Fantastic atmosphere and some really good notes for an American werewolf in London. I shall return…read moreon my future travels.

We went to the blues jam tonight. The music was very good…read more And I had a fun time singing and blowing harp. Friendly staff. Great posters! Sound level was very reasonable. The host managed all the musicians and traffic very well. Good players and singers. Howard Blu Maryland,

Genuine people for a happy time…read more This is a difficult place to find on google maps at it is placed on the street. If you are too eager as I was to arrive early i.e. before 6pm, there is no sign to guide you. I was walking around until a local Chinese takeaway clarified where they were. After some stressed out walking I found it just in time for the doors to open. I entered and walked down some dark stairs to room filled with a large screen, lots of old TV prop relics, Black and white TVs and a well stocked bar. As a nerd this was cool! The bartender greeted me warmly and introduced himself as Nat. I told him about my situation and about the a**hole friend who had left me hanging when I couldn't find this place. He was sympathetic and offered me the happy hour deal of either two bottles of beer, Tsing Tao, or one of the cocktails. It had to be beer, I was on a diet of sorts. As more guests arrived, including my a**hole friend, Nat greeted them as warmly as he had to me. I was feeling comfortable and decided to get a cocktail. It was a version of a Pimms with prosecco and more fruits. Nat knew how to mix his cocktails. The owner, a guy with a toy samurai sword on his hip, talked with us about the Japanese Spiderman and put it on the big screen for us. Brilliant! I loved it here and will be coming back soon. Brilliant atmosphere and people!

An absolute must-see destination dive bar in the Holburn area of London. My 21 and 24 y.o. came out…read morewith my husband and I on a Saturday night. This bar is fantastic! The owner Slash is the real deal and has created a Kung-Fu classic theme with fabulous music and cocktails to die for. He spent alot of time talking to and entertaining us as visitors who may or may not ever get to return. We spent our entire evening socializing/watching classic movies/sampling everything he poured for us. It was a terrific time and worth seeking out. If I lived in London, not only would I be a regular but I'd rent it out for private parties as well...but only if Slash is behind the bar!!

The Vibe: The atmosphere is a perfect blend of modern and…read morecozy. The lighting is warm, and the background music is subtle enough to allow for easy conversation--ideal for a quiet dinner. The Food: I ordered the [Dish Name, e.g., Grilled Sea Bass]. It was cooked to perfection--moist on the inside with a crisp skin. The flavors were balanced, though the portion size was a bit smaller than expected for the price. The Service: The staff was attentive without being intrusive. You can tell they take pride in their work, which gives the place an authentic feel rather than a corporate, "robotic" vibe.

Really cool pub with lots of history. Bar staff was very friendly and explained lots about the pub.read more

Nested at the top of a rather sinister looking stairwell near Dalston overground, Efes pool hall is…read morea great place to, well, play pool. There's no crowding around the pub table waving an optimistic pound coin at the pool hogs here, At Efes, there are enough tables for everyone, a bar with a reasonable selection of beers and spirits, plus a huge TV playing music videos and a few game machines too. If you like pool it's quite possible to lose a whole morning, afternoon or evening in this place and because it's relatively hidden on the second floor, a bit dark and dingy and supposed to be some sort of members club it's quite fun to hide out there and pretend to be a gangster, if you like that sort of thing. the official closing time is 12am but if you ask very nicely, they may let you stay a little longer.

Great spot. I had this bookmarked because I was researching dive bars, and when I was in Dalston…read moreover the weekend, got a chance to check it out. Entry: This is my only grievance with the place. We got in fine (no cover or anything), but there was a group of 4 guys ahead of us denied entry. Apparently they have a policy not to allow groups of four or more males. One of the four was understandably in disbelief, and the bouncer actually pointed to a sign on the door where they had this written down. Clearly it's a policy to give the bouncers flexibility to prevent access to groups that seem like they might cause trouble but: a) the place is super divey so it's a bit ridiculous that they have strict entry policies b) the group in question seemed quite well-behaved c) it's blatant sexual discrimination d) it's theoretically a pool hall ffs, without gender stereotyping myself, I feel confident in suggesting that generally speaking, more males play pool on a regular basis than females. Basically, weird entry policies and the bouncers are dicks. Location: Lots of fun! So so trashy in the best way possible. Huge projector which had MTV on mute the whole night. Music selection was mostly poppy/rnb. Clearly felt like the manager's playlist without much more thought beyond that. This was reinforced by a bit when there was a few minutes without music. Cash only bar, but well-stocked, and decently priced. (No PBRs sadly but you can't have everything) Music was at a good volume, notable but you could comfortably have a conversation. Some people were dancing at the area at the front (by the screen). Some playing pool. Lots more just hanging out chilling (there's also a seating area at the back. Just a really fun vibe. Notes: When we entered around 0030 I thought the crowd was at quite a good level. Fairly full but loads of space to walk about. Amazingly, it stayed constant pretty much the whole time we were there (till 3). I also felt it was a great crowd generally (friendly, no one was out of hand, another review mentioned this place is full of doucebags, but I'd say that only applies to the bouncers and not even remotely to the crowd)

What was I supposed to think when I was repeatedly given warning about what The Odd One Out was…read moregoing to be like? I was clearly instructed not to dress up for this place and not to expect much. So I didn't. When you walk in to TOOO it's as if you're stepping back in time and right away I recognised the wallpaper as being the exact same that my Grandfather has at home in NY from the 1960's, so I automatically felt comfortable. I laughed actually. Look around and it's as if not a single thing has been moved since it was put up there for the first time, whether it be pictures, the wood in the fireplace or the old man at the bar. You can nestle up next to one of the fireplaces, which you'll need to on a snowy winter night like when we were there. Get yourself your pints, or as I prefer, the spectacular cider from one of the barrels lined up on the bar. We're talking 7% alcho content people! On cider! Get some crisps for you and your mates and sit back talking about how old and great this pub is. In a town that is hailed as "the oldest recorded town in England" and hosts meeting for the Colchester Historical Enactment Society you surely can't go wrong. A place like this made me feel right at home like my own American dive bar, but in the States we don't have such grand cider served from wooden barrels or a lovely old fella giving out warm Christmas mince pies with joy. This place is top notch. Here are a few vital tips to help you survive a pub that could easily knock you on your arse whether it be by the cider, the step you drunkenly miss, the old man or the bar keep... 1. Don't you dare answer your cell phone here. This is a rule I LOVE like no other. Seriously, watch even pulling it out of your pocket if you know what's good for you. 2. Don't be surprised if you think someone's talking to you and they're not or if they're talking to you and you don't realise. There's no music to get in the way of a conversation, but all that quiet makes it sometimes confusing. 3. Good luck in the ladies room. You could really freeze your butt to the toilet if you're not careful. 4. And, if you're lucky enough to pull while in TOOO, feel confident in knowing that the condom machine is fully stocked. P.S. please don't start coming here and making it THE cool spot in Colchester. I want to find a seat when I return next Christmas, preferably by the fireplace.

The Odd One Out or Oddy as the regulars like to call it, is a cosy pub not far from Colchester…read moreTown-station. Its decoration and the crackling fire make you feel like coming home instead of entering just an ordinary place to have a drink or two. The Oddy is most famous for its delicious ciders from the region and got most recently awarded as the East Anglian Regional Cider Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale, but you also get a nice range of Scotch and of course ale here. The crowd is mixed from young to old and always friendly just like owner John Parrick, who has a few rules, though, like no swearing and no usage of mobile phones inside the pub. But once you tried one of the aforementioned ciders you want to enjoy it with no disturbance from the outside world anyway. And on top of all that the prices are low and to quote a good friend of mine This is one of the few places where you still get a pint when you order a pint.

This is a really cool place that I've been to twice now. There is a real mix of people that come…read morehere and that always makes for an interesting night. The music is varied too and the place is very funky! Both times I have been really offered a fun night out so I'd recommend this place for a relaxed, good night out!

Great venue -Real mixture of people of all ages and styles, the venue has different music in each…read moreof the different areas from drum and base in the basement to reggae and ska in the main room upstairs area. This is a pretty deceptive place it looks quite small from the front but is actually quite large once you get inside. Also has a large terrace are at the back which also has a couple of bars. Serves the usual mix of drinks and spirits.

A speakeasy so secret, even the people working across the street didn't know it was there. I won't…read morespoil any secrets on how to get in... but it was definitely one of the main highlights of our week-long stay in London! The staff were incredibly friendly, the drinks were AMAZING and so creative (one of my drinks came in a tiny coffee pot), and the atmosphere was very fun.

What a fun and memorable night! We had an "appointment with the Mayor" and the whole speakeasy…read moreexperience was such a blast. Our server was incredibly kind and attentive, and even brought us a glass of champagne to celebrate our anniversary, which made the night feel extra special. We also ordered the cheese plate and it exceeded our expectations. If you go, do not skip the "Wild Thing" cocktail--it was absolutely amazing!

Dropped in on my last night in London hoping to hangout with some metalheads…read more What do I get? A bunch of bitch ass posers wanting to play Red Hot Chili Peppers!!! If you actually fucking pay to play Sweet Child Of Mine, or any fucking shitty ass Red Hot Chili Peppers song on the juke box, you deserve to be hung with rusty fucking barbed wire and bitch slapped like a pinata with real Gibson Explorers and Flying V's. HAIL SATAN!!! \m/666\m/

Long have I pontificated about the mighty Solid Rock Cafe in Glasgow, the undisputed king of the…read morerock pub north of the border. It's pushed hard for it's title by The Black Rose and Black Bull, both in Edinburgh. The Crobar, however, is my undisputed king of the south. I absolutely, positively, unequivocally LOVED this bar. The jukebox is awesome - custom built compilations of songs by group or genre. I heard everything from UFO to Nine Inch Nails while I was there. The drinks are pretty cheap for a central London bar... as in I didn't do a double take when I was charged. The decor is astounding! 2000AD pages adorn the walls, mixed in with other comic pages from the 80s and 90s... it's amazing. The bar doesn't have any draft beers, but does have an amazing range of bottles and spirits. The punters were all readily accepting of someone that clearly wasn't a regular, and there was a fair bit of banter and laughter between everyone, whether they knew you or not. The staff couldn't have been more helpful, even being quite clear that the beers they'd just put in the fridge weren't cold so they were selling them under protest! I was there a lot of the night, and can't say enough positive, happy, good things about them, or the place as whole. Even entertainment was provided by a small dog that was quite the thief, swiping half a vodka and coke while it's owner was distracted. Not sure that happens every night though... Seriously though... if you like your music a little loud, your decor a little wild, and you time to be filled in a pleasant environment, then for me, this is THE place to visit. It's on my list of must visit places for London now. Go. You deserve it.

Awwww SNAP! Mama…read moreloves a dive bar, and Slim Jims Liquor Store is the best I've found here in London. Just the right amount of Los Angeles tack complied with minimal light and endless shelves of liquor. Plywood booths: check. Red vinyl bar stools: check. Buzzing glow of neon: check. Lots and lots and lots of whiskey: check. Juke Box: check. But the kicker? Two mounted boar heads "smoking" cigs and wearing sunglasses. Slim Jims is keepin' it classy like no other. And I can certainly appreciate that.

Boobies! Okay,…read morewell... not really. I mean... yes, really. Right, there -were- a lot of boobies here, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm referring to the massive amounts of over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders that are strung up all across the ceiling at Slim Jim's. Oodles of them. All colours and shapes and sizes, you name it, it's there. Who doesn't appreciate a bit of brazier action? Between the three of four pints of pub-crawling beer I'd had before we landed at Slim Jim's, I was already feeling pretty good. One of their vaunted whiskey sours later and I was about done for the night. You know yellow people and alcohol, they don't tend to mix well. Friday night will find this joint rammed with folk. If they picked the correct tunes, I have a feeling it could be a right dance party in here. Don't expect to have much of a conversation over the blare of the sound system, but do expect to toss back a generous stiff drink or two. Then mosey your way down Upper Street for some late-night nosh. Slim Jim's has it going on; if I wore a bra, I could see shimmying out of it and hanging it up on their ceiling after a good night out, as well.

What a dope little minimalist bar! Vibes are immaculate. Tiny little nooks and crannies to hide in…read moreand talk about all the things, not too dark and not too bright― juuuust right. My friends reserved in advance and we got to see them spin music for a few hours. The house endured our twerkng and loud antics (sorry to the other guests who were hoping for a quiet atmosphere that night), and the cherry negroni came highly recommended. I would definitely come back and hang out again. Give it a visit if you're in Hackney Central!

My first impression was so-so... Came here last friday night…read moreafter eating in, to enjoy a few cocktails. This place is literally behind a wall and down the stairs, just find the "Bar" sign. Kind of like that secret/word-of-mouth feeling around it. Unfortunately couldn't find anywhere to sit but at the bar. The place looks well...still "under construction" which I get might be the entire point of the pop-up. In any case, those very uncomfortable wooden stools made me think about how important comfortable seats can be. Wasn't completely blown away but the cocktails either :( Need to give it another shot.