Corney & Barrow Bars

I’m with Pete & Tim (see below). Although, I wasn’t too put off by the lack of lager variety on tap. I probably would have gone for the Pilsner Urquell anyway.
Unlike those other two reviewers, my visit to C&B was via Liverpool Street Station. It wasn’t a short walk but it was a kinda creepy. during the day and at the height of City commuter frenzy, my route would have been a well-​trafficked one. However, a little after dark and it was fairly abandoned and spooky. Maybe, because I know a little (just enough to get my mind racing but not enough to set it at ease) about Jack the Ripper’s activities in the area, I was a bit on edge?
Anyway, it is a nice one for a chat and if you’re hanging round Aldgate Station, it’s about as convenient a pit-​stop as you could imagine.

Just a few steps from Aldgate station, this classy basement bar is one of a handful in the chain owned by the Corney & Barrow wine merchants. It’s a mix of old brick and new glass. It’s moody, dark, with different rooms; a good spot to have a quiet moment away from the crowds, looking across a glass of red.
I was here for a less romantic event, though: a London Blogger Meetup (
). It suited for that, as well, since there was a large side room they could easily rope off for us.
It’s not a place for those not keen on wine, though. As Pete said, there’s only one lager on (but it is a good one, Pilsner Urquell). And, to be honest, while they had some excellent choice in their wines — both in variety and quality — the prices by the glass were bordering on gouging. C&B have good prices when you’re buying a case, but I guess it’s to be expected that in the City they’re going to charge you £7.50 for a 250ml glass of 2007 Les Salices pinot noir. I like that wine a lot, but you can buy an entire bottle of it for just a few pence more on their web site (
). That’s tough to take, even for someone who likes splashing out now and then.

Very classy downstairs winebar just across the road from Aldgate tube station. It’s all exposed brick and tall chairs downstairs — I can see it being the ideal place to go for a discreet romantic assignation
There’s lots of wine to choose from, but on the downside only one draft lager, and its incredibly expensive at that, although it is served in very elegant tall, chilled glasses. No draft beer whatsoever though.
If you’re a city slicker I can imagine that this would be your kind of place, but I like my drinking dens a little more earthy