Where to go out in London?

[Chris71]

I'm organising a birthday do in the near future. I've got about a dozen people heading in from out of town and want to take them somewhere a little special in London. The group is twenty-something and on quite a tight budget, so I was thinking maybe Camden?

The idea is to catch the tube in early evening, possibly get some food and then take in a few different pubs/bars before last tube back.

Any suggestions for areas or specific places? I want to give them the London experience, so somewhere quite happening without being too expensive.

[V8mate]

Tight budget and London aren't easy bedfellows. (Sam Smiths pubs aside)

Thought about heading in the opposite direction?

[Soovy]

Ye Olde Axe

[TTwiggy]

I work in Camden - what are you after?

If you want a chance of minor celeb spotting surrounded by the skinny jeans brigade, then the Hawley Arms is worth a visit.

There's a decent newish pub called The Black Heart that has opened on the sight of the Camden Tup (behind Nat West bank)

If they're a rock/metal crowd then there's the World End by the station - but avoid the toilets.

If the sun is shining, then the Edinboro Castle has the biggest garden and a BBQ, but it gets very busy

Prices in Camden aren't too bad - beer £3.40-£3.70 on average in most boozers. Lots of cheap food places too.

Edited by TTwiggy on Wednesday 14th April 17:44

[Chris71]

V8mate said:

Tight budget and London aren't easy bedfellows. (Sam Smiths pubs aside)

Thought about heading in the opposite direction?

Well I live on the outskirts of London and there's sweet FA out here in the suburbs, so I'm planning to head in. When I say cheap I'm not expecting pound a pint, just not the fund managers hangouts that some PHers seem to frequent!

TTwiggy said:

I work in Camden - what are you after?

I'm after somewhere with a bit of identity and some atmosphere. Most of the people are heading from quite far away so I want to give them a bit of a flavour of London - something a bit alternative though, I'm not after chirpy cockneys and Beafeaters. Everyone's into music, with a bit of a rock/indie bias, so that sort of scene would be good, hence the Camden idea. I've been dragged round the market quite a few times by my girlfriend and been to the occasional gig round there, but I've never really gone further than dropping into The Worlds End for a swift half on the way back.

Sorry, that doesn't really answer the question does it!

Somewhere lively (earlyish, we're probably heading home on the last tube) but not too rammed.

I did think about The Devonshire Arms, but it looks perhaps a little hardcore with a goth dress code and the like?


On a completely different note, another mate suggested heading into Covent Garden (there goes the cheap idea...) and heading for the Porterhouse.

Oh, and when I was trying to come up with a plan this popped into my head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt-JQm-t36I

ETA Just had a look at The Black Heart and it looks pretty promising - smees quite chilled - maybe somewhere to start the evening with some food before moving on to somewhere a bit more lively?

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 14th April 18:27

[aeropilot]

Camden used to be great in the late 80's and through the 90's before it became fg trendy.

[wakster]

Soovy said:

Ye Olde Axe

[V8mate]

aeropilot said:

Camden used to be great in the late 80's and through the 90's before it became fg trendy.

Before it became a skanky sthole, surely?

It's just druggie and homelessville these days.

[taz_rs]

I recently went to the Proud Galleries in Camden for my birthday and had a really good night http://www.proudcamden.com/

Edited by taz_rs on Wednesday 14th April 18:57

[aeropilot]

V8mate said:

aeropilot said:

Camden used to be great in the late 80's and through the 90's before it became fg trendy.

Before it became a skanky sthole, surely?

Err.....no, it was much worse back then

But, a lot less busy and no tourists.

[turbotongue]

ajstephe said:

Shoreditch

This

[sday12]

The Griffin?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[Chris71]

ajstephe said:

What station will you be coming into?

Whichever one we need.

The guys are driving over to mine in Enfield, so we'll probably get the Kings Cross line in then take the tube from Finsbury Park to wherever.

I am open to suggestion, but Camden seemed like a good plan because of the concentration of affordable drinking establishments.

The very rough plan is forming into something like:

Form up at Camden Lock (hopefully out in the sunshine) early evening
Head over to The Black Heart for a few drinks and some food
Pop into The Cuban for one (rather pricey) cocktail
Head on somewhere a bit more lively - Proud looks like a good suggestion? Electric Ballroom maybe?

The challenge is to find somewhere that's going to be in full swing before we have to depart for the tube (we do have a stash of booze at the flat, but the idea is to start early in London and avoid the joys of the night bus!)

[V8mate]

aeropilot said:

V8mate said:

aeropilot said:

Camden used to be great in the late 80's and through the 90's before it became fg trendy.

Before it became a skanky sthole, surely?

Err.....no, it was much worse back then

But, a lot less busy and no tourists.

Has always had tourists, due to the market, but it has only got worse as an area. Was much nicer in the early-mid eighties.

ajstephe said:

I speak from experience. Camden is a st hole now, full of thieving robbing scumbags and aholes that just want to start fights. There are one or two decent places there such as the Proud Galleries and Gilgamesh. Primrose Hill is good for some nice food and pubs with totty and just a short walk from Camden High Street

I can recommend Putney/Shoreditch

Absolutely agree.

[TTwiggy]

Chris71 said:

I did think about The Devonshire Arms, but it looks perhaps a little hardcore with a goth dress code and the like?

Devonshire is no longer Goth. It's now a Hobgoblin Pub and more relaxed.

[Chris71]

TTwiggy said:

Chris71 said:

I did think about The Devonshire Arms, but it looks perhaps a little hardcore with a goth dress code and the like?

Devonshire is no longer Goth. It's now a Hobgoblin Pub and more relaxed.

Is it any good these days? Might be worth a visit if they'll let only moderately rocky in. That said, some of the places my OH's band have played would make most goths blush.

[TTwiggy]

Chris71 said:

TTwiggy said:

Chris71 said:

I did think about The Devonshire Arms, but it looks perhaps a little hardcore with a goth dress code and the like?

Devonshire is no longer Goth. It's now a Hobgoblin Pub and more relaxed.

Is it any good these days? Might be worth a visit if they'll let only moderately rocky in. That said, some of the places my OH's band have played would make most goths blush.

It's ok, but I think you can do better in Camden

The Dublin Castle on Parkway usually has bands on, plus there's the Barfly up on Chalk Farm Road

I'd still recommend the Black Heart though, as it's rarely too busy and the pizzas are good and cheap (£4). It's a bit hard to find, as it's down an alley behind the bank.

[Garlick]

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub2698.php

[Chris71]

Garlick said:

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub2698.php

"This demoralising dive shows how the chink of coins fuels the bottom of the barrel realities. As one girl writhes on the tiny, raised stage, the next turn is circulating with the collecting pint pot. It's simple. The more that goes in, the more that comes off - and the more gynaecological the presentation."



At least it's cheap.

I think The Black Heart is definitely on the itinerary now. Not too fussed about The Hobgoblin based on the comments above. I've been to Dublin Castle quite a few times to see bands, but I don't remember the pub itself being that inspiring, Barfly could be good if there was a decent band on though. Thanks Wiggy!

[sleep envy]

Soovy said:

Ye Olde Septic Axe

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