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clubs + bars : our favourites
DJ Lord Ant B's Gimme 5 Fresh 'n' Fruity Venues
Cherry Jam / 58 Porchester Road, Royal
Oak, W2 / Mon to Sat, 7pm - 1.30am / Free b4 10pm
Opened in 2002 by Ben ‘Everything But The Girl’ Watts Cherry
Jam remains West London's leading intimate 120-capacity club / bar, a
social hub and casual restaurant / watering hole for a clued up kind of
crowd. It has played host to a whole ‘jar of stars’ including
The Libertines, British Sea Power and Beth Orton to name but a few. Spreading
the underground club vibe where the music flava is predominately House,
are a series of hip ’n’ happening nights including Britalian
(electro and italo), Outer national (global grooves), Hotel (Berlin future),
Handbags & Hats (funky; Cilla Black headgear is essential) and Blowin’
Ease (deep house). They often have art exhibitions and special film screenings
too.
The Cherry on the Top!
Mango Landin’ / 40 St Mathews Road,
Brixton, SW2 / Mon to Sat, 9pm - 1am / Free
Mango landin’ is the only place in Brixton where the sun shines
all year. It is an urban oasis of delight, just off the beaten track but
a stone’s throw from the heat of Brixton, which replaced the old
Babushka bar. It is a place where you will find an eclectic posse of people
enjoying the mix of great taste tingling food, fab cocktails that pack
a party punch + music mischief and conversation. There is a regular program
of events - Tango at Mango classes on Monday nights, a quiz on the first
Tuesday of the month, plus a series of themed parties which recently included
a carnival inspired Summer Ball. Alternatively you can wind down and checkout
their chess sets as the Deejays get ready for another rewind, spinning
all the platters that matter including double doses of Ska, Samba, Reggae,
Roots, Mambo and Afro beat.
Mango Madness!
Pineapple / 51 Leverton Street, Kentish
Town, NW5
This is a well regarded local (tucked away amongst the pastel shaded houses)
that has been kept open by a recent campaign led by regulars Rufus Sewell,
Jon Snow (Channel 4 news) and even the Mayor himself Ken Livingstone!
After the landlord died, his daughter was nearly duped into allowing the
place to be converted into offices and flats by greedy property developers.
Built in 1868, the pub is now Grade II listed. It derives its name from
the fact that pineapples, then a real rarity (way before pineapple rings
came in a can) were seen as a symbol of generosity and hospitality. Inside
two small rooms adjoin the bar, and a pleasant William Morris wallpapered
conservatory, leading to a lovely little garden area. There is also a
beautiful carved wood and etched mirror backed bar, whilst the rest of
the pub is adorned with pineapple memorabilia including lamps, kitsch
towels, hooks, Del boy style ice buckets; you name it, they’ve pineappled
it.
The Pina-Colada Palace!
The Pear Tree / 14 Margravine Road, Barons
Court, W6 / Mon to Sat, 11am - 11pm / Free
I must confess I haven’t been to this neck of the woods (wood, pear,
tree … get it?) for a while. But they used to sell really strong
Scandinavian brewed bottles of Pear Cider that would shoot you side ways.
The pub has three distinctive areas, the front area – good for meeting
mates, the bar area – chat to total strangers, and a rear chill
out area. Entertainment wise there is a pool table, a darts board and
one of those new fangled, flashing lights, whirring, never paying out
until the local one armed bandit steps up and gets all the ‘ker-ching,
ker-ching Jackpot', otherwise known as ‘Fruit machines’!
A Nice Pear!
The Banana Store / 1 Cathedral Street,
London Bridge, SE1 / Mon to Sat, 11am - 11pm / Free
Formerly the Old Borough Market Trustees Building circa 1897. The basement
was used as a banana store where the unripe bananas from the West Indies
were stored after unloading from the nearby port. Because borough market
is on their door stop, you can always expect a mouth watering menu with
the freshest fish, fruit, meat and vegetables. Although they keep a well
stocked bar of all the classics one thing missing is the old South African
banana beer which, believe me, is worth seeking out (normally so strong
they only serve it in half measures). Alternatively, see below for a DIY
suggestion.
Top Banana!
Make Mine a Pint of … Banana Beer (Aka Jungle
Juice)
Ingredients:
5 unripe bananas, mashed
5 spoons of sugar
Juice from 5 lemons
Half pint of water
Instructions:
Mix together and freeze. Fill a pint glass with the frozen mixture and
add a poison of your choice, such as ginger ale.
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