Watering holes to suit all tastes

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Deborah Colcutt|Sophia Money-Coutts|Evening Standard

10 April 2012

PUBS WITH GOOD LIVE MUSIC

The Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, NW1 (020 7485 1773, www.thedublincastle.com)
The Camden pub which helped launch the careers of Madness, the Arctic Monkeys and Travis. And you never know when Camden's biggest fan, Amy Winehouse, might pop in again and do a set.

Boogaloo, 312 Archway Road, N6 (020 88340 2928, www.theboogaloo.org)
Shane McGowan liked Boogaloo so much after doing an impromptu gig there that he moved into the flat upstairs - and invited Pete Doherty, another Boogaloo regular, to move in. What a riot. Boogaloo's jukebox plays only classic tracks that are changed monthly by a visiting celeb.

The Bull's Head, 373 Lonsdale Road, SW13 (020 8876 5241, www.thebullshead.com)
The pub dates back to 1684 but it wasn't until 1959 that it started hosting the live jazz gigs for which it has become internationally renowned. Ronnie Scott, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Stan Tracey - the list of famous musicians who have played here is endless and it's still going strong.

PUBS TO EAT IN

The Pig's Ear, 35 Old Church Street, SW3 (020 7352 2908)
The porcine theme runs through every element of this pub - and we're not just talking about the menu. Piggy ornaments, hog portraits and, of course, trotters in gravy are all on offer. But vegetarians needn't shudder - there are plenty of delicious alternatives such as chilled pea and mint soup and lemon and goat's cheese tart.

The Cat and Mutton, 78 Broadway Market, E8 (020 7254 5599)
Originally called The Cattle and Leg of Mutton because of the drovers who pastured their livestock on the adjacent London Fields, the pub has been seriously revamped and has an upmarket menu to match. It focuses on seasonal British food.

St John's Tavern, 91 Junction Road, N19 (020 7272 1587)
In its previous incarnation, St John's was the hub of Archway's lively Irish community, with a back room (now the restaurant) where Guinness-fuelled jigs were commonplace. Now completely overhauled, its menu favours British, Spanish and French cuisine.

WOMAN-FRIENDLY PUBS

The Hollybush, 22 Holly Mount, NW3 (020 7435 2892, www.hollybushpub.com)
One of London's oldest pubs remains a sport-free zone. Women can while away the afternoon in one of its cosy rooms without the accompanying cheers of "Eng-er-land".

The Butcher's Hook, 477 Fulham Road, SW6 (020 7385 4654, www.thebutchershook.co.uk)
Vast leather sofas make this a good spot for girly weekend brunches or just to sprawl out with the papers on your own. And they serve Bloody Marys by the jug on Sundays.

The Ship, 41 Jew's Row, SW18 (020 8870 9667, www.theship.co.uk)
On a clear spring Saturday, nothing beats nabbing a table outside this waterside pub. Just sit peacefully and watch Thames life float by while you sip a large glass of white.

PUBS TO DRINK WINE IN

The Charles Lamb, 16 Elia Street, N1 (020 7837 5040, www.thecharleslambpub.co.uk)
This Islington joint actually styles itself as the Charles Lamb Pub and Kitchen. A mixed list of Old and New World wines are served in glasses, bottles or even carafes for those who can't quite make up their mind.

The Greyhound at Battersea, 136 Battersea High Street, SW11 (020 7978 7921, www.thegreyhoundatbattersea.co.uk)
Owner Mark van der Goot was top sommelier at Mayfair's Greenhouse restaurant, so it's no surprise that the Greyhound's wine list runs to 32 pages. The menu matches each dish with a recommended tipple, and a wine club runs monthly promotions.

The Phoenix, 23 Smith Street, SW1 (020 7828 8136, www.geronimo-inns.co.uk)
If you can ignore the slightly jarring categories of the wine list at this Chelsea staple ("crisp cool whites", "top of the red tree"), you'll find an impressive choice of bottles to pick from, plucked from across the globe - and with a mini-list of sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs to try against one another.

PUBS TO SPOT CELEBRITIES

The Lansdowne, 90 Gloucester Ave, NW1 (020 7483 0409, www.thelansdownepub.co.uk)
Whether you like politician-spotting or star-gazing, the Lansdowne is unlikely to disappoint. David Miliband, Jamie Oliver and Jools, Sadie Frost (often with Kate Moss in tow) are all regulars. If no one famous shows up, you can always drown your sorrows in the fabulous wine menu.

The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 (020 7221 0021, www.thecowlondon.co.uk)
The philosophy of this trendy west London outfit is "eat heartily and give the house a good name", and that's what a lot of celebrities do. Damian Lewis and wife Helen McCrory are among the rich and famous who cram into the tiny ground-floor bar for the pub's oyster dishes. Well, the owner is Tom Conran, so what do you expect?

The Golden Heart, 110 Commercial Street, E1 (020 7247 2158)
Under no-nonsense landlady Sandra Esquilant, local creative talent and Spitalfields movers and shakers including Gilbert & George, Tracey Emin and Amy Winehouse are guaranteed a quiet drink. Dear Sandra won't tolerate the paparazzi hanging around the door and if they try to get in, they won't be served. Now you know!

PUBS THAT WELCOME CHILDREN

The Engineer, 65 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 (020 7722 0950, www.the-engineer.com)
High-chairs, colouring books and crayons are on hand to distract your brood, and as well as offering a children's menu the staff are happy to warm up any baby food you brought yourself.

The Peasant, 240 St John Street, EC1 (020 7336 7726, www.thepeasant.co.uk)
This Clerkenwell hangout wins a child-friendly accolade for its late turfing-out time - 9pm for all children; much later than most pubs you'll find. Sunday brunches are particularly good here too.

The Windmill, Clapham Common South Side, SW4 (020 8673 4578, www.windmillclapham.co.uk)
Perched on Clapham Common, this pub welcomes parents and their children of all ages at the weekends - just get there early for a table.

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Watering holes to suit all tastes

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