LONDON LOST AND FOUND I response : your questions answered

Your questions answered

Do you have a question about London? Why not e-mail londonlostandfound@lycos.co.uk?

drinking I eating I living I playing I shopping I smoking I studying

Here are some responses to questions our readers have asked:

drinking

Q
I recently read about a local pub in the Shepherd's Bush area, that sits on a corner, has great food, huge big windows and supposedly an amazingly good interesting pub quiz on Monday nights. Can you help?

A
Yes. We can. I think you must be referring to the Crown and Sceptre, 57 Melina Road, about a 10 minute walk from Shepherd's Bush tube. The quiz starts at 8.30 every Monday.

Q
I was wondering if you could help me find a suitable venue for my best friend's 38th birthday. She's looking for somewhere 'interesting/a bit of a laugh' in west London (anywhere from Hammersmith to Richmond) where we can go to dance and/or watch the entertainment (and possibly eat too!).

A
Here are a few venue suggestions for your party planning that are fun and family friendly!

Bell and Crown, 11-13 Thames Road, Strand on the Green, Chiswick, W4
This traditional English pub, situated close to Kew Gardens, offers wonderful patio riverside views as well as hearty home cooked grub washed down by real ales.

The Black Lion, 2 South Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, W6
This is a beautiful country pub that is situated on the banks of the river Thames. The pub has kept its cosy character.

Drayton Court, 2 The Avenue, Ealing, W13
This dramatic Gothic style building has one of the largest beer gardens in London, at 3/4 of an acre. They host Jazz parties during the summer + there’s a games room.

Smollensky’s, Bradmore House, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6
We don’t normally recommend chains, but this particular western outpost is fitted into a listed Georgian building complete with lovely Art Deco murals, a huge Art Deco chandelier, and a most charming ambience.

The Turks Head, 28 Winchester Road, Middlesex, Twickenham, TW1
This is a traditional English pub with a modern twist... It serves a contemporary menu (so don’t be put off by the name of this popular establishment!).

Q
A mate and me are looking for a pub for a joint birthday on 5th May, anywhere between Shepherds Bush and town in easy reach of the central line - looking for something with a decent bit of room - or space outside.

A
If you want to stay in the West, but want to celebrate in style, your best bet is to stick with Holland Park and Notting Hill. How about one of the following pubs, which all have space outside:

The Cock and Bottle / 17 Needham Rd, W11 / Notting Hill Gate tube
A friendly old pub, with historic interiors and a roaring fire.

The Earl of Lonsdale / 277-281 Westbourne Grove, W11 / Notting Hill Gate tube
A rare find in 'the Grove' - an old-fashioned pub that hasn't been converted into a gastro-bar. As well as the beer garden, the pub has lots of nooks and crannies, so you could get your own party corner.

The Walmer Castle / 58 Ledbury Road, W11 / Notting Hill Gate tube
Excellent Thai food and a buzzing atmosphere.

Q
It's my friend's birthday on Sat 6th May, she'd like to go to a pub in North London (Islington way perhaps) where she could book a table and drink till the early hours with a group of mates?

A

Here are our five north London favourites:

Cargo
Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington Street, EC2 / 020 7749 7840
Play underneath the arches...This is such a reliable establishment in Shoreditch. It's set in an old viaduct and is open to 3am. It has a dance floor with visiting DJs with a difference, so check what's on, and has a lounge drinking area where you can buy nibbles and just sink into the wall lined comfort of the seating. The restaurant closes at midnight. It is also host to local artists where you can observe the delights of those more creative than ourselves (or at least those who put it out there). Bookings for space a possibility.

T Bar
The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 / 020 7729 2973
This is the place that those lost in Shoreditch are looking for. It is housed in an old tea building and is a gallery and cinema space to boot which gives it the urban edge that only east London can offer. It closes at 2am, has a DJ and dance floor and the place is sign posted by creative signage saying .... '12368 seconds till last orders' (or however many seconds there are left). Tables are available for booking.

Embassy Bar
119 Essex Road, Islington, N1 / 020 7226 7901
Probably not a newbie for those who frequent the well trodden paths of Islington. It's chic. Music abounds, leather couch comfort, red wall delight and you can view yourself through art deco mirrors.... Somehow it makes me feel so much more glamorous. Surround yourself with the beats of the DJ either by lounging back or hitting the dance floor. You can book tables here too.

Anam Cocktail Lounge
Chapel Market, Islington, N1 / 0871 223 1857
It is proclaimed as the first Irish Cocktail Bar! Anam cocktail lounge can be described as urban chic with hooker style surrounds and has the flavour of New York. This recent addition to Islington (or maybe I'm the last to discover it) is located on an unexpected back street, which means you'll be comfortably tucked away from the Islington crowds... or whatever you like to call them! It has an amazing array of cocktails and its Irish origins mean you can still get the ubiquitous Guinness. It serves some delightful Irish whisky mixes and closes at 2am. You can book a space. You can also snack on the lounge food menu at your party's leisure.

The Warwick Bar
45 Essex Rd, London, N1 / 020 7688 2882
Again this is a recent newbie in town, but is able to hold its own in an area renowned for its bars. Its a bar with a bit of personality and individuality, and may take you back to the style so devoured now by the likes of me... trying to be cool with donated furniture that has lived longer than me! Table bookings available and a flexible bar menu... if you fancy a lychee martini, or a new wine still to be explored, this is for you.

Q
Are there any good pubs in the Bayswater area for an after work drink and small nibble to eat? Not old man. Not too busy. Not chain... Can you help?
A
Most of the pubs in Bayswater are pretty much old man's pubs, rather than pretty bars, but we've done our best. So, the londonlostandfound.com Bayswater recommendations are:

1. The Leinster, 52 Ossington Street, W2 (friendly gay pub)
2. The Elbow Room, 103 Westbourne Grove, W2 (trendy bar with pool tables, can get crowded)
3. The Prince Alfred, 112 Queensway, W2 (lounge bar with lots of rooms and leather sofas)
4. The Swan, 66 Bayswater Road, W2 (big pub with a balcony, lots of tourists though)
5. The Victoria, 10a Strathearn Place, W2 (Lovely looking Victorian pub with cute theatre bar upstairs)

There are also loads of restaurants on Westbourne Grove, if you decide to just go for nibbles!

Q
Do you know of an atmospheric piano bar in central London? Not too overcrowded, laid-back?

A
Here are DJ Lord Ant B's top 5 piano bars:

Windows Bar @ The Hilton, 22 Park Lane, W1 / Live music Mon to Sat, 7pm - 1.30am
Going up in the world - all 28 stories to be precise. This has to be one of London’s ultimate public viewing galleries offering stunning views across the capital. The pianist does accept requests, but left to his own devices will slip in a few cheesy choons i.e. Phil Collins. You have been warned! It often gets very busy, attracting a mix of Arab business men, American tourists, and dinner suited award winners.
“Play it again Glen!”

The American Bar @ The Savoy Hotel, The Strand, WC2 / Live music Mon to Sun, 7pm - 12.00am
Hey big spender! From the moment you walk through the joint (boom boom), from the art deco lobby, and then on upstairs to the American bar, the entire experience is a truly magical one. It has also has a wealth of history, being the drinking hole for non other than Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and Ira Gershwin.
“Play it again Jonathan!”

The Promenade Bar @ The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1 / Live music Mon to Sat, 3pm - late
Gently sipping afternoon tea to live piano music in the glittering setting of The Promenade has long been an institution among Londoners. Highly recommended!
“Play it again Evelina!”

Piano @ 106 Kensington High Street, W8 / Live music Tues to Sat, 6pm – 11.30pm and Sun to Mon, 8pm - 11pm
Situated directly opposite the tube station, a discreet doorway leads you up to this hidden gem where you are greeted by a long white room with a piano at one end and a bar at the other. This is no ordinary piano, but a 160 year old Collard and Collard grand as played by Bazz Norton who also happens to own this classy yet lively layer.
“Play it again Bazz”

The Library Bar @ Lanesborough Hotel, Hyde Park Corner , SW1 / Live music Mon to Sat, 6.30pm - 1am
Compared to the capital's more garish hotels, the Library Bar is a picture of restrained elegance. They have a wide range of Cognac (38 varieties) but unless you're feeling terrifically affluent you should give the 1796 Napoleon a wide berth, at an eye watering £750 a shot!
“Play it again Brian”

Q
I'd like some names of bars, restaurants, pubs anything Slovak in London please.

A
We like the Czech Bar at 74 West End Lane in West Hampstead. It's completely without pretension, full of fun, and just five minutes walk from the tube.

Q
Do you know where I can find a pub quiz on a Wednesday night around West London?

A
Pub quizzes on a Wednesday night are pretty hard to come by in any part of London, let alone the worst served West. However, if you're willing to trek a bit further, you may be in luck. There's a pub called The Crane in Wandsworth (more SW than W) which has a quiz night on Wednesdays, starting at 9. It's a short distance from Wandsworth Town train station, or a longer stroll from East Putney tube.
The Crane, 14 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, SW18 / 020 8874 2450

Q
Do you know any good bars in Covent Garden where I can have a birthday party?
A
What about Porterhouse on Maiden Lane? The décor is very quirky, it's got lots of hide-away nooks and crannies, and is fairly easy to find – just 5 minutes from Covent Garden. The Spot (again on Maiden Lane) is also pretty good. It's more of a cocktail / wine bar affair that has separate rooms which I think you can hire.

Q
I've heard recently that there's a 1920s clubbing night around London, where you indulge in dressing up in flapper and dandy splendour and dance 'til the wee hours. Do you know where the nights are?
A
In answer to your party poser, there are several club nights that might fit the bill, but the main one I recommend is:

Modern Times @ Shanghai Blues, High Holborn, WC1 (random dates, often kept hush hush) / £35 including a 3 course meal
Modern Times is a voguish London club that blends the timeless good taste of David Niven and Cary Grant with immaculate period surroundings and a vintage play list. Walking through the door is like stepping out of a time machine and into the Savoy ballroom circa 1927. Expect to see brill creamed men in classic British suits dancing cheek to cheek with ladies in pencil skirts and seamed stockings. Emily Fox and Kelly Osborne have been known in the past to frequent the event.

Other similar recommendations include:

Rakehell's Revels @ Cafe Royal's Grill Room, Regent Street, W1 / Every Tuesday, 9pm - 1am / Free
The play list ranges from '40s lounge music to Russian romantics. This can be the playground for the rich and famous - the likes of Sienna Miller, Kiera Knightly, Lizzie Jagger and Tracey Emin have all been star spotted here! There's a similar dress code to Modern Times - golden age glitz, Hollywood sparkle and the speakeasy glamour of big band jazz.

Lady Luck @ Millennium Club, Drury Lane, WC2 / Every Friday, 10pm - 2am / £12
Not quite sure if I'm still 'warm' but thought this night could also tickle your fancy. Lady Luck is a cross between cabaret-era Berlin and post-war Hollywood and the place to see a group of dancers dedicated to the lindy hop, jitterbug and jive. The dress code is eclectic but the guys tend to look like rakish extras from a Hollywood black and white B movie, whilst the dolls look like Betty Page wannabes. V. sexy.

Q
Can anyone suggest a decent venue around the Blackheath / Greenwich area that is open until 1am at least and suitable for a 40th birthday celebration for about 40/50 people?
A
We have searched high and low, and can only find two bars in Greenwich that have a room you can hire:

Inc Bar / 7a College Approach, SE10
This wine bar has recently been re-designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, but don't let that put you off. They offer plenty of exciting cocktails and have been getting rave reviews as one of London's best newcomers. They are open until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. To find out about booking a room phone 020 8858 6721.

Spanish Galleon / 48 Greenwich Church Street, SE10
This Shepherd Neame pub is a lot less inspiring, but has the advantage of being very large and centrally located, so no-one can miss it. The pub dates back to 1834, but looks as if they haven't decorated since then! They don't have a late license, but you can hire out the function room. For more details phone 020 8858 3664.

Q
I need to organise a halloween party at a London venue for about 200. I'm thinking a kind of Blade-esque, industrial, run-down crazy place, as opposed to a London Dungeon type obvious place, but where?
A
How about Dream Bags, Jaguar Shoes on Kingsland Road. They have a great scuzzy basement which accommodates 250 (or so they say) and can be hired out. Named after the former residents who sold shoes and bags, the venue has heaps of character and that all important dingy, spooky ambience. Try them on 020 7729 5830.

The private room at Smiths of Smithfields on Charterhouse Street has more of an industrial feel than a spooky basement, but again it's about the right size, and available to hire. You can call them on 020 7251 7950.

Q
Do you know of any bars etc. with a late license reasonably near Ye White Hart in Barnes where we are planning to have a gathering for someone's 40th?
A
There don’t seem to be any bars in Barnes with a late license. I've searched the nearby areas, and it seems that South West London is a bit of a black-hole as far as late drinking is concerned. The only bar I can find is the Black Horse in North Sheen (181 Sheen Road, TW9), which is open until 2am on music nights (most Saturdays). There is also the dreadful Edwards in Richmond which is open late, but it’s pretty grim, and not recommended!

Q
I am planning a birthday bash and need some inspiration - quick! I would like to start the day in style at a good London restaurant for lunch, then meander around town on a pub crawl and end up somewhere for dinner and a spot of dancing. What can you recommend that should be walking distance from each other and won't break the bank?
A
What a challenge! As you haven't suggested a location, I decided to be a bit controversial and go for some recommendations in South London, having done a bit of a reccie in Brixton. So here goes:

For a good cheap meal visit Fujiyama on Vining Street (off Coldharbour Lane) for some tasty noodles that won't break the bank. They're pretty good for veggies too. Or if that's not quite going to hit the spot, how about Eco, the pizzeria on Market Row, where Brixton market is held during the day.

In terms of boozing, you really are spoilt for choice with Plan B, the Living Room and the Dog Star (for that raw, raucous edge) all within spitting distance of each other. And for dancing, the Bug Bar is always good fun or for some more intimate grooves why not try try the Brixtonian.

And if these don't work and every-one is against crossing the river, here are our top tips for a central London birthday bonanza around Oxford Street:

For great eats: Try either Rasa on Dering Street for a great vegetarian curry, or Boudin Blanc on Trebeck Street for some traditional French bistro fare
For great boozing: the londonlostandfound.com team can thoroughly recommend The Argyll Arms on Argyll Street, 2 minutes from Oxford Circus tube (but don't mention our names)
For great dancing: the little known Ruby Lo's on Orchard Street round the corner is always great fun, with a louch laid-back atmosphere

Q
I'm really sad about the closure of the Dive bar. I loved the atmosphere, people and music, do you have any suggestions for somewhere/something similar?
A
Alaphet / 61 Beak Street, W1 / 12pm - 11pm (mon-fri) / 4pm - 11pm (sat)
The old dame of new media land has an easy going unpretentious kind of vibe. Art works bedeck the ground floor space, whilst the basement bar sports sleep inducing leather car seats and a floor mural of Soho which has become its trade mark over the last half decade, since it has been around.
Alphabet make a night out as easy as ABC!

Dragon / 5 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, EC2 / 12pm - 11pm (mon-thurs) / 12pm - 12am (fri) / 2pm-12am (sat)
The mighty Dragon bar has managed to make a name for itself as being one of the trendiest bars in London. The bare brick interior is dimly lit with Chinese lanterns and windows draped with voluptuous red velvet. Meanwhile down stairs the dark space is filled with 'comfort zone' swallow you up sofas.
This is a super cool place to listen to heavy dub and get well and truly slayed!

Lab / 12 Old Compton, W1 / 12pm - 1am (tues-sat) / 12pm - 10.30pm (sun) / 12pm - 11pm (mon)
This must surely rank as one of the ultimate cocktail bars in the capital. The only snag is that it is also one of the tiniest! Run by the guru of mixology, Douglas Akrah, this 'mazin place is not short of regulars. The funky 70s inspired interior is dark and tight. Downstairs its all luxury leather loathers that become ram-jammed with a musical back drop of DJs dropping dope beats and tunes six nites a week.
It's a real good mix!

Notting Hill Arts Club / Notting Hill Gate, W11 / 6pm - 1am (mon-weds) / 6pm - 2am (thurs-fri) / 4pm - 2am (Sat)
If arty farty has been synonymous with slightly skuzzy then this place is well and truly Picasso in the pudding. DJs play in the exposed cupboard under the stairs which separate the two cave like spaces. On one side there is the circular bar which is surrounded by lounge lizard seating. While on the other is a small stage which can often feature live bands and art happenings!
Like it's late artistic license!

Smersh / 5 Ravey Street, Shoreditch, EC2 / 5pm - 11pm (mon-fri) / 7pm - 11pm (sat)
This basement bar is pure Eastern European culture condensed into two intimate shell like rooms. Russian maps line the walls, while vodka and Eastern bloc beers flow freely as they would in their native land. This authentic iron curtain clad bar is raw, and slightly rough around the edges.
It's name derives from the ex-Soviet secret service organization. It's a perfect hide away retreat should you need to go under cover in Shoreditch.
Shh, don't tell no-one!

Q
Any ideas for unusual pubs or other venues which are cheap or free to hire for a 40th birthday party?
A
It's not easy finding a bar in town that is interesting and free to hire for a party, but I think I have found the perfect place:

Thirst is a new bar, and specialises in cocktails. It looks cool, and is probably the only bar in Soho which is free to hire. The venue can cater for parties of up to 182 guests. It's also open to 3am.
53 Greek Street / Tottenham Court Road tube / 020 7437 1977

If this not quite your cup of tea you could also try:

The Blues Bar and Bistro which is free to hire for dinner parties, although they have different rates for drinks parties. It's open until midnight in the week and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
42-43 Dean Street / Tottenham Court Road tube / 020 7494 1966

The Spot is a very luxurious bar with lots of different rooms for hire. It costs £300 to hire any of the rooms, but you would have to have quite a few friends to make up the minimum bar takings of £3,000. Good for very big parties.
Maiden Lane, Covent Garden / Covent Garden tube / 020 7379 5900

Q
Where can I go and meet some decent gay guys?
A
KU Bar / Charing Cross Road / Charing Cross Road tube
Normally a young crowd and popular with London students. There is seating upstairs with low tables and candles so it can be kind of romantic if you ignore the crowds downstairs.

G-A-Y Bar / Old Compton Street / Leicester Square tube
Very busy on Fridays and Saturdays because it is a new, trendy bar complete with video screens on almost every wall and the excellent sound system drowning out all conversation. Pity about the pop they play on it though. You might find a few deals on selected drinks, which brings in even more of a crowd. Mixed bunch, everyone from students to older business types looking for a ~@#*. We love it!

The Village / Wardour Street / Leicester Square tube
On the end of Old Compton Street lives a bar with a lot of reputation. Come here for some camp fun (the purple tinsel on the front door tells all) and expect a lively, social evening before you head to your club of choice.

Old Comptons / Admiral Duncan / Duke of Wellington / Molly Moggs
These are basically four of the same type of large gay pub all located on Old Compton Street, with slightly quieter music playing so you can expect to have more of a conversation with your friends, but you may also find a few looks your way as these are all good places to pull! Slightly older crowd than the bars.

(with thanks to bob otter)

And whilst we're on the subject, I thought I would throw in my favourite three places to meet some decent gay girlies... And remember - boys aren't allowed in, despite what your mate Paul has told you.

The Candy Bar / 4 Carlisle Street, WC1 (off Dean Street) / Tottenham Court Road tube / 020 7494 4041
If you can put up with all the posing and posturing from the in-crowd (they haven't been able to shut up ever since their TV holiday hit), this is definitely the best girlie pick up joint in London, with the cutest bar staff. But take a map, as it's difficult to find for the first time.

The Vespa Lounge / 15 St Giles High Street, WC1 / Tottenham Court Road tube / 020 7836 8956
This girl friendly bar is a relaxed, no-frills affair, but it's reasonably priced, and lacking the self-conscious posturing of The Candy Bar.

The Glass Bar / Euston Gardens, NW1 / Euston tube / 020 7387 4153
This little known bar is even harder to find than the Candy Bar (look out for the big wooden door), but once you do it's definitely worth it. The atmosphere is totally relaxed, with sofas downstairs, comedy (the first Friday of every month) and funk DJs on Saturdays. And look out for The Glass Bar's little sister, Southtopia on 148 Newington Butts in Kennington.

Q
Do you know of any decent pub quizzes in North London? The nearer to Bloomsbury the better.
A
There do seem to be a good deal more quiz nights in South London than in the North, but we have found three choice drinking establishments that run regular quiz nights:

The Plough / 27 Museum Street, WC1 / Tottenham Court Road tube / 020 7636 7964 / First Wednesday of every month

This is the only quiz night we could find in Bloomsbury - are all the writers and lawyers too busy to get stuck in to a night of boozy trivia? Quiz nights take place on the first Wednesday of every month, from 7pm.

The Wenlock Arms / 26 Wenlock Road, N1 / Old Street tube / 020 7608 3406 / Thursdays

This pub has won the coveted 'Pub of the Year Award'. It boasts a weekly quiz night, on Thursdays from 9pm.

The Bailey / 81 Holloway Road, N7 / Highbury and Islington tube / 020 7700 1425 / Mondays

If you dare to venture on to the Holloway Road at 9pm on a Monday looking for a pub quiz, then The Bailey won't let you down.

Q
I noticed that you said in an earlier answer that there are plenty of pub quizzes in South London, well, where and when pray tell?
A
How about one of the following:

Mondays @ 8.30pm
Too So Bar, 135 Stephendale Road, SW6 / Fulham Broadway tube / 020 7731 7823

Tuesdays @ 9pm
Tulse Hill Tavern, 150 Norwood Road, SE24 / Tulse Hill train station / 020 8674 9754

Wednesdays @ 9pm
Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 / Balham tube / 020 8682 8940

Wednesdays and Sundays @ 8pm
Questions Bar, 45-47 Dartmouth Road, SE23 / Forest Hill train station / 020 8699 5686

Thursdays @ 8.30pm
Kingston Tup, 88 London Road, KT2 / Kingston train station / 020 8546 6471

Sundays @ 8pm
Windmill on the Common, South Side, Clapham Common, SW4 / Clapham Common tube / 020 8673 4578

eating

Q
I desperately need to locate some Turkish bread, preferably somewhere in West London. I have searched high and low all through W11 and W2 and all I could find was nan and pitta (pide). In Australia, it is stocked in every supermarket and milk bar and I eat it every day and am suffering from withdrawal!

A
If you are wanting to stay in West London, you might get lucky at the fantastic Lebanese supermarket on Upper Berkeley Street (off Edgware Road). They have a fantastic array of freshly cooked breads, along with enough salads, sauces and dips to eat to your heart's content. If you wanted to venture further North, I would suggest Green Lanes, which has a whole variety of Turkish shops along its long and winding road.

Q
We are a group of about 20 ladies celebrating a birthday and are going to the Prince of Wales Theatre for a Saturday matinee and would like some ideas of places nearby where we can spend the evening. We would like somewhere where you can get a meal and have a bit of a dance afterwards.

A
I take it you’ve booked tickets to see the infamous Mamma Mia? In answer to your S.O.S. request here are a few ABBA inspired ideas:

Dancing Queen – GAY Bar, 30 Old Compton Street, W1
Situated in the cosy back pocket of the capital's gay village, it is set over three floors. From top to bottom there is a roof terrace, which on hot, sticky days is brimming over. The middle area has a huge video duke box, as this floor is the main focal point, blasting out 70s and 80s disco diva classics. Think “Its raining men - Hallelujah!” as well as the usual Euro pop tack soundtrack. The basement is dark and funky. Food wise it’s more bar style naughty nibbles. They are renowned for hosting hysterically funny themed nights. Recently there was a Bucks Fizz 25th Anniversary week whereby jugs of bucks fizz (champers & orange juice) were on special offer as long as some one was prepared to whip off their skirt! Making your mind up!

Fernando - Nandos, 10 Frith Street, W1
Specialising in traditional Portuguese style chicken, Nandos is a global concern, but do not be put off by the corporate idea since this is no Mac Burger fast food joint. Its signature dish is Peri-Peri chicken. This fiery dish involves flame grilled chicken marinated in one of four chilli based sauces ranging from lemon and herb to mouth burning extra hot . Remember a healthy chick is a hot chick! The vegetarian options are also recommended, all washed down by some classic Portuguese beer!

Super Trouper - Nordic, 25 Newman Street, W1
Nordic is London’s first Scandinavian themed bar and restaurant, and includes an interesting landscaped interior lit by simulated ‘northern lights’. Here you’ll find a super selection of Swedish food fare, including smorgasbord and of course the obligatory meatballs, which must be washed down with a pint of Lapin Kultra beer which, according to legend, is brewed exclusively by women. Don’t forget to check out their extensive cocktail list which includes: the Artic Bramble, Honey Bear, Sex in the Snow and a tongue in cheek shooter list which includes the Sven Goran Eriksson, Kinky Helsinki and The Exhaust on my Volvo is Very Warm! (chilli vodka, black Sambuca, lemon and raspberry). The perfect chill out bar!

Tiger - Tiger, Tiger, 29 Haymarket, SW1
This a huge venue camouflaged amongst the urban jungle with five distinctively marked zones including the Oriental cocktail bar, the geometrically themed lounge bar, the art deco blue bar and the party down club to prowl around in at your pleasure/leisure. Feeling slightly ravenous? You should select from the Mediterranean menu which includes pancetta wrapped cod as well as the regular grillin’ steak ’n’ chips, etc. Are you feeling thirsty? Then get your claws round some of the house cocktails which include Black Forest Blackout, The Slapper (don’t ask or you’ll get one!) and Eye of the Tiger (gold rum, Malibu, cranberry, orange and lime); a few more of those and it will be time to hit the dance floor and boogie on to at least 3am!

Voulez Vous – Café de Paris, 3 Coventry Street, W1
Currently celebrating 80 years of divine decadence, dine with the spirits of the Golden Age of Hollywood, whose previous guests have included Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo, no less. Early evening there is a live jazz/swing band who are open to requests. On Saturdays the music leans more on an R ’n’ B tip. Everyone from Princess Margaret to Prince has partied here under the dazzling chandelier. There’s also an outrageous VIP bedroom area that has seen London’s glitterati such as Christian Slater and Will Young slip between its red satin sheets. Blush!

And if you're still hungry for more…?
Gimmie Gimmie (a man after midnight) - Club Fantastic, Delicious and Voulez Vous @ Sound, 10 Wardour Street, W1
It’s the biggest disco in town. Dance conga style around three interlinked clubs. Room 1 is Club Fantastic where the DJ often dons a purple crushed velvet suite - “Hey Ladies!” - and pumps out '80s music monsters! But I’ve a feeling its Room 2 - Voulez Vous, that all you disco dancing queens will want to head to, with music dedicated to the Abba aficionados. ”Knowing me, knowing you AHAAA!”

Q
Can you tell me where I can find a nice tapas bar just outside Waterloo station?
A
The only tapas bar I know which is near Waterloo is Meson Don Filipe, on The Cut (about 10 minutes walk). It’s very popular, and the food is great, so it’s best to get there early.

Q
I should be very grateful if you could help me to find a soursop fruit in London. I will travel to get hold of one, but the nearer to Hammersmith, the better.
A
How about Shepherd's Bush market? Otherwise, it might be worth trying Borough food market which has all kinds of interesting foods. The market is open on Fridays and Saturdays and is 5 minutes walk from London Bridge tube train station.

Q
I'm looking for somewhere to have brunch on Sunday around Victoria. Any suggestions?
A
My experience of the cafes near Victoria station is that they are pretty poor. However, there are a few lovely cake shops and cafes on Palace Street, and on Buckingham Palace Road, near the junction with Palace Street. I would suggest this is probably your best bet, as it’s only 5 minutes walk from Victoria. The ones on Palace Street shouldn’t be too crowded either, as they are slightly away from the station.

Q
Can you please help me locate something. I have been trying to find Rowntrees Fruit Gums for some time. We can buy the small pack here in Oz but I am looking for the big yellow box of them that they used to come in. Is it still made and can you tell me where I might purchase some?
A
After a full and fruitful (hee hee!) investigation, I can confirm that the branches of WH Smiths in large train stations (such as London Bridge) do sell the big yellow boxes of Fruit Gums.

Q
I live in SE17 can you give me some suggestions of eateries?
A
I can recommend some eateries in Camberwell, a short bus ride down the Walworth Road:

Seymours at the bottom of Grove Lane is a quirky lunch time café, with great hearty soups and super sarnies. The pub BRB The Grove, wedged neatly between Grove Lane and Camberwell Grove, serves fantastic wood oven pizzas and often has deals on during the day. The Turkish restaurant Tadim’s and the curry restaurant in the Dome Hotel, are both very good value on Camberwell Church Street. The Italian restaurant Mozzarella e Pomodero opposite Camberwell Green serves lovely pasta, but is a little more expensive than the others.

Otherwise, there are also plenty of great restaurants on The Cut, another short bus journey to Waterloo. The tapas bar Meson Don Filipe serves great Spanish fare, although it is often packed to the rafters! The fish restaurant Livebait is also a winner, but a little pricey, and you can always find something special in the Turkish restaurant Tas.

Q
Do you know if there are any old fashioned sweet shops in London, the ones that sell sweeties in jars?
A
Why not try visiting Harrington's on Richmond Road in Kingston, which sells traditional sweets in lovely old-fashioned glass jars. The owner, Reg Harrington, has been running the shop since he first opened in January 1960. Bless him!

Q
I'm looking for an interesting bar and Thai restaurant in Soho to take a lovely ladieee on a date. Any ideas?
A
How about an over-priced but rather tasty cocktail at Lab, on Old Compton Street, followed by dinner round the corner at the highly recommended Chiang Mai on Frith Street? And if that is full, simply try the cozy little restaurant Manorom on Maiden Lane.

Q
Where can I buy a Crocodile steak?
A
Well obviously there is Harrod’s food hall. But if you want to go somewhere a bit more interesting, why not try Meat City on Farringdon Road (5 minutes from Farringdon tube). This butchers shop is a stone’s throw from Smithfield market, so everything is fresh, and even better all the meat is organic and free-range. They even sell ostrich, zebra, bison, kangaroo and plenty of animals I had never heard of. But all that quality comes at an expense, so take your credit card.

Q
Where can I find a traditional London pie and mash café?
A
At londonlostandfound.com we know a thing or two about pies, especially that London favourite eel pie ... And where better to savour this salty delight than in nautical Greenwich: Goddard's Pie House, 45 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 (nearest tube Cutty Sark DLR). The shop has been running since 1890 and offers a full range of pies, including traditional meat pie and mash, or the infamous eel pie and liquor.

Or we can recommend getting really low down and tasty with:

Bert's, 3 Peckham Park Road, Peckham (nearest train Queen's Road Peckham) Probably one of the cheapest pie and mash shops in London.

Castle's, 229 Royal College Street, Camden, NW1 (nearest tube Camden Town) Ignore the décor of this pie and mash shop and concentrate on the flaky pies, creamy mash and liquor.

Clark and Sons, 46 Exmouth Market, EC1R (nearest tube Farringdon) A relic of a pie and mash shop from the old market.

Q
I am out in Soho and it's 2am on a Tuesday. I have the munchies and I really need an ice-cream. Can you help?
A
Of course we can! What you need is Bar Italia, 22 Frith Street, W1 (just round the corner from Cambridge Circus on Charing Cross Road). This splendid café is open 24 hours a day, and serves a fine coffee and ice-cream selection. Mmmn. Never be afraid of getting the munchies late at night again!

Q
Do you know any companies that will deliver organic fruit and vegetables to my door?
A
Yes! We don't just know about trashy venues - we can be a bit posh too. Able and Cole deliver fresh, organic fruit and vegetables to your home. You can pick your own veggies, or get a surprise selection box from £6. You can call on 020 7737 3648 or e-mail organics@abel-cole.co.uk.

Q
I left Yorkshire for London and what I always miss most is the bakeries - I can't seem to find a decent bakery in London for love nor money. I can find plenty of cake shops, but nowhere to get a decent savoury pie or pastry. Do you know any?
A
We agree with you on this one - it's usually just dry, crusty sausage rolls. Have we Londoners forgotten how to bake in our taste for everything fusion? There is, however, one place we can recommend, and that's Paul's Bakery, 29 Bedford Street, Covent Garden. It's rather pricey, but at least the fare doesn't taste like something you found down the back of the sofa.

Or how about the bagel bakeries - open all the time, fantastic selection of fillings, definitely good for those 2am munchies... Brick Lane by Bethnal Green Road and Ridley Road in Dalston. There is also a great bakery in Nunhead (Peckham) on Nunhead Lane. They do excellent cakes and bread and pasties - also tea, coffee and filled rolls for those hungry people on the run.

Q
Are there any Farmer's Markets in London?
A
The farmers markets in London take place in Blackheath, Ealing, Islington, Marylebone, Notting Hill, Palmers Green, Peckham, Pimlico Road, Swiss Cottage, Twickenham, Whetstone, and Wimbledon Park. For more information visit www.lfm.org.uk.

living

Q
I hope you can help me. I'm going to London in July for the first time ever. Everything is fine but I'm still searching for a cheap youth hostel.
A
As you can probably guess, London is a very expensive city, in terms of accommodation. However, there are a few cheap options if you are willing to share a room, as follows:

There are seven official youth hostels in London, in the City, Earl's Court, Hampstead Heath, Holland House, Oxford Street, Rotherhithe and St Pancras. They are all pretty central, and near tube stations, but they vary in price slightly. The cheapest of them is Earl's Court, which costs £19.50 per night. If you are willing to pay a bit more, the hostel at Hampstead Heath, is on the edge of the Heath, a very beautiful park which is certainly worth exploring. This one costs £20 per night. You can find full details of where they are located, and book the accommodation by visiting the website:
www.yha.org.uk/Stay_at_YHA/Regional/London.html.

Another cheaper option is a chain of hostels called St Christopher's Inns. They are pretty basic, and don’t have a great reputation, but prices range from £13 to £19.50 per night, which is incredibly cheap for London. There are six hostels, three of them in London Bridge, which is very central, and the others in Camden, Greenwich and Shepherd's Bush. The one in Greenwich is cheapest, and the area is pretty good if you are looking for a quiet time and lots of scenery. To find out more about these hostels have a look at: www.st-christophers.co.uk/london_hostel/london.htm.

You might also like to try International Student House, which offers 550 beds in three buildings near Regent's Park. Accommodation starts at £11.99 per night, but expect a lot of noise! Find out more on their website:
www.ish.org.uk/.

Q
Why is Old Street so called?
A
According to The Streets of London Dictionary, the road was called Ealde Street, from OE 'ealde' meaning old. The road is thought to have been a Roman road (hence old), part of a route through Bethnal Green to the ford of the river Lea. The road follows the line of the Roman route from London to Colchester which crossed the river Lea at the place called Old Ford.

Q
I will be working near Russell Square and am looking for a place for us to
live that is interesting, fun and within a half hour or so walk from there. Can you help?
A
BLOOMSBURY : A BLUFFER'S GUIDE

ATTRACTIONS
So you wanna be part of the Bloomsbury set? Warning: RUSSELL SQUARE IS FULL OF TOURISTS so be prepared to be asked where the British Museum is on a constant basis. Being basically slap, bang in the middle of London means that you are within walking distance of many attractions – theatres parks, museums, night life, and of course the lovely Russell Square Gardens.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is often small, expensive and hard to find in this somewhat exclusive area. When it does become available, flats are often snapped up by students, since there are Universities situated nearby.

EATING
In the nearby Brunswick Centre you can find: a Safeways supermarket, trendy chinese restaurant, nice pizzeria, and a grubby, but spacious, fast food restaurant filled with middle eastern kitchen staff.

PUBS AND BARS
Best boozers include: The Golden Goose, on Leather Lane; on a Friday after work it has a good crowd, cheap drink, and outdoor seating. The Duke of York on Clerkenwell Road has pool table, candles, and couriers. Packenham Arms' on Mount Pleasant has good food, is cheap, open late, and features football, and plenty of posties from the nearby sorting office. The Print Works on Farringdon Road is a Wetherspoons, includes lots of cheap food and booze as always. There are also lots on the way down to Tavistock Road and Euston from Russell Square.

CINEMAS
The Horse Hospital, which maybe the most surreal venue in London, randomly shows things like American '50s B-movies and old military propaganda films. It's tucked away in the Colonnade on the corner of Hebrand Street behind Russell Square tube station. Definitely worth checking out, if you can find it!
The Renoir cinema in the Brunswick Centre is full of those kind of arty french films with subtitles, made in say, 1994, with gratuitous sex (it's not porno, it's erotic!).

SHOPPING
A comic shop near the British Museum?

CELEBRITY CORNER
Ricky Gervais (of The Office fame) lives in Southampton Row, and can usually be found drinking in the Bedford Hotel on a Friday night. Alexei Sayle
and the writer Emanuel Litvinoff live in Mecklenburgh Square. Charles Dickens used to live in Doughty Street.

IN 3 WORDS
Safe, Central, Quaint.

playing

Q
I'm a resident of sunny E17 and have recently become officially an old git by turning 40. Sometime over the next few months I want to have a combine birthday party and wedding reception and am looking for a suitable venue that's:

- bookable for a party rather than a public space
- not more than a 3/4 hour journey away from E17
- a place that's child-friendly and relaxed
- the sort of place that it's possible to hang out in over an afternoon and evening, play our own music, sit round on sofas or play games
- outside space accessible - nice view if possible

A
My top five outdoor venues, available for hire, are as follows:

Cargo
This funky club is 10 minutes walk from Old Street tube, and offers a room off the main bar, which can accommodate 45 people. The venue is free to hire, which is unusual, and the place offers great food as well. The outdoor seating area is quite bijou, but full of character. The view is non-existent, but it would make an ideal family afternoon.
Cargo / Kingsland Viaduct, EC2 / 020 7749 7844 / Visit: www.cargo-london.com/private.php for more venue details

The Gun
This beautiful 19th century building is situated on the Thames, so a big thumbs up for the view. You can hire either the sun deck (for up to 150 people) or the terrace (for up to 70 people). The food is excellent, and it’s only a short walk from Canary Wharf tube.
The Gun / 27 Coldharbour, Docklands, E14 / 020 7515 5222

Ivory House
Another venue with great views is the newly decorated Ivory House in ST Katherine's Docks. Picture it now - watching the yachts gently sailing away, sipping a cocktail, lounge music in the background. You can hire the Bang Bar or Waterside Terrace for up to 150 people. Unfortunately, as with the venue above, there aren't any sofas, but hopefully the view will make up for the lack of comfortable setting.
Ivory House / St. Katharine Docks, E1 / 020 7480 6116 / Visit: www.theaquarium.co.uk/index.asp for hire details

White House
This bar and club has become a Clapham classic. It is beautifully and tastefully decorated, and offers two second floor rooms for hire (seating up to 36), as well as a private members bar and roof terrace on the first floor.
White House / 65 Clapham Park Road, SW4 / 0871 332 1408 / Visit: www.fluidstyle.co.uk/venuedetails.aspx?venueID=1366 for more details

Kensington Roof Gardens
If you're really looking to push the boat out, you can’t beat the Kensington Roof Gardens. They offer a number of different garden areas and types of restaurants, suitable for parties of all sizes and styles. They can offer catering, music and other entertainment including: balloons, florists, fireworks, magician, caricaturists, and much more! It's not cheap to hire, but it's certainly a unique venue.
Kensington Roof Gardens / 99 Kensington High Street, W8 / 020 7937 7994 / Visit: www.roofgardens.com/functions/overview/ for photos and information

Q
I'm looking for a venue for a joint 30th b'day party in July.
Anywhere in Central London or Clapham. About 50/60 people. Would like to hire (for free!) a nice/unique separate room with bar and option to provide nibbles. Late licence would be a bonus.

A
We had three ideas for venues to hire for a good old knees-up birthday party in Clapham:

Project Orange
43 St John's Hill, SW11 / 020 7585 1549 / Clapham Junction train station This is our favourite of the top picks. This unique venue is a quirky music bar, with a cute downstairs bar available for hire. It's open 'til 1am, and can fit up to 70 people. You'll need to pay a refundable £100 deposit, but the best bit is that you can take along your favourite tunes - CDs, an ipod, or even bring your own real-life DJ. They book up quickly, so advised to book as soon as possible.

Bread and Roses
68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 / 020 7498 1779 / Clapham North tube This place isn’t free, but it's full of character. Spread over three floors in a listed building, the pub boasts good food, and plush furnishings. You can hire out the first floor bar, which can comfortably accommodate your crowd for a £100 charge. The only downside is that it's only open until midnight.

Infernos (Flame Bar)
146 Clapham High Street, SW4 / 020 7720 7633 / Clapham Common tube Probably the most luxurious, and certainly the most spacious, this option comes at a higher price - a minimum spend of £2,000. So with a maximum capacity of 80 people, you'll need some very thirsty friends! The up side is that there is a dance floor and you can bring your own DJ.

Q
I'm a big fan of a good pub quiz and would love to put together a team of my fellow beer loving young colleagues for a spot of trivia. We work at Piccadilly Circus and we're all too lazy to walk very far. The closest I get was The Plough on Museum Street. Any advice? I'm getting desperate.

A
We have found two pubs to help with your quizzical dilemma, and the first one is just a spit from where you work!

Duke of Argyll, 26 Great WIndmill Street, W1
Monday nights at 7pm

The One Tun, 58-60 Goodge Street, W1
Tuesday nights, once the World Cup is finished (groan!)

Q
I am helping a friend organise a charity ball for the end of August / early Sept. We are looking for a venue and would love to find an old theatre or building where we could have it.

A
Café De Paris / 4 Coventry Street, W1 / Contact Jack on 020 7734 7700
The Café De Paris in Piccadilly is one of the most famous venues in the world. It has a glittering history spanning nine decades, playing host to a wide variety of powerful performers and guests (including Eartha Kit, Tony Hancock, Grace Kelly and Noel Coward) – members of the aristocracy, eminent political figures, dazzling pop stars, captains of industries, superstars from the silver screen and even royalty in the form of Princess Margaret. There are three distinct divided bars sections – the Red Bar, the Blue Bar, and the one that might possibly ‘tickle your fancy’ – The Fantasy Bar!

Eve's / 3 New Burlington Street, W1 / Contact Adam on 020 7734 4252
The original Eve club opened its doors in 1953 on 189 Regent Street and enjoyed a truly spectacular history. Christine Keeler met John Perfumo there back in the swinging sixties in what was the start of the Perfumo Scandal. It was also a favourite haunt of MI5 and the KGB. Frank Sinatra swung there whilst Judy Garland also gave her last London stage performance. Sadly the original Eve club closed its doors in 2002 due to the Crown Estates redevelopment of Regent Street. The original interior however was saved including the Saturday Night Fever lit dance floor and the full scale plastic oak tree which was replanted in the new round the corner home.

The Rivoli Ballroom / 350 Brockley Road, SE4 / Contact Jackie on 020 8692 5130
The beautiful and elegant Edwardian Rivoli Ballroom was designed and built in 1911 and has remained substantially unchanged since then. Indeed, it retains almost all of its original features including deep red velvet lined walls, panels embossed with brass trimmings, crystal chandeliers, a sprung wooden dance floor and most importantly a ladies' boudoir / powder room. Think roulette, romance, moon light and Martinis.

Turmills Top Floor / Clerkenwell Road, EC1 / Contact Craig on 020 7324 3388
Turmills is a well established venue which for the last twenty years has played host to some heavy hard-core club nights including Trade, City Loud, Gallery etc. Now you may be thinking why would a typically trance themed venue work? Well it has a separate annex which is used for corporate and charity events. This super glamour puss baroque inspired space has sparkling marble walls, a glass bar, cheeky cherubs above the door, chandeliers galore and turquoise velvet drapes festooning the walls.

The Coronet / Elephant and Castle, SE1 / Contact Bert on 020 7 386 5000
This former grubby flea pit of an ABC cinema was restored four years ago to all its interior Art Deco glory, rich in red and gold. In its previous incarnation as a theatre, local boy Charlie Chapman would tread the boards. It is the perfect venue for can-can dancers, fan dancing, nipple tasseling, trapeze artists and girls dancing in giant bird cages, as I witnessed last weekend when the Lost Vagueness circus rolled into town!

Wilton Hall / Wiltons, Graces Alley off Ensign Street, E1 / Contact Bill on 020 7702 9555
The Wilton Hall is indeed a truly gorgeous, magical kingdom in its own right, complete with its original cast iron barley sugar pillars that support papier-mâché balconies under paper roses in a vast vaulted roof. (My friends were lucky enough to hold their wedding reception there last summer). Originally there was a sun burner chandelier with 300 gas jets and 27,000 cut crystals in the mirrored hall. Its claim to fame includes the time George Leybourne who coined the phrase 'Champagne Charlie’ once sang there, plus legend has it that the first ever can-can was performed, and consequently banned, there. Tipping the Velvet, Interview with a Vampire, and The Krays were also filmed here. It is operated under the management of the Bloomhill Trust, who offer such incentives as children's drama groups and ‘pay what you can’ seats for performances.

Q
In 2005 when I visited London I stumbled across a small basement reggae club in Finsbury Park, within a few hundred yards of the tube station. I spent a great night there and want to go back when I come to London next time.

A
It may be that the night no longer exists - all the best nights have a tendency to disappear without trace, just as you want to go again. The only night we can find is Club Roots Underground at the club Orleans, 259-261 Seven Sisters Road, although this looks like a fairly new venture. For more reggae listings, why not have a look at the website www.zionone.com, where you can search for club nights by music style and day of the week.

Q
I wanted to go to a cool and cheery boutique bowling place for my birthday, but keep reading bad bad bad reviews for All Star Lanes in Bloomsbury... Are there any other places like this? But good?
A
Boutique bowling seems to be the hottest alternative to a pub party in London, and we're all for it. All Star Lanes is probably the most luxurious, but it can be a bit up itself. If you're looking for bowling that doesn't include 'Mega' in the title, there are other venues following hot on the heels of the All Star Lanes. Why not try one of these:

Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes
Don't be put off by it's previous use as a car park, this venue is what bowling is all about. Prices are very cheap for central London, so you can splash out on cocktails, and relax amongst the trashy Americana. This is definitely the big contender to take on All Star, being based just round the corner, and entertaining the great and the good, including the launch of Super Super magazine. A bit of fabulousness all of your own!
Tavistock Hotel, Tavistock Place, Bedford Way, WC1 / Russell Square tube / 0207 691 2652

Rowan's Tenpin Bowling
It's not quite boutique, but Rowan's in Finsbury Park is open 'til 2.30am at the weekends, it's only 2 minutes from the tube, and there's a mini disco if you get bored of bowling. The staff are friendly too. A bit of late night fun!
10 Stroud Green Road, N4 2DF / Finsbury Park tube / 020 8800 1950

Q
I was wondering if you could help me to locate a venue that has a large screen TV with DVD (probably a bar or restaurant) to start a film club.
A
How about one of these venues:
1. The Picture House in Greenwich has a deluxe screening room + bar but might be pricey.
2. The Living Room in Brixton has an upstairs room with projection equipment.
3. Public Life in Aldgate is a disused public convenience, which hosts a variety of events, and doesn't cost a packet to hire.
4. The ICA is also worth a go, although as they're big, it might be a bit expensive.
5. Notting Hill Arts Club is a good base, used for 'art happenings'

Some of the venues mentioned in our Open Up Series (showing how to get yourself noticed) might also be useful. You can find the article here: Open Up.

Q
I am having a big birthday this March and want to film a dance video having someone do the choreography in the morning and film it in the afternoon. It has to be in London at a reasonable price. Can you suggest anywhere?
A
There are various central London dance studios that offer open (drop-in) classes in everything from ballet to street dance, flamenco or cheerleading!

If you were to contact one of them, they would be able to advise you on studio hire and possibly put you in touch with a teacher in the discipline you're looking for. Danceworks' website states that that they can even provide filming equipment.

Danceworks: www.danceworks.co.uk
16 Balderton Street (nearest tubes Bond Street/Marble Arch)
020 7629 6183

Pineapple: www.pineapple.uk.com
7 Langley Street (nearest tube: Covent Garden)
020 7836 4004

Urdang Academy: www.theurdangacademy.com
20-22 Shelton Street (nearest tube: Covent Garden)
020 7836 5709

The Place: www.theplace.org.uk
17 Duke's Road (nearest tubes: Euston, Kings Cross)
020 7387 0161

Q
I am in desperate need of a venue to hold a burlesque charity party. I am
looking for something quite unusual and was thinking along the lines of Wilton music hall in E1.
A
The Wilton Hall is indeed a truly wonderful magical kingdom in its own right.
Here are our Top 5 venue suggestions for a Classy Charity Gig:

Burlesque / 55 Exhibition Road, SW7 / Contact Bert on 020 7386 5000
Burlesque by name, burlesque by nature. (Burlesque n.,adj., & v. -n. A variety show characterised by broad ribald comedy, dancing and strip tease.) The rich opulence and sheer decadence of early twentieth century Paris is recreated in the heart of Kensington in this beautiful town house. Perfect for cancan dancers, fan dancing, nipple tasseling, dancing diamantes and lots more.

Café De Paris / 4 Coventry Street, W1 / Contact Jack on 020 7734 7700
The Café De Paris in Piccadilly is one of the most famous venues in the world. It has a glittering history spanning nine decades, playing host to a wide variety of powerful performers and guests including Eartha Kit, Tony Hancock, Grace Kelly, Noel Coward, members of the aristocracy, eminent political figures, dazzling pop stars, captains of industry, superstars from the silver screen and even royalty in the form of Princess Margaret. There are three distinct bars sections – the Red Bar, the Blue Bar, and the one that might possibly ‘tickle your fancy’: The Fantasy Bar!

Eves / 3 New Burlington Street, W1 / Contact Adam on 020 7734 4252
The original Eve club opened its doors in 1953 on 189 Regent Street and enjoyed a truly spectacular history. Christine Keeler met John Perfumo there back in the swinging sixties in what was the start of the Perfumo Scandal. It was also a favourite haunt of MI5 and the KGB. Frank Sinatra swung there and Judy Garland gave her last London stage performance. Sadly the original Eve club closed its doors in 2002 due to the Crown Estates redevelopment of Regent Street. The original interior, however, was saved including the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ lit dance floor and the full scale plastic oak tree. Both were replanted in the new ‘round the corner’ home on New Burlington Street.

Rivoli Ballroom / 350 Brockley Road, SE4 / Contact Jacky on 020 8692 5130
The beautiful and elegant Edwardian Rivoli Ballroom was designed and built in 1911 and has remained substantially unchanged since then. It retains almost all of its original features including deep red velvet lined walls, panels embossed with brass trimmings, crystal chandeliers, a sprung wooden dance floor and most importantly a Ladies boudoir / powder room. Think roulette, romance, moon light and Martinis…

Turmills Top Floor / Clerkenwell Road, EC1 / Contact Craig on 020 7324 3388
Turmills is a well established venue which, for the last twenty years, has played host to some heavy hardcore club nights including Trade, City Loud, Gallery etc. Now you may be thinking why would a typically ‘trance’ themed venue work? Well it has a separate annex which is used for corporate and charity events. This super, glamour-puss, baroque-inspired space has sparkling marble walls, a glass bar, cheeky cherubs above the door, chandeliers galore and turquoise velvet drapes festooning the walls.

Also worth a ‘wow’ mention and famous for hosting burlesque style affairs are:

Atlantic Bar & Grill / 20 Glass House Street, W1 / 020 77734 888
Bethnal Green Working Mans Club / 42 Pollard Row, EC2
Kabaret / 16 Beak St W1 / 020 7439 2229
Madame Jo Jos / 8 Brewer St W1 / 020 7734 0403
Sahara Nights / 257 Pentonville Rd / 0871 33264 71

Q
I used to listen to a community radio station in Australia (fbi) that was
dedicated to music, arts and culture. I have been scrolling the dial endlessly here to find a similar sort of alternative radio station but can't seem to find any that play 'non-commercial' music. Any suggestions?
A
In answer to your question, I would like to suggest Resonance FM, at 104.4. You can also listen to the station online at: http://www.resonancefm.com/. They have an eclectic line-up, from fisher price yielding yokels to avant garde theatre producers, but you can often find some fabulous musical treats in between.

Q
Do you know of any bar billiards tables in the vicinity of East Finchley? Or anywhere else near a tube?
A
We couldn’t find any pubs in East Finchley that have bar billiards, but how about The Glasshouse Stores at 55 Brewer Street, W1; a short hop down the Northern Line to Leicester Square, and a very short walk from the tube station?

Or how about one of the following lovely venues:

The Radnor Arms, 247 Warwick Road, W14 / Kensington Olympia tube
The Old Cock, 22 Fleet Street / Temple tube
The Fiddlers Elbow, 1 Maiden Road, NW5 / Kentish Town tube
The Black Lion South, Black Lion Lane, W6 / Stamford Brook tube
Clarence, 53 Whitehall, SW1 / Charing Cross tube

Q
You have a listing of unusual things to do and places to go in london but do you know of any unusual venues that are available for hire, preferably small?
A
'Money no object' wish list
1. Wembley Arena (only kidding!)
2. Bush Hall
3. Madame Tussauds
4. Natural History Museum
5. London Dungeon
6. The Pump House
7. The Cutty Sark

'Beggars can't be choosers' hit list
1. Borders Bookshop
2. Camberwell Crypt
3. Brockwell Lido
4. Cockpit Theatre
5. The Spitz
6. The Horse Hospital
7. HMS President

Q
I came across your lovely website as I was looking for a bar. I'm still not sure what to do so I thought I'd ask your advice. Do you know any small bars that would put up art work?
A
How about one of these splendid bars?

T-Bird, 132 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, N4 / 020 7503 6202
The Peckham Experiment, 168 Bellenden Road, SE15 / 020 7252 9424
Equal, 68-70 Honor Oak Park, SE23 / 020 8699 6674
Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes, 34-36 Kingsland Road, E2 / 020 7739 9550
Inside 72, 72 Lordship Lane, SE22 / 020 8693 7131
The Rosemary Branch, 2 Shepperton Road, N13 / 020 7704 2730

Q
I'm looking for good live music venues on Sunday and Tuesday nights in Soho. Any suggestions?
A
There are plenty of live music venues in Soho, where you should be able to find what you are looking for. The company Mean Fiddler has a stranglehold on Soho with the live music triumvirate of Astoria, Borderline and Mean Fiddler, but their line up is usually pretty good and prices not too extortionate, with tickets around about the £15 mark.
Astoria / 157 Charing Cross Road, WC2
Mean Fiddler / 165 Charing Cross Road, WC2
Borderline / Orange Yard, 16 Manette Street, W1
All three venues are 5 minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube. Visit www.meanfiddler.com and you can find gig listings and book tickets for all three venues.

However, if you are looking for beats off the beaten track, here are out top 5 tunes in town:

12 Bar Club / Denmark Street, WC2 / Tottenham Court Road tube / www.12barclub.com
It's small and it's sweaty, but if you are looking for that cosy underground crush then the 12 Bar Club will deliver. The music policy includes punk, blues and acoustic.

ICA / The Mall, SW1 / Piccadilly Circus tube / www.ica.org.uk
Although the ICA only has a couple of music events every month, they are streets ahead in terms of innovation. If you are searching for never-seen-before instruments and obscure German bands, this venue is for you.

Ronnie Scotts / 47 Frith Street, W1 / Tottenham Court Road tube / www.ronniescotts.co.uk
Often cited as the best jazz venue in London, it is almost definitely the oldest and it still manages to attract fine acts from around the world, even 45 years on.

100 Club / 100 Oxford Street, W1 / Tottenham Court Road tube / www.the100club.co.uk
It's a little bit cheesy, but you have to expect that on Oxford Street, and the venue makes up for it with a lively music policy featuring the likes of The Clash, Squarepusher and The White Stripes. And in it's favour we can also say that it's one of very few venues open on a Sunday night, and tickets are usually a tenner or less.

Camden
No, not a venue but a whole part of London dedicated to live music. Yes, we admit that the question was about music in Soho, but it would be foolish to write about live music in London and not even mention Camden. Music happens every night of the week, and our favourite venues include The Underworld on Camden High Street, The Barfly and The Caernarvon Castle on Chalk Farm Road and The Dublin Castle on Parkway. And it's only 20 minutes on the 134 bus from Tottenham Court Road.

Q
Where's the best place to watch the sun rise in this fair city?
A
I know you will groan, but I'm afraid it really is Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath, in the arms of your loved one. So wrap up warm, and you can have a midnight picnic, watch the sun-rise then go for an early morning swim in the Ponds.

Q
I’ve got two little ones to entertain for a day – do you have any ideas of unusual things I can take them to see (they’re 5 and 10 years old)?
A
We can understand you might want to take your little treasures to see something a little more imaginative than the London Dungeons or the Science Museum (which they must have seen already) so how about one of the following:

Duck Tours / Departing from County Hall, South Bank, SE1 / Adults £16.50 and children £11 / 020 7928 3132 / Waterloo tube
You must have seen these crazy amphibious crafts setting sail on the Thames at Waterloo. The tour isn’t cheap but you get a unique on land / on water tour combination, and everyone loves a boat trip.

HMS Belfast / Morgan’s Lane, Tooley Street, SE1 / Adults £7 and children free / London Bridge tube
Big guns and bigger boats! You might not agree with its history, but the ship is an amazing feat of engineering, and most of it is open for little feet to explore.

Skateboarding / South Bank, SE1 or Meanwhile Gardens near Westbourne Park tube
Although they might be a bit young to hold their own in the skating rink (and you might not be thanked for returning them minus limbs) it’s great fun to watch and if you go to the South Bank and they get bored there’s a great cheap café at the NFT.

A walk in the woods
You can’t deny that kids love climbing trees and going for an exploration in a forest or woods, a treat which often gets overlooked in London. Probably the most extensive woods in London are in Highgate / Hampstead, so why not treat them to a roam around. Probably the only fresh air they’ll get all year!

Night time visits
Or if they have been really naughty why not take them round a spooky graveyard and tell them a ghost story or two. Visit our recommendations at www.londonlostandfound.com/unusual/unusualreviews.htm#unusualcemeteries for some of the most scenic cemeteries in the city.

Q
Do you know of any respectable, not too scary and approachable sex shops outside of Soho?
A
Currently there are approximately 65 licensed sex shops in the UK, with a quarter of them in Soho. As always, debates have been raging in the press over whether opening licensed sex shops will make society safer, with increased protection and control, or lead to an increase in sex crazed lunatics. We have dutifully done our homework at londonlostandfound.com, to present you with a selection, and allow you to make up your own minds.

For starters there are five Ann Summers shops in London outside of Soho, if you are looking for a friendly no-nonsense kind of place, as follows:

Victoria Place Shopping Centre, 115 Buckingham Palace Road
73-79 Kings Road
104 Kensington High Street
127a Queensway
There's even one in Croydon, at 135 North End, although I would probably avoid this one if you're looking for approachable and sophisticated....

The other chain shop that has more supermarket than seediness in its approach, is Harmony, although the only branches are on Charing Cross Road and Walker's Court, both in Soho.

Otherwise, if you are looking for a bit more than a frilly pair of knickers for your honeymoon, why not try one of these:

Ultra Blue / 287 Pentonville Road, N1
She N Me / 123 Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith
Pages of Fun / 16 Terminus Place, opposite Victoria Station
Fun Fashions / Windsor Street, Uxbridge

And for the girls, a women only sex shop called Sh!, 39 Coronet Street, N1

Q
I am a jazz man and I need to play. Where can I go?
A
The londonlostandfound.com team feel privileged to have such exciting people requesting information. For cool jazz venues in town, why not try: Ray's Jazz Café / 113 Charing Cross Road, WC2 / 020 7437 5660 This is a great little café, based within the bookshop Foyles. The venue is small (or intimate as the PR people might call it), with the band playing standing amongst the CD racks. The music is always superb, and free, and they may be looking for new talent.

If that fails, you can grab a delicious sandwich and coffee, then head over the road to: 12 Bar Club / 22-23 Denmark Place, WC2 (the alleyway off Denmark Street) / 020 7916 6989 It's more of a traditional smoky basement jazz bar than Ray's, which is a bit more wholesome and fresh-faced. The bar has some great talent and are usually looking for new bands, so give it a try.

shopping

Q
Where are there shops that sell an interesting array of things left behind in the Underground system?
A
I don’t know of any shops, but the auction house Greasby's has a sale every Tuesday, selling on lost property from London Transport and luggage left at airports. The items go pretty cheaply, and you can even buy full suitcases which have been left behind (although you're not allowed a sneak preview). They’re based in Longley Road in Tooting (a few minutes walk from Tooting Broadway tube). You can find out details of their next sale on the website: www.greasbys.co.uk.

There's also on article in the Observer which gives a bit of background about what to expect at the auctions: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4621178-102284,00.html.

Q
Do you know where you can find a list of car boot sales going on in London?
A
It seems that every week one boot sale closes down, and another one opens up, so its hard to keep track. The best place to look is in your local newspaper - they will have up-to-date local knowledge about what is going on, and you can guarantee that you won't have to travel far. Otherwise, we recently published an article about our favourite car boot sales, which can be found here: trash and treasure.

Q
Where can I find out about ethical shopping in London?
A
The magazine ergo is a good start, and is available in larger bookshops and newsagents, or visit www.ergo-living.com. Sadly there aren't many shops dedicated solely to Fair Trade products. Oxfam shops often have gift type items and teas and coffees, (visit www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/shop/index.htm to find your nearest shop). The shop Traid (www.traid.org.uk/shops.html) is also a must if you're looking for ethical clothes. They sell good quality vintage clothing, and send their profits to projects in developing countries - double gold stars for you and for them. However, if you want to find out where things are really happening with ethical shopping you need to start buying online.

Probably the most comprehensive online ethical shopping site londonlostandfound.com has sampled is Get Ethical (www.getethical.com). The site is divided into a variety of sections, including clothes, toys, food and drink, stationery etc. You might also like to have a look at www.thepeopletree.co.uk for clothes shopping and the online Traidcraft shop (www.traidcraftshop.co.uk) also has a fair sized range of products.

Q
I really need a home computer, but I can't afford a new one. Is there anywhere in Central London I can buy a second-hand computer?
A
Computer Exchange sells second-hand laptops and desktops, as well as new and used PC components. They are a few minutes from Tottenham Court Road tube at: 70 Tottenham Court Road, W1 / 020 7916 3110

Q
Where can I find a second hand bookshop in South London?
A
Café Books, 407 Coldharbour Lane, (the Brixton end, near the railway bridge) has a fine selection of novels and non-fiction, and change their stock regularly.

smoking

Q
Where can a chap go when he needs a damned good cigar and a pinch of snuff? One can never find a decent tobacconist when the need arises.
A
We at londonlostandfound.com know a thing or two about some of the guilty pleasures in life, and can thoroughly recommend G. Smith and Sons at 74 Charing Cross Road (the Leicester Square end). The shop contains many smoking delights - literally hundreds of pipes and amazing tobacco flavours, but the building is also of interest itself.

This fine establishment opened its doors in 1869 (before Charing Cross Road was thus named), and was the first shop to open on this road. The building is listed (as are many others along the same stretch), and one of the conditions of lease is that it remains a tobacconist, so you never have to worry about running short of snuff.

In its hey day in Victorian London, the shop would have been bustingly full of merry gents, sitting about drinking sherry from casks around the shops. The row of shops along Charing Cross Road also had doorways between them, so that lady shoppers could walk from one to another without getting their dresses dirty from the pavement.

The Smiths themselves used live above the shop, although sadly they are no longer the proprietors.

And if you are in the area and keen to have a tour of tobacconists, we can also recommend Bond's at 330 Oxford Street (near Bond Street tube). Or how about the fabulously named Tally Ho News, at 2 Grand Arcade, N12 (West Finchley), for all a gentleman's needs.

studying

Q
Where does the name Tooting come from?
A
I have always wondered this, and have finally found an answer, which can be found on this British Library web page:
http://pages.britishlibrary.net/tooting/charter.html
Apparently a Toot is a look out point. So now we know!

Q
I want to do a proof-reading course in London. Can you recommend anywhere?
A
The London College of Communication is thought to be one of the best education centres in the UK for studying journalism and related courses. The college is based in Elephant and Castle and you can call them on 020 7514 6562, or visit www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/lcctraining.htm for course dates and prices.

Q
Where can I found out about interesting old buildings in London?
A
Well, there is certainly a glut of amazing history in town. But don't worry, you don't have to spend your precious bedtimes trawling through Ackroyd to find out about the best of London's architecture. You need only take a stroll around, looking up, to see how many fascinating buildings there are. But just as there are no end of old and derelict buildings to admire, there are also no end of websites dedicated to these old buildings. So here are our two favourites:

The website www.derelictlondon.com houses some rather peculiar, but totally fascinating photos and info about derelict buildings, including shops, waterways, pubs and random graffiti.

Or how about www.thederelictsensation.com, for some meaty debate about the state of London's derelict buildings.