You all know me and you know I love me a nice pint. Sometimes I love them a bit too much, but you know. That's why I moved here in the first place. London's lovely Pubs. Some lovelier than others. I will take you on a crawl through my favourite bars and pubs in no particular order.
1 Biddles Bros on Lower Clapton Rd
It is small and quirky and they often have live music, which you wish they hadn't, cause it's always too loud for even basic conversations. But they also have the acest pub dog in the history of pub dogs and a brilliant toilet, which is about the same size as the rest of the pub and mostly contains one lonely, but very pretty sink. Staff are nice and prices are alright and most importantly: It is just across the road.
2 The Anchor and Hope
You know how sometimes you just love a place, cause you had a nice time there once or something happened there a while ago and you just feel nice and warm whenever you go back? That's
one of them places. Nothing special happened, really. Just a nice winter afternoon and a couple of pints and Ros and me deciding that we want to move to Berlin at some point. We've had bigger moments in other boozers, but they've been overshadowed by different stuff over the time or turned out to not be that important afterall. But the Anchor and Hope with it's lovely view over the River Lea and the Hackney Marshes just is possibly the most peaceful place in London and the perfect place for a warm-me-up pint on a cold winter's walk.
3 The Chesham Arms
Looks a bit weird from the outside with it's England flags all over the place, but the Chesham is rather far from being a nationalistic hole. It's run by the loveliest Greek family, who happen to have a heart for flowers and the royal family. And football. Best thing about the Chesham: Its pretty, hidden beer garden, definitely the best place to go on a summer evening in Hackney!
4 The Boot on Cromer Street
I love the Boot for its Irishness and its randomness. It is full of pigeon breeders and has trophies, artefacts and comics, books, sports gear and all kinds of photos all over the walls. Gabby and I love the place, which is close to King's Cross, but hidden enough to be usually rather empty. The boot has everything a good pub needs: good beer, a pool table, an old Irish bar man with twinkly eyes, and a history. Charles Dickens used to drink here. He also wrote about it: 'This Boot was a lone house of public entertainment, situated in the fields at the back of the Foundling Hospital; a very solitary spot at that period, and quite deserted after dark. The tavern stood at some distance from any high road, and was approachable only by a dark and narrow lane; so that Hugh was much surprised to find several people drinking there, and great merriment going on'.
5 The Tram and Social, Tooting Broadway
The Tram and Social is a cool boozer in Tooting Broadway. There is sofas and random pictures and things, two stories to sit and a brilliant bar with nice staff. The setting is great, because this place actually used to be a tram station. the Tram's only problem is that it is pretty much the only cool bar in the whole of Tooting. So it is always packed, at least on weekends. But come during the day or during the week and you'll have a good time and lots of room for relaxedness!
6 The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
This pub has everything: Random stuff hanging from the ceiling, a pool table and a big outside bit, treehouse style. The treehouse was built singlehandedly by one guy, who usually climbs around on it, too. I once met a dickhead in the Faltering Fallback who said he'd been in the Harry Potter Films as well as in Lord of the Rings. Nevertheless, it's mostly on the list for its treehouse.
7 The Strongroom, Shoreditch
I probably wouldn't have put this one on this list hadn't I been there 2 weeks ago and found them serving Rothaus beer on tap! But such good taste should be rewarded and so this nice Shoreditch boozer shall be mentioned!
8 The Glasshouse Stores, Brewer Street
This is where I usually go when ending up in Soho. This is mostly because of it being a Sam Smith's pub, which means it is C H E A P. I like the variation of different customers, too, tho. There's the old locals as well as the odd tourist, the bunch of central London office workers and the occasional gay (for example me).
9 Old Bull and Bush, Hampstead Heath
Just another one of those places that is only on the list, because I spent a nice time there. It's right next to Hampstead Heath and the perfect place to be after a long walk through the park or a swi in the ponds. At least in the summer - big outside bit!
10 Pub on the Park, London Fields
I like going there when it is not the weekend best. Because being the Umbrella of London Fields, it is always very crowded - or becomes so whenever it starts raining (which is all the time). The bar staff are very friendly and it is very close to my house. Double pluses.
More London Lists to follow soon!
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