12 Bar Club

If you are looking for grungy Rock and Roll you have come to the right place. Filled with interesting characters kitted to the nines in leather and 70s rock band t-shirts I - with my floral skirt and plimsoles - unexpectedly was not made to feel out of place! Very friendly staff, interesting decor (if a bit tatty) and a lively ambience, even on a Monday night.

Never judge a book by its cover... or a bar by its frontage. We'd come here to see a hard rock band (singing/shouting about things like space, speed, love and murder!) and what we found instead was a place covered in Sailor Jerry artwork, old album covers and even some sporadic fairy lights. It was £5 to get in but then with the drinks being £3 a pop that quickly paid for itself. The support band playing were the blues (and man, were they good). And then we discovered the retro arcade games in the corner – Ms Pacman – and my night was made!

I'll admit I judged this place before I walked through the door, but it is the very definition of a hidden gem. The club is covered in old album covers, music posters and drinks advertising that makes it feel like a true music-lovers venue. Staff were polite and drinks are pretty cheap considering the location. The back room has room to sit and offers up retro gaming classics - pinball and Mrs. Pacman! There was a live band playing that provided atmosphere, but you could still easily hold a conversation without shouting. Definitely worth a visit.

12 Bar Club is the very definition of grunge - tattered posters, pinball machines and a stage in the back that's claustrophobically intimate. Drinks are relatively cheap given the nearly-Soho location, and staff are friendly even if you're not wearing a band t-shirt. Live music playing or not, it's actually just a fun place to drink after work. And they have several pinball machines!

A hidden gem - what looks like a tiny bar from the front is a labyrinth of rock 'n' roll rooms, plastered in band posters and neon 'Sailor Jerry's' signs. Unlike some places, this joint felt very chilled out (though we did visit on a Monday) and the staff were lovely, taking the time to show us around when they realised we hadn't visited before. I arrived fully expecting to dislike the place but ended up falling a little bit in love with the dark, musty 12 Bar Club. Keep an eye out for the awesome Pacman game in the back room - just avoid the toilets at all costs!