Entertainment in Southeast England
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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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Koba
This übercool cocktail bar oozes it-crowd extravagance and exclusivity. It's technically a member's club but the sumptuous velvet-draped front bar opens to the hoi polloi until 23:00, just enough time to ingratiate yourself with a member to be invited back into the private 'Champagne Bar' or 'The Gods' with high ceiling and altar-style bar.
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Dorset
There's a laid-back Parisian street-café feel to this gastropub and Brighton institution, which throws open its doors and windows in fine weather and spills tables onto the pavement. You'll be just as welcome for a morning coffee as for an evening pint here, and if you decide not to leave between the two, there's always its decent menu too.
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Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
Reputedly the oldest pub in England (a former manager allegedly proved a pub stood here in AD 795!), this unusual octagonal-shaped inn has oodles of charm. Oliver Cromwell spent a night here, stabling his horses in what's now the bar; underground tunnels lead to the cathedral. Drink in this historic atmosphere while you nurse your pint.
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West's Bar & Lounge
Tempt God to strike you down by doing shots, downing cocktails and watching football in this converted Gothic church opposite the cathedral. Its soaring arches, dark wooden ceiling and candlelit tables add weight and atmosphere to what's basically just a trendy wine bar.
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Beach
On a summer's day, there's nowhere better to sit and watch the world go by than at this popular beach bar and club. It has a funky brick-vaulted interior, and a wide terrace spilling onto the promenade within earshot of the surf and sight of the talent dipping into it.
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Chichester Festival Theatre
This somewhat Soviet-looking playhouse was built in 1962 and has a long and distinguished history. Sir Laurence Olivier was the theatre's first director and Ingrid Bergman, Sir John Gielgud and Sir Anthony Hopkins are a few of the other famous names to have played here.
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Evening Star
Hopheads heap praise on this beer-drinkers paradise; a snug unpretentious pub with a conveniently short stagger to the station after a sendoff from its wonderful selection of award-winning real ales, Belgian beers, organic lagers and real ciders.
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Molokos Vodka Bar
One of the city's slicker contemporary venues, Molokos lures in the youth of Winchester with just about every flavour of vodka under the sun, touts an R & B soundtrack and buzzing ambience. It graduates into a club on weekend nights.
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Honey Club
A cavernous seafront club that jumps from strength to strength, almost as popular with DJs as it is with the weekly queues of clubbers that pile into its glittering depths. Dress up, party hard, then cool off your aching feet in the sea.
reviewed
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Still & West
This relaxed salty-dogs pub on The Point has served many a sailor and smuggler in its day, and is still great for a drink on its waterside terrace, watching the passing yachts and ferries and looking back toward the Spinnaker Tower.
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Clarence Yard
An atmospheric 19th-century bakery and courtyard stables now houses this refined but relaxed wine bar, which capitalises on the cobbled floors, rough tiles and exposed brick with its own rustic-chic leather sofas and wickerwork.
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Drift
This hip London-style bar languishes behind whirlpool frosted glass and pebble-dashed front, has a slick chrome and wood interior, and lounge showcasing DJs on the weekends. Be sure to visit the quirky ultracool bathrooms.
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Spinnaker Tower Bar
OK it's the most touristy café-bar in Portsmouth, but you'll find no better coffee-sipping and wine-supping vantage point to watch the boats slosh past than this glass-sided café below its namesake edifice.
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Audio
Some of the city's top club nights can be found at this ear-numbing venue, where the music's top priority, attracting a young, up-for-it crowd. Every night is different, with music ranging from breakbeat to electro to indie. Next to the Amsterdam Hotel.
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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.
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Funky Buddha
Twin giant, brick, subterranean tunnels, with bars at the front and back, playing funky house, ̓70s, R&B and disco to a stylish and attitude-free crowd.
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Brighton Dome
Once the stables and exercise yard of King George IV, this art-deco complex houses three theatre venues within the Royal Pavilion estate. ABBA famously won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest here.
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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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Rose & Crown
Another St Albans favourite, this 16th-century pub with beautiful beer garden features live music Mondays at 21:00 and Irish music on Thursdays at 20:00.
reviewed
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Goat
Tucked away on a residential lane, this delightful pub is a warren of little rooms including library and games room with Chesterfield sofas.
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Six Bells
Next door to the Rose & Crown, this popular, low-ceilinged spot has a cosy fireplace and good pub food.
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Lower Red Lion Freehouse
Has regular beer festivals. A little rough around the edges, but there's a charming outdoor beer garden.
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Komedia Theatre
This former billiards hall and supermarket is now a stylish comedy, theatre and cabaret venue attracting some of the brightest stars on the stand-up circuit.
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Theatre Royal
Built by decree of the Prince of Wales in 1806, this grand venue hosts plays, musicals and operas.
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