The Catch, Shoreditch

Part of the grungy chic of Kingsland Road, it feels a bit grubby but there's always something interesting going on. Downstairs there's a normal bar with a micro dancefloor, but up the spiral staircase you have bands, DJs and lots of sweaty people all packed in.

2 Sep 2005 16:31

Anda Da Bridge, Shoreditch

At mere spitting distance from 'Jaguar Shoes' and 'Catch 22' lies this restaurant/bar/cafe. This place couldn't be more different from the other two, whereas they were bursting at the seams, this place was buzzing, but not packed. There was also the bonus of no sign of any Hoxtonites in the place (it is under a scary dark bridge).

It's a Jamaican bar, so this is reflected in the decor of the place (I haven't tasted the food, so I can't tell you if that's any good). The DJ was very good, playing a mixture of hip-hop, soul, jazz stuff on a Thursday night.

The place seemed very friendly, the bar staff seemed to be enjoying themselves, and they serve beer on draught.

Basically somewhere that you'd expect to stumble across in Brixton, and for me that's a good thing.

18 Aug 2005 16:40

Prince Of Wales, Clapham

Rather worringly when I visited this recently it seem to have been rebranded as 'POW'. Thankfully inside, it's the same old pub. Some people love it, some people hate it, it depends on your attitude to junk. It's like someone's been on a trolley dash through the Horniman Museum, then thrown it all at the walls.

I like the dingy atmosphere, and the burly surly barmaid, not something you get in many places in Clapham.

9 Aug 2005 12:41