Other entertainment in England
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A
Wimbledon
The All England Lawn Tennis Championships have been taking place here in late June/early July since 1877. Most tickets for the Centre and Number One courts are distributed by ballot, applications for which must be made the preceding year. Try your luck by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (PO Box 98, Church Rd, Wimbledon SW19 5AE). Limited tickets go on sale on the day of play, though queues are painfully long. The nearer to the finals, the higher the prices. You might be better off going to the men’s warm-up tournament at Queen’s Club, which takes place a couple of weeks before Wimbledon.
reviewed
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B
Dove
A 17th-century coffee house– cum- pub, the Dove has many claims to fame, including that it was in the Guinness Book of Records in 1989 for having the smallest bar in England (though there are larger areas, including a terrace, lounge and conservatory). It was Graham Greene’s local and Hemingway drank here, too; William Morris lived next door. There are good river views from the charming dark-wood interior, but if the sun is shining, fight for a place in the garden.
reviewed
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C
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Rough around the edges to say the least, this is the perfect antidote to the gleaming new wave of gay venues now crowding Vauxhall’s gay village. Saturday’s Duckie, a wonderful indie performance night hosted by Amy Lamé, is rightly considered to be one of the best club nights in London. Also check out S.L.A.G.S. on Sundays, and keep an eye out on the website for other upcoming events – from cabaret nights to previews for the Edinburgh Fringe.
reviewed
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D
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is one of the best places for catching world-music artists and hosts the fantastic Meltdown festival. It reopened in Summer 2007 after two years of renovations. Allies and Morrison architects worked on the £91-million renovations by using the existing 1950s materials – concrete, leather and wood – to superb effect. The sound is fantastic, the programming impeccable and there are frequent free gigs in the wonderfully expansive foyer.
reviewed
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E
Coronet
A lovesick Hugh Grant munches popcorn here while watching Julia Roberts on the big screen in Notting Hill. The wonderful Edwardian interior, including a gorgeous balcony and even boxes, recalls the glory days of cinema, when filling a 400-seat house for every showing was easy.
reviewed
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F
Royal Ballet
Although the Royal Ballet's programme has been fluffed up by modern influences, classical ballet is still its bread and butter. This is where to head if you want to see traditional performances such as Giselle or Romeo & Juliet, performed by stars such as Sylvie Guillem, Irek Mukhamedov and Tamara Rojo. There are same-day tickets, one per customer, and half-price stand-by tickets.
reviewed
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G
Tabernacle
The best place to see both established and budding authors is the once-monthly Book Slam held at Tabernacle, and hosted by founder/author Patrick Neate. It’s had guests such as Nick Hornby, Hari Kunzru and Mil Millington, and hosts readings, slam poetry, live music and DJs; the literary fun can go on until late at night.
reviewed
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H
Old Ship
This restful towpath pub is the prime stop-off for families and couples on their weekend walks by the Thames. It looks south across the lazy bend of the river to Putney, and it’s popular during the rest of the week, especially on spring and summer days, thanks to its outdoor dining area, terrace and 1st-floor balcony.
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I
Forum
You can find your way to the Forum – once the famous Town & Country Club – by the ticket touts that line the way from Kentish Town tube. It’s a really popular venue for seeing new big bands, and the medium-sized hall, with stalls and a mezzanine, is spacious enough and perfectly intimate.
reviewed
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J
Waterway
Don’t come here for the selection of beer or ales or the overly expensive nosh; this place, hard by the Grand Union Canal in Little Venice, is all about location, and it’s hard to imagine a better place to while away a weekend afternoon.
reviewed
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K
Factory Club
The city’s former custard factory is now home to one of the hippest clubs in town. The feel is fi rmly contemporary industrial and it all resounds to a truly eclectic range of sounds, from Asian dub to breakbeat and electro pop.
reviewed
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L
Bull & Gate
The best place to see unsigned but promising talent, the legendary Bull & Gate’s old-school music venue still pulls in the punters eager to see guitar bands that might just turn out to be the next big thing.
reviewed
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King’s Arms
This sprawling place with its nooks and crannies and photographs on the walls of famous guests (including the Queen Mum pulling herself a pint) is the place to get lost in on a chilly winter’s afternoon.
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M
Ye Old King & Queen
Cobbled together from an 18th-century farmhouse, a nobleman’s hall and the former Brighton Corn Exchange, this cavernous boozer is a convenient place to sup a pint after visiting the Royal Pavilion.
reviewed
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Popstarz
This grand dame of gay indie has been revitalised by a recent transfer to the heart of the West End. It’s popular with a studenty, friendly, mixed crowd. There are three rooms of great indie pop.
reviewed
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O
Poetry Café
Covent Garden’s Poetry Café is a favourite for lovers of verse. It has almost daily readings and performances by established poets, open-mic evenings and writing workshops.
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Freud
A boho hangout in a crumb-ling desanctified church, with distressed pews, stained-glass windows and modern art on the walls, this cerebrally named venue is especially popular with students.
reviewed
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Q
Nightingale Club
At more than 40 years old, the Nightingale is the city’s most established gay and lesbian club. It rocks on three levels, with pop on the ground floor and techno upstairs.
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R
Regency Tavern
This unprepossessing place from the outside hides what looks like a room from the Royal Pavilion: striped wallpaper, cameo portraits and brass palm trees.
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S
Café Kick
A bare-boards bar with a Continental European feel, where the action centres around the handful of 'fussball' tables.
reviewed
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Rupert St
A spic-and-span gay bar offering a more relaxed experience than the boisterous party pubs.
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Club DV8
Club DV8 boasts one of the busiest midweek gay student nights in the country.
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Outdoor Film Club
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Mediatheque
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BFI Film Store
reviewed