LONDON

34Drinkingwww.thehoist.co.ukGreat looking late-night cruisebar with strict dress code and aclientele of up-for-it guys. Men only.ROYAL VAUXHALLTAVERN372 Kennington Lane, SE11VauxhallTel: +44 (0)20 7840 0596www.theroyalvauxhalltavern.co.ukA legend in its ownlifetime, this seems like aregular English pub but thatdoesn’t account for the edgyand boisterous art-scene nightsit hosts. Hilarious. Mixed.TWO BREWERS114 Clapham High Street, SW4Clapham Common/Clapham NorthTel: +44 (0)20 7498 4971www.the2brewers.comMuch bigger than a bar butnot quite a club, the atmosphere isfun with drag shows and generalcarryings on. Mixed.Hotel BarsThey’re glamorous, attract a savvy, international crowd, andare amongst the coolest places to kick-start an evening on therazzle-dazzle.These are a few of the best:The Lobby Barstylish crowd that knows it. For@ One Aldwychmore intimacy, try the literallynamedPurple Bar.1 Aldwych, WC2Charing Cross/CoventGarden/Templemybar @ myhotelwww.onealdwych.comBloomsburyAn elegant bar with oversized art 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedfordinstallations, serving lovingly-made Square, WC1Rockwell @ Thecocktails to a stylish crowd – perfect Tottenham Court Road/ Trafalgar Hotelfor pre- or post-theatre drinks. Goodge Street2 Spring Gardens,Trafalgarwww.myhotels.comSquare, SW1Long BarEver-popular with style-savvyCharing Cross/Leicester Square@ The Sanderson locals, and within crawling distance www.thetrafalgar.com50 Berners Street, W1of Soho, mybar serves memorable With an enviable position facingTottenham Court Road/ cocktails in a friendly, enticing Trafalgar Square, the Rockwell is allOxford Circusatmosphere – with dinner, lunch or black leather and white lacquerwww.sandersonlondon.com even breakfast available should you and effortlessly sexy – oh, andLong (80 feet!), made of glowing get the munchies! And if you’re in there’s a tiny roof garden open inonyx, and fit to bursting with a west London, myhotel Chelsea’s the summer, but don’t tell anyone.CENTRAL STATIONKINGS X37 Wharfdale Road(2mins from King’s Cross Station)020 7278 3294www.centralstation.co.ukvisitlondon.com/gay(see p.52) mybar sports a similarvibe, and a well-heeled crowd!REFUEL Bar@ The Soho Hotel4 Richmond Mews, W1Piccadilly Circus/Oxford Circuswww.firmdale.comBumper-to-bumper media folk,sexy Soho regulars and passingthroughcelebs, in this busy,expensive but oh-so-cool cocktailhaunt in the heart of Soho.35BJ’S WHITE SWAN556 Commercial Road, E14LimehouseTel: +44 (0)20 7780 9870www. Bjswhiteswan.comBig, busy and boisterouswith drag, cabaret and strippers.Mixed, except for amateur stripWednesdays, which is men only.SouthKAZBAR50 Clapham High Street, SW4Clapham CommonTel: +44 (0)20 7662 0070Fun, buzzy, noisy and spillingout onto the street. Mixed.SOUTH CENTRAL349 Kennington Lane, SE11VauxhallTel: +44 (0)20 7793 0903This traditional looking barwith its beer garden plays host toa surprisingly edgy mixed-bag ofevents. Mixed, mainly men.THE HOISTRailway Arches 47b & 47c SouthLambeth Road, SW8VauxhallTel: +44 (0)20 7735 9972WestBROMPTONS294 Old Brompton Road, SW5Earl’s CourtTel: +44 (0)20 7370 1344Earls Court’s legendaryclubby pub (or pubby club) withstrippers, cabaret and a slightlyolder crowd. Mixed, mainly men.COCOLATTE SW5180-184 Earls Court Road, SW5Earl’s CourtTel: +44 (0)20 7244 0022www.cocolattesw5.comIt’s Earls Court: The NewGeneration in this glamorous andslinky bar cum lounge cum nightclub. Mixed.COLEHERNE261 Brompton Road, SW5Earl’s CourtTel: +44 (0)20 7244 5951It’s leathery and bikey andattracts all ages. Men.Sponsored by