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Elbow Room (Westbourne Grove)
103 Westbourne Grove
London, W2 4UW
Telephone: 0044 (0)20 7221 5211
Hours:Tue - Sat 12pm - 2am; Sun 12pm - 10.30pm
The original Elbow Room - I’ll leave it to you to decide if it’s still the best – is where the whole concept of cool pool hall, mixed with cocktail bar and club started. This original branch of what is now a nationwide chain celebrated its 10th birthday in 2005 & it’s easy to see why it’s still hustling. Sounds a strange idea, but this interesting mix really works, with the post-industrial design and laid back approach creating a great atmosphere…whether you’re here for the pool or not. (Table prices are £9 for an hour at night or £6 during the day.)
The Elbow Room is a modern take on a traditional pool hall without any post-modern pretension. Sure, the purple & metal decor looks dated & the smoky atmosphere is slightly dingy, but cutting-edge design & clean air ain’t why you’d come here; what is are the seven purple baize-covered pool tables (which you can pre-book), cocktails for a fiver & draught beers including Korenwolf wheat beer, & the sort of finger-lickin’ stuff you can munch on while standing up (burgers, nachos, jerk chicken). Live DJs on Fridays & Saturdays mean this isn’t somewhere to bring your dad, though.
This is what others have said………..
Square Meal – Mon 30 January 2006
‘perfect speed dating, says a match making pub boss – the pool table is where you’ll find the partner of your dreams
Islington Gazette – Sun 01 January 2006 ‘…the combination of pool hall and bar-nightclub is hugely successful, as proved by the dedicated following of punters that keeps this place short of its namesake on a busy night.
Time Out Bar Guide – Sun 01 January 2006
‘Now we know we gave over this page to The Elbow Room back in April, but we can’t help it if the guys behind the pool bar chain keep coming up with great new ideas. Bar ping pong is their latest innovation.
Class – Sun 20 November 2005
‘An infinitely more stylish way to shoot a frame than funneling 20p pieces into a cranky old table in a pub backroom.
Voyager – Tue 01 November 2005
‘Kat Shakespeare leaned across the purple pool table and looked around. A stranger took the hint and shuffled in behind her. Clenched together, they lined up to pot the eight ball.
The Independent – Tue 01 November 2005
‘Cue the celebrations as Britain’s best pool halls turn ten.
GQ – Mon 15 August 2005
‘Happy Birthday to The Elbow Room, who is soon to celebrate its 10th anniversary, making it about 100 years old in bar years.
Class – Tue 01 March 2005
‘It’s relaxed, unposey and reckoned by many men to be a top place to meet members of the opposite sex.
Lonely Planet – Thu 20 January 2005
‘Justin Carter came up with the concept of The Elbow Room while shooting pool with Kiefer Sutherland in LA. Ten years on and the group has five high quality venues.
Flavour – Sun 14 March 2004
‘The Elbow Room is a pool hall with a difference: great decor, laid back atmosphere and reasonable drink prices…a pool hall like no other in the capital…relaxed and stylish.
Time Out Guide – Fri 12 December 2003
‘100 Best Things In The World – Number 92: The Elbow Room
GQ – Tue 05 February 2002
‘For anyone who’s taken even the slightest interest in the capital’s bar scene over the last couple of months, the name Arthur Baker should ring a few bells.
Class – Tue 22 May 2001
‘The Elbow Room pool Lounge and Bar is like New York. Only better.
The Independent Magazine – Mon 12 February 2001
‘pool is one of those activities like poker, skinning up and walking in stilettos that must be learned between the ages of 12 and 17, or not at all.
Class – Fri 17 November 2000
‘…as we stumbled away from an extremely agreeable afternoon, we went as far as to declare that it was the finest burger & chips to have ever entered our welcoming mouths.
Later – Tue 01 August 2000
‘I’m sick to death of men monopolising pool tables and using their cues to compensate for the size of the dicks.
Big Issue – Wed 08 March 2000
‘a wonderful pool hall/bar/restaurant…no wonder they call it the rebirth of pool. Your cue for a seriously good night out.
Time Out – Thu 03 February 2000
‘If your idea of a pool hall is a dive full of hustlers, gangsters and stale smoke then think again.
Evening Standard – Tue 01 February 2000
‘easily the most impressive pool bar in London
Time Out – Fri 14 January 2000
‘an ingenious combination of pool hall and nightclub
GQ – Thu 13 January 2000
‘If there was somewhere like this in Stoke Newington I’d never go anywhere else. But then I’d be broke.
Time Out – Tue 02 November 1999
‘Bringing the pool experience into the 90’s…it’s like walking on to the set of Carlito’s Way.
Sky Magazine – Sat 16 October 1999
‘pool used to be about smoky dives, bourbon-swillers and American hustlers. But now it’s super-clean, ultra-modern and in Leeds.
Arena Homme plus – Mon 16 November 1998
‘Redefines the nature of late 90’s clubbing … the ideal retreat for all Northern space age lounge lizards.
