The Hop Poles: Pub in Hammersmith and Fulham, London

The Hop Poles in W6 is the kind of place that makes a night out feel easy. Thursdays tend to belong to the quiz crowd: teams who take their rivalry seriously and their pints between rounds. Fridays bring live music, and people drift from the bar toward the sound and stay put. That mix is the point. Some people come to compete. Some come to hear a band and see who else has turned up. The room works for both, and the crowd tends to be regulars, the same faces who know the answers and the staff by name. Pick the night by the mood you're in. Want a table, a laugh and a bit of pressure? Go to the quiz. Want music without fuss? Go on a Friday.