please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Nice enough looking pub but not a great range of beers and drinks are generally overpriced. The music can get irritating if rock ‘n’ roll isn’t your thing, and hearing about The Libertines playing a secret show here months ago does get pretty boring. There are a mixture of strange regulars and wannabe trendies, and the pub holds themed nights which can be quite pretentious. The major problem are the bouncers and staff who are incredibly rude, disrespectful and don’t make customers feel valued, and the food which is bad quality and not worth the money. Not the worse pub but very far from being the best – a quick drink and move on!
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Oh Dear! What on earth has happened to this place in recent times? Popped in on Sunday night and it was an absolute shell of it's former self. Still a good pint of Guinness but that is , sadly, one of the few things I can still say in it's favour. A victim of it's own success perhaps? Sad to see how moribund it has become anyway.
Nice to see the cat is still there though.
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Best Guinness I have had in London, excellent jukebox and a proper meeting point between real London and real Ireland. Anyone who thinks this is a pretentious pub is probably pretentious themselves. This is a pub that will you make what you want of it and yourselves. And again the Arthur was magnificent, even if the younger barmaid couldn't quite get it perfect.
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Best Guinness I have had in London, excellent jukebox and a proper meeting point between real London and real Ireland. Anyone who thinks this is a pretentious pub is probably pretentious themselves. This is a pub that will you make what you want of it and yourselves. And again the Arthur was magnificent, even if the younger barmaid couldn't quite get it perfect.
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Dont know where that last review came from but this place is a dump,overpriced ,dirty,sullen staff,AVOID
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I had a fantastic night at the Boogaloo last night (Saturday) In stark contrast to the reviews that I had read, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming and the bar staff were chatty and extremely friendly. The music early doors was provided by an impressive 'happy days' style Juke box - It blasted out obscure rock n' roll and northern soul which got us nicely warmed up for the DJ who came later with a similar style - just more upbeat.
Yes, we did get moved twice by the seating police and I can see how that can be annoying - but when they explained that it was to do with fire regs and allowing people to get through to the bar, I thought that it was fair enough!
all in all, a great alternative night out!
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That joke isn;t funny anymore.
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BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT AFTER THE FIRST ONE I KNOW THERE SHOULDNT HAVE A SECOND ONE, BUT I GAVE IT ANOTHER GO THINKING IT COULDNT BE WORSE ... MISTAKE!
WE GOT OURSELVES A TABLE BY THE WALL, BUT AFTER 10 MINUTES WHICH IS THE TIME IT TOOK MY FRIEND TO GET A DRINK THE MANAGER "ASKED" US TO MOVE THE TABLE NEAR THE WALL BY PUSHING IT HERSELF AND DROPPING MY MOBILE PHONE OFF THE TABLE THEN SHE JUST STORMED OFF WITHOUT SAYING SORRY... THEN WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GET THE DRINKS THE BARMAIDS WERE PRETENTIOUS, UNHELPFUL AND SO FULL OF THEMSELVES, TERRIBLE SERVICE WHEN IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN MANY PUBS AND BARS MOST OF THE TIMES THE ATMOSPHERE IS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY THE STAFF, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT HERE. AS FOR THE MUSIC IT WAS DULL... AND AS A FEW USERS ALREADY MENTIONED IT... THEY HAVE THE CHEEK TO CHARGE YOU TO GET IN!!!
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I popped into here late Saturday afternoon and doubled the attendance. It certainly looked more like a music venue to me with blacked out windows and low tables that looked a little out of place on what seemed like a dance floor. The barmaid was very friendly, but there is only a standard draught range and the actual bar area is very small for the size of the pub and I can imagine quite a queue forming when it gets busier.
I have been past here on the bus late at night on my way home from other pubs and there is usually some rope segregating a smoking crowd from the public path, but there is also a courtyard out the back that leads to a large opened up garage area that has some wall sofas and tables.
The Guinness was good, but I didn�t really enjoy being dragged to these places by my mates when I was younger and I�m even more averse to them now.
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I agree with earlhicks, it's a really great pub and the atmosphere might have changed but you get some cool people in there still! AND the smoking factor is always welcome, but the whole cheating thing really annoys me. It takes the fun out of it, I thought quizzes were about general knowledge not about how quick you can type on an iphone! It's pathetic.
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I must say my previous post is now a little out of date...
Just lately the music has been terrible. There was a time when you were guaranteed a great night out every Friday & Saturday night, but just lately it's been awful.
One of the things that made this bar great was the jukebox, which is sadly now redundant due to all the 3rd rate DJ's / Comedy Acts / Quiz's / Politicians (if you can believe it) / bands that frequent the bar just about every night of the week. What's more they have the cheek to charge you in order to get in!!!
The saddest thing of all is the lack of friendly faces. All the local's seem to have disappeared in favour of teenagers... skinny jean wearing pretentious wannabe's... and that's a polite way of putting it!
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Well people go on about how tough the music quiz here is- and the press think its the best in London- but I wasn't so impressed- OK the listening rounds are hard, but the rest is easy- as long as you've got google on your phone. I'm sick and tired of iphone tossers ruining the hard brainwork of fair players. I saw one with the cheek to do it right there under the table! Nice pub in general, though- good garden for a cigarette, good beer, and the Rioja aint bad either. Just sort out these loser cheats!
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As I Went Past here today looks closed from outside windows very Dirty Paint peeling off the walls and doors outside no lights on inside and locked up & closed. I remember this Pub years ago when it was the Shephards Inn it was a nice old boozer in them days looks very run down now if its still open.
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This is truely one of the best pubs ever in London....working in the music and hospitality industry myself I gotta hand it to the Boogaloo...for warmth, atmosphere, great entertainment....great garden and legends sitting on the stools....well done...
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it's more an entertainment venue these days...
The live music is very hit and miss - the occasional well known name makes an appearance but it's mostly wannabe's...
They've got a sound level restricter in there now which basically means no rock n roll (except pansy rock n roll), which is a pity because it's essentially a rock n roll bar...
Some of the DJ nights in there are truly awesome though - Rev78 & Gerry's Joint being the pick up the bunch... if you want a great night out & a dance they're a must see...
If you're into music you'll love the place, but if it's a quiet drink you're after you'll be wasting your time unless you pop in very early evening or a Saturday afternoon...
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Had a cracking night in this boozer last night - The DJ was awesome - he had the whole bar dancing all night.
The only downside being that it was so busy it took 20 mins to get served!
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After mistreating its regulars in pursuit of the fleeting 'in-crowd' it looks like this pub has fallen on bad times.
It WAS a great pub for a number of years, but all it took was a couple of appearances from Pete Doherty and Kate Moss before the beer prices went through the roof, tables were reserved for the management's mates and surly bouncers appeared on the door.
After one too many evenings being shunted from table to table to accomodate trilby wearing f**kwits I vowed never to return. However, my mate lives just round the corner and it's his local so I ventured back in with trepidation.
I was worried about getting a seat as it was such a popular place. Not any more. It was like the Marie Celeste in there. It looks like the 'in-crowd' found a trendier watering hole, and they f**ked off leaving you with an empty pub with no atmosphere.
I don't want to see a great pub go under but, if the takings are down, hopefully they'll realise that you can't treat your regulars like dirt.
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I used to go here occasionally a few years ago when it was The Sheppard's but on passing here the other day noticed it seemed very Run down now and in need of a good Paint & decorate as it looks very dirty and dark from the outside.
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The definitive venue for any Norwegian or Belgian teenager in search of Cool Brittannia - the greatest oxymoron of the modern age.
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Frequented solely by tourists and London's equivalent of the 'bridges and tunnels' crowd. Too bad as it was probably quite good a few decades ago. Unfortunately, the abysmal service, badly stored and mixed (as well as overpriced) drinks, and questionable music have sent it down a slippery slope to bankrupcy. Highly likely that this one will close before you can say credit crunch. They recommend a jazz bar down the street, but I'd choose to go out in a different neighborhood entirely.
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Half tuppence, you and I both know full well that the recent stabbing at the top of Shepherds Hill wasn't typical of Highgate.
Anyway, a quick glance at your comments history would reveal that you sometimes drink in Wood Green too so you'd be well used to stabbings.
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After reading the following in the local paper I wont botther visiting almost right outside here.
TWO men were charged with murder this week after a double stabbing in Highgate. Timur Gosov, 26, a Russian, died at the scene - close to Highgate Tube Station at the junction of Shepherds Hill and Archway Road - from stab wounds to the back and chest last Thursday evening at around 11.30pm.
anonymous - 11 May 2008 23:17 |
I must say i'm somewhat suprised to read so many negative comments about this bar. I'd been in there a couple of times during the week after work and it's always been warm, quiet and welcoming and the jukebox is brilliant... So, I took my girlfriend there this Friday, initially for a quiet early drink but we ended up staying there all night. We honestly had the best night out since moving to London 6 months ago. It was really buzzy, there was a great atmosphere, everyone seemed very friendly... and the DJ set was without doubt one of the best we've ever heard, the whole bar was dancing by the end of the night & there wasn't a long face in the house - they even had me on my feet which is unheard of! Definitely worth a visit, no doubt about it.
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Bouncer reeeally looks like Salman Rushdie.
Great music generally but staff really not cool. They don't give a shit about their clientele or anyone having a good time. You are constantly being told where to/where not to sit and stand.
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Agree totally - the best bit about this pub is watching the teenage Primark-clad emo-chicks and their spotty boyfriends standing a few yards down the road, trying to get up the courage to blag their way in...
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Not bad, and reasonably unusual, with a fashionable crowd, worth a visit.
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They seem to operate a fairly fascist 'unspoken' door policy, where if your face doesn't fit (only reason I can think of) they will either refuse to let you in, or get rid of you by making you move tables a lot or turning the lights off where you're sitting. Pretty poor.
Essentially, if you consider skinny jeans the sine qua non of fashion and think johnny borrel is a rock genius, you will love this place. And it will love you too (as well it should, considering how much they charge for flat beer).
Otherwise... don't go there. It's not really a 'pub' in the usual sense, just a place where wannabes and other entourage types can take their hair-dos without fear of being laughed at. Let's leave them to it.
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You've got to jump thru' hoops trying to get in here when they've got bands on. Co-owned by Shane McGowan of Pogues and general alcohol fame. Used to be some weird old man's pub called the Shepherds.
anonymous - 7 Oct 2006 22:31 |
I made my first and probably last visit last week.. i found this pub very unfreindly and it seemed to harbour all sorts of strange moody sheep breeds who spend far to much time in topshop.
the bouncers and their comments were quite entertaining. the music was undeniably good, however it was obscenly loud..my ears were actually hurting..
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I went there for the first time last Saturday, and though it did strike me as being a bit moody when I walked in I had a great night. The DJ played everything from northern soul to reggae to garage (as in the 60s guitar stuff) and the crowd turned out to be friendly and raucous. Maybe I was lucky, as there were no "celebrities" there that night...
bethm - 21 Sep 2006 17:57 |
What look mother said
I couldnt care who is meant to drink in here...its rubbish.And numpty's shouldn't try and intimadate people who dont scare easily, a fake pub ,for a fake crowd!
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Great bar, great customers and the manager's a gentleman. As for you 'Lookmother', I'd have moved you a fourth time, out the door.
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It's conveniently located near the tube station, where trains can wisk you in any direction to better watering hole than this media friendly dive.
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This pub has vanished so far up its backside it's untrue. About two years ago it used to be the best pub in London (in my opinion) with a great jukebox, decently priced beer, friendly bar staff and a great buzz.
As soon as it started getting press coverage up went the beer prices, in came the bouncers and surly bar staff and out went what made it great - a welcoming atmosphere and decent people.
I haven't been in about six months after being told to move tables three times to accomodate the manager's cronies.
Unless you want to be treated like a piece of cr*p steer well clear. I'd rather drink in the souless Muswell Hill pubs than line the pockets of people who only care about which celebrities walk through their doors.
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I know this is meant to be trendy with the likes of Kate Moss frequenting. But it's really awful: overpriced, disgusting, sour, off-tasting beer, very rude self-consciously trendy staff, and boring atmosphere. It's my local and there's nothing to redeem it.
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Hmmm... I've been going to this place off and on for the last couple of years. It's right by the tube station so nice an convenient. The music quiz is alright now and then - it doesn't exactly have a buzzing atmosphere (and the guy that runs it is just weird!), but it's always a challenge so keeps you coming back for another stab. The film quiz there is fantastic - it used to be run by a couple of media types and got a bit cliquey so I gave up, but it's now run by two new guys who are obviously just film and computer geeks - the screen and sound stuff is always really impressive and it's a damn good night out, particularly if you go as a big group (they don't limit team sizes). Then there are the random gigs and other events. You have to keep an eye on the listings (via the naff website) but you can find some real gems there. What's more, as it's a relatively small place you can get an amazing atmosphere sometimes.
BUT... the pub is fairly grotty (altough in the winter that can add to a 'homely' atmosphere). The staff are slow and rarely smile. The toilets were feckin awful - they were then refurbished and were pretty decent.. now they've fallen into disrepair again (although they don't smell like they did yet!). The 'food' was just an excuse for a late license. The place has apparently recently installed some air condition, but you'd never know it - It's one of the smokiest pubs I know - even when the place is virtually empty it's amazing how bad it gets!
So, go for the film quiz and keep an eye out for the random events, but it's really not worth it on a 'normal' night.
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Nothing special, but hideously overpriced (�7.20 for double gin & tonic). Spotting ground for washed up rock stars and hangers on. Bogs smell funny.
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A small pub with some great live acts, apparently including such names as coldplay (in their earlier days) and Babyshambles, although im still unsure whether pete doherty is a particularly good feature in your pub. It has a good jukebox and a great atmosphere the few times I have been there.
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Bit small but I guess that adds to the very cosy atmoshpere. Jukebox had some great old tunes, the live act was a little loud... considering the size of the room. Fortunately something seemingly went wrong with their gear and they packed up and left. Will definitely give it another go - nice and close to the tube too.
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neither the best pub in the world nor the worst, decent enough atmosphere, good live acts and a top notch movie quiz first Wednesday of the month. Nice and close to highgate tube
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Was in here a few days ago and could not believe that I was asked to move from my seat for some friend of the landlord's! I finished my drink and left. This bar's only for the guv'nor's sycophants, obviously. Shame, as it looks like a nice place...
anonymous - 9 Jul 2005 23:34 |
great pub with an excellent jukebox that actually plays the type of music the clientele want to hear.
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Not bad at all. Weren't too many people around on a Saturday afternoon/evening, but a friendly waitress a good drink. If you sit at the end of the seats facing Archway, and there's no one else in the pub, you get a good view of suicide bridge and St. Paul's Dome. So there.
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Tried to get a booking there for my Country & Western band but got a blank. FOOKIN SHITE!!
anonymous - 7 Apr 2005 01:15 |
I cannot see why people slag off this joint, it can only be jealousy, its a top place, gives us amazing shows, its unpretentious, the knockers are obviously phillistines and dumb, with 'a local pub for local people' type mentality.Well the press and the hordes who throng there can't all be wrong, on the contary they can't seem to get enough and neither can I.
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Quite swiftly dissapearing up it's own arse this one. Good if you're mates with the landlord or want to be mates with the landlord or think you're too cool for that anyway. Excellent if you like spotting rock stars whose talents may be mediocre but whose addictions are a different class.
anonymous - 18 Mar 2005 19:39 |
Splendid place this, lovely atmosphere and friendly staff, and an excellent jukebox to boot. The DJ on the one time I was in on a Saturday went a bit overboard with the volume - it's only a wee pub mate! - but then again, I am an old git.
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I got to say this place is the bee's knee's [even if they're not punctual], being from LA and having the Whisky A Go Go as my local, this is as good as it gets, went there for the first time recently and got hooked on it, been back loads, rockstars, poets, great music and no pretence, a true rock n' roll bar I'd say.
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joeysonthestreetsagain
Anyone who doesn't like standing out in the cold until the manager lowers himself to giving them the honour of entering his establishment can be slagged off by star-struck people such as yourself.
Some of us just like to be treated with a bit more respect that's all. Anyway it's a pointless argument because I'm not going back and if enough chaps like you go there they'll make plenty of money and everyone will be happy.
If I ever work in the service industry I want people like you as my customer.
anonymous - 7 Feb 2005 13:00 |
Do'nt be so anal mate, its one of the best rock n'roll bars to ever hit London,being a seasoned fan of all things Boogaloo, does it really matter if they open the doors a few minutes late, like saying 'wish the Libertines were more professional', thats life mate but obviously not like you like it .
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I went there last night on the way home from work (5:50pm) and found the doors locked. I stood there for a while looking at the sign saying they open at 5:30pm then went to a more reliable pub.
This is the second time I have gone to this pub and found it locked. Admittedly the last time it was for a gig but I don't go to pubs where I might not get in. I'm fussy like that.
I think I'll leave it to the in-crowd.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2005 17:05 |
I was so pleased to see YETI return to the Boogaloo last week, what a great night, that band are going to be huge, thanks Boogaloo.
anonymous - 2 Feb 2005 15:25 |
I have to say that some of the comments that have been made here are either completely untrue or the result of someone with a real inferiority complex.
I am a relative newcomer to the BBFQ at the Boogaloo, but I can honestly say that the atmosphere there is great - it's friendly, there's a really great sense of cynical humour about the whole thing, the prizes are usually surprisingly good and the format is really different - a hell of a lot of work has obviously gone into every single month.
I hardly know Paul and Stewart - I'm not a friend with a personal interest, here - but they have done a sterling job of building up a quiz with cult-status among North London's film geeks (or, shall we say, fanatics?). Considering they have at least two of the questions asked by celebrities each month (REAL celebrities, it's worth noting) they have every right to be self-satisfied - but even though Stew has a rather ascerbic sense of humour they are not at all deserving of that sort of comment. They've always seemed like a couple of great, down-to-Earth lads to me.
The Boog may be a little smoky for an asthmatic like me, but that is just about the only bad thing I can say about it - that and the fact that the quiz is so busy each month that we often seem to run out of stools for all those players to sit on!
People reading these comments really shouldn't let the bitter ravings of someone who clearly doesn't get the point (that it's a great little pub with no frills but a bit of cheese, the odd celebrity drinker and a bloody funny and well-produced movie quiz once a month - it is what it is and that's what regulars love it for) put them off.
The kitchen should be back in action later this year (we already have pie and mash served up on quiz nights!) which really will be a bonus.
Frankly, I'm glad 'Anonymous' decided to leave - miserable gits with no sense of humour really degrade the atmosphere. I shall certainly be sticking around, and the people who have been going for over a year still seem to be enjoying it, so it really can't be as bad as all that, can it?
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To Stewart & Paul H.
It has clearly escaped your notice that this is a review site not a forum. People post their opinions of the bar in question, that's what it's for. Get it?
Stop hurling abuse at people who deign to give adverse reviews, you're only demonstrating what undesirable characters you must be and are not adverstising your quiz particularly well.
You should also develop thicker skins. You are clearly not self-satisfied but instead are insecure, pathetic souls who scour websites to read what has been written about your piddly quiz. Get a life. If you care so much what people think then act on it, otherwise shut up.
anonymous - 19 Jan 2005 16:35 |
I am not a gracious as Mr Williams about the criticism we received for being self-satisfied. The pub quiz really hasn't gone to our heads at all... we were both flippin' brilliant well before we did the pub quiz, I can assure you. But having Jude Law ask a couple of questions for us did swell the heads a little, yeah. Sorry fella, Oscar nominees tend to impress me.
As I have said before to other moaning gits such as our anonymous friend... fair enough, don't come to the quiz if you don't like it... but don't whine about it like a little bitch... go somewhere else.
I for one think it is a great pub and it is also one of the few boozers in London that has a genuine sense of atmosphere and a landlord who isn't afraid to wallk the floor and chat to his customers on a one-to-one level... All Bar One, this ain't.
Anyway... F**k Off and leave us alone.
- Paul H.
anonymous - 18 Jan 2005 17:15 |
I am amazed at the popularity of this place. I've given it loads of chances since it opened, hoping it would be good. I've checked out the music quiz, Smokin Joe�s (bad pub rock EVERY Sunday), as well as going for the odd pint.
As a venue it has a cool booking policy and has had a run of good gigs for such a small place, but that makes it a great venue not a great bar. The rest of the time it claims to be the Boogaloo bar - kitchen -jukejoint �with good drink, good music, good atmosphere'. Ahem. It has Fosters as its featured beer and a kitchen that hasn�t produced food in two years, plus an unwelcoming atmosphere, an aggressive & lecherous landlord and naff O�Neill�s-esque quotes on the walls. So it gets a few famous people in there - so what, it doesn�t make up for it being a crap bar. David Soul? Wip woo. What pub in Highgate have you not see him in? Agreed it has a good jukebox, but the making of a good bar is not spending a fiver playing records you've got at home.
The only thing I did rate for a while was the movie quiz but I�ve even abandoned that one. As one reviewer on here (Frankie) said the guys who run it are self-satisfied as well as being obnoxious and self-congratulatory to the extreme. The compere used to be friendly and funny and hence the quiz was laid back and a good laugh, but perhaps the �success� has gone to their heads. So if you decide to go for the first time a word of warning: they and their mates make you feel like you�ve entered the Slaughtered Lamb. The '90+' people who go there, as the bumptious Stewart Williams points out, are welcome to it and I gladly give up space to make room for them.
All in all the Boogaloo is highly overrated.
anonymous - 17 Jan 2005 21:49 |
I felt compelled to write up this bar, having never visited a bar review board before, its definetly one of the greats, my girlfriend and I were amazed at its programme of events and friendly athmosphere since discovering it a few months ago.Where in London can you see Bright Eyes , Shane Mac Gowan, assorted Libertines, for little or nothing and in a venue thats so intimate.
anonymous - 9 Dec 2004 20:28 |
This bar is getting better and better, last night I saw Bright Eyes do a secret show here, what a coup, no 1 and no 2 in the US charts this week and playing my local !
anonymous - 20 Nov 2004 16:33 |
Paddy Casey was excellent last night, amazing to see him up close for free when he plays sold out shows to over 2000 people a night in Ireland, great bar got to say!
anonymous - 10 Nov 2004 01:45 |
This has got to be the best bar in London for years, where can you go and sit beside Kate Moss, have Shane Mac Gowan sing to you and hear the best jukebox of all time, and I've only discovered it in the last few months, rock on Boogaloo..
anonymous - 31 Oct 2004 22:29 |
ANM - I haven't encountered anyone at all who doesn't like the Boogaloo cats apart from you. Seeing them in the pub makes a great change: if you don't like them (or are allergic), then go somewhere else, for heaven's sake.
SuperJ - 23 Sep 2004 12:02 |
Great pub but shame about the two cats which roam around the building. Some people may think cats are cure but there are many people who are not so impressed. Would love this pub only for that reason and if I could go there every weekend without having to worry about a cat jumping on my lap I would
A Ni Mhurucu - 17 Sep 2004 15:45 |
The pub quiz at the Boogaloo is a cult event, supported by many. Does Frankie expect people who run quizzes to be shy and retiring types? I can second Mr Williams in being delighted Frankie will stay well away.
anonymous - 12 Sep 2004 21:21 |
Now they've got Minnie Driver drinking there, its getting more like the Beverly Hills Country Club but I am not complaining, keep up the great work....
Eddie Rockett - 12 Sep 2004 15:09 |
Was really impressed to see the MC5 there on Friday night, its as good as it gets as bars go, am newly converted to the Boogaloo but by seeing the crowds they pull there, looks like I am not alone, and by the way the movie quiz is really good and features a celebrity asking a question on the big screen every night, had Johnny Depp last time, so the last post is talking out of his ....
anonymous - 30 Aug 2004 14:54 |
Crap movies quiz on the odd Wednesday run by bunch of self-satisfied prats.
Frankie - 29 Aug 2004 14:25 |
I went to see YETI and the MC5 , both in the Boogaloo this week, what a week for music lovers, two great shows and one chance in a lifetime to meet the legendary Motor City 5. Thankyou to the Boogaloo
anonymous - 28 Aug 2004 01:09 |
its what a pub should be without all the crap...great juke box, appealing staff,priced to enjoy, eclectic mix..a pinch of celebrity. and no attitude...
Rock on..
Long Live the boogaloo
scallywag - 11 Aug 2004 03:01 |
Saw Yeti at The Boogaloo! Best gig I've seen this year. Surprised John Hassall is still playing bass with the Libertines when he can sing like that and has such a cool band. You wouldn't have known from watching him in the Libs!
leila - 22 Jul 2004 01:01 |
Having said that, the place could do with better maintained toilets, and some of the seats are in a bit of a state. So that's why it's not getting full marks from me.
Dave - 20 Jul 2004 22:34 |
It's true that the Boog is a hip hangout, but it should be stressed it's about STYLE rather than FASHION. Which is why you get "characters" like Sky Saxon, Shane MacGowan and Dickon Edwards as regulars. Think of the old Soho haunts with Francis Bacon and Jeffrey Bernard. The Hoxton trendy prats may stick their heads in, but they won't last. This is a pub for people who stand out from the crowd, not follow it. Best jukebox in town, cutest black cats, best literary events.
Dave - 20 Jul 2004 22:29 |
Hope the Boogaloo does'nt get too hip after last weeks news story on Kate Moss and Johnny Knoxville partying there
jo maguire - 7 Jul 2004 15:15 |
Never been here but will have to check it out. What do I expect? Nepotism - in a big way. It's either going to be great or an utter monstrosity. And the people bemoaning the fact that the ex-locals don't like what it has turned into are missing the point. Not everyone likes their local to be the locus of London 'cool' - some of us actually go there for a quiet drink. Still, I know Dickon Edwards is a regular and I credit him with more sense than most.
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Was in the Boogaloo last night, great bar, ended up sitting with Sky Saxon from The Seeds, for those who do'nt know , they were a very big U S band in the 60's/70's, anyway it was a great night and to top it , he jumped up and guested with the house band, very cool indeed.
jo maguire - 8 Jun 2004 18:51 |
I hear Blooms day is being shifted to the 10th June .Can you confirm as I need to know the deadline for getting my Molly dress drycleaned.
Marie McCormack - 31 May 2004 01:45 |
Need to sort out the table situation, guys! There's a lot of redundant space that could be better used in seating more folk on quiz night...
Jez - 26 May 2004 11:39 |
Did'nt John from the Libertines play there with his new band Yeti,my friends saw it I was gutted I missed it, it does have the worlds greatest jukebox even though the music quiz is way over my head
Frank Cassidy - 22 May 2004 15:37 |
If the previous were alive I would'nt be surprised to see them there, pity we live out of town but this is a fantastic bar, the music ,the vibe, they got it spot on.look forward to being back. JO Donlon
jo donlon - 14 May 2004 12:27 |
I went there one night recently, and there was Frank Sinatra duetting with Edith Piaf, accompanied by Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and the bloke who plays piano in Casablanca. Seriously, it's a great pub, with a great jukebox (currently chosen by Bernard Butler) with the best organised music quiz in London.
Billilu - 11 May 2004 17:11 |
The Boogaloo's a great space with the best jukebox I've encountered thus far in London. These days, 20-odd teams seem to scrap it out on music quiz night (Tuesdays), which isn't 'too hard'. Delighted to say that my team's won a few times lately - well worth the weekly schlep from SW12...
Jez - 5 May 2004 23:08 |
No Shane Mac Gowan owns it, we were told on good authority and we belive it ! best bar in london''
helen - 26 Mar 2004 17:50 |
No, Shane Mac Gowan's ex-manager owns the pub (or at least is the land lord).
Tan - 25 Mar 2004 16:30 |
Was here for the first time on Saint Patricks night, thoroughly enjoyed it, great atmosphere, and yes the rumours of rock star patrons were confirmed when as we were leaving Shane Mac Gowan was arriving for his official aftershow party, shame had to go to work next day but we are going back, great bar.
Dessie Timms - 20 Mar 2004 15:38 |
I got to say the music quiz at the Boogaloo is the best one I've ever been to, no wonder its packed with music heads like Shane Mac Gowan, Bernard Butler and the Libertines Carlos.Got to get there really early now to get a seat. thompson twins
thompson twins - 27 Feb 2004 16:21 |
fantastic place! check out the Sun evening for live music
mia - 17 Feb 2004 13:07 |
Had a fabulous time on Sunday night (first timers). Loved the atmosphere, the band and my night was made when Shane sang. We have found our new local!
Kate - 10 Feb 2004 13:34 |
Does Shane Mac Gowan own the Boogaloo, someone told me does, anybody know?
terry - 24 Jan 2004 13:15 |
yep saw it with mine own eyes, the gallagher brothers , pianos, pints flying, so why are we telling everyone? this place is the best as well as my local so lets shut it and keep it for ourselves!
martin holden - 11 Dec 2003 15:16 |
I cannot believe it, right there in the Boogaloo, Liam and Noel jamming on the piano, what a night, what a bar! Johnny Jordan
johnny jordan - 8 Dec 2003 10:58 |
I got a very pleasant surprise last week, went here for first time and was shocked to see David Soul singing here, he was fantasic and a great guy, had a beer with him afterwards, my numero uno bar in London by miles.
marrisa mendel - 28 Nov 2003 16:58 |
Best pub in London, seconded! I pass twenty pubs on the bus on my way here, and I still think of it as my local. You will as well! Where else can you see Shane MacGowan sober up from horizontal to lucid and charming just in time to beat you in the music quiz?
stephen - 26 Nov 2003 13:15 |
Best pub in London, bar none. The comments from ex-regulars seem to be missing the point; Bernie & John were lovely people, but the place still has the same community atmosphere - all that's really missing at the end of the day is a sticky carpet. It truly does have the best jukebox going, and the monthly film quiz is the best quiz I've ever been to - funny, challenging, and some quality prizes. So there's some Hoxton types and b-list celebs every now and again - hey, everybody has the right to a beer...
trapperjohn - 5 Nov 2003 02:14 |
Rumour has it that Shane Mac Gowan did a secret show here a few weeks ago, its really worth going to, anything could happen anytime, its one of those vibes, its got my 5 stars.
Terry L Egan - 18 Oct 2003 19:20 |
It's a great place. Small but perfectly put together, not too ott or whitewashed.
Plus the owner will charm you senseless with his dark wit and the staff have a satrical nature.
joanne - 17 Oct 2003 22:50 |
This is my favorite pub in London. The jukebox is unparalleled and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. It is intended to be reminescent of an old Southern juke joint, and so close attention should be paid to the excellent decorations, including an painting of Elvis, and pictures of Mississippi juke joints. Also, the owner Gerry, is a fabulous marketer and gets great art exhibits (bleddyn butcher, the rock photographer, for example) and literary readings. It is THE place to go!!
Sarah - 20 Sep 2003 21:50 |
Boogaloo - One of London's best kept secrets.
Pxxx - 3 Sep 2003 18:41 |
It's a great bar, loved the movie quiz, hear its now the place to be seen, posing apart, I liked the atmosphere and what a jukebox, best I have ever heard,.
barbara binton - 18 Aug 2003 20:04 |
Check out this gem, owned by the guy who founded Filthy Mac Nasty's. Got the best jukebox ever, very New York lounge, great atmosphere when I went there, very rock n' roll, saw Shane Mac Gowan and Steve Earle having a cosy up in the corner, hear its fast becoming the place to go, check out cool paintings .Thought this might be of interest, apparently thet do alot of exibitions and literary shows, fantastic.
Johnny Cooke - 8 Aug 2003 10:45 |
I used to work for one of the owners Gerry O'Boyle, its very like his last place in attitude but more up market, he rocks and so does the Boogaloo!!
kate hampton - 7 Aug 2003 14:22 |
I have been going to the Boogaloo for a few months and have got to say its fast becoming londons best kepy secret, the music, the literary shows, its like a New York attitude in london, which we badly needed, read the bitter comments from the ex locals, what planet are these people on! stay in west london mr maidment and get a life !!!
anonymous - 7 Aug 2003 14:19 |
Contrary to the reviews I see previous, this is definitely 'a kicking place', now owned by the former owners of the legendary 'Filthy Mac Nasty's', recently spotted half the 'Pogues, David Soul and Annie Lennox there on the same night, the music and atmosphere is amazing, wish I lived closer.
jay - 4 Aug 2003 11:35 |
contrary to the above comments from bitter ex regulars, I found the boogaloo really friendly, relaxed & innofensive compared to my usual hangouts. the jukebox is great & the staff were extremely welcoming & judging by the amount of people enjoying the band on sunday night, I'm not alone. Top pub!
Jim Dandy - 21 Jul 2003 23:57 |
It was once my local and quite simply the friendliest pub in North London - everything a good local should be. Bernie and John have now left for semi-retirement over in Drogheda, Eire and the place just isn't the same any more... it has been renamed the Boogaloo and like any other decent pub has been gutted and turned into another 'trendy' eaterie for people who read Sleazenation and think Hoxton is the place to be, when it fact it's a bit of a hole! The bar girls are very friendly to be fair, but the new landlord made no effort to ingratiate himself with the locals who had been drinking there for years. In fact, he was quite offensive about the old place, which I just think was unnecessary. My girlfriend Clare and I now live in West London, but if the Shepherds had stayed as it was we may, just may, have stayed up in N6 - seriously. This may be some people's cup of tea, but surely there's enough of these soulless places already without having to sacrifice one of the dying breed of decent boozers that was the Shepherds - viva John, Bernie and Henry the Alsatian!
Oh, and if you fancy a decent feed and a pint in the area, try the Winchester a bit further down the road towards Archway Bridge - superb nosh at decent prices!
Jem Maidment - 12 Jun 2003 18:12 |
Oh, and if you're not careful, a quiet Sunday pint will be ruined by an atrocious blues-country covers band...
Spearmint Rhino - 28 Apr 2003 16:38 |
It's now been renamed the Boogaloo, a "juke joint" with awful rock'n'roll art on the walls, and a self-consciously trendy clientele (like a little bit of Hoxton lost in Highgate). There's a fabulous jukebox - Lee Perry to The Only Ones to Marianne Faithfull to Bowie to Billie Holliday - but it doesn't make up for the absence of Henry the Alsatian, who will be sadly missed. He used to jump up on the bar with his front legs and bark "Hello" to everyone - I swear he could probably pull a pint - and at closing time, he would shut and lock the right-hand door with his paws while the publican locked the left one.
Spearmint Rhino - 28 Apr 2003 16:37 |
we must have caught this on a really bad day, as it was a shockingly uninviting and intimidating hovel when we were there.
Darren - 22 Oct 2002 17:05 |
Unfortunately Bernie, John and Henry the dog have returned to Ireland. Let's hope the new landlord sees sense and leaves the pub as it is! Wonderful, friendly atmosphere, cake on your birthday and Christmas dinners for all. Who can ask for more!
F - 22 Oct 2002 15:18 |
Lovely pub. Lovely atmosphere.Nice people. Worth a visit for a welcome from Henry the dog. Excellent quiz night & fab juke box. 10/10
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2 out of 10!!! This is the greatest pub in London run by some of the nicest people on the planet..
Richard Fewster - 30 May 2002 15:41 |
