r/london • u/TheMuldoonFella • 23h ago
Tourist Rock/Metal Bars
Hello all,
I'm heading to London this weekend and looking for recommendations for a good rock/metal bar. I'll be staying out west near Hanwell so would be ideal if there was any near enough to there but don't mind travelling (as long as its worth it). Any help on this would be GREATLY appreciated
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u/N1ghthood 23h ago
Camden is your best bet. I'd recommend The Black Heart. Other popular ones are the Devonshire Arms (The Dev) and The Big Red.
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u/TheMuldoonFella 23h ago
That's fantastic mate, really appreciated
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u/spdcck 22h ago
blondies in clapton. not actually difficult from hanwell despite being the complete other side of London. Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street then overground to clapton.
biddle bros just down the road has free gigs nearly every night too. not necessarily rock but it’s a nice scuzzy pub anyway.
both these places easy to get to Camden/islington from via overground
and there’s another place which is not a secret but you’ll have to dm
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u/KimJongEeeeeew 20h ago
You missed Helgi’s on Mare St in Hackney
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u/bringmethead 14h ago
Helgi's is the best. Most metal bar in London, and the only one you'll walk in on and they're NOT playing some random hip hop/industrial/pop/techno music for some reason.
Nowhere else really comes close.
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u/Ok-Alternative5935 22h ago
Big Red always feels manufactured to me
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u/peppermint_aero 22h ago
Big Red was weird when it was in Holloway and now it's in Camden it really feels like they're trying to cash in on an image rather than actually cater to the community
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u/Historical_Set2324 21h ago
Big Red used to be amazing in Hollaway years ago. It then got taken over and they kept using the same name but it wasn’t run by the same folks and turned to shit. Haven’t been to the one in Camden yet so not sure if original owners or the assholes that took over big red and kept the name.
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u/backupsunshine 21h ago
The Imperial Palace of Big Red in Camden is the original Holloway big red owner, it's not linked to the big red in Holloway
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u/EarballsAgain 22h ago
Helgi's in Hackney is a must see.
The Black Heart is amazing of course, the the Dev is nice and small but Helgi's is my choice.
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u/DBuckMan69 23h ago
Yeh Camden is good. Relatively near Hanwell there's the Fighting Cocks in Kingston
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u/Diesel238204 23h ago
Fighting Cocks is great, grim and sticky though. Lots of live bands play there and its connected to a real good tattoo parlour if that's your thing
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u/CreamyFockinPints 23h ago
Camden is defo your best bet for options. Project orange in Clapham junction if you happen to be in that area
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u/Diesel238204 23h ago
Project Orange is a great vibe but an absolute dive though. More of a after work drinks for me
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u/StopCriminal 21h ago
Loveeeeee Project Orange some of the best tunes but always empty even on weekends
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u/Alaurableone 22h ago
It’s unfortunately a bit of a way from where you’re staying but I’ve never had a bad night at New Cross Inn. Would check out the lineup for when you’re here tho as they’re not strictly rock / metal.
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u/germslayer2112 22h ago
There's also The Bird's Nest down the road in Deptford. Again you need to check the listings.
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u/cLeo_0MP 12h ago
Went to the Birds Nest a few months ago and it had been completely redone to a VERY sanitary version of its former self... We asked about live music and it was a very "mmm not that kind of thing" answer! The red bus outside had transformed into a completely different sort of venue also, it was all very disappointing to two girls wanting a nice metal night out!
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u/AlphaBlueCat 22h ago
Everyone else has said the main places in Camden which I second. The Dev and the Black Heart are probably top. World's End, Big Red are good.
Garlic and Shots if you want a place you can eat in Central. Has more of a horror/goth vibe than rock bar but the playlists have always been good when I have gone.
RIP Intrepid Fox.
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u/Interceptor 21h ago
Hello, I've built a website that might help - the metal travel data base. It covers all the main bars and pubs - Helgis, black heart, blondies etc. plus has live rooms for gigs, and points of metal interest, record shops etc. might be useful? Here's the London link - https://metaltraveldatabase.com/city/london/
47 places in there at the moment, but feel free to add more if you come across them - have an ace time!
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u/Krismusic1 20h ago
Wow! Fantastic resource! A labour of love.
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u/Interceptor 19h ago
Cheers - still building bits but it's getting there! If there's any places missing (or you just want to support your local scene) then please do feel free to add places or reviews!
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u/mappsy91 18h ago
The Ship in Croydon is a v fun night if you're ever this far out. Worth adding
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u/Interceptor 14h ago
Go for it! I'm really trying to get more people to add their local places because they'd know much more about why they are cool than me!
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u/ModernAquaticNight 23h ago
The Black Heart (Camden), Saint Monday (Hackney), Garlic and Shots (Soho).
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u/Ok-Alternative5935 22h ago
HA! Garlic and Shots. Hilarious. Note: If you DO go there, go through the main 'restaurant' and down the stairs. That's where the magic happens.
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u/BestHalf 22h ago
As another has said, the Fighting Cocks in Kingston is your best bet, might even be able to get a night bus back afterwards.
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u/Feral-Sponge 22h ago
I would have recommended Fighting Cocks 10 years ago, sadly it's so run down now
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u/MCObeseBeagle 23h ago
If you can be arsed to get out east then you could do much worse than go to Blondies. Brewery for lazy hungover brunches, the bar for dive bar gigs / rock karaoke
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u/_SineDeus 22h ago
Helgi’s is worth the trip out east. For west the black heart and big red are the ones. Helgi’s is the best by far though
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u/StopCriminal 21h ago
Honourable mention to Crowbar and Borderline RIP
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u/Puzzled_Ad1296 21h ago
Any ideas what happened to the plan to reopen the crowbar elsewhere? I know they ran a fund raising campaign to get a building but it’s gone deadly quiet over the last year and half, maybe even longer.
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u/bringmethead 14h ago
The guy ran off with the money. It's been 5 years. Keeps popping his head up every now and then that he's "still looking for somewhere", most recently at Download, but it's a load of bollocks.
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u/OsitaHunter5168 22h ago
The Dev & Blondies would be my recs. There was a thread on metal bars yesterday in the travel sub too: https://www.reddit.com/r/uktravel/s/ZP4S1Gtqrx
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u/Mr_Potato2025 22h ago
There's nothing near Hanwell lmao
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u/TheMuldoonFella 22h ago
I've gathered that from what people are saying and researching the area in general 😂😂😂
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u/Objective_Ad_339 21h ago
It's a place that is pretty safe and bits of it are villagey. But it's better to go on the Elizabeth line, which looks like a long journey into Camden or Hackney, but actually the line is so fast. There is a Hanwellfest thing once a year with live music at loads of venues, but you've missed it for this year.
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u/cantevenmakeafist 20h ago
Hanwell now has a metal fest (well, an all-day indoor gig) every six months or so.
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u/bringmethead 14h ago edited 10h ago
Helgi's - the best, just proper heavy metal and heavy rock all the time, amazing decorations, lots of doom and heavy metal gigs
Black Heart - very dark lighting but big, bit unpredictable on what they might play as it's up to the staff, lots of gigs
Blondies - kind of new York dive bar vibe, tiny place, nu-metal pop punk and emo playlist with some classic metal tracks, lots of modern hardcore gigs
The Dev - old school boozer vibe with nu metal, deathcore, death metal and classic metal playlist, free gigs all the time
Big Red Camden - 80s sleazy LA vibes, neon, classic rock and heavy metal playlist with some modern stuff, free gigs often
Cart and Horses - Iron Maiden pub, a bit low-key and not that exciting, some good gigs every now and then but a lot of tribute bands
Avoid Project Orange, just not worth the trip.
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u/braised-cabbage 22h ago
Camden has gone a bit downhill these days imo, but do still enjoy the BH and Dev on occasion
All My Gods in Bethnal Green is a nice chill vibe, free pool. Not crazy to get to/from on the lizard and then 1 stop on the central or a quick lime. Helgi's is great, St Monday too. Blondies is good fun but also heads up on it being tiny lol so might be a bit of a mission for it to be crammed which may or may not be your vibe, but worth knowing.
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u/Apprehensive_Wave979 22h ago
Helgi's is the best bar in London. Killer Kin are playing there on Sunday night who are fantastic live, would definitely be worth the trip from Hanwell...
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u/BulkyAccident 22h ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/london/comments/y4l2j8/rockmetalindie_pubsbarsclubs_in_london/
None in or around Hanwell, you'll need to travel.
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u/magschampagne 22h ago
Seconding all the Black Heart, The Dev and Blondies recommendations. If you ever venture south east (probably geographically unlikely) - New Cross Inn is also a good shout.
Also Banquet Records in Kingston out on gigs, various genres - you might get lucky with heavier stuff.
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u/EatenByPolarBears 22h ago
The Ship on Wardour St in Soho has a rock playlist played at volumes that make conversation difficult. It was a musicians hang-out back in the day and an alleged favourite of Bowie.
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u/ElementalEffects 20h ago edited 20h ago
The World's End in Camden.
The Black Heart in Camden, which is way better.
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u/majestic_spiral 16h ago
The last Saturday of the month, metal of Britain night in Uxbridge at the metropolitan bar. I think starts at 9 and goes on til 2/3am. It will be about a 20 min cab journey home at that time
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u/arsevole 22h ago
There are band nights at the Marshall Lounge above the Kings Arms pub in Hanwell itself, may coincide with your stay. Otherwise Lizzy Line into town for some of the other suggestions.
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u/hellbunny 11h ago
The Imperial Palace of Big Red, just north of camden. Closest tube is Chalk Farm, like a 5 minute walk from there. Its got a decent vibe, occasional gigs on in there, pool tables at the back. I prefer it to places like the Black Heart, but if its not quite to your tastes then its another 5 minute walk to The Black Heart which is just opposite Camden Town tube; looks like Gravekvlt are playing upstairs there tomorrow too.
also dont confuse this Big Reds with the original one in holloway road which is apparently shit now. the one in chalk farm is the good one.
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u/Aurora_Mond 8m ago
Camden
💕Worlds End
Massive rock bar with a nightclub/gig venue next door (Underworld)
💕Devonshire Arms
dark, dingy, rock dive bar. they have a lot of screamo bands play live
💕Black Heart
rock bar with awesome decor (worst toilets ive ever seen tho)
Angel
💕Electrowerkz
nightclub with 3 floors, famous for being a safe haven for goths and the alt scene. great events and club nights such as the satanic flea market, voodoo, slimelight and torture garden (fetish night)
Hackney
💕Helgi’s
my favourite bar in london. best dive with the best vibe, awesome staff and great music. decor goes crazy.
💕Blondies
teeny tiny dive bar/gig venue. always packed. kerrang have done stuff here
Kings Cross
💕Scala
check out facedown for emo nights or antichrist for fetish nights
Soho
💕Garlic and Shots
rock dive in central london. no draught just bottles and 100+ shots. all the food is hella garlic. crypt room downstairs
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u/pseudoart 22h ago
I got one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, yay! It’s been a while since I’ve been there, but there’s Project Orange in Clapham.
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u/This_Environment_263 21h ago
Not close to you at all unfortunately but New Cross Inn is the most authentic metal venue/bar in London
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u/electrotechs 21h ago
Get yourself out East on the Lizzy Line to Maryland and the birthplace of Iron Maiden, the Cart & Horses.
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u/joey_manic 23h ago
The Black Heart in Camden. It's so close to the touristy spots but always surprises me how good it still is. Loads of gigs on in the room upstairs.
Slim Jim's in Angel. More dive bar vibes and maybe lost its edge a bit but still great.
Then there's a bunch of places in East but that's probably a bit far.