Stella’s Joining us for the Summer Party
No not Stella McCartney, but Stella Artois. That’s right our friends at Stella Artois have decided London’s hard working bloggers deserve some cool, crisp, liquid refreshment and have agreed to sponsor our summer party. They’ve promised to buy everyone a couple of pints of cold Stella, or a glass of wine, or a soft drink as you fancy.
Not only is Stella buying the beers, but they also are running a fabulous competition just for members of the London Bloggers Meetup. The prize is a trip in the Stella Artois: Star Over London airship.. to take in London from above. Currently retailing at £185.00, this really is a fantastic opportunity! Thanks Stella!
So how do you win such a fantastic prize?
It’s simple, in 150 words or less, describe your local pub and what it is that makes you keep going back..?’
Simply post your answer as a comment to this post by close of play on Friday 25th July. The entries will be judged based on entertainment value – the more entertaining the more likely you are to win!
There are SIX places up for grabs!
Well, what are you waiting for..!
We’ll announce the winners at the Summer Social on the 29th. Get writing folks and I’ll see you all on the 29th!
Andy
- The No-F-Words Warrington « Epicurienne
- Harry Wood Blog / London Bloggers Meet-up
- Shiny Red schmoozing update : ShinyRed
- Stella Love Your Local
- London Blogger Meet Ups 2008 « Jazamatazz
- London Bloggers new venue, competition and pubs
Tir Na Nog – or “the diddly dee bar” as we call it – is our local. Owned by an Irish family and in the Heart of Wandsworth it’s one of London’s only real Irish bars. Once in there you really get the feel of being in Ireland itself.
Every Saturday night at around 9.30pm you will find us there, drinking the fine beer amongst the proper Irish decor! When suddenly one by one a band member will walk in, grab a pint, sit down at one of the tables next to us and start tinkling away softly at their instrument.
Half an hour later there will be 15 of them belting out all the classic Irish tunes. Before you know it every person in the room is united together by the tapping of feet and the swinging of elbows – proper Irish craic.
Need I have to spell out why this is my favorite local? Ok, it’s because,
when the sun has gone down and the other pubs are all shut,
this is the pub that will be rockin’,
as there’s always a lock in!
Sitting innocuously on Wimbledon high street, the Hand and Racquet looks like a normal London boozer. Step inside, however, and you will be welcomed into a big rugby orientated family. With comfy sofas, good solid pub food and amusing (and sometimes slightly eccentric) barstaff, this place is ideal for everything from lazy Sunday afternoons to fun filled Friday nights. Why do I keep going back? Not only is it about 3 minutes from my house but if I go there I know I’m guaranteed to see someone I know. The ideal local.
Big Red on Holloway Road qualifies as the last true Rock’n’Roll place in London’s northeast and is more exciting than anything that might be on at around the corner Odeon.
Being one of the only pubs in the area with a late license this is the melting pot of all party-people, students and other freaks, so people watching is highly recommended. Bar staff is leading the way with an estimated 5 square foot of compulsory tatooed skin and piercings at visible and (supposingly) hidden places.
Besides enough seating, some cosy niches and hot food, there is billiards, foosball and pinball available. And most importantly a long bar to grab hold of in case you miscounted your drinks again while singing all the old indie and hard rock classics from the jukebox.
P.S.: Bus drivers on the N29 are great in gently waking you up at Wood Green, if you have missed your stop again.
My local cares!
The Honor Oak was just another derelict pub in need of investment and with a bad reputation.
The lease was on offer from a big chain, but instead of accepting the bog-standard refurb, the boys took a chance. They sounded out the local community (through a well used local forum at se23.com), really took on board the comments and ideas, and made everyone feel involved from the start.
Today it is a bright space, family-friendly, supporting local events and offering great choice of food, beers and wines. Most importantly, we all know and respect the commitment the managers made to building a place we all feel part-responsible for running.
I now go there with my friends, my family and for local meetings. This is how a local should make you feel – involved!
The problem with local pubs in London is that when you live and work centrally, “local” isn’t really an identifiable concept. I love the rich mix of pubs, bars and other drinkeries in the capital, but I’ve spent more time in The Trafalgar on The Kings Road than any other pub in London – yet it’s over 4 miles from my flat. So why do I keep going back? Maybe it’s the fact that it easily breaks up a shopping trip – time to reflect over a pint “to buy or not to buy”. Maybe it’s the great people watching from one of the many window tables. Thinking about it, it’s something completely different. It’s the fact that since all my friends live in different parts of London, we’ve redefined “local” not by geography but by our social lives, find somewhere that works for you all and hey presto – that’s your local.
How can you have just the one local? For me there’s the riverside bar/restaurant for Sunday lunch. There’s the drop-in on the way back from town, where you can usually guarantee to meet someone you know for a quick drink.
And then there’s the local pub with free wifi where I can spend the day, starting off working with coffee and ending with beer and friends. Unfortunately effectiveness decreases as the say goes on!
A good local these days is more than a Friday night pub. It offers a place for all times and all moments.
The Park Tavern in Kingston is not only my favourite pub, it’s also hard to find, and it’s hard to leave once you are installed.
Tucked away in a side street far from the crowds it has a loyal local crowd who understand it’s unique charms.
“Well, what are they”, I hear you cry.
Firstly, a narrow choice of well kept real ale, secondly, a great landlady; thirdly, eccentric decorations; fourthly, a proper fireplace; fifthly…well you really need to go and see it to finish the list.
I’ll admit I don’t go back as often as I should, but just writing this makes me want to visit it again real soon!
A mix of ancient and modern with an old oak staircase, comfy leather sofas and a conservatory overlooking a walled garden – does this sound more like an estate agent’s dream than a pub?
The original Grade II listed building sat in stately splendour for centuries before its reincarnation as a pub and restaurant.
Set in a leafy suburb of Croydon, Coombe Lodge is not the place for real ale fans or food faddists. The menu is not quite “chips with everything”, but they are a staple ingredient.
Still, it aims to cater for most tastes and while some dislike over-foamy beer, the frothy cappuccino is certainly acceptable.
Welcoming and family-friendly, its English country garden atmosphere is particularly pleasant at this time of year. There are masses of outdoor tables, some optimistically equipped with parasols.
If the great British weather turns showery – just run for cover in the conservatory.
It’s not just what a pub has that makes it special – it’s as much about what it doesn’t have.
Step inside my favourite boozer, The Angel, and you can forget the clinical horror of theme bars and chain pubs. There’s no music or TV and they don’t show sports. But there are velvet curtains, upholstered seats, etched glass and the original dray lane complete with hand crafted tiles.
Forget the same sterile beverages served in every other pub. This is a Sam Smiths pub and that means proper beers without any nonsense. There are no preservatives, colourings or any other additives – in fact, everything is organic.
The other thing it’s lacking is price. Despite being in central London, the prices are very reasonable. Where else can you get a pint for less than two quid? Let alone a pint of full-flavoured organic British beer with no additives? And to enjoy that in a comfortable seat in a beautiful room is priceless indeed.
The reason I go back to The Sun pub in Swanscombe, Kent week after week? It’s the best kept secret in Kent. I go there even if I’m not drinking.
Firstly they do an amazing Sunday lunch. The cook used to be head cook at one of the local secondary schools and she makes the best puddings around, I would go there just for them! There is usually at least 4 choices, including mixed roast with all the trimmings and a vegetarian option. You can choose from two size dinners, the large one would satisfy desperate Dan.
A lot of pubs have struggled since the cigarette ban, not this one, if anything it has become more popular. When you see the stunning walled garden you realise why. It has a wonderful lawn, I don’t know how they keep the grass so green.
There is ample seating and sun shades for when it gets really hot.
Some weekends they have an inflatable slide with plunge pool for the children. It truly is a place for people of all ages.
Anyone from anywhere can walk in that pub and feel welcome. It has a lovely crowd of all ages. There is never any trouble.
For the drinkers there is a good choice of ales served with cooled glasses if you want.
And lastly the owners are so lovely that if anyone has had too much Stella, she drives you home! Can’t get better than that.
The No-F-Words Warrington
The Warrington Pub down on Warrington Crescent’s
The local I frequent for R ‘n’ R.
The specialness lies in its Olde Worlde presence –
So different from cloned and identikit bars.
Last year it closed for some renovation,
As stellar chef, Ramsay, acquired the deeds.
For patrons whose interest is mastication,
The Warrington’s back feeding everyone’s needs.
It hasn’t gone posh with pretentious infection;
Builders swig next to the girls wearing Choos.
The staff will advise on your beverage selection
Whilst fielding your questions on Big Gordon’s news.
From dressed Cornish crab to a Casterbridge Ribeye
The Warrington should seldom disappoint.
The fishcakes are gourmet, they surely ain’t Birdseye
And old-fashioned bar snacks help add to this joint.
The only thing marring my Warrington visits –
A lack of expletives directed at chefs.
The atmosphere calm, there are no flying trivets
Or verbal abuse freely peppered with effs.
Local? The Fullback in Finsbury Park.
Reason for Returning? Alcoholism.
My favourite local exists, sadly, only in my head… it’s in the middle of the countryside but is right next door to my house in south London; there are only four or five dishes on the menu (organic) that may or may not be available depending on how the chef feels because cooking shouldn’t be a chore; whether there is music in the bar or not is decided by vote each night; there are lots of very comfy chairs for those of us that frankly, do some of our best work on our arse; my dogs lie serenely at my feet rather than running round trying to sit in the laps of strangers and finally, none of the alcohol gives me a hangover. When I get this pub, I will let you know through a serious of codes and clues… work it out and you can join me for a lovely evening with lovely people.
The Black Horse in Bean is a lovely pub,
they do the most amazing grub,
And for children of all ages
they have (in the garden) monkeys in cages!
There’s nothing like an ice cold beer with the monkeys, they are fascinating to watch. Real characters, just don’t give them bubblegum, it gets stuck in their fur.