Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Mansion House, London, United Kingdom

Reflex The 80's Bar - Reflex! by louisemc29

louisemc29 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:08:39 +0000

Review by louisemc29

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7248 5641

Website: http://www.reflex-bars.co.uk

Brilliant bar set in the middle of Liverpool's busy concert Square area. Great if you're after some cheesy music from the 80's, however if you feel like a change there's also L1 downstairs which plays R and B and recent tunes. They sell all kinds of merchandise, such as sunglasses or sweatbands, and it's great for a laugh! The DJ will usually play requests all night, and the drinks are a decent price, and it's open late of a weekend. L1 also does food in the day, and is reasonably priced and there's comfy couches to sit on, and televisions to keep you entertained. All in all I'd recommend this place day or night!Brilliant bar set in the middle of Liverpool's busy concert Square area. Great if you're after some cheesy music from the 80's, however if you feel like a change there's also L1 downstairs which plays R and B and recent tunes. They sell all kinds of merchandise, such as sunglasses or sweatbands, and it's great for a laugh! The DJ will usually play requests all night, and the drinks are a decent price, and it's open late of a weekend. L1 also does food in the day, and is reasonably priced and there's comfy couches to sit on, and televisions to keep you entertained. All in all I'd recommend this place day or night!

London Stone - Quirky and fun by WB1

WB1 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:53:06 +0000

Review by WB1

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7626 8246

Tags: food, standard pub food, underground

The London Stone is located on Cannon Street and at first seems more like a dungeon than a pub. The entrance is down a steep staicase and the pub itself is atmospheric from the start. The room is a treasure trove of strange and sometimes gruesome artifacts - an old library effect combines with spooky decor and props to give almost a haunted house feel. The food is definitely not spooky, just your standard pub food - sandwiches, wraps, burgers etc but is all quite decent and very reasonably priced (especially given the location). The drinks are again your standard pub selection and not such good value as the food although still reasonable for the area. The pub never seems to get too busy and is therefore a good place if you actually want to talk to your companions!The London Stone is located on Cannon Street and at first seems more like a dungeon than a pub. The entrance is down a steep staicase and the pub itself is atmospheric from the start. The room is a treasure trove of strange and sometimes gruesome artifacts - an old library effect combines with spooky decor and props to give almost a haunted house feel. The food is definitely not spooky, just your standard pub food - sandwiches, wraps, burgers etc but is all quite decent and very reasonably priced (especially given the location). The drinks are again your standard pub selection and not such good value as the food although still reasonable for the area. The pub never seems to get too busy and is therefore a good place if you actually want to talk to your companions!

The Vintry - Nothing special but a bit overpriced by WB1

WB1 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:36:23 +0000

Review by WB1

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 72809610

Tags: mature, pretentious, standard pub food

The Vintry is hidden down a little lane off Cannon Street, but that hasn't stopped a huge number of City workers finding it and crowding in every day after work. Get there early and the atmosphere is fairly pleasant - nothing special, just your standard modern bar - but nothing to complain about either. As the evening wears on however, it tends to become more and more crowded with peak time about 5:30 to 7:30 and during this time it is noisy, packed and often difficult to get served at the bar. The bar staff (when you get there) are friendly and efficient. Prices are not friendly, but not out of the ordinary for the heart of the City.The Vintry is hidden down a little lane off Cannon Street, but that hasn't stopped a huge number of City workers finding it and crowding in every day after work. Get there early and the atmosphere is fairly pleasant - nothing special, just your standard modern bar - but nothing to complain about either. As the evening wears on however, it tends to become more and more crowded with peak time about 5:30 to 7:30 and during this time it is noisy, packed and often difficult to get served at the bar. The bar staff (when you get there) are friendly and efficient. Prices are not friendly, but not out of the ordinary for the heart of the City.

Ye Olde Watling - Lovely olde worlde pubbe in the cittie of Londonee by janie_lou

janie_lou — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:25:18 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7653 9971

Tags: food, good value, friendly

Sorry, got a bit carried away there! This is a gem of pub on a little cobbled alleyway, the sort which would make you feel like you lived in Dickensian times if it wasn't for all the typical high street food and clothes stores which line this street.

So amongst all these its a nice surprise to find this quaint old pub, with lots of original features including exposed beams which date back to the 17th century (I think, if not they are nonetheless very old indeed). The floors are wonky and the staircases steep and scary. Exactly the sort of character that a building this old should deliver.*

The bar is ideal for people-watching and is usually quite busy. Men who like to drink pints whilst standing up favour this part of the pub. I like the back room, which has mixed level (and mixed comfort) seating, and is much cosier with its soft lighting and candles.

On my first visit was I surprised to notice that this was actually a chain pub - a Nicholson's - as it retains so much charm! The hallmarks of its ownership are only evident really in its uniformed staff, the food menus and those chalk boards with food and drink specials.

This has been my favourite pub for post-work drinks for a good while now but as we've just recently booked this venue for our work christmas party we thought we'd drop by for lunch today to 'officially' check out the food. Work refused to pick up the tab, sadly. The upstairs dining area (also the function room) was open so we ate up there. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient, if perhaps a little too efficient - asking me whether I was ready to order my food and I'd not even had chance to look at a menu! Sausages are meant to be the speciality at this place, so it would've been rude not to order the toad in the hole. It didn't disappoint - an enormous crispy yorkshire pudding was filled to the brim with steaming hot buttery mash, two great big fat meaty sausages, perfectly cooked veggies - all smothered in gravy. Oooh, I could eat it all over again!

I did my usual trick of ignoring my dining companions for a while to nose around at other people's food and everything looked well tasty. All portions were massive, all prices were reasonable, all people looked very happy! Especially that couple sat at the next table who shared a huge slab of gooey looking chocolate cake served with a big dollop of ice-cream. Mmmm.

To sum up the food - its very good value, very tasty, and upstairs at Ye Olde Watling it is served with the efficiency and care you'd get at a restaurant but at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure the service downstairs is pretty decent though.

The pub itself is consistently good, no complaints from me.

* Just had a thought - it does have a disabled toilet and wide doorways so whilst it is quirky and wobbly and olde worlde, it is accessible to all.

Sorry, got a bit carried away there! This is a gem of pub on a little cobbled alleyway, the sort which would make you feel like you lived in Dickensian times if it wasn't for all the typical high street food and clothes stores which line this street.

So amongst all these its a nice surprise to find this quaint old pub, with lots of original features including exposed beams which date back to the 17th century (I think, if not they are nonetheless very old indeed). The floors are wonky and the staircases steep and scary. Exactly the sort of character that a building this old should deliver.*

The bar is ideal for people-watching and is usually quite busy. Men who like to drink pints whilst standing up favour this part of the pub. I like the back room, which has mixed level (and mixed comfort) seating, and is much cosier with its soft lighting and candles.

On my first visit was I surprised to notice that this was actually a chain pub - a Nicholson's - as it retains so much charm! The hallmarks of its ownership are only evident really in its uniformed staff, the food menus and those chalk boards with food and drink specials.

This has been my favourite pub for post-work drinks for a good while now but as we've just recently booked this venue for our work christmas party we thought we'd drop by for lunch today to 'officially' check out the food. Work refused to pick up the tab, sadly. The upstairs dining area (also the function room) was open so we ate up there. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient, if perhaps a little too efficient - asking me whether I was ready to order my food and I'd not even had chance to look at a menu! Sausages are meant to be the speciality at this place, so it would've been rude not to order the toad in the hole. It didn't disappoint - an enormous crispy yorkshire pudding was filled to the brim with steaming hot buttery mash, two great big fat meaty sausages, perfectly cooked veggies - all smothered in gravy. Oooh, I could eat it all over again!

I did my usual trick of ignoring my dining companions for a while to nose around at other people's food and everything looked well tasty. All portions were massive, all prices were reasonable, all people looked very happy! Especially that couple sat at the next table who shared a huge slab of gooey looking chocolate cake served with a big dollop of ice-cream. Mmmm.

To sum up the food - its very good value, very tasty, and upstairs at Ye Olde Watling it is served with the efficiency and care you'd get at a restaurant but at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure the service downstairs is pretty decent though.

The pub itself is consistently good, no complaints from me.

* Just had a thought - it does have a disabled toilet and wide doorways so whilst it is quirky and wobbly and olde worlde, it is accessible to all.

The Banker - Warring Bankers by nyamnyam

nyamnyam — Mon, 28 May 2007 09:34:48 +0000

Review by nyamnyam

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7283 5206

Tags: lively, good value, food

A few words of warning about this review: I'm giving the Banker five stars for what it's good at. Judging it as a geneal purpose pub or restaurant is unfair; it has a very very specific exact target market.

The Banker occupies the space underneath the Cannon Street Station railway tracks. It's big inside, it's got a big extension that hovers *over* the river but *under* the bridge, and it's got a big deck and lots of outside space. Because it's on the river, not the road, it's free of fumes and grit by City standards. Nice.

The Banker closes by 10pm, often earlier. What the heck's the good of that, you say? Simple! The Banker is a LUNCH pub and it's the best one in the City. Food is BIG and it's ENGLISH and stuff is ROASTED. Sometimes TWICE. There's a choice of six or seven things ALL of which come with roast carrots and parsnips -- yes, roast parsnips *on tap* as it were every day. There's enough space to accomodate an impromptu working lunch. It's a happy enough atmosphere for those 'welcome to the team' lunches. It's got enough dark corners and fast enough service for a plain solitary lunch too -- in fact there's a core of regulars who creep in singly at noon to gorge on parsnips, pork belly, and potatoes. And, gentle reader, I am one of them.

Afternoons see the Banker and its deck jammed with afternoon drinkers -- those for whom lunch starts at 1 and continues until the term loses all meaning.

Five stars to the Banker, then, for providing lunch (and only lunch) to City people (and only City people). On weekends and evenings it's not even *open*, so you non-City types need not apply. It's also not strictly speaking the best pub cuisine in the city, although it's far more convenient and versatile than its rivals. But if you feel the urge to consume five pounds of roast venison and mashed potato in between secondary bond derivatives deals (and who doesn't?) then the Banker is your best friend.

A few words of warning about this review: I'm giving the Banker five stars for what it's good at. Judging it as a geneal purpose pub or restaurant is unfair; it has a very very specific exact target market.

The Banker occupies the space underneath the Cannon Street Station railway tracks. It's big inside, it's got a big extension that hovers *over* the river but *under* the bridge, and it's got a big deck and lots of outside space. Because it's on the river, not the road, it's free of fumes and grit by City standards. Nice.

The Banker closes by 10pm, often earlier. What the heck's the good of that, you say? Simple! The Banker is a LUNCH pub and it's the best one in the City. Food is BIG and it's ENGLISH and stuff is ROASTED. Sometimes TWICE. There's a choice of six or seven things ALL of which come with roast carrots and parsnips -- yes, roast parsnips *on tap* as it were every day. There's enough space to accomodate an impromptu working lunch. It's a happy enough atmosphere for those 'welcome to the team' lunches. It's got enough dark corners and fast enough service for a plain solitary lunch too -- in fact there's a core of regulars who creep in singly at noon to gorge on parsnips, pork belly, and potatoes. And, gentle reader, I am one of them.

Afternoons see the Banker and its deck jammed with afternoon drinkers -- those for whom lunch starts at 1 and continues until the term loses all meaning.

Five stars to the Banker, then, for providing lunch (and only lunch) to City people (and only City people). On weekends and evenings it's not even *open*, so you non-City types need not apply. It's also not strictly speaking the best pub cuisine in the city, although it's far more convenient and versatile than its rivals. But if you feel the urge to consume five pounds of roast venison and mashed potato in between secondary bond derivatives deals (and who doesn't?) then the Banker is your best friend.