Belushi's

London is no place for ‘backpackers’; it is expensive and lags behind the rest of Europe in providing the type of cheap accommodation that young travelers need to make their money stretch. However, one thing it does have is Belushi’s. The chain of young, international backpacker bars are somewhere between Walkabouts and budget Travel Lodges. They might not be the first place you’d think about going for a night out but on second thoughts, if you want a lively atmosphere, an international crowd and a cheap night then you could do worse.

We headed to the Hammersmith branch and tried out their American inspired food menu. Naturally, when we got there the place was about to welcome in a group of some forty French students staying in the hostel upstairs, which is sort of the fun of the place. If you’re looking for a student bar without having to go on campus, then Belushi’s is the place. The Hammersmith branch is big, busy and entertaining. Live sport, live music and people buying beers by the bucket and cocktails by the jug, this is very clearly a place for the young. But while we might not be so young anymore, we can still appreciate hot wings and a dirty burger. We would recommend the Fire Joe for anyone who likes messy, spicy toppings with their double patties – pepperoni, jalapenos, American cheese, hot sauce and garlic mayo. The Mushroom Blue wasn’t as good; the combination of red onion, sweet onion jam, a mushroom and blue cheese didn’t have quite the desired balance of salty and sweet. The rest of the menu is a combination of nachos, hot dogs, steak and sides and most meals are under £10.

At the bar it is all about buying in bulk. Deals on buckets of four beers and cheap jugs of ‘Texas Ice Tea’ are the way to go for the Belushi’s crowd. The cocktails are nothing special but the fruity, sweet, juice filled jam jars are something a little different – in here at least.

It is easy to see the negatives in big bars like Walkabouts, O’Neil’s and Wetherspoons but Belushi’s is different. Perhaps it’s the onsite hostel and the backpackers but Belushi’s Hammersmith has an innocent sense of adventure that we like.