| Students Say... |
Quick Links On This Page:SU London students have their say!This section has been written by students for students.
If so, you’ve arrived at the right place because this is where students speak their minds. Easy EatsMichael Harrington, Melanie Penn and Adam TeitlelbaumEATEAT has a friendly atmosphere, quick service and they dedicate a lot of their attention to their customers. EAT is a great place to stop on the way to class or between classes on a lunch break. EAT offers a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, sushi, pies, desserts, various bakery items and an array of both hot and cold drinks. Breakfast items include breakfast sandwiches, eggs, muffins, granola, fruit and yogurts. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they pride themselves in the quality of their food, which is prepared fresh each morning by the employees at each location. Their menus change seasonally so be sure to stop in or visit their website to check them out! If you are a pie lover be sure to try the chicken mushroom or beef and red pepper; they are delicious! And if you have managed to save up enough room for dessert, which I highly recommend, try their lemon cheesecake,chunky chocolate fudge or their unique offerings such as banoffee pie! This is an establishment that definitely deserves a visit. 34-36 High HolbornCafe CapitalCafe Capital offers a wide variety of menu items that will surely please anyone with an appetite. If you're looking for a quick grab and go sandwich, they offer all the typical lunch meats. These sandwiches are priced from 80 pence for a cheese sandwich all the way up to £2.90 for a smoked salmon bap. They also offer a small hot food menu which includes jacket potatoes for £1.30, soup of the day for £2.00 and meal options such as spicy chicken pasta for £3.50 -- pretty reasonable prices. The drinks are also cheap; you can get a bottle of your favourite soft drink for only £1. If you're a breakfast person and make it into Cafe Capital before 11:30am, they also offer an extensive breakfast menu. Their most popular and largest breakfast menu item is the full English breakfast. For £4.50 you can start your day off with 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, sausage, fried tomato, mushrooms, and beans, and well as 2 slices of toast and coffee or tea. This is one of the few combo meal options offered but with their prices being so low as it is, you can make your own combo for nearly the same price. The only real drawback is their “eat in” limit, which seems to be a popular thing in many cafes around London. If you wish to eat in between noon - 2:30pm you must spend a minimum of £2, which at least gets you plenty of food. If you become a frequent customer at Capital and place an order after 3:30pm, you might get a complimentary double meat or free side dish with your meal. Another bonus of the Cafe is it's location. It is located less then 4 minutes walking from the Faraday House, great for a quick sandwich on one of those dreaded ten minute breaks. This establishment is not a franchise and the food is prepared fresh every morning. In conclusion, if you are looking for a great breakfast or lunch that you can pay for with coins, then the Cafe Capital is the right place for you. 61 Theobalds road
Shakespeare's HeadOur local, The Shakespeare's Head, seems to be the pub frequented by those SU students living in pre-arranged housing. Located just beyond the Holborn tube stop, it's easy to run here for a quick lunch or drink between classes. Keeping with their cheap food promise, the Shakespeare's Head always has great offers for anyone with an empty stomach. The best deal is the £2.99 fish and chips deal. This is served everyday from 2:00pm --5:00pm. If you are looking for a nice simple, yet filling dinner check out their burger deal. This includes a 6oz beef or chicken burger, chips, and a drink (add another burger patty or cheese and bacon for just £1). The drink that comes with the deal can be anything from a pint of Fosters to a Pepsi or even a glass of wine. All of this is offered all day/everyday at the Shakespeare's Head for just £4.99. While the Shakespeare's Head might not be the most romantic place to take a date, it is a good place to save money and converse. However, they definitely kept couples in mind when they designed this next deal. You choose two main course menu items (lasagne, pasta, fish and chips, etc.), order them on the same bill, and you only end up paying £7.99. This deal does not include a drink, but is still unbeatable when it comes to prices at competing pubs. If you are looking for other menu items and are not so much concerned with price, they do offer a variety of other choices. They have everything from roast chicken, deli sandwiches, salads, and even surf and turf. Prices on the full menu range from a cheese and pickle baguette for £3.19 (cheapest) all the way up to the surf n turf for only £8.69 (most expensive). The atmosphere at Shakespeare's Head is usually lively; check it out around 6:00pm if you're looking to meet some new people. It is usually packed from 5:00pm-9:00pm on weeknights so if your planning on sitting down for a meal, we suggest going at an off peak time. The pub itself is huge and the staff is usually friendly and helpful. Pubs in the U.K. do not usually have table service, and at Shakespeare's Head works the same way. Order at the bar and your food is brought out to your table number when it is ready. If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful English Pub with a good atmosphere and great food, make sure to check out the Shakespeare's Head on Kingsway Road. 64-68 Kingsway Road
The Square Pig and S'wine BarReferred to simply as “The Square Pig”, this restaurant is the ideal English gastropub serving up “Modern British” cuisine at very reasonable prices. Situated less then a block from Faraday House, The Square Pig is an excellent place to go for a nice lunch or to meet friends. The Square Pig's menu options are classic without inducing boredom. Prices are very acceptable as no dish runs more than £12. Starters such as “Homemade Potato Wedges with Sour Cream and Chili Sauce” run £3 to £5. The Square Pig also offers a selection of grilled sandwiches that are great for lunch ranging from £5 to £7 including our favourite “Steak Sandwich with Red Onion Marmalade”. Warm Salads are another speciality of The Square Pig and combine classic salad dishes with some British pub flare at a cost of around £6. Lastly, but not least, The Square Pig's Grill and Oven selection is very good. It features a selection of burgers, lamb, and steak. Furthermore, The Square Pig always has daily and weekly specials including Soups, Fish, and Pies of the day. Since The Square Pig is a pub style restaurant you need to order at the bar, which is good if you don't have much time rather then waiting for someone to seat you and then take your order. The Square Pig takes a comfort approach with huge wooden benches, over stuffed leather chairs and couches, with private seating areas. Numerous SU staff have been spotted at The Square Pig so be careful. It is easy, perhaps too easy, to run into someone you know at the Square Pig . 30/32 Proctor Street
Pizza ExpressPizza Express was established in 1948 and while it is not a completely upscale pizzeria it is however a trendy and mid-priced spot offering a pleasant atmosphere that is quite sophisticated. It is not your “typical” pizza joint back home. It is a sit down restaurant perfect for the student who has about an hour to spare or who has visiting friends or family looking for a nice Italian meal. Pizza Express offers twenty six different types of pizzas as well as the option to design your own. They also offer pastas and salads. My recommendation to those of you willing to give this chic pizza spot a try is something with a little zest: the classic Diavolo pizza which is made of spicy beef, pepperoni, Tabasco sauce, as well as hot green peppers and jalapenos. If you still have enough room saved up for dessert make sure to plunge into their toffee fudge glory sundae or the Sicilian lemon sorbet on the lighter side. An extensive wine list is also available with wines hand picked by the restaurant from various cities across Italy. Pizza prices range from £5.50 to £9.25. The average price you can expect to pay for a meal of pizza, pasta or salad is between £7.00 and £8.00, and £1.85 to £4.95 for appetizers. This mouthwatering pizzeria is just around the corner so after class, stop in and try it for yourself. 114-117 Southampton Row
London NightlifeRoss Lieb and Andrew GlaserWalkaboutPub Temple Station, Temple Place, London WC2R 2PH 020 7395 3690 136 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5EZ 020 7255 8620 View Google Map
Walkabout is one of the most talked about venues in London. The nightspot is a restaurant, club, and bar located at Piccadilly Circus. The Walkabout is usually filled to capacity in comparison to other venues in the area. Monday and Wednesday nights are the best nights. Cover is five pounds during the week and eight pounds on the weekends, but do not worry as drinks are only £3 during the week and £7 on the weekends. Hip-hop, rock, techno, and a touch of eighties hits dominate the dance floor - with pop and techno the most commonly played songs. No dress code as such; athletic shoes are sufficient as are sweatshirts. The Walkabout is the perfect place to go with a group of friends as it offers something for everyone, including a large bar, couches to relax on if you’re in the mood to relax, a huge dance floor, and great music. Keep in mind that the Aussie Walkabout has a few locations through London but we recommend the Shaftsbury Avenue location. “Walkabout is a great place for college kids to meet. There are cheap drinks and great music! The incredible atmosphere provides everyone with something to enjoy. Whether it is the large dance floor, large couches, or the three levels there is always something to do at Walkabout.” - Jeremy Radnor Rating Average Drink Price Cover Price Open Close Crowd Music Type Food (Yes or No) Ice BarPub 31 - 33 Heddon Street, Mayfair, London W1B 4BN 020 7478 8910 View Google Map
Ice Bar is one of the most unique “novelty” pubs in London. Constructed completely of ice, this is a place that is certainly an experience. Upon arrival, there is a hefty entrance fee of £12. This includes entrance, one drink, forty-five minutes inside the bar, and the attire necessary to keep one from freezing! Ice Bar is not by any means a large pub, which we assume is a result of how hard it is to keep the place from not melting! Once you enter you are given any mixed drink that you choose filled in a glass made entirely of ice. The bar, walls, and everything around the venue is made of solid ice as well. Ice Bar is not a place we recommend young adults going to if they are interested in meeting new people or trying to test out a new pair of dancing shoes. If you want to try something new, and do not mind spending the money, check out a pub that is one of a kind. “Every drink is chilled at Ice Bar! This bar is unique to any other bar in the entire world! I went there with some of my friends, and it was a night to remember. I would recommend going there on a special occasion. While, we only spent forty-five minutes, it was worth the £12.” - Ben Haymes Rating Average Drink Price Cover Price Open Close Crowd Food (Yes or No) Ministry of SoundClub 103 Gaunt Street, Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6DP 020 7740 8728 View Google Map
Welcome to the Mecca of house and techno music called Ministry of Sound. This venue is the number one selling techno record label in which a number of these artists perform at the Gaunt Street venue in London. This mega club is home to one of the most powerful sound systems in Europe. World renowned disc jockey’s spin at this venue including Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, and Eric Prydz. Unlike other nightclubs in London, there is not a dress code at the Ministry of Sound. With capacity of over one thousand people, the dance floor is massive which makes it very easy to loose your friends. Above the dance floor hangs the most advanced lighting available today. Pulsing to the beat of the music, these lights create an atmosphere second to none. With the volume turned up to the maximum level, the lights on full power, and smoke blasting out of numerous fog machines from every direction, the partying and dancing is like no other club in London lasting to the early hours of the morning. Do not walk past the venue because it looks like an old factory from the outside. If you do not like loud music and large crowds, then this club is not the place for you! Drinks here are expensive and the lines for drinks may take up to half an hour and involves going through a maze of drunken eighteen year old boys and girls in the hope of finding the bar. Tickets are sold via the Ministry of Sound website only when celebrities or musicians are performing at the club. Check before you go as this can help avoid the massive lines which span blocks long. Ministry of Sound is certainly a different type of clubbing experience that every student should experience once while studying in London. Nevertheless, be careful outside the Elephant and Castle tube stop because it is not the safest location in London. “Ministry of Sound is a night of crazy techno music and dancing. The outside is not very appealing. It looks like a factory and not a club. However, once you walk inside the club it is extremely intense and loud as well. I would recommend going once with a group of friends and taking a registered cab once you leave!” - Kelsey Smotzer Rating Average Drink Price Cover Price Open Close Crowd Music Type Food (Yes or No) PunkClub 14 Soho Street, Soho, London W1D 3DN 0870 240 5436 View Google Map
If you have ever read the celebrity section of any London magazine or newspaper, you will know this Soho venue is all about. Located next to Oxford Street, this underground and newly renovated venue is a great place to party. The club lacks in physical size, yet it makes up for the ambiance and décor. Punk is always filled with the best looking crowds that London has to offer. Also, the celebrity citings are more common here than any other club in Soho. The door at this venue is very strict. “Guys should show up with no less than two girls if they plan on getting into Punk” noted Charlie Morris, the promoter who runs the Saturday night party at Punk. He said, “Doors open at 10:00 PM, and if you are planning on going, we suggest you arrive at that time in order to make sure that you get in.” Cover prices here can be steep, but the cost is well worth the 15 to 20 pounds. If you would like to meet native Londoners, a relaxed environment, or want to get away from the mega clubs then Punk is the perfect venue for you. “Punk is one of the smallest clubs in London. While the bar and dance floor is small, the inside is really nice and full of color. The drinks are expensive, but they play great music. I would recommend checking out this club once or twice for a night of dancing and socializing.” - Sarah Weissman Rating Average Drink Price Cover Price Open Close Crowd Music Type Food (Yes or No) VolsteadClub 9 Swallow Street, Mayfair London W1R 7HD 0871 971 4401 View Google Map
Hidden behind Regent Street, Volstead is one of London’s best kept secrets. This hotspot is owned by the same people that own both Boujie and Cuckoo Club. Volstead has a capacity of two hundred and fifty people; however, the venue feels much larger when you are dancing on the dance floor. Decorated mirrors line the walls making the place appear much larger. The door staff, waitresses, and bar tenders are all extremely friendly, which is hard to find in London. Music at Volstead is a mix of oldies, house, and hip hop. Celebrities frequently attend this spot so be prepared to see paparazzi outside pushing people over for a single magazine or newspaper picture! Drinks are £10 which is expensive, so we recommend purchasing a bottle with four or five friends. If you are looking to dance with friends and even a celebrity, then check out Volstead! “At first I did not like the club because it was relatively small. After several minutes I danced with my friends and even met interesting people from London as well. Volstead is really nice, but very selective with who they let into the club. The first time my friends and I went, we could not get in! Be sure to arrive early and dress well!” - Sarah Kay Rating Average Drink Price Cover Price Open Close Crowd Music Type Food (Yes or No) |