Freud Café-Bar & Gallery — Restaurant in London

Aggressive yelling manager : "im the big scary man with the scary face..."

I went to this bar recently for no longer than 5-10 minutes. I was hesitant to write a review since nothing will come of it, however, after my experience, reading reviews with similar experiences helped me to feel better.

I arrived at the bar, my friends had gotten in probably 5 minutes before me as I had left something behind at the pub before. They were sat on the side of the stair case before the women's bathroom /exit. I had decided I wouldn't stay as it was a bit late. I probably wasn't the most aware of my surroundings yet having just come in and chatting but of course moved when someone was trying to pass by. The fireexit/ bathroom was still accessible as it's a wide few steps and those who were sat were on the edge. There were also no signs to say keep clear. But suddenly the bar manager came towards the group in an incredibly aggressive manner and made sure to portray that as he was shouting and the first things he said was "Right. I'm the scary man with the scary face" before telling us he would not have us blocking the exit/ bathroom. Again, blocking those things isn't ideal, I agree. The group didn't deny this or say anything back but began moving. As he finished shouting I asked the group if he had said something earlier or not (they said no one had previously approached them). I was in shock and perhaps if the group had been told multiple times and had blatantly ignore him I'd understand a little more even though I'd still think his attempt to intimidate was unwarranted. He had clearly heard me and turned around, very close and angry starting again to which I told him we had heard him, it had been a second and we were already moving and his response was "great. And maybe one day you'll grow up" as he stormed off (again i think unwarranted for fact i didnt disagree and wasnt rude?). I hadn't intended to stay as it was late and so left. But I felt a bit shaken and it was a bit dehumanising (perhaps that's the wrong word). You know when a situation just makes you feel small and Insignificant? I think this would be the case for anyone but even more so as a girl having a grown tall man yelling at you.

Again, perfectly valid to make sure we weren't blocking the area. But we had just got in, it wasn't inaccessible and had someone said politely or even in a frustrated way I wouldn’t think twice. But it's the fact he was shouting, clearly trying to assert dominance and being so aggressive. Saying he was the "scary man with a scary face" was so unnecessary aggressive that it bordered humorous. He escalated a situation which could have been managed very easily. Genuinely never encountered anything remotely close to this. Frustration, sass, sometimes perceiving someone as rude- we've all experienced. But not this. It's quite scary to think of as well given he is in a manager position.

Thankful for other reviews which I read on the tube home which made me feel less crazy. One in particular mentioning an aggressive bar manager who was yelling and escalating a situation (see 1star reviews).

I hope this helps those who have the misfortune of experience a similar situation.

Would definitely not feel comfortable or safe entering...

If I could give a rating of 0/5 that still wouldn't be fair based on the terrible experience we had last week and this is a shame since we had been visiting Freud Bar regularly in the past. We had just ordered drinks from downstairs and went outside for a quick smoke with our drinks, where plenty of other customers were also gathered. A couple of minutes later, a member of the staff very politely told us to return our glasses downstairs once we had finished with our drinks. Not more than 10 minutes later, another member of staff (apparently the manager) very aggressively approached us, shouting that we should not take drinks outside. While he was shouting at us, he had already grabbed our drinks in a very hostile manner. Specifically, while grabbing my friend's drink he poured his hands onto her almost-full drink. In shock from this incident (especially during covid times), we said that even though we would happily go downstairs, we would not accept drinking from this glass again. He immediately threw the drink on the floor next to us and insisted that we should take the empty glass back inside ourselves to the bar.He shouted that he is the manager of the bar and what the other employee had told us didn’t matter. He then kept being aggressive saying that we should not be coming to his place if we are afraid of covid, while also questioning our vaccination status. He claimed that our argument about the dirty glass was invalid, because as the manager he has already put his fingers in each glass before handing out drinks to the bar’s customers. While we went downstairs to just leave our drinks (and then leave!!) , the incident continued in two ways; First, the manager violated my friend's personal space, grabbing her from the arm and yelling. Second, while my friend was inside leaving the drinks, the manager cornered my friend and I shouting that we should never go upstairs and repeatedly yelling that we should not come if we were afraid of covid - Bear in mind that no mention of Covid occurred except when the manager literally poured his finders and hands in my friend's drink. This was by far the worst experience i have ever had in a bar and with the staff of the bar. As i mentioned, it is a shame that Freud hires such aggressive staff as we used to regularly visit the place. Note, that had the manager told us in a polite way that we should not drink outside and that there was a miss-communication with the other member of staff who told us that it is ok to drink outside, we would have gone downstairs and continued with our night. We will obviously never go there again and nor will any member of our friends and extended group as we have informed with what happened. Please do the same and avoid. Thankfully, there are tons of better...

I have removed my previous 5 star rating and updated my review.

I have visited the bar multiple times (8+) and taken both friends and work colleagues to the bar. I will not be doing this moving forward.

I used to like the bar and had a great experience with someone who I believe may be the owner (bald gentlemen with a dog).

The other short male bar staff are very arrogant and passive-aggressive. I am very smiley and friendly. I have been spoken to very rudely on different occasions while attempting to order drinks. Friends have also commented on the male staff being rude.

There appear to be a number of other reviews describing similar rude and aggressive male bar staff.

I have also noticed a decline in the quality of the cocktails. During a number of my recent visits the girl behind the bar turned and made the cocktails by reading the menu. The drinks did not taste very nice.

The male toilets are pretty disgusting with the urinal leaking and barely hanging onto the wall.

Please remind your staff not to be rude and passive-aggressive to paying customers.

One to avoid until...