Black Parrot — Restaurant in London

We booked for the two of us to visit the Black Parrot a week in advance for some birthday drinks. After making plans around this confirmation, we received an email telling us it was cancelled 2 days before. How this was then handled by David Brady the ‘general manager’ was terrible.

Firstly, David was incredibly rude on the phone blaming us for his mix up with the booking. Then, telling us in frustration ‘come but you must be quiet because I’m teaching’.

When we arrived at the bar, we hoped David would have calmed down enough to be at least civil and say hello- just to be clear we were neither expecting nor wanting an audience with David, no more than a standard hello or welcome would have been enough. Instead, he was again rude, ignored us and pointed to a table. He created an uncomfortable atmosphere for all.

We then had the misfortune to be forced to watch and listen to David continuously embarrass himself while holding what he refers to as his ‘master class’. This consisted of him taking the pi* out of, belittling and insulting those attending his ‘master class’, as well as a couple who innocently walked in for a drink- saying they could ‘fuk off’ after they had left. After cheap laughs at others expense.

What proceeded was David shaming himself for an hour with boring self-indulgent anecdotes. He also thought it somehow made him interesting to swear throughout and refer to colleagues as ‘fu*ing dcks’. The whole sad show was cringe worthy to watch and listen too- attendees laughed nervously so not to be picked on and become the butt of David’s belittling snipes.

His ‘master class’ is nothing more than an opportunity for David to stroke his own fragile ego by insulting, offending and belittling others. David would do well to attend a class on how to treat others with respect.

David in so wrapped up in himself he actually thought the reason why we were disappointed is because he couldn’t ‘spend time with us’ when in fact we were relieved David was distracted with his ‘master class’ so we didn’t have to suffer his overbearing verbal diarrhoea.

The man is a rude insufferable joke. Save your money and time for somewhere that David...

It could have been better. I purchased two tickets for the rum tasting experience. You are greeted by a half open shutter that we ducked under to get into the bar. They explained it was because they want to stop people from coming into the bar that aren't part of the private event, which didn't work as about three people wondered in asking if they were open, disrupting the event. It was annoying. Why not put a sign on the door? But most awkward of all, when the first person came in to ask if they were open, the bar man jokingly said, after they had left, 'They always ask if they could join and I'm not going to ask them if they've got a spare £100!'

This was awkward because it revealed the price of the event to my partner, who I brought it for as a present. The two blokes, father and son, sat next to us, agreed. He'd brought it as a present for his father and wasn't happy that they now knew the price of the event... Having worked hospitality for a decade now, I would never reveal the price like that, you're trained not to.

There's loud music playing from the speaker, so if you're sat on that side of the bar it's distracting. It was a weird choice of music too, playing rap at one point. Did not suit the boutique style of the bar.

It was difficult to get the barmans attention if we wanted to order any extra drinks or mixers.

Overall, not a great...

A hidden gem down a small London alley.

Life is about making memories and hope I never forget the first moment I walk down the alley, through the little door into a small dimly little bar with the back wall filled with bottles of (mostly) rum, the warm reception we got from Maria (I hope I got your name correct) who was stood behind the bar, Maria makes great cocktails by the way and is more than happy to show you how to pay Shuffle.

Me and my wife went to the Black Parrot for there rum master class and we were not disappointed. The experience was lead by Dave Brady who shares his knowledge and experience of rum in his own unique and colourful style.

Dave will tell many stories throughout the experience, in particular he spoke of a pirate called George. Dave loves pirates and people pretending to be pirates so put on your swash buckling hat, follow Google maps to the big X and give Dave a big pirate arrrrr!

Thank you to Dave and Maria for a wonderful evening and hope to see you again next time.

We will definitely be back next time we are in London and hopefully take...