Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom

The Lamb - Shocking by greedoe

greedoe — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:36:53 +0000

Review by greedoe

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7405 0713

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

Tags: traditional pub, food, great atmosphere

Had probably the worst pub experience for a long while here.

They decided about 15 minutes after we placed our order that the kitchen was backed up. Thus, instead of getting our lunch in a timely manner we got one meal quickly and then waited about 30 minutes for the rest.

The fish was bland, tasted like frozen and was sent back. The burgers were burnt, and nuclear hot in the middle.

Bad, just bad.Had probably the worst pub experience for a long while here.

They decided about 15 minutes after we placed our order that the kitchen was backed up. Thus, instead of getting our lunch in a timely manner we got one meal quickly and then waited about 30 minutes for the rest.

The fish was bland, tasted like frozen and was sent back. The burgers were burnt, and nuclear hot in the middle.

Bad, just bad.

The Intrepid Fox - Louder by ross

ross — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:21:28 +0000

Review by ross

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 8956

Tags: live music, black, music

That rating's two for the booze, five for the atmosphere, clientele.

The Intrepid Fox is a metal, goth, punk (real, not American boy band) and rock pub at the very core of London.

The actual booze on offer in this new locale is, as before in the Soho days, pretty uninspiring. You'd be missing the point though, if it was purely for the quality of alcohol that you were to attend. There is always more to a pub than the booze, and the booze is definitely not why people come here. And anyway, after a few in good company, it all becomes so much more palatable... The barstaff however are often a delight and very much an active part of the whole.

The iFox retains semi-legendary status amongst the rawk community but is often completely unknown outside of that, regardless of having been sat in the middle of London for decades. People have literally travelled thousands of miles to go to the iFox. True most of those were on holiday, but if they were metal/gofff/punk fans they KNEW of this place and made a bee-line for it. Girls from Brazil, Guys from Norway. The Intrepid Fox exudes a particular earthy splendour that has attracted its tribe from wherever they be, whomsoever they may be.

Friday and Saturday nights can be severely oversubscribed and, central London or not, it becomes a bit of a regulars-only thing. Though not strictly. But the door-staff used on these occasions have been known to be stupid enough to turn people away if they don't recognise them, or for 'not looking metal enough.' Which would mean I probably wouldn't get in on a Saturday night, regardless of infrequent but joyous attendance for half a decade now. the bar staff may recognise me but the bouncers wouldn't. It's a bit crap that the door policy should be style over content at the weekends. Daytimes mid-week however are less hectic and anyone is welcome. However there is an ironic dress code. No football colours (yay! anti-chav action!) and no ties. Well, not around one's neck anyway.

Named for the 18th century Whig member of Parliament Charles James Fox - a noted defender of liberal values and human rights and wearer of loud, unconventional clothing; a tad before his time - there was a pub of that name standing on the site of 97-99 wardour Street, Soho for over two hundred years. Then overnight, the blight of the post-Thatcher era fell upon this haven of rock history and stately debauchery; the property developers moved in...

Things looked bad. With less than a month's notice, the landlord, staff and regulars and supporters of the iFox were left flustered and angry, but not disheartened. Pat, the landlord wasn't going to let it go completely. The property, the original historic site, may have already been stolen out from under the feet of the cognoscenti in favour of ever-more yuppie flats in the ever-more sanitised and over-priced Soho, but that didn't mean the IDEAL of the iFox had to die as well. Within a few short months Pat and the core staff had acquired the license for the former Conservatory, a physically very different tri-level bar in St Giles High Street, under the shadow of Centre Point. Formerly a LGB bar, the central location and extra space made it ideal to encourage the old crowd back and to indeed bring in more casual trade. The larger size even meant there might be a chance of getting a seat of an evening...

It doesn't look the same from the outside. The old iFox was a definite dark-room pub. This is a glass, glass, and more glass-fronted bar externally (hence the old name). However inside, it's adopted the gravitas, ambience and soul of the original, as the clientele has slid right in, like a well-lubed rat up a drainpipe, with alacrity and eagerness. Bringing along the key decor and furnishings of the original helped; can't live without a ten-legged spider. Fittingly, it also boasts it's very own Hammer-House-Of-Horror church directly opposite; St Giles.

So if you like long hair, death-by-cleavage corsetry and stilettos (and that's just the blokes) accompanied by LOUD rawk music and a happily drunk heaving throng of metalheads and goth girls then look no further than the multi-floored crazed and contused iFox.That rating's two for the booze, five for the atmosphere, clientele.

The Intrepid Fox is a metal, goth, punk (real, not American boy band) and rock pub at the very core of London.

The actual booze on offer in this new locale is, as before in the Soho days, pretty uninspiring. You'd be missing the point though, if it was purely for the quality of alcohol that you were to attend. There is always more to a pub than the booze, and the booze is definitely not why people come here. And anyway, after a few in good company, it all becomes so much more palatable... The barstaff however are often a delight and very much an active part of the whole.

The iFox retains semi-legendary status amongst the rawk community but is often completely unknown outside of that, regardless of having been sat in the middle of London for decades. People have literally travelled thousands of miles to go to the iFox. True most of those were on holiday, but if they were metal/gofff/punk fans they KNEW of this place and made a bee-line for it. Girls from Brazil, Guys from Norway. The Intrepid Fox exudes a particular earthy splendour that has attracted its tribe from wherever they be, whomsoever they may be.

Friday and Saturday nights can be severely oversubscribed and, central London or not, it becomes a bit of a regulars-only thing. Though not strictly. But the door-staff used on these occasions have been known to be stupid enough to turn people away if they don't recognise them, or for 'not looking metal enough.' Which would mean I probably wouldn't get in on a Saturday night, regardless of infrequent but joyous attendance for half a decade now. the bar staff may recognise me but the bouncers wouldn't. It's a bit crap that the door policy should be style over content at the weekends. Daytimes mid-week however are less hectic and anyone is welcome. However there is an ironic dress code. No football colours (yay! anti-chav action!) and no ties. Well, not around one's neck anyway.

Named for the 18th century Whig member of Parliament Charles James Fox - a noted defender of liberal values and human rights and wearer of loud, unconventional clothing; a tad before his time - there was a pub of that name standing on the site of 97-99 wardour Street, Soho for over two hundred years. Then overnight, the blight of the post-Thatcher era fell upon this haven of rock history and stately debauchery; the property developers moved in...

Things looked bad. With less than a month's notice, the landlord, staff and regulars and supporters of the iFox were left flustered and angry, but not disheartened. Pat, the landlord wasn't going to let it go completely. The property, the original historic site, may have already been stolen out from under the feet of the cognoscenti in favour of ever-more yuppie flats in the ever-more sanitised and over-priced Soho, but that didn't mean the IDEAL of the iFox had to die as well. Within a few short months Pat and the core staff had acquired the license for the former Conservatory, a physically very different tri-level bar in St Giles High Street, under the shadow of Centre Point. Formerly a LGB bar, the central location and extra space made it ideal to encourage the old crowd back and to indeed bring in more casual trade. The larger size even meant there might be a chance of getting a seat of an evening...

It doesn't look the same from the outside. The old iFox was a definite dark-room pub. This is a glass, glass, and more glass-fronted bar externally (hence the old name). However inside, it's adopted the gravitas, ambience and soul of the original, as the clientele has slid right in, like a well-lubed rat up a drainpipe, with alacrity and eagerness. Bringing along the key decor and furnishings of the original helped; can't live without a ten-legged spider. Fittingly, it also boasts it's very own Hammer-House-Of-Horror church directly opposite; St Giles.

So if you like long hair, death-by-cleavage corsetry and stilettos (and that's just the blokes) accompanied by LOUD rawk music and a happily drunk heaving throng of metalheads and goth girls then look no further than the multi-floored crazed and contused iFox.

The Marquis Of Cornwallis - Marquis of Chains by mazphd

mazphd — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:47:24 +0000

Review by mazphd

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7923 5961

Tags: standard pub food, pub chain, food

Like Janie_lou mentioned what you have here is a indeed a chain pub... BUT the scope and range of wines that is available on tap is a marked improvement on the dross being served just over the road.

Also there's a more than competent range of pub foods, from the pub-centric fish n chips, to nicer range of tapas style nibbles.

Ive been here with a range of people and it fits with various crowds, from the 'uni lot', to after workers over drinkers to even my father. So a fits for all place.

The leather sofa's give things a cosy and its not without atmosphere, even if this is artificially created. Sometimes artificial can work though and in this case it provides a 'nice' backdrop to the 'nice' bar area and 'nice' food. But thats as exciting as it gets!

So if you want to play it 'nice' and safe, and to avoid O'Neils etc over the road, you may as well drop in here - you won't be disappointed and youll be sure to have a 'nice' evening.

Like Janie_lou mentioned what you have here is a indeed a chain pub... BUT the scope and range of wines that is available on tap is a marked improvement on the dross being served just over the road.

Also there's a more than competent range of pub foods, from the pub-centric fish n chips, to nicer range of tapas style nibbles.

Ive been here with a range of people and it fits with various crowds, from the 'uni lot', to after workers over drinkers to even my father. So a fits for all place.

The leather sofa's give things a cosy and its not without atmosphere, even if this is artificially created. Sometimes artificial can work though and in this case it provides a 'nice' backdrop to the 'nice' bar area and 'nice' food. But thats as exciting as it gets!

So if you want to play it 'nice' and safe, and to avoid O'Neils etc over the road, you may as well drop in here - you won't be disappointed and youll be sure to have a 'nice' evening.

Harrison Arms - great little pub with live music on sundays by janie_lou

janie_lou — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:44:13 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7916 3113

Tags: live music, outdoor seating, food

The Harrison is a bit of a newcomer to the area. We'd probably have missed it had it not been on our jogging route. Its worth seeking out though.

Its one of these wooden floored, leather sofa and brushed down table sort of places. And yet it doesn't feel like the refit consisted of an Ikea-gastro-pub-kit sent down from the brewery HQ - so I would urge you not to think of it as a gastro pub. That said, it does a cracking roast dinner and some pretty tasty food at other times. In fact, it sets standards for food that other pubs in the area ought to aspire to and yet this place is no more expensive.

They've got a good selection of music playing at all times, and there is a DJ on Friday nights so I'm told. The highlight, though, is their Sunday afternoon music sessions. Check out their myspace site or put 'In the Pines' into Google. They had King Creosote and Euros Child play last year, and it was only about £3 to get it.

The staff are friendly and fun, and its a really relaxed sort of place. Cozy in the evenings with lots of candles and low lighting. I should go here more often but laziness kicks in and I end up going to the pubs which are a bit closer (not much though, we're talking a few minutes walk here) and yet this place is a lot more deserving of the business.The Harrison is a bit of a newcomer to the area. We'd probably have missed it had it not been on our jogging route. Its worth seeking out though.

Its one of these wooden floored, leather sofa and brushed down table sort of places. And yet it doesn't feel like the refit consisted of an Ikea-gastro-pub-kit sent down from the brewery HQ - so I would urge you not to think of it as a gastro pub. That said, it does a cracking roast dinner and some pretty tasty food at other times. In fact, it sets standards for food that other pubs in the area ought to aspire to and yet this place is no more expensive.

They've got a good selection of music playing at all times, and there is a DJ on Friday nights so I'm told. The highlight, though, is their Sunday afternoon music sessions. Check out their myspace site or put 'In the Pines' into Google. They had King Creosote and Euros Child play last year, and it was only about £3 to get it.

The staff are friendly and fun, and its a really relaxed sort of place. Cozy in the evenings with lots of candles and low lighting. I should go here more often but laziness kicks in and I end up going to the pubs which are a bit closer (not much though, we're talking a few minutes walk here) and yet this place is a lot more deserving of the business.

Lord John Russell - Huge shots, L.J.R? by Hopkirk

Hopkirk — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:10:10 +0000

Review by Hopkirk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7388 0500

Tags: standard pub food, friendly, outdoor seating

The title is rather misleading as I have never had any shots in the Lord John but I thought it made for a snappy tag line.

When I moved into the area in 2000 I tried several of the other 'local' pubs in the Russell Sq area and found them to be a mixture ranging from utterly crap to p**s poor (this has improved slightly although many are of the p-poor rating stil).

For some reason the LJR stood out. The bar staff were always attentive & friendly (although the previous landlord took some getting used to - he was lovely when you got to know him).

The pub is now run by a new couple (Chas and the lovely Caroline) who have taken the pub on and improved it with 'basic' changes like changing the decor, putting up newer/better pictures etc.

Good range of beers (hand pump or keg), atmosphere is always relaxed and a good mixture between locals, office workers and passing trade makes for pleasant evenings (or days if you're a drunkard).

If I had one gripe it would be that there is a lack of 'decent' music played at an audible level.

If you're passing, drop in and give it a go, I think you'll like it.
The title is rather misleading as I have never had any shots in the Lord John but I thought it made for a snappy tag line.

When I moved into the area in 2000 I tried several of the other 'local' pubs in the Russell Sq area and found them to be a mixture ranging from utterly crap to p**s poor (this has improved slightly although many are of the p-poor rating stil).

For some reason the LJR stood out. The bar staff were always attentive & friendly (although the previous landlord took some getting used to - he was lovely when you got to know him).

The pub is now run by a new couple (Chas and the lovely Caroline) who have taken the pub on and improved it with 'basic' changes like changing the decor, putting up newer/better pictures etc.

Good range of beers (hand pump or keg), atmosphere is always relaxed and a good mixture between locals, office workers and passing trade makes for pleasant evenings (or days if you're a drunkard).

If I had one gripe it would be that there is a lack of 'decent' music played at an audible level.

If you're passing, drop in and give it a go, I think you'll like it.

Vats Wine Bar - VATS (as in wine vats, rather than standing for Vodka And TonicS) by janie_lou

janie_lou — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 12:42:54 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7242 8963

Tags: posh, terrace, food

Wasn't too sure about this place at first sight, looked a bit swanky (pricey) for me. Nonetheless we went in and were amazed at how cavernous this place is! It looks dinky from the outside but it stretches back about as far as the BT tower (ok slight exaggeration). The staff were friendly and gave us chance to ponder the wine menu. Went for the cheapest rose (£16 - we baulked at that slightly) but turned out to be the most delcious rose we'd ever had! Well worth the money. And because it tasted so good we weren't necking it back quickly. They do food there but we didn't try anyway as we had a table booked elsewhere.

Not been a regular visitor since, but I learnt not to be put off by the suits you see when looking in from the street.

Not a place to go if you've got your scruffy clothes though.Wasn't too sure about this place at first sight, looked a bit swanky (pricey) for me. Nonetheless we went in and were amazed at how cavernous this place is! It looks dinky from the outside but it stretches back about as far as the BT tower (ok slight exaggeration). The staff were friendly and gave us chance to ponder the wine menu. Went for the cheapest rose (£16 - we baulked at that slightly) but turned out to be the most delcious rose we'd ever had! Well worth the money. And because it tasted so good we weren't necking it back quickly. They do food there but we didn't try anyway as we had a table booked elsewhere.

Not been a regular visitor since, but I learnt not to be put off by the suits you see when looking in from the street.

Not a place to go if you've got your scruffy clothes though.

King Charles I - This place stinks by k_thrn

k_thrn — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:45:40 +0000

Review by k_thrn

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7837 7758

Tags: pub, real ale, lunch

It literally stinks of all the things pubs are meant to stink of; beer, fags, old men, and more beer. But we love it yes we do. Mind you, not enough to give it more than two stars.

I'm giving it two stars for two good reasons. At lunch time you have two options:
1. Order you food from the caf across the road. They'll deliver it when it's ready.

2. Phone the Royal Thai (menu's are on the tables) and have them deliver a piping hot pad thai straight to your table.

How good is that?! Surely worth two stars at least?

It literally stinks of all the things pubs are meant to stink of; beer, fags, old men, and more beer. But we love it yes we do. Mind you, not enough to give it more than two stars.

I'm giving it two stars for two good reasons. At lunch time you have two options:
1. Order you food from the caf across the road. They'll deliver it when it's ready.

2. Phone the Royal Thai (menu's are on the tables) and have them deliver a piping hot pad thai straight to your table.

How good is that?! Surely worth two stars at least?

Ruby Lounge - Cute but nothing special by Sami

Sami — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:22:00 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7837 9558

Website: http://www.ruby.uk.com

Tags: relaxed, small, food

I've been here twice so far; once to meet up with some people I had gone traveling with, and the second time was this past week-end as a friend of mine from Canada was djing there.

Ruby Lounge is part of the Ruby family of lounges scattered across the city; I've been to Ruby Lo (a sister bar in the West End) before and quite liked it, so I was interested to see what it would be like when I went.

For once I really don't have much to say about a place I've visited; it struck me as a boring, standard, London watering hole... dark wood, a few cozy benches, and of the course the centrepiece of the venue being the bar, but there wasn't really much to Ruby that drew me in.

It's unfortunate because the location is great, being a 5 minute walk away from King's Cross, and the space itself is a nice size which generally tends to generate a vibe or some warmth to the bar, but it didn't seem to be happening here.

On Friday and Saturday nights they generally bring in a DJ to liven up the place and give it a bit of week-end "glamour," if you will, but there seem to be too many places in London that try for the exact same thing and end up coming across as a nondescript bar with boring music and a terrible soundsystem to boot.

Drinks are standard London prices and the bartenders can be pretty rude; while I do have sympathy for the pint pullers who deal with drunkards all night long, there's no reason to be rude to someone who understands your pain and approaches you with a smile on their face!

http://www.ruby.uk.com/ is their website if you're interested in taking a look - but if you decide to go to any of their bars, try Ruby Lo for after-work drinks one day. It's pretty cute and sometimes they have hot female DJs which is always a bonus!I've been here twice so far; once to meet up with some people I had gone traveling with, and the second time was this past week-end as a friend of mine from Canada was djing there.

Ruby Lounge is part of the Ruby family of lounges scattered across the city; I've been to Ruby Lo (a sister bar in the West End) before and quite liked it, so I was interested to see what it would be like when I went.

For once I really don't have much to say about a place I've visited; it struck me as a boring, standard, London watering hole... dark wood, a few cozy benches, and of the course the centrepiece of the venue being the bar, but there wasn't really much to Ruby that drew me in.

It's unfortunate because the location is great, being a 5 minute walk away from King's Cross, and the space itself is a nice size which generally tends to generate a vibe or some warmth to the bar, but it didn't seem to be happening here.

On Friday and Saturday nights they generally bring in a DJ to liven up the place and give it a bit of week-end "glamour," if you will, but there seem to be too many places in London that try for the exact same thing and end up coming across as a nondescript bar with boring music and a terrible soundsystem to boot.

Drinks are standard London prices and the bartenders can be pretty rude; while I do have sympathy for the pint pullers who deal with drunkards all night long, there's no reason to be rude to someone who understands your pain and approaches you with a smile on their face!

http://www.ruby.uk.com/ is their website if you're interested in taking a look - but if you decide to go to any of their bars, try Ruby Lo for after-work drinks one day. It's pretty cute and sometimes they have hot female DJs which is always a bonus!