102-104 Clerkenwell Road,
Clerkenwell ,
London,
EC1M 5SA
0871 971 4528
The ViewLondon Review
Forget irony, this is unabashed although not pitch perfect karaoke entertainment assured to leave heads and throats sore the morning after.The VenueIn the heart of Clerkenwell, Murphis' bright neon signs glare hideously onto the dusty street with blinding tackiness. And it's just as garish inside.
Two rooms, each with television screens, play bizarre Eurovision Song Contest style videos of deer frolicking in snowy glades. Whilst the larger basement offers a more serene decor, the small upstairs bar resembles something from a red light district stage show.
The AtmosphereThis is where the bar really comes into its own and with luck vocalists won't get laughed at. With a lot of luck and a little talent friends and strangers alike will sing along to popular hits. Clerkenwell and Farringdon can be a car crash combination of financial sector and creative types, yet at Murphis pretentiousness exits and bar-wide camaraderie takes over whenever someone is brave enough to attempt a tune.
Murphis isn't without its own breed of amateur female divas and male divos though - they're the ones refusing to relinquish their microphones at the end of thunderous ballads.
The MusicThe music policy is usually whatever your heart desires and ears can handle and music choices are understandably varied. Black tomes hold hundreds of songs so with a quick word in the ears of helpful staff, lyrics are promptly played on screens and instrumentals burst through speakers. English speaking pop is usual although international songs are available to redress the balance.
However, there are baffling inclusions and notable omissions on Murphis' playlist and you can only hope the exclusion of Kylie and Jason's Especially For You was an unfortunate oversight rather than musical censorship.
The DrinkKaraoke performances need lubrication and with Happy Hours running from 4pm to 9pm daily, pricing bottled beers at around £2 each, prices are significantly less than most drinking establishments in the area. A wide selection of wines, spirits and excellent cocktails are also available.
The Last WordTacky, ugly and the less said about some of the singing the better, Murphis still offers an enjoyable night for anyone prepared to take the mic.