DIRTY MARTINI...

We're not going to lie the main reason we like Dirty Martini is because of its extra long Happy Hours. From Monday - Thursday, 5pm - 10pm; Friday - Saturday, 5pm - 8pm and Sunday all day the cocktail bar offers half price cocktails which means they come in at under a fiver, not bad considering you don't usually get much change from a tenner for a cocktail around Mayfair.

The cocktail list is huge and we mean massive, we tried a couple of the Prosseco cocktails; Passion Royale and Raspberry Bellini both of which were fruity and light. Before we left we couldn't help but try the martinis (did we mention they were half price??); a Breakfast Martini and Lychee Martini.


Located in Hanover Square Dirty Martini which opened late last year is a modern basement bar with exposed brickwork, trendy artwork and a mixture of furniture laid out in various different sections which give the appearance of different rooms. Music is a bit hit and miss but if you're looking for somewhere to grab some cheap cocktails in pleasant surrounds Dirty Martini hits the spot.

10c Hanover Square, W1S
www.dirtymartini.uk.com

PEMBURY TAVERN...

After a fire in the late 1990’s the Pembury Tavern closed to undergo a major refurbishment. Ever since it reopened it’s been quite the local hangout with the Hackney young’ns and oldies flocking there for a pint or two. With sixteen hand pumps the Pembury serves an impressive collection of real ales from Milton Brewery and other British microbreweries. The refurbishment hasn’t made it all swanky, swanky and we’re glad to say this pub holds much old fashioned charm with simple wooden furniture, beer mats lining the ceilings, pool tables, stacks of atmosphere and reasonable prices.

The boozer also serves a good selection of food from pies to huge fresh pizzas and the Il famosissimo Pembury Burger served encased in pizza bread – like a mini calzone – we haven’t tried the food yet but watch this space, those pizzas looked mega. A quiz takes place on a Mondays at 8pm and is only a pound to enter. Pizza, pint and a quiz…who said Mondays had to be blue?

90 Amhurst Road, Hackney, E8
www.individualpubs.co.uk/pembury

HACKNEY PICTUREHOUSE...

Opening last year, the Hackney Picturehouse certainly draws in the crowd of East Londoners not only through the wide-ranging programme of films here but also as a place to hangout. The Bar and Kitchen on the ground floor is the social hub of the venue serving booze, food, tea and cakes.

Having visited for the first time just recently we were impressed with its appearance both inside and out. The cinema is more comfortable than your standard Odeon with cushioned seats and adequate space for the taller being. All the usual snacks and treats can be found at the ticket desks and the restaurant boasts Mediterranean inspired food - you can even call in for a full monty breakfast whether you’re seeing a film or not.

‘The Attic’ brings the most varied and brilliant live entertainment in the event space on the top floor with its very own bar. With all this happening under one roof it would be rude not to give it a go.

Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street E8
www.picturehouses.co.uk

RIDLEY ROAD MARKET BAR...

In the heart of Dalston, slap bang in the middle of Ridley Road you can find the tropical bar and café serving a range of cocktails, red stripe and coffee until the early hours with old time jazz and soul records blaring, Louis Prima was in full swing when we walked in. With a policy of NO guestlist, NO phone, NO reservations for less than 15 people Ridley Road Market Bar is like a trip back in time to a 50’s beach party.

With neon lighting, wooden crates full of fresh mint and lemons and cheap cocktails at £5 a stab – drinks menu listed on the board behind the bar. We imagine there has been a few well and truly remarkable nights gone down here. It’s rough and readiness, makeshift type style come across as informal and most of all…a fun place to party. Let’s all brave the blood smells of the market and make way for a tequila and grapefruit cocktail. Bangin!

Open Tues-Wed 3pm-midnight,
Thurs-Sat noon-2am, Sun 2pm-11pm.
49 Ridley Road, Dalston, E8

MASLENITSA FESTIVAL

You can be forgiven for not having heard of Maslenitsa before, but between February 19th -26th you won't be able to avoid it! For the uninitiated, Maslenitsa is a traditional Russian festival that marks the end of the winter and the arrival of the spring and given how cold it gets in Russia, that's something worth celebrating!

For a week this February, Trafalgar Square will be turned into a mini-Moscow with Russian music, Food, exhibitions and events. The events build up to an all day spectacular on Sunday 26th - the day of Maslenitsa itself - as a live link is established between Trafalgar Square and Red Square on giant video screens to connect the two festivals that take place simultaneously.

Entry is free, so say goodbye to winter and welcome in Springtime with music, vodka and pancakes 'veselaya Maslenitsa' as the Russians say - merry Maslenitsa!

19th Feb - 26th Feb
Trafalgar Square, WC2N
http://Maslenitsa.co.uk

FRED PERRY SUBCULTURE...

After an epic Fred Perry SubSonic party last year with The Horrors and Toy taking to the stage we’re excited to see they’ve announced another one. Live From Outer Space will be an old fashion rave with British electronic music pioneer Andrew Weatherall, one of the first ever acid house producers. This show will see him play a highly intimate gig so fasten your seatbelts! No doubt it will feature classics like Happy Mondays, New Order and Primal Scream club mixes...Sweating already.

Tickets are a mere £5 from here.

Throw some shapes on the floor!

Live From Outer Space
17th February 2012

The Garage, London, Highbury & Islington, N5

CHERRY COLA...

Sod the detox its time to retox on Cherry Cola with the first club night of 2012 kicking off this Saturday the 28th January. Back at The Macbeth after a New Years Eve extravaganza it’s time to get down and dirty for the January blues are over, pay day is looming and the rock n roll will be banging all night, well until 2am. 5 of your English gets you through the doors.

Sat 18th Jan, 8:30pm
The Macbeth 70 Hoxton Street, N1
www.cherrycolaclub.com

THE AMERSHAM ARMS

Venturing south last weekend for some rock n roll action we were surprised with the facilities of this South East London boozer. For one it’s a proper pub pub, blackboards, dark furniture and ‘pie & mash’ advertised outside in big bold lettering above the door alongside ‘board games’ and ‘coffee’. Inside is warm and welcoming with low lighting and odds and ends on the side boards and a piano…oh look a piano.

Out from the kitchen came some rather tasty looking meals and upon inspecting the menu The Amersham Arms do an array of home comfort foods, burgers, sandwiches and toasts. From the look of the couple that whizzed past us we were well and truly missing out on the treat.

Doubling up as popular music venue and club night, with Goldsmith’s University a mere stones throw away you are bound to come across a band or two here that will be doing the London circuit. We were there to catch our previous BotM IDEALS, who put on a corker show! The two rooms are separate so the music lovers can be silly in one room while you read the paper in the other. The venue itself is a decent size with a pretty good stage and plenty of room for some good old boogie.

We’re not quite sure why our expectations were low about this place, maybe we are becoming Hackney snobs, but we would definitely recommend a trip out here, the food looks great, the beer is decent and the gig was packed. Bosh!

388 New Cross Road SE14
www.theamershamarms.com

BOMBAS & PARR COCKTAILS

Those innovative scientists Bombas & Parr are up to their old tricks again. This Thursday 26th January they will be landing at the V&A to mark the launch of their new book 'Cocktails with Bompas & Parr' with a lesson on how to make the perfect cocktail.

If their past events are anything to go by you can expect something quite spectacular! Tickets are free but you need to get in there sharpish by emailing readingroomsevents@vam.ac.uk now.

Thurs 26th Jan, 7pm
V & A, Cromwell Road, SW7

ALE HOUSE ROCK...

Readers of Londontheinside will know we're passionate about two things above all else - quality alcohol and rock'n'roll so Ale House Rock at The Snooty Fox is right up our street!

Ale House Rock, as the name suggests, is a hybrid beer festival and music festival which takes place over four days between Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th February. 25 new wave craft beers will be available, specialising in some unusual flavours such as plum porter and a jasmine IPA. The Revolutions Brewing Co will also be unveiling 'Unknown Pleasures', an ale dedicated to Joy Division.

The music comes courtesy of Des de Moor, a veteran DJ of the 100 Club and current travel writer of the year for the British Guild of Beer Writers who should know a thing or two about both aspects of this event! He'll be spinning rock and roll, northern soul, and rhythm and blues on Friday night, with 50's and 60's specialists The Dirty Water Club.

The Snooty Fox is CAMRA's pub of the season, so it comes highly recommended for beer connoisseurs!

Thurs 2nd Feb - Sat 5th Feb
75 Grosvenor Avenue, Highbury, N5
www.snootyfoxlondon.co.uk.

WIGWAMBAM...

During the summer the Queen of Hoxton's Rooftop is home to one of the city's best outdoor Film Clubs. This winter the trendy boozer have decided to make full use its rooftop space by opening the brand new Wig Wam Bam Bar. The Bar is located in a giant heated Tepee with mulled cider and hot rum on offer and an open grill serving bratwurst - and you thought Christmas was over!

The pop-up will be open for just 3 months and you can expect a jam packed time table of events during that time.

Just try a little Wig Wam Bam!

Mon - Fri 4pm - 10pm / Sat 6pm - 10pm / Sun see listings
1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A
www.queenofhoxton.com

NEWS: LAST MINUTE'S POP UP "HOTEL"

No sooner have more dates been announced for the Roi des Belges pop up hotel (which coincidentally go on sale tomorrow) does another hotel pop up on the scene. This times it's from the people at lastminute.com and it's slightly different than your usual hotel in that you can't actually stay there. That's right a hotel you can't sleep over night in...you can however score a free massage, manicure, coffee, cocktail and cupcake.

Located in the Getty Images Gallery, just off Oxford Street the hotel offers tired shoppers a bed to relax on for an hour or two, but don't get too comfy there is only one so you might end up sharing. The furniture is all top notch, borrowed from the 51 Buckingham Gate hotel.

What's all this in order of we hear you cry? Well the PR stunt marks the inclusion of restaurants, theatre shows, car hire and more to the lastminute.com Top Secret deals. Visitors to the "hotel" will also get the chance to win a stay at one of the"Top Secret" hotels from the website.

Head along from now until Sunday 22nd January to take full advantage. Open  Mon - Fri, 11am - 7pm and Sat & Sun, 12pm - 5pm.

The Getty Images Gallery, 46 Eastcastle Street, W1W
www.lastminute.com

PONGATHON...

The Coolest Ping Pong Party on the Planet returns on Tuesday 7th February and fortnightly from then on. Taking place at RichMix on Bethnal Green Road you couldn’t find a place to get more ping for your pong! After the massively successful launch of Pongathon on October 24th Pongathon has grown in popularity. Why…well, Wall to Wall Ping Pong Tables over two floors with DJ’s, Pongathon T-shirts, headbands and wristbands for best 70’s sportswear and lots of FREE to enter competitions including the Pongathon Mini Bat Challenge!

Pongathon have teamed up with Google Places who will be running a competition to win Pongathon table time on Feb 7th. Four hourly slots are up for grabs plus free drinks and some very tasty goody bags! Click HERE to enter.

Doors: 5pm -11pm
Richmix 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road E1
www.pongathon.com

SUPPERCLUB REHAB CENTRE...

If you're struggling to squeeze into your skinny jeans after a huge Christmas food binge then you might be considering a January detox but watching what you eat can play havoc with your social life. Just because you want to lose the extra weight accrued from Quality Street and Stilton doesn't mean that you have to stay home and be boring though, as Notting Hill's Supperclub have launched the Maximum Security Rehab Centre.

The venue usually offers a tantalising combination of risqué entertainment, DJs and gourmet dining on beds but for one month only it is transforming into a 'rehab centre' for those who indulged too much over the holiday season, offering nutritious food, non-alcoholic cocktails, massages and performance therapy, all served up by the hottest nurses in London.

Optional extras (no, not that, get your mind out of the gutter!) such as alcohol will be available if you have the secret password, so make sure you ask when you book! Check out the Supperclub Facebook page to see the latest videos and photos of the 'addicts' and vote in their poll to see who most needs to go to rehab.

Check yourself in at 12 Acklam Road, W10 5QZ or at www.supperclub.com

DAMIEN HIRST THE COMPLETE SPOT PAINTINGS...

An epic exhibition of Damien Hirst’s The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 is underway at eleven Gagosian Gallery locations in New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong. You can check out the UK display on Britannia Street and if you happen to be travelling the globe take on the Complete Spot Challenge…visit all eleven loacations and receive a signed print from Mr Hirst dedicated to you personally. Quite a challenge, the exhibitions however looks spot on.

Open now until February 18th 2012
Gagosian Gallery, 6-24 Britannia St., WC1X 9JD

HACKNEY HOMEMADE MARKET...

If you’re at a loose end this weekend ponder along to the Hackney Homemade Market at St John's Church on Saturday and independent book shop the Book Box on Sunday. An eclectic mix of cheap and cheerful vintage collectables, books, toys, furniture, screen printed pillow cases and much more. To fuel the rummaging head for the food stalls from around the globe where all types of cravings can be satisfied. If the weather holds out a brisk walk along to London Fields could set your morning on to a pretty good day.






Saturday 14th Jan 10am-4pm and Sunday 15th Jan 11am-4pm
St Johns Church, Lower Clapton E5

SCREEN ON THE GREEN...

In our opinion Screen On The Green is a shining example of they way cinemas should operate, part of the Everyman group the theatre promises a unique entertainment experience and it definitely delivers!

From the fresh popcorn and the mugs of hot chocolate served to you seat, to the cookies, cakes and retro candy - even cold beers and wines for those of you who haven't yet been able to wave goodbye to the Christmas party season!

With only one screen you may expect it to be a bit limited in terms of whats on offer however the Everyman seem to offer something for everyman everyone from art house, to mainstream (we headed down for a showing of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and even some childhood classics.

Just make sure you book before hand as this place is popular gets full most nights! Oh and for all you romantics out there they even have sofas on which you can have a good snuggle, that back row will never seem  the same again...

83 Upper Street, Islington, N1
www.everymancinema.com

1970'S POP UP RESTAURANT AND EXHIBITION...

There is nothing like a childhood holiday trip to the beach; sand in your sarnies, wind breaks falling down, crying on the donkey ride then good old fish and chips. Argh if only we could go back to that. Imagine Hackney-on-Sea…(puff of smoke) WOW! As if by magic a pop-up restaurant is coming to Broadway Market this January with a 1970’s style home and holiday theme. You can have Fish and Chips with the Seagulls, stroke the donkey and have a ponder at Tim Mara’s exhibition called ‘At Home; showing screen prints from the 70’s and 80’s’.

But don’t get too excited it’s not actually on a beach, it’s in the Pie and Mash shop – but at least you won’t get sand in any unwelcome places!

Wed 25th Jan, Fri 27th Jan and Sat 28th Jan
Exhibition opens 10am – 6pm (free entry), Restaurant opens 7.30pm

F.Cookes Fish Bar, 9 Broadway Market, Hackney, E8
www.theartofdining.co.uk

PINT DROP....

What do you buy for the man who has everything? If you've exhausted all your present ideas and need inspiration then you need to check out Pint Drop...

Pint Drop allows you to send vouchers for drinks directly to your friend's mobile, meaning that you can buy them a drink without even going to the bar yourself! You can now go for a birthday night on the town without worrying about carrying expensive or heavy presents that would probably only get lost after a few tequilas by sending them the voucher that can be redeemed in a wide range of bars. They might even buy a round for you too!

New bars are signing up to participate in the scheme all the time, check out the website to see where the vouchers can be used. So the next time someone does a favour for you and you offer to buy a drink for them in return, you have no excuse.

www.pintdrop.com

THE SCOLT HEAD...

The Scolt Head is a cracking little boozer in the heart of De Beauvoir that has ample of what a good local boozer is all about; fine ales and wines, homely hearty food and a lovely warm atmosphere. The old style traditional deco keeps the place alive and looking like a ‘pub’ should. The benches outside set the scene for summer time drinking in the cool evening air....feels like a life time away right now we know. There is plenty of entertainment on offer too with a pub quiz and live music events happening all the time. The all important kitchen has a small menu which changes frequently - they use independent suppliers, seasonal produce and source their ingredients locally. Everything you need from a boozer right here people – but be prepared to fight for a table, unless you’ve been sensible and booked of course

Open 12 – 12 seven days a week. Fancy a pint anyone?

The Scolt Head, 107A Culford Road N1

FINAL TIX FOR JANUARY'S SECRET CINEMA RELEASED...

Roll up, Roll up the final tickets for the January shows one of the best cinematic events, Secret Cinema are being released tomorrow at 12pm sharp (Thursday 5th January).  As always the cinema will be held in the heart of the city at a location known only to those who secure tickets.

Reports from the audience say this is the best Secret Cinema yet - so ditch those January blues and get involved. And if you fancy going the whole hog why not try out the Secret Restaurant which still has seats left on sale now. For £75 you can score yourself a ticket to Secret Cinema and an all inclusive meal from the team at St John in the restaurant.

Good luck people!

www.secretcinema.org

THE WINTER SPRINTER...

Whoever said January was for staying in had obviously never lived in London! Yet another blast of gigs starts this evening talking place at the Lexington. The Winter Sprinter has been put together by indie label Fortuna Pop to bring you three nights of brilliant music. Tickets are £8.50 or you can pay £20 for all three nights.

Line-up:

Wednesday 4 Jan Singing Adams + Laura J Martin + The Werewandas
Thursday 5 Jan Allo Darlin’ + Moustache Of Insanity + Knickers
Friday 6 Jan The Wave Pictures + Evans The Death + Rotifer