The Westbury, Kilburn

I want to like the Westbury - I wouldn't mind a slightly trendier alternative to the sticky carpet joints in the area - but I just can't. It's ok if you just want to pop in and play some pool, but there's something about the combination of clientele and layout that puts me off. It's not a cosy pub - almost none of the seats are against walls so you constantly feel like something is going on behind you. Not to mention the crowd is a bizarre cross-section of society who all seem to share a common interest in posing. Nice try, but *just* missed the mark. I think it wanted to be a DJ bar in the vein of Bar Vinyl or the Social, but it's a little too... barn-like for that. Still, an improvement on the previous pub, which I believe someone was murdered in shortly before the buyout...

7 Apr 2008 13:31

Powers Bar, Kilburn

Has reopened (again) as Power's Bar (again) - total redesign of the interior, while nowhere near as much character to it, has seemed to go back to the musical roots with a gig list longer than your arm and, lo and behold, a prominent stage right by the entrance. Wonder if Vince has bought it back... ?

7 Apr 2008 13:15

The Cow, Westbourne Green

I actually don't mind the Cow... normally. It's not exactly my crowd but can be interesting people watching. But they lost some business from me over the weekend. I went for one of their famous half dozen oyster deals to tide us over while we were waiting for a dinner table to open up. They were �9 on the menu. I went to pay and the chap said "that'll be �10.13 please." I asked why the extra, and he said, "Service charge." There was no mention of this on the menu. We cancelled our dinner reservation and left. Charging service charges at the bar, on declared bar food prices is outrageous and must be punished. Possibly sacrificing a firstborn, but that might not be sufficiently harsh.

7 Apr 2008 13:07