Pub-Savvy Journalist Has Created a Map of London’s Late-Night Bars

Getting a late-night drink in London sometimes feels like mission impossible. But pint-loving journalist James McIntosh is on a mission to ensure pub-goers are never “further away than 20 minutes” from a drinking spot after 2 AM. Through a map, the London-based writer pintpoints 181 pubs and bars with a late-night license. 

If a drinking establishment is free to enter, stays open until late at night, and doesn’t act like a nightclub, it is part of McIntosh’s map.

A game changer for London’s round-the-clock nightlife scene, the tappable guide acts as a Marauder’s Map for the pub-loving community. 

Since sharing his creation on Twitter, the map has received significant attention with over 3,700 likes and 2,806 bookmarks. McIntosh is seeking input from pub-goers and Twitter users, inviting netizens to identify the spots he missed. 

Some of the names that made it to the list are Islington’s Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, London’s Bridge Belushi’s, and The Elephant and Castle Pub. 

Following his investigation into late-night pubs, McIntosh shed some light on London’s limited nighttime activities. “Things I’ve found: there’s a lot of places open til 1am or 1.30am. It’s good, but it’s not quite right.” he wrote. 

“Almost all of these places are only open late on Thurs – Sat. All in all, the late night assessment of London is: not as bad as people complain about, but could do better.”