I’m going to be spending the first week in April in London, does anyone have any suggestions on good places to hear a session or just interesting pubs to visit?
thanks,
Eddie
I don’t think they have sessions, but when I’m in London I always stop for a pint in “The Griffin” in Charing Cross. Exit at Charing Cross Underground station, and go down the narrow street on the left side of the Charing Cross Hotel (runs downhill towards the Thames). Only a couple of doors down. They usually have several “real ales” on tap - try the “BrakSpeare Bitter” (modulo my spelling - something like that, anyway) if it’s available.
There are a number of decent Indian restaurants if you go a little further down the hill. On a literary note, if you search the cross-street just past the pub you’ll find a plaque on one of the buildings claiming that Rudyard Kipling wrote one of his novels while living there. (London seems full of plaques like this)
I’m sure the real Londoners will chime in with many more, but I spent about 10 days in the Charing Cross Hotel on a business trip a few years back (and ended up spending most evenings next door at The Griffin) - between the quality of the beer and the ease in getting there it’s my default London pub.
I seem to recall a number of good pubs in the Cambridge area too, but my memory of those is a bit cloudy for some reason . . . 
I don’t think they have sessions
Sorry but I think you’re seriously wrong there, I used to play all sorts of sessions in London until about 10 years ago.
Eddie, try the session links on the mustrad site http://www.mustrad.org.uk/ - a lot of the contacts for these sessions have email addresses
or the London piper’s club http://www.londonpipers.co.uk/
I’m sure at least one of these contacts can fill you in on the music in London.
Ken
Uh, Ken? I meant that The Griffin wasn’t hosting sessions last time I was there, not London pubs in general! 'Twas meant as a suggestion to drop in for a pint at place I enjoy, since it’s easy for a lost-in-London American like myself to find.
I’d be interested in knowing where to go for sessions too - though it could be anywhere from weeks to a couple of years before I’m next in London 
What you meant was perfectly clear to me from the word go.
I commend your patience.
I am not a moderator.
oops sorry I didn’t read it like that.
Most of the pubs I went to have probably changed patterns by now. The last one I went to was in a pub opposite the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. One of the Crehans played there and some old bloke whose name I have forgotten on pipes.
Ken
Well, it was a wee bit ambiguous I thought, but the statement makes a whole lot more sense when interpreted the right way.
Well Beowulf,
You see the silly little argument we are having here?
Its your foretaste of London …
Yeah, I have a tendancy to post innocuous questions that errupt into flamewars. 
Thanks for the replies.
Eddie
Steady Eddie!
With spelling like this they may not let you in.
Sorry! That’s what happens when I post before finishing my first cup of coffee.
Eddie
Eddie,
There’s quite a few sessions in and around London. A comprehensive list can be got at the session. http://www.thesession.org/sessions/index.php do a search for England and London.
Dave.
powers - kilburn high road - sundays 4-7
the plough(?) hornsey road - saturday evenings i think
the herschel, slough, berkshire - monday nights - (definately on)
the queens arms - kilburn high road (possibly not it’s postal address,
maida vale end of kilburn) classes by brendan mulkere followed by session - i’d particularly recommend this last one for the atmosphere and the chance to meet brendan a stalwart of irish music for ages, but check it’s on (i’m not sure if it runs during school holidays)
coach and horses - sunday night - hampstead
best to check any that you decide on - i think my info is up to date but can’t promise
Thanks John, I’ve met some of the guys who play at the Hershel and my impression its a huge session, I prefer something a bit more intimate. If you get a chance to play with (or just hear) Brendan Mulkere go for that one, Brendan is a great bloke although he has a tendancy to play some really obscure tunes at you. I had a session with him and his brother Des in Kinvara.
Ken