Drinks
Blondies
Address: East London (Lower Clapton) - 205A Lower Clapton Road, E5 8EG
Nearest station: Clapton
www.blondiesbar.co.uk / @blondieslondon
A tiny diy dive bar like no other and one of my absolute favourite drinking haunts in London! Blondies is run by two Australian sisters who definitely know how to throw a true rock ‘n’ roll party, with wild live gigs, alternative DJ nights and special one-off Kerrang! shows. Esteemed bands including Mastodon, Parkway Drive, Cancer Bats and Refused (just to name a few), have all played some of their most intimate and exclusive shows here.
Covered in music history paste-ups, quirky neons and skateboard decks, Blondies definitely gets a 10 out of 10 from me for its decor. Plus, keep an eye out when it’s Halloween, as they always make sure to pull out all the stops with their spooky decorations.
Grab a seat at the bar, try out their Blondies beer and work your way through their classic cocktail list. I also love their merch designs, which I’d recommend checking out before you leave.
Blondies is positioned right at the heart of the East London subculture, a second home for many (myself included) and well worth a visit. Keep an eye on their posts to know what’s on.
Milroy’s of Soho
Address: Central London (Soho) - 3 Greek Street, W1D 4NX
Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road
www.shop.milroys.co.uk / @milroysofsoho
Known as London’s oldest whisky shop, Milroy’s of Soho was founded over fifty years ago by John ‘Jack’ Milroy in 1964. Steeped in heritage, Milroy’s is at the centre of the Soho community and offers one of London’s largest whisky selections.
Open from morning to night; browse speciality blends in the ground floor shop and take a seat at the elegant copper-topped whisky bar for tastings. Behind the bar you’ll find the magnificent spectacle of over 300 whiskies that you can sample, showcasing the best of the best, that is stocked within the store.
Milroy’s range and variety is unrivalled, stocking specialist whisky from Scotland, the United States and every corner of the globe. They have partnered with some iconic brands to produce extremely sought-after malts, including Glenfarclas, The Great Frog and JJ Cory. Plus, they have even produced their own-label whiskies and regularly host tasting sessions, where you can improve your knowledge and explore new and unknown distillers.
Situated underneath the ground floor, hidden away in the depths of Soho, is Milroy’s covert cocktail bar - The Vault. From the shop you would never know it existed, as it can only be found by passing through an unknown door, disguised as a bookcase. The Vault is exactly my kind of place, it has a low lit, speakeasy style ambience and serves up some of the best whisky-based cocktails around!
Milroy’s is a Soho institution and a landmark on Greek Street. When you are in the neighbourhood, pop in for a dram and enjoy the spirit, history and love for whisky, which this local establishment embodies.
The Rake / Utobeer Cage
Address: Central London (Borough Market) - 14A Winchester Walk, SE1 9AG
Nearest station: London Bridge
www.utobeer.co.uk / @rake_bar / @utobeercage
Blink and you’ll miss it! The Rake is a tiny atmospheric London boozer, located in the back of Borough Market, serving up the weird and wonderful of the craft beer world. The pub is run by Utobeer, who also owns the remarkable bottle shop ‘Utobeer Cage’, which is stationed just around the corner in neighbouring Borough market.
Their choice of beer is second to none for such a small establishment, including four cask, 16 keg lines and approximately 100 bottled beers packing out the fridges. If you are struggling to decide, the staff are only too happy to help and will gladly recommend options which fit your taste profile.
If you are curious, the unusual name Utobeer has a dual meaning, one relating to a beer heaven - ‘utopia beer’ and the other definition meaning ‘unusual’ ‘traditional’ ‘original’ ale. This illustrates their ethos towards craft beer and is endorsed by a magnitude of hand written messages and signatures that engulf the walls of the bar, left by many leading and respected brewers.
The Rake is a hidden gem but a real icon of the London craft beer scene, and if you are an ‘Untappd’ fan like me, you’re going to be checking in a lot!
Passyunk Avenue
Address: Central London (Fitzrovia) - 80 Cleveland Street, W1T 6NE
Nearest station: Warren Street
www.passyunkavenue.com / @passyunkavenue
A totally authentic Philadelphia themed dive bar and sandwich restaurant, named after the district in South Philly called Passyunk Square. It’s 100% the place to visit if you want to dig into a mega ‘Philly Cheesesteak’, whilst guzzling some American craft beer and watching ‘Always Sunny’ on repeat.
If you are into American football, make sure to head down on a Sunday night when there’s an Eagles game on. The atmosphere is always electric in here and even more so when the Eagles are winning!
Full to the brim with stateside paraphernalia and with a classic rock ‘n’ roll playlist in tow, it has all the attributes of an authentic American dive bar. No wonder it’s a local hangout for homesick Philadelphians and if like me you just love the buzz of the U.S bar culture, this is the place for you.
Luckily, off the beaten track in the backstreets of Fitzrovia, a taste of real Philadelphia can now be found.
