Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Tower Hill, London, United Kingdom

All Bar One - Extremely Poor. by ianb

ianb — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:29:26 +0000

Review by ianb

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7553 0301

Website: http://www.mbplc.com

Tags: food, air conditioning, european

lunch on a tuesday....3/4 hr wait for pesto burgers which arrived without pesto and cold...pesto brought to the table was runny transparent green liquid...pass! Uncooked chip arrived on a plate of greasy salmon salad....'flat' carbonated drinks. When staff were told of the problems they were unhelpful and unpleasant. Never again. lunch on a tuesday....3/4 hr wait for pesto burgers which arrived without pesto and cold...pesto brought to the table was runny transparent green liquid...pass! Uncooked chip arrived on a plate of greasy salmon salad....'flat' carbonated drinks. When staff were told of the problems they were unhelpful and unpleasant. Never again.

Valente's Wine Bar - Valente's but only if you can get upstairs by mazphd

mazphd — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:59:51 +0000

Review by mazphd

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7702 1123

Tags: bar, seating area, happy hour

Something really odd about Valente's. Right bang in the middle of the cities financial district this bar is more trendy then any real substance of style.

The bar itself is split over 2 floors. Usually not an issue, but this particular evening I was out with a friend who needed wheelchair access. The key word here being 'access'. So as a relatively 'new' and 'trendy' bar supposition was that this would not be a problem. And Valente's does have disabled facilities - just on the first floor. See where i am going (or rather not) here.

So we envisaged a lift that would whisk up to the 'trendier' bar above. And yes there is a lift - lets face it Valente's would be in grave danger of having a law suit on their hands if they did not provide such 'access'. But there's that word again 'access'. So the lift is in the neighbouring building, that closes after 7pm. And here lies the problem. Essentially no lift, no access, and no offer of any other kind of help. So you can see why i am having a tricky time giving Valente's anything more than 2 stars.

Other info, menu is the usual bar food, nacho's, steak sandwiches etc all straight out the packet and microwave. convenience eating is all about quantity not quality. much like the bar area itself; which is long , glass (a lot of glass) and not much else. The wine menu is limited, which is surprising for a venue so close to the rich list of banking world, and their recommended champagne is poss only recommended by the staff so they can get rid of it. I can only assume that the 'good stuff' is hidden somewhere else, or like their disabled facitilites theyve overlooked to thoroughly invest in this too.

So why 2 stars ? well you know what you are going to get and that is something that we British like to rate! In sum a 'too trendy' bar, that offers bar snacks and somewhere to admire the beautiful people as they walk past (and keep going if they have any sense!). oh and did i mention the glass floor that when you are downstairs means that you can 'admire' the footware of those standing on top you. remember i said trendy not classy.
Something really odd about Valente's. Right bang in the middle of the cities financial district this bar is more trendy then any real substance of style.

The bar itself is split over 2 floors. Usually not an issue, but this particular evening I was out with a friend who needed wheelchair access. The key word here being 'access'. So as a relatively 'new' and 'trendy' bar supposition was that this would not be a problem. And Valente's does have disabled facilities - just on the first floor. See where i am going (or rather not) here.

So we envisaged a lift that would whisk up to the 'trendier' bar above. And yes there is a lift - lets face it Valente's would be in grave danger of having a law suit on their hands if they did not provide such 'access'. But there's that word again 'access'. So the lift is in the neighbouring building, that closes after 7pm. And here lies the problem. Essentially no lift, no access, and no offer of any other kind of help. So you can see why i am having a tricky time giving Valente's anything more than 2 stars.

Other info, menu is the usual bar food, nacho's, steak sandwiches etc all straight out the packet and microwave. convenience eating is all about quantity not quality. much like the bar area itself; which is long , glass (a lot of glass) and not much else. The wine menu is limited, which is surprising for a venue so close to the rich list of banking world, and their recommended champagne is poss only recommended by the staff so they can get rid of it. I can only assume that the 'good stuff' is hidden somewhere else, or like their disabled facitilites theyve overlooked to thoroughly invest in this too.

So why 2 stars ? well you know what you are going to get and that is something that we British like to rate! In sum a 'too trendy' bar, that offers bar snacks and somewhere to admire the beautiful people as they walk past (and keep going if they have any sense!). oh and did i mention the glass floor that when you are downstairs means that you can 'admire' the footware of those standing on top you. remember i said trendy not classy.

The Minories - by jennufcboss

jennufcboss — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:01:13 +0000

Review by jennufcboss

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7481 3397

Tags: food, vegetarian dishes, dj

This is in a great location for people working around Tower Hill and Aldgate.
The food at this pub is really good value for its location, and portions are generous. The menu is not particularly interesting, but the usual suspects (scampi and chips, lasagne, burger, salads, etc) are all there, and all prepared to a very good standard for the price.
Drinks are also reasonably priced, especially their wine bottle specials!
All in all, a great place to have a snack and a few pints after work!This is in a great location for people working around Tower Hill and Aldgate.
The food at this pub is really good value for its location, and portions are generous. The menu is not particularly interesting, but the usual suspects (scampi and chips, lasagne, burger, salads, etc) are all there, and all prepared to a very good standard for the price.
Drinks are also reasonably priced, especially their wine bottle specials!
All in all, a great place to have a snack and a few pints after work!

Auberge - unimaginitive person's choice of bar by Buraco

Buraco — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:43:34 +0000

Review by Buraco

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7480 6789

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

Tags: bar, french, friendly

I really detest the Auberge in London Bridge. It happens to be near my workplace and as its on the way from the office to the station, is frequented by workmates on Fridays. There are probably worse bars in London, but many many that are better. You generally have to sit downstairs in dark, smokey (not for long!) with rubbish music playing through a crap tinny speakers adding to the poor atmosphere. Go here if you want to get lashed with people you work with, then stagger 20 yards across a road to the station. Otherwise...don't go.I really detest the Auberge in London Bridge. It happens to be near my workplace and as its on the way from the office to the station, is frequented by workmates on Fridays. There are probably worse bars in London, but many many that are better. You generally have to sit downstairs in dark, smokey (not for long!) with rubbish music playing through a crap tinny speakers adding to the poor atmosphere. Go here if you want to get lashed with people you work with, then stagger 20 yards across a road to the station. Otherwise...don't go.

The King's Arms - Sunday lunch near London Bridge by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:18:44 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7407 3207

Tags: gastro pub, cosy, lively

This is a cosy London pub which seems to steer a good middle course between traditional and gastropub. I came here for a Sunday lunch with a group of friends in Feb 2007 and I think that's the sort of gathering this pub is best for - it didn't strike me as somewhere to go for a romantic or family meal. The food was excellent, especially the roast duck breast, and I had a couple of glasses of good rioja too. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group and probably very obviously not in a hurry!This is a cosy London pub which seems to steer a good middle course between traditional and gastropub. I came here for a Sunday lunch with a group of friends in Feb 2007 and I think that's the sort of gathering this pub is best for - it didn't strike me as somewhere to go for a romantic or family meal. The food was excellent, especially the roast duck breast, and I had a couple of glasses of good rioja too. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group and probably very obviously not in a hurry!

Corney & Barrow Wine Bar - by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20:11 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 020 7680 8550

Website: http://www.corney-barrow.co.uk

Tags: lunch, cocktails, smoking

Corney & Barrow, Jewry Street is a modern and spacious basement bar with a warm and friendly atmosphere.

It is one of an elegant chain of City brasseries and wine bars, attracting crowds from the Capital´s financial district.

Corney and Barrow Jewry Street has a comfortable, intimate interior, it´s a brasserie serving outstanding food during the day and more of a bar in the evening. Corney & Barrow, Jewry Street is a modern and spacious basement bar with a warm and friendly atmosphere.

It is one of an elegant chain of City brasseries and wine bars, attracting crowds from the Capital´s financial district.

Corney and Barrow Jewry Street has a comfortable, intimate interior, it´s a brasserie serving outstanding food during the day and more of a bar in the evening.