79 Green Lanes,
Stoke Newington,
London,
N16 9BU
0872 148 1194
The ViewLondon Review
The Oak Bar is a laid back, effortlessly hip venue with a huge gay (mostly lesbian) following and loyal clientele favouring its cheap drinks and pub-like aesthetic.The VenueThe Oak Bar is located on the Newington Green end of Green Lanes, about 200m from Newington Green. Just a 15 minute bus ride from Angel or 9 minute walk from Canonbury Railway Station, the exterior is painted entirely black with an iconic gay rainbow flag flying proudly outside.
This well-lit, mock-Tudor style bar is L-shaped inside and fits about 250 people in total, with a pool table close to the entrance and generous lounge area nearby. To the side of the lounge is a spacious dancefloor complete with DJ booth, a full sound system and lighting and plasma screens. Small (cramped might be a better word) toilets are situated behind the dancefloor with an all-wooden large bar nearby.
The AtmosphereThe Oak Bar has a relaxed, unpretentious feel that appeals to its diverse range of customers. Predominantly marketed as a lesbian bar, there are several gay and women-only nights whilst the rest are mixed and include old school, hip hop, rock and disco parties. These parties are also designed to appeal to the dominant Turkish/Cypriot community residing on Green Lanes. Occasional live bands and the like appear at The Oak too, and the venue can be hired out for private parties with the option to extend the 3am license on an ad-hoc application.
The bar staff are friendly, attentive and mostly female, in keeping with the dressed-down, casual cool vibe of the place.
The DrinkThe Oak Bar boasts a large range of tap and bottled beers including Kronenbourg, Fosters, Stella and Hoegaarden. Also on offer is a wide variety of spirits and red and white wine and Champagne, all at very reasonable prices.
The Last WordThe Oak Bar is the perfect destination for a great night out without the superficiality and pretension that’s so prevalent in nightclubs these days. The slogan for one of its club nights, Lower the Tone, is ‘a club for people who hate clubs’. On that promise, the Oak Bar delivers as a fabulous low-key venue to wind down and let your hair down without having to visit the salon beforehand.