A fantastic little pub in the heart of Soho, with great character, lovely features and a laid back…read moreatmosphere. Whilst looking a tad grimy from the outside, this is a wonderful hidden haven I'm happy to have discovered. I loved the cut glass light fittings, furnishing details, and the comfy traditional 'old world' feel. A great place to have a few drinks and a chat with friends, although I expect it gets a bit busy pre/post show time. Think traditional pub, great if you're not looking for anything 'gourmet or craft', although had a few drinks options a bit of variety (whereas I just went for a good old fashioned G&T).

Long held in local lore, The George holds its ramshackle head high in a list of London's top night…read morespots. To say that its scene and crowd are consistent is somewhat misleading, as it attracts a wide array of people who unite most readily for their contrariness and less for their style or their adherence to any particular scene or movement, a feature that makes this place refreshingly un-London. There is, however, a definite punk edge, evinced by the Barcelona pin-faces who pile onto the side patio for cigarettes any time of year, and the general sway of the musical acts booked in most nights (expect to pay a small cover if you arrive after eight). Drinks are somewhat on the expensive side, but long waits at the bar are virtually unheard of, saved by staff that may seem surly but are rather delightfully low-key. Non-locals need not be put off by night transit: both Commercial Road and Whitechapel High Street are surprisingly well-served by the system. All in all a reliable place to grab a drink and feel both at home and away at once.

Genuine people for a happy time…read more This is a difficult place to find on google maps at it is placed on the street. If you are too eager as I was to arrive early i.e. before 6pm, there is no sign to guide you. I was walking around until a local Chinese takeaway clarified where they were. After some stressed out walking I found it just in time for the doors to open. I entered and walked down some dark stairs to room filled with a large screen, lots of old TV prop relics, Black and white TVs and a well stocked bar. As a nerd this was cool! The bartender greeted me warmly and introduced himself as Nat. I told him about my situation and about the a**hole friend who had left me hanging when I couldn't find this place. He was sympathetic and offered me the happy hour deal of either two bottles of beer, Tsing Tao, or one of the cocktails. It had to be beer, I was on a diet of sorts. As more guests arrived, including my a**hole friend, Nat greeted them as warmly as he had to me. I was feeling comfortable and decided to get a cocktail. It was a version of a Pimms with prosecco and more fruits. Nat knew how to mix his cocktails. The owner, a guy with a toy samurai sword on his hip, talked with us about the Japanese Spiderman and put it on the big screen for us. Brilliant! I loved it here and will be coming back soon. Brilliant atmosphere and people!

An absolute must-see destination dive bar in the Holburn area of London. My 21 and 24 y.o. came out…read morewith my husband and I on a Saturday night. This bar is fantastic! The owner Slash is the real deal and has created a Kung-Fu classic theme with fabulous music and cocktails to die for. He spent alot of time talking to and entertaining us as visitors who may or may not ever get to return. We spent our entire evening socializing/watching classic movies/sampling everything he poured for us. It was a terrific time and worth seeking out. If I lived in London, not only would I be a regular but I'd rent it out for private parties as well...but only if Slash is behind the bar!!

This is like a crazy dive of a rock bar with neon lights and rock and roll music, and I loved it!!…read moreIts fabulous for a fun night out with friends. I headed over one evening around 9pm and it wasn't that busy, but the atmosphere with the jukebox and the good choice of drinks meant I wasn't disappointed. I love the randomness of this place.. They have a ceiling full of bras hanging down which I found hysterical and can only assume is to represent the bras thrown at concerts. Lolz. The jukebox is also fabulous and really old school, letting me request artists like nirvana and bon jovi... Yaaaaas.... A definite big selling point for me. Don't let the neon lights let you mistake it for a strip bar and put you off, if you like rock and roll or just want a fun night out, then this is the place..

Awwww SNAP! Mama…read moreloves a dive bar, and Slim Jims Liquor Store is the best I've found here in London. Just the right amount of Los Angeles tack complied with minimal light and endless shelves of liquor. Plywood booths: check. Red vinyl bar stools: check. Buzzing glow of neon: check. Lots and lots and lots of whiskey: check. Juke Box: check. But the kicker? Two mounted boar heads "smoking" cigs and wearing sunglasses. Slim Jims is keepin' it classy like no other. And I can certainly appreciate that.

Hello DRUNK, Lizzie has arrived and wants to join the party. I love it when you discover something…read morenew about a bar. In the case of The Old School Yard, I knew it was a fun bar with great cocktails and great party music, what I didn't know is that hidden below the main bar is an underground cellar with two karaoke rooms. Oh yes ladies and gent, I did do my rendition of Big Spender and Word Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZjAantupsA) was performed by a certain superstar. As far as a night goes, if you are looking for a dirty dive bar party, this is the place for you. Great drinks and perfect music if you are up for cheesy dancing. The amazing thing about this place to is that it isn't full of tourists and you can actually get a drink at the bar without getting groped.

I did have a bad experience here, my friend accidentally spilt his drink and the barman would not…read morereplace it for free even though this happened right in front of him, some do, some don;t! Despite this, The Old School Yard is a decent place The downside is that the drinks are from bottles or cans so no draught pumps so not advisable for real ale or beer drinkers. Good for cocktail drinkers though. There was a surprise with a downstairs area I never knew about, which has free Karaoke booths and a nice seating area, also Table Football and retro video games so all in all, not bad.

After getting the timeout deal of 4 cocktails for £16, my friend and I went on a saturday evening…read more It was pretty quiet and the music was very loud however we had a look at the menu to decide our cocktails! The menus were pretty odd so we needed the waitress to explain! They distill their own liquor and it an unpretentious place but nothing special. I got first of all the aid acid cocktail that comes with a battery. Pretty weird concept but nice enough. Some nice cocktails but nothing special. I wouldn't come out my way to go again but if I was in the area I would pop in to the bar or the pub upstairs

We had a timeout offer for 4 cocktails for £16 pounds so we decided to check this place out! It was…read moreabout 7pm on a Saturday eve and was so quiet (with 30 degree weather outside noone was ready to head indoors just yet). The menu was quirky but the bartender helped us pick our cocktails and explained each cocktail and its 'story' to us. The controversial 'Electric Kool Aid Acid Test' cocktail was good fun to try - came with a battery and a little bag of white powder, attached to the glass. The idea is to pour the powder into the glass and sink the drink and then lick the battery. You have got to have an open palate to try out a range of cocktails but if you tell them what you like they will recommend you the best drink :)

Lets be clear - there are no airs or graces here. Just lots of booze and epic good times…read more Having lost plenty of time in the original Casita in Shoreditch, I was torn when I heard about its little sister opening for several reasons: 1) YAY A NEW COCKTAIL BAR!!! I do love a good drink, and if its pedigree is anything to go on, it'll be rad and it's right by my house which means I'll be there all the time.... 2) Shoot, theres a new cocktail bar, and its right by my house which means I'll be there all the time. *queue my bank account giving me disapproving looks* It kind of feels like someones house, with random bits everywhere, but the drinks are solid with a rotating cast of bartenders doing great things with booze and generally good clientele hanging out and making friends. You know where to find me...

This is the cutest bar ever!! I can't remember the specifics on pricing, but we booked a group of 4…read morethrough a third party (design my night) and each of us had to pay a kind of pricey ticket. I wanna say it was around $40 usd. But this included bottomless cocktails! The cocktails were served in tea kettles. It also included endless pick n mix and popcorn. There was a bachelorette party going on while we were there but otherwise it was kind of a quiet night. We enjoyed the music, the decor, and the aesthetic of everything. The kitschy decorations and vibe of the whole place is why I gave it 5 stars! I've never been to a bar like this before; it was so unique.

Fun cocktails and crazy decor, with a wide assortment of knickknacks and randomness like high…read moreschool trophies, old records, sombreros, Christmas decorations and other oddities. Drinks are priced from about 7 quid and up. Fun pop music spanning the decades. My only gripe is just one toilet :/

Why I'll go back: it's a fun vibe with great cocktails You…read moreHAVE to order: can only speak to the drinks, but getting something with "smoke" always adds a little more excitement Tony's Tip: absolutely make a reservation. While we were waiting to "meet the Mayor" we saw three groups try to walk up and be told it would be at least two hours. Even if it's becoming more mainstream, I still love the idea of speakeasies, and the little song and dance to get in to "see" The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town was a fun twist. It's an interesting spot because the primary bar is nothing to look at really, though for us Americans who grew up in the 80's the name ("The Breakfast Club") obviously sucks you in. But to get into Scaredy Cat Town, you definitely should make an online reservation. They're not hard to lock down, but we tried to get something on Thursday for Saturday and they only had bar seats left. Totally fine for just the two of us. When you walk in, you just tell them you're there to see the Mayor and within a few minutes, you are whisked through the door of an oddly placed refrigerator (yes, I've blown the surprise, but the "scaredy" cat is out of the bag by now anyway). The place is pretty much a dive, with an overabundance of random knick-knacks, signs, and what-not. Funky, funny, eclectic - you get it. But don't let that mislead your impression - it's a serious cocktail bar. They've got a wide range of original concoctions to choose from, and both the presentation and tastiness of our selections were excellent. The bartenders are friendly, and the music that night was essentially a playlist of one- and two-hit wonders from the 80's (again, right in our wheelhouse!). Totally fun, and a great way to start off our night! I wholeheartedly recommend that you schedule a meeting with the Mayor soon!

A speakeasy so secret, even the people working across the street didn't know it was there. I won't…read morespoil any secrets on how to get in... but it was definitely one of the main highlights of our week-long stay in London! The staff were incredibly friendly, the drinks were AMAZING and so creative (one of my drinks came in a tiny coffee pot), and the atmosphere was very fun.