The Social
The bar staff often give free tokens (usually it’s £1 for seven) and as
well as classics (Clash, New Order), you’ll find promos (SFA at the
moment) and bespoke compilations from the likes of Sean Rowley. Twin it
with the Islington Social jukebox and you’ve got the best pair in town.
The Social, 5 Little Portland St, W1.
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Bradley's Spanish Bar
Probably London’s best vinyl juke (£1 for three spins). It’s hard to
argue with a collection of 160 seven-inches that includes The White
Stripes and The Who. They rotate seven singles a week.
Bradley’s, 42-44 Hanway St, W1.
The Boogaloo
One seriously cool jukebox – all 100 CD albums must be at least a
decade old (Hank Williams, The Beatles and The Specials all feature)
and ten must be the picks of a famous person (past pickers include Tim
Wheeler, Pete Doherty, Johnny Marr and Shane MacGowan); £1 for three
songs.
The Boogaloo, 312 Archway Rd, N6.
Crobar
They rock around the clock at the Crobar with a 100-CD juke where a
quid buys three tracks from the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zep.
Surely no jukebox in the world has more Iron Maiden albums on offer
than this one. Rocking.
Crobar, 17 Manette St, W1.
Three Kings
With just 80 vinyl seven-inches, the Three Kings does quality rather
than quantity. The selection changes weekly, with current faves
including ‘This Must Be the Place’ by Talking Heads, ‘Gloria’ by Patti
Smith and ‘Reach Out’ by the Four Tops. At £1 for seven songs, a
bargain too.
Three Kings, 7 Clerkenwell Close, EC1.
The Reliance
Only 20 CD albums, but they’re by the likes of Squeeze, The Beatles,
Dolly Parton and The Rapture. It’s often on freeplay too (£1 for five
songs when it’s not). Small but perfectly formed.
The Reliance, 336 Old St, EC1.
Prince George
With around 800 CDs in its jukebox, the George offers a pretty
comprehensive range of rock ’n’ roll classics from the ’50s and ’60s
(plus a bunch of jazz). You’ll get three songs for a pound, and with
this much choice on offer, try to resist the temptation to select ‘Hey
Jude’ (currently the pub’s most popular track).
Prince George, 40 Parkholme Rd, E8.
Fighting Cocks
If you want a jukebox that rocks then you should like the Cocks’. Ahem.
Kiss, AC/DC and Staind are among the faves from the 100-plus albums at
the moment, with £1 buying five songs.
Fighting Cocks, 56 London Rd, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.
Endurance
The 100 CDs in the Endurance’s jukebox focus on the ’70s and ’80s, with
albums by Joy Division, Bob Marley, The Stooges, Blondie, Bowie and
Morrissey. It’s five songs for a pound.
Endurance, 90 Berwick St, W1.
Ed's Easy Diner
This ’50s/’60s-themed diner hasn’t changed its 100 seven-inches since
it opened – but with tracks this good, why would it? Take some 20p
coins, sit at the counter sipping a malt and choose classics like ‘If I
Had a Hammer’ by Trini Lopez from your personal mini-jukebox.
Ed’s Easy Diner, 12 Old Compton St, W1.
Pelican
It’s ’80s greaties à go-go in this Portobello Road boozer, with 100 CDs
full of The Cure, Soft Cell, Duran Duran and Blondie. A pound buys you
three trips down memory lane.
Pelican, 45 All Saints Rd, W11.
The Swimmer at The Grafton Arms
With 800 CD tracks, rotated every couple of months, and a cool,
eclectic range covering everything from Missy Elliot to Neil Young,
this north London boozer boasts one of London’s best-programmed jukes.
Five songs for a quid.
The Swimmer at the Grafton Arms, 13 Eburne Rd, N7.
T-Bird
Although the T-Bird’s £1-for-five jukebox features a wide range of jazz
standards across 100 CDs, beware the proprietor’s predilection for
playing their fave tune, Bryan Adams’ ‘Summer of 69’ (shudder).
T-Bird, 132 Blackstock Rd, N4.
The Malt & Hops
The Hops’ five-for-a-pound 100-CD jukebox is a compilation-heavy
affair, which makes for huge variety – old-school hip hop, ’60s
classics, US R&B, ’80s pop and the modern sounds of Coldplay. Bonus
marks for letting regulars contribute their own compilations.
The Malt & Hops, 891 High Rd, N12
2 comments
The Good Ship in Kilburn should be at number 1. never mind not being on the top 20...The Specials, The Kinks, Lilly Allen, The Rakes, KaitO, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush etc etc
You will find that Time Out missed the best jukebox in London at The Good Ship in Kilburn. The Smiths, The Rakes, Marvin Gaye, KaitO, Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, Lilly Allen etc etc