Latest reviews in Vauxhall, London, United Kingdom

The Duchess - Amazing party by Lulu1

Lulu1 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:09:06 +0000

Review by Lulu1

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7627 2911

Just had an amazing party upstairs , thank you so much to all at the duchessJust had an amazing party upstairs , thank you so much to all at the duchess

Tasty House - by d3ngar

d3ngar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:30:30 +0000

Review by d3ngar

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7735 8823

Tags: chinese

Good food, friendly and fast service!
Definitely worth a visit if you like Cantonese...Good food, friendly and fast service!
Definitely worth a visit if you like Cantonese...

Altitude 360 London - Altitude 360 has the best views in London by blueoffer

blueoffer — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:31:06 +0000

Review by blueoffer

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 0845 500 2929

Website: http://altitudesw1.com

Tags: meeting, exclusive, party

My company launch was simply amazing and I have to thank Altitude 360 and their team for a great great job...... The venue is wow wow wow..... Altitude 360 London, along with their sister venue The River Room, offers either panoramic Jet liner views of London, or direct river level views of the Thames and Westminster.

Impeccable facilities and innovative service these brand new, state-of-the-art venues offer an impressive array of event facilities with over 15,000 sq. ft. of space for between 10 and 1200 people. The venue is perfect for corporate events, conferences, cocktail parties, product launches, as well as exclusive dinners and private occasions.

My company organised a product launch here and I can honestly say that if you are looking for a remarkable space and wanting to mesmerise your guests, look no further than Altitude 360 or The River Room.My company launch was simply amazing and I have to thank Altitude 360 and their team for a great great job...... The venue is wow wow wow..... Altitude 360 London, along with their sister venue The River Room, offers either panoramic Jet liner views of London, or direct river level views of the Thames and Westminster.

Impeccable facilities and innovative service these brand new, state-of-the-art venues offer an impressive array of event facilities with over 15,000 sq. ft. of space for between 10 and 1200 people. The venue is perfect for corporate events, conferences, cocktail parties, product launches, as well as exclusive dinners and private occasions.

My company organised a product launch here and I can honestly say that if you are looking for a remarkable space and wanting to mesmerise your guests, look no further than Altitude 360 or The River Room.

The Rose - Worst. Pub. Ever. by KJR

KJR — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:19:09 +0000

Review by KJR

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7735 3723

Our group was treated with utter contempt by the managers. Despite plenty of telephone conversations letting them know when the size of our group shrunk, our agreement to pay a booking fee for the space, and keeping in touch with them about the details, as soon as my party of 40 people began to arrive we were asked to leave because "we're not going to make enough money from you." Nothing could justify their rudeness, total refusal to compromise or negotiate any reasonable solution (all they would say to my every suggerstion is "you have to leave") and their eventual refusal even to let our guests know about the new location we had moved to. I was appalled and would discourage anyone from having anything to do with these psychos.Our group was treated with utter contempt by the managers. Despite plenty of telephone conversations letting them know when the size of our group shrunk, our agreement to pay a booking fee for the space, and keeping in touch with them about the details, as soon as my party of 40 people began to arrive we were asked to leave because "we're not going to make enough money from you." Nothing could justify their rudeness, total refusal to compromise or negotiate any reasonable solution (all they would say to my every suggerstion is "you have to leave") and their eventual refusal even to let our guests know about the new location we had moved to. I was appalled and would discourage anyone from having anything to do with these psychos.

Horse - My kind of pub by Davelewis

Davelewis — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:25:41 +0000

Review by Davelewis

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7928 6277

Tags: modern pub, cool, relaxed

I love this place. Used to be a bit rubbish but they must have changed ownership or mangement because it's a proper pub now. Always a nice range of real ales, good lagers and loads of weird and wonderful spirits.
Generally decent music, sometimes gets a bit 'alternative' for my liking, but hey...
No sport, which is a good thing.
Really good Thai food...recommended.I love this place. Used to be a bit rubbish but they must have changed ownership or mangement because it's a proper pub now. Always a nice range of real ales, good lagers and loads of weird and wonderful spirits.
Generally decent music, sometimes gets a bit 'alternative' for my liking, but hey...
No sport, which is a good thing.
Really good Thai food...recommended.

The Beehive - Pub by Steve79

Steve79 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:17:57 +0000

Review by Steve79

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7582 7608

Tags: beer garden, modern pub, sport pub

Good pub to meet before or after cricket matches at the Oval cricket ground. Also good for watching weekend sport.Good pub to meet before or after cricket matches at the Oval cricket ground. Also good for watching weekend sport.

City Inn Westminster - Stay there, don't eat there!! by kelly21marie

kelly21marie — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:25:22 +0000

Review by kelly21marie

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7630 1000

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

Tags: best breakfast, restaurant, free wifi

5 stars for the hotel, but the food was awful at both breakfast and dinner!!

The hotel has a lovely trendy feel, the bar had a great atmosphere, the staff were faultless. But the cooking was tasteless and not worth the money.
5 stars for the hotel, but the food was awful at both breakfast and dinner!!

The hotel has a lovely trendy feel, the bar had a great atmosphere, the staff were faultless. But the cooking was tasteless and not worth the money.

Madame Zingara - Cirque and Circuits by intoxicating

intoxicating — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:35:45 +0000

Review by intoxicating

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 0844 338 88 88

Website: http://www.madamezingara.com/

Tags: lively, expensive

The power station was the site of a fire on April 20, 1964, which caused power failures throughout London including the BBC Television Centre, which was due to launch BBC Two that nightâ¬¦â¬"
[â¬ÜAbsolute Astronomyâ¬"]

I REMEMBER my father telling me about his school trip to Battersea Power Station. It must have been awe-inspiring to see, so close, the quad of chimneystacks send plumes of coal smoke soaring into the sky. The highlight however was the moment when his guide exposed the enormous cables extending deep into the ground, delivering enough megawatts to light up one fifth of London. A bright memory, especially considering that through the abuse of disuse, this lavish Deco creation is rapidly becoming the capitalâ¬"s splintered equivalent of Brightonâ¬"s West Pierâ¬¦

â¬ÜMadame Zingaraâ¬" was by most accounts, a vast, venerable warren of a Cape Town restaurant. Established in 2002, a fire ravaged it just four years later, leaving â¬Ülittle more than a burnt out shellâ¬". Rising phoenix-like from the ashes, its current incarnation is a 100 year-old mirrored â¬ÜSpiegeltentâ¬".

What possible connection could there be between a disused power factory and a revived restaurant? Earlier this month, the Belgian built pleasure dome landed in London, vibrantly pitched in the shadow of the dark power station, another beloved â¬Üshellâ¬".

Once allowed past hi-vis. car park sentries, the tentâ¬"s garden looked enchanting. A carpeted approach is flanked by bay tree bobbles, tall glowing hearts and an old tin bath transformed into a sofa. Entering the big topâ¬"s comparative darkness, I was rendered mute by a groping midget in a monkey suit. Seconds later, the slender hand of a bearded blonde transvestite on roller-skates dispensed a cool, mint granita. I drank deeply.

Seated in the â¬Ügolden circleâ¬", close to the circular stage (bearing in mind that no table, nor booth is further than eight metres from the action) we were instructed to â¬Ssuspend disbeliefâ¬. Sage advice, heeded with more conviction following a bottle or two of Cap Classique chosen from the largest wine list I have ever seen (at least in terms of its physical appearance and font size).

On the menu in the â¬Svelvet cathedralâ¬, four courses of fusion with cabaret, contortionists, comedy and burlesque served alongside. Our tableâ¬"s centrepiece: a barely stealable Barbie in gold lame, skewered into a garland of plastic flowers.

There must have been over 200 diners within the varnish, canvas and stained glass theatre. Many had followed Zingaraâ¬"s invitation to â¬Üdress wildlyâ¬", although a â¬Übijouâ¬" boutique vended boas and tiaras for those who chose to forget this. All meat is halal and pork was in exile â¬ remarkably normal within large-scale events venues.

Before long, doors tied and lights dimmed to power station darkness, the show begun. Heralding, Stella and - innuendos aside - the â¬ÜThree Tonnesâ¬". These mischievous â¬Ümammasâ¬" represent South Africaâ¬"s longest female running cabaret act (and certainly its most ample). By slim contrast, svelte figures, often minimally dressed, oscillated and gyrated. An Asian lady was staggeringly flexible, balancing her whole form on a strengthened flower stem. Despite there being no minimum age limit, be warned, this is a well-intentioned celebration of the flesh.

In the intervals, the lights rose and food arrived. The quality was better than one might expect of a temporary venue, although â¬ÜFlashâ¬" at the Royal Academy proved that taste need not be sacrificed.

A board of antipasti was engaging, especially the little tomato soups. Ravioli was pleasant: fresh puffy parcels of walnut and mushroom tossed in butter. Recommended by our waitress, Jade, who has been with Zingara for two years, the signature main course of chocolate and chilli beef fillet reminded me of two Michelin starred Chef, Raymond Blancâ¬"s encounter with an American ardent on flagrantly disregarding the rules of food:

â¬Üâ¬SChef, there is a pretty unusual request. A guest wants lobsterâ¬¦â¬ he could barely bring himself to finish the sentence, â¬Swith chocolate sauceâ¬¦â¬â¬"

The decadently inclined dish worked okay. Whilst looking like an enthusiastically blow-dried buffon, when compressed, the crisp vermicelli effectively absorbed the rich, lustrous sauce. The beef was tender and the modest crumbled chilli added interest.

At what I thought was the end of the evening, the stars bowed, and the seventeen chefs paraded; a courteous thought to bring back of house to the front. It was not quite the conclusion, however. A D.J. took control, summoning the seated to their feet. I remained in place, sipping silty coffee. The 100 year-old tent shuddered to the sounds of â¬ÜMamma Miaâ¬", â¬ÜItâ¬"s Raining Menâ¬" and then the Goddamn â¬ÜJitter Bugâ¬".

For me dancing is an unforgiveable contortion of the human body. I, avoider of offices, had unintentionally ended up in what felt like someone elseâ¬"s office party.

Overall, Madame Zingara provided an informal, entertaining evening, bringing South African sunshine (and a little sin) into a gloomy, brownfield postcode. Whilst it was I imagine, less sleek and intimate than the single table restaurant meant to crown one of the power stationâ¬"s chimneys (a lofty proposal never realised by Parkview Developments), once I suspended disbelief, it proved a happy medley.

*

The show is in town until mid February.The power station was the site of a fire on April 20, 1964, which caused power failures throughout London including the BBC Television Centre, which was due to launch BBC Two that nightâ¬¦â¬"
[â¬ÜAbsolute Astronomyâ¬"]

I REMEMBER my father telling me about his school trip to Battersea Power Station. It must have been awe-inspiring to see, so close, the quad of chimneystacks send plumes of coal smoke soaring into the sky. The highlight however was the moment when his guide exposed the enormous cables extending deep into the ground, delivering enough megawatts to light up one fifth of London. A bright memory, especially considering that through the abuse of disuse, this lavish Deco creation is rapidly becoming the capitalâ¬"s splintered equivalent of Brightonâ¬"s West Pierâ¬¦

â¬ÜMadame Zingaraâ¬" was by most accounts, a vast, venerable warren of a Cape Town restaurant. Established in 2002, a fire ravaged it just four years later, leaving â¬Ülittle more than a burnt out shellâ¬". Rising phoenix-like from the ashes, its current incarnation is a 100 year-old mirrored â¬ÜSpiegeltentâ¬".

What possible connection could there be between a disused power factory and a revived restaurant? Earlier this month, the Belgian built pleasure dome landed in London, vibrantly pitched in the shadow of the dark power station, another beloved â¬Üshellâ¬".

Once allowed past hi-vis. car park sentries, the tentâ¬"s garden looked enchanting. A carpeted approach is flanked by bay tree bobbles, tall glowing hearts and an old tin bath transformed into a sofa. Entering the big topâ¬"s comparative darkness, I was rendered mute by a groping midget in a monkey suit. Seconds later, the slender hand of a bearded blonde transvestite on roller-skates dispensed a cool, mint granita. I drank deeply.

Seated in the â¬Ügolden circleâ¬", close to the circular stage (bearing in mind that no table, nor booth is further than eight metres from the action) we were instructed to â¬Ssuspend disbeliefâ¬. Sage advice, heeded with more conviction following a bottle or two of Cap Classique chosen from the largest wine list I have ever seen (at least in terms of its physical appearance and font size).

On the menu in the â¬Svelvet cathedralâ¬, four courses of fusion with cabaret, contortionists, comedy and burlesque served alongside. Our tableâ¬"s centrepiece: a barely stealable Barbie in gold lame, skewered into a garland of plastic flowers.

There must have been over 200 diners within the varnish, canvas and stained glass theatre. Many had followed Zingaraâ¬"s invitation to â¬Üdress wildlyâ¬", although a â¬Übijouâ¬" boutique vended boas and tiaras for those who chose to forget this. All meat is halal and pork was in exile â¬ remarkably normal within large-scale events venues.

Before long, doors tied and lights dimmed to power station darkness, the show begun. Heralding, Stella and - innuendos aside - the â¬ÜThree Tonnesâ¬". These mischievous â¬Ümammasâ¬" represent South Africaâ¬"s longest female running cabaret act (and certainly its most ample). By slim contrast, svelte figures, often minimally dressed, oscillated and gyrated. An Asian lady was staggeringly flexible, balancing her whole form on a strengthened flower stem. Despite there being no minimum age limit, be warned, this is a well-intentioned celebration of the flesh.

In the intervals, the lights rose and food arrived. The quality was better than one might expect of a temporary venue, although â¬ÜFlashâ¬" at the Royal Academy proved that taste need not be sacrificed.

A board of antipasti was engaging, especially the little tomato soups. Ravioli was pleasant: fresh puffy parcels of walnut and mushroom tossed in butter. Recommended by our waitress, Jade, who has been with Zingara for two years, the signature main course of chocolate and chilli beef fillet reminded me of two Michelin starred Chef, Raymond Blancâ¬"s encounter with an American ardent on flagrantly disregarding the rules of food:

â¬Üâ¬SChef, there is a pretty unusual request. A guest wants lobsterâ¬¦â¬ he could barely bring himself to finish the sentence, â¬Swith chocolate sauceâ¬¦â¬â¬"

The decadently inclined dish worked okay. Whilst looking like an enthusiastically blow-dried buffon, when compressed, the crisp vermicelli effectively absorbed the rich, lustrous sauce. The beef was tender and the modest crumbled chilli added interest.

At what I thought was the end of the evening, the stars bowed, and the seventeen chefs paraded; a courteous thought to bring back of house to the front. It was not quite the conclusion, however. A D.J. took control, summoning the seated to their feet. I remained in place, sipping silty coffee. The 100 year-old tent shuddered to the sounds of â¬ÜMamma Miaâ¬", â¬ÜItâ¬"s Raining Menâ¬" and then the Goddamn â¬ÜJitter Bugâ¬".

For me dancing is an unforgiveable contortion of the human body. I, avoider of offices, had unintentionally ended up in what felt like someone elseâ¬"s office party.

Overall, Madame Zingara provided an informal, entertaining evening, bringing South African sunshine (and a little sin) into a gloomy, brownfield postcode. Whilst it was I imagine, less sleek and intimate than the single table restaurant meant to crown one of the power stationâ¬"s chimneys (a lofty proposal never realised by Parkview Developments), once I suspended disbelief, it proved a happy medley.

*

The show is in town until mid February.

RSJ - Excellent food and service by Jeroen

Jeroen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:16:22 +0000

Review by Jeroen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7928 4554

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

Tags: british, lively, french

I have been here twice now, and on both occassions been very impressed by the quality of the food and service. It sepecialises in French style modern cuisine, the fish dishes are particularly good, I had a superb lobster linguini starter and one of the best rare fillets of beef Ive ever tasted as a main, deserts are also a highlight. My only complaint would be that they dont have any French Cidre's to compliment the very good wine list, a slightly more comprehensive selection of beers would also be nice! Mains are about Â£18, and starters about Â£9. A little steep, but actually good value for the quality of the food !I have been here twice now, and on both occassions been very impressed by the quality of the food and service. It sepecialises in French style modern cuisine, the fish dishes are particularly good, I had a superb lobster linguini starter and one of the best rare fillets of beef Ive ever tasted as a main, deserts are also a highlight. My only complaint would be that they dont have any French Cidre's to compliment the very good wine list, a slightly more comprehensive selection of beers would also be nice! Mains are about Â£18, and starters about Â£9. A little steep, but actually good value for the quality of the food !

Hot Stuff - You don't get any better by thedinosaw

thedinosaw — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:45:13 +0000

Review by thedinosaw

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7720 1480

Tags: indian, lively, crowded

This is a fantastic place. Food, staff and the bring you're own alcohol policy means it also gets 5 stars for value.

The only one possible way of marking this place down is in ambience, as it is simple in decor, and hidden down a dodgy looking street in vauxhall. Although it wouldn't be the place to go if you were trying to romance a first date, I liked its back to basics atmosphere.

Everything that has been said before still applies.

Absolutely wonderful, and highly recommended. If I didn't live in north london, I'd be there every other week!

Just remember to book.This is a fantastic place. Food, staff and the bring you're own alcohol policy means it also gets 5 stars for value.

The only one possible way of marking this place down is in ambience, as it is simple in decor, and hidden down a dodgy looking street in vauxhall. Although it wouldn't be the place to go if you were trying to romance a first date, I liked its back to basics atmosphere.

Everything that has been said before still applies.

Absolutely wonderful, and highly recommended. If I didn't live in north london, I'd be there every other week!

Just remember to book.

City Cafe - Good food and Service by Iknowwhatilike

Iknowwhatilike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:17:49 +0000

Review by Iknowwhatilike

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7932 4600

Tags: lunch, al fresco, modern european

Good quality food at reasonable prices for Central London. The staff are invariablly cheerful and friendly but invariably have limited English. They will usually have some special deal to offer you, set menu etc but you may struggle to understand it.Good quality food at reasonable prices for Central London. The staff are invariablly cheerful and friendly but invariably have limited English. They will usually have some special deal to offer you, set menu etc but you may struggle to understand it.

Rex Whistler Restaurant - A slightly pricey oasis by Iknowwhatilike

Iknowwhatilike — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:10:20 +0000

Review by Iknowwhatilike

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7887 8877

Website: http://www.tate.org.uk

Tags: breakfast, air conditioning, vegetarian dishes

There are not that many restaurants in the immediate Millbank area so the restaurant in the Tate Britain is something of an Oasis. The food is very good and the service is efficent and friendly, though I was amused that the waitress tried to sell me a "special offer" bottle of Chardonnay at Â£47 for a working lunch. The menu is interesting albeit of the large plate small portion ilk. Two main courses, half a bottle of wine and two coffees came to Â£70 with service was a bit steep but they have somethiong of a monopoly there. It was not that full and perhaps they should look at a more realistically priced lunchtime menu.There are not that many restaurants in the immediate Millbank area so the restaurant in the Tate Britain is something of an Oasis. The food is very good and the service is efficent and friendly, though I was amused that the waitress tried to sell me a "special offer" bottle of Chardonnay at Â£47 for a working lunch. The menu is interesting albeit of the large plate small portion ilk. Two main courses, half a bottle of wine and two coffees came to Â£70 with service was a bit steep but they have somethiong of a monopoly there. It was not that full and perhaps they should look at a more realistically priced lunchtime menu.

Ha-Noi - Good food by bron99

bron99 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:36:28 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7928 5415

Tags: vietnamese, cheap eat, family & home feel

I have been eating at Ha Noi for years - and though it very occasionally is not as good as it could be, that's a very rare event. It is run by a friendly Vietnamese couple, he is the chef and she is front of house. The menu is full of light and interesting dishes, sizzling platters and sublime crystal spring rolls. The hot Singapore noodles are always good. It's the best place in a bit of a wasteland - just far enough from Waterloo station not to be in commuter hell. They do takeaways and home deliveries if you're local! It's easy to eat a lot but difficult to spend a lot.
I have been eating at Ha Noi for years - and though it very occasionally is not as good as it could be, that's a very rare event. It is run by a friendly Vietnamese couple, he is the chef and she is front of house. The menu is full of light and interesting dishes, sizzling platters and sublime crystal spring rolls. The hot Singapore noodles are always good. It's the best place in a bit of a wasteland - just far enough from Waterloo station not to be in commuter hell. They do takeaways and home deliveries if you're local! It's easy to eat a lot but difficult to spend a lot.

The Vauxhall Griffin - Gift of the Griff... by neil_b

neil_b — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:24:25 +0000

Review by neil_b

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7622 0222

Tags: relaxed, food, friendly

A crowd of us were heading up to Roller Disco and needed a place to go beforehand... A friend recommended the Griffin as a decent place to start so we headed there en-masse...

Not expecting much, we turned up and found there to be really friendly and polite bar staff. But that wasn't all!

We were shocked and delighted to learn that they had a wide selection 80's kids board games that customers could use free of charge!

The time spent waiting for Roller Disco to open soon passed whilst we played a very competitive knockout tournament of "Super Hero Guess Who?"

Fantastic place that I would recommend to anyone, particularly as a warm up to Roller Disco which is only a 5 minute walk awayA crowd of us were heading up to Roller Disco and needed a place to go beforehand... A friend recommended the Griffin as a decent place to start so we headed there en-masse...

Not expecting much, we turned up and found there to be really friendly and polite bar staff. But that wasn't all!

We were shocked and delighted to learn that they had a wide selection 80's kids board games that customers could use free of charge!

The time spent waiting for Roller Disco to open soon passed whilst we played a very competitive knockout tournament of "Super Hero Guess Who?"

Fantastic place that I would recommend to anyone, particularly as a warm up to Roller Disco which is only a 5 minute walk away

Imperial War Museum - Recommended for a visit by jes1uk

jes1uk — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:37:50 +0000

Review by jes1uk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7416 5000

Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk

The Imperial War Museum is housed in an impressive building that is located close to Lambeth North underground station. A day can easily be spent at this museum but I'd suggest, as entry is free, to spend a half-day here and come back to see the rest another time. The display of tanks and aircraft is impressive and the holocaust exhibition is particularly interesting but you will need to put aside maybe a couple of hours if you want to go through the exhibition thoroughly. The Imperial War Museum does have a cafe if you need a break!
Overall I'd highly recommend this museum.The Imperial War Museum is housed in an impressive building that is located close to Lambeth North underground station. A day can easily be spent at this museum but I'd suggest, as entry is free, to spend a half-day here and come back to see the rest another time. The display of tanks and aircraft is impressive and the holocaust exhibition is particularly interesting but you will need to put aside maybe a couple of hours if you want to go through the exhibition thoroughly. The Imperial War Museum does have a cafe if you need a break!
Overall I'd highly recommend this museum.

Tate Britain - Great Tate Britain by simonlarois

simonlarois — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:08:13 +0000

Review by simonlarois

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7887 8000

Website: http://www.tate.org.uk

Tags: sculptures, paintings, modern art

My absolute favourite gallery in the whole wide world! Tate Britain is the place to go for art, with a good mix of modern and traditional, old masters and new pretenders.

Hosting the perennially controversial Turner Prize exhibition each year, the Tate Britain gallery offers a glimpse of the forefront of modern art mixed with classic portraiture and sculpture. My personal favourite is the statue â¬ÜThe Sluggardâ¬". Also, video of an orange exploding! On the (arguably) more traditional front, there are (or were) some great William Blake illustrations from his illuminated manuscripts on display.

Overall, a great day out â¬ you could spend hours there and not see everything. And, like all of our Great British galleries, itâ¬"s free!My absolute favourite gallery in the whole wide world! Tate Britain is the place to go for art, with a good mix of modern and traditional, old masters and new pretenders.

Hosting the perennially controversial Turner Prize exhibition each year, the Tate Britain gallery offers a glimpse of the forefront of modern art mixed with classic portraiture and sculpture. My personal favourite is the statue â¬ÜThe Sluggardâ¬". Also, video of an orange exploding! On the (arguably) more traditional front, there are (or were) some great William Blake illustrations from his illuminated manuscripts on display.

Overall, a great day out â¬ you could spend hours there and not see everything. And, like all of our Great British galleries, itâ¬"s free!

The Renaissance Rooms - Roller disco! by lclancyau

lclancyau — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:16:13 +0000

Review by lclancyau

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 0844 736 5375

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

Tags: dance, cheesy, pop

I went here on a Friday night for some roller disco action. Being a skating novice I was worried about the amount of people that'd be in my way (or vice versa) on a Friday but the fears were unfounded as it didn't get massively crowded.

There's two reasonably sized rooms to skate in, both with accessible bars that even I could get to without too much trouble. For me that's an important thing with the amount of cheesy music playing.

The downstairs room had some good comfy lounges for when you needed a breather but the actual skating and disco itself wasn't massively exciting, there was just the occasional direction change.

Recommended for those who like skating and cheesy music. Dressing up a bit is also recommended =].I went here on a Friday night for some roller disco action. Being a skating novice I was worried about the amount of people that'd be in my way (or vice versa) on a Friday but the fears were unfounded as it didn't get massively crowded.

There's two reasonably sized rooms to skate in, both with accessible bars that even I could get to without too much trouble. For me that's an important thing with the amount of cheesy music playing.

The downstairs room had some good comfy lounges for when you needed a breather but the actual skating and disco itself wasn't massively exciting, there was just the occasional direction change.

Recommended for those who like skating and cheesy music. Dressing up a bit is also recommended =].

Bar Code - Good fun in Vauxhall by chinbergs

chinbergs — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:32 +0000

Review by chinbergs

Rating: 4.00

Tags: dance, friendly, sexy

It's good to have a late night bar in Vauxhall, amidst its many clubs.

The venue is well spaced out, well lit (I think it's actually been made environmentally friendly: the lights are low energy and consequently air conditioning that would counter the head this produces is used much less), and holds the atmosphere well.

Bar prices are standard, and if you apply for a dog-tag on their website, you can get 2-4-1s on a few of their drinks (Corona is one).

The bar staff are always friendly and helpful.

The crowd is mixed - mixed ages, mixed 'types' - but the bar is more at the bear end of the spectrum.

The dance room at the other end of the bar is good for some sweaty fun later on in the night/early morning.

Good house music, with a DJ playing in the evenings at the weekend.

I like this place. It's good fun, masculine, pretention free.It's good to have a late night bar in Vauxhall, amidst its many clubs.

The venue is well spaced out, well lit (I think it's actually been made environmentally friendly: the lights are low energy and consequently air conditioning that would counter the head this produces is used much less), and holds the atmosphere well.

Bar prices are standard, and if you apply for a dog-tag on their website, you can get 2-4-1s on a few of their drinks (Corona is one).

The bar staff are always friendly and helpful.

The crowd is mixed - mixed ages, mixed 'types' - but the bar is more at the bear end of the spectrum.

The dance room at the other end of the bar is good for some sweaty fun later on in the night/early morning.

Good house music, with a DJ playing in the evenings at the weekend.

I like this place. It's good fun, masculine, pretention free.

Priory Arms - Stockwell's finest by rich42uk

rich42uk — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:25:39 +0000

Review by rich42uk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7622 1884

Tags: relaxed, young and fun, independent pub

In an area more reknown for changing tube lines or passing through on a night bus, The Priory Arms provides a decent reason for stopping.

The bar features a formidable array of real ales, draught lagers, weissbiers and interesting & unusual bottled beers in addition to ever-changing guest beers and several different kinds of cider.

The food is pretty good too with the generously-portioned fish and chips coming in for a special mention. Sunday's are a good time to visit too; as this is when the pub quiz is held. As quizzes go, it's certainly a better kind of quiz and often the management will lay on free food for the occasion too!

In an area more reknown for changing tube lines or passing through on a night bus, The Priory Arms provides a decent reason for stopping.

The bar features a formidable array of real ales, draught lagers, weissbiers and interesting & unusual bottled beers in addition to ever-changing guest beers and several different kinds of cider.

The food is pretty good too with the generously-portioned fish and chips coming in for a special mention. Sunday's are a good time to visit too; as this is when the pub quiz is held. As quizzes go, it's certainly a better kind of quiz and often the management will lay on free food for the occasion too!

Sirena Restaurant - Hole in the wall by nopstar

nopstar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:15:32 +0000

Review by nopstar

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7587 0683

Tags: italian, lively, takeaway

Sirenaâ¬"s is located in the basement of the southbank house a non-descript office building in between nowhere and nothing interesting. That being said if you work near Vauxhall and youâ¬"re into thin crust pizza, this is the place for you. Iâ¬"m giving this place 4 stars, but the rating is only for its pizza. I think the food is about a 3.

The other fare is decent with generous portions... the place is as loud and boisterous as its waiters. (Word of warning... if youâ¬"re an attractive lady youâ¬"re getting snogged by owner)
The pizza is off the hook... go with the signature Sirena (artichoke, tomato, parma ham and sausage)
Sirenaâ¬"s is located in the basement of the southbank house a non-descript office building in between nowhere and nothing interesting. That being said if you work near Vauxhall and youâ¬"re into thin crust pizza, this is the place for you. Iâ¬"m giving this place 4 stars, but the rating is only for its pizza. I think the food is about a 3.

The other fare is decent with generous portions... the place is as loud and boisterous as its waiters. (Word of warning... if youâ¬"re an attractive lady youâ¬"re getting snogged by owner)
The pizza is off the hook... go with the signature Sirena (artichoke, tomato, parma ham and sausage)