QEIICC: Nearby Nightlife

 
 
 
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The Cinnamon Club Bar

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The Cinnamon Club Bar
The Cinnamon Club Bar
The Marquis of Granby
The Marquis of Granby
The Marquis of Granby
Bank Westminster and Zander Bar
Institute of Contemporary Art Bar & Cafe
Institute of Contemporary Art Bar & Cafe
Bassoon Bar
Bassoon Bar
Tattershall Castle
Doon
Doon
Vista
Heaven
Gordon's Wine Bar
Gordon's Wine Bar
Mahiki
Mahiki
 

 

Westminster may not be renowned for its nightlife but there is actually a great selection of pubs, bars and clubs within walking distance from the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. From rooftop bars with unrivalled views to traditional British pubs with a parliamentary theme, here LondonTown.com outlines the best nightlife nearby the conference centre.For an illustrated view of nearby nightlife, take a look at LondonTown.com's QEIICC Location Map

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The Cinnamon Club Bar

Contemporary cocktail bar. 4 minutes walk.

The Old Westminster Library, 30 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3BU

Tube: St James's Park Station

 
 

In addition to the main dining room, The Cinnamon Club also houses two bars. The Cinnamon Club Bar is sleek and contemporary, contrasting heavily with the Grade II listed building it is found within. It features glass protection screens running the length of the back wall, while the décor is stylish with leather walls and intimate seating areas. Cocktails are unique with ingredients including curry nectar and cinnamon syrup while bar platters are sophisticated with options such as shrimps with a chilli and apricot glaze, and Bengali style crab cakes. With its central location and tempting signature cocktails, it is the ideal location for after work drinks and, due to its proximity to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, there's also the chance you'll be drinking alongside journalists and politicians.

 
 
 

Two Chairmen Public House

Traditional British pub. 5 minutes walk.

39 Dartmouth Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 9BN

Tube: St James's Park Station

 
 

Two minutes away from Parliament Square and the Cabinet warm rooms, the Two Chairmen Public House is an olde worlde pub that retains a number of features from its past. Rebuilt in 1756, the pub's name relates to when people would be picked up in a sedan chair and carried by two men to reach their destination. With original oak beams, old fireplaces and a mural depicting three scenes from the 18th century, this cosy English pub is a good spot to enjoy some hearty British food and drink. The menu features hand battered cod with chips and mushy peas, steaks, burgers and a traditional roast seven days a week. While drinks range from cask ales to a selection of wines.

 
 
 

The Albert

Large Victorian pub. 7 minutes walk

52 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 0NP

Tube: St James's Park Station

 
 

Open every day of the week, the Albert is a traditional British pub that has only changed slightly since built in 1864. The classic Victoria pub features etched and glass cut windows, allowing for the daylight to flood in, and a heavy, highly polished mahogany bar counter. Located within minutes of Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square, the pub's walls are adorned with portraits of British Prime Ministers, from Salisbury to an autographed one of Tony Blair, while Margaret Thatcher unveiled her own. With members of the parliament frequently dining here, a division bell has been installed for their convenience.

 
 
 

The Marquis of Granby

Real ales and British food. 9 minutes walk

41 Romney Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RF

Tube: St James's Park Station

 
 

Named after Lieutenant-General John Manners, the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland, The Marquis of Granby is a real ale pub with a wide choice of a cask-conditioned beers and British pub food. Considering its location, the historic pub has parliamentary connections and even houses a division bell that still rings today. The regular guest ales are handpicked from the four corners of Britain and, from local and national favourites to micro-brews, the selection has something for all palates and desires. The food is suitably traditional and seasonal with classics including fish and chips, beef wellington, sausage and mash, and beef and ale pie.

 
 
 

Bank Westminster and Zander Bar

Stylish cocktail bar. 9 minutes walk

45 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London, SW1E 6BS

Tube: St James's Park Station , Victoria Station

 
 

The tranquil dining room at Bank Westminster exudes class and sophistication, set within an airy conservatory which overlooks a outdoor courtyard complete with fountain. Regulars flock from the environs of the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace to enjoy the restaurant's modern European cuisine and buzzy ambience. Two private dining rooms can accommodate up to 40 guests. Equally radiant with style and elegance, the Zander Bar is perfect for a laid-back drink with friends and colleagues. The modest pastel lighting, cosy seating areas and attractive champagne displays all contribute to a truly luxurious atmosphere.

 
 
 
 

Institute of Contemporary Art Bar & Cafe

Organic food, tea and cocktails. 11 minutes walk

12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, St James's, London, SW1Y 5AH

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Piccadilly Circus Station

 
 

The Institute of Contemporary Art on The Mall (just down the road from the Queen's pad) is a great place for a trendy drink after taking in some modern art. Oliver Peyton runs the cafe/bar so you can expect well presented quality food in the form of sharing plates. Mains are a mix of organic chicken, spagetti with clams and good quality burgers. Come for tea and you'll get jammy dodgers to dunk in your cuppa. The ICA hosts a lively programme of frequently changing events with art exhibitions supplemented by appearances from well known bands and DJs, book readings, film screenings and talks. Go the bar before an event and you can take your drink in with you - Tuesday nights offer buy one get one free cocktails between 7pm and 9pm. On big nights arty types mingle freely for something cultural followed by a boogie.

 
 
 

Bassoon Bar

Art deco cocktail bar. 13 minutes walk

Corinthia Hotel , Whitehall Place, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HE

Tube: Embankment Underground Station , Charing Cross Station

 
 

The cocktails in the Bassoon Bar are very good, expensive, yes, but very, very good. Not only that but the bar has a piano which is both a musical instrument, complete with ivories to tinkle, and a bar where drinks can be purchased. Amazing. No surprise that the bar within the luxury Corinthia Hotel London has attracted an A-list clientele - Colin Firth, Jemima Khan, Cuba Gooding Jr, Mariella Frostrup have all stayed here. This is a grand hotel, in fact, the 19th-century building was one of Victorian London's original grand hotels. At the Bassoon Bar this heritage is alluded to in the cocktail list which includes colonial-inspired drinks including the Victorian Moijto, Pimm's Cup and English Tea Punch. Homemade sodas are carbonated to order in the tumbler - which sounds as colonial as it gets. The decor is art deco, courtesy of David Collins (also responsible for the Connaught Bar and Artesian), but it's the cocktails that people will come for, to sip stylish drinks in one of London's most glamorous hotels.

 
 
 

Tattershall Castle

Floating pub, club and comedy. 13 minutes walk

Kings Reach, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HR

Tube: Embankment Underground Station , Charing Cross Station

 
 

A floating pub may sound like a recipe for disaster but the Tattershall Castle is one of London's most intriguing venues. Often riled by Londoners as an expensive tourist trap, the passenger ferry-cum-art gallery-cum-waterhole offers some of the most spectacular views of London across the Thames from Embankment towards the London Eye, just downstream from the Houses of Parliament. The boat also plays host to the critically acclaimed Boat Show Comedy Club stand-up evenings on Fridays, Saturdays and the first Monday of every month, which occasionally see big names perform. Thursday to Saturday evenings see the boat transform into a floating nightclub. It must be the most versatile boat afloat on the Thames...

 
 
 

Doon

Intimate, late night cocktail bar

Downstairs at Albannach, 66 Trafalgar Square, , Westminster, London, WC2N 5DS

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Embankment Underground Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, Leicester Square Station

 
 

Pop "Doonstairs" from Trafalgar Square's Scottish bar and restaurant Albannach and you enter the world of Doon, a cocktail lounge named after the river extolled by the poetry of Robert Burns. The black and crimson interior means the first impression is one of doom, but the superb service and the expansive, ingenious drinks list soon puts an end to any gloom. Cleverly titled cocktails provide an entertaining and exciting start to the evening, at around £10 a pop the cocktails are admittedly far from two-a-penny, but they are exceedingly good. Cheaper beers, wines and straight spirits are readily available, and for whiskey connoisseurs the selection - from Albannach's impressive reserves - is second to none. Just inside the entrance an open bar and dance-floor area gives onto low-ceilinged corridors with private booths which are stylish but cramped. Resident DJs add to the ambience by playing a mix of funk, groove and Latin Jazz. All in all, Doon is a razzed-up piece of the Highlands, perfectly placed in the heart of the West End.

 
 
 

Vista

Striking rooftop bar. 14 minutes walk

The Trafalgar, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, SW1A 2TS

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Piccadilly Circus Station, Leicester Square Station, Embankment Underground Station

 
 

This bar is all about location, location, location. Just a few steps from Nelson's Column, Vista is a rooftop bar upon the boutique Trafalgar Hotel. The unique roof terrace and garden provides unrivalled views of Trafalgar Square, Westminster and beyond. Revamped in 2011, the bar is speckled with pink and features signature patterned cushioned, glass tables and flickering candles, creating a laid-back yet striking venue with a Mediterranean flair. Open all year round, the bar provides the perfect place to sip cocktails and Champagne while feasting on seasonal salads, fresh seafood and light barbeque dishes. This is a classy retreat in the heart of the West End.

 
 
 
 

Heaven

Notorious bar and club. 17 minutes walking

Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 6NG

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Embankment Underground Station, Leicester Square Station

 
 

London's most famous gay club is a vast labyrinth of dancefloors, bars, cafes and shops. This is the kind of place where it's perfectly ok- and encouraged- to jump on a podium: skimpy outfits are preferred. The atmosphere in this deservedly famous venue is second to none. As well as the notorious club nights, Heaven boasts a regular programme of live gigs, which include both established and up and coming artists. It has also been used for a number of music videos, including 'Tapes and Money' by dance producer and DJ, TEED.

 
 
 

Gordon's Wine Bar

Subterranean wine bar. 18 minutes walk

47 Villiers Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 6NE

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Embankment Underground Station

 
 

Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon's is now home to a regular, thriving crowd of drinkers of all ages and all walks of life, united in their love of this unique venue and of good wine. Buried deep and dark beneath the streets with only a small doorway and a subtle sign indicating its presence, Gordon's Wine Bar is one of central London's best hidden gems. Once you've made the somewhat perilous descent, be prepared for a crowded crawl to the bar through throngs of office workers supping on glasses of vino. Having chosen your tipple from the award-winning wine list, head right to the back and find the low-ceilinged arches, under which tables and chairs huddle together, bathed in gentle candlelight. You'll probably have to wait a while for a table, but there's no great hardship in propping yourself up in a corner and waiting for one to become available or, alternatively, asking to share the corner of someone else's. Gordon's wine list includes a wide-ranging collection from the New and Old World, to suit any palate. Sturdy tumblers of port or sherry served straight from casks behind the bar are an unusual but welcome detail as is the delicious, home-cooked food available (try a plate of pongy cheese, some pate or a hearty ploughman's). The oldest wine bar in London, this friendly, family-run establishment has resolutely resisted change and its merit is demonstrated by its immense popularity.

 
 
 

Mahiki

Tahiti inspired cocktail bar. 22 minutes walk

1 Dover Street, Mayfair, Mayfair, London, W1S 4LD

Tube: Green Park Station

 
 

A favourite with young royals - Princes Harry and William, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been spotted here... all at the same time. And where the royals go the celebs follow and you're likely to see a few of them here too. Scarlett Johansson and Paris Hilton are among the A-listers who've dropped by when they're in town. Despite its popularity and ensuing publicity the door policy is really relaxed, there are no guest lists and the Polynesian vibe is chilled out with Tahiti inspired tropical cocktails. The Pina Coladas come served in frozen pineapples and the Coconut Bomb in a real coconut, if you're feeling like a party try the infamous treasure chest (a heady mix underscored by a litre of vodka and costing £140 a pop). It's a steep £800 for a table but you're better off just turning up - get there early and you don't need to book. Piers Adam and Nick House certainly know how to run nightclubs.

 
 
 

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