Bar Room Bar, Hampstead  

Although it is still named Bar Room Bar, this small avant-garde pub has recently been divested from the chain and is independently owned by someone who truly digs roots music. You will hear blues, soul, reggae, Ska, bluegrass and an occasional early Beatles tune. It is one of the few places in London offering Jamaican Red Stripe on tap. You won't find many tweed clad old gents parked in a corner with a terrier, but traditionalists like us love it here. The art on the wall is created by locals and rotates monthly. An absurdly large chandelier made from, it seems, cast off jewellery sets a cool, funky tone and the rummage sale furniture makes it feel homey. The young, hip staff clearly love what they do - at slow periods you'll find them chatting up regulars or grooving to Bob Marly instead of watching the clock for the end of their shift. Sunday nights at 8:30-ish there is live music, mostly local acoustic guitar soloists playing Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, blues standards and originals. The clientele are not your usual wealthy Hampstead crowd. Less Prada, more Levis.

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