :/

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

four years pass...

anyone got a suggestion for a place in east london?

― homosexual II, Saturday, 15 September 2012 10:56 (thirteen years ago)

what are you looking for? i messaged ally btw on fb, i've been off work sick the last few days but hoping to pull myself together today.

― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Saturday, 15 September 2012 11:02 (thirteen years ago)

mason & taylor at the top of brick lane? while it still exists and all.

― c sharp major, Saturday, 15 September 2012 11:06 (thirteen years ago)

if cocktails, 'off broadway' on broadway market is meant to be good.

― c sharp major, Saturday, 15 September 2012 11:09 (thirteen years ago)

another good place for cocktails is 'happiness forgets' on hoxton sq

― tpp, Saturday, 15 September 2012 12:16 (thirteen years ago)

i second off broadway

― lex pretend, Saturday, 15 September 2012 12:28 (thirteen years ago)

the mexican food at off broadway is also pretty good

― tpp, Saturday, 15 September 2012 12:55 (thirteen years ago)

we went to mason & taylor
and then pride of spitalfields

was a great time!!

― homosexual II, Sunday, 16 September 2012 11:54 (thirteen years ago)

seven years pass...

nice backstory thread on old-school ilx institution:

It's Friday. I should be boozing but no. Lockdown.

So have a history thread about where I should be.

Let's talk about Bradley's Spanish Bar, London's classiest and oldest (maybe) dive bar, and about how a bunch of old Greek wrestlers helped turn a tiny corner of Soho Spanish. pic.twitter.com/0vEhMHNpyf
— John Bull (@garius) April 17, 2020

― mark s, Saturday, 18 April 2020 14:58 (six years ago)

hey I’ve been there

― El Tomboto, Saturday, 18 April 2020 15:09 (six years ago)

i've been informed by an old-skool ilxor that this is "A spanish bar" but not "THE spanish bar"

(both in hanway street, just doors away from one another)

― mark s, Saturday, 18 April 2020 15:26 (six years ago)

older-skool even than me i mean

― mark s, Saturday, 18 April 2020 15:26 (six years ago)

oh maybe I’ve never been then

― El Tomboto, Saturday, 18 April 2020 16:29 (six years ago)

the relevant whatsapp is now abuzz with distinctions, memories and sightings*, plus the sage claim "different people have different spanish bars, it's a state of mind"

*sightings of the legendary "hairy man", who properly dwells in the true spanish bar (but has been seen in all the others)

― mark s, Saturday, 18 April 2020 16:32 (six years ago)

The ILX Spanish Bar is the less famous of the two and may no longer exist.

― Matt DC, Saturday, 18 April 2020 19:32 (six years ago)

two years pass...

fucking hell

We are opening the biggest bar in the UK tomorrow with a capacity of 1775!

Here is my little behind the scenes tour of the amazing @BrewdogWaterloo pic.twitter.com/wyQg8lbRdP
— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) August 17, 2022

― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 19 August 2022 07:31 (three years ago)

A podcast studio, with glass walls, in a noisy pub!
A slide which a drunk person will be sick on within the week!
Tables with benches indoors like a canteen in a factory!

― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 19 August 2022 07:35 (three years ago)

as an ex waterloo resident I wanted to fond out where it is, the brewdog.com/waterloo link on their twitter feed from all of 12 days ago 404s.

― dear confusion the catastrophe waitress (ledge), Friday, 19 August 2022 07:44 (three years ago)

Unfortunately I have found it - https://www.brewdog.com/uk/bars/uk/brewdog-waterloo

― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Saturday, 20 August 2022 08:39 (three years ago)

three years pass...

Off to the Garden Museum tomorrow. Anywhere good to walk to (for wine)?

― djh, Saturday, 18 April 2026 19:31 (one month ago)

If you're walking back towards waterloo maybe check out lower marsh, it had some good bars when I was there, it's only got trendier since.

― ledge, Sunday, 19 April 2026 09:38 (one month ago)

A shout out for my current favourite pub in London: the Charles I, on a back street a few minutes walk from Kings Cross station. Proper local, with an official “no wankers” policy.

https://kingcharles1st.co.uk/

― mike t-diva, Sunday, 19 April 2026 14:58 (one month ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.