Bars & Pubs

'What theme's that? Old shite?' were Brian Potter's words when they redecorated his beloved Phoenix Club in Irish pub style in TV comedy Phoenix Nights. The eccentric look of the Landor (canoe hanging from the ceiling, old transistor radios atop the bar, dusty books that no one can reach) is similarly random, but the locals wouldn't have it any other way. A huge 360-degree bar (with embedded plasma screens) is the key feature, and the energetic staff work hard to satisfy drinkers coming at them from all angles. A tiny upstairs theatre that specialises in mini-musicals ensures there's always an entertaining mix of people and, despite those TVs and pool tables, people-watching over a pint of London Pride is the order of the day for most people here.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9