Smoker's London

The Golden Heart, Spitalfields

Right on the knife edge of Shoreditch and the city, this popular pub attracts a crowd of bearable (ie not too twatty) scenesters and a dribbling of suits either lost on their way home from the city or there in a vain attempt to appear hip. Rain or shine the best action’s always to be found outside on the pavement though some heaters and more chairs wouldn’t go amiss. The pub is also the main purveyor of the ‘East End Fever’, an unknown substance pumped into the air that means, if not careful, you will soon find yourself battered beyond belief and insulting your best friends, losing your girlfriends laptop and/or headbutting a girl too small and nice to deserve it (delete as appropriate)

SEATED: A smattering of tables, doorways to sit in and window ledges to lean on.

TUBE: Liverpool St, Old St, Aldgate East

UPSIDE: A blind dog, classic East End landlady who will hula hoop on the pavement when she sees fit, good ‘wanker watching’

DOWNSIDE: no heaters, Friday and Saturday get real busy, all gets a bit silly when Tracy Emin/Pete Doherty show up…

HOURS: pub hours (some cheeky lock ins)

NICENESS: 8/10

The Water Poet, Shoreditch

This place is fucking amazing - see picture below - they love smokers, heaters, an actual roof, sofas outside - this is amazing.

SMOKING: Room for about 400 people with heaters and seats.
LOCATION: Folgate Street (just off shoredtich high street)
TUBE: Liverpool St
UPSIDE: Seats, heaters, a roof, warmth - its amazing
DOWNSIDE: not much really
HOURS: pub hours
NICENESS: 9.7/10

 

Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Hoxton Square

Trendy bar/venue crammed with weedy Graham coxon-alike boys and Kate Nash wannabes with wonky art school hair. Cunts. Large outside under-cover area. Inside at ten by order of huge bouncers. Don’t try and resist them. £3:30 for a pint of Red Stripe. Pricey n’that. - Ol' Doc Benway

SMOKING: outdoor tables/chairs.
LOCATION: Hoxton Square TUBE: Old Street/Liverpool Street
UPSIDE: hot girls. No main road traffic.
DOWNSIDE: prices. Trendies.
HOURS: late.
NICENESS: 7/10

Owl and the Pussycat, Shoreditch

The Owl and the Pussycat has long been an oasis of calm amidst the rambunctious carnage that can be the streets of Shoreditch. Situated just off Shoredtich High Street the pub features old school carpet, often good tunes and joy of joys a Bar Billiards table! The best feature nowadays however is the moderately sized courtyard out back. With enough pub tables and umbrellas to accomodate around 40 people its an excellent place for for midweek drinks and also doesn't get too rammed at the weekends. Pub hours apply.

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The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch

The Old Blue Last AKA The Vice Pub - so named because of its owners Vice Magazine is a haven for hedonistic revelry and the scene of many debauched nights out. The smoking ban has however, like most places, taken some of the fun out of the place. There's no official smoking area outside so punters are left to fend for themselves on the pavement outside - there's a nice ledge to lean on and if you're lucky you can have the one 'table' (read electricity box that you can rest your drinks on). The unfortunate thing about the OBL is that come 10pm you can't take your drinks outside which gets rather annoying come 1am and you have to leave your beer somewhere inside - there's also no cover so if it rains your getting wet.

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The Strong Rooms, Shoreditch

The Strong Rooms is one of the best smoking venues in Shoreditch - situated just opposite American Apparel on Curtain Rd its a late night bar that has DJs (random psychobilly and unfortunately sometimes some house), live bands and serves food. However the best thing about the Strong Rooms is the large courtyard out front. With about 10 tables with umbrellas, high walls covered in Ivy this is a perfect quiet mid week haven for the smoker.

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