Please tell me these places are still there, unspoilt, ungentrified....

[KidKruger]

India Club looks good BNG, I'll pop in there next week for a butcher's.

[civilservant]

yes, tfwsoll, I tried out the new Photographer's Gallery on Ramillies Street after it moved there a few months ago

But unspoilt and ungentrified it's not, alas - it was full of expensively-dressed trendies and affluent tourists. And the price they were charging for coffee and tea!

glad to hear the India Club is still going strong otoh

[????]

But I think you're missing the point Huge. I agree there are plenty of places that have been improved immensley by being upgraded/gentrified but there were (are?) a few old places whose character was a bit more than just being old and dirty!

By Pollo I maent the dirt cheap pasta bar ( specifically downstairs) on Great Windmill Street rather than the bar of that name

[maxxi]

Surely Pollo was Old Compton st - dark red vinyl benches in booths with a 'pick your pasta and match it with a sauce' menu. Seem to remember it was a couple of quid for a pretty good plateful.

Used to frequent the Blue Posts (Berwick St) years ago and last time I passed it didn't look as though it had changed much.

Always a great atmosphere, always full and the kind of place you'd arrange to meet before going on somewhere - and end up staying in 'til closing time.

['bout now]

Nope the Blue posts is exactly the same, even down to the carpet.

Bought my first ?4 pint in there tho'

[steveo]

Anyone know a quietish Friday night pub somewhere near Dean Street?

I don't suppose there is such a thing but I thought I'd ask

[????]

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Surely Pollo was Old Compton st - dark red vinyl

> benches in booths with a 'pick your pasta and

> match it with a sauce' menu. Seem to remember it

> was a couple of quid for a pretty good plateful.

>

> Used to frequent the Blue Posts (Berwick St) years

> ago and last time I passed it didn't look as

> though it had changed much.

>

> Always a great atmosphere, always full and the

> kind of place you'd arrange to meet before going

> on somewhere - and end up staying in 'til closing

> time.

You're right and that's the one. I'm so old and befuddled I'm even getting my Soho streets mixed up.

[Chippy Minton]

Bradleys on Hanway Street is a great shout - that juke box is a killer! Fifteen years ago I used to live between there and the Coach and Horses. The Coaches is now absolute crap but Bradleys is exactly the same - absolutely rammed when there are more than five people upstairs and everyone out drinking in the street in the summer.

[????]

The Juke box in the downstairs bar at The Cambridge (Cambridge Circus) was another cracker, sadly long long gone.

[titch juicy]

The blue posts is in a handy spot, but always too busy these days and the beer was shocking last time i was in there- friendly landlord though.

I like upstairs in the Lamb and Flag @ Covent Garden- usually nice and quiet with a bit of character.

The Ship on Wardour Street is another Soho favourite, although don't go if you don't like loud, decent music.

The Seven Stars behind the Royal Courts of Justice is a fabulous little place, run by Roxy Beaujolais.

A bit obvious and touristy, but I also like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

[Otta]

The CPT, that used to be a fine pub.

[titch juicy]

also of course The Harp on Chandos Place; but it's always so busy.

[????]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The CPT, that used to be a fine pub.

I used to like it but I can't really agree.....

[Otta]

That's cos you wern't like, cool enough to be in, like, the inner circle! So, like, ner.

[????]

:)

[Chippy Minton]

The Phoenix downstairs below Blue Bros on Charring Cross Rd. Is that still there? I seem to remember you had to be a member but that it was never a problem getting in.

[Jessie]

yep, phoenix still there

[Chippy Minton]

Cross Keys on Endell Street is still just about unspoilt although they like to keep their Christmas deccies up October-June.

[*Bob*]

Daas anyone still gah dahn the old dog an' chain? Ap 'Olbourn way?

Farkin 'ell I 'ad sam fackin' fan in there. Me an' Chaz. An' Dickie. RIP now, o'couwse.. gawd..

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Is the Rathbone Club still going? Used to love that place: seedy, lock-ins and great blues and jazz gigs.

[Cassius]

Spice of Life on Cambridge Circus before it became a tourist trap, followed by Pollo to keep you going, then 'Alice in Wonderland' night somewhere south of TCR tube station - followed by falling asleep on the nightbus on the way home and finding yourself at Heathrow airport...............

[????]

Thanks Cassius, I was thinking about the juke box in the underground bar at the Spice of Life earlier