Inside guide to Carnival bars

Fancy a beer or several while you soak up the Carnival action? These bars will all be open for funky business...

Babushka's , 41 Tavistock Crescent W11 (020 7727 9250).
The Carnival cannot come soon enough for the folks at Babushka's - so they will be starting a day early with a Battle Of The DJs showdown from 5pm on Saturday. Sunday and Monday will both feature resident DJs (backed by live percussionists), and a barbecue to cater for any hunger pangs while the beats kick in.
Open: Sun 12pm-10.30pm, Sun 12pm-11pm
Tube: Westbourne Park

Beach Blanket Babylon , 45 Ledbury Road, W11 (020 7229 2907).
Fun and frolics galore at Notting Hill favourite Beach Blanket Babylon, where W11 resident Colin Patterson will be packing them in with a trademark set of funky US house on Monday. A special drinks promotion should also be in place to ensure the party goes with a bang.
Open: Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10.30pm and Mon 12pm-11pm
Tube: Notting Hill Gate/Westbourne Park

The Westbourne , 101 Westbourne Park Villas, W2 (020 7221 1332).
Not content with serving beers to the thirsty public, The Westbourne will be turning a small corner of west London into a Jamaican enclave by installing a palm tree garden outside. The obligatory sound system will see DJs playing all weekend from inside the bar.
Open: Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10.30pm, Mon 12pm-10.30pm
Tube: Royal Oak/Westbourne Park

Prince Bonaparte , 80 Chepstow Road, W2 (020 7313 9491).
The winning combination of big beats and tasty burgers should please the punters at the Prince Bonaparte. This boozer will be serving hotdogs and burgers at the bar on both the Sunday and Monday, with house DJs doing their stuff on both days.
Open: Sun and Mon 12pm-10.30pm
Tube: Royal Oak or Westbourne Park

The Cow , 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 (020 7221 5400).
Never mind sweltering inside a bar on one of the hottest weekends of the year. The Cow will be neatly avoiding the problem of customers swooning in the heat by moving the bar outside for the weekend. Seems a good idea to us.
Open: Sun and Mon 12pm-10.30pm
Tube: Royal Oak/Westbourne Park

Woody's , 41-43 Woodfield Road, W9 (020 7226 3030).
A weekend of Carnival is just not enough for the people behind Woody's. Plans are afoot for a whole week of Carnival-themed mayhem, starting on Tuesday night (August 20th), building up to a massive party on the Sunday. What more do you want?
Open: Fri and Sat until 3am
Tube: Westbourne Park