Smoker's London

The Endurance, Soho

Apparently trendy Soho pub. Feels like a Weatherspoon’s by-the-sea. Completely without character. Bar staff are bloody enthusiastic though; we got asked whether we were waiting four times while being served. Clientele mostly in drainpipe jeans with bed hair. -BF

Seated: There’s a rather nice looking garden, but it was raining when I went, and there are no umbrellas. So. There is also an alleyway next to the pub. The building next door provides shelter from the elements.
Location: By Berwick Market.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Upside: Warm ex-air-con-air from the Chinese next door blows onto the smokers congregated in the alleyway.
Downside: Warm ex-air-con-air from the Chinese next door blows onto the smokers congregated in the alleyway.
Hours: Pub hours
Niceness: Maybe in the summer it would get a 4. In the winter not so much. Don’t bother.

Waverly House Hotel, Holbourn

Bland as you can get, cheapo hotel bar. Has tables outside on a little raised porch with fake heat lamps.

SMOKING: 4 tables on front porch with awning
LOCATION: Southampton Row
TUBE: Holbourn
UPSIDE: seats and a cover in an area where there isn't much
DOWNSIDE: fake fucking heat lamps - deceptive
HOURS: pub hours
NICENESS: 6.5/10

The Hobgoblin, Marylebone

Nice normal average pub. Picnic tables outside. Nice staff and good Thai kitchen. Curfew for beer at 10pm (I think). 

SMOKING: picnic tables (often busy)
LOCATION: Balcombe street (next door to Marylebone tube, v near)
TUBE: Marylebone/Baker Street
UPSIDE: normal pub, nice staff, good beer, space to stand in the street if tables are full.
DOWNSIDE: Bit office-workery if you care about that kind of thing.
HOURS: pub hours
NICENESS: 7/10

Gordon's Wine Bar, Embankment

Smokers have been smoking in this, king of all date spots, since the 1890s. Amazing wine list and mouth-watering cheeses aside, this is truly an Aladdin’s cave of a pub, with dark, cavernous walls, flickering candles and an atmosphere so romantic it makes you want wear some knickerbockers and a top hat. Gordon's is an amazing spot for a smokers’ date, with a good collection of umbrella’d tables outside next to the park so you can feel close to nature while you puff adoringly away at each other. Rudyard Kilping used to live upstairs and wrote ‘The Light that Failed’ in the parlour – a nod to the fact that all any good writer needs is somewhere good to drink, smoke and think. - Jess

SEATED: Plenty of tables

LOCATION: Just behind Embankment

TUBE: embankment

UPSIDE: good wine, good food, inspires good chat

DOWNSIDE: no heaters, get there early for a seat

HOURS: pub hours

NICENESS: 8.5/10

Yates Wine Lodge, Leicester Square

I know it’s rank n’that, but you can sit outside and smoke until 10pm when the bouncers getting militant. And it’s in central London. Downside - Service is quite slow.

SMOKING: smallish tables and chairs section facing square.
SEATED: yes
LOCATION: South East corner of Leicester Square.
EXTRAS: hideous trolls and ladies night Fridays,
HOURS: late, but smokers ‘kicked in’ at 10pm.
NICENESS: 1/10