This legendary London hangout has a history and glamour all of its own. It lays claim to being London’s first ever gay cocktail lounge. And while some may debate that, there’s no debating it’s appeal and popularity. That’s what makes The Shadow Lounge one of our best gay bars in London.

Still opulent, still enticing, still exclusive it’s still attracting a well-heeled and well dressed clientele out to have a good time. There are different themes on different nights, with the weekends given over to crowd pleasing international pop.

The décor reflects the disco vibe and the fibre optic ceiling throws light on the party atmosphere – and occasionally the odd celebrity or two. Remember, it’s ostensibly a members club, so if you definitely want to get in, grab a member, or get yourself on the guest list.

While it does have booths – and wonderfully hunky hosts and waiters this isn’t the place for a quiet drink or an intimate rendez-vous. It’s a place to bring friends, meet friends, down some serious cocktails, kick back and have glamourous fun. The Shadow Lounge – one of the best gay bars in London.

The Shadow Lounge 
Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 0RF

www.theshadowlounge.co.uk

Tags: bar review, bar reviews, bars in london, Bars in W1, best bars central london, Best Bars London, best gay bar, best gay bars london, gay bars, london bars, The Shadow lounge

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Remember when you were a kid? You had to ‘do’ something for a party. Go-karting, mini-golf, the cinema… or even bowling which had the added advantage of being weather proof!

And that’s what makes the All Star Lanes in Holborn such a great party venue… eat, drink, be merry, invite your classmates (sorry mates) and have a laugh as you try to get a strike but end up in the gutter (literally and metaphorically).

There are 4 lanes in the main hall and a bar tucked away where a DJ get’s going at the weekends. It’s all decked out in a cool retro style that adds a certain something to the bowling experience. Fancy some space for your party, as well as some bowling? Then book the private room with two lanes, a cocktail bar, karaoke and waiter service.

Remember, at weekends the lanes are reserved for diners in the restaurant, so if you want to bowl you’ve got to eat… and it’s one lane, one game.

Other venues are also available in Brick Lane and Bayswater

All Star Lanes 
Victoria House
Bloomsbury Place,
London,
WC1B 4DA

www.allstarlanes.co.uk/venues/holborn/

Tags: All Star Lanes, bars in Bloomsbury, bars in Holborn, Bars with Bowling, best bar, best bars, best bars central london, Best Bars London, best party bar london, best party bars

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Here’s a riddle: which hotel has the best bar in London, but isn’t the best bar in London (although it is one of them)?

The answer: The Bassoon Bar at The Corinthia Hotel.

Here’s why… the actual bar, the one the drinks are expertly mixed behind, is a virtuoso piece of design which stretches elegantly for seven metres until it segues seamlessly into a perfectly proportioned piano.

It is truly stunning… and the bar is pretty good too.

The décor ticks all the right boxes for a top quality hotel bar; art deco influence, low-lit, sophisticated, lavish, seductive and intimate, without being cramped.

The cocktails are delicious, decadent and very dear, every ingredient is carefully selected and sourced – even the ice – and every drink carefully crafted by master mixologists.

And that stunning piano doesn’t sit idle – there’s a regular weekly program of quality jazz musicians, a distinct cut above your standard hotel bar fodder.

It all adds up to a great bar, hotel or not. One in the tradition of the original Metropole Hotel, which occupied the site in the 20s and counted Winston Churchill and Buffalo Bill amongst its guests – as well as securing Mantovani as the resident musician!

Bassoon Bar 
Corinthia Hotel
Whitehall Place, London,
SW1A 2BD

www.corinthia.com/hotels/london/dining-and-bars/bars/bassoon-bar/

Tags: bassoon bar, best bars central london, Best Bars London, best hotel bar, cocktail bar, evening out, hotel bar, london best bars, piano bar, smart bar

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