Shacklewell Arms

The bjoux live back room still smells bizarrely of mould and the courtyard smoking area - complete with broken fountain and faded, crudely painted murals - might nix its chances of a Michelin star for music venues, but this down-at-heels gem is already an institution, just two years after throwing open its doors to a rampantly eclectic live music programme. The Shacklewell is usually crowded, but generally convivial, welcoming a hipster-ish crowd to gigs seven nights a week, plus club nights, magazine launches and after-show parties, all benefitting from a late licence. The studio next door ensures the patronage of a stream of local musicians and industry ace faces. Somewhat unbelievably, the galmorous Solange Knowles fetched up to play a DJ set here in 2011.