Abbey, Westminsterback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I frequent here quite often and i find it one of the better venues around westminster. During the christmas period it was absolutely rammed to the rafters catering for all the office workers around the area with their 3 course christmas meals which resulted in a limited menu for us normal folk for around 3 - 4 weeks.
Now normal service has resumed and i find it a pleasant place away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets and take full advantage of the 2 for 1 burgers which are great value. They still run the half price wine promotion every Tuesday so can be quite busy that day especially in the evening.
Reals ales when i visited - Pedigree, Burton Bitter, Cross Buttock and Porter had the latter at 4.7% and have to say was actually quite good.
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I have probably been here a handful of times now with my early impressions being that it was OK but seems to be going downhill. The first time I went the real ales weren't bad and all were drinkable and the food wasn't bad either. However, more recently when I have gone the beer has been pretty poor and on the latest occasion almost undrinkable - probably because they don't get sufficient demand. Also the food was limited over Christmas period to only snacks or Christmas dinner and most recently the kitchen was closed. I therefore doubt I will return unless others indicate that the beer has improved again!
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Comforatble, food, clean you go here with mixed company I suppose does a selection of real ales though!
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This place doesn�t look very inviting from street level and I probably wouldn�t have bothered with it if I wasn�t meeting some friends. I was pleasantly surprised when I got down to the bar as I liked the layout and it wasn�t uncomfortably busy for our large group to get settled. The sofas upstairs were laid out well, but unfortunately they were reserved so we had to vacate them at 18:00.
Pedigree, Dirty Tackle and Paddy�s Tout were available alongside standard and premium lagers. I ended up sticking to the Guinness as I had been drinking this earlier and I didn�t spot any people drinking the ale. The barmaids seemed ok, if maybe a little disinterested in their work, but I�m not sure the barman had a clue what was going on and I put him down as a new starter.
There were a few plasma screens dotted about that were showing Sky Sports News, but I didn�t spot any live sport advertised. The background music varied from your expect old rock and pop to some strange coma inducing instrumentals that were better suited to a crack house.
This is a large cellar bar that is perfect for meeting groups of mates or work colleagues for the evening, but you wouldn�t catch me on my own in here reading the paper.
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Modern-style underground bar, looking a bit like a lager-drinkers paradise from both street level and down below, but with four handpumps. Had quite a reasonable pint of Jennings 'Cross Buttock' (something to do with Cumberland wrestling, apparrently). Rather better than I expected.
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This has always looked like a place to warrant walking past however the previous comments about good beer led me to believe that there was something worth exploring at the bottom of the stairs. This modern basement bar is not exactly oozing with character and the quite bland d�cor and lack of any natural light doesn�t help. It is fairly spacious with high ceilings and a separate balcony area but appears to be more of an evening venue than a quick lunchtime pint stop off. The bar, dominated by shelves of bottles and 3 large angled plain mirrors, extends the whole length of the floor and it would have to be extremely packed or have totally inept staff not to get served quickly. As it happens, on my 2 lunchtime visits, the bar staff have outnumbered the punters. The tables in the main bar area are standing height with tall stools although there is a raised area at one end with more traditional seating. There are a few large potted plants dotted about and 3 large cylindrical lights and a couple of ceiling fans break up the plainess of the ceiling. The music is almost as bland as the bar and there is the usual run of 3 plasma screens and quiz/games machine. As for the beers, the original enticement, there are 4 hand pumps, 2 with Marstons (Pedigree and Burton Ale) and 2 with Jennings (Sneck Lifter and World Biggest Liar). The quality was however poor and I get the impression on my first visit that mine was the first pint and no-one had pulled through the pump before they opened. It was barely drinkable and far too warm. The quality the second time was better but not good enough to carry any recommendation. As bars go, the place will appeal to those who prefer them to more traditional pubs (The photo above (not mine!) pretty much says it all) but it would need a sharp upturn in beer quality to get me back for a third visit, which is a pity given the selection available.
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A great little find this, has changed hands in the past but as one reviewer has already said - looks like this one could be staying around for a while. Very modern bar more of a wine bar if anything, tends to be alot busier as you would expect thursdays and Fridays. Good selection of wines and beers including 4 real ales, food a little pricey although the tapas which are available after 4pm are great!!! Lunchtimes can be a bit hectic at times but worth the effort. Staff extremely friendly and can speak english which is always a bonus. Even the manager seems a decent fella often found mingling with the customers are giving a few shots away all in all a nice little bar. Will definately visit again.
anonymous - 3 Oct 2007 15:14 |
BLAND
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There have been umpteen bars on this site in the last dozen years, this one, depressingly, seems set to last. The office workers of Westminster are either so undemanding or so pub-starved they pack this place out. Staff could not cope with the crowds and there was plenty of disquiet at pushing in. Lunchtime is marginally better but offset by the overpriced pub food that, admittedly, affects most pubs in the area.
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A downstairs bar, the entrance is easily missed. It used to be called Base One Bar, but has been refurbished. Gets very popular in the evening, about 5:30. Very comfortable seats and the service is good too.
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