London Nightlife Tips by sourbugger Top 5 Page for this destination

The Punch Tavern: Whose a naughty boy then ? sausages...

The Punch tavern on Fleet street was re-furbished a while back, and opinions about it's success are dividing the regulars somewhat.

This ancient drinking place still has lots of reference to ''Mr Punch' as in a 'Punch and Judy show' including a guilded statue of him as you enter. If you don't know anything about this wonderful form of Children's entertainment - then find out. (more info in General tips)

The pub also has a number of cartoons on the walls from that other great British institution - Punch magazine. The magazine may have opened an closed a few time over the years, and there is a running joke that it was never that funny - but feel free to judge for yourself.

Address: 99 Fleet street

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Walthamstow Stadium: Going down the dogs ?

For an unusual but authentic night out why not visit the wilds of North London and go Greyhound racing.

The place will cost about six quid (although there are also some free-entry lunchtime meetings) to get in, although you also can buy packages with meals.

There certainly wont be any sort of pretension here and you can really mix with real Londoners enjoying a night out.

If you have never been before the race-card is impossible to understand. A few quid on each race on the tote (a centralised bookmakers with low minimum bets) and you won't lose much in an evening, you may even come out on top!

On the other hand I always seem to select a three legged dog that has been fed on suet pudding for a week before it races.

On the other, other hand if you see an owner buying a jar of mustard before the race in Tesco´s - then back the dog. I´ve heard some owners will rub it on their balls before they run - the dog not the owner that is !

Dress Code: ! - it's a dog track !!!

Address: Walthamstow Stadium

Theme: Other

The Old Vic: I remember Guilgud said to me, luvvie...

The Old Vic is perhaps one of the best known theatres in the world. It has had a somewhat chequered history, being bought, re-sold and renamed a number of times.

In its great 'heyday' when the likes of Oliver, Redgrave and Guilgud strolled on the boards this unsubsidized theatre had enough money in the bank to finance the 'Young Vic' theatre.

Under the recent artistic directorship of Kevin Spacey it has recieved somewhat mixed reviews of late. At least the place puts on 'proper plays' and does not resort to any old tacky musical in the hope of having a production that will fill the coffers and put bums on seats for years at a stretch.

Charles Kingsley described the theatre as 'a licensed pit of darkness, a trap of temptation, profligacy and ruin'. Things are a little smarter these days. The last production I saw there was a farce that starred Joan Collins, Utterly forgetable.

Do look out for the wonderful old photos of famous actors in past production as you try and secure your interval refreshment.

Dress Code: Pretty informal.

Address: Old Vic. Waterloo

Directions: Just south Waterloo station.

Theme: Theater

Website: http://www.oldvictheatre.com

The Fire Station: Fireman Sam Strikes again

I recently came across this rather unusual 'Gastropub' just outside Waterloo Station. 'Gastropub' means that it still mainly a drinking establishment, but the restaurant quality food is a cut above the usual Chilli Con Carne and Steak and Ale pie found in most pubs.

The food seems to get very mixed reviews and the ale is seen as indifferent. On the other hand the place seemed very lively in the evening. The light spacious bar still has several features remaining from it's time as an Edwardian Fire Station and there a good number of outside tables - great for people watching on a warm evening.

Address: 150 Waterloo Road, LONDON, SE1 0PA

Directions: Between Waterloo Statiuon and the Old Vic Theatre

Theme: Eating and Drinking

10 Bells: Ding a ding a ding dong

As any student of the Jack the Ripper murders knows the '10 Bells' opposite Spitalfields market of Fournier street is a place worth visiting.

Seveal of the victims drank in this establishment, and Jack may well have acqainted himself with his 'targets' in this dingy boozer.

The pub itself still has an air of the 'rough and ready to it' with various bits of dodgy wiring and plumbing all over the place. There used to be an information board about the five victims in the place, but that now seems to have gone. A few years ago it was a wine bar that actively discouraged the goulish tourist who was only interested in the pub's history - I guess they didn't buy enough beer. Before that, it returned to it's roots as it gained blacked-out windows and a clientelle more interested in dropping pound coins into a pint pot to pay for the pub's in-house strippers. Tasteful.

Nowadays it has reverted to a 'normal' pub with a fairly prentious crowd enjoying a one-room pub that could only be described as 'designer grunge'.

The tiling on the floor and walls are worth a look, including a somewhat bucolic English countryside scene on the wall. It is unlikely to be original.

Address: Fournier st

Directions: nr Liverpool st station, opp Spitalfields market

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Dirty Dick's: Miss Haversham and Dirty Dick's

Dirty Dicks is not the name of a local sex-shop, but rather an engaging old-man's style pub next to Liverpool street station.

The three level pub is rather dark and stained from the generations of drinkers, many on their way to the train home who have passed through it's door.

The mass of dark wood belies the fact that it has early 19th century roots. It is said that a gentleman called Nathaniel Bentley had the unfortunate experience of his bride-to-be dying the night before his wedding. Rather than starting afresh it is said that he locked up the rooms where the wedding feast was to be held. He never washed or changed his clothes again and let the place go to rack and ruin. When he eventually retired the place was bought 'sold as seen' with its by then gruesome collection of objects including the remains of the Wedding breakfast and several dead cats.

Not one to miss a business opportunity, the new owner used some of the belonging of Nathaniel (where the 'dick' comes from) and the now-stuffed dead cats to form the decoration to his new public house.

That has now, unfortunately, all gone. It is also said that Dickens used the story as the inspiration for his character 'Miss Haversham' in Great Expectations.

To return to the modern day, this friendly pub will derve you an honest pint in a convivial atmosphere - I suggest going for the 'Young's Special' - it slips down a treat.

Address: 202 Bishopgate

Directions: Exit on the Eastern side of Liverpool street

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Dickens inn: Did Dickens drink here ?

Well, asking the barman, if "Has Dickens been in ?" he may well reply with " Dickens has not been in, never had been in, never will be in."

However many of Dicken's quotes are chalked onto the beams, you can't change history.

The building that proudly uses his name to blatently pull the crowds in was originally an 18th century brewery, which was lost for many decades inside a spice warehouse before being re-discovered and re-built in the 1970's

When I first drank there it had sawdust strewn floors and a good range of ales. Some ales have stayed, but these days it's all leather couches, pizza (on the pricey side) and various cafes, and other restaurants. The main bar does however remain a veritable forest of beams, and still with those great views out over St Katherine's docks with it's millionaires' boats to the towers of the city of London.

The Gabled front of four stories with rows and rows of flowerboxes still looks impressive at any time of the year.

Address: St, katherine's dock, nr Tower of London

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.pooloflondon.co.uk

The Knight's Templar: Another impressive Wetherspoons

The beer mafia purists often complain about the giant chain of pubs that is Wetherspoons.

They complain that their pubs lack atmosphere, that the beer is too close to it's sell by date, and it blows the competition out of the water with their low prices.

On the other hand they have spent large amounts of money restoring some impressive buildings around the country that would otherwise stuggle to find a use.

The Knight's templar on Chancery Lane, just behind the central criminal court is a good example. The former bank has been restored with high ceiling & impressive guilded columns. The bar iteslf is I believe an original part of the bank. My wife reports that the downstairs bogs are very spacious and would befit a four-star hotel.

Quite why the theme of the Knight's templar has been picked, I don't honestly know, but standby for various figures in full armour.

The pub is only really busy in the day when it frequented by suited lawyer types from the nearby chambers.

Usual Wetherspoon fare - cheap and cheerful

Address: Chancery Lane

Directions: Just behind the Old Bailey

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.jdwetherspoons.co.uk

The George Inn: Have a pint in Shakespere's old boozer...probably

The George Inn in Southwark is now very firmly on the tourist trail, especially with the development of the South Bank area and inparticular the Globe Theatre.

The Gabled coaching inn, which has been restored by the National Trust has been a boozer since the early 16th Century and still serves up some excellent ales now. I would unwaveringly recommend the 'George Ale' which is specially brewed for the Pub by Adnams in Suffolk, one of our finest English Brewers.

Shakespere is known to have had lodgings nearby, and before the development of theatres it was in courtyards like this that travelling theatre companies performed.

The courtyard is still there, although nowadays it is filled with benches and gas heaters to keep the chill off the tourists enjoying a pint or three.

The place also does traditional food as well.

We can but speculate upon how some plots would have altered if he enjoyed one two many many bevvies in this haunt.

To Beer or not to Beer that is the question...

What is this I see before me....another beer, my good man !

Now is the evening of our content...

Address: 77 Borough High Street Southwark

Directions: From London Bridge Tube stop, Head down Borough High Street, Its down an alley on the right hand side

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Hamilton Hall, Liverpool Street Station: Lady Hamilton I presume ?

It may only be a Wetherspoon's pub, but they have made an excellent job of converting and refurbishing the old ballroom/ banqueting hall of the Great Eastern Hotel.

It's a pity they inserted a balcony, but the decor is delightfully over the top, in a 18th Century French kind of way. It is well worth a look with its' chandaliers, Louis 14th style mirrors and sweeping staircase. And you can enjoy it with a pint in hand!

Address: Liverpool Street Station

Directions: On the upper level near the Bishopsgate exit

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.jdwetherspoons.co.uk