Latest reviews by DanWilkinson's friends http://trustedplaces.com/user/DanWilkinson Reviews by friends of DanWilkinson en Bureau - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau
Bureau - review by chrisp

Rating: 5.0

Location: 13 Kingly Court, W1B 5PW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 4386

Website: http://www.bureauclub.com/

Tags: posh, hole in pocket, young professionals

Muted and glamorous, with just enough of that illicit Soho spice, Bureau is my new favourite drinking spot in this part of town. Discreet to the point of invisible (we knew the address but still walked right past it twice), once inside you are cushioned in a twinkling cocoon of plush bench seating, underlighting and mirrors. The tiny bar is staffed by passionate, dedicated mixologists and turned out some fantastic brand new cocktails just for us. They even make their own marmalade for a few of the recipes - now that's special.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:52:09 +0000 /review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau737547143 posh hole in pocket young professionals 51.512362 -0.138524 Bureau - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau
Bureau - review by chrisp

Rating: 5.0

Location: 13 Kingly Court, W1B 5PW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 4386

Website: http://www.bureauclub.com/

Tags: posh, hole in pocket, young professionals

Muted and glamorous, with just enough of that illicit Soho spice, Bureau is my new favourite drinking spot in this part of town. Discreet to the point of invisible (we knew the address but still walked right past it twice), once inside you are cushioned in a twinkling cocoon of plush bench seating, underlighting and mirrors. The tiny bar is staffed by passionate, dedicated mixologists and turned out some fantastic brand new cocktails just for us. They even make their own marmalade for a few of the recipes - now that's special.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:52:09 +0000 /review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau294940546 posh hole in pocket young professionals 51.512362 -0.138524 Bureau - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau
Bureau - review by chrisp

Rating: 5.0

Location: 13 Kingly Court, W1B 5PW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 4386

Website: http://www.bureauclub.com/

Tags: posh, hole in pocket, young professionals

Muted and glamorous, with just enough of that illicit Soho spice, Bureau is my new favourite drinking spot in this part of town. Discreet to the point of invisible (we knew the address but still walked right past it twice), once inside you are cushioned in a twinkling cocoon of plush bench seating, underlighting and mirrors. The tiny bar is staffed by passionate, dedicated mixologists and turned out some fantastic brand new cocktails just for us. They even make their own marmalade for a few of the recipes - now that's special.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:52:09 +0000 /review/uk/london/club/1g2699h/bureau1308341659 posh hole in pocket young professionals 51.512362 -0.138524 Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)
Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: One Aldwych, WC2B 4RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7300 1000

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

Tags: posh, mature, excellent pub food, cool & smart, glamorous

Some of the best drinks and nibbles I've had in London outside Claridges. We were admittedly on a jolly, but if they can keep this standard up in the future then you can call me a regular.

Cocktails were expertly made by barstaff who seemed knowledgable and genuinely passionate about their drinks. The room is huge and quite New York in style, with high ceilings and huge furniture, but the noise levels were never too high and the staff were pleasant and efficient. Best of all though were the nibbles, all made in house and consisting of sugar-coated physalis, warm roasted nuts and a simply amazing dish of huge dark green olives from Italy which tasted like butter.

I will definitely go back, and to hell with the cost.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:47:05 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)482712283 posh mature excellent pub food cool & smart glamorous 51.511011353526 -0.12083854638459 Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)
Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: One Aldwych, WC2B 4RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7300 1000

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

Tags: posh, mature, excellent pub food, cool & smart, glamorous

Some of the best drinks and nibbles I've had in London outside Claridges. We were admittedly on a jolly, but if they can keep this standard up in the future then you can call me a regular.

Cocktails were expertly made by barstaff who seemed knowledgable and genuinely passionate about their drinks. The room is huge and quite New York in style, with high ceilings and huge furniture, but the noise levels were never too high and the staff were pleasant and efficient. Best of all though were the nibbles, all made in house and consisting of sugar-coated physalis, warm roasted nuts and a simply amazing dish of huge dark green olives from Italy which tasted like butter.

I will definitely go back, and to hell with the cost.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:47:05 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)1531076179 posh mature excellent pub food cool & smart glamorous 51.511011353526 -0.12083854638459 Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)
Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: One Aldwych, WC2B 4RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7300 1000

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

Tags: posh, mature, excellent pub food, cool & smart, glamorous

Some of the best drinks and nibbles I've had in London outside Claridges. We were admittedly on a jolly, but if they can keep this standard up in the future then you can call me a regular.

Cocktails were expertly made by barstaff who seemed knowledgable and genuinely passionate about their drinks. The room is huge and quite New York in style, with high ceilings and huge furniture, but the noise levels were never too high and the staff were pleasant and efficient. Best of all though were the nibbles, all made in house and consisting of sugar-coated physalis, warm roasted nuts and a simply amazing dish of huge dark green olives from Italy which tasted like butter.

I will definitely go back, and to hell with the cost.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:47:05 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)848421939 posh mature excellent pub food cool & smart glamorous 51.511011353526 -0.12083854638459 Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)
Lobby Bar (One Aldwych Hotel) - review by chrisp

Rating: 4.5

Location: One Aldwych, WC2B 4RH, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7300 1000

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

Tags: posh, mature, excellent pub food, cool & smart, glamorous

Some of the best drinks and nibbles I've had in London outside Claridges. We were admittedly on a jolly, but if they can keep this standard up in the future then you can call me a regular.

Cocktails were expertly made by barstaff who seemed knowledgable and genuinely passionate about their drinks. The room is huge and quite New York in style, with high ceilings and huge furniture, but the noise levels were never too high and the staff were pleasant and efficient. Best of all though were the nibbles, all made in house and consisting of sugar-coated physalis, warm roasted nuts and a simply amazing dish of huge dark green olives from Italy which tasted like butter.

I will definitely go back, and to hell with the cost.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:47:05 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1p65f7/lobby-bar-(one-aldwych-hotel)1529835912 posh mature excellent pub food cool & smart glamorous 51.511011353526 -0.12083854638459 Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine
Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf

Rating: 1.8

Location: 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7940 8333

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

Tags: wine

Why I didn't just ask someone about this place, or oh, I don't know, consult one of the reviews below before bounding up the steps to Vinopolis World of Wine, I will never know. The 'great for hen parties' promo on their website should've been a dead giveaway, but for some reason I was dying to hand over £22 and 3 hours of my time to these people.

Well, I was duly punished anyway. Vinopolis is just as the other reviewers described it - slick, corporate and bland.

The self-guided tour began with a 15-min queue followed by a 5-min run down on how to swirl, sniff and slurp wine. (White wine, that is. If you were curious about the properties and characteristics of red wine too, then you'd be out of luck.) The tutorial was brief and, unless you were a complete beginner (at whom the course was not aimed), largely uninformative. Is it really true that the number of seconds a wine's aftertaste remains in your mouth is equivalent to the number of pounds sterling you should pay for the bottle? Wow. Buying wine will be so much easier now!

We were then set loose, armed with our new-found knowledge, to seek out and taste 8 wines of our choosing. The wine attendants looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the world and weren't very helpful at answering questions that weren't covered in their training manuals.

The only interesting aspect of the "Enthusiast's wine tour" was the building itself - artfully constructed under the arches an old Victorian viaduct, it's a beautiful space to take in. But that is where the enjoyment ended for me.

It annoys me when fat-cat establishments like this one can't use some of their fortune to provide a really useful service.

In my opinion, if you really want to learn about wine, or just about how to enjoy it, you're better off checking out one of the many tours and tastings listed in London each week. Or, visit a good wine bar with knowledgeable staff who can answer your questions and please your palate for a lot less.]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine7429755 wine 51.506076341541 -0.093662368983972 Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine
Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf

Rating: 1.8

Location: 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7940 8333

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

Tags: wine

Why I didn't just ask someone about this place, or oh, I don't know, consult one of the reviews below before bounding up the steps to Vinopolis World of Wine, I will never know. The 'great for hen parties' promo on their website should've been a dead giveaway, but for some reason I was dying to hand over £22 and 3 hours of my time to these people.

Well, I was duly punished anyway. Vinopolis is just as the other reviewers described it - slick, corporate and bland.

The self-guided tour began with a 15-min queue followed by a 5-min run down on how to swirl, sniff and slurp wine. (White wine, that is. If you were curious about the properties and characteristics of red wine too, then you'd be out of luck.) The tutorial was brief and, unless you were a complete beginner (at whom the course was not aimed), largely uninformative. Is it really true that the number of seconds a wine's aftertaste remains in your mouth is equivalent to the number of pounds sterling you should pay for the bottle? Wow. Buying wine will be so much easier now!

We were then set loose, armed with our new-found knowledge, to seek out and taste 8 wines of our choosing. The wine attendants looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the world and weren't very helpful at answering questions that weren't covered in their training manuals.

The only interesting aspect of the "Enthusiast's wine tour" was the building itself - artfully constructed under the arches an old Victorian viaduct, it's a beautiful space to take in. But that is where the enjoyment ended for me.

It annoys me when fat-cat establishments like this one can't use some of their fortune to provide a really useful service.

In my opinion, if you really want to learn about wine, or just about how to enjoy it, you're better off checking out one of the many tours and tastings listed in London each week. Or, visit a good wine bar with knowledgeable staff who can answer your questions and please your palate for a lot less.]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine1763713402 wine 51.506076341541 -0.093662368983972 Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine
Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf

Rating: 1.8

Location: 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7940 8333

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

Tags: wine

Why I didn't just ask someone about this place, or oh, I don't know, consult one of the reviews below before bounding up the steps to Vinopolis World of Wine, I will never know. The 'great for hen parties' promo on their website should've been a dead giveaway, but for some reason I was dying to hand over £22 and 3 hours of my time to these people.

Well, I was duly punished anyway. Vinopolis is just as the other reviewers described it - slick, corporate and bland.

The self-guided tour began with a 15-min queue followed by a 5-min run down on how to swirl, sniff and slurp wine. (White wine, that is. If you were curious about the properties and characteristics of red wine too, then you'd be out of luck.) The tutorial was brief and, unless you were a complete beginner (at whom the course was not aimed), largely uninformative. Is it really true that the number of seconds a wine's aftertaste remains in your mouth is equivalent to the number of pounds sterling you should pay for the bottle? Wow. Buying wine will be so much easier now!

We were then set loose, armed with our new-found knowledge, to seek out and taste 8 wines of our choosing. The wine attendants looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the world and weren't very helpful at answering questions that weren't covered in their training manuals.

The only interesting aspect of the "Enthusiast's wine tour" was the building itself - artfully constructed under the arches an old Victorian viaduct, it's a beautiful space to take in. But that is where the enjoyment ended for me.

It annoys me when fat-cat establishments like this one can't use some of their fortune to provide a really useful service.

In my opinion, if you really want to learn about wine, or just about how to enjoy it, you're better off checking out one of the many tours and tastings listed in London each week. Or, visit a good wine bar with knowledgeable staff who can answer your questions and please your palate for a lot less.]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine1568661069 wine 51.506076341541 -0.093662368983972 Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine
Vinopolis World Of Wine - review by curlynewf

Rating: 1.8

Location: 1 Bank End, SE1 9BU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7940 8333

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

Tags: wine

Why I didn't just ask someone about this place, or oh, I don't know, consult one of the reviews below before bounding up the steps to Vinopolis World of Wine, I will never know. The 'great for hen parties' promo on their website should've been a dead giveaway, but for some reason I was dying to hand over £22 and 3 hours of my time to these people.

Well, I was duly punished anyway. Vinopolis is just as the other reviewers described it - slick, corporate and bland.

The self-guided tour began with a 15-min queue followed by a 5-min run down on how to swirl, sniff and slurp wine. (White wine, that is. If you were curious about the properties and characteristics of red wine too, then you'd be out of luck.) The tutorial was brief and, unless you were a complete beginner (at whom the course was not aimed), largely uninformative. Is it really true that the number of seconds a wine's aftertaste remains in your mouth is equivalent to the number of pounds sterling you should pay for the bottle? Wow. Buying wine will be so much easier now!

We were then set loose, armed with our new-found knowledge, to seek out and taste 8 wines of our choosing. The wine attendants looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the world and weren't very helpful at answering questions that weren't covered in their training manuals.

The only interesting aspect of the "Enthusiast's wine tour" was the building itself - artfully constructed under the arches an old Victorian viaduct, it's a beautiful space to take in. But that is where the enjoyment ended for me.

It annoys me when fat-cat establishments like this one can't use some of their fortune to provide a really useful service.

In my opinion, if you really want to learn about wine, or just about how to enjoy it, you're better off checking out one of the many tours and tastings listed in London each week. Or, visit a good wine bar with knowledgeable staff who can answer your questions and please your palate for a lot less.]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/attraction/1s82a65/vinopolis-world-of-wine191781970 wine 51.506076341541 -0.093662368983972 The Rose - review by Niamheen http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose
The Rose - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.0

Location: 123 Snowsfields, SE1 3ST, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7378 6660

Tags: relaxed, late license, traditional pub, friendly

This is a really nice pub for a cosy few drinks with friends. There's a nice open fire and a decent selection of wine. It's dark and atmospheric and suited us perfectly on a recent cold Winter's evening.

The clientele is very mixed, from old regulars sipping at the bar by themselves to local trendsters and then some people like me looking for a nice place to have a natter with a friend. The only downside was a grumpy barmaid but maybe she was having a bad night, or maybe I had had too much wine!]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:01:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose133214625 relaxed late license traditional pub friendly 51.501465754539 -0.086650452258235 The Rose - review by Niamheen http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose
The Rose - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.0

Location: 123 Snowsfields, SE1 3ST, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7378 6660

Tags: relaxed, late license, traditional pub, friendly

This is a really nice pub for a cosy few drinks with friends. There's a nice open fire and a decent selection of wine. It's dark and atmospheric and suited us perfectly on a recent cold Winter's evening.

The clientele is very mixed, from old regulars sipping at the bar by themselves to local trendsters and then some people like me looking for a nice place to have a natter with a friend. The only downside was a grumpy barmaid but maybe she was having a bad night, or maybe I had had too much wine!]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:01:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose1324485037 relaxed late license traditional pub friendly 51.501465754539 -0.086650452258235 The Rose - review by Niamheen http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose
The Rose - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.0

Location: 123 Snowsfields, SE1 3ST, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7378 6660

Tags: relaxed, late license, traditional pub, friendly

This is a really nice pub for a cosy few drinks with friends. There's a nice open fire and a decent selection of wine. It's dark and atmospheric and suited us perfectly on a recent cold Winter's evening.

The clientele is very mixed, from old regulars sipping at the bar by themselves to local trendsters and then some people like me looking for a nice place to have a natter with a friend. The only downside was a grumpy barmaid but maybe she was having a bad night, or maybe I had had too much wine!]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:01:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1r5257p/the-rose490783396 relaxed late license traditional pub friendly 51.501465754539 -0.086650452258235 Le Relais De Venise L'Entrecote - review by Niamheen http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1g52u8x/le-relais-de-venise-l-entrecote
Le Relais De Venise L'Entrecote - review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.6

Location: 120 Marylebone la, W1U 2QG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7486 0878

Website: http://www.relaisdevenise.com

Tags: lively, crowded, expensive, french

I really wanted to love Le Relais de Venise. It looks fantastic and I'd read some great reviews. It looks every inch an authentic Parisian brasserie. I love the quirky nature of it, there's just one menu choice, salad followed by steak with chips and green sauce all dished up by waitresses in old school uniforms.

I've passed it countless times but never went in. This particular time with a friend, we tried and failed to eat a Sunday lunch in The Providores, and subsequently La Fromagerie, so we thought, let's give Le Relais de Venise a go.

First impressions on a wet and dreary Sunday were that it was cosy and inviting. We were seated immediately, cosy being the right word, the tables are on top of each other. That didn't bother me too much but my dining partner was uncomfortable.

The waitress approached and brusquely asked if we were ok with the menu setup. Within minutes our starter salads arrived with some bread and a half bottle of house Bordeaux. The salad was delicious, nice leaves and vinaigrette with a small amount of walnuts. The wine was very pleasant. The service continued to be abrupt however, they cleared the table while I was still eating which I found a little off and uncomfortable.

Shortly after our steak arrived, 4 small slices covered in their trademark green sauce, thrown on to the plate with a mountain of frites. It was very messy, the plate was covered in smudges and sauce, it certainly didn't feel like it was £19 a head. The steak was good, and the frites ok, if a little overcooked. Sometime later they came around with an unexpected steak refill, which I indulged in, but my friend had filled up on frites, so with disappointment, declined.

There was no room for dessert, and we really felt like we were being rushed. We had had about 5 different waitresses at this point, all very keen to clear everything as soon as we appeared to be finished, whether we were or not. It definitely felt like a chain (which it is), the staff just didn't care, and we left feeling a little cheated.

It's a shame but I found it overpriced and unfriendly and would be reluctant to go back. It just wasn't that special or worth that much. 3* because the food was decent and that vinaigrette was really good, 1* for the service.
]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:18:28 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1g52u8x/le-relais-de-venise-l-entrecote762360181 lively crowded expensive french 51.518173720587 -0.15112373837928