The Pubs
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ci t y l i f e
There’s much dispute over which pubs are the oldest in London— some placards indicate roots as early as the 16th century. But there’s no argument about the fact that pub culture figures heavily into the daily lives of Londoners, even in the 21st century. People from all ages and walks of life congregate in these so-called public houses over beer and ale, the biggest and most diverse crowds assembling just after work hours to blow off steam. Londoners often put in overtime, so when the Friday whistle blows, these old watering holes become particularly jampacked and frankly undesirable. On such evenings, buses and Tubes are transformed into fluorescent-lit stages for some fairly disorderly antics.
With so many dark, similar looking pubs dotting the streets of London, it can be difficult to choose one. Some pubs with notable features do, however, stand above the rest. The Elgin (96 Ladbroke Grove) in Notting Hill has free music on most nights. The band The Clash is rumored to have gotten its start there. On the last Tuesday of each month it has an open “gin club” that features gin tasting. The Churchill Arms (119 Kensington Church St.) in Kensington is hard to miss with its garlands of flowers festooning its facade (for which it has won awards). Its restaurant in the back oozes old-fashioned character and the feel of a classic beer garden.
SUMMER 2012 S INSPIR ATO.COM