Archives for “Bars” tag

The London Fields Brewery is, as you might expect, a small independent brewery in London Fields. They produce hand-crafted ales in a railway arch, my favourite of which is probably the Hackney Hopster. The beers themselves are well worth recommending, but what separates London Fields Brewery is the fact that they have a Tap Room open at the weekends serving the freshest brews alongside live music!

At the moment the Tap Room is only open on Saturdays and Sundays but they have live music on both nights with the Sunday session being normally live jazz with TJ Johnson and band.

It’s basically a little-known hidden local, with great beers. No bad thing itself, but they also have English wines and local snacks. During the colder months of the year the caterers serve delicious food made with fresh hand-picked ingredients. Last summer that meant The Dead Dolls Club were involved for what they jointly called A Summer Affair. It was good. 

The London Fields Brewery also have special events and one which is certain to be good (and packed) is the London’s Brewing Festival which is happening in May. It is a is a brand new festival from the London Brewers Alliance to celebrate London’s thriving and vibrant brewing scene. The festival will have over 100 beers from some 30+ breweries. 

The Tap Room is just around the corner from the picturesque (and hip) London Fields and is only a stones throw from Broadway Market so I would suggest spending a lovely Saturday in the area.

Bradley’s Spanish Bar is a little (tiny actually) hidden gem just off Oxford Street a million miles away from all the chain pubs in the area. 

First things first, although it says it is a tapas bar on the sign outside, there is no food on offer. The toilets are also ‘an experience’, but these are the things that go to add to the charm of Bradley’s. The Bradley’s experience. It’s a bit tatty. It’s a bit run down. It will be difficult to get a seat. But for all that, it is simply one of the best bars in the area. 

The vinyl-only jukebox is quite rightly regarded as the star of the bar and it definitely attracts an eclectic soundtrack to the night – punk to funk in one difficult step is commonplace. Add in the draught Spanish beers, the decor and the general quirkiness of a place that seems quite out of its time and place and you have a bar that is a real star. So much so, that in the summer the crowd spills outside and the whole street is quickly rammed.

Unique. Eccentric. Tacky. Dirty. Tiny. Unusual. Am I selling it to you? Not sure? But, I love it and if I was going to meet anyone in a bar near Tottenham Court Road this is the one I would suggest, especially if they had never been themselves.

Nobody forgets Bradley’s.

Goodnight, Sweetheart was a popular British sitcom, in which the main character Gary Sparrow accidentally time travelled between 1990s London and the same area during the Blitz. The first time I entered The Duke pub, I felt exactly like Gary Sparrow.

Tucked away on the backstreets of Holborn, The Duke is situated in a glorious Art Deco building. Inside, chic booths for two are available, but I prefer the livelier side with old wooden tables and red decor. Downstairs, a hidden room (if open) sparkles with fairy lights and has the atmosphere to transport you right back to the 1940s. If you’re lucky enough, somebody might jump on the piano and play ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’.

Take no notice of grumpy Londoners on various review sites – the publicans are wonderful and I’ve always had a warm welcome at the Duke. The menu isn’t too shabby either, with traditional dishes served most evenings alongside more experimental offerings. But I don’t go for the food – I go to pretend I’m a time traveller.

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. They do have a great rotating selection of ales and ciders 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!

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 shopping fairs – so check the website before you go!