Long before nearby Vauxhall rose to prominence as the epicentre of gay London, Clapham had a small-but-perfectly-formed scene of its own attracting locals and visitors alike. Central to that scene is Kazbar, an open-plan video bar so smart and stylish it could easily transplant to the West End (and in fact many's the time BarCock's wished it would). Open from early afternoon until about midnight or 1am, Kazbar's a smart and sociable place to kick off an evening that might continue on to Vauxhall or to the rather grimier Two Brewers just up the road.

Clapham High Street on weekend nights can rival Faliraki in summer for vomiting, fighting and public urination - and that's just the girls - but thanks to firm-but-friendly security permanently positioned at the door, Kazbar remains very much an oasis from the strip's worst (some say finest) excesses. Sunday evenings feature fantastic live music and throughout the week there are various themed evenings and DJs. There are window seats, a comfortable mezzanine and in warmer weather the coveted outdoor tables make this a dream spot for every gay's favourite pastime: people-watching (what did you think we meant? Mucky pups!)

Local tip: if meeting someone at Kazbar for the first time, be sure to spell out the name carefully - there's a homonymous, but entirely unrelated, Moroccan restaurant on nearby Venn Street. Could be amusing.

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