Sway Bar, Holbornback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pretty horrific bar/club full of Northern stag dos etc and tourists. No soul etc.
On the other hand I've been during the day and the quality of the beer was perfect.
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This is another one of the "Late Night London" venues which offers Happy Hours, Reduced Price Platters etc.
I have to say due to the cost of drinking in Central London now I do take advantage of many of these offers during happy hour - a pint will cost you around �2.50, a bottle of beer the same etc. You cant really complain with that.
The decor is nice upstairs BUT that is where it ends. DO NOT stay here after "Happy Hour" ends. A bottle of Corona will set you back a fiver and a pint well over that! The staffs attitude change, the atmosphere changes and it all goes downhill rather quickly.
In short, go for the cheap drinks, leave straight after!
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I have been to Sway a few times about 6-7 years ago and I did always enjoy the night. Not too sure what's become of the place (change of management I believe) but in my honest opinion, it has lost a lot of it's charm. I may be a bit harsh but there seemed to be quite a few pretentious people bowling about the place. The music has always been on the loud side but when me and a few mates went on Friday 01 June, it was too loud in all the rooms. Dj wasn't much cop either, employing the annoying habit of playing a track two thrids of the way through and then thinking 'I've had enough of that, next'. Plus points, the security bloke we encounted upon entry seemed like a nice bloke and we had a bit of a laugh. Not sure how indicative this is regarding the rest of the security team, and the bloke in the gents was pleasent (although this may be a case of wanting our pound coin after washing our hands, cynical I know) All in all, I won't be going again anytime...ever
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I went there last Friday as part of a group of 20 or so people for a leaving do. We arrived around 6:30 & the main bar stank of incense/joss stick/some horrible sickly sweet smell, presumably to cover up the aroma of dance-induced sweat in the early hours but way over the top this early in the night.
Within 5 mins one of the hostesses came over badgering us for our email addresses so she could send us "offers" which I found annoying - I'd like the opportunity to decide if I like the place before I sign-up for your spam list thanks.
An hour or so later one of the staff took one of our girl's drinks which still had about a 1/3rd left in it while she wasn't looking (from a crowded table so there's no "I thought you had left" excuse). When I complained I was basically told I was a liar by the manager as "people try that on all the time" - probably because your staff do it all the time pal!
Anyway I bought the girl a replacement drink & left as I refuse to carry on drinking somewhere that treat their guests like that.
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I booked a "booth" in Sway for a friends Hen night. When we arrived, none of the staff knew who to ask regarding showing us to our reserved section, we ended up wandering around till we spotted the smallest table (the size that a dinner for 2 can fit around, there were 9 of us!) tucked in a corner. There were no chairs or stools for us to sit on so we had to plead with the other larger tables around us (that had hardly anyone sitting at them) to let us take a stool for us to share sitting on. There were no table decorations of any description which were promised in the package booked. Eventually a waitress came over to us with a bucket of ice with the "champagne" and a lit firework in it (which fizzled very quickly) and 5 flute glasses - did I mention there were 9 of us? Then the cocktail jugs came over, again with fewer glasses than the actual number in our party.
We decided to have the complimentary food platters latter in the evening but when someone went to the bar to ask about it, she had to wait nearly 20 minutes to be served. Not because the bar was busy, it was because the barmaids served all the males coming to the bar first.
The DJ was utter tripe at mixing (if you can call it that!) He didn't even play songs in full before changing to another one. Just when you get 2 lines into the song and having a bit of a dance, he'd change it! He also repeated quite a few songs too.
I have been to the various other "sister" clubs that offer the same packages and have to say that this is the worst one I have been to so far. The only decent thing about here is there is a nice polite woman in the lady's.
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Got given 2 free drinks vouchers outside, so it'd be rude not to!
Having organised a bad night out there in March, where they blasted music at us and refused to turn it down, or give us the number of seats we'd actually booked, I wasn't surprised to find it pretty empty on a Friday evening. However, staff seem a lot more polite now, and the music has thankfully been turned down.
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Previous comments relating to bar staff, door men & the VIP booth spot on - really bad attitudes, atmosphere and I wished I'd seen this site before arranging a hen night there. Never been treated so badly!!! Don't go there - the people who own these chains should seriously review the management and staff in place.
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Been here a few times before management changed and was an OK venue. Went last night and is all I can say is...DON'T BOTHER GOING!!!! If there was a minus option then I would be giving it that. We booked a VIP table two weeks in advance for 20 people to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. When we arrived we were told to join the end of a very long queue even after we were told we would get priority entrance. Once we got to the front of the queue, they initially let us in, but after we queried why we had to pay additional money to get in (we had already put down a �150 deposit) they moved us to one side. Upon closer inspection by Zoltan Branch - General Manager on the night, he decided that my brother-in-law's black timberland boots were not appropriate attire for the club. (note: we had checked in advance and were told only trainers and hats were not allowed) We ended up waiting outside for 30min before Zoltan decided he would talk to us, he said no entry under any circumstances and tough about the money we had already paid. Saying that the door staff were on a power trip is an understatement. While we were waiting over 30 people were pulled out of line. Basically, if you're a girl and don't fit into the plastic pretty look, or you're a guy who is either bigger than the bouncers, slightly geeky or they just don't like the look of you, it doesn't matter what you wear or what you look like, you wont get in!!!! An absolute waste of time, rude and obnoxious behaviour and to top it off, we now have the hassle of trying to get our deposit money back. Ended up going to Club 49 in soho and had a brilliant night with the friendly bar staff, good music and very accommodating door men. Just remember, even if you book the VIP experience, you may not not get in if they don't like you. WASTE OF TIME CLUB!!!!
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Not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Was a surprisingly decent crowd and the 2 main rooms are a good size so as not to find it impossible to get from one side of the room to the other. As mentioned in other reviews the music system seems ridiculously loud but maybe that's just because i'm getting older!
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firslt of all havn't been there on a normal night but went there yesterday for a special event...thought the music was deffo too loud due to their insane sound system that consists of 2 different makes of speakers which total to about 5thousand watts lol cause of that the bartenders couldn't hear a thing anyone was asking for + they're deffinately overpriced drinks.
Another thing were the bouncers they were such idiots not doing their jobs properly....they were pushing ppl outta the way for no reason when really they should only lay a hand on someone if the person is giving them brutal force...and one guy got hit with a bar by a bouncer and + a metal bar fell on my leg and they totally ignored it my advice stay well clear of that place maybe they'll start to change if people don't go :D
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Went to this bar the other night, not a bad venue and the staff all really worked hard and were happy to help. What I really hated was the Hitler attitude of the manager, I use the term loosly, he was was from south africa I think and had the master servent attitude. He was terrible, rude and an all round bad egg. Really rotten to the servers. We had a good night with the other customers and staff but this "Manager" should get the sack. I found out too they pay the staff bugger all too, makes it worse.
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Music in the bar is too loud, the floor is sticky and there was glass on the floor because the tables to stand around are tiny and it's impossible to keep an eye on your own (overpriced) drink unless you hold it all the time. A prime example of how overpriced drinks do not make a venue "classy". The music in the club was poor, not clubbing music, not disco and not dance.
The toilet attendant I think wants a tip, but as she was fast asleep both times I went in there I didn't really feel the need!!
And most annoying of all, the cloakroom attendant didn't give me a ticket for my coat because I changed my mind about leaving a bag with him so the ticket from the bag was thrown away along with my coat receipt, and when I went back and told him this I was told I was stupid, talking rubbish, making it up. I was pushed around by a bouncer, told I was drunk (at those prices I don't think so!) and when I eventually got my coat back was told to be more careful next time.
There won't be a next time thanks very much.
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I have never had a good night in here.
When you first enter this venue it does make an impression on you. The decor is quite grand in the bar area and it is large with high ceiling's, chandelier style lighting, red carpet etc . . . but soon you realise that the drinks are expensive, there is no real atmosphere in here - there is an odd crowd (tourists, hen parties, chav's, young professionals, students) the whole lay out of the seating stops people from mixing and chatting, you then enter the club area and it is essentially like a school disco - just a big school hall with a bar at one end, I don't ever recall the music being any good either.
Perhaps an Ok venue if you want to impress a new girlfriend in a venue that looks quite flash but avoid if you want to let your hair down and actually have some fun on your saturday night.
(My review is of the downstairs lounge bar and club)
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I did find this place a bit poncy really - but then I am more into your traditional pubs so wasnt keen on being dragged there by my work colleagues in the first place!
Got to have a good boogie on the dancefloor downstairs so that was cool. Bloody expensive though.
Jo984 - 28 Sep 2006 10:50 |
Went here for a friends Birthday. We went into the main bar first of all, I was quite impressed with the place until I sat down. You will find the seats are somewhat more 'Arty' then they are comfortable. You will probably then notice that people sitting 2ft across the table can't hear a word you're saying so you have to resort to kissing them on the ear.
Drink prices were expensive, but probably normal for the area. Bought 8 drinks for just under �30. The bar staff were always around. Swapping ash trays when they hadn't even been used...expressionless with robotic movements. However the toilet attendant was very pleasent and always on the ball.
Later we all moved into the club area which was next door. As I had never been to a club before, I was told the club floor was small.
There are doors all over the place, each leading to some kind of nonsensical themed room, if you get lost in a drunken state like I did, just keep walking around and you will soon find the room you were in originally.
Overall - For a first time visit to a place like this, it was quite a good experience. I probably wouldn't go again though as I feel it's not the best place to socialise. More suited to people that want to dance all night.
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Update: went back recently for a friend's leaving do and was surprised to find out that there is a downstairs 'club' area. All the comments here are spot on, especially Liam's, in particular his last line. We will never take back our city when people go to places like this. The downstairs was packed. Good music, bad prices, grim atmosphere. I left rather quickly.
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They do lunches for �3 which is very basic but alright - fish and chips, burger, etc. Funnily enough a beer costs �3.50.
anonymous - 25 Jul 2004 21:06 |
Nice bar. Good Happy Hour. Only problem was that the Gin & Tonic tasted like washing up liquid in the bars upstairs and the one downstairs. Good for an office do though.
Ruth Smith - 20 May 2004 12:56 |
Sway is an excellent example of the type of bar which has made a calculated attempt at being a 'classy venue', yet, despite having failed miserably, sees no reason not to charge 'classy venue' prices. Nevertheless, the veto that local authorities impose on anyone running a half-decent venue in central London means that you're very likely to bowl up here late one night.
You'll stroll in optimistically. Your mates say it's ok, you think, 'hey! it's open late, don't be such a snob!' you tell yourself. �We Can Have a Good Time Here!�. You'll survey the scene. You'll slowly realise that the corporate apes that designed this ersatz nite-spot think that you can manufacture a hip and happening joint just by following a few easy steps. 1)Pump up any lowest common denominator house music to mega-volume; 2)Chuck a few leather settees around the place; 3)Sell obnoxious drinks at inflated prices; 4) Give the resulting concoction a youthful trendy name.
Most blot out the pain with excessive alcohol consumption, after all, the music�s too loud to hold a conversation, which is not accidental. At the end of the night you�ll have no money in your pockets and think �Ah, perhaps it�s too sophisticated for the likes of me�. You�ll leave feeling cheated, if you haven�t already been sick on your shoes.
If you're on an office party excursion it's great, because on such nights, all bets are off, but do you really want to spend the other 51 weeks of the year at a place like this? A place which displays such contempt for those who enter within? The tragedy of Sway is that people are fooled into thinking it�s a sophisticated venue when in reality it�s a nasty dive that�s had a bit of spit and polish applied. It slouches along like a gorilla in a dress and a blonde wig, booting punters in the swingers and taking their money.
If you want a night out in central London, this is what you�re reduced too, unless you�re a millionaire or a knuckle dragging Leicester Square frequenter. A pleasant night out shouldn�t cost fifty pounds or more. It�s easy to blame Sway, but Sway are just a symptom of the disease. Why have we let the nimbies and licensing authorities clear us out of the centre of town and send us scuttling to Camden, Shoreditch, Clapham and Notting Hill?
When are we going to rise up and take back our city?
Liam - 5 Apr 2004 14:15 |
Can only concur about the bar staff - an access course at Charm School would not go amiss. In fact, you might wonder how on earth they pull any customers. It's down to a highly cunning strategy known as 'happy hour' which, ironically, is the hour you'll be least happy as you won't be drunk yet. The venue is very attractive once you've got a couple of cheap bottles of wine down you though. Music is rubbish.
Andrew D - 4 Mar 2004 12:09 |
Consistent with the rest of these critiques, I have to register my disdain for the sarky, rude and downright arrogant bar staff. Ok night but grows tired after about, ooh, 3 visits.
Jimmy H - 4 Mar 2004 11:49 |
unbelievably offensive bar staff ...coat 'lost' from the cloakroom!! relentless disco beat at really painfull levels and that is saying something. Pretty much the worst place it has been my misfortune to go to.
dillon - 8 Dec 2003 15:32 |
warm overpriced bottled beer, arsey bar staff, not my thing
Ed - 12 Oct 2003 22:08 |
If you've got half an hour to kill but don't want a drink, then queue up at the bar.
Glossy, snobby bar. It is what it is. However, if you're the kind of person who hates bar staff who don't have a clue who's next in line, then get ready to lose your temper. I did.
Ruby - 14 Jul 2003 14:58 |
Fab funky place but don't leave your bag anywhere unattended as i had my bag stolen two weeks ago, and on the weekend another friend had his stolen.
anonymous - 8 Jul 2003 08:50 |
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