Bars & Pubs

A vaulted banqueting hall ceiling, leaded windows, wooden panels and a framed Bishopsgate scene from 1602. Surely the markings of the dreaded historical theme pub? Mercifully not. This bar, attached to the Andaz (formerly Great Eastern) hotel, adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. The space takes light well by day, and at night shrouds thirsty City types in atmosphere. Catering to workaday lager needs, with Bombardier and London Pride also on parade, this well-executed if plain venue wouldn't be the first choice in which to celebrate that big deal. But to celebrate, say, the end of a particularly bloody Tuesday, there is no more welcoming place.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9