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London Nightlife

Lion King - London
Lion King
by Zlur
Reviews and photos of London bars and nightclubs posted by real travelers and London locals.
Local Time 12:15 am Saturday, July 26, 2008
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Popular Nightlife | Miscellaneous Nightlife Tips | All Tips (1,341)
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The Comedy Upstairs Downstairs: The Comedy Club/Pub
  • Tip Rating:
  • Saturday night in the West End and having no music gig to go to, Petra and I decided to try for tickets at the Comedy Store. We hadn't booked tickets and of course they were full - but just down the road we checked out the Comedy Upstairs Downstairs Club - and I am soooo glad we did. We blagged the last two tickets available ("Shouldn't really sell you these luv" - we're already overbooked, but there are two seats available, front row £12.50") . We of course accepted, as Jez O'Donnell was so nice. While he was putting a reserved notice on our chairs in the upstairs lounge, (there's more than one ) we had a drink in the down stairs bar as the fun didn't start until 8.30.

    So we took our seats (just your standard padded dining chairs but comfy no less) and waited for the show to start. First up was Ian Stone, who had me in tears of laughter from the word go, as in fact they ALL did, he was followed by a cute Canadian and finally we had Milton Jones, probably one of the funniest, driest humoured comedians I have ever seen. I will be back VERY soon to see him again. This is not the place to visit if you are Uber-PC or easily offended.

    I was a bit worried about audience participation, particularly as we were right at the front, having experienced the Mickey taking that goes on at other well known London Comedy venues, but we were reassured by the lovely MC that they were "much gentler" here, and they were, they asked the standard "whats your name? Where are you from? What do you do?" kind of questions but the rise was taken mostly from the Hen/stag/ birthday party crowd (who fully deserved it!!!). Even so we didn't escape a bit of gentle ribbing :))

    Your ticket entitles you to free entrance or queue jump at the Zoo-bar after the show.

    This is a GREAT night out, but I would advise you to pre-book first! Like I said, we were lucky!

    Anything, but there will be a profusion of bridal veils, tiaras and little red horns and ... on the night we went, a sparkly pink cowboy hat and over large moustache! (which was the inspiration for lots of Brokeback Mountain jokes :))) Wear what you like, but be prepared!

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  • Theme: Adult Spot
  • Address: 7 Oxenden St SW1
  • Phone: 07092 095 401
  • Directions: Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Nearest Mainline: Charing X
  • Website: http://www.zoo42.com/XCentralMain.htm

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    Bar Academy Islington: Angel Islington
  • Tip Rating:
  • A great place to meet friends, have a drink, relax and listen to live music. We were here to see the fantastic Tom Mcrae - It was a small intimate affair for real afficionados and a really great night.

    Oh and if you are interested in useless facts (and even if you are not I am gonna tell you anyway...:))) the Angel Islington Tube Station has the longest escalator in Western Europe with 318 steps!!!

    Trendy

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Directions: Angel Tube.
  • Website: http://www.carlinglive.com/venue_content/carling_academy_islington.html?CMP=KNC-GOOGLE

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    Shepherd's Bush Empire: A Canadian at the Bush
  • Tip Rating:
  • This is an excellent venue in west London for live gigs - we saw Rufus Wainwright here (we got free tickets!!!), and he was fabulous, as were his band!
    The venue is big but get here early if you want to be by the stage - I needed some pre-gig grub and waiting for a quorn burger in McD's delayed us a bit so we were unable to get to our normal positions front and centre!!

    There is a crush for the bar too but at least here they will give you a pint of tap water for free (unlike some venues I have been to!)

    Keep your wits about you in this area of London.... there were a few *unsavoury* looking characters lurking around late at night. And don't even think about taking a short cut to the tube across the park - go the long way round.

    Oh and one more thing - There is a cake shop on the way to the tube station called *Mockarabia* - the cakes look amazing and they are open very late - don't be tempted - the cakes are cheap - but stale - YUK!

    Trendy!

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Address: Shepherds Bush Green
  • Phone: 020 8354 3300
  • Directions: London W12 Shepherd's Bush or Goldhawk Road Tube Stations on the Central Line.
  • Website: http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/empire/pages/index.cfm

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    Westminster Arms: Westminster Arms - Pub for MP's
  • Tip Rating:
  • Westminster Arms is a "simple" English Pub near Westminster (how strange! :). However it is the ultimate place to meet MP's (Members of the Parliament).

    Last time we went there a couple of hours after our visit to the House of Commons and found a good number of the MP's we have seen there drinking beer and talking to the "people" in the 'Arms :)

    There is also a restaurant upstairs and a wine bar downstairs.

    Jeans and a shirt will be fine, but if you want to mix with the MP's, than bring yours suit! :)

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: 9, Storeys Gate, Westminster, SW1P
  • Phone: 020 7222 8520
  • Directions: Walking from the Parliament and passing by Westminster Abbey take the next street to the right. Tube: somewhere between Westminster and St. James Park stations.

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    The Soho Lounge: The Soho Lounge
  • Tip Rating:
  • As we were walking trying to find a place to go and dance, this guy came towards us and told us about this fabulous place called The Soho Lounge. It was supposed to be great! (if it was, he obviously wouldn't be walking around trying to get people to go there!)

    Anyway, we went and it wasn't that bad. Very small, kind of a dark underground place. We drank, danced and had fun! So it was worth the try ; -)

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  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Address: Dean Street

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    Brixton Academy: Peace One Day
  • Tip Rating:
  • We saw "Badly Drawn Boy" here amongst others, incuding Lamb and Elbow - it's dark, chilly and crowded - but it was a blast. Expect it to be noisy and bring your own bottled water 'cos it ain't cheap!

    Whatever!

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Address: 211 Stockwell Road SW9
  • Phone: 020 7771 3000
  • Directions: From Brixton tube - turn right into Brixton Road.
  • Website: http://www.brixton-academy.co.uk/brixton/pages/index.cfm

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    The Boogaloo: Rock Bar in The Archway Road
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  • Opened in 2000, The Boogaloo is a gorgeous little rock bar on Archway Road in Highgate where you can relax with friends on one of the many leather sofas and listen to great live music! With a capacity of around just 200 it has a great atmosphere and it's possible to get a drink at the bar during the gig!

    We were there to see the talented and adorable Josh Ritter - a fabulous singer/songerwriter/acoustic guitarist from the US who we have seen several times before but in this intimate little venue it was possible to stand right by the stage and really get involved in the music!

    Check the website to see what's on.

    Anything

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Directions: 312 Archway Road Highgate Tube Station - then turn left and cross the road and it's there on your left hand side.
  • Website: http://www.theboogaloo.co.uk/

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    Bull and Gate, Kentish Town: The Mexicolas
  • Tip Rating:
  • In Kentish Town, the Bull and Gate is a small dark venue where me and P saw the Mexicolas play. The entrance fee is £5/£4 (for concessions) but we got in for a quid (£1) as we were guest listed. The Mexicolas were on last and they were the best band to play that night. Check out *Times Infinity* - great song.

    Check the website for monthly gig listings.

    VERY Casual - but not shabby.

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  • Theme: Live Music
  • Address: 389 Kentish Town Road
  • Phone: 020 7093 4820
  • Directions: Come out of the Tube and turn right.. keep going til you get to the lights and cross over and it's in front of you.
  • Website: http://www.bullandgate.co.uk/

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    Lettuce and Grubs: Nice wee nightcap!
  • Tip Rating:
  • It was my first night out in town. It was a two storey building in Fulham Broadway. On the bottom level there was rock music,and upstairs it was techno and pop sort of stuff. So it suited most moods for most people. This was also the first time i was introduced to "Snake Bites" its beer mixed with some juice or raspberry stuff. Well it kicks your ass a bit!! On the bottom floor when i song came on, this one special song, the whole bar had to get on top of it and dance and take their tops off...Its something different, and would suit most people. Give it a go!!

    I dont remember any dress codes at all..Simple black pants and dress shoes would be fine...No coat for men or tie!!! Casual dress was all i remember being reinforced!! Overall tidy dress..But nothing fancy.

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  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Directions: Fulham Broadway, around the corner from the train station. Take a right turn!!

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    Hamptons Wine Bar: Great Venue for A VT Meeting
  • Tip Rating:
  • We met here for a London Ladies meeting in April 05. A glass of medium red wine was 4.60 GBP. It was just the right kind of place - not too crowded not too noisy and the staff were friendly.

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: 15 Whitcomb Street
  • Directions: Just past the National Gallery off Trafalgar Sq

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