― Alix, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
My proper local is the best in the world. It's small, quiet has kitsch decor and is run by two jolly gay blokes. Also has quiz machine. It was pub of the year in 1981 (according to the plaque outside!)
― Simeon, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― David, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Also just as close are 1) the Griffin on Clerkenwell Road which a number of Picnic In The Sky revellers borrowed for its toilet facilities unaware until entering that it was a STRIPPER PUB and 2) the Duke of York which is Ground Zero for couriers, has lovely landlords, good Guinness and a Thai couple stashed in the basement making good food for £5 a plate. I go there often enough and ILE has drunk there before.
On Farringdon Road, we have the Eagle, which I can't praise enough.
Every other pub in the area, especially the ones on Mount Pleasant, Leather Lane and Exmouth Market are ALL branches of that well-known chain the Halfwit and Banjo (translation: drinking holes for the inbred and infirm).
― suzy, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Like Gareth, two equidistant pubs: the Marlborough House in my road and the Folly Bridge Inn around the corner. Although I've lived in my present house for six and a half years I haven't been in the Marlborough House more than five times, all of them to partcipate in quizzes and most of them when my team was playing the Marlborough Mutineers (as they're called) in the local quiz league. People say that they really know how to keep the beer at the Marlborough House (true). People also say that it has been altered structurally very little since it was built in 1883 (this is also true). However, that doesn't stop the place from giving me the creeps. It has such a dedicated clientele that I see the same old faces (almost always occupying the same seats) every time I walk past. It just seems more like a private club than a pub. It's a pity, coz the married couple who run it are really nice people who usually say hello when we pass in the street. I often see them in their boat on the Thames (a couple of hundred metres down the road). The bloke also has a bicycle repair business and if you know anything about Oxford you'll know that this is really appreciated!
The Folly Bridge Inn used to be called the White House. This was a more sensible name as it's quite a way from Folly Bridge. It used to be a lovely pub attracting stoodies and locals alike...it had a quiz on Tuesdays and a music quiz on Sundays. It is a Wadworth pub which used to mean there was FARMER'S GLORY on tap (num num!)....a much better ale than Wadworth 6X and very hard to find these days. Unfortunately, the popular landlord disappeared off to Winchester and since then they've had a serious of poor bar managers who really don't seem interested. Even when I turned up with a huge crowd of co- workers they didn't seem to want to serve us. Luckily I live within easy walking distance of the city centre and fairly easy walking distance of "alt. Oxford", ie Cowley Road, so the low quality of the local boozers is not a particularly big loss to me.
― MarkH, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Pete, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
It is a nice space though and it's a shame it's in such a shitty area.
― Emma, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dan, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
[*In the sexual sense]
― Alan Trewartha, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Anna, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Tom, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Have you ever been to ICE Anna?
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
closest bar to me is Bar Med which, being in St Ebbe's, is thankfully not that close.
Ever been to the pub in Risinghurst, Tom? Can't remember what it's called. Or any of the ones in Quarry (Six Bells, Masons Arms or Chequers?)
You can tell I don't go out in CE can't you?
― gareth, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Colin Meeder, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
re. The Old Ale Emporium (Green Lanes): I've been in there a few times and quite liked it, but it's always jam-packed and I like a seat.
re. The Nobody Inn (Newington Green version): I used to go in there a lot because it stayed open late. Irritatingly Oasis were always on the juke box (it was around 96-97 though).
Does anyone like the Compton Arms in Islington?
There is a Nobody Inn in Newington Green which is actually quite nice (though the back half is a bit like a scout hut if that takes your fancy).
― Graham C, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
What lido? God, I feel like such a newbie.
It's on Park Road on the way to Ally Pally / Muswell Hill. I have never been as lidos are full of horrible children at the best of times and the proximity to Sprog Central can only exacerbate this problem.
― lawrence kansas, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Hooray for the Princess Alexandria.
Sprog Central = Crouch End, where North Londoners go to breed
Pshaw Anna. You'll be telling us you've never been on the Crouch End rollercoaster next.
― maura, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― chris, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
(I can however be trusted on public houses, it is a subject I never lie about).
― Mandee, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I am innocent and delightful (hem) that's why I keep falling for Pete's lies/
― Ana, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
;-)
― Ronan, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Kathleen's Cafe sounds quite nice Maura.
The first point isn't true for all of them by any means. The second may be, but I don't drink wine in pubs.
i'm basically just trying to discourage anyone from trying to make me go to the wenlock again
― lextasy refix (lex pretend), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:20 (thirteen years ago) link
That may not be an issue for much longer :(
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:21 (thirteen years ago) link
The Prince Arthur on Brunswick Place is a nice cosy place, feels more trad than Hoxtonised.
― Rejoice that you weren't eaten (chap), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:22 (thirteen years ago) link
the red lion never has any place to sit down. owl and pussycat always felt too loud, too crowded, i.e. a bar that looks like a pub.
florist fans really would like the kenton i feel
― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:23 (thirteen years ago) link
ou'd never ever go to sditch for a "quiet drink" would you? all you need pubs there for is pre-club drinking.
glad i don't live in shoreditch tbh
― nanoflymo (ledge), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:52 (thirteen years ago) link
This is my nearest pub according to FancyAPint.co.uk:
The Victoriahttp://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub2258.php
Never been in it. The only local pub I've been to is v slightly further away:
Ye Olde Rose & Crownhttp://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub2257.php
'salright, has a theatre above it, so it gets suddenly busy at interval and then quiet again a few minutes later. Don't really go drinking in pubs around where I live though, because if I am in the pub it's usually with people who don't live near me.
― a fucking stove just fell on my foot. (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 18:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Closest pub to me is a recently refurbished old man pub with big tellies for the football. I never go in because it's a hun shop (rangers pub).
― À la recherche du temps Pardew (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 18:43 (thirteen years ago) link
idk what's going on with the wenlock now, sale appara fell through but they're still looking to sell. last time i was in there before xmas a man wearing a morrissey t-shirt complimented me for looking like morrissey. obv i look nothing like morrissey. great pub.
havent visited the new owl&p either but have been told it's vile tedious gastro. (would assume they took the billiards out as well :/).
was in the florist on sunday for a bit, s'ok but i tend to think of it and the camel as bars tbh. otoh 1) they do london pale ale and 2) they do it in proper jars so fair play.
only been in the palm tree the one time years ago but it seemed fun. iirc the guvnor was doing his nut at someone for ordering water haha.
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 19:11 (thirteen years ago) link
im so envious of all the real pubs. we've got nothing but college bars and shitty pub rip-offs.
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 19:14 (thirteen years ago) link
this is my hangout.http://armsbyabbey.com/
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 19:17 (thirteen years ago) link
really miss proper pubs & pub sunday lunches now I'm in the US. Have a decent "Tavern" nearby that plays BBC america, has pool tables and a bit of a beer garden; has baseball stuff and photos of baseball stuff all around but it's pretty ok actually. But gooduns are kind of few and far between, particularly when you're used to having about 8 proper pubs within a 10-min walk.
― Not the real Village People, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:47 (thirteen years ago) link
absolutely would kill for a beer garden around here. never going to happen.
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:49 (thirteen years ago) link
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, January 26, 2011 1:14 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark
yeah
― ullr saves (gbx), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:49 (thirteen years ago) link
i'm envious too. i like the names
― mizzell, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:53 (thirteen years ago) link
i'm sure there are exceptions but anything called a "pub" in the US can be safely avoided
― goole, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:59 (thirteen years ago) link
uh huh.
around here they call things pubs just because they have guiness on tap.
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:01 (thirteen years ago) link
i guess we have dive bars, do those exist in england
― ullr saves (gbx), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:18 (thirteen years ago) link
i work at a dive bar, buts its a great dive bar. we actually have a bar in town called the dive bar....which used to be a complete shithole when i was 21. now its pretty darn good, owned by same folks as armsby above.
http://thedivebarworcester.com/
― Cultivating a manly musk puts your opponents on notice (chrisv2010), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:25 (thirteen years ago) link
dive bars exist in England, yes. In London, they often seem to be Spanish-themed, for some reason.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:48 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.marstonstaverns.co.uk/Hull/Queens-Hotel
― sometimes all it takes is a healthy dose of continental indiepop (tomofthenest), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:57 (thirteen years ago) link
i never have managed to enjoy the reliance, but have prob only been there on sat nights.
the new owl is v hipsterised and yeah a bit wanky, but they seem to have actually replaced the mini refurb the old irish owner did, where he lost the carpet in favour of v bright wooden floors and put bright lighting in. it actually looks a bit more similar to the old owl now. i've heard it's a real gastro pub but nobody was eating when i was in there.
― I see what this is (Local Garda), Thursday, 27 January 2011 19:54 (thirteen years ago) link
the guvnor was doing his nut at someone for ordering water haha
he's famous for this, and other weird tics, like he'll sometimes just not let a group in for no reason. he's one of those landlords that will sit and drink with you when you're the only 3 people left in the place till 3am, but barely recognise you the next time you come in. generally a nice bloke tho.
― I see what this is (Local Garda), Thursday, 27 January 2011 19:56 (thirteen years ago) link
lets go to the palm tree, garda
― cherry blossom, Thursday, 27 January 2011 20:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Is this The Sun we're talking about? I have a recent anecdote about a friend having to sit in the cubicle there for a good fifteen minutes while some other friends tried to negotiate some toilet paper for him from the manager, and apparently the manager wasn't making it at all easy to be obtained...
― Rejoice that you weren't eaten (chap), Thursday, 27 January 2011 20:30 (thirteen years ago) link
haha no that's the palm.
cb i'm game for the palm anytime...apart from tonight or tomorrow, after that tho literally any day ever
― I see what this is (Local Garda), Thursday, 27 January 2011 20:32 (thirteen years ago) link
palm tree manager sounds like the worst
― lextasy refix (lex pretend), Thursday, 27 January 2011 21:38 (thirteen years ago) link
longshot i know but is there any pub in london where you can play CHEESES (throwing a big cheese shaped wooden block at some bowling pins) like they do in the midlands.
― r|t|c, Thursday, 27 January 2011 22:08 (thirteen years ago) link
not helpful but i know a bar in detroit, usa where you can do that, but they call it feather bowling
― mizzell, Thursday, 27 January 2011 22:12 (thirteen years ago) link
freemasons arms in hampstead, though they call it "london skittles" of course: http://www.londonskittles.co.uk/
― joe, Thursday, 27 January 2011 22:12 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah soz i was about to say, i could've just googled it.
wow proper alleys! that kinda seems less fun than the drop-down midlands table tbh:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skittles_(sport)#Midlands
― r|t|c, Thursday, 27 January 2011 22:16 (thirteen years ago) link
palm and palm tree next friday
― cherry blossom, Friday, 28 January 2011 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link
oh no just palm tree not palm
BREAKING NEWS: the camel on globe road now sells punk ipa on draught. been there about 5 times since i found this out, which is about 5 times more than in the previous three years.
― I'm going to allow this! (LocalGarda), Sunday, 18 March 2012 10:55 (twelve years ago) link
We just got a new local in a converted post office, it's pretty cool, snugs in old bank safes and stuff. Which is good because the actual closest local is fine for football watching but going in with girls feels like a complete no-no. It's basically all builders from what I can see.
― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Sunday, 18 March 2012 11:59 (twelve years ago) link
Calling Chap: is the Dartmouth Arms any good?
― A Yawning Chasm (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 20 December 2012 12:16 (eleven years ago) link