London - what to do

retto · #21 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyGrapefruit

And for the best value good wine bars I heartily recommend Davy's. Although a chain they are well run and import most of the wine themselves (at least they used to) My favourite is the Crusting Pipe downstairs in Covent Garden market. If you are lucky you can get a table outside and get free opera and classical music street entertainment all evening (OK, bung them a quid when their box comes round)

i can vouch for this place. mr retto & I had to find a place with a loo quick, at xmas time (normally don't eat around covent garden, too touristy) but by chance we went here - it had great wine!

JollyGrapefruit · #22 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by retto

i can vouch for this place. mr retto & I had to find a place with a loo quick, at xmas time (normally don't eat around covent garden, too touristy) but by chance we went here - it had great wine!

Exactly, but most tourists head to the other end of this basement to the truly awful Punch & Judy pub. I've been drinking at the Crusting Pipe for about 20 years, I'll be in London Monday and I am looking forward to it now!

BTW, a lot of these bars have a big barrel of port behind the bar. The tap to draw off the port is about a quarter way up from the bottom and each morning they fill the barrel up with newly opened bottles meaning you get a blend of ports going back many years in your glass (or jug if you are drinking with me)

BigD · #23 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 16:34

Well there's a thing...the cigar shop to which I refer is owned by the same people as the Crusting Pipe...

BigD

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD

....and just between the pillars in the background of this picture is a cigar shop.

BigD

BigD · #24 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 16:47

Thanks for that link to the chain (sic). I'm in London next week and will be visiting the place you mention in Covent Garden plus "Truckles" (which I last visited in 1988 on a work bash) near the British Museum and "Bung Hole" on high Holborn.

BigD

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyGrapefruit

And for the best value good wine bars I heartily recommend Davy's. Although a chain they are well run and import most of the wine themselves (at least they used to) My favourite is the Crusting Pipe downstairs in Covent Garden market. If you are lucky you can get a table outside and get free opera and classical music street entertainment all evening (OK, bung them a quid when their box comes round)

lesley · #25 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 08:49

The pub in Lambs Conduit Street (Bloomsbury area) is great can't rememberr its name - Sun, rising sun, sunny something rings a bell. For the kids there is Coram fields just near too.

BigD · #26 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 08:55

The Sun (now called Perseverence) ? I had a yard of ale competition in there once. I say "once" quite emphatically.

BigG

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesley

The pub in Lambs Conduit Street (Bloomsbury area) is great can't rememberr its name - Sun, rising sun, sunny something rings a bell. For the kids there is Coram fields just near too.

BigD · #27 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 08:56

Here is a good site listing walks containing sites of interest.

BigD

JollyGrapefruit · #28 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD

Thanks for that link to the chain (sic). I'm in London next week and will be visiting the place you mention in Covent Garden plus "Truckles" (which I last visited in 1988 on a work bash) near the British Museum and "Bung Hole" on high Holborn.

BigD

I used to live in Greenwich and their head office and main bar was located there. I joined their "club" and managed to visit most of the then bars. The staff are all very knowledgeable and interested in the wine and the food is generally pretty good English "Fayre" - pea & ham soup, boiled ham with mustard, cheese plates etc. If you're in London Monday I'll see you in the CP in Covent Garden late afternoon.

lesley · #29 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 11:49

Not sure if it is available still, but when I was working at Barts, we'd finish a night shift and go to a pub (?bluepost? in Smithfield for a breakfast and pint with the workers from the meat market. Happy days.

flow23 · #30 (**permalink**) 18-05-2009, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by retto

curry in most places should be ok (as in cheaper & probably better than here)

biggest myth ever! been to two places, 1 in kensington and 1 in shoreditch 3weeks ago...cheaper maybe, but portions were somewhat micro! any kings kurry in Zh is better in terms price/size of portion. quality was the same like here...

one of my faves in london is http://www.boisdale.co.uk/belgravia/

best haggis i ever had, fine selection of wine and smooth jazz are played while having a cigar on the terrace...