Good bars and pubs in London – Part 3

I was out for a post work drink in London a week ago near Tower Hill and I cannot recommend highly enough: PR1MA.

I was concerned that it would be a too trendy bar with high prices, nice decor but not much service. I couldn;t have been more wrong.

We were greeted at the door and when we had been waiting at the bar for no longer than 3 minutes, in which time one busy member of staff had apologised and assured he would be with us soon, the door staff noticed and came behind the bar to help out.

The wine was highly but reasonably priced for the area and was very well presented, and of good quality. We were able to find a seat and were treated to complimentary nuts, olives and crisps.

We had continued but not intrusive attention from the waiting staff who amongst other nice touches offered us some water to accompany our wine, which I appreciated even more the morning after.

The decor, service and general quality cannot be faulted, I look forward to returning.

http://www.barprima.com/

The clubs and nightlife of London

If you decide to come to London to work for pubs/bars or restaurants as a start, you’re going to enjoy this guide. If you just come to be part of the customer experience, here is where you’re going to find what to order and how to make a bartender’s life easier.

Differences between restaurants, bars and pubs: Basically pubs have that old English architecture. They usually serve food in a base “order at the bar”. If they don’t, you’re going to find a welcome note saying “bring your own food, we provide the beer”. While restaurants have table service, and an architecture according to the cuisine. The majority of bars only serve bar snacks and have a big list of cocktails and wines, while in pubs you’ll find beers, soft drinks, spirits with the respective mixes and some wine. Champagne is found in any of them, though in less variety.

In London kids are usually allowed in pubs until 21h, and in some bars they’re not allowed. In restaurants, there’s no law. Teens over 16 and under 18, accompanied by a responsible, can have one pint of beer with a whole meal, not more than that. If not in these conditions, it’s extremely prohibited to sell any kind of alcohol to under 18. Bartenders are going to ask for ID.

Pubs usually close at 23h, 22h30 on Sundays. These hours apply for almost every pub in London. The last orders happen at 10 to 23h. And after 23h, you’ll have half an hour to drink up. After that, please, go away because the bartenders and the manager have to clean up and go home. Thank you!

Bars close later, sometimes midnight some others 3 in the morning. Restaurants close at 23h or midnight most of the time. Only a few stay open after this time, most of them very posh and expensive. Others turn to be a night club and stop serving food after a stipulated time.

Depending on the quantity of people dining or having drinks, some of these places have license for after the time they usually close, which means that, if it’s too busy, the manager can decide to let the place open until later. On the other hand, if it’s too quite, like on special dates as Christmas and Easter, or that rainy winter day, they can choose to close it earlier. So, don’t be surprised if your favourite pub close before or still open later.

Here goes a list of the most common drinks that we sell, with tips of how to ask for them.

BEERS

There are types of beers: Lager, Ales, Wheat beer, Dark beer, Fruity and Blond beer.

To know more about each of them, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B eer

Good bars and pubs in London – Part 2

I lived in London for about twelve years, and although I live now in Spain, I travel to London once a month for business and when I’m not working I try to go out and find some area perhaps overlooked by others in terms of good bars and pubs.

The initiator of this thread suggested going to the west end, which I can only say is fine if you are a first time visitor or you specifically want to be in a crowded touristy area. It’s like going to Times Square in New York – loud, bawdy, various people walking slowly on the sidewalk, jaws agape, arms swinging, drooling.

Try something off the beaten track. I think the Farringdon area, near Smithfield’s Market is great. It’s hip and fun and home to some interesting media agencies and professional art shops. So there’s a cool mix of people. SMITHS restaurant, across the street from the market, is an old abattoir and now fittingly it has been turned into a steakhouse. The upstairs restaurant is more formal but the ground floor is a casual bar and lighter fare area, bursting with a vibrant after work drink scene. Nearby on St. John street is VINOTECA, a great wine bar/restaurant with a very eclectic crowd, a large and incredible if a bit pricey wine by the glass selection and a really superb menu. This place is busy day and night but once you are in and sitting down it’s hard to get up and to leave, (and not just because of the amount of wine consumed). The place is THAT inviting.

The area has some typical pubs and a myriad of other small restaurants and bars that are worth exploring if what I have suggested doesn’t appeal to you. I’m almost loathe to say any more lest I create a stampede to the area!

Entertainment in Newcastle-upon-tyne

As a major English city Newcastle-upon-Tyne has a full and lively selection of places to eat, drink and be merry.

Bars and Pubs:

If you’re arriving in Newcastle by train at the Central station, an ideal venue for meeting someone is the Centurion bar, which is actually located in the station. It was originally the station’s ‘first-class waiting room’ and now it is a bar and brasserie of high quality.

The Head of Steam, on Neville Street, just outside the Central station, has a relaxed atmosphere and bands play in the basement most evenings.

Two pubs located on ‘The Side’ are the Agora and the Crown Posada. The Agora is known for its jazz and funky atmosphere. The Crown Posada is a Victorian theme pub and has both local and guest beers.

Popolo, on Pilgrim Street, is an American themed bar and tends to attract a somewhat older clientele.

If you fancy something a bit ‘retro’ and utterly cool, try the Trent House (also known as the Trent House Soul Bar – motto “Drink Beer Be Sincere”) on Leazes Lane. Although it’s a bit out of the true centre of the city, it does have an old style vinyl jukebox and a Space Invaders machine.

Like most cities today, the Quayside is where the more sophisticated bars are located – ‘pick-of-the-bunch’ is probably the Pitcher & Piano.

Restaurants:

Whilst fast-food outlets and cheap Indian and Chinese restaurants seem to be everywhere there are some excellent restaurants worth finding. Many city centre restaurants offer cheap lunch and early evening prices.

Top of the class is probably the Café 21, located at number 21 Queen Street. It’s a classic bistro with a menu to match. It might appear expensive, but considering the quality of the food and the service you get it is well worth it.

Secco Restorante Salentino on Pilgrim Street is another of the more ‘classy’ restaurants in Newcastle. Its menus are a quirky mix of south Italian dishes prepared with local ingredients.

Should you fancy mussels served with chips and mayo the Big Mussel, on Side Street, will offer you seven variations on the theme. Middle priced and middle fayre.

Blackfriars Café (Friar Street) and Paradiso Café Bar (Market Lane) are both popular and well priced at between £7 to £15 for a main course. Blackfriars is located in the 12th Century refectory of a Dominican monastery, thus it is the oldest purpose built eating place in the country.

Cafés well worth mentioning for a cheaper bite to eat include; Café Live (at 27, Broad Chare by the Live theatre), Blake’s Coffee House (53 Grey Street, with a great selection of coffees), Intermezzo (Pilgrim street, convenient for the Tyneside Cinema) and Pani’s (look for High Bridge Street off Grey Street, this place is convenient for the Theatre Royal).

Entertainment:

Nightlife in Newcastle can tend to be in-your-face, full-on and no messing about!

However, starting off a little more gently the Theatre Royal has a long and proud tradition of being the Royal Shakespeare Company’s residence in October and November. Whilst throughout the year it hosts numerous touring companies and productions including ballet, opera, drama, musicals, comedies and of course a pantomime. The Theatre Royal is on Grey Street heading out of the city towards Grey’s monument.

Newcastle City Hall, on Northumberland Road (on the right off Northumberland Street as you head out of the city towards the Civic centre) is another famous venue for performances by bands, singers, musicians, comedians and events in need of a large space. However, in recent years the City Hall has lost its number one spot as a music venue to the Metroradio Arena Newcastle. Located on the banks of the Tyne behind the Central railway station, it is not only the venue for ‘big-name’ music bands, but touring shows and some indoor sports events.

Although strictly speaking in Gateshead, the new Sage, designed by Norman Foster with its distinct chrome and glass curves, has to be mentioned. Sage is now the home of the Northern Sinfonia and is widely used to showcase less well known folk, traditional and community bands/performers.

Smaller theatres include Northern Stage (off Barras Bridge) which houses small regional and touring groups of theatrical and musical performers. Also used for smaller venue/productions are the Live Theatre (Broad Chare) and the Journal Tyne Theatre (Westgate Road).

Newcastle does, of course, have a Carling Academy, which is on Fenkle Street near the city wall. It has a 2000 capacity and plays host to all the ‘usual suspects’ in the touring rock world.

There is no shortage of night-clubs in Newcastle with a range of styles to suit everyone. Top of the list is probably World Headquarters on Carliol Square. The club is actually inside Curtis Mayfield House, which gives a big clue as to the ambience and music played there. “No sponsors, No corporates, No sell-out” is its motto and laid-back, almost to the point of falling over, is its style.

Tuxedo Princess is a floating nightclub off Hillgate Quay. Again, strictly speaking, this is in Gateshead, but it is a very popular venue with its seven bars and seven styles of music. It can be raucous at times and is not for the reclusive or timid visitor. Also, at Hillgate Quay is the Baja Beach Club, known locally as the ‘Badgers’. Palm trees, surfing regalia and barmaids wearing bikinis should give you a picture of what to expect. Revellers here have been known to become “tired and emotional”.

The Foundation in Melbourne Street offers to some a more stylish experience, although others might say that it’s a typical warehouse/loud sound/dazzling lights club. You’ll have to visit it to make up your own mind on that one! Its ‘specials’ are the Thursday ‘indie’ night and a ‘funky house’ on Saturdays. This is where in Newcastle the big name DJs will perform.

Jazz café “does what it says” and can be found on Pink Lane.

If you just want to ‘catch a movie’, go to the Tyneside Cinema on Pilgrim Street, not far from Grey’s monument.

There is a gay quarter in Newcastle which is simply called the ’Gay Quarter’. It’s centred around the International Centre for Life, which is near the railway and coach stations. Pick up the ‘Crack’ magazine from the tourist information office for more details.

Tourist information offices are located in the Guildhall and the Central Arcade and have the current information on all events in the city.

Article by Susan Ashby of Newcastle Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Newcastle visit http://www.newcastle-singles.co.uk”>