Daniel H.

Review of Bar Red

23 Dec 07, 15:10

Maybe a little dated now?

Bar Red seems to have stood the test of time since it has been around since I frequented Kingly Street back in the early Noughts. It is still there and seemingly still strong, as a recent visit confirmed.

Red is an understatement, as the decor is very much so. It is primarily arranged with booths on the ground floor area and then a more open, clubby space in the basement which is home to DJs most evenings.

The atmosphere is relaxed, and I was impressed by the quality of staff who were laid back and friendly which is a rarity in this area.

Ultimately there's nothing desperately thrilling to write about, but it still achieves a lot in an area of also rans.

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Review of The White House

19 Aug 07, 10:23

Saturday night - thumbs down

I went here last night after the recent supposed refurbishment. Could someone explain to me what exactly has been made better from the refurb?

It seems they have just removed all the cozy booth-style seating with a long single 'bench' which runs down one side of the bar, a lot like something you might sit on at a train station.

The door policy was an absolute joke. A surly bouncer and some bit of fluff were wandering up and down the queue asking for *couples* to come to the front...! What is the rationale behind this policy? Why would somewhere want their place to be full of couples who presumably won't spend as much on drinks?

Eventually got inside to find - no surprise - plenty of capacity.

Generally a pretty boring crowd - very few dancing downstairs, and the upstairs bar was rammed such that nobody was really getting involved, which is a shame for a Saturday night.

A double Jack and coke was £9.60 and entry was £12. Please.

All in all a low rating for what was a great place having been turned into somewhere completely average. I give it two stars since it's better than Infernos.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Review of Brew Wharf

11 Jul 07, 11:13

Great house beers

The bar itself is housed under the imposing arches of the railway near Bankside, and the interior is very nicely done. However what makes this place stand out is the range of house beers (brewed on-site), which are very tasty.

There is seating outside as well, so this is good option to go for a drink in the summer, and since it's a little way off the main street it's unlikely to get terribly busy

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Review of Wine Wharf

11 Jul 07, 11:09

Very nice, as expected

This is a really pleasant bar that offers fairly decent (but pretty standard) food. The building is great: it's part of the Victorian industrial warehouses that house the Vinopolis museum.

Obviously the range of wines is fantastic, and range in price up to the staggeringly expensive. As such it attracts a few city boys but is far more unique than most city bars.

Try to go when there is live music.

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Review of K-Bar

15 Jun 07, 16:06

Fairly awful.

Maybe it was just the night I went but I found the place very pretentious with a grim clientelle (i.e. quite a few aggressive types sloped in towards the end of the evening... have no idea how they got in). Hugely espensive and really isn't as special as it presumably was in the mid-late 90s.

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Review of Gordons Wine Bar

15 Jun 07, 16:00

Atmospheric

This is such an atmospheric place (a friend of mine said it was 'scary', even), but unfortunately it is becoming so well known it's often very difficult to get a seat in the bar itself.

A major downside which I experienced the other day is the fact that it gets INCREDIBLY hot inside, so it really isn't suitable for the summer.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Abacus

15 Jun 07, 15:21

Sleazy city nightspot... brilliant fun

I'll get so much abuse if my friends found out I gave this place 4 stars but I can honestly say I have never had a bad night here.

It's populated on Thursday and Friday nights by city types and slappers who have made the trip in specially to bag a rich, said city type. This makes for a brilliantly tantalising atmosphere of bum pinching and spilt sambucca.

The way to enjoy is to get pretty drunk and don't take yourself or the place seriously at all: the people who do end up at the side of the dancefloor waiting for decent conversation. It won't happen.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Elk Bar

15 Jun 07, 14:40

Better than expected

I had walked past this place so many times, thinking it was a typical, naff, Fulham Broadway bar. But then actually visited and had a genuinely great night.

The bar is much nicer than you'd expect, with nice big long tables along the middle.

Usual ozzie/saffie crowd but somehow feels nice than most in the area.

4 stars not because it was mind-blowing, but because it genuinely surprised me.

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Review of Ad Lib

08 Jun 07, 23:52

Pokey, and a bit rude

Agree with Sarah. It isn't horrific, but they don't have very good crowd management so can get incredibly claustrophobic.

I have found the staff are bit rude, or rather they rarely smile.

That said I have had mates who have hired the entire or half the venue out for parties and that can work very well for small-ish crowds.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Beaufort House

08 Jun 07, 23:44

R.I.P.

This was one of my favourite places, but it seems to have closed down. Boo.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Aragon House

08 Jun 07, 22:42

If you want rah...

If you plan to come to PG to pick up some posh fluff, this is the place to go. However, it really is quite pretentious, compounded further by the bizarre decor.

It has a garden, I gather, which is supposed to be very nice indeed, so really one for Summer: go to The Duke on the Green next door in the Winter.

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