This iconic venue in south west London is conveniently located near the Balham rail and underground stations. There is something happening each night of the week whether it’s a comedy show, a dance class, a concert or club night. You can also chill with a pint or two by the fireplace or soak in the lively atmosphere as you sit by the bar. I discovered the Bedford when I began to learn to dance lindy lop with Swingland. Since then I have been going for different reasons. First, dancing Argentine tango on Thursday and every other Sunday with Tango Fandango. Then there’s the Banana Cabaret comedy club on Friday or Saturday, depending on who’s on the bill. The Shakespearean globe structure provides a stage not only to well-known comedians such as Milton Jones but also for the up-and-coming, too. And last but not the very least, the best tasting (quite possibly) bowl of chips in London. But at times I’m just after the usual pint and a bit of sports on telly (yes, women like watching sports, too!) with friends then the Bedford can be just that as well. Details about this spot (Show on map).jpg)
Image by Charl Asuit
The Bedford | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Pub) | Wine £ 3.00
77 Bedford Hill | South-West | +442086828940
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30
Bars & cafes – All our local tips
Our favorite London local bars, cafes and pubs with and without wireless internet. This is where London locals lounge and go out for a beer, wine, cocktails and other drinks… London insider tips: always up-to-date!
Tip: Download our Broadway Market on a Saturday is a snap shot of what life in Hackney is all about. A true mix of styles and cultures, young and old, traditional and new. It is a microcosm of what living in a truly global city is all about. Broadway Market is not a large street yet the market on Saturdays see this street crammed with life. The weekly stalls attract the crowds, but the shops, the pubs, the restaurants and cafes all join in. It is what I want a weekly market to be. Lively, but offering something for everyone. Go for the shopping, stay for the people watching! The market is primarily a specialist food market where you can get organic meat, fruit and veg alongside fresh fish, cakes, bread, cheese, sausages, the lot – but you can also get vintage clothes, furniture, hand made brooches, bike repairs/spares or hit the shops instead of the stalls and get art books at Artwords, fabulous coffee at Climpsons, all your sewing needs at Our Patterned Hand or a proper East End pie and mash at the historic Cooke’s. The choice really is that varied. Personally, I always make sure I pick up at least one samosa from the Gujarati Rasoi stall as they are simply the best I have ever tasted. But be aware, if you only get one you will have to go back and get another, and at £1 each why not? Details about this spot (Show on map).jpg)
Image by Andrew Sidford
Broadway Market | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Various)
Broadway Market,E8 4PH | East
Sat 09:00 – 17:00
Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to nightlife – and the more unusual the better. Waves of new themed bars emerge all the time; everything from east-end kitsch, pop-ups along the South Bank in the summer serving Indian cocktails and street food, to winter chalet-styled bars with never-ending pots of warming mulled wine. To add to this list, over the last year a few ‘speakeasy’ bars have opened up across the capital, stirring my curiosity as to how these New York 1920′s prohibition bars would translate into London. And to my joy, a visit to the Experimental Cocktail Club in China Town surpassed my expectations. The entrance to the ‘secret’ bar is an unmarked scruffy door next to a Chinese supermarket and guarded by two casually dressed door staff with a clipboard. I was glad I had the foresight to book a table – as even on Wednesday night the place was nearing full with a diverse, but unpretentious mix of the cool, arty and unique. The dimly-lit bar is split on two floors and has a New York loft/Parisian feel to it. The cocktails, as expected, do exactly as the bar’s name implies – unusual and mixed with the finest attention to detail by the knowledgeable and professional bar staff. While it doesn’t quite transport you back to the 1920′s, the vibe and the music makes you feel like you’ve stumbled across a fabulous little gem in the midst of a sometimes overly commercial central London bar scene. Details about this spot (Show on map).jpg)
Image by Deanna Romano
Experimental Cocktail Club | Bars | Cocktail £ 10.00
13A Gerrard Street, W1D 5PS | Central
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 03:00, Sun 18:00 – 00:00
The Sun Inn is my local so if you do decide to go there, you’ll probably find me in a corner. It doesn’t look much from the outside and Bethnal Green Road isn’t the most affluent street in London, but don’t let that put you off. Inside there’s a warm greeting from the trendy bar staff and a small selection of candle-lit tables. I usually rush to the back where there’s a comfy sofa – or try and grab the big table, also at the back, if I’m with a bigger group of friends. It gets super busy on Friday and Saturday evenings, and if all the tables are taken there isn’t much standing room (unless you stand outside, which isn’t advisable when it’s freezing!) The pub offers a minimal selection of snacks, which could do with a bit of work. I don’t often eat there but if I do, the antipasti selection is good as an appetiser, and daily hotpots are a treat. They do have a great rotating selection of ales, though. Midweek it’s my favourite place to catch up with friends and enjoy a (fairly) quiet drink. The staff come to your table to replenish the drinks, too – even at weekends. The music is usually a mix of soul and funk, at a volume that accommodates chat. The only problem with this place, I find, is that it’s so hard to leave! Details about this spot (Show on map).jpg)
Image by Matt Bramford
The Sun Inn | Bars, Snacks | A pint £ 3.90
441 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AN | East | +442077290429
Mon – Wed & Sun 12:00 – 00:00, Thu – Sat 12:00 – 01:00
When I first stepped into Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, I thought I’d stepped back in time. For anybody who is a fan of the fabulous fifties, you must check this out. Located in the basement of the Tavistock Hotel, this London gem boasts 1950s bowling, a cinema, a cocktail bar and a diner. The decor is near-perfect with well-sourced furniture and wall decorations. It can get pretty busy on club nights, but they’re brilliant and you probably won’t notice. I’ve spent plenty of afternoons here that roll on to late nights. Bowling is open all day and night, so best to do that in the afternoon before the crowds arrive. The burgers are incredible but arrive with an empty stomach because the portions are huge – I tend to order the Strike Burger with bacon and cheese, and then regret it when it arrives, but still manage to polish it off. The cocktails are good and not too expensive, but a G&T usually does it for me. A range of club nights feature, particularly retro-themed evenings with music from the 1950s onwards. The venue also hosts regular events at weekends, including vintage fairs and shopping events, where I’ve been known to bag a bargain on more than one occasion… Details about this spot (Show on map).jpg)
Image by Matt Bramford
Bloomsbury Bowling | Bars | Bowling +/- £ 10
Bedford Way WC1H 9EU | Central | +442071831979
Mon – Thu 13:00 – 02:00, Fri 13:00 – 03:00, Sat 12:00 – 03:00, Sun 13:00 – 00:00
