please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Do not go here unless you are truly desperate, or really are a bottom feeder with no sense of taste.
Used to go here on a fairly regularly basis for dinner and drinks before catching a train home. Being so close to the station, it is convenient for a late night (early morning?) drink.
Food here used to be quite good actually. Sadly the ex protege of Gordon Ramsey does not manage the kitchen any more (although they would love you to believe differently) and the food is now average at best. Keep that in mind if they still go on about about having a great chef.
Last time I visited I ordered lamb chops to eat. Tough as old boots and literally inedible. Sent it back and got a burger. Burgers here used to be good. Not anymore. Go to Burger King instead. No exaggeration. Food= fail.
Beer on tap is Becks or Staropramen. What a Choice! Way too expensive as well. So fails as a pub. Cocktails are average and expensive. Music is way way too loud. Is this a bar, nightclub, restaurant or what?
Worst of all is service. The most disgustingly rude staff you will ever meet in your life. Manager doesnt know how to manage (one manager in particular I should say) and wait staff look like they are working in a mortuary. Door staff who come in the scene at night are thugs in (cheap) suits.
Arch One tries to be a jack of all trades and fails even at that. Really cant recommend it for anything, especially when there are so many bars/restaurants on the Southbank.
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Easily the worst pub in London, and certainly the least welcoming.
A glorified waiting room for people hanging around to catch a train from Waterloo, Arch One Bar & Grill is full of baying city boys, ditzy office girls and lost souls with nowhere else to go until their train home pulls in.
Incredibly rude men in cheap suits on the door and clumsy floor staff make this noisy, cramped bar unbearable, and the sort of pub only worth visiting if you're genuinely desperate.
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I booked a work xmas meal here (Dec '09) for 30 people and had a great time.
They were really helpful in booking and I didn't have to preorder food which was a blessing!
Food was average, melba toast not crispy, brussel sprouts rock hard, chocolate pudding a bit over cooked, but nobody really cared as the booze was flowing and the service was good (waitresses nicer than the bar staff by far!).
Music was too loud which we did ask to be turned down (it wasn't very busy at this point - 11pm) and our request was ignored which is why we left.
Overall a fun night but they need to up their game with the food, smile and listen to the customers!
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Terrible bar, piss-poor Becks on offer at high prices. Music too loud to talk. Only worth going into when you're gagging for a last drink before the train at 4am.
This place could be so much better.
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I would never go here as a destination pub, but it's handy for a quick drink before the 0042 train to Kingston, mainly because it's the only pub near the station still open at that time. The music is far far too loud, although getting served quickly has never been a problem and I usually get a friendly nod from the female doorstaff on my way in. It can be quite nice sitting outside late at night when the weather is nice, especially if you want to have a conversation (avoiding the loooooud music).
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Beer choice is Beck's, Beck's or Beck's. The combination of this, high prices and some truly pisspoor music being played at high volume (on a Tuesday!) means I won't be returning.
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I reserved the upstairs section of Arch 1 Bar and Grill for a birthday drinks do after work on Friday. I was really impressed how organised and friendly all the staff were. When I arrived the waiter wished me a happy birthday and checked that I was happy with everything. I was. The staff were very attentive and provided table service all evening to some 40-50 friends. The cocktails were carefully made and well presented. The yummy platters were finished off in a matter of minutes. The ambience of the place was spot on and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of having a low key but classy drinks party, or even a drink and a bite to eat after work.
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No worries 'Lottie25' it was me..! I got the wrong bar! I confused this with the bar opposite Waterloo station ('Azzuro')..we can all relax now & have a beer!
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Forte8 - forgive my cynicism but are you in anyway connected with this bar?? Your review couldn't have been better written if it was composed by the management themselves. All that was missing was a brief background on the star chef and the head barman's speciality cocktail.
Heading there tonight so will be sure to post a review should my experience be good/bad enough to warrant the effort.
clydo - 24 Aug 2006 15:06 |
Lottie25 - Are you sure you've got the right bar, there are two under the same railway bridge.
I've used 'Arch One Bar' quite a lot in my comings & goings to Waterloo B/R station, but i would not describe it as "cool & funky" which makes me feel that you could be describing the 'Archduke' bar (which is by the way far superior to 'Arch 1 Bar') or possibly somewhere else. Are you sure, now..?
Is the bar you describe facing the Royal Festival Hall, or facing the front of Waterloo train station?
(Ahh, now some of you are scratching your heads... I can hear it..!) TJ
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After having a company function at Arch One we found the food tasted great but we had to wait long for it. The staff was friendly and the manager was helpful.In the end it was a good night - well done to Arch One !
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THIS IS A PUB IS IT ? I THOUGHT I'D STUMBLED INTO PSEUDS CORNER
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Visited Arch One Last night and WOW! the Quality of food and drink was superb. I started with the warm salad of black pudding with Aryeshire Bacon and potatoes and my partner had the Fish Soup with Croutons and Gruyere Cheese both were much better than I'd expected...But the star was the homemade Toulose sausages and Mash, it is the best sausage I have ever eaten! My partner had Homeade Tortellini with Ricotta and fresh sage,,,I'm no Veggie but boy was that good Too!We finished with some delicious Brownies. Including a pint of ice cold Freedom Lager and a bottle of House Red the Bill was just over �50.00 which in book is excellent value...WELL DONE I'll be back
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Don't know where those guys went to but not the same place me and my girlfriend do! We were really excited when arch one opened - at last somewhere we come go that felt cool and funky and close to the station, and not full of beery lads!! And it hasn't disappointed, we go in a couple times a week and have a fab time, staff are friendly and attentive and the food is tasty!! There's also a tall sexy barman who puts on funky tunes!!! My boss loves it too, she even booked a drinks party in the upstairs bit, all very cool. My only complaint is we want more tables, have to go early on a Friday to get a seat!!
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I couldn't agree more wuth StephenJ25. I have frequented many establishments in the Waterloo area as I commute daily from the city to my home in Esher. I thought there was at last a new ( and very funky ) bar which would suit me, and some of my colleagues, down to the ground - great location and an easy stumble from bar to Waterloo station. Sadly, I was wrong. The staff were incredibly stroppy. My boss requested a martini and when the wrong drink was delivered, the very argumentative staff refused to change the order saying it was our fault and that we were in the wrong! We requested to see the manager and he even refused to come- I had to find him. He then explained he was very busy to see me !. I have been here several times in the hope that things would improve but until they rectify the basics ( customer service ), I certainly won't be spending another wasted penny by coming again. Definately one to avoid.
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Absolutely Appalling Service !! The menu very poor and expensive. As someone who is generally very easy-going, I was disappointed with my experience from beginning to end. Please do not go here. There are many other places in Waterloo that are far superior. Truly a case of "an emperor's new clothes"....
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