The Blue Monk: Pub in Bermondsey, London

The Blue Monk is an art venue in SE16, and its programming tends to lean towards the spoken word. Live storytelling is a clear thread. Expect nights built around someone talking, not a screen or a playlist. That kind of night suits people who like listening more than being looked at. You get a room of strangers paying attention to the same voice, which is rarer in this city than it should be. Art venues like this tend to draw a mixed crowd: people who came for the work, people who came for the story, and a few who wandered in and stayed. Go with an open mind. The best nights here are often the ones where the format surprises you.