CAMDEN 5 : Predicable pub and other London, United Kingdom Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: The World's end

In a prime location (opposite Camden Town tube station) the 'World's End' pub is one of the more well-recognised watering holes of the capital.

There is a sign inside which asks if this is the biggest pub the country ? (a doubtful claim), but this pub is deceptively large as it has a number of different areas to wander through and meet people. Most of them have a kind of 'Fake Victoriana' feel to them with old advertising boards, and glass and wood everywhere. There is also a dodgy nightclub lurking below the pub.

The food and beer are distinctly average and the toilets should have been condemned years ago.

On the plus side it is very easy to find and a good place for meeting friends before moving on elsewhere. Despite the fact that most write-ups I've seen on the place see it as a rather dismal and 'scuzzy' pub, I actually quite like the place - but then again I have a lifetime's experience of inhabiting rather dodgy London boozers.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Er...no
Address: Camden High Street
Directions: opp the tube stop - can't miss it

Nightlife Spot: The Jazz cafe

The Jazz cafe has been run by the 'Mean fiddler' group for over 10 years. They book all kinds of acts from true jazz acts (as the name suggests) through to more soul / funk type stuff.

The website lists all the live acts they have booked, and there are normally at least 4 or 5 sessions a week with a 'named' artist. Some are up and coming acts, some established acts and others who have been knocking around venues for years having been famous 40 years ago. Despite this statement, they do seem to be more willing to book acts that are a bit more 'risky' or 'edgy' than the safe choices that will be made by the more well known clubs in the West end like Ronnie Scott's.

The venue itself has a certain slightly shabby feel to it. The predominant colour seems to be brown, probably from years of tobacco staining. I don't think it was designed that way, but all jazz venues end up looking the same....nice.

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: nah
Address: Parkway, camden town
Directions: less than 100 yards from Camden Road tube
Website: www.meanfiddler.com

Nightlife Spot: Walthamstow Stadium

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 !

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: ! - it's a dog track !!!
Address: Walthamstow Stadium
Website: www.wsgreyhound.co.k

Nightlife Spot: Gordon's wine bar

I never met Gordon, he was a real character so I'm told.

His wine bar lives on in the vaults and former sherry storage cellars under Charing Cross Railway Station. With bottles starting at 10 pounds or so it's a very atmospheric place to start the evening off.

Don't be put off by the exterior - it is much better down the stairs inside. The bar consists of a variety of rooms, all could be described as cosy or intimate, but if you are claustraphobic - forget it.

They also do traditional english-type food.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: 47 Villniers street.
Directions: It's at the side of Charing Cross Station just before Embankment Station

Nightlife Spot: The lamb and Flag

A real traditional pub. You won't find non-smoking areas here, or carpets, or funny foreign food like lasagne or rice either.

Great atmosphere however and sometimes good music. Whenever I went it was always pleasantly full. The history bit is interesting as well - apparently Dickens often got p***ed here and Dryden got his head kicked in.

Few tourists seek the place out - but it is well worth it (Honest!)

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: 33 Rose Street
Directions: Near Covent garden
Website: www.beerintheevening.com

Nightlife Spot: The Museum Tavern

This pub is another heavily traditional one (my favourite kind)

A good range of beers and traditional food.

Apparently Casanova drank here - a spurious claim I think. More plausibly Karl Marx used to drop by at Lunchtime when he was working in the British Museum Reading room on his communist masterpieces.

His visits here may account for the chapters that were dropped from the final version of his opus :

Chapter 34 : "Did you see the Chelsea game last night - absolute rubbish"

Chapter 47 : " Your my bestist mate you are"

Chapter 61 : "Did you spill my pint, you bourgouise prat?"

Chapter 76 : "Does my beard tickle you?"

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: Great Portland Street
Directions: Directly opposite the entrance to the British Museum

Nightlife Spot: Hamilton Hall, Liverpool Street Station

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!

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: Liverpool Street Station
Directions: On the upper level near the Bishopsgate exit
Website: www.jdwetherspoons.co.uk

Nightlife Spot: 100 club

This place is a very 60's/70's retro kind of a joint, but may of the greats have played here - often long after they actually became famous.

It hosts all sorts of music from jazz to big band, swing and rock. What you will definetly get is an audience who know they music and want to get up and dance - no shrinking violets here.

Non-members can usually get in for about 10 pounds unless it is a real big name playing.

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Theme: Live Music
Address: Easy to remember - 100 Oxford street
Directions: On north side of Oxford street between Wardour and Dean Street
Website: www.the100club.co.uk

Nightlife Spot: The Punch Tavern

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.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: 99 Fleet street
Website: www.historiclondonpubs.co.uk

Nightlife Spot: The George Inn

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...

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
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