De Hems, Soho

Who doesn't love all things Dutch?

De Hems is situation on Macclesfield Street which runs between Shaftesbury Avenue and Gerrard "Chinatown" Street. It's an odd place for such a good bar, nestled as it is between Chinese restaurants and Soho bars on the other side of the main road opposite.

The decor is as a good bar / pub should be - comfy seats, dim lighting and clean, solid wooden furniture. The bar staff are all friendly and quick behind the bar. The door staff are good too, not imposing but quick to sort out any potential problems.

There's an upstairs which is great if you get near the bay windows as they open in the summer and it's perfect for chilaxing and whiling away the hours. Downstairs can get rammed but it's a good kind of rammed.

Generally friendly clientel make this a superb place to drink, and the beer is good - ranging from Fruli, to Oranjeboom.

Well recommeded.

12 Jul 2007 11:24

The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge

The glory of the Thames Side Inn is location. It has a nice little spot nestled between Southwark Cathedral and it�s more gaudy cousin up river The Anchor. Yes it is a bit shabby, yes it can take a while to get served and yes the food is decidedly hit and miss � however, it�s a nice little boozer and if you�re down that way it beats a lot of the other pubs nearby on Borough high street and London Bridge.

Perhaps it�s finest selling point is the patio running the length of the pub in which sweaty office types crowd on sunny days. There is a nice area around the side to the entrance too overshadowed by a full scale replica of the Golden Hinde, which is a very pleasant view when drinking there. They do also have a non smoking section at the back and a pool table tucked away in the oft-forgotten basement (accessible via a spiral staircase).

I like the old place � it is a standard pub which has done well for itself despite its numerous criticisms levelled at it, and being that close to the river can�t have hindered it. I pleased it hasn�t succumbed to the gastro phenomenon because then it really would take a long time at the bar. Good Old Thameside Inn. We salute you.

29 Aug 2006 12:08

O'Neills, Soho

O'Neils. It's a chain pub. A fairly cheap n cheerful Irish chain pub with okay food and good barstaff. This particular one is ideally located on the Leicester Square end of Wardour Street - overlooking China Town's Gerard Street. The view from the first floor is really quite spectacular.

A lot of the comments on here have been focusing on the covercharge for the odd club on the top floor, and as nights go you could do worse, but in the West End of London, you could do a lot lot better. Agree with the comment about not wasting Saturday nights up there. Quick tip - if you are already in the pub, and get up there early enough - it's free!

In the day, this pub fills a gap, beats getting fast food in town (and you can have a beer with your meal!) If you are in town and stuck for somewhere to eat relatively cheaply - this might be the place for you - but being so close to Chinatowns restuarants, it might equally not be!

One criticism of the place for me, but this is a personal bug bear and probably won't annoy you too much - the people in the loo who give you towels and soap and guilt you about giving them a tip for services rendered. How very strange. How very wrong.

6 Jun 2006 11:08