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Quality witching hour late-night boozing?

naimless

Posted by naimless over 2 years ago
Last active over 2 years ago 5 responses

I mean that magical time and state of mind after you’ve been kicked out of your favourite pub or bar, having left a late-night movie screening or accidental late dinner and are wandering the streets aimlessly looking for a safe, comfortable and warm boozer to fill that gaping pint-shaped void inside of you.

We’re talking anywhere from 12-4am or later and we’re looking unwanky, probably playing crappy music (though good music wouldn’t kill either), good for a quiet drink but equally suited for a louder boogie, reasonable prices and a friendly, mixed crowd that has not disappeared so far up its own haircuts and outfits to make you want to happyslap it. In other words, a solid last resort that is the best of most worlds, preferably ten minutes walk away from wherever you may find yourself.

For want of a better description and anything that could satisfy all of the above, I’m thinking places like Shunt Lounge (with nicer admission times), or things a little like the Dalston Jazz Bar, New Oxford Street’s Old Crown or the Mare Street Dolphin, around general going out hotspots like Soho-ish (is anything decent open here past 2?), Clerkenwell, Bethnal Green, Hackney, Brixton, Waterloo/South Bank, Angel, Camden, Hoxditch-area, the City, and so on…

Any budding AA members, please apply below.

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5 responses

Mockernee

Bit early in the week for this, but it’s the perfect thread for me to plug the Castle on Commercial Road (Aldgate end). Pool tables (plus pinball and table football) upstairs, dart board, open fire and cheap bar downstairs, all a bit shabby and faded but open all night over the weekend and if it fills with Nathans the barstaff fake a closing to clear the twats away, everyone else just walks round the block and comes back in through the other door.

I was very hurt when I saw them do that.

Posted over 2 years ago by Mockernee

Fi

Dust on Clerkenwell Road is open til I think 4am most of the week. Some nights very laid back and cruisy and not very busy, other nights (ie: Saturdays) quite hectic. I’ve not been there for a few years but had some good late night sessions there back then…

Posted over 2 years ago by Fi

naimless

Mmm, these sound tasty. Have heard legends about a pub on Commercial Road (I assume it must have been the Castle) being open pretty much 24 hours on some weekends – truth?

Posted over 2 years ago by naimless

Mockernee

Yep, that’s the one. A whole crowd of us piled in at 4am one Friday night/Saturday morning and it was still busy, we left around 7am just as it started filling with the all-night clubbers. £2 a pint on certain lagers, cheap Guinness too, it’s not exactly salubrious but it’s still currently my favourite London pub.

Posted over 2 years ago by Mockernee

naimless

Checked out the Castle last weekend, was absolutely perfect for those 5am desperation blues, totally filthy! That and we found 10 and 20 quid on the floor of the bar and the toilets respectively. That place is a goldmine!

Anyone know of any other late night dens of filth around London? Lowering expectations, anything half-way decent open past 11 in Soho area would especially be appreciated!

I.e., Guanabara (Drury Lane) last Monday (and possibly other early weekday nights) was reliably free, fun and open reasonably late (past 2). Any others?

Posted over 2 years ago by naimless