Looking to meet some friendly tourists? Or perhaps be an unofficial ambassador welcoming travellers to your city? If so, head straight to Belushis.

The Venue
Belushis sits just opposite Shepherds Bush tube and, crucially, is located underneath the St Christophers Inn – a backpacking hotel.

The decor is a mixture of flags and posters. It has a Student Union feel - it's all a bit shabby and, in daylight, a bit scruffy. However, none of this matters to the young, budget-minded clientele. The main room is reasonably large and non-cluttered with a mixture of soft seating and stools with tables. Out front sits a large heated patio and a massive barbeque, which sees lots of action in the summer months.

The Atmosphere
Sit here for five minutes and listen to all the different accents, dialects and languages that surround you, each one with a story to tell. Travellers are usually a gregarious lot and this bunch is no exception. Aussies and Kiwis make up the largest numbers, but every continent is well represented. Folks are chilled (they’re on holidays – why wouldn’t they be?).

The Food
There’s a large menu of bar food at Belushis. Burgers are the star attraction with eight different kinds (including a vegetarian burger) ranging in price from £5–£8. There are also finger foods (nachos for £6.50), sandwiches (£5.95) and salads (£6.50).

The Drink
Given there’s an excellent happy hour with cheap cocktails (from Screaming Multiple Orgasms to Lynchburg Lemonade), Belushis ensures the party vibe is there to last. Draught beer includes Fosters, Kronenburg, and Guinness as well as Strongbow cider on tap. A good selection of bottled beers and alcopops round up the options. For wine drinkers, there are two choices each of white, red and rose at an astonishing £10.50 a bottle.

The Last Word
Belushis is a backpacker's bar, plain and simple, offering (relatively) cheap drinks, cheap food and plenty of room to chat and swap tales with fellow travellers.

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