Riverside Rave and Comedy Spot and other London, United Kingdom Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Tattershall Castle

This has to be one of the best locations for a bar and nightclub anywhere in London!

Set on a historic 1934 paddle steamer, this floating nightspot has been entertaining since 1982 and is in a prime location opposite the London Eye and down the river from the Houses of Parliament, so when you arrive at night time you can gaze in awe at two of London's most spectacular landmarks from the decks of the Tattershall Castle - needless to say on a night out I didn't risk bringing my camera with me!

During the day the bars are a pleasant way to pass the time, especially if you're above deck. There are plenty of nautical features around and the place even does a good food menu at excellent prices for the location.

The space inside is larger than you would think and I expect this is because they have completely gutted the ship of everything including the engines, as last time I was there was two decks down and below water level.

There is also a decent sized nightclub that you have to pay to get into after a certain time, also on Monday nights there is a comedy club - London's only floating one! It is always a sell-out and attracts top drawer acts such as Graham Norton, Harry Hill & Al Murray to name a few...

Another side effect of this place is that you're never likely to get too trashed coming here because there is a barely perceptible sway caused by the tides in the river - thus you always have this sense of drinking more than you have! ;-)

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Phone: Tel: (020) 7839 6548
Address: Victoria Embankment, LONDON, SW1A 2HR
Directions: On the Thames Embankment.

MAP

Nearest Tube: Embankment
Website: http://www.thetattershallcastle.co.uk/

Nightlife Spot: The Polish Bar

If you didn't know where this place was, you would never find it in a month of sundays!

This hidden gem of a bar tucked away in a small alley way has around 50 varieties of vodka available for your delectation...

And this is where the real attraction of this place kicks in as these vodkas (wodkas!) can be ordered in shots, or mixed to make deadly vodka 'cocktails' and at around £2 per shot, that's a cheap death!

Vodkas on offer include the Polish Stolly, 'Stolhaya', and an ever stronger array of tamer flavours such as the 'Lancut' Orange and Espresso flavours before progressing onto such things as 'Krupnik', (a honey and spice vodka) and Zhota Woda gold leaf vodka infused with aniseed herbs...

One of the attractions of this bar is the seeming authenticity of the place with genuine Polish bar staff. The decor is subtle and sparse with dim lighting to create a great drinking atmosphere. My favourite feature is probably the airbrushed stencil of a large Polish two-headed eagle on the wall (you might just see it in my picture).

They also have some authentic Polish Cuisine (Polskie Dania) with an emphasis on sauerkraut, smoked meats and beetroots if you're hungry

This place is buzzing in the evenings and you do hear plenty of Polish people drinking here, which helps add to the image of being in a bar in Krakow or Warsaw...

Also open during the day, this bar is just around the corner from the Sir John Soames Museum and close to Dickens' Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. At this time you can stop by and sample the vodka range in peace and quiet.

Na Zdrowie!

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Smart Casual.

A great anecdote I heard about this place goes:

Is this bar Polish? You better believe it! Ask what beer they have, bar maid replies, in a Polish accent "We have Strong Polish beer or not so strong Polish beer" - nice...

Excuse me while I pass out!
Phone: 020 7831 9679
Address: 11 Little Turnstile, London, WC1V 7DX
Directions: Situated behind Holborn down a small alley way and easy to miss.

MAP

Nearest Tube: Holborn