EAT&DRINK

Eating out

You might still think of the UK as the home of crap food – and mad cows. It’s a fair point – historically, we’ve failed to set the world alight with our grub. But, in the last twenty years, London has become one of the gastronomic capitals of the world. There isn’t a world cuisine unrepresented in the city, from Soho’s authentic, Italian-owned trattorie, to Brick Lane’s cornucopia of Indian food, to the more recently-discovered delights of the Pacific Rim. And while the standard of the food is superb, it’s the new "restaurant culture" that really sets London apart. A restaurant opening is now as big an event as a club launch. The décor, music and ambience are as carefully planned as the menu – adding up to a unique dining experience. If you’ve got the cash, don’t be afraid to eat out in London – it’s one of the coolest things

Twenty years ago we would have been derided for making this claim, but today it's a fact - London is one of the best places to eat out in the world. More variety, more choice - there are an unbelievable number of restaurants serving food of all types and in all price ranges. You want to eat Eritrean food? You can. You prefer Thai, Argentinian, Japanese, Turkish, or Portuguese? No problem. Even better, good food is no longer the exclusive preserve of the rich. London is brimming with inexpensive places to eat, so long as you know where to find them.

With years of wining and dining behind us, we proudly present a few of our London favourites.

Central London (West End)

There are several areas of Central London that are known for their ethnic and reasonably inexpensive restaurants. The Edgware Road district, for example, is packed with Middle Eastern restaurants, most of which charge a modest amount for large helpings of meze and grilled meats or kebabs. Try:

	Patogh, 8 Crawford Place, W1 (020 7262 4015).
	Tajine, 7a Dorset Street, W1 (020 7935 1545)
	Abu Ali, 136-138 George Street, W1 (020 7724 6338)
	Maroush III, 62 Seymour Street, W1 (020 7724 5024) - good if you're pushing out the boat a bit, but still reasonable

China Town, in the area around Shaftesbury Avenue, is packed with great places to eat. After an enjoyable night's drinking or as an after theatre treat, try:

	Golden Dragon, 28-29 Gerrard Street, W1 (020 7734 2763) - good for dim sum
	New Diamond, 23 Lisle Street, WC2 (020 7437 2517) - open till 3 am.
	Harbour City, 46 Gerrard Street, W1 (020 7439 7859) - again, good dim sum, as well as a full menu
	China City, White Bear Yard, 25a Lisle Street, WC2 (020 7734 3388) - a little bit more special but still very reasonable
	Mr Kong, 21 Lisle Street, WC2 (020 7437 7341) - some real specialities served here plus it's open until 1.45 am.

Other Oriental restaurants in the West End, good for cheap, filling and well-prepared food in a no-nonsense atmosphere, are:

Wagamama, 10a Lexington Street, W1 (020 580 9365) A chain of fashionable, minimalist Japanese restaurants serving cheap but authentic noodles and ramen.

Other Wagamama branches:

	101a Wigmore Street, W1 (020 7409 0111)
	4 Streatham Street, WC1 (020 7323 9223)
	26-40 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 7376 1717)
	11 Jamestown Road, NW1 (020 7428 0800)

Wok Wok, 10 Frith Street, W1 (020 7437 7080) Excellent for hybrid Asian noodle/wok fried food at reasonable prices, in fashionable locations including:

	140 Fulham Road, SW10 (020 7370 5355)
	7 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 7938 1221)
	51-53 Northcote Road, SW11 (020 7978 7181)
	67 Upper Street, N1 (020 7288 0333)

Melati, 21 Great Windmill Street, W1 (020 7437 2745) Good value and large portions of tasty Indonesian food.

For a really special meal in Central London, try these three very different restaurants, they're not particularly cheap but they're worth saving up for:

	Momo, 25 Heddon Street, W1 (020 7434 4040) This Moroccan restaurant has a wonderful authentic atmosphere, beautiful decor and outstanding food, and is currently one of the places to be seen in Central London. Nice touches, including rosewater finger-bowls, make it that bit different.
	The Criterion, 224 Piccadilly Circus, W1 (020 7930 0488). One of the most beautiful restaurants in London with truly exquisite décor, this restaurant owned by Marco Pierre White is not as expensive as its appearance would lead you to believe. The food is good with a modern twist on traditional European dishes. Ideal for a special occasion.
	As is Rules - www.rules.co.uk, 35 Maiden Lane, WC2 (020 7836 5314), which is reputedly the oldest restaurant in London (established in 1798), and whose specialities include game, oysters, pies and puddings. The restaurant boats a wonderful ambience backed up with a superb wine list.

Central London (City and East End)

There are many places to eat well in the City and in neighbouring Clerkenwell. Take a lunchtime walk around London's financial centre and you'll see the new elite, cell phones at the ready, packed into scores of restaurants. Without breaking the bank, try:

	St John, 26 St John Street, EC1 (020 7251 0848). This is not a place for vegetarians. It's for people who like meat - and offal. Not surprisingly, very popular with carnivores.
	Frocks, 95 Lauriston Road, E9 (020 8986 3161) Modern food using good ingredients, free range where possible, and with extremely reasonable prices.
	The Eagle, 159 Farringdon Road, EC1 (020 7837 1353) Once a pub, the Eagle has been a restaurant since 1991. Try the char grilled fish or one of the many dishes with an Iberian slant. Good beers and wines. Reasonable prices.
	New Tayyab, 83 Fieldgate Street, E1 (020 7247 9543) An amazingly cheap Pakistani restaurant serving good and tasty food. Try the delicious kebabs or, if you're feeling adventurous, order the sheep's-foot stew! Bring your own booze.
	Arkansas Café, Unit 12 Old Spitalfields Market, E1 (020 7377 6999) One of the best places in London for barbequed burgers, ribs and steak, done American style and in huge quantities.
	Gaudi, 63 Clerkenwell Road, EC1 (020 7608 3220) An homage to the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in its décor and style, this restaurant/café/bar serves wonderful modern Spanish food but remains reasonably priced.

North and North West London

This is a huge area of London to cover, and in many parts of it good restaurants are few and far between. However, if you gravitate to areas where there are vibrant ethnic communities you'll always be able to eat well and inexpensively. Try the Wembley/Alperton district for Indian food, the Finchley/Golders Green area for authentic Jewish food, the Stoke Newington/Haringey area for Turkish, and the Camden Town area for Greek/Cypriot. For great variety (and for those who are into people watching) visit Hampstead, north London's trendiest area for dining, drinking and posing.

A few suggestions:

	Gazianatep, 52 Grand Drive, Green Lanes, N4 (020 8802 5498) One of the best Turkish restaurants in London, renowned for their great grilled/barbequed meats; they also serve home made breads and Turkish beer, and the bill will be modest.
	Istanbul Iskembecisi, 9 Stoke Newington Road, N16 (020 7254 7291) A renowned Turkish restaurant with great opening hours (5.00 am!). Well known for serving sweetbreads and grilled meats but also equally adept at vegetarian options. Reasonable prices together with generous portions.
	Oriental City, 399 Edgware Road, Colindale, NW9 (020 8200 0009) For all sushi lovers, this restaurant dishes up excellent sushi, sashimi, noodles and hot sake.
	The Little Bay, 228 Belsize Road, NW6 (020 7372 4699) This tiny restaurant gives almost unbeatable value for money in London. The food is modern/European with good standards of cooking for unbelievably low prices. Make sure you book. No credit cards.
	Wazobia, 257 Royal College Street, NW1 (020 7284 1059) An unusual Nigerian/West African restaurant serving specialities including goat pepper soup and West African breads. It's laid back, it's cheap, and it's different.
	Prince of Ceylon, 39 Watford Way, NW4 (020 8203 8002) is a Sri Lankan restaurant with a difference. The food is spicier, hotter and more exotic than many of its London counterparts. Set meals are very reasonable.
	The Golden Grill, 38 Parkway, NW1 (020 7485 7432) Best choice for egg and chips. Try the spotted dick (a traditional British pudding for those who may not have heard of it before). It's cheap (a two course lunch costs five pounds) but the standards are extremely high.

Finally, for a special night out:

Odette's, 130 Regent's Park Road, NW1 (020 7586 5486). An attractive, atmospheric, many-mirrored restaurant/wine bar in a very fashionable part of London. The food is modern, eclectic, with a slightly Mediterranean feel, and the wine list is excellent.

West London

There are many excellent restaurants in this part of London - you'll be spoilt for choice. In particular, the area around Hammersmith/Shepherd's Bush/Ravenscourt Park has improved a lot over the last few years and is now particularly good. Try:

	The Anglesea Arms, 35 Wingate Road, W6 (020 8749 1291) is basically a pub but serves delicious and inventive food at very reasonable prices. Weather permitting, you can sit outside. But be warned, this place is now deservedly popular and is always packed.
	Adam's Café, 77 Askew Road, W12 (020 8743 0572) serves huge traditional English breakfasts in the morning, and then at night dishes up delicious Moroccan/Tunisian cuisine. Very good if you like authentic couscous and tagines. Set menus are very reasonable.
	Costa's, 14 Hillgate Street, W8 (020 7229 3794) is a London institution. Along with its sister restaurant a few doors away, which serves brilliant fish and chips, this taverna serves authentic and reasonably priced Greek food. A must if you find yourself in this now very trendy part of London.
	New Culture Revolution, 157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 (020 7313 9688) Part of a chain of straightforward noodle and dumpling bars with an emphasis on north Chinese food. Good, filling and very cheap food in fairly basic surroundings, ideal for soaking up an evenings drinking. Other branches are in the Edgware Road, Kings Road and Islington.
	The Havelock Tavern, 57 Masbro Road, W14 (020 7603 5374) is another converted pub, now light and airy, with a predominantly youngish clientele. The food is described as light European 'rustic'; the selection of wines is excellent.
	The Red Pepper, 8 Formosa Street, W9 (020 7266 2708) is a popular pizza place with a difference - there is a wood-fired oven which makes excellent pizzas. The antipasti and puddings are outstanding.
	North China, 305 Uxbridge Road, W3 (020 8992 9183) is a rare find, a really good authentic Chinese restaurant that's not in Chinatown; the Peking duck is particularly good, and the prices amazingly low.
	Gitanjli, 18-19 The Mall, Ealing Broadway, W5 (020 8810 0006) A restaurant serving delicious food from the Punjabi area of India. Authentic food at reasonable prices.
	Mandalay, 444 Edgware Road, W2 (020 7358 3696) A somewhat basic but very good and unusual café restaurant - it serves Burmese food at very reasonable prices. The slightly exotic food leans towards Thai with a touch of Indian spiciness, and has a good selection for vegetarians.
	Mandola, 139-141 Westbourne Grove, W11 (020 7229 6391) A Sudanese restaurant (a rarity even in London) which serves simple food including fresh grilled fish and salads, with plenty of vegetarian options. Bring your own booze.
	Patio, 5 Goldhawk Road, W12 (020 8743 5194) is a real find - a tiny Polish restaurant that serves 3 courses of authentic Polish food (including blinis and smoked salmon), plus vodka for an amazing £9.90.

Finally, for a special meal in West London:

The Glasshouse, 14 Station Parade, Kew (020 8940 6777) A visually stunning restaurant conveniently situated right by Kew Gardens tube station. The food is modern British (no jokes please), and the three course set menu at £21.50 offers good value for money. Excellent wine list. Recently opened and very popular.

South East London

This part of London used to be short of decent restaurants. Happily, things have changed. Try:

	Café Italia, 107 Humber Road, SE3 (020 8858 7577) Not too far from the infamous Dome, this pretty and always busy restaurant serves Italian home cooking. Look out for the fresh pasta dishes.
	Fina Estampa, 150 Tooley Street, SE1 (020 7403 1342). A Peruvian restaurant, conveniently near London Bridge Station. The Pisco Sours are strong and highly recommended. A liking for potatoes would be useful as much of the menu is based on them. Prices are reasonable, and there is live music.
	The Finca, 185 Kennington Lane, SE11 (020 7735 1061) A tapas bar and restaurant which is open until midnight. Serves good tapas and paella (only £6.95 on a Sunday).
	Tai Won Mein, 49 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 (020 8858 1668) This Chinese establishment delivers no-frills but excellent food at extremely low prices - the range of noodle dishes is particularly good.
	Manatah Thai, 2 Orton Buildings, Portland Road, South Norwood, SE25 (020 8771 1148) An oasis in a culinary desert, this outstanding Thai restaurant has a very good vegetarian selection, and features dishes from the north/north east of Thailand.
	Nigerian Kitchen, 35 Peckham High Street, SE15 (020 7708 4764) In an area not over endowed with good restaurants, this one is worth trying with its authentic, rich and spicy Nigerian food. If you're feeling adventurous go for the giant African land snails.
	The People's Palace, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank SE1 (020 7928 9999) The People's Palace has one of the best views in London, particularly of the Thames. The food is good, being modern British, and the location is very convenient if you're going to the theatre or a concert on the South Bank. Prices are reasonable.
	Fish! Cathedral Street, Borough Market, SE1 (020 7836 3236) Disproving the theory that it is hard to get decent fish in London, this modern restaurant with a greenhouse feel serves really fresh fish cooked to preference.

South/South West London

This part of London seems to have more than its fair share of good restaurants. Here's just a few:

	Ma Goa, 244 Upper Richmond Road, SW15 (020 8780 1767) An Indian restaurant with a difference, serving Goan home cooking, which is both spicy and delicious. Prices are reasonable.
	Sree Krishna, 192-194 Tooting High Street, SW17 (020 8672 6903) is a reasonably priced restaurant serving food from the Kerala area of Southern India. On Sundays, the Sree features vegetarian thali for £4.95, and non-vegetarian thali for £6.95. Beats reading the Sunday papers.
	Shoeless Joe's Diner, 555 King's Road, Fulham SW6 (020 7384 2333) Obligatory for all sports enthusiasts. Shoeless Joe's features large screen sport combined with good food and drink. The menu is of the burger/sausage & mash/grilled chicken variety. Beer is drunk in some quantity and prices are reasonable.
	Blue Elephant, 4-6 Fulham Broadway, SW6 (020 7385 6595) A large, immensely popular Thai restaurant which is notable as much for its stunning décor and extensive foliage as for its food. Not particularly cheap, but good for a special occasion.
	Phoenix Bar & Grill, 162 Lower Richmond Road, SW15 (020 8780 3131) A light modern restaurant serving innovative modern food, with a good wine list, and lots of interesting wines by the glass. Sunday brunch (for £16) is good value.
	Jack's Place, 12 York Road, SW11 (020 7228 1442) A good straightforward steak restaurant with a Sixties feel. Try the prawn cocktail. Excellent value for money, with a great wine list.
	Brady's, 513 Old York Road, SW18 (020 8877 9599) An English Fish and Chip restaurant, serving excellent straightforward fish with a limited range of accompaniments. A fairly basic place to eat, but great value for money and always packed. There is another branch in the Fulham Road (020 7736 3938). Eat early; you can't reserve tables.
	Eco, 162 Clapham High Street, SW4 (020 7978 1108) A truly excellent pizza restaurant - need one say more…
	Kennington Lane Restaurant & Bar, 205-209 Kennington Lane, SW11 (020 7793 8313) For a special meal, it's worth making the effort to find this place. The standard of cooking is extremely high with an emphasis on modern/Mediterranean food. The wine list is outstanding.

Eating Out LINKS :

Dining Guide to London, Nandos, Restaurants, The London Restaurant Review, Where to Eat

London Bars & Pubs

Despite fairly archaic drinking laws (which are slowly being changed to bring the UK into line with the rest of the world), there is no shortage of watering holes in London. On the contrary, you will not be able to go more than a few yards without passing a pub or wine bar. The trouble is finding somewhere that suits your taste and pocket, and knowing where to begin in a city that is full of boozers.

By and large, "drinking establishments" can be roughly divided into the old fashioned pub (usually with a name like the Queen's Arms or the Red Lion) and the wine bar/modern pub. The former are often at least a hundred years old - sometimes much more - and many still have a Victorian appearance, with lots of dark, heavy wood, acid etched glass windows, stained carpets and a garnish of dirty ashtrays and pint glasses. (Think 'Queen Vic' or 'Rover's Return'). They are good places to drink if you don't mind a predominantly male atmosphere, warm British beers, lots of smoke and shepherd's pie type meals. Some of them have smartened up their act, in an effort to appeal more to women, but they are still not much good for anyone who would rather drink wine, or a designer beer. However, they often do have a real sense of history, especially the ones in the City of London, along the River Thames, or tucked away in hidden corners of the West End.

Not your style? Then try one of London's many wine bars or slick new pub chains. Good examples would be JD Wetherspoon's, the Firkin bars, the Slug & Lettuce bars or the Pitcher & Piano/All Bar One bars, all of which are big, bright, well-decorated and trendy and come with a great selection of beers, wines and food. For more traditional wine bars, we'd recommend the Balls Brothers and Davy establishments, to be found in major cities across the UK. Here you'll find a great selection of wines and champagnes, as well as designer beers and quality food.

Once you've been in the UK for a couple of weeks you'll have a good idea of where to drink and where to be seen. Put fifty Londoners in a room and ask them for their favourite pub and you'll probably get fifty different answers! See futher down for a few of ours to get you started.

WHAT TO DRINK

As regards drinking tips, take note - order a pint (568ml). Anything less and you are likely to be teased for drinking a 'tiny' beer. Prices range from £2.50 to £3. Popular alternatives are lager with a touch of lime, lemonade (known as 'lager tops') or Guinness with blackcurrant. A number of low-calorie Light beers is also available.
Lager is the most popular drink, although there are a fair whack of stout (Guinness, Murphy's or Beamish) and bitter (also known as real ale) drinkers.
Bitter is a darker and often sweeter non-carbonated brew. It is often served warm, which will at first seem disconcerting, but many travellers acquire a taste for it. Start off with Boddington's - one of the lighter beers. If you don't like that, quit while you are ahead.
Beware of what the Brits call Alcopops which are all the rage at the moment. Hooch and Bacardi Breezer are two such brands - deathly sweet with an alcoholic kick. Cider, both clear and opaque, is popular in the UK.
It is approximately the same strength as a regular beer. Try a pint with a dash of lime or blackcurrant for an extra fruity flavour. Cocktail drinkers should head over to the Long Island Iced Tea Bar in Covent Garden, Henry J Beans on the King's Road or the O Bar in Soho.

Bars

Some sites stick London's pubs and bars in the same section. Fools! You wouldn't have to live here ten minutes to know that the two are worlds apart. London has seen a bar explosion in recent years, adding a whole new dimension to the city's nightlife. Celebrities are no longer spotted in clubs; instead, the tabloids eagerly report on the latest "trendy bars". And they are trendy. Slight relaxation in the UK's draconian licensing laws means many now open until 3 a.m. and employ DJs, blurring into clubs somewhere around midnight. Some operate fearsome door policies, relegating anyone not deemed gorgeous enough to the dreaded zone beyond the velvet rope. Others are more laid back, but no less cool. And each have their own special gimmick to set them apart from the all the other beautifully decorated, hip as hell bars sprouting up all over London. Go to all of them, just to say you've been.

Pubs

England is (yawn) famous for its pubs, and the word conjures up visions of authentic Cockneys eating jellied eels in smoky boozers. Of course, this image is a huge generalisation - there are almost as many pubs as there are Londoners. There is a pub for everyone - "gastropubs" with great food, pubs with wine lists to die for, pubs with nightly entertainment, real ale pubs, organic pubs, non-smoking pubs. If you want to be authentic about the whole thing, then DON'T go to a pub in Leicester Square - they're overpriced tourist traps and decorated to look "olde-worlde". Instead you should make like a native, and find a "local", somewhere you can chill out, recover from the night before, gossip and meet people. And, in our opinion, you should avoid the chain and themed pubs. Any chain pub claiming to be "Irish" is obviously run by a multinational so give it a miss if you're looking for some genuine atmosphere, rather than just alcohol. The great British pub IS an institution, but don't find one in a guidebook!

London pubs and bars are great but, but...how can I break this to you gently? They close really damn early! 11 p.m. to be precise, with last orders ten minutes before. In central London, nearly all bars have a later license, but the fact remains that your local will be turfing you out at the time your evening would just be getting going at home! But you'll learn to cope, or you'll find a way around it - in the shape of a friendly landlord who'll let you have a lock-in. This is when they close the pub, but keep serving those left inside. Lock-ins are illegal though, so if your local publican isn't that way inclined, you'll get very short shrift if you demand such a service!

FAVOURITE DRINKING/PUB SITES

www.worldsbestbars.com , www.viewlondon.co.uk , www.idrink.com, www.webtender.com , www.drinkstuff.com , www.hairytongue.com, www.viewpub.com, www.pubs247.com & www.findapub.co.uk

FAVOURITE LOCALS

	The Albert, 52 Victoria Street, SW1. Near Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, this staunchly Victorian pub is worth a visit just for the décor alone - it looks just as a traditional British pub should do. Good food and wine.
	All Bar One, 48 Leicester Square, WC2. This chain of spacious bars is expanding rapidly and is incredibly popular with convivial twenty and thirty somethings. They're noisy, stylish, have a good range of beers, wine and food, and are packed with revellers by early evening. This one is in a great location, right on the corner of Leicester Square.
	Alphabet, 61-63 Beak Street, W1. This bar won the Evening Standard Bar of the Year award in 1998 and has a strong clientele of hip twenty-somethings. Look out for the excellent range of bottled beers, New World wines, and excellent food.
	Anglesea Arms, 15 Selwood Terrace, SW7. A fairly old-fashioned yet extremely popular pub, this has few modern facilities yet won the Evening Standard Pub of the Year in 1997. In summer, people can spill out onto the pavement, while in winter the real fire makes it a cosy den.
	The Backpacker, 126 York Way, N1. An absolute must for Antipodean visitors, this pub (packed with Aussies and Kiwis) is wild and raucous. It's near the famous venue The Church, where more scenes of drunken debauchery take place…not for the timid!
	Belgo Centraal, 50 Earlham Street, WC2. One of two in London, a Belgian bar/restaurant with Moules and Frites as the primary food, and with 101 Belgian beers as the main attraction.
	Belle Vue, 1 Clapham Common Southside, SW4. This friendly and comfortable pub is useful to know if you live south of the river. It serves excellent food and wines.
	The Bleeding Heart, Bleeding Heart Yard, off Greville Street, EC1. This establishment in the heart of Holborn is tucked away but definitely worth finding, with a restaurant downstairs, a wine bar on the ground floor and lots of good wines available by the glass. Ask how it got its name…
	Champagne Charlies, 17 The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2. Part of the extensive Davys chain of wine bars with an old-fashioned look, this branch is particularly well located for a Friday night's drinking. Although a wine bar, beer is also served, including the lethal Old Wallop. Order a cab first!
	The Chandos, 29 St Martin's Lane, WC2. Located very centrally near Leicester Square, this is a big pub with cheap beer, perfect as a place to meet up with friends before going on to film, theatre, or a meal.
	The Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, WC1. This is a huge pub, first established as an inn in 1430 and rebuilt in its present form in 1890. Inside, it is like a massive medieval hall - truly impressive. Sam Smith's beer is one of a wide variety served here.
	Dome, 32 Long Acre, WC2. This chain, which also has branches near Selfridges, in Hampstead and in Chelsea, was established in the early 80's, and is extremely popular. Great beer, great food…but best for people watching.
	The Hogshead, 18 Fish Street Hill, Monument, EC3. Part of the Whitbread chain this is an excellent and comfortable venue with a good range of real beers and food. Packed with City workers looking to spend their bonuses.
	The Hoop and Grapes, 47 Aldgate High Street, London EC3. This pub is unique. It was the only building in the heart of the City not to perish in the Great Fire of London in 1666. A beautiful timber-framed building with a great deal of old-fashioned atmosphere. Great for anyone who likes a bit of individuality with their beer.
	The Lamb and Flag, 33 Rose Street, WC2. This is a delightful old pub, reputedly the oldest in the Covent Garden area, with few modern amenities (no games machines, no music) but a great range of beers. Its location makes it very handy for meeting up before an evening out in the West End.
	The Maple Leaf, 41 Maiden Lane, WC2. Another pub handily situated in Covent Garden, this is (as the name implies) the great meeting place for Canadians in London. Recently renovated and enlarged, the pub serves Canadian food, and has the only supply of draught Molson outside of North America. There are also big screens for watching the ice hockey (what's ice hockey?).
	The Moon under Water, 105-107 Charing Cross Road, WC2. Part of the immensely successful J D Wetherspoon's chain, this bar serves several real ales, offers cut-price beers, and dishes up substantial servings of food to soak up the alcohol.
	O'Neills, 31-36 Houndsditch, EC3. Just one of a huge chain of Irish theme pubs serving Guinness, Irish whiskey and Irish gin. The atmosphere is convivial, if a little forced, but the staff do make a great effort and the Guinness goes down a treat.
	The Polar Bear, 30 Lisle Street, WC2. Kiwi heaven if you're suffering a bout of homesickness. With three bars, six TV screens (best place to watch the All Blacks) and a busy atmosphere, it's "good as gold". Look out for the Kiwi advice centre with information on accommodation and Kiwi social events.
	Prospect of Whitby, 57 Wapping Wall, E1. Yes, this is a tourist attraction but as it's also one of the oldest pubs in London and is nicely situated by the river, it's definitely worth a visit.
	Sports Café, 80 Haymarket, SW1. This is a huge themed place designed on American lines, with plenty of large TV's and a massive screen that can be seen from the restaurant area. Great central location with sport, sport, sport.
	Springbok, 20 Bedford Street, WC2. A great venue for South Africans in London. Complete with loud music, video games, large TV screens and Castle lager.
	Walkabout, 11 Henrietta Street, WC2. An Aussie haven, this rough-and-ready looking pub has a games bar, large screens for watching Australian Rules football, live music and cold lager…definitely no warm beer here!
	The Westbourne, 101 Westbourne Park Villas, W2. Located in the trendy Notting Hill Gate district, this bistro pub is incredibly popular for both its food and beer (try the Leffe on draught). Eat and drink outside whilst eyeing the local talent. Be warned - it does get packed.
	The White Cross, Riverside, Richmond. This classic Victorian pub is blessed with a great location, with views of Richmond Bridge. It gets incredibly packed on a sunny day as people sit outside with their pints watching passing boats on the water. Try the Young's beer, soaked up with a traditional English Sunday roast.
	The Windmill on the Common, Clapham Common Southside, SW4. This large, airy pub has a great range of drinks with cask ales, draught lagers and a good selection of wines. In the summer, drinkers can spill out on to the common, and in winter the open fires keep the bar cosy. There's good food in the adjoining restaurant, and frequent live music. Not surprisingly, it's very popular.

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