The QMT - Home of The Bancroft Players

You'd walk past this Walsworth Road theatre bar dozens of times without realising there's a proper drinking spot inside. The Queen Mother Theatre doubles as home to The Bancroft Players, but their bar operates independently most evenings, serving a crowd that's half theatre-goers clutching programmes and half locals who've discovered somewhere refreshingly unpretentious for a quiet pint. The atmosphere shifts depending on show nights - buzzy with interval chatter during performances, properly relaxed when it's just the regulars. Staff know their way around both a wine list and theatrical lighting cues, and prices won't make you wince like some of Hitchin's flashier spots. It's the sort of place where you might end up in conversation with an off-duty actor or simply enjoy your drink without anyone trying to impress you.