I went here for a first date and was a little wary when it was suggested as every time I had walked…read morepast it seemed a little 'un-chic'. I have to say though I was proved wrong and on entering from the manic crowds of Piccadilly, it is actually a gorgeous place. The lighting is dim and there is loads of seating - we had no problem at all finding a table on a Saturday evening. The area around the back is the best as it is a little less crowded. The decor is extremely glamorous - lots of velvet, draped curtains and chandeliers - almost tacky but not quite. Jewel is actually quite sophisticated and a great place for a date! The cocktails are brilliant - they make a fantastic cosmo and the bar staff are great fun.

Piccadilly is a no go for me - touristy, no soul and only considered in emergency. Now where would…read moreI go if I meet someone who does not know London that well: Jewel bar - it is central, piccadilly - easy to find - a good start! Entering the bar, I first was asked if I was over 21, any lady takes that as a compliment. Inside mystic atmosphere welcomed me: candles, chill out music and chandeliers hanging from the sealing. You know what - despite my entire preconception I liked it. It is not a place were locals go out as it is so central in London, but lots of people start their night there for some after work drinks. This is also more the clientele - people in suits and skirts. I ordered a red wine and some olives - but I guess this is more of a cocktail bar. I also did the toilet test - very clean and styled, another factor, which seemed exceptional. If you walk around the corner there will be a different area waiting for you which has even more the glamorous and oriental look - jewels all over!

Alibi is a buzzy little wine bar that's tucked out of the way just off Fleet Street. It's got a…read moremodern, comfortable interior and gets very noisy as the night goes on.. It's worth getting there as early as possible (i.e. 5pm) to make the most of the happy hour and to stand any chance of getting a table booking requires a credit card even for just a small group! The wine list is good, the tap beers are adequate and the cocktail list is decent enough. Outside of happy hour, prices are usual for a central wine bar and the staff/service are average at best expect a long wait at the bar.. The real find for the there was the little seating area outside at the back that no-one seems to know about great for summer.

Very different vibe depending on whether you come in the summer and sit in the massive beer garden…read moreout back (with a view of a completely overgrown garden next door as one of the last reminders of the old Stokey), or during the colder months when the lights are dimmed and the main bar takes on a very different vibe. Lovely staff and good selection of drinks, whatever the season.

It is one of my favourite bars because you are sure to have an enjoyable moment…read more From live-sport (Rugby World Cup for exemple) with big screen to live-music there is always something happening! During the day, you can have a seat and use the free WI-FI while you're drinking an apple juice. A nice point is the garden reachable by stairs at the back of the place. People are always warm-welcome and if you appreciate the atmosphere you can even stay for food as there is a Thai restaurant directly in the bar for who is hungry, just ask for a menu. Prices for drinks are cheaper than other pubs in the street and the food is delicious.

South London certainly has a few good drinking establishments to its credit. Be At One or B@1 if…read moreyou talk in text talk, is one of these and you are always sure to have a fun time in here. I have been a few times after work and no matter what day of the week there is always a real lively atmosphere and everyone is up for a party! They serve a cool selection of cocktails and myself having a terribly sweet tooth, I always go for the ice-cream based ones (try the Irish Disco Biscuit) which are calorific but delicious. I would try and opt for cocktails during happy hour though as they are fairly expensive outside of that at £6.50 each. It does attract a young crowd and if you get easily annoyed by groups of people singing along to cheesy music, it probably isn't the ideal place for you. Good tunes, friendly people and fab atmosphere.

B@1. No, despite what you might think (and I did at first too), it's not a dingy internet café…read more It's, for lack of a better description, London's answer to karaoke bars. The dress code is casual, the atmosphere loud, hyper energetic, and in your face, and the drinks will get you in the singing mood in no time. Keep your eye out for the specials board as these will not only be good value for money but you are likely to get them served in record time since it's the bartenders' pick of the day. Don't be shy about belting one out if your favourite tune comes out over the speakers. The music mix may also be up to the barstaff as it can be quite eclectic with Linkin Park smashing out one minute and a softer Beatles ballad the next. I've also got to give credit to the barman for making 24 mojitos in one go to satisfy our pub golf group. I'd recommend buying your bartender a drink or two early on in the night. I've found that no matter when I go or even to which B@1, the bartenders love a good drink and will take care of you if you are willing to include them in a couple of rounds. I've even managed to get jaegerbombs passed over a crowd. So listen when I say - GET YOUR BARTENDER A DRINK! Plus, drunk bartenders are a little more generous with the pouring so really everyone is a winner. Overall, it's a good place to start a fun night out. Only problem is sometimes you just don't want to leave.

This is a charming little public house in the outskirts of Reigate center, very much a family place…read morewith the patrons ranging widely in ages. It hosts events, live music, and taster sessions on certain nights to get the community involved. We had a drink here as a stop off before a birthday party and it was a really great space with a wonderful selection for its size. There is an open fire which we couldn't make the most of as it was mid-summer. I peeked at the beer garden but it was slightly too chilly and dark to check it out properly. Will put it on the to-do list for next time! That will go next to 'trying the food' which is already on the list. The menu features hearty pub food classics and the establishment boasts that its bread and meat come from the local baker and butcher. Seems to be the epitome of the idea behind the original 'public house': community, good food/drink, and good company.

Best place in reigate for Guinness absolutely delicious. Cold creamy pint. Lovely beer garden and…read morefriendly staff. Couldn't beat it with a big stick

I think the Highgate Inn is best described by what you can find inside. You get all the necessities…read morefor both casual and committed drinker alike, fruit machines, heavy oak tables and even the unbalanced bar stools but that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This pub seems to have all the little extras that make a great pub. For a start the Juke Box (something which you really don't find in enough pubs) has an amazing array of songs, from the popular to the obscure allowing you to adjust the backing tracks to your night accordingly (although I did get some dirty looks when I put on 5 James bond themes in a row). The sofas (found to the rear of the bar) are incredibly comfortable and very easy to get enveloped by, I would recommend heading to the Highgate inn for these alone, the beer access is a plus. If that isn't for you there are plenty of normal seats and even the option to stand if you would like. In terms of drinks the array on offer is diverse (not ground breaking but certainly not dull). On occasion you may see the odd alcohol dispensing nick knack behind the bar (I once witnessed a bottle holster that caused a desperado bottle to float in mid air). Little props like a frog fountain that spews fog, 4-5 ft tall wooden horses and the occasional seal teddy hanging from the many abstract paintings create a hint of a quirky atmosphere without making that the theme of the pub. Should you feel the need to smoke you will be forced into the street but before you hit the pavement you can take refuge in the outside chairs complete with matching tables, not the best in the winter but better than having to dodge pedestrians. All in all this is a very under attended pub. The staff are helpful and polite, the locals and newcomers seem to get along well and the atmosphere is on par with most of the other pubs in Highgate (better than some).

A decent 'old school' pub on Archway road a bit further on from the Woodman as you head up the hill…read morefrom the station. Inside you find lots of beams and dark wood, fruit machines, TV's for sport and plenty of seating dotted around including some sofas. It's all a bit mismatched and thrown together the way a pub should be. It reminded me of being in a little out of the way place in some village somewhere where the pretentiousness of London had passed by unnoticed. The beer on offer was ok, my London pride was pretty good although nothing special but for me the appeal of this place is the ease of getting a seat compared to the Woodman, the fact inside it's like pubs used to be before they all became identikit carbon copies of one another selling overpriced dismal food and trying too hard to be the next big foodie destination.

Cool atmosphere and music. Many many tasty and unique drinks to pick from. I am no lush, but for…read morethe price of these pretty little fancy drinks I would suggest they include a little bit more alcohol. This place can get pricey, if you're looking for a buzz go somewhere else.

Another location of the cocktail bar chain BE AT ONE…read more The review of other locations will give you a pretty good idea of what this establishment is like, if my notes do not suffice. It's a very interesting take on the speakeasy formula. By use of social media and their own Bar at one app they're trying to build a community around their chain. The app has the full menu, which seems standard across all the outlets. You rate your drinks and take notes and you get promo info though this app and other internet stuff. Worth a look if you're interested in technology and marketing. This is relevant even if you're not interested in the social media angle because by signing up through their little app you get this happy hour promo which is 2 cocktails (the same kind, no mix and match) for ten quid. So our group paired up and did rounds. 5 pounds a cocktail here (using the promo) is a good deal. The normal 10ish pounds is not. I tried the BANDAQ (banana daquiri), their Oreo milkshake - (Toblerone-esque), and an old fashioned. The first two were very good drinks. The Oreo milkshake one was the best chocolate milkshakes I've had in a while. The old fashioned was ok but very thin. And I hazard that they are a bit tight on the boozy component of a cocktail. So you probably won't get the full dose you're expecting for 10 quid. But only alcoholics like me count drinks this way, if you're out with some gal-pals or boy-pals for the social fun, this does the trick. If you play by their rules with their apps and other tech whizbangs, you can have a pretty good time. I wouldnt recommend to hard-core cocktail snobs or functioning alcoholics. Otherwise Worth a try.

Attic 3 is an absolutely fabulous bar in Soho. The décor is enough reason to go there. It is very…read moreopulent and dramatic, with lots of crazy different chairs and tables. The cocktails are usually pretty good (some are a little hit and miss). But it is well worth a visit. Particularly if you have friends who like to try something a bit different. And it definitely gets you into the party mood. I haven't eaten there before but I believe they do serve food. The service is usually quite good, even though the actually bar is really quite small. The toilets are also worth a visit.