Week Four
Week four was a busy one. Four new places! Wow, what a life I lead. Lab bar on the Tuesday. Then three places on Saturday, maverick. Before the England game it was Ricks restaurant with the brother, Chris Hazell and the financier (Dad) making another appearance. Then it was onto the Royal Oak pub with Chris Hazell, the brother, Tom Goldwater and Jasper Cox. The brother departed after that and then it was onto the Swan in Stockwell....gritty!
Summary of Lab Bar
Name: Lab Bar
Type: Bar
Location: Soho, London
Website: http://www.labbaruk.com/
Date Visited: 28/1/14
Price: Standard
Rating: 2/5
Review
Right so I was only here for an hour and a half and it might of been a Tuesday but the place was fairly flat. We sat in the downstairs area and it was one of those places where the music was too loud so you can't hear the conversation. That is fairly important especially with my reliable quips. The pricing was ok, the company good but all in all I wouldn't go back there again. Meant to get lively on a Saturday night so maybe try it then. For a midweek watering hole I would avoid.
Summary of Ricks Restaurant
Name: Ricks Restaurant
Type: Restaurant
Location: Tooting Broadway, London
Website: http://www.ricks-restaurant.co.uk/
Date Visited: 1/2/14
Price: Affordable
Rating: 3.5/5
Review
To quote Chris Hazell this place is 'quirky.' Which basically means it's a bit weird. True to form when Dad is paying for affairs, who seems to be visiting once a week to ensure a regular mention on my memoirs, we were the only people in there. There was some questionable music playing in the background which didn't stop Dad shazaaming it for 'banter'. All the knives and forks were different and the glasses ranged from shot glasses to port glasses as the dishwasher was behind schedule. Far from ideal vessels for your mid afternoon beverage. Despite this the food was quality. I went for the paella which was nice but there were a few shells in it which I always find irritating to deal with, its just unnecessary admin. All in all the lack of atmosphere and the bizarre nature of it makes it just fall short of the 4.
Summary of The Royal Oak
Name: The Royal Oak
Type: Pub
Location: Clapham North, London
Website: No website (rogue)
Date Visited: 1/2/14
Price: Superb
Rating: 3.75/5
Review
Go to this pub. Why I have never been here before I will never know. It has a table tennis table (full size) which you can use in half hour spells and you have sufficient room to manoeuvre around it, this is key. I may have lost a couple of games of doubles but I am a singles player at heart so my confidence has not been affected you'll be pleased to know. What makes this place even better is that it has Becks Vier. Nothing beats a Becks Vier. It is a glorious beer and goes down beautifully, which is very important after you've had a big one the previous night....say whaat! Oh and they only charge you £4. Bargain. There was a bit of drama when we stole Carl's reserved birthday table who had foolishly arrived 45 minutes late causing some friction between ourselves and an American girl who took offence to us sitting at the table. I don't know why she was whinging, she didn't even know who Carl was. I think she was just being lazy. Never mind nothing could dampen my spirits in this joint. Perfect place for a pre night out drink. Highly recommend it.
Summary of The Swan
Name: The Swan
Type: Gritty Nightclub
Location: Stockwell, London
Website: http://www.theswanstockwell.co.uk/
Date Visited: 1/2/14
Price: Controversial
Rating: 3/5
Review
This place is very gritty. The place is open until 7am (apparently, didn't make it to the end I'm afraid to report) and is rammo! Full of Irish people and some other rather interesting characters. Entry is £15 which brought back horrible memories from the Week 2 adventure at Embargoes but the drinks were really cheap. All in all the place is fairly good fun to get some booze down you and cling on to the night if you are unwilling to say goodbye to the Saturday night and thus your weekend. Horrible regret the next day. When you have flashbacks of seeing this establishment (see picture below) its not hard to realise why.
Summary of The Royal Oak
Name: The Royal Oak
Type: Pub
Location: Clapham North, London
Website: No website (rogue)
Date Visited: 1/2/14
Price: Superb
Rating: 3.75/5
Review
Go to this pub. Why I have never been here before I will never know. It has a table tennis table (full size) which you can use in half hour spells and you have sufficient room to manoeuvre around it, this is key. I may have lost a couple of games of doubles but I am a singles player at heart so my confidence has not been affected you'll be pleased to know. What makes this place even better is that it has Becks Vier. Nothing beats a Becks Vier. It is a glorious beer and goes down beautifully, which is very important after you've had a big one the previous night....say whaat! Oh and they only charge you £4. Bargain. There was a bit of drama when we stole Carl's reserved birthday table who had foolishly arrived 45 minutes late causing some friction between ourselves and an American girl who took offence to us sitting at the table. I don't know why she was whinging, she didn't even know who Carl was. I think she was just being lazy. Never mind nothing could dampen my spirits in this joint. Perfect place for a pre night out drink. Highly recommend it.
Summary of The Swan
Name: The Swan
Type: Gritty Nightclub
Location: Stockwell, London
Website: http://www.theswanstockwell.co.uk/
Date Visited: 1/2/14
Price: Controversial
Rating: 3/5
Review
This place is very gritty. The place is open until 7am (apparently, didn't make it to the end I'm afraid to report) and is rammo! Full of Irish people and some other rather interesting characters. Entry is £15 which brought back horrible memories from the Week 2 adventure at Embargoes but the drinks were really cheap. All in all the place is fairly good fun to get some booze down you and cling on to the night if you are unwilling to say goodbye to the Saturday night and thus your weekend. Horrible regret the next day. When you have flashbacks of seeing this establishment (see picture below) its not hard to realise why.
Poem Advice
If your wondering around Soho
If your wondering around Soho
Wanting a lively drink
Then the place isn't Lab bar
No matter what you think
If your hungry in tooting
Then head on down to Ricks
You'll get delicious food
Served by quirky chicks
Table Tennis and Becks?
Then the Royal Oaks for you
We stole Carl's Table
Poor lad didn't have a clue
Then onto the Swan in Stockwell
The nights rather gritty
The nights rather gritty
If you're out on the pull
Then you won't find a fitty.
I think I said 'then' too much in that poem, must do better. See you next week fans
x
Follow me on Twitter: @jackgravestock
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