best staff, most welcoming pub. great events & an amazing music venue. great guinness too.read more

The Cavendish Arms is a lovely pub in Stockwell, hidden away in a beautiful and quiet…read moreneighbourhood. I really liked the retro decor and the furniture that looked like they came from someone's grandfather's house. The drinks selection is nothing special but it's all right for a local. They also have something called disco fries that I will have to try next time. Definitely sounds intriguing. The place is actually quite known amongst young comedians, as they hold open mic comedy nights every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so it popular with people who want to get on stage for the first time or practice new material and test how it sits with the crowd. In order to perform you need to bring a guest with you, which is a great policy to make sure there's someone to spread the word afterwards and they don't have a room full of comedians playing for each other. I actually performed some improv comedy with my friends and I have to say it was quite fun being on stage for the first time and the crowd was very supportive. I would recommend paying it a visit if you are in the area and want a laugh. Besides, it's always good to support new talent. You may see the first steps of someone who will be the next big thing.

I love places like Royal Vauxhall Tavern - places loaded with charm, good people, and a lot of…read morerelaxed & excited queer energy. During our visit to London, a friend suggested checking out RVT, and I'm so thrilled he did. We actually spent my birthday here, watching the "graduation" of the recent iteration of Queerlesque. We cheered and laughed and teared up and were so moved by the powerful, entertaining, honest, and lovely folks who performed. The bar staff was super friendly, from the door person to the folks behind the bar.

I'm an American and during my London trip I wanted to check out some local drag shows and boy am I…read moreglad I did! I saw a show at this historic building and it was bar none, the best experience I ever had! I saw Bright Lights hosted by Virgin Xtravaganza. They had an amazing set with many amazing performers. There was ample seating, it wasn't too crowded or overpacked which really allowed to get close to the stage and enjoy the show. The show was a sociopolitical, but still fun & very entertaining! Lots of live singing!

Hello cool new music venue. Okay so it's not new but I've only just discovered it and I love it…read more Decent price drinks, wonderfully clean loos and a dog who lives on the roof - what's not to love? As Craig M mentioned, squirrelled away off Brixton Hill is this gig venue that shows great music most nights of the week. They have a BBQ area outside and even though I didn't get to try it on that night, I bet their beer garden is ace in summer. Check out their website to see what's on and you'll enjoy a mix of arty students and music fans who pilgrim here to listen to great bands at an intimate location.A winner in south London.

The Windmill is a great place to discover new and upcoming artists. I've seen many bands here…read moreincluding Clem Snide, The Rumble Strips, John Vanderslice and Los Campesinos. Each one has been a memorable occassion. The summer weekend barbeques are a fantastic way of whiling away sunny days whilst listening to interesting artists. It's not the most attractive venue you've seen, and the pillar near the stage does obscure the view for people quite near the front, but these little things are part of the charm. The bar prices are fairly reasonable, and the odd combination of locals watching the football in one corner and some rising indie superstars playing in another is an enjoyable one.

I stopped here after going to The Imperial War Museum while on layover. I was served at the bar by…read moreRio. She's very friendly, and I was joined by a patron in a pleasant conversation. I had fish and chips and a beer. The food was good, the service was spot-on, and I loved my experience.

Okay, I would sort of say that this isn't a particularly blow your mind type of pub in South…read moreLondon, but come to think of it, I suspect it is sort of an old man's pub. Well, I got that impression when I visited. It was, well, bland, much the way old men like their pubs.

This venue is amazing and is in its last year so get down there before it closes!…read more A converted theatre there's lots of different rooms, bars and spaces as well as a lot of nooks and crannies! The events that run here are also usually pretty amazing, with Torture Garden being the reason I've been before. I also have on high authority that the events run by A Curious Invitation are also very worthwhile and I look forward to going again at the end of April for the Goblin King Ball

I came here a few years ago with a friend for a techno night. The club is an old cinema, and as…read more'concepts' go it's pretty awesome. There is a dance floor and various rooms. The layout is a little odd as they don't obviously correspond to that of a cinema. Still there is a balcony with seats, that I imagine is unchanged aspect. At the show I was at they were projecting nuclear bomb warning adverts from the sixties whilst the artist played this stormy atmospheric music. Then they showed an edited version of The Shining as another artist performed a live soundtrack. It was an incredible experience, hampered only by people trying to buy drugs from me because I was sober. If you can, try and see an audiovisual show, the venue will make it a memorable experience.

From the outside, the Jamm looks like the kind of place where people get shot in the toilet over…read moredrug deals gone wrong, but it's actually a really friendly and cool venue. It's a bit run down and frizzled at the edges, but that somehow just adds to its friendly and laidback atmosphere. They seem to be putting on all kinds of events, from club nights to belly dancing courses to comedy. I went to the Hasselhoff Scandal club night, which served up some great dj-ing. Now I'm not sure what was supposed to be scandalous about it, except perhaps the pictures projected on to the wall of David Hasselhoff in some dangerously tight speedos.

My feelings are a bit mixed on Jamm as I had a really good night there that ended quite patchily…read more The venue is split into two rooms, and I was there to see I'm From Barcelona in one of those rooms. The evening was fantastic, as were the band and we drank and talked with them afterwards on the decking out front. We were all having a great evening when at one point an aggressive lady decides to join in our conversation making as inflamatory remarks as possible in order to try and get a reaction. The band left not long after she arrived and we were left with her hanging around as though she was with us. After a while of her attitude ruining our evening, I had a word with one of the bouncers to see if he could help. He walked up to her, said these people have asked me to ask you to leave you alone and walked off. Great. She ended up getting livid at the fact that one of us had a problem with her and was demanding to know what was wrong with her. About 10 minutes later she was back to her aimless aggressive self seemingly forgetting our dislike of her and so we decided to leave also. What that bouncer did was hugely irresponsible, and with that kind of attitude, I've not been back to Jamm since nor would go back.

Ever walked into a pub thinking that you were going to have a quick drink and swiftly depart but…read moreyou end up staying there until dang near daybreak? That sums up the Prince Albert experience in a nutshell. I thought, naively, that I would have one pint with my friend and then I'd be on my merry way. WRONG; I ended up staying in the beer garden, chatting with my buddy and various other random folk for five hours straight. It was delightful. The regulars here are quality. Whenever you come to this place, even if you're the most antisocial person in the world and you have covert homicidal tendencies that you don't want to reveal to commonplace populace, you will start chatting with some friendly stranger eventually. The music enhances the scene. From ska to rock, folk to hip hop, the DJ lays down impressive consecutive tracks. After the happy juice started marinating in the pub goers' bellies people got up and started dancing. It was the jolliest pub community I've ever laid eyes on in London.

Seemed to be the most active place open relatively late in the neighborhood after my friend and I…read morescoured the area for late night entertainment (drinking with fun locals) that we could find on a Monday night. We, as Americans, from pretty large cities (DC and New York) were expecting to find lively bars in the neighborhood open until at least 2am, 3-4 would've been pushing it and we were aware of that. After encountering a host of places closing at 11p and 12 we stumbled upon this place with people seemingly spilling out and in and everywhere. I think they were open until 1 but allowed drunken patrons to hang out a bit later as they saw we were having a good time. That's appreciated from a bar which has rules that it's supposed to follow but customers and enjoyment first right? We visited in the middle of winter but it was mild enough for people to drink out on the patio and not really notice that we were kind of freezing. I can't say that the drink selection was particularly interesting. One of the bartenders or bar backs was cool. The pub is really nothing special, but it was spacious and the atmosphere, at least on this slow evening, was alright. Stop in and make a new friend.

Even if you don't like jazz, you'll appreciate the Crypt. It's one of my favourite places to go to,…read moreand introduce to others. Deep underneath the gothic St Giles church, whose steeple towers over bustling Camberwell, is JazzLive, every Friday night in the church's crypt. Wooden tables and pews are grouped around a corner stage where jazz bands from around the world perform. The space is like a grotto. Its nooks and crannies are filled with jazz lovers, art students and anyone else lucky enough to have found it. Even the vicar makes occasional appearances, serving drinks with his dog collar on. Get there early and you can sample hearty vegetarian meals from the small on-site kitchen hidden beside the bar at the back. Camberwell Crypt's hand-painted walls and haphazard décor help it retain a homespun feel, and stay true to its historic roots. The fact it was partly funded by a pile of old coins left by a mystery donor just adds to its appeal. This crypt is eerie with its darkened corners, candlelight and an inaccessible occupied tomb lurking behind the bar. Camberwell has no tube station, but the Crypt, one of London's hidden gems, is well worth a visit.

The Crypt, hands down, is probably one of the best jazz clubs in London. While other more famous…read moreplaces seem intent on sullying the good name of jazz, the Crypt offers a good "stripped to basics" experience that I think most would enjoy. Having been set up by a church minister with a strong fondness for Jazz, the Crypt resides in the basement of a church. Of course, the classic smoky jazz-bar element has changed a bit due to the smoking ban, but one can truly cop a feel for that odd "David Lynch" romantic notion of what a jazz club ought to be; dark, dingy, edgy, and with high leveled spirits being sloshed about the place (in a very dignified way of course). Being a jazz geek, I have come to love this place. The tables are intimately gather round the centre stage and the music is usually pretty spot on for the environment (none of the cheesy crap you'll hear at Ronnie Scott's and the likes). Unfortunately for me, I have yet to eat here so I cannot pass judgment on the food (largely vegetarian), but it's there if you fancy it. Even if it's not your bag, I think you'll still manage to enjoy the setting and the atmosphere.

I came here a few days ago on recommendation from a friend and completely fell in love with the…read moreatmosphere. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The decor is elegant, it set the right mood and ambiance. I was also lucky enough to come during happy hour! I became very excited with the cocktail selection. I had a great time and will be coming back. Thanks!

This place gets 5/5. Great atmosphere and very clean. Friendly, professional and knowledgeable…read morestaff who really know their drinks and mix up great cocktails. We were completely spoilt for choice with the massive bar selection of premium drinks. Beautiful al fresco and though slightly warm inside when the door is closed furnishing are quite comfortable. The evening act (Crimson Keys) were amazing, great sound quality and music selection after the performance. Will definitely being checking out their happy hour very soon!! Do go check it out- your patronage keeps places like this open

Really cool live music venue above, of all places, a movie theatre. I came for an event called…read moreGypsy Nights and the band was AMAZING. They're a recurring event (a Thursday each month?) so be sure to catch them if you can. The Ritzy has tons of free music events, as well as some parties with a small cover. Check the calendar to see what's going on. The music venue is upstairs from the bar, so buy your drinks and mosey on up. It's pretty cosy up there with a bunch of sofas and long high tables in the back. There's a cool balcony at the very back where people would go out and smoke. They have a good menu but it looked pricey, so I would recommend eating before you come.

Who'd have thunk it?…read more I knew the excellent Ritzy had another bar upstairs called... errr... Upstairs, but I hadnt' ventured up there before. With the lovely cafe downstairs spilling out onto the pavement, I've ignored it until now. But we checked it out this weekend and I've been missing out! Small, funky, intimate, with a wee stage on a mezzanine level. Plastered in movie posters, which I thought was a nice touch. Comfy seats to spend some serious time relaxing in, or the normal table and chairs for a quick one before a film. The regular events here tap into the local culture - some hip-hop, roots and reggae nights mixed in with comedy, open mic and even speed dating. See the listings poster for each month. I think this could be a great spot for a private party too.... just sayin'.