Drink in the "smallest public bar room"

Your author found himself drinking in the room at the front of the Dove public house in Hammersmith on Saturday, an atmospheric and friendly space which a certificate on the wall confirms was designated in January 1989 by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "smallest public bar room".


Though your author is unsure whether any space has subsequently claimed the title, in the world of pub folklore an old certificate is usually more than enough to seize the imagination, and in this interesting little pub, which has been owned by Fullers since 1796, it's just one of many reasons to visit.

For more, see http://dovehammersmith.co.uk/about

Admire Al Fayed's waxwork

Last month, we looked at Mohammed Al Fayed's Dodi and Diana statue, so now it's time to take in one of Harrod's other marvels, the waxwork likeness of the former owner himself.


The Mirror has it that the former owner would only agree to sell up when the new owners, Qatar Holdings, vowed to let the waxwork of him remain in the store, and the shrines to Dodi and Diana remain, but the £1.5 billion they were prepared to stump up may have also been a factor. Nevertheless, the waxwork remains - for the moment - with the small Egyptian man surveying his former pride and joy with a grin.

Al-Fayed himself is apparently expected to stay on as honorary chairman, which could help to maintain such features, but if you want to be sure to catch them, make sure you pop in soon. After that, you may have to go to Craven Cottage.

For more on the store and its history, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrods