BAR KICK

We have a confession to make: we love table football. Our technique may leave something to be desired – it’s a case of spin the handles and see where the ball ends up – but we can’t get enough of the miniature beautiful game. For some reason, ‘babyfoot’ has long been neglected on this side of the channel, so Bar Kick scores kudos for bringing this continental obsession to the streets of the capital.

With half a dozen coupon-operated Bonzini tables along one side of the bar, this energetic but easygoing watering hole is table-footie heaven. They even run their own babyfoot league, with tournaments against rival international teams. Unsurprisingly, there’s a European flavour to proceedings, with dangling Ricard bottles and vintage French advertising splashed all over the walls beneath a canopy of world flags.

The global spirit continues behind the bar. Chalkboards advertise a raft of imported bottled beers (plus a few home-brewed treasures like Peter’s Organic Ale) and the bar vibrates to the rattle of maracas from funky Spanish and Brazilian beats. At the back is a bustling open kitchen, serving Euro-themed platters, salads, sangers and sides to those lucky enough to nab one of the formica tables at the back. Of course, if you sit, you can’t play foosball.

There’s more of the same downstairs, including another handful of football tables, but most patrons prefer the crush and hubbub of the main lounge. Our advice? Swing by straight after work for a chorizo sandwich and a bottle of Brahma then load up on coupons for the footie tables. It’s better exercise than watching Match of the Day, but gentler on the knees than a kick around in the park.