Bars & Pubs

Thank the Lord. Starbucks has gone and in its place is a classy little bar/café with the tongue-in-cheek name of Concrete (set, as it is, in the vast Brutalist environs of the Southbank Centre). And yet, despite its exposed piping, original factory lights and industrial-style seating, the place is cosy and fun. There are fresh flowers, candlelit tables, and, at the entrance, a pink neon-covered cement mixer. There's also a decent drinks list, though prices are high: £3.70 for a pint of Russian Baltika lager. Bar snacks (75p) are pickles (egg, beetroot, cucumber), and lunches (hotpot with bread, £5.50) are also available. The coffee comes from Union Hand-Roasted. Events and drinks offers frequently coincide with exhibitions held at the Hayward art gallery next door.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9