Bars & Pubs

Soho's original S&M (stand-and-model) bar, Rupert Street attracts pretty boys and their well-groomed admirers. Calling to mind Queer as Folk, the 1990s decor is glossy and shiny, and so is the clientele. The exposed pipes on the ceiling add the requisite touch of industrial, boiler-room chic while the glass wraparound windows and the large mirror on the back wall enhance the somewhat chilly see-and-be-seen vibe. The way men flash their cash at the bar, you'd expect pricier drinks but specials include flavoured vodka shots (£1.50), double Smirnoff and Red Bull (£5), and frozen Cuervo margaritas (£3). In the summer, tables spill out onto the pavement with a view of the neighbouring clip joints, their seediness jarring with Rupert Street's glossy sheen.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9