Smokers, You Are Welcome Here
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We love the smoking ban, but accept that some of you may not. For those (few) of you who aren't letting that butt simply burn out, this website reviews bars and pubs from the smoker's perspective.
For the complete list, visit Smokers London - but be warned, the site is new, and East London is best represented.
Close to The City
The Water Poet (Shoreditch)
"This place is f***ing amazing - see picture below - they love smokers, heaters, an actual roof, sofas outside - this is amazing. Room for about 400 people with heaters and seats."
Strongroom Bar (Shoreditch)
"The Strong Rooms (sic) is one of the best smoking venues in Shoreditch - situated just opposite American Apparel on Curtain Rd its a late night bar that has DJs (random psychobilly and unfortunately sometimes some house), live bands and serves food. However the best thing about the Strong Rooms is the large courtyard out front. With about 10 tables with umbrellas, high walls covered in Ivy this is a perfect quiet mid week haven for the smoker."
Gordon's Wine Bar (Embankment)
"Smokers have been smoking in this, king of all date spots, since the 1890s. Amazing wine list and mouth-watering cheeses aside, this is truly an Aladdin's cave of a pub, with dark, cavernous walls, flickering candles and an atmosphere so romantic it makes you want wear some knickerbockers and a top hat. Gordon's is an amazing spot for a smokers' date, with a good collection of umbrella'd tables outside next to the park so you can feel close to nature while you puff adoringly away at each other. Rudyard Kilping used to live upstairs and wrote 'The Light that Failed' in the parlour - a nod to the fact that all any good writer needs is somewhere good to drink, smoke and think."
Close to Mayfair
The Windsor Castle (Notting Hill)
"Safe! Finally a pub that feels like its landlord understands our pain. The Windsor Castle has long been a favorite of ours since the days when you could purchase a solitary sausage to eat at the bar with your pint for a quid. Its still full of posh types and has those tiny 5 ft doors inside but head outside and its like entering Smoking Narnia. Tables upon tables, each with their own heater some covered by expansive awnings and some humble umbrellas. The walls enclosing the courtyard are covered in ivy, wall flowers and even fairy lights which add to the whole 'magical mystery smoking land' feel."
The Hobgoblin (Marylebone)
"Nice normal average pub. Picnic tables outside. Nice staff and good Thai kitchen. Curfew for beer at 10pm (I think)."
The Endurance (Soho)
"Apparently trendy Soho pub. Feels like a Weatherspoon's by-the-sea. Completely without character. Bar staff are bloody enthusiastic though; we got asked whether we were waiting four times while being served. Clientele mostly in drainpipe jeans with bed hair. There's a rather nice looking garden, but it was raining when I went, and there are no umbrellas. So. There is also an alleyway next to the pub. The building next door provides shelter from the elements."
Canary Wharf
Nothing for you yet (but then, you shouldn't be smoking anyway - oh, dammit, we weren't going to say that!).
Close to The City
The Water Poet (Shoreditch)
"This place is f***ing amazing - see picture below - they love smokers, heaters, an actual roof, sofas outside - this is amazing. Room for about 400 people with heaters and seats."
Strongroom Bar (Shoreditch)
"The Strong Rooms (sic) is one of the best smoking venues in Shoreditch - situated just opposite American Apparel on Curtain Rd its a late night bar that has DJs (random psychobilly and unfortunately sometimes some house), live bands and serves food. However the best thing about the Strong Rooms is the large courtyard out front. With about 10 tables with umbrellas, high walls covered in Ivy this is a perfect quiet mid week haven for the smoker."
Gordon's Wine Bar (Embankment)
"Smokers have been smoking in this, king of all date spots, since the 1890s. Amazing wine list and mouth-watering cheeses aside, this is truly an Aladdin's cave of a pub, with dark, cavernous walls, flickering candles and an atmosphere so romantic it makes you want wear some knickerbockers and a top hat. Gordon's is an amazing spot for a smokers' date, with a good collection of umbrella'd tables outside next to the park so you can feel close to nature while you puff adoringly away at each other. Rudyard Kilping used to live upstairs and wrote 'The Light that Failed' in the parlour - a nod to the fact that all any good writer needs is somewhere good to drink, smoke and think."
Close to Mayfair
The Windsor Castle (Notting Hill)
"Safe! Finally a pub that feels like its landlord understands our pain. The Windsor Castle has long been a favorite of ours since the days when you could purchase a solitary sausage to eat at the bar with your pint for a quid. Its still full of posh types and has those tiny 5 ft doors inside but head outside and its like entering Smoking Narnia. Tables upon tables, each with their own heater some covered by expansive awnings and some humble umbrellas. The walls enclosing the courtyard are covered in ivy, wall flowers and even fairy lights which add to the whole 'magical mystery smoking land' feel."
The Hobgoblin (Marylebone)
"Nice normal average pub. Picnic tables outside. Nice staff and good Thai kitchen. Curfew for beer at 10pm (I think)."
The Endurance (Soho)
"Apparently trendy Soho pub. Feels like a Weatherspoon's by-the-sea. Completely without character. Bar staff are bloody enthusiastic though; we got asked whether we were waiting four times while being served. Clientele mostly in drainpipe jeans with bed hair. There's a rather nice looking garden, but it was raining when I went, and there are no umbrellas. So. There is also an alleyway next to the pub. The building next door provides shelter from the elements."
Canary Wharf
Nothing for you yet (but then, you shouldn't be smoking anyway - oh, dammit, we weren't going to say that!).
