Grand Union Farringdon

Chanced upon this Farringdon bar. I knew of the one in Clapham but this branch was beautiful inside and had a good happy hour for cocktails. Also was very inventive in its drinks menu covered in famous celeb biographies.

A new discovery with a great happy hour, greater bar staff and greatest cocktails! I’m almost loathe to overly gush about it on here because it seems to be the one decent place in midtown that isn’t rammed at all hours of the day, all days of the week (except weekends of course duh!).
I would recommend getting here early-​ish on a weekday and then back out again before the crowds of drunken office peeps descend and you are forced to witness a man in a suit drunkenly come on to his colleague and feel torn between the cynically (or City-​cally — see what I did there?!) wanting to warn her that she will almost certainly regret it the next day and the romantic you hoping that it actually could be ever after and you may be invited to their wedding given you’ve borne witness to the inception of their relationship.

The décor downstairs is pretty cool, and I guess the location works if you’re looking for somewhere reasonably-​priced to drink before heading a few doors up to Fabric. But there wasn’t much else about my night at Grand Union that I can say.
The vodka options were ‘so cheap it tastes like wood’ or Grey Goose. Which is less than ideal, but there was also no consistency between pours with one drink tasting like lime cordial — which I didn’t ask for — and one like vodka on the rocks. For the benefit of the audience, I was trying to order a single vodka soda with fresh lime.
The music wasn’t great and if we weren’t there with so many people, it would’ve been completely dead. So no atmosphere either.
I’ve been to other Grand Unions and liked them, but the Farringdon venue just kind of bummed me out.

This review is for the food, at lunchtime. Probably should’ve given it 4 stars but there was just something I wasn’t sure about. I’m being picky no doubt, but that’s the point right?
Anyway…my burger run continues and i’ll say it was a good burger. Crispy bacon, melted cheese, nice bun… the patty was substantial, quality meat I reckon. My gripe would be £3 for a small portion of fries, on top of £8 for the burger. £2 for a coke always hurts me, and the fact that in the UK if I wanted another one it would cost me another £2. refills baby, refills. its cheap syrup sh*t anyway.
the venue clearly is a night spot, looking at the décor. but it was comfortable.
service was, as-​above, A-​OK. Not great but not bad at all. Non-​descript.
Probably wouldn’t go back but glad I tried it.

Came to this place for happy hour drinks, must say they have the worst bar tenders with the least enthusiasm about the drinks. LEAST! And cant shake/​mix for christ sake! I mean c’mon, it’s a Thursday evening and we all just want to get drunk. (not here of course). It’d be nice for an occasional smile or something. Not to mention their drinks are a let down, to a degree where i think they actually s u c k.
Potential vibe but music is lacking! seem to be like a bar for those farringdon workies in suits and boring dresses. sors, not my type!

Superb club! No cover charge, no line to get in, fun/​trendy/​classy underground bar. Excellent 90s music to dance to. Plenty of space. The clientele here was absolutely gorgeous. Good Scotch whisky on hand. I will be coming back here!

Fun night out as this venue is open till 3am, went for a 40^th birthday party for which they had reserved the whole upstairs bar (which is actually street level). There is a larger bar and dance floor downstairs with very cool alcoves which can be reserved for smaller parties. The staff are friendly and polite, including the door staff, no attitude at all. They do fabulous party food and are happy to give you glasses of water without charging. Bottles of wine from about £15, not bad for the location. Parking is not too bad in neighbouring streets, but beware, the later you get there, the further away you’ll have to park. Lost of taxis around at the end of the evening waiting to pick up customers so you don’t have to call although I don’t know how legal of safe this is although they did have official signs in their rear windows to prove they were official minicabs.
Good music, good atmosphere and friendly staff, what more could you ask for?

£3.50 for a single serving of Laphroaig = happy camper. Despite the mediocre music, the atmosphere’s good, the décor kitschy, and the mini caverns where people can chill give it a nice touch. You feel like you’re hanging out in a former wine cellar slash opium den slash brothel. The windows in each den give it a voyeuristic feel, which is creepy or pretty sweet depending on your mood and who’s in the next little den.

Went the last day of the launch party. It was lovely. I was late for my table but the staff was so nice they made space for me and my friends. Food was delicious and the cocktail were fabulous. Music was banging. A great night out. Recommend Berry mojIto.