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    Any good Pubs in London I should not miss?

    Leaving for London Friday night. Staying in Coven Garden next to SOHO and Chinatown. I already have a list of pubs to hit but always up for Rave Recs.

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    Forum Regular audiobill's Avatar
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    Wink 2 that i like

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    Leaving for London Friday night. Staying in Coven Garden next to SOHO and Chinatown. I already have a list of pubs to hit but always up for Rave Recs.
    Hey Hyfi,

    2 that i like are "the cheshire cheese" (found in the financial district downtown) and the "the tottenham pub" downtown. lmk what u think should you pay either one a visit. have a toast on me.

    cheers,
    bill

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    Man of the People Forums Moderator bobsticks's Avatar
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    I have a friend that just got back and declared "The Verge" to be the best place he's ever been.

    I seem to remember "The George" as small but very kewl and "Mothers" (no relation to the Chicago version) was also nice in an upstairs-from-the broker's-club kinda way. These recommendations are from several years and many brain cells in the past.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bobsticks
    I have a friend that just got back and declared "The Verge" to be the best place he's ever been.

    I seem to remember "The George" as small but very kewl and "Mothers" (no relation to the Chicago version) was also nice in an upstairs-from-the broker's-club kinda way. These recommendations are from several years and many brain cells in the past.

    Hey Hyfi,

    2 that i like are "the cheshire cheese" (found in the financial district downtown) and the "the tottenham pub" downtown. lmk what u think should you pay either one a visit. have a toast on me.

    cheers,
    bill
    Thank you both. I will look them up to see if they are close enough to stagger back to my hotel from.

  5. #5
    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    Any good Pubs in London I should not miss?
    Is there such a thing as a bad pub?

    Have a great trip! Is this business or pleasure?

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    Is there such a thing as a bad pub?


    It is that kind of thinking that has endeared many of us to you.
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    Some of the pubs right there at Covent Garden may be a tad touristy. But go 2 blocks in any direction, throw a rock in the air, and you're bound to hit one you'll like just fine.

    Want a cheap 5 minutes of entertainment? Approach a group of 3 or 4 Londoners and ask them which is the best place to get a pint around there. The resulting argument will be one of the highlights of your trip!

    Cheers.
    Mr. MidFi
    Master of the Obvious

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    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    Is there such a thing as a bad pub?

    Have a great trip! Is this business or pleasure?
    Well, they are all smoke free now so that would have been one issue.

    I am going to train our UK team and knowledge transfer.

    I will have a bit of time for pleasure and my wife is going along. We got tickets to see Spamalot at the Palace Theater and dinner at the Porter for $40 US per ticket. Also going to train out to Canterbury next Saturday, Twickenham on Monday night to see a 4th cousin of Carolyn that we have not seen for 20 years. Saturday morning after we arrive, we are heading straight to the Lamb & Flag which is supposed to be one of the oldest watering holes in London, then to the British Museum.

    Pubs the rest of my time off. We plan to hit one for dinner and two more for desert every night. Like MidFi said, there is a pub every three store fronts where I will be staying. We are right at 7 Dials in Covent Garden.

    Cheers

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    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    I am going to train our UK team and knowledge transfer.
    You've come a long way baby! Congratulations.

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    Hope you don't mind, Hyfi, but I posted your query at my online international travel community. I'll let you know what they have to say.
    Mr. MidFi
    Master of the Obvious

  11. #11
    Rocket Surgeon Swish's Avatar
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    I was in so many good ones a couple years ago...

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    Well, they are all smoke free now so that would have been one issue.

    I am going to train our UK team and knowledge transfer.

    I will have a bit of time for pleasure and my wife is going along. We got tickets to see Spamalot at the Palace Theater and dinner at the Porter for $40 US per ticket. Also going to train out to Canterbury next Saturday, Twickenham on Monday night to see a 4th cousin of Carolyn that we have not seen for 20 years. Saturday morning after we arrive, we are heading straight to the Lamb & Flag which is supposed to be one of the oldest watering holes in London, then to the British Museum.

    Pubs the rest of my time off. We plan to hit one for dinner and two more for desert every night. Like MidFi said, there is a pub every three store fronts where I will be staying. We are right at 7 Dials in Covent Garden.

    Cheers
    ...that I could go on for hours. Well, maybe minutes. One piece of info that is critical...DO NOT TIP THE BARTENDERS! Really. They don't expect it either, and for what you pay there, it's a good thing. I would also inquire about getting the Europass which you must buy here in the US before going abroad. They will get you on the tubes and buses as often as you like for the flat price, and believe me they were worth it. I think I paid $175 for so for 4 of them.

    The city is a big place, but my favorite pub was the one near my hotel in the NW called 'Hand and Flower', if only because it was comparatively cheap (4.50 to 5.00 a pint US while most were around 7 US), as the exchange rate then was nearly 2 to 1, so you'll find things a little cheaper now, say about 10% less. We also liked it because we had the chance to talk to the locals. You may think that's odd, but we would ask people on the street for info at times and nearly everyone we talked to was from somewhere else! It was pretty darned funny.

    There was a very good pub at the one end of Portobello Road, I guess near what is known as Notting Hill. It has a curved wall at the sidewalk and we had a blast in there. The flea market on Saturday is a real treat. It goes on for many blocks and there are a few great pubs in the midst of it. If you have the opportunity GO! That was one of the highlights of our trip actually. The bus dropped us off right nearby.

    There was also one about a block off from Harrod's, but I'll never remember the name, but it was a nice sport's pub.

    Also, if you're interested, I'll be glad to send you a couple of guides I have; Cheap Eats in London and London for Dummies, the latter is the reference I used to find out about those bus and tube passes, so for that alone I was thankful. We took those things everywhere.

    Let me know and I'll ship them to you!

    Regards,
    Swishbaby
    I call my bathroom Jim instead of John so I can tell people that I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

    If you say the word 'gullible' very slowly it sounds just like oranges.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Swish
    ...that I could go on for hours. Well, maybe minutes. One piece of info that is critical...DO NOT TIP THE BARTENDERS! Really. They don't expect it either, and for what you pay there, it's a good thing. I would also inquire about getting the Europass which you must buy here in the US before going abroad. They will get you on the tubes and buses as often as you like for the flat price, and believe me they were worth it. I think I paid $175 for so for 4 of them.

    The city is a big place, but my favorite pub was the one near my hotel in the NW called 'Hand and Flower', if only because it was comparatively cheap (4.50 to 5.00 a pint US while most were around 7 US), as the exchange rate then was nearly 2 to 1, so you'll find things a little cheaper now, say about 10% less. We also liked it because we had the chance to talk to the locals. You may think that's odd, but we would ask people on the street for info at times and nearly everyone we talked to was from somewhere else! It was pretty darned funny.

    There was a very good pub at the one end of Portobello Road, I guess near what is known as Notting Hill. It has a curved wall at the sidewalk and we had a blast in there. The flea market on Saturday is a real treat. It goes on for many blocks and there are a few great pubs in the midst of it. If you have the opportunity GO! That was one of the highlights of our trip actually. The bus dropped us off right nearby.

    There was also one about a block off from Harrod's, but I'll never remember the name, but it was a nice sport's pub.

    Also, if you're interested, I'll be glad to send you a couple of guides I have; Cheap Eats in London and London for Dummies, the latter is the reference I used to find out about those bus and tube passes, so for that alone I was thankful. We took those things everywhere.

    Let me know and I'll ship them to you!

    Regards,
    Swishbaby
    Lots of good info, thanks. A little late to ship since I leave this Friday night. I do have several books and have been getting most of what I need from the locals I will be with for the week.

    I was in UK 2 years ago but 2 hours west of London in Chippenham. Next town over is Bath. Both cool places as well as Laycock Abbey, the school in Harry Potter.

    I'll have a Pint for everyone here

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    Forum Regular audiobill's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    Saturday morning after we arrive, we are heading straight to the Lamb & Flag which is supposed to be one of the oldest
    Cheers
    Hey Hyfi.

    The Cheshire Cheese is the oldest continuously serving pub in all of London. The entry is so low that you have to duck down to enter (people apparently were shorter hundreds of years ago). There are even some very cool "thank you" notes from the like of Tennyson et al.

    You are going to have a ball in London. Your itinerary sounds awesome!

    Bill

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    The denizens of Fodors 'Travel Talk' community offer their suggestions below. Note: I know the third guy is a local Londoner...

    Author: azzure
    Date: 09/18/2008, 06:30 pm

    The Lamb and Flag -- hard to find (just ask somebody), but very old and quaint.

    Author: sandra3120 (sandra3120@aol.com)
    Date: 09/18/2008, 06:37 pm

    Mr. Go - for your friend, lots of historical pubs:

    Coach and Horses, Freemasons Arms, Lamb and Flag, White Hart, The Salisbury, Marquess of Anglesey, Nell of Old Drury and not too far afield The Prospect of Whitby.

    Author: Cholmondley_Warner
    Date: 09/19/2008, 05:40 am

    Anywhere but the Godawful Punch and Judy.

    Here's a comprehensive list:

    http://www.fancyapint.com/area/00396.html
    Mr. MidFi
    Master of the Obvious

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr MidFi
    The denizens of Fodors 'Travel Talk' community offer their suggestions below. Note: I know the third guy is a local Londoner...

    Author: azzure
    Date: 09/18/2008, 06:30 pm

    The Lamb and Flag -- hard to find (just ask somebody), but very old and quaint.

    Author: sandra3120 (sandra3120@aol.com)
    Date: 09/18/2008, 06:37 pm

    Mr. Go - for your friend, lots of historical pubs:

    Coach and Horses, Freemasons Arms, Lamb and Flag, White Hart, The Salisbury, Marquess of Anglesey, Nell of Old Drury and not too far afield The Prospect of Whitby.

    Author: Cholmondley_Warner
    Date: 09/19/2008, 05:40 am

    Anywhere but the Godawful Punch and Judy.

    Here's a comprehensive list:

    http://www.fancyapint.com/area/00396.html
    Thanks! A few on the list already, a few added for backup.

  16. #16
    Rocket Surgeon Swish's Avatar
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    Picky picky!

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    Lots of good info, thanks. A little late to ship since I leave this Friday night. I do have several books and have been getting most of what I need from the locals I will be with for the week.

    I was in UK 2 years ago but 2 hours west of London in Chippenham. Next town over is Bath. Both cool places as well as Laycock Abbey, the school in Harry Potter.

    I'll have a Pint for everyone here
    I just now noticed you mentioned departing today in your original post. Oblivious to my surroundings as usual.

    Be sure to get some Marstons Best Bitter over there. Dang fine stuff.

    Swish - better late than never
    I call my bathroom Jim instead of John so I can tell people that I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

    If you say the word 'gullible' very slowly it sounds just like oranges.

  17. #17
    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swish
    Swish - better late than never
    A matter of opinion.

    (you make it too easy sometimes).

  18. #18
    Rocket Surgeon Swish's Avatar
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    Purely intentional.

    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn

    (you make it too easy sometimes).

    Swish - out to lunch
    I call my bathroom Jim instead of John so I can tell people that I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

    If you say the word 'gullible' very slowly it sounds just like oranges.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Swish

    Swish - better late than never
    I was just wondering if she stayed and waited, or did she leave before it happened?

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    Too damn many to choose from! Every corner and every 3rd storefront. Finally learned that if you go in and sit at a table for dinner, nobody ever comes. You have to order and pay at the bar and they will deliver it. On the first day we were here, we looked at menus outside of about 8 pubs and they were all identical. We found out from an owner that he owns them all.

    The first place we went after arriving was the Lamb & Flag which had a great menu online and rave reviews about being one of the oldest pubs in London. There was an old hag working who may have been older. She totally ignored us and would not even respond to questions. There was about 5 items on the menu, nothing like the website. We got up and walked out. We went to the Sussex where they did have servers so we sat down. The server looked over at us and did everything but come to the table. Fiddled with napkins, served people outside...Someone else sitting there got him to respond and serve us. The food ended up being microwaved. I had Hoegaarden on tap as the English variety was poor.

    We went out that same night to find Lowlander which is the best pub here serving 13 Belgians on tap and another 30-50 in bottles depending on the day or week. Desert has been sharing a 2 pint pitcher of St Louis Kriek Lambic. Going ther for dinner tonight for Venison Burger.

    We saw Spamalot last night at the Palace Theater and ended up in the 8th row for 20$ US. What a blast.

    More to come. we are now in our 3rd room at the hotel.

  21. #21
    I took a headstart... basite's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swish
    I would also inquire about getting the Europass which you must buy here in the US before going abroad. They will get you on the tubes and buses as often as you like for the flat price, and believe me they were worth it. I think I paid $175 for so for 4 of them.

    True, True

    the tubes in london are excellent, and definitely worth the money, get the europass and get on the damn things as much as possible, they will get you from the one side of london to the other in no time, and they're extremely fast and easy to use...

    Can't comment on the pub things, last time I've been there, I wasn't allowed to enter (since I wasn't 18 yet...)
    most of the time we were able to drink something outside (on the terras (dunno how you say it in English...), and I can't say that I've ever been to a bad pub...

    Especially in the evenings, it seems that London people like to have a drink after the work has finished, great opportunity to talk to Londoners...



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    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by basite
    most of the time we were able to drink something outside (on the terras (dunno how you say it in English...), Bert.
    In English (at least in Canada) we would say Patio or Terrace. When we're referring to a bar or restaurant we usually say Patio. In the summer when the weather gets warm enough to eat outside, we call it "patio weather".

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyfi
    More to come. we are now in our 3rd room at the hotel.
    Is the hotel that bad? Or is there another reason for the frequent moves?

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    Quote Originally Posted by basite
    True, True

    the tubes in london are excellent, and definitely worth the money, get the europass and get on the damn things as much as possible, they will get you from the one side of london to the other in no time, and they're extremely fast and easy to use...

    Bert.
    You don't have to get anything in the US if you plan to just travel around London. There are about 6 different tube lines color coded. There are 6 zones. If you get a weekly pass for zones 1 and 2, you can get anywhere in the heart of London from the Covent Garden end where I am now to Tower Hill (Tower Bridge area) and beyond. My pass cost about $40 US for the week. If you need to take a train or travel to a different zone, you just pay for an extension for that line. You can buy any passes at any tube stop and plenty of stores. The weekly is called an Oyster card and you just tap it on the turn style as you enter and exit. If you buy a single ride ticket, it's 4 pounds 50 but if you do it any other way it's about 1.50.

    Keep in mind all the maps make it look as if everything is far to walk when it's not. Sometimes, by the time you walk to a stop, go down the escalator about 50 stories, get the train and repeat upwards, you could have just walked it and finished a pint in the same time. I bought the weekly pass but have actually walked the 1.1 miles each way to where I am working and saving 10 minutes rather than the tube.

    Sunday we walked from the Enbankment tube stop all along the Thames to the Tower Hill station about 7 or 8 miles.Then tubed back to our hotel. If your not a woos, almost everything is walkable.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    In English (at least in Canada) we would say Patio or Terrace. When we're referring to a bar or restaurant we usually say Patio. In the summer when the weather gets warm enough to eat outside, we call it "patio weather".



    Is the hotel that bad? Or is there another reason for the frequent moves?
    The hotel is actually pretty good. We booked our stay about 4 monthes ago and requested a room on a top floor in the rear. When we got there, they put us in a room on the 3rd floor in the front over the street. Since they are digging up all of London to replace the Roman sewers, Monday at 7am they started jack hammering outside our window. While at work, Carolyn had them change our room. They put her in one where the AC blew hot air and the phone did not work. She had them move us again. The room we are in now is quieter except for the elevator being right behind our closet.

    Overall they have been real good about it all.

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    Here is what I have sampled so far at The Lowlander.

    Brugge Trippel
    Hoegaarden Grand Cru
    St Louis Kriek
    Brugge Zot Blond
    Saison Dupont
    Het Kapittel Pater
    Caracole Troublette
    Grolsch Wiezen

    If this place was near me I would go broke!

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