While London offers stiff competition amongst the first three, the Union Chapel in Islington is the only choice for the godfearing, beer-drinking music connoisseur, offering one of the most diverse music line-ups in the UK, all in the name of keeping the roof from falling in.

Faced with a crumbling building and dwindling congregation, this non-conformist independent church set up the very successful Union Chapel project in '91, to support its varied charitable programs and to keep the roof where it belongs.

The perfect acoustics originally created for orchestral and organ recitals
now provides stunning sound for artists like Beck, Ravi Shankar, Björk and Goldfrapp.

If the music fails to stir your soul, there's also a bar and lounge that not only allows, but encourages you, to take your pint back to the pew. While it might seem strange to relax in a pew with a cocktail, this is surely sacrilege at its best.

The Union Chapel, www.unionchapel.org.uk
The Vestry, Compton Road, N1

CB