You might think that a central London pub offering cheap stage and private dances from lovely and welcoming girls, a friendly bar staff selling reasonably priced drinks, non-oppressive bouncers and an all-round laid-back atmosphere would be an impossibility, but prepare to be amazed. The Griffin has all this and more.
Located on Clerkenwell Road, and a short walk from Holborn, Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations, The Griffin is an assuming place, its exterior like many a London pub. The darkened windows and the plain frontage, made jaunty by the colourful sign and name proudly emblazoned on the pub, hint at the fun to be had inside. And what a fun place it truly is.
To the uninitiated, The Griffin could just be another London pub. But step up to the door, and after a quick and necessary explanation of the house rules by the door staff, you are given free entrance to the pub. Once inside, you will find a pub much like any other, but with beautiful ladies walking around, chatting to drinkers and wearing very little indeed.
There are TV screens showing sports channels and the décor is comfortable and unassuming. But you don’t go to The Griffin for the décor.
The Griffin’s main room has a stage at the far end, and every ten minutes or so, a beautiful young lady will pass through the crowd with a pint glass wherein punters must place a pound coin; don’t think you can get away with dropping in a copper or even a measly Euro, as the girls are as eagle-eyed as they are gorgeous, and they and the bouncers will not suffer any tomfoolery or stinginess.
The DJ deserves special mention; with his witty banter, great choice of music (there’s not really a bad tune played as the girls dance) and comedy stylings, he has an energy that helps to whip up the guys at The Griffin, and the bar staff keep the drinks a-flowing to increase the fun factor.
Indeed, as far as atmosphere goes, The Griffin is a remarkable place in that it seems so easy to have a good time here. The staff are all nice, the bouncers are respectful and not oppressive or pushy, and the girls are all friendly, chatty and charming. A private dance in the lounge costs only £15 and, amazingly, for those gentlemen who like a little afternoon delight in their daytime schedule, private dances before 5pm are only £10! If there’s a better way to blow a tenner in your lunch hour, then we need to know about it. The clientele are a jolly mix of post-work office pals, stag parties and relaxed single guys just out for a little flirtatious entertainment and everyone seems to know the score; and the score is about Respect. If you go in to The Griffin and treat the place with respect, and the staff and girls with respect, it’s impossible not to have fun, and the staff and girls repay that respect, and everyone has a good time. What’s not to like? Why aren’t all pubs like The Griffin?
| 125 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5DB | Transport: Chancery Lane or Farringdon tubes |
| Telephone: +44 020 7405 3855 | Open: Mon-Thurs 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-1:00 |
| Website |
