please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Recently visited as invited by friends to an evening there. Having hated in the past, I expected the worst.
However, the bar staff were good, friendly, the food edible, although very expensive, and the atmosphere good.
Only had one beer, Doombar at �3.90, which was OK.
So whilst it's still pretty soul less it's the worst place in the world.
|
There has never been a good All Bar One but this is probably the worst. Absolutely awful, service terrible. The best thing about it is the kind of people in there are kept to All Bar One so you won't find them in pubs.
|
Please bring back the �5 for main menu items offer (metro 2009) again. Enjoyed two steak frites for �10 and a reasonably-priced bottle of wine here last year. Food better than most chain pubs and good service.
|
A terrible place which I would not visit again even if forced to by a court of law! Leaving aside the fact that it is a chain pub with a focus on marketing and maximising shareholder wealth rather than a more traditional place with a social focus I found my 'experience' pretty awful.
Specifically, after ordering some food and being presented with the wrong dish, I was told by not one but two members of staff that I couldn't remember what I had ordered and that I was wrong rather than them. Just to repeat, no 'oh our mistake' or 'sorry, some mis-communication there', it was 'you said you wanted steak' Quite an achievement bearing in mind one of them wasn't present at the time of ordering! It was then snatched away from me with a sigh before the waiter flounced off in a huff. Quite a while then passed before I got a replacement, somewhat worrying in itself.
Needless to say that with customer service like that I won't be heading back at all (although I accept that to go in one of those places I must suffer some form of penance) and I will be telling all and sundry about it.
|
Chanced my arm on this one after work one evening, as I live fairly locally. As most BITE users are no doubt aware, All Bar One is not the sort of place you go for a fantastic selection of guests from local microbreweries. It also is lacking in that other great BITE tickbox - 'traditional atmosphere'. Fair enough, but I still think you could do alot worse. The only geniune ale on offer is nitrokeg London Pride (hardly an appetizing prospect at the best of times) although I spotted bottles of Meantime something-or-other behind the bar. Those willing to slum it on lager are spoilt for choice - Becks, Staropramen, Peroni, Heineken, Erdinger, Paulaner and also Duvel are all available. Paulaner was good as usual, although predictably steep at �3.60. This was fortunate, as I had almost exactly that amount in shrapnel in my wallet, which was good for me but the look on the barman's face was an absolute picture. No change on a silver tray for me this time. Agreeably busy with groups of extremely wealthy looking SW19ers, I may well pop back in if I don't fancy an ale after a hard day's graft (!)
|
unpleasant? obnoxious? misanthropic, even?
then apply for a job here - the team would love to hear from you!
|
Try to avoid it being your round when you get here as you'll be forever at the bar. Gassy beer, poor Pride, disappointing all round plus far too frenetic and noisy for no apparent reason. Don't hang around, save your cash and head up the hill.
|
went here on NYE 06 - was very quiet for the occasion, but had some fantastic wheat beers on, and the food was good too, had a nice lamb burger, and the gammon my mate had looked awesome.
|
Lovely old bank building. Crap 'pub' with rubbish tasting beer but what do you expect!
|
Appalling and rude service as the staff try to ignore you, or select who they wish to serve first regardless of who has been waiting longer. On two occasions they asked who was next only to be ignored and someone else served.
I would put it down to the immaturity of the pompous bar girls but that is no excuse and the older staff seemed no better and were equally unprofessional.
Impossible to have a conversation without shouting or using a megaphone as the backdrop is just a deafening roar of echoing voices.
My advice would be to try this place last, and only if the other pubs were closed, which incidentally some were which explains why this dump was undeservedly busy.
anonymous - 16 Oct 2006 18:26 |
Obnoxious staff....with an appalling attitude towards customers nearer closing time. Shocking place
|
All bar one pubs are all lacking in atmosphere and this one is no different.Ok for a quick one as part of a pub crawl but thats about it. Expensive too.
|
very smokey pub.....
|
If you like ABOs then doubtless you'll like this one. If so, please don't walk up the hill towards the Village or the Common, there's nothing for you there.
|
great stuff
Thomas Bauer - 28 Oct 2004 06:33 |
I really like this place, they've changed the decor and seating recently so its a bit more intimate. A must for sunday lunch and the papers and I love their new menu. Ive lived in Wimbledon for a few years and still like this place. It's really airy too and so not a smokey place.
ann - 22 Sep 2004 13:58 |
Decent place for a drink with friends. Over-21s only so none of the fifth-formers that infest places like Yates's.
anonymous - 31 Aug 2004 15:27 |
As below, not much to praise but not much wrong. Merely OK.
DC - 27 Jul 2004 14:21 |
On a recent visit I was shocked to be charged �3.30 for a bottle of Smirnoff Ice !!
I asked if a drinks price list was available and was informed that 'the prices are being reviewed and currently there are no price listing available, apart from a chalk board detailing the prices of wine only'
Lee Miller - 11 Jun 2004 18:34 |
A GREAT BAR, GREAT STAFF
MIKE - 2 Apr 2004 13:46 |
Typical All Bar One. At least you know what it's going to be like ! Good selection of wines and usually pretty busy. Typical AB1 crowd.
anonymous - 7 Jan 2004 16:48 |
Service is very poor.
Do not complain if your food takes more than 45 minutes to be served. We did, and they served us a plate full of burnt food.
This plate is definitely worth a miss
Jack - 14 Dec 2003 08:53 |
Average example of the All Bar One chain. Not terrible, not great either. Amusing purely for being a "trendy wine bar" that used to be a bank. The food can be pretty good.
Mark - 23 Oct 2003 14:31 |
They don't serve beer here by the pint - they serve it by the glass. Tight blighters!
Matt - 10 Jun 2003 16:31 |
The last time I was in there some drunken female teachers were flashing their bras for a laugh. Otherwise, as dreadful as you'd expect.
Sickboy - 5 May 2003 12:13 |
Considering the naff reputation of these kinda places, it's not too bad at all. Worth a look anyway.
Andy - 4 May 2003 01:40 |
The original 'trendy wine bar' according to Nat West (take a look next time you're watching a video recorded on independant TV from the late nineties or early noughties), but nothing wrong with that, beer dearish but food always to a standard
Steven Barnes - 10 Apr 2003 17:03 |
Plastic food, but the beer's OK.
Henry - 9 Feb 2003 06:26 |
Food is expensive but well worth it. Meals there are absolutely delicious. Wouldn't spend a whole night there as drinking there is expensive too.
Briony - 3 Dec 2002 11:18 |
