The very first Turtle was in London Street, Reading. This hallowed building had to be vacated to make way for the new Oracle shopping centre (replacing class with sleaze). But it set the scene for a new type of bar where almost anything's acceptable (except violence, drugs and vomiting on staff clothing).
So a new Turtle was born in Gun Street, Reading, followed by equally popular Turtles in Islington, then Oxford and Camden.
At the Purple Turtle you can look as deranged or as sensible as you want - there are no boring bastards threatening to eject you for not sporting sensible shoes or home-knit cardigans! You can wear anything from silly hats to chains through your scrotum. And what makes the Turtles even more special is that everyone enjoys themselves because they can be themselves! No airs, graces and tedious people telling you you've drunk too much. It's all peace, love and harmony, with chunks of alcoholic oblivion and loud music thrown in.