Gordon's Wine Bar, Charing Cross

Still brilliant, but always crowded, get there early or make it a summer venue.

Excellent choice of wines as ever and the friendly staff are always willing to give a good recommendation.

22 Dec 2005 15:07

Motion, Embankment

Used to be my go to late bar in this part of town but went there last night and will not be going there again...well until it goes out of business and reopens again.

Maybe it is the time of year but the whole upstairs bar and most of downstairs were roped off for corporate parties forcing us into one tiny space only to find ourselves roped off and moved on again.

With the exception of one chap with an outstanding afro, the staff were probably the rudest people working in service industry job anywhere...and I include Oddbins in that.

The events manager even managed to give the old two fingered salute to a friend after she complained, spotted by a another friend who was watching from the other side of the bar.

Cramped, sweaty, full of suits from the offices on Villiers Street and generally an absolute hole.

Cashed up the bar tab and went to Gordon's which was also cramped and sweaty, but in a good way. The staff also demonstrated that, even though you are serving a drunk Christmas crowd, you don't have to behave like you've been thrust into a job unbefitting your obvious talents and cannot believe that the people paying your wages might expect you to offer some tiny degree of customer service.

Never, never never again. Worst bar in London.

22 Dec 2005 14:59

The Harringay Arms, Crouch End

It's what a pub should be, it smells of beer tobacco and old men. The TV always has horse racing on, even at closing time, and they do rolls wrapped in clingfilm behind the bar...I almost wept when I first saw that.

This is a proper boozer, run by and frequented by real people who go to the pub for a drink, a chat and maybe a little snooze in the corner.

1 Aug 2005 17:08