Qype: blue posts in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

A nice little pub in the heart of Kingley street. I've been to see live stand up comedy here on Wednesday nights quite a few times. Usually amateur acts, but still worth the £3-4 entry fee. We ended up here last night after a very disappointing trip to <a href="http://www.qype.co.uk/place/155974-Bar-Red-London">Bar Red</a>. The Blue Posts was refreshing and just what we were looking for. Real ale on tap, friendly crowds spilling out onto the cobbled streets and a great atmosphere. Perfect for a mild evening in May. My only negative feedback was that it took far too long to be served at the bar. There were only 2 people serving about 100 people which meant the average waiting time was 10-15 minutes. Sorry Blue Posts, this takes you down to 3 stars.

Check out my review of blue posts - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Bar Red in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

I'm not sure i have ever been into a bar where they actually forbid you to stand up, walk 3 paces to the bar and then order a drink. Instead, Bar Red make you wait at your table while you try to catch the eye of a passing server. They then quickly take your order (£4 for a bottle of Grolsch and £4.75 for a white wine) and upon delivery of the beers charge 10% service. Acceptable if you are in an exceptional establishment, but Bar Red is a LONG way from being exceptional. The Bar Manager was incredibly rude to us and after about an hour of trying to look on the bright side, we left.

I will never be going back here and i will be telling everyone i meet that going for a drink in Bar Red is about as much fun as a kick in the face.

Check out my review of Bar Red - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Theodore Bullfrog in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Nice little pub moments from the Thames. We had a cracking Qype party here last night in the function room upstairs. The room easily accommodates 80-100 people and they have a reasonable sound system too. Not as much real ale on tap as i would like to see (i think they just had Greene King IPA) but a decent selection of lagers (San Miguel, Carlsberg, Carling, Kronenbourg and a few more). Friendly staff and really close to Charing Cross train station so if you are coming from outside of town this could be the pub for you!

Anyone else hungover? :)

Check out my review of Theodore Bullfrog - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Wembley Stadium in Wembley

Wembley - Sport - Stadiums

The new Wembley stadium is amazing. There's no doubt about it. As you approach it on foot, it looks like some kind of space station. Amazing. The atmosphere at last nights England vs. USA game was great (even though the standard of play was pretty terrible). A few facts and stats for the nerds on Qype -

1. The arch is 133m at its highest point and is made up of 500 steel

2. There are 90,000 seats in Wembley Stadium

3. The stadium has a circumference of 1 km.

4. The London Eye could fit between the top of the arch and the pitch.

5. Each of the two giant screens in new stadium is the size of 600 domestic television sets.

6. There will be 2000 toilets - which WNSL estimate is more than any other building in the world.

7. There is more leg room in EVERY seat in the new Wembley Stadium than there was in the Royal Box of the old stadium

8. It is a ROYAL pain in the arse to get to and from Wembley stadium if you live in south London. Last night it took me 2 hours from Wembley to Clapham North.

Sorry, Wembley.... you lose one star for being "in Wembley". If you were built on Clapham Common i would have given you 6 stars :)

Check out my review of Wembley Stadium - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: B-Bar & Restaurant in London

London - Restaurants

An unusual little bar on Buckingham Palace road. This place seems to be about 25 years out of date. Dark black exterior, waxy sofas and 80's europop playing in the background. All very unusual. That being said, they offered me a free cocktail so what they lack in chic, they make up in hospitality!

Check out my review of B-Bar & Restaurant - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Premier Food & Wine in London

London - Food & Drink - Convenience Stores

"Good old Mr Patel, he never says a word whether you’re buying cornflakes, fabric softener or soft porn." (That's a line from Peep show by the way, not an insight into my most recent trip to the shop).

The guys in here are very friendly and this place is extremely popular with Clapham locals. Plenty of 6 cans for £5 deals and a very decent selection of confectionary. Forget Sainsburys, this is, i'm proud to say, my local convenience store.

Check out my review of Premier Food & Wine - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Alchemist in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

A decent cocktail bar near Clapham Junction station. Really good cocktails and a 2am license on Friday's and Saturday's. Oh, and if you go with a big group (i think it's over 15) they give you a free bottle of champagne! What makes this place though is the terrace. It's huge and spacious + during the summer they do al fresco barbecues. Perfect!

Check out my review of Alchemist - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Old Bookbinders in Oxford

Oxford - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Always a pleasure to visit this pub. The staff, are always pleasant, polite and helpful. It's on the Morse Trail and it's a Green King pub, so expect a few tourists! Decent ales and friendly punters. Oh, and a great name!

Check out my review of The Old Bookbinders - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Falcon in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Some of the prettiest barmaids south of the river, but atrocious service. What a shame as this is a very nicely laid out and located pub. An excellent beer garden in the rear and plenty of tables and chairs out front, it frustrates me so much that a pub with such great potential blows it all with crummy service. Not for the first time, i waited 30 minutes at the bar to be served on Friday night. They had 4 people working behind the bar and i reckon about 10 people were trying to get served. This should not equal a 1/2 hour wait. Grrrrrr.

I won't be going back. I have given up on the Falcon and will be persuading my mates to avoid it too.

Check out my review of The Falcon - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Northcote in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

A reasonably decent pub at the Clapham Junction end of Northcote road. It had a makeover a couple years ago, where it modernised but lost quite a bit of soul. The food in here is good, the ale is plentiful but it just seems to be missing something these days. Maybe it's the crowd from the nappy valley......

Check out my review of The Northcote - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Mumtaz Mahal in Cranbrook

Cranbrook - Restaurants - Take Away - Indian

Mumtaz Mahal has been part of Cranbrook high street for at least 20 years now (probably more). Popular with students and locals alike, they do a killer Tikka Masala and Vindaloo. The staff are always fantastically friendly in here and the portion sizes will not leave you hungry. Cobra and Singha beer available as well as some very interesting (stronger) indian spirits.

Check out my review of Mumtaz Mahal - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Pizza 2 Night in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

This is food for when you are drunk.

I would never dream of eating from Pizza 2 Night if i was sober, but if you are on the west side of 4-5 pints, the smell of pizza tonight (right next to the Coach & Horses by the way) will lure you in to order some sinful treats. Pizza here is good and cheap (£5 for a very decent sized pizza). Fried chicken is also great but not as good as Morley's just down the road in Brixton. Staff in here are always friendly and service is quick and efficient.

Next time you stumbled out of the Coach at chucking out time, you know where to come ;)

Check out my review of Pizza 2 Night - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Esca in London

London - Food & Drink - Bakeries

A very nice little deli/pastry shop. Excellent fresh salads and pastas, but i'm always lured in by the cakes in the front window. Tall, creamy gateauxs line the window making it almost impossible to walk by Esca without drooling a little bit. Expensive, but reassuringly so. Excellent, friendly service and the perfect place for a spot of lunch on Sunday.

Check out my review of Esca - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Gaylord Tandoori Restaurant in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away - Indian

Heh, heh, heh, heh..... Gaylord.

Ok, i'll stop being childish :)

Definitely one of the better Indians in Clapham. Food is good, nothing too daring on the menu though, but it is decent value. A meal for 2 with wine will cost you no more £40. If you live in Clapham you should definitely check this place out, but it's probably not worth a trek across town or into London. A good, Sunday night sort of place. Simple, quick, ,cheap and tasty.

Check out my review of The Gaylord Tandoori Restaurant - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Wimpy in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

Like Mike Bolton, Wimpy is one of those places you just wish went away in the early 90's. I remember my little brother's expression when he first sunk his teeth into a wimpy burger in Jo'burg airport. He was speechless, but his face said it all. I think the expression was a combination of "end of the world/this tastes like feet".

Long story short, the Wimpy in Clapham Junction is no better than the one in Jo'burg airport. Similar facial contortions and "oh my god i think i'm gonna hurl" noises. Avoid it like the plague.

Check out my review of Wimpy - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Calvados Bar in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

I spent new year 2006 in Calvados (crazy, i know). The bar was really nicely decked out and the drinks were actually reasonably cheap given it was new year's eve. I haven't been back since, so i can't comment too much on food and beer selection these days. I do know that alot of colleagues and friends in Clapham Junction see this as their local, so it must be quite good still!

Check out my review of The Calvados Bar - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Revolution Bar in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

That's right, I was in Vodka Revolution on Friday night. I'm not proud of myself, but i was entertaining an army buddy that wanted to "get smashed on some really nasty stuff", so i thought that the chilli vodka would do the trick. Revolution bar has NO soul and the music is awful. But, the cocktails are cheap and it usually doesn't get too packed at the weekend (we found a seat very easily). I won't be going back in a hurry, but i must admit, i had fun trying all the different flavours of Vodka.

Check out my review of Revolution Bar - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Arch 365 in London

London - Nightlife - Snooker & Pool

Nestled into the archway of the Clapham High Street railway bridge, this bar certainly has alot of character. Every 5-6 mins the bar rumbles as trains rush by overhead. It certainly keeps things interesting! Arch 365 is definitely NOT somewhere i would go on a nice sunny afternoon (little to no natural light) and it can feel like a bit of a last resort place after midnight. But, it's a nice, quiet venue for watching the football and the bar staff are generally very nice.

Worth checking out if you are a Claphamite.

Check out my review of Arch 365 - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: barLocal in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

Meh. Good location (right by Clapham Common tube) but pretty mediocre place really. They occassionally play decent music in here, but Bar Local is really too small to foster any kind of party atmosphere. The food is ok, but nothing to write home about really. I had the burger which filled a hole, but didn't even come close to the kind of burger you would eat next door at the People's Republic.

Adequate, but nothing special.

Check out my review of barLocal - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Duchess Public House Ltd in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

Very stylish boozer with a phenomenal view of Battersea power station. Live jazz at the weekend is definitely worth popping down for and the roast lunches are fantastic. They have a great little outdoor area too which is perfect when the sun shines.

Misses out on 5 stars because there was no real ale on tap and it's kind of a pain to get to if you are taking public transport. Still, i will DEFINITELY be going back.

Check out my review of The Duchess Public House Ltd - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Cafe Pacifico in London

London - Restaurants - Mexican

We rocked up at Cafe Pacifico after being told there would be a 45 minute wait at Wahaca (typical). I was really craving some Mexican food and i though the next best bet would be this place. I was intrigued by the mixed reviews of Cafe Pacifico. Some say cruddy service and food, others say great value and one of the best Mexican's in London. Well, i'd say it falls somewhere between. I actually really enjoyed the food and i think everyone else did too. Delicious Nachos, tasty burritos and a great selection of Mexican beers. You pay about £10 for a main course here, which seemed reasonable to me. This isn't gourmet mexican and we did have to wait 10 minutes for the bill to come, which is why i am knocking off 1 star. I will definitely come back though.

All in all a goo, affordable Mexican meal. Something which is hard to find in London.....

Check out my review of Cafe Pacifico - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Artesian Wells in London

London - Nightlife - Clubs

Artesian Wells is one of the better places in Clapham to head to after midnight. We ended up here last night and stayed until closing time at 3am! Nice staff, smoker friendly, reasonably priced drinks and good music (for the kind of place it is!). Less pretentious than The Loft and not as dirty as Infernos. This club is a happy medium.

Check out my review of Artesian Wells - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Vauxhall Park Tennis Courts in London

London

Be prepared, I'm about to have a moan.

I spend my life looking for good tennis courts in London. I've cursed at Clapham Common, bitched at Brockwell Park and screamed at Southfields.... All terrible, badly managed facilities.
What about Vauxhall i hear you cry? Surely SW8 will be the jewel in the turd of South London tennis! Surely this is where i will wile away the long summer evenings! As i walked from the station towards Lawn Lane i was in quite high spirits. I had visions of neatly cut hedge rows, pristinely mown grass courts and all the Robinson's you could drink. Perhaps the local 1st XI would be playing cricket on the pitch next to the courts. Maybe the players wives would have made fresh lemonade and kindly offered us some after our match. We'd all be best friends by the end of the evening. Ahhh, blighty in the summer.....

Take everything i have just said and imagine the exact opposite. You will then be close to my experience last night. Walking into the park and seeing a tramp being sick in a bin was not the best of starts to my evening. Finding out that the idiots at Lambeth council had quadruple booked the courts didn't help matters either. But it was the quality of the tennis court that really made my blood boil. The oak tree next to the perimeter fencing is massively overgrown, meaning branches play a big part in any games being played on court 1 and the quality of the playing surface is also atrocious. Wild bounces are a regular occurence due to pot holes on the base line and the Vesuvius esq. terrain in the tramlines.

I could go on, but i'm just getting angry writing this review. I really hope someone at the council reads this and does something about the state of public tennis courts in London. Maybe this is why we haven't produced a decent player since Fred Perry......

Check out my review of Vauxhall Park Tennis Courts - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Moveme.Com in London

London - Home Services - Removal

A great site and service for homeowner or renters looking to move house "hassle free". Excellent customer service and a slick product. Highly recommended.

Check out my review of Moveme.Com - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: alba Pizzeria in London

London

Good value italian style pizza right next to clapham north tube station. Try the open foccacia as a starter. It's absolutely delicious. I can't make up my mind if i prefer San Marco on the High street or this place. Regardless, Alba is definitely worth a visit if you are in Clapham and looking for big portions and decent service.

Best pub nearby? The Royal Oak or The Coach & Horses

Check out my review of alba Pizzeria - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Boschendal Wine Farm in Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch - Arts & Entertainment

One of the finest wineries in the Cape. Excellent wine and a great place to stop for lunch when you are touring the vineyards around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The Taphius wine tasting cellar is a great place to sample the delicious white wines of this area.

Highly recommended if you are in South Africa!

Check out my review of Boschendal Wine Farm - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Fuzzy's Grub Ltd in London

London - Restaurants - British

Delicous, humungous salads. This place is also great for breakfast and any kind of traditional roast meats. I call Crown Passage "Harry Potter Alley" because it reminds me of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter :) Anyway, it's a really cool and the passage has a bunch of cool sandwich shops and pubs.

The one thing holding Fuzzy Grub back from 5 stars is the price. If you want a large chicken salad, it's going to set you back £8.50. EXPENSIVE! But the salads are great.

Check out my review of Fuzzy's Grub Ltd - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: The Glow Lounge Ltd in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops - Cafes

Agree with alot of people below. Perfect hangover spot. The smoothies are great and the eggs benedict here are amazing! If only they had a glow lounge in Clapham North! Not much fun trundling down to Clapham Common Southside on a wet and windy sunday morning. I guess i could always get the tube....

Check out my review of The Glow Lounge Ltd - I am ahunter - on Qype

Qype: Thomas Cook Travel in London

London

Do people still use high street travel agents? I'm amazed that so many Thomas Cook stores have survived given the shift to booking online. Anyway, i used to work in the basement of this TC, so i know it pretty well. The staff in here are great and are always willing to go the extra mile. Alot of the customers in this part of London have very complex travel itineraries, so i guess this is where "the personal touch" is need.

Check out my review of Thomas Cook Travel - I am ahunter - on Qype