You would think I draw nothing but pubs. These two yellow-stained sketches are from a month ago in London, both sketched while out with my friends. The top one is the Angel Inn in Highgate, a lovely pub I have been to many times before. I especially like it on a cold wintery day, when you can escape the chill of the Highgate Hill and sit by the warm radiator with a pint and a paper (or in my case, a sketchbook). This was not the case during heatwave-era London, but it was just as fun, catching up with my friend and relaxing in the atmosphere. I drank a couple of English craft ales, though I forget what they were called.
This one was sketched more centrally in Soho, on a Sunday evening which actually saw several pubs. We popped into this one (because one of my favourite pubs, The Ship on Wardour St, was closed for the night): the John Snow on Broadwick St, because it has fairly cheap and good beer and nice wooden interiors, though it was pretty empty. I also remembered after we’d been there for a while that this was the pub that gained notoriety a couple of years back when it threw out a gay couple because they kissed each other. Boo, this pub! I do know the pub is named after a very famous epidemiologist (and not the bastard son of Ned Stark, nor the Channel 4 newsreader whose cousin Peter is the guy with the Swingometer). These were the only London pub sketches I managed on this trip. Next time perhaps I will manage a big panorama!
These are great as always, Pete — so woodsy and dark-looking, as British pubs should be. If my husband and I ever go to London in the next few years, I will ask you (or scour your blog via the search function) for pub recommendations. I trust you. And I am not a beer snob anyway, although my husband has aspirations. Cheers!
Cheers! I’m not sure I know the pubs as well as I used to, so many change these days. The Angel Inn in Highgate is lovely, as is the Flask. One of the best pubs is in Notting Hill / Kensington called the Churchill Arms, usually voted best pub in London and with good reason. I really want to get back and sketch it from inside and out: http://churchillarmskensington.co.uk/
You make me sick! That first sketch alone is amazing. I can’t even call it a sketch compared to my sketches. It’s far more detailed. I love how you captured the lights, the chalkboards and shelves of bottles. I don’t frequent pubs or clubs of any kind. Nor can I imagine how my drawing skills might be affected by drinking:P But, you are a regular…however you spell the name of that guy who frequented the Moulin Rouge and painted posters for the place.
Thanks!
I’ve been to the John Snow pub. You captured it well! It’s a great place. Love your artwork.