A drink on Christmas day

If you need to escape the brussel sprouts and the turkey for an hour or ten on Christmas Day how about nipping to a local for a much needed bevvie?

Sofra, 1 St Christopher's Place, W1 (020-7224 4080). For a real taste of Turkey. Open noon-midnight.

Forget the turkey and go Turkish this Yuletide when Christmas Day is business as usual at this excellent chain of Turkish restaurants and bars. The delights on their menu include an extensive list of small meze dishes including falafels, tabbouleh and salads, and main courses of meat and fish dishes with a good selection of vegetarian options. They're all licensed, of course, but you should try the Turkish coffee or the Turkish apple tea. Other branches open for business are to be found at 36 Tavistock Street, WC2 (020-7240 3773) and 18 Shepherd Street, W1 (020-7493 3320). Sofra's sister-venue, Ozer, will also be open at 5 Langham Place, W1 (020-7323 0505).

Unwins

Branches throughout London.

For urgent supplies. For opening hours visit www.unwins.co.uk If it's a last minute bottle of vino you're after, or indeed a case of lager to toast Her Majesty after her address to the Commonwealth, then pop into your local branch of Unwins. Many of their branches throughout London will be opening for a few hours at lunchtime to cater for last-minute necessities. Oddbins, Thresher, Victoria Wine and Bottoms Up are all signalling that they'll be closed for the day.

mybar

myhotel, 35 Ixworth Place, SW3 (020-7225 7500). Stylish and upmarket.
Licensed to serve non-residents noon-3pm & 5.30pm-10.30pm.

Most hotel bars will be operating as usual over the festive period, which means there is a reasonable alternative to being stuck at home with the out-laws. The mybar in Chelsea is one of the smaller boutique hotels that will be offering a full bar service which is open to non-residents. mybar serves some terrific cocktails, has a decent wine list, and some fabulous snacks and main-course dishes. Being Christmas Day, warm mince pies will be on offer, and there'll be plenty of mulled wine and eggnog to maintain the festive cheer.

The Roebuck

130 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey (020-8948 2329). Fabulous views. Open noon-2pm.

Take a walk through Richmond Park, then head for Richmond Hill where you'll be treated to some of the best views of West London and beyond. The Roebuck is at the top of the hill. Jerry Hall is a neighbour of the Roebuck, although it's not yet clear whether she'll be popping in for a pint.

The Hare & Billet

A genuine ale house. Open noon-3pm.

After a stroll around Blackheath, head for the olde-worlde charm of the Hare & Billet. There has been an ale house on this site since the 17th century, which was not the best time to be out and about on Blackheath. It was just a heath in those days, with cutpurses lurking to cut the throats of travellers between London and Dover. It is much more respectable these days, but it still takes its ales very seriously, with an ever-changing range of six on tap.

The Flask

14 Flask Walk, NW3 (020-7435 4580). Hampstead's favourite local. Open noon-2pm.

The current passion for bottled water is not new. It was a hot item in the 18th century too, much to the advantage of Hampstead, where medicinal springs were found that cured idleness, dissipation and frivolity. The waters were bottled in the Thatched House and sold at 3d a flask. In 1874 the Thatched House was replaced by the Flask that we know and love today. They will be selling Young's ales on Christmas Day - as well as water, of course.