We need your help here people – it seems our little collection is unintentionally weighted towards East and Central London. Should any of you West, South and particularly North folk have a lesson or two to teach us, please do. Now then, if there was one reason we started GLP it was to champion great little places with a story to tell. Labours of love in a world dominated by ‘pinky and the brain’ chains. So here are ten great little places that are themselves a talking point. Remember to post your own little favourites if yours didn’t make this list…
Central:
Bourne and Hollingsworth, 28 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 1JF
A bar of a bygone era. Like your nan’s living room but cool and no way near as pungent.
Thanks for the tip off: Edward Marshall
Circus Bar, 27-29 Endell Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BA.
Cabaret and cocktails is a potent mix at this surrealist den. Designed by Tom Dixon, of Paramount Bar and Bombay Sapphire pop-up bar fame, this place is slicker than a popsicle dipped in oil.
Thanks for the tip off: Hilary Clemens
New Evaristo Club or Trisha’s to the locals, 57 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 3DX
We haven’t been for a while but this place was pretty secret when we used to go. Enter through its discreet walkway with a whisper not a bang. No sign will guide you to this clandestine speakeasy. Once inside, you’ll feel like Alice in Wonderland, having fallen down into a booze-based rabbit hole.
West:
Blue Bar, The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL
It’s er… well, completely blue.
Thanks for the tip off: Babycat Lane (cracking name).
East:
Callooh Callay, 65 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3QQ
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” Named after Lewis Carroll’s nonsensical “Jabberwocky” poem, this place is an inspired concoction of quirky-chic. Walk through a Narniastyle wardrobe to get to the rear lounge. Drink delicious cocktails from gramophones. Admire the old cassette tapes that line the toilet walls. A frabjous day indeed.
Thanks for the tip off: Jon Slater
Lounge Lover, No. 1 Whitby Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JU
Minimalist this is not. It’s a miscellany of weird and wonderful objects of all shapes and sizes. But let’s cut to the chase: decadent cocktails in decadent surroundings. Not cheap, but truly immense.
Thanks for the tip off: Laura Guga
The Book Club, 100 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4RH
Ping-pong for free. A whole host of cultural events to tickle your intellectual fancy. Drink for thought.
Thanks for the tip off: John Brearley
Three Blind Mice, 5 Ravey Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4QW
Round the corner from Book Club, this cosy basement bar is a self-proclaimed ‘unique little den of iniquity’. Incense burning from the air con vents. Peeling posters from the world over. Shabby seats. Chic this place is not. Beer is not this bar’s forte either unless you’re after a can of Red Stripe. However, it does serve up a devilish selection of spirits and is a charming little treasure. It’s so good in fact that we’re going to host our own event here on 8th July so watch this space.
Thanks for the tip off: Riki Neill
North:
The Arches, 7 Fairhazel Gardens, West Hampstead, NW6 3QE
This is a wine bar with real charm, a cute little wine garden with road signs from all over London and an interior filled with antique funky junk.
South:
Doodle Bar, 33 Parkgate Road, Battersea, SW11 4NP
This place is white. But with scribbling, doodles and drawings all over the walls. Like playschool but for kidults. There’s a lovely outside area with table tennis, patio heaters and a little balcony overlooking a dock by the Thames. It’s an events-only café though so it’s not open all the time. Call them up beforehand to make sure it’s open before you mosey on down: 0207 502 8167.
One last plea before you go, please help out a Camberwell community project by joining their facebook group. They need your help to create a cultural/arts centre in the area: http://bit.ly/aZ6Wi0.
That’s all for this week folks. If you miss us, follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/glpLondon. Otherwise, we’ll see you next week.
