Entertainment in England
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Café Bar Inspire
Coventry's Christchurch church was destroyed during World War II, leaving only the spire, which now, slightly sacrilegiously, shelters this bar. This is forgivable as it is very good. It serves an international selection of bottled brews, as well as baguette and salad snacks throughout the day.
reviewed
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A
Sankey's
If you're a fan of techno, electro or any kind of non-mainstream house music, then a pilgrimage to Manchester's best nightclub should on no account be missed. Sankey's has earned itself legendary status for being at the vanguard of dance music (Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and others got their start here) and its commitment to top-class DJs is unwavering. These days, you'll hear the likes of Timo Maas, Seb Leger and Thomas Schumacher mix it up with the absolutely superb residents. Choon! Sankey's is about a mile east of the Northern Quarter. The best way to get here is to board the free Disco Bus that picks up at locations throughout the city from 10.30pm to 2am Friday…
reviewed
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B
Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club
As it says on the tin, this is a true working men’s club, which has opened its doors and let in all kinds of off-the-wall club nights, including trashy burlesque, vintage nights of all eras, beach parties and bake offs. Expect sticky carpets, a shimmery stage set and a space akin to a school-hall disco.
reviewed
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C
Churchill Arms
This traditional English pub is renowned for its Winston memorabilia, chamber pots, golf bags suspended from the ceiling and butterflies under glass. It’s a favourite of both locals and tourists (what either group makes of the Winnie/lepidopterous connection is anyone’s guess), and you’ll have to fight your way through scrums of punters at the horseshoe-shaped bar for a pint. The attached conservatory has been serving excellent Thai food for two decades.
reviewed
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D
Ten Bells
This landmark pub, opposite Spitalfields Market and next to the area’s striking church, is famous for being one of Jack the Ripper’s pick-up joints, although these days it’s about as far from a museum piece as you can get. In fact, ask most of the young and hip crowd about the history, and few will have any idea that this beautifully decorated, airy and friendly place has anything sinister about its Victorian past.
reviewed
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E
French House
French House is Soho’s legendary boho boozer with a history to match: this was the meeting place of the Free French Forces during WWII, and de Gaulle is said to have drunk here often, while Dylan Thomas, Peter O’Toole and Francis Bacon all frequently ended up on the wooden floors. Come here to sip on Ricard, French wine or Kronenbourg and check out the quirky locals.
reviewed
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F
Prospect of Whitby
Once known as the Devil’s Tavern, the Whitby is said to date from 1520, making it the oldest riverside pub in London. It’s firmly on the tourist trail now, but there’s a smallish terrace to the front and the side overlooking the Thames, a decent restaurant upstairs and open fires in winter. Check out the wonderful pewter bar – Samuel Pepys once sidled up to it to sup.
reviewed
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G
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Tucked into the cliff below the castle, this fantastically atmospheric alehouse claims to be England's oldest pub; it supposedly slaked the thirst of departing crusaders. The phrase 'nooks and crannies' could have been invented for here. Just when you think there are no more, you'll find another - and there are usually more than enough to accommodate the many tourists who come to sample the brews.
reviewed
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H
Adam & Eve's
A 13th-century brew-house built to quench the thirst of cathedral builders, this is now Norwich's oldest-surviving pub, and an adorable little sunken-floored gem. So snug it is that the upper bar barely fits the barmaid, perhaps why the staff has a reputation for grumpiness! Take a pew outside amid the old-mangle flowerpots, or keep an eye out for the resident ghost in the character-rich interior.
reviewed
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Amused Moose Soho
One of the city’s best clubs, Soho’s Amused Moose is popular with audiences and comedians alike, perhaps helped along by the fact that heckling is ‘unacceptable’ and all of the acts are ‘first-date friendly’ in that they’re unlikely to humiliate the front row.
reviewed
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Electric Cinema
Topped with its art-deco sign, this is the oldest working cinema in the UK (screening since 1909). Enjoy a mix of mainstream and art-house cinema, waited upon in plush two-seater sofas, or have a drink in the small bar.
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Black Boy
A celebration of English eccentricity, this adorable old pub is filled with obsessive and sometimes freaky collections, from pocket watches to wax facial features, bear traps, sawn paperbacks and tobacco pipes. Even the women's toilets cheekily sport gynaecological clamps and fish murals.
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Captain Kidd
With its large windows, fine beer garden and displays recalling the hanging nearby of the eponymous pirate in 1701, this is a favourite riverside pub in Wapping. Although cleverly done up, it actually only dates back to the 1980s.
reviewed
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M
Masquerade Bar
There's no discernible gay quarter in Liverpool, with most of the gay-friendly clubs and bars spread about Dale St and Victoria St in Ropewalks. The Masquerade Bar attracts a real mix of gays, lesbians and bi's looking for a few laughs and a sing-song.
reviewed
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Cavern Club
It's a reconstruction, and not even on the same spot, but the 'world's most famous club' is still a great spot to see local bands.
reviewed
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Baby Jupiter
A retro gem with lots of purple velvet, hanging fishbowls and a very funky soundtrack, this was - at the time of writing - the 'in' place with those who make it their business to define what 'in' actually is.
reviewed
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Sloop Inn
Old Speckled Hen, Doom Bar and Bass ales make this beam-ceilinged boozer a favourite with St Ives' old boys. Settle into a booth seat for the night, or bag a spot on one of the wharfside tables.
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Pipe & Slippers
The Pipe is a solid bet for a solid pint and an equally solid meal - Bath Ales behind the bar and Pieminister pies make this ever popular with Bristol's boozer-cruisers.
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Guildhall
Hosts music and theatre, especially during the St Ives September Festival.
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Pig & Fiddle
Fave with the Bath Spa students, especially for big-screen sports and table footie.
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Little Theatre
Bath's art-house cinema, screening mostly fringe and foreign-language films.
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Pear Shaped
Advertising themselves as 'London's second-worst comedy club', Pear Shaped is the place to destroy the hopes of enthusiastic amateurs.
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Firebug
A lava lounge for the student crowd, the Firebug has a great selection of beers on tap, as well as theme nights, stage shows and gigs.
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Ronnie Scott’s
Ronnie Scott originally opened his jazz club on Gerrard St in 1959 under a Chinese gambling den. The club moved to its current location six years later and became widely known as Britain’s best jazz club. Such luminaries as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, plus Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan have all played here.
The club continues to build upon its formidable reputation by hosting a range of big names and new talent. The atmosphere is great, but talking during music is a big no-no. Door staff can be terribly rude and the service slow, but that’s how it’s always been. Gigs are nightly and usually last until 2am. Expect to pay between £18 and…
reviewed
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X
Royal Court Theatre
Equally renowned for staging innovative new plays and old classics, the Royal Court is among London’s most progressive theatres and has continued to discover major writing talent across the UK under its inspirational artistic director, Dominic Cooke.
Tickets for concessions are £6 to £10, and £10 for everyone on Monday (four 10p standing tickets sold at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs); tickets for under 26s are £8. Standby tickets are sold an hour before performances, but normally at full price.
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