Corinthia is in the detail!

The Corinthia Hotel is a gargantuan building yet somehow discreet. The huge ivory stones that have built it denote a Samson like strength and an immortal presence bang in the heart of Whitehall. It feels as though it houses a thousand secrets and a myriad of tales. Silently standing guard to its many guests.
I walked through the cavernous restaurant to one of four bars. The Bassoon Bar.
Just like the instrument delivers a warm, dark and moody sound so did The Bassoon Bar deliver a warm, dark and relaxing atmosphere.
The walls were dressed with vintage paintings depicting jazz characters from a time gone by which made me feel as though I was in a happening joint during the cotton club era.
I met my fellow galpals who were sitting with iPads from which we selected our beverages. Very 2015!
I ordered a traditional champagne cocktail and balked at the price, £17.50 and picked at the nibbles that were placed on the table,
Needing proper fare I ordered a mini burger and fries which was just enough and delicious.
After gossiping and generally catching up we were treated to the dusky tones of a vocalist accompanied by a pianist.
She offered to sing any song requested and in a homely fashion beautifully serenaded the not too large crowd.
The friendly waiter filled our glasses with water for the final time before we bid The Basson Bar adieu.
All in all I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely return though next time order another cheaper cocktail :-)
Stargazer 7/10

Walking along a quiet Whitehall nothing prepared me for the spacious interior of

the Corinthia, with its dramatic chandeliers and beautiful centrepieces in the lobby.

The staff were polite, warm and smartly dressed as they led us inside the Bassoon Bar.

What was noticeable was the balance of intimacy and space with a 1920's-30's ambience which was reflected in their framed paintings and cocktails. As we seated ourselves we

were in for a surprise......paperless cocktail menu! They were displayed on a tablet!

I had fun tapping away at the screen and eventually chose an expensive and yet pretty

Bellini (my first) with added flower.

As the evening went on our conversation was interrupted by a live jazz duo.

Their music was reminiscent of that song, the girl from Ipanema, very mellow and not

intrusive.

I would recommend the Bassoon Bar as an end of day treat and would gladly go again.

Monique 7/10.

 

 

 

Bassoon Bar at the Corinthia Hotel is filled with both sophistication and ardour. The grandiose building didn't disappointment at first glance and neither did it shy away from its elegant persona on the inside. A piano which appeared imposing was exactly what the space needed. The music was perfect and didn't interfere with the ambience. My non alcoholic cocktail was the perfect tipple and the waiters were also in perfect form. A great place to visit if you are craving an air of sophistication.

Peony Blue 8/10

 

 

A Fix at Hix

 

The best thing about Hix were the bearded and ponytailed serving bartenders.
They were very welcoming and had a great sense of fun and humour.
I loved drinking my Prosecco out of the traditional wide rimmed glasses. Such fun!
The wild boar chipolatas were gamey and the deep fried artichokes were light and fresh.
All in all the bar was noisy and lively!(Stargazer)7/10




Naivety and not anticipating the Friday night revellers and traffic made me late meeting Peony Blue. However we did not expect to be stopped in our tracks at the front door of
Hix at Soho.
The big, bold, burly doorman was fully insulated from the cold in his woollen hat and black coat. We only came for Mark's bar but I felt as if we had gate crashed some private members club. This was not the case. Hix was full and we had to wait but in the chilly night outside?
We were soon ushered inside into a small area whereby the restaurant was adjacent and we were facing the front of house staff. They were monitoring the influx of people to a fine art........but what a wait!
All was forgotten as we were greeted by a calm, heavily bearded man with tied back hair, This fashionable bearded trend seems to be here to stay and he was not the only one.
Downstairs the bar was indeed full and what a noisy lot they were. There was a mixture of leather sofas, stools and and assortment of tables. One side of the bar had the alcohol fully displayed for all to see. We were topped up immediately with water and I noted the pitcher it was served in.
Stargazer was running late so we had some nibbles and drinks. Mine was a Shirley Temple, which was like Ginger beer but far better, it was very colourful and not too sweet with a twist of lime. The chicken flavoured popcorn went down very well. The staff were entertaining, funny and attentive so full marks for that.
Mark's bar is bit rough and ready compared to the others we have seen but has its' own appeal but a word of advice, come early and you would get the best seats (the sofas). If you wish to bar hop you will be disappointed as the seats appeared to be reserved.
I could not hear the music even though it was on full volume and that is a first and a real shame, so it was all raised voices above the others during conversation. (Monique) 6/10



After a wait at reception since it is a  seated bar,hence the wait, we were eventually led downstairs by a waiter who looked more like a guru. Hair tied back with an ample amount of beard,ethereal almost but certainly interesting! On arrival,we were greeted by a finery which was the bar,noisy but bustling. The music dominated the vicinity without apology. Our ordered drinks were tasty and the snax as they call it were nice,my favourite the jerusalem artichokes.
The other male waiters were attentive and helpful. They stood out too,all heavily bearded,attractive,soave and oh so friendly. As the evening progressed,one of them decided to spin his tray on our table and soon we discovered that he was attempting to be a pretend DJ,awesome and entertaining. Fun night all round. Take friends or the other half. You will not be disappointed.
Hix is a fix worth the visit. (Peony Blue) 7/10