What are the best pubs and clubs in London right now?
Sep 18, 2008, 7:55 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2006
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This place (Sunday only) is not for the faint of heart but it's fun and unpretentious. The cabaret bit is a giggle if you haven't seen it before, but afterwards: human carnage. The Royal Vauxhall Tavern hosts Duckie on Saturday nights: highly recommended. Like a somewhat leftfield, trendy school disco, with outre cabaret/performance art at 11pm. The Duckie collective are funded in part by the Arts Council i believe. They have theme nights e.g "Gays knitting circle night" or "David Cameron is an idiot night". It sounds pretentious, but it isn't at all.
Down the road there is also Horse Meat Disco @ The Eagle every Sunday (6pm to 3 am i think): an alternative "tea dance" place to spend time with your mates if you don't have to work on Monday! Attracts everyone from leather guys, bears, muscle circuit boys, drag queens, arty geeks, students, chavs
Sep 18, 2008, 12:56 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2002
Location: seattle, wa.
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Sep 18, 2008, 9:52 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,173
As to the RVT on a Sunday the show is fun once. Get there by 2pm if its nice out to insure entrance and leave for a few hours. Show starts at 5 (sometimes). After, as bazzatel stated it is "Humane carnage". But I have had some of my most interesting evenings there.
rich
Sep 19, 2008, 3:25 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Tip #1 - Arrive early or you may spend the entire show outside in a queue.
Tip #2 - Bring earplugs because it can be loud.
Sep 22, 2008, 8:57 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London EC2A
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And if you want to try a few places away from the epi-centres in Soho and Vauxhall then definitely worth a look are the George and Dragon on Hackney Road followed by the Joiners Arms, also on Hackney Road. Both fun, attracts a mixed crowd, G&D very funky artsy crowd, friendly place and gets rammed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday nights. Joiners Arms is more spit and sawdust but in a good way. Again is friendly, cheesy music and good drinks.
Hackney Road is best reached by going to Old St and walking 10 mins, all zone 1 on the top end of the city. In the area are also ton's of very good mixed but gay friendly bars on Hoxton Square, Shoreditchm, Curtain Road and Great Eastern St. You can't walk more than 30 seconds without finding somewhere different and fun. Some great nights at Bar Music Hall and also at the Hoxton Bar and Grill at the weekends...
Hackney Road is best reached by going to Old St and walking 10 mins, all zone 1 on the top end of the city. In the area are also ton's of very good mixed but gay friendly bars on Hoxton Square, Shoreditchm, Curtain Road and Great Eastern St. You can't walk more than 30 seconds without finding somewhere different and fun. Some great nights at Bar Music Hall and also at the Hoxton Bar and Grill at the weekends...
Sep 22, 2008, 5:57 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
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Good God those G-A-Y people own everything!
Jun 2, 2009, 1:25 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2004
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My current favourite is The Enclave in Soho, more lounge feel, table service, nice crowd, friendly staff. It's on Brewer St a small walk up, definitely worth a try. I still like the Yard but find Village, Rupert's etc good if you want to stand and drink but Enclave is great for a more chilled evening.
Jun 8, 2009, 3:45 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Stockholm, SE
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May I add The Yard on Rupert Street to the list?
It's got a very chilled out and laid-back atmosphere and has the benefit of open air (not always a good thing in London though
).
I'll second The Village. They have go-go dancers on Fridays and Saturdays, and the upstairs part is very, very chilled out. You can actually have a conversation up there.
It's got a very chilled out and laid-back atmosphere and has the benefit of open air (not always a good thing in London though
).I'll second The Village. They have go-go dancers on Fridays and Saturdays, and the upstairs part is very, very chilled out. You can actually have a conversation up there.
Jun 8, 2009, 4:50 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
Yes - the upstairs at the Village is (thankfully
) one of its best-kept secrets. There are quiet a few tables and chairs but make sure you keep an eye out because they do tend to go quickly and people don't let them go for hours.
Jun 13, 2009, 3:25 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Next door to Village is the Duke Of Wellington. I think that it is one of the nicer Soho gay bars. Plus the upstairs again has plenty of tables and chairs. A good view and if you are lucky you might even get a peak of one of the performers in Les Mis across the lane in their dressing room. 