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Original poster

Have you been to a drinking establishment no one else has?

312 replies

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2023 20:03

@Furries suggested this one so if no one replies, it's on her Grin

I'll start:

Raffles in Singapore
Casablancas in Liverpool (the one with the chippy in the basement)
The Underground in Croydon

OP posts:
ChocChipHandbag · 09/04/2023 23:34

Bairnsmum05 · 09/04/2023 23:17

@Newname221 it was about 30 years ago when Rainbow Rocks was the place to be!

I definitely remember the Rocks! Also the bar down the hill from it that used to do karaoke- the Brasserie.

frayble · 09/04/2023 23:36

I haven't been to any already mentioned.

I have, however, been to a bar named Piss in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

Margaritaville in Universal City, Los Angeles.

Bar 90 °, Ponta Do Sol, Madeira.

Damnloginpopup · 09/04/2023 23:36

Caravelle, Saigon
Hotel Continental, Saigon
Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh
Hotel Le Baron, Aleppo

BigBadBoom · 09/04/2023 23:41

@chocchiphandbag depends, was it the original and best Sneaky Pete's where I spent much of my misspent youth before going to the Mission?

SmallAngryPenguinWoman · 09/04/2023 23:42

mathanxiety · 09/04/2023 22:31

Bruxelles, Harry Street, Dublin
Kiely's, Donnybrook, Dublin
Horse & Hound, Cabinteely, Dublin

I was in Bruxelles last week, both downstairs and upstairs (18yr old me would be horrified at Being upstairs), it was still at good fun at ever!!

RIP Kiely's, was good in its day.

Never been to Horse and Hound.

I feel like my old haunts are not in the MN league 😉

Pieceofpurplesky · 10/04/2023 00:08

Been to a few mentioned.
The Woolshed in cairns (backpacker staple)

The Albion in Guernsey (closest pub to a church)

The Cavern of the Curious Gnome in Chester

ChocChipHandbag · 10/04/2023 00:15

BigBadBoom · 09/04/2023 23:41

@chocchiphandbag depends, was it the original and best Sneaky Pete's where I spent much of my misspent youth before going to the Mission?

Think you tagged the wrong person?

mathanxiety · 10/04/2023 00:27

AinmÁlainn · 09/04/2023 22:47

All three!

Did you ever go to the Magic Carpet?

Show quote history

The Magic Carpet! How could I forget that! I have my suspicions

How about Mickey Byrne's in Shankill?

P0mbears · 10/04/2023 01:02

Randomuser9876 · 09/04/2023 22:20

I've been to 3 of these!

The Willow in York
Cafe de Paris in Monaco
The Prospect of Whitby in London

My options are... Maestro's in Bradford or Majestiks in Leeds

Been to majestik in Leeds!

Original poster
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/04/2023 01:18

backinthebox · 09/04/2023 23:30

Have been to Raffles in Singapore (hats off to anyone who could afford to get drunk in there!) Also been to Joe Banana’s in Wan Chai, Cafe de Paris Monte Carlo, Mantos Manchester, and a surprising number of the Liverpool ones including the Cambridge (but not the Oxford,) and the Aigburth Arms. And Casablanca’s was one of the bars I was going to list - you had to knock on the door to get in. Apparently it’s reopened as a legit bar, which takes all the fun out of it. @MrsTerryPratchett if that was your vintage did you go to Sunnyland Slims as well before it imploded in a free-tequila-induced-puff of smoke?

To the person who went to Lyford Cay Club - lucky you! Looks like an amazing place, I’ve been over it a lot of times (lots of pretty lights!) but never been in.

I’ve been to too many fabulous bars around the world that I have no idea what they were called, only that I had a great time. From the list I can remember I’m going to choose:

  1. Shirley Heights Lookout, Antigua.
  2. Bubbles O’Learys, Kampala. Messy.
  3. The Feather Boa, Hong Kong. Also messy. 🤣 Scary local ladies on the door deciding who can come in.

Honourable mention to The British House, Rio de Janeiro. Was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Only open for a short spell though, and you needed an invite.

Was that the one with the barman who would give you whatever he felt you needed (which was never what you ordered) and at closing he would throw the keys to whomever was nearest the door so they could lock everyone in? And you paid whatever he thought you should (typically a tiny fraction of the price).

It was a magical time to be alive.

I was definitely at Casas when you had to knock and it wasn't legit. I can't imagine it being legit with the chippy in the basement. Fire regulations!!! Although the terrifying (probably 'connected' bouncers ensured the female punters were not harassed.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/04/2023 01:21

Pieceofpurplesky · 10/04/2023 00:08

Been to a few mentioned.
The Woolshed in cairns (backpacker staple)

The Albion in Guernsey (closest pub to a church)

The Cavern of the Curious Gnome in Chester

I have the Woolshed.

OP posts:
crispinglovershighkick · 10/04/2023 01:23

I love this thread! Have only been to the Marathon I think.

Mine are Apotheka in Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) and Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ.

MorrisZapp · 10/04/2023 01:25

Miracle of Science Bar and Grill, Boston

HonorHiding · 10/04/2023 01:29

@WomensLandArmy I haven’t been to the Eagle, but have drunk a lot of good wine in Bluff at a couple of visits to the annual Oyster Festival circa 2003-5.

MorrisZapp · 10/04/2023 01:30

Treacletart9 · 09/04/2023 22:42

The Volcano in Glasgow, where they filmed some of Trainspotting
Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh Cowgate
The Albury Hotel, Sydney - best drag in Australia (was)

Been to Sneaky Pete's many times! Utterly appalling toilets.

sashh · 10/04/2023 01:34

A bar called 'Liverpool' in Mendoza Argentina, inside it was all tartan.

Moon under water on the Scotlands estate in Wolverhampton, it's been knocked down since.

RedisthenewGold · 10/04/2023 02:12

Woolshed behind the bar 1993- 94 Square shaped bar, roof but open air to the sides (if that’s the one) many tables for dancing on. I saw a new band Jamiroquai in a tiny bar in Sydney, there was digererdoo player and the band passed spliffs to the audience. Boy George was DJ to a rave in Sydney that year.

The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead and the Flask, Highgate are the best for memories of sausages and cheese rolls on the bar under a Perspex hood.

RedisthenewGold · 10/04/2023 02:15

Old Red Lion, Islington.

Custardbanana · 10/04/2023 02:18

I was there New Year's Eve 09/10

Germolenequeen · 10/04/2023 02:19

The Oyster Bar NYC
The Rainbow Rooms NYC
The rooftop bar of the Beekman NYC
The Waldorf Astoria bar NYC
The Hacienda Manchester in all it's late 80s glory
The Conti Manchester (you had to knock on a side door to be let in & it was only opened if they knew you)
The Circus Manchester very small and very old

Custardbanana · 10/04/2023 02:19

Sorry that was @Bathtimebubble Black Swan Bristol

RedisthenewGold · 10/04/2023 02:23

I’ve missed the point as all the bars I have been in are not exclusive. I’m nodding away at other posts.

WuTangGran · 10/04/2023 02:31

JassyRadlett · 09/04/2023 21:40

The Birdsville Pub, but I suspect I won't be alone there!

Do hotel bars count? I have extremely fond memories of the bar at the Danubius hotel in Heviz in Hungary, less for the drinks than for the very red-velvet-and-carved-wood-freezes 70s decor. And the fact that all the other patrons had probably been there since the 70s.

I’ve been in the Birdsville Pub!

Anybody been to the William Creek Hotel in the outback?

Swansandcustard · 10/04/2023 02:38

I must be a bit dim - the thread title says ‘that no one else has been to’ but quite clearly (even the lauded Raffles) loads of people have gone to all of them.

is there an implied ‘famous/trendy/secret special club’ in the title.

Explain it to the dim kid here

FuchsAndMöhr · 10/04/2023 02:50

Randomuser9876 · 09/04/2023 22:20

I've been to 3 of these!

The Willow in York
Cafe de Paris in Monaco
The Prospect of Whitby in London

My options are... Maestro's in Bradford or Majestiks in Leeds

Majestiks yes!

My offering is The Safe House in Milwaukee

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