24 hour city

A recent investigation claims the City of London is in the grip of a 24-hour drinking and clubbing boom. With more and more bars offering late licences, the Square Mile is reportedly giving the West End a run for its money. But what's it like to drink around the clock in the City?

1900hrs: THE EVANGELIST, 33 BLACKFRIARS LANE
My 24-hour City drinking session has just started and pal Richard Berry is already placing bets on how long I'll last. We decide to line our stomachs and order a meat platter and a duck spring roll and watch the other clientele, a mild-mannered office bunch listening to chill-out tunes.

2130hrs: APT BAR, 10-15 QUEEN ST
We've blagged our way into a private party at Apt Bar - a modern, trying-to-be-trendy watering-hole. It's a weird mix of pretty blondes and not-so-pretty older men and smooching couples. Music is wafting up from a basement dancefloor, but only one David Brent type is bopping to the music.

2330hrs: ABACUS, 24 CORNHILL
This is more like it. The place is swarming with sexy young suits. At the bar, a handsome 26-year-old is in mid-argument with a waitress. She's telling him he's just missed last orders at 11.30pm. He's insisting the bar's open until 1am.
The man is Frederico Bustos, a hedge fund analyst from Clapham. He introduces workmates James Regan and pal Lee Ashman, a trader. They're typical of the rest of the punters - young, fun, and more than a little drunk.

0030hrs: MEET BAR, 85 CHARTERHOUSE ST
Richard's gone to join a workmate at a nearby bar but mate Bells has arrived and we've scooted off to Smithfields. Meet is subdued and cosy. It's more kitsch than your average City bar and by the time we leave we've nattered to everyone.

0130hrs: SOSHO, TABERNACLE ST, SHOREDITCH
Richard re-joins me at Sosho. This place is heaving with an achingly cool Old Street crowd and I'm being drawn to the dancefloor by some very decent hard house. I can see only one Suit but I'm assuming most people have gone home to change.

0300hrs: CHARLIE'S WINE BAR, 9 CROSSWALL
The only good thing about Charlie's is the clearly marked exit doors. The cheesy DJ is enthusiastically spinning Yazz, as dry ice chokes the packed dancefloor. To my right two Vicky Pollards are sandwiching a skinny Rodney Trotter, who fires me the line: "I see you've spilt wine on your dress. Why don't you let me lick it off?"

0600hrs: DEPARTURE, 2 CRUTCHED FRIARS
I've just spotted my first milk float in about 10 years so I know it must be late. At the entrance to the Departure Lounge I'm frisked by four intimidating security guards - but considering the time, and the punters inside, that's not surprising. Eight quid later Richard and I are necking alcopops and watching a techno trance crew on a dingy dancefloor. Richard plods home looking shattered. I fall into a cab.

0830hrs: THE STERLING, THE GHERKIN
The Sterling nestles on the ground floor of The Gherkin and has been open for a businessman's breakfast - complete with alcoholic drinks - since 7.30am. I have another spritzer then fall asleep until the sun shining through the windows wakes me.

1230hrs: LAMB TAVERN, LEADENHALL MKT
The Lamb Tavern lies in a stunning parade of Victorian shops and is steeped in history. A century ago the place would have been bustling with market porters and traders. Today it's brimming with dignified City gentry, spilling out onto the pavement for a lunchtime tipple. There's a noticeably older crowd than Meet and Abacus.