K Bar Putney
Upper Richmond Road, Putney, SW15
Open: 9pm - 2am
Admission/charge: Admission charges vary
The K Bar in Putney mirrors it's sisters only in name. It used to be a gay bar, but it's been given a quick makeover and now serves as a useful watering hole for the fine people of Putney.
The Elbow Room
103 Westbourne Grove, W2
Here's something a little different. A unisex pool hall.
For years the smoky domain of the shell suited male, the Elbow Room breaks the myth that pool is for men and pots it into the nearest pocket.
Heres a room with flair and style. A stylish retreat for the combat trousered denizens of trustafarian Notting Hill.
The large room is split on two levels, the bar area and the pool area. Down by the bar you can book your table for 9.00 an hour at night (or 6.00 per hour during the day), order your drinks and enjoy some decent (if a little basic) bar food. When your table is ready (and you better get down there early - this place gets packed) you move to the upper area to begin your game.
So does it work? Yes it does; pool halls were never my thing, but this place is different - it has personality and, I suppose, women. The presence of women eliminates any element of machismo from the proceedings. Its a sexy, brilliant concept that works its magic effortlessly.
The place has been a big success, and they have opened a larger, later licensed club up in Leeds; and I can see the potential for many more bars along these lines.
The K Bar Chelsea
The Old Cafe Des Artistes, 266a Fulham Road, London SW10
Contact number: 0171 352 6200
Admission/charge: Prices vary
Not to be confused with the excellent Kartouche restaurant and bar (owned by the same group and just around the corner), the K Bar Chelsea has opened its doors amidst a flurry of carefully planned publicity.
The bar is different to K Bar Soho (see Bars is the listings for my original review of K Bar Soho), in that the warm Eastern feel of the Soho bar has been replaced with minimalism. Straight lines, square blocks of pastel colour interspersed with stretches of white wall, wooden flooring and intimate alcoves best sum the decor up.
The bar occupies the the space once known as Cafe Des Artistes, a sixties hangout for the likes of the Rolling Stones and David Bowie.
The resident DJ steered surprisingly clear of the more familiar sounds of clubland, settling instead for what seemed like a popular combination of eighties throwback and nineties commercial dance.
Already the bar is starting to make a name for itself. Kylie Minogue recently held her birthday party here, a well known young television presenter allegedly vomited on his girlfriend and during London Fashion Week the venue became a hotbed of gossip and decadent behaviour.
The K Bar Chelsea is a breath of fresh air in an area known for Rugby boys and airheads, and will no doubt become a great success.
The door policy? Difficult to say - we were on a list - but there was a 'picker' at the door who seemed friendly enough, but you know how these places operate. If your face fits...
Atlantic Bar and Grill
20, Glasshouse street, W1
Open: Noon - 3 am Mon - Fri, Noon - Midnight, Sundays.
Contact number: (0171 734 4888)
Admission/charge: Free
A fanfare of publicity heralded the opening of the Atlantic. The Atlantic was presumably designed for eighties clubbers who had moved on; it's clientele certainly reflect the theory. The owner, Oliver, had been a successful nightclub promoter through that period; now he has diversified with this excellent venue (and the more recently opened, and equally successful 'Coast' restaurant in Mayfair.) You enter the Atlantic through a small door on Glasshouse street. Down the stairs, you enter a vast lobby, with cloakroom and small kiosk selling all things hip and happening. You can then choose from Dick's Bar, an art-deco cocktail lounge where you can while the hours away (until 3 am, which is rare in London without a door charge) or the retro styled main restaurant, (See restaurants) with accompanying sweeping bar. The Atlantic has recently suffered from a media backlash - a typical British response to success. Ignore it. The Atlantic is sharp, smart and stylish. One quibble - at the weekends the place is very busy - and booking a table is often the only method of ensuring entry. Door staff can be quite abrupt. Better still, arrive early. Disabled Access
Beach Blanket Babylon
45 Ledbury Road, W11
Open: noon to 11 pm Monday to Saturday; noon to 10.30 pm Sunday
Contact number: (0171 229 2907)
Admission/charge: Free
Once a haunt of London's beautiful people, Beach Blanket Babylon is still a West London treat, if only for the decor. Stylish, imaginative decor with an interesting restaurant downstairs serving Mediterranean food. Very popular on Fridays and Saturdays, so be sure to to arrive early. This part of West London is very bohemian in its outlook, and you may want to pop into the Market Bar (240a Portobello Road) to sample another dose of Notting Hill life.
Cork and Bottle
44-46 Cranbourn Street, WC2
Open: 11 am - midnight, Monday to Saturday; noon to 10.30 pm, Sunday
Contact number: (0171 734 7807)
Admission/charge: Free
Despite it's naff location (just off Leicester Square, in and around the kebab shops) and it's unimpressive exterior (just a sultry little sign indicates you've arrived) this basement bar has one of the best Wine lists you're likely to encounter in London (French predominates) and prices are not outlandish. The basement bar is attractively designed and alive with atmosphere. Very popular, but you can book a table, and this is recommended.
Kartouche
329-331 Fulham Road, SW10
Open: 9 pm to 1 am Thursday - Saturday (phone to check other days)
Contact number: (0171 823 3515)
Admission/charge: Free
The Sloane Ranger's favourite restaurant (Mediterranean food and excellent with it) has a small, bar cum club underneath it. Arriving early to visit this little venue is essential as it gets very busy at the weekends, (and becomes virtually impossible to get in after 10:30 pm) with Sloaney types, out of towners and wannabees making up its clientele. The emphasis is more on socialising than music, but a resident DJ does his best to whoop up the crowd, who respond enthusiastically, in between slurping on a drink and slurping on a partner.
Medicine Bar
181 Upper Street, N1
Open: 5 pm to midnight, Monday to Thursday; 7 pm to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; 2 pm to 10.30 pm Sunday
Contact number: (0171 354 9273)
Admission/charge: Free
Popular with Islington trendies, the Medicine Bar is clubby in approach and stylishly put together. Not to everyone's taste, but a place to be seen in for the 18 plus brigade.
Riki-Tik
23 -24 Bateman St, W1
Open: noon - 1 am, Mon - Sat.
Contact number: (0171 437 1977)
Admission/charge: Small charge for admission after 11pm.
Another venue destined the become a victim of it's own success is this excellent bar in the heart of Soho. It's a two level affair, the upper level considerably more relaxed than the buzzing lower level. Interesting futuristic decor mingles with fashion conscious trendies who swig from designer labelled bottles - you know the scene. The bar operates a no suits policy - an aspect that came under general public scrutiny when film director Quentin Tarantino was famously turned away and rejected entry. Recent reports suggest that Tarantino was not in fact wearing a suit. Who knows? Who cares?
Sports Cafe
80 Haymarket, SW1
Open: noon to 11 pm, Sunday; noon to 1 am, Monday, Tuesday; noon to 2 am Wednesday, Thursday; noon to 3 am, Friday, Saturday.
Contact number: (0171 839 8300)
Admission/charge: Free
A dancefloor, three bars and a restaurant dedicated to all things sport related. 120 television sets provide the entertainment. Great if you love sport, a bloody nightmare if you don't.
The American Bar
Savoy Hotel, Strand, WC2
Open: 11 am 3 pm, 5.30 pm - 11 pm, Monday to Saturday; noon to 3 pm, 7 pm to 10.30 pm, Sunday.
Contact number: (0171 836 4343)
Admission/charge: Free
Hit the American bar in the evenings to hear the pianist, and soak up the atmosphere of this Savoy 1930s hideaway. You'll need a tie and jacket to drink in its Art Deco surrounds. The nibbles alone are worth the price of a drink in this bar.
The Ship
41 Jews Road, SW18
Open: 11 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday, noon to 10.30 pm Sunday
Contact number: (0181 870 9667)
Admission/charge: Free
Those brave enough to head out of town into Wandsworth better arm themselves with an A-Z of London as this venue is devilishly hard to find, located behind the McDonalds on the roundabout besides the Wandsworth Bridge. But find it, and you find one of London's riverside treats. Go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and you'll be packed in like sardines,getting to the bar is like an Olympic sport. Go midweek and it'll still be busy, but manageable. Worth the trek.
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