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  1. The Slaughtered Lamb

    As seen in...
    John Landis's horror-com classic 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981), which sees a pair of American tourists stroll off the beaten track and into North Yorkshire's most sinister boozer.

    The regulars
    Gruff farming types with string round their welly boots, plus the occasional bloodthirsty lycanthrope.

    The atmosphere
    Unfriendly would be an understatement: this is the kind of joint where the darts players freeze in mid-throw as soon as a stranger enters the room.

    What to order
    A pint of bitter. But drink fast, they don't much like your kind round 'ere.

  2. The Double Deuce

    As seen in...
    Road House’ (1989), a film so badass the director’s name is Rowdy (Herrington), in which Patrick Swayze’s zen bouncer Dalton tries to police a redneck bar with non-violence, and kinda fails.

    The regulars
    The grizzliest bunch of brawlers this side of a monster truck rally: Swayze, Sam Elliott, Keith David, Ben Gazzara, even Elvis’s old sideman, Red West.

    The atmosphere
    Pure ’80s cowboy chic: think neon ‘Budweiser’ signs, bouncing mullets (on the guys), bleach-blonde frizz (on the gals), ten-gallon hats, double denim and a redneck band that plays slick Southern twang.

    What to order
    The man-meat, extra bloody.

  3. Thénardier’s Inn

    As seen in...
    Tom Hooper’s enormously successful adaptation of ‘Les Misérables’ (2012), which follows a former convict and a foundling child through the early rumblings of the French Revolution.

    The regulars
    The town of Montfermeil’s most sinister, wart-ridden clientele, lorded over by the villainous Thénardiers. Just please, don’t ask them to sing.

    The atmosphere
    Hold on to your watch: there’s enough scurrying street urchins in here to fill a Dickensian orphanage. Pickpockets and racketeers abound.

    What to order
    A scaly tankard of ale – to raise in song to a melodic chorus catchier than the plague.

  4. The Winchester

    As seen in...
    'Shaun of the Dead' (2004) by Edgar Wright, no stranger to these pages. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost battle zombies in Finchley and somehow keep their dignity.

    The regulars
    In happier times it was just another friendly London local. Now the punters – and the menu, unfortunately – aren’t really quite what they were. It’s a sad world.

    The atmosphere
    White-knuckle fear, but still with the remarkable propensity for the perfect quip. Human sacrifice may be necessary, we must warn.

    What to order
    The kitchen’s closed, but there are many jars of emergency gherkins in the storeroom if you’re feeling peckish.

  5. The Hotel Largo

    As seen in...
    John Huston’s moody noir ‘Key Largo’ (1948), in which Humphrey Bogart holes up in a remote island lodge and stumbles across a gang of hoods with names like Curly, Angel, Toots and Johnny Rocco (Edward G Robinson).

    The regulars
    A busy bunch: Bogie, the crooks, the terribly decent proprietors, even a tribe of Seminole Indians sheltering from the elements.

    The atmosphere
    Strained. At peak times the Hotel Largo is doubtless a peppy, bustling establishment, but in the off season, with a hurricane coming in and everyone pulling guns on each other, there’s a definite edge to the proceedings.

    What to order
    Now listen, see, gimme a bourbon, see, and make it snappy!

  6. Gamulla Hotel

    As seen in...
    Russell Mulcahy’s thunderous monster movie ‘Razorback’ (1984), in which a ferocious killer pig stalks the inhabitants of a remote Outback community.

    The regulars
    Pretty much the entire town, notably lager-swilling, kangaroo-bothering ocker loonies Dicko (David Argue) and Benny (Chris Haywood).

    The atmosphere
    Sweaty, flyblown, forever teetering on the edge of violence. Gamulla’s main export is cheap pet meat (the town’s name even means ‘guts’), so the locals are used to the sight of blood and the sound of screams.

    What to order
    A cab, a horse, a kangaroo – anything leaving town.

  7. Buenos Aires casino bar

    As seen in...
    Charles Vidor’s unforgettable noir-romance 'Gilda' (1946), in which small-time gambler Glenn Ford and showgirl Rita Hayworth (in the title role) reconvene a past relationship in shadowy post-war Buenos Aires.

    The regulars
    American transplants lying low after the war, punch-drunk, lovesick and craving oblivion.

    The atmosphere
    Drenched in cigar smoke and seething with petty jealousy. Gilda’s lustre on the boards and the secret Nazi presence in the boardroom earn our shivers.

    What to order
    Argentinian orange gin cocktail – it sticks in the throat.

  8. Redneck Bar

    As seen in...
    Kathryn Bigelow’s blinding debut ‘Near Dark’ (1987), in which Midwestern farmboy Adrian Pasdar falls in with a crowd of leather-clad, shotgun-wielding vampire outlaws.

    The regulars
    It’s shitkickers versus bloodsuckers. Frankly, we’d advise giving both a wide berth.

    The atmosphere
    Like ‘Road House’, this is a low-rent, neon-lit, country-lovin’ sort of establishment – at least until our undead heroes deliver a dose of pure heavy metal, and redecorate the place in arterial red.

    What to order
    A blood transfusion.

  9. The Red Bar

    As seen in...
    Takeshi Kitano’s wistful gangland tale ‘Sonatine’ (1993), in which an ageing Yakuza tries to quit the life and ends up coming under fire before he’s even had time to down his first Asahi.

    The regulars
    Skinny Japanese gangsters in Hawaiian shirts. It’s a good look.

    The atmosphere
    Very quiet, then very loud. At first, it’s all brooding tension and moral ennui. Then the pistols come out, the waiter drops his tray, and merry hell breaks loose.

    What to order
    Well everyone seems to be drinking bottled lager, but then pretty much everyone dies, so maybe a nice mai tai?

  10. Bethany Mineworkers’ Bar

    As seen in...
    Richard Stanley’s dreamlike supernatural road movie ‘Dust Devil’ (1994), which sees a demon in human form (Robert Burke) preying on the downtrodden desert townsfolk of Bethany, Namibia.

    The regulars
    The hardworking, spade-wielding dredgers from the local mine, who don’t take kindly to the appearance of Afrikaaner douchebag Mark (Rufus Swart).

    The atmosphere
    Intense. Imagine a cross between a working men’s club, a juke joint and an ANC conference. Though to be fair, when the shit hits the fan, the shit kinda deserves it…

    What to order
    Anything, just do it politely.

The ten most dangerous movie pubs

Enjoy a bit of aggro with your ale? Try one of these dodgy drinking dens

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In Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s new movie ‘The World's End’, the titular Olde English boozer turns out to be a pretty risky place – and we don’t just mean the dodgy scampi. They should’ve known better: throughout movie history, the local pub – whether you take that to mean a swanky hotel bar or a seedy redneck dive – has been the site of some truly horrific goings-on. We present a round-the-world tour of 10 movie pubs that even the thirstiest traveller will want to steer clear of.

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