Cork & Bottle, Leicester Square

pub details:

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location:

Leicester Square

address:

44-46 Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7AN

phone:

0871 258 8842*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Leicester Square London Underground station
(70m) - zone 1

Piccadilly Circus London Underground station
(360m) - zone 1

Covent Garden London Underground station
(380m) - zone 1

Charing Cross railway station London Underground station
(450m) - zone 1

Embankment London Underground station
(610m) - zone 1

how to find it:

Take the Leicester Square exit and enter the square. Keep an eye on the shops on the left hand side: you'll soon see the doorway for the Cork and Bottle. Just don't go into the next door down by mistake...

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nearby attraction(s):

Wyndham's Theatre (50m)

Odeon Leicester Square (70m)

Leicester Square Theatre (80m)

First up, an admission: you can't get a pint here. No Adnam's, no Young's, no Pride - not even a Guinness. Not a pub then, but a wine bar. But what a bar. This place has been setting the standards for wine bars since the early 1970s and the onus of the place is still on quality wines, lovely food and an agreeable atmosphere to enjoy them in. Even more remarkable is that this haven is located so close to the tacky horrors of Leicester Square. And whilst this place isn't a pub it shares the qualities of all good pubs: first rate food and drink, staff that actually care about their customers (whether they be regulars or first-timers) and an overall atmosphere of cheery drink taking. The only downside being that as the place has been so good for so long, the secrets out so turning up early (or phoning ahead) is sometimes necessary to guarantee a space. Otherwise though, this one shares qualities with some of the wines behind the bar, being subtle, charming and damn near perfect.

reviewed:
15/07/2009