Meltdown London — Restaurant in London

I’ve been to Meltdown a few times and I’ve had a really mixed experience.

The bar itself is ok, a bit run down and looks dirty, but at least it’s mostly clean. The bathrooms are a pretty scary, broken equipment and generally dingy. Alcohol is neither good nor bad, cocktails are ok, but the menu could use an update.

But the quality of night really depends on who is working that night. I’ve had some really amazing night and some really terrible nights.

The best nights have been when the barman Star has been working. Time and time again, he goes above and beyond to talk to everyone, help people out and make sure everyone is having a good time and it really shows. The atmosphere is great, people are all talking and having fun, the music is upbeat and loads more people show up when he is working.

On the other hand I’ve had some pretty terrible experiences when I’ve gone to Meltdown and the female bartender (Sorry, I don’t know her name) has been working. The nights are usually pretty dead with really depressing music playing and not many people show up. She spends the entire night sitting behind the bar reading comics, vaping and acting like she wants us to get out as soon as possible so she can close. The vaping really concerns me as they really shouldn’t be allowed to vape in the bar because of the health issues caused to the customers.

It’s just a shame that not all the staff put the same amount of effort in, and respect the customers the same. I really want to recommend Meltdown to people but I always tell them to find out when Star is on shift and go then. It’s the only way you’ll actually...

Meltdown London isn’t your average bar—it’s a digital playground with real-world heart. Dedicated to gaming culture in all its forms, this venue blends esports, cocktails, and camaraderie into a space that feels like a LAN party crossed with a local pub. Whether you're here to watch a tournament, challenge a stranger to Smash Bros, or just sip a beer surrounded by RGB glow, Meltdown delivers.

Atmosphere Dark, neon-lit, and buzzing with energy. The décor leans industrial geek chic: consoles, posters, and glowing screens everywhere. It’s intimate but never claustrophobic, with a layout that encourages mingling and spontaneous competition. Expect a crowd that’s passionate, welcoming, and wonderfully nerdy.

Drinks & Menu The bar serves themed cocktails and solid beer options, often named after gaming icons:

“Mana Potion” or “Critical Hit” – playful, punchy, and surprisingly well-mixed

Craft beers & classics – reasonably priced and perfect for long gaming sessions

Food options – limited, but decent for snacking (think fries, wings, and bar bites)

It’s not a gastropub, but it doesn’t need to be—the focus is on fun, not fine dining.

Events & Community Meltdown thrives on its events calendar: regular tournaments, viewing parties for major esports matches, and themed nights that celebrate everything from League of Legends to Street Fighter. The crowd is inclusive, and the vibe is more “friendly rivalry” than “sweaty...

I had been to meltdown before and it seemed like a alright place, I always go with my friends as it's a nice meeting point since we live far away from each other. But it always seemed like the bouncer Rey or Ray I believe had a problem with me and my friends like trying to get us only to leave saying the bar was closed when there was still half an hour left or giving us our own rules like saying we have to smoke down the road from the bar when none of us smoke and there are people smoking right next to the entrance at the time I've even seen him himself smoking at the entrance. The last straw was when we were asked to leave by an officer and was told that management didn't want us here and at first I took it as a race thing because me and my friends were the only people of colour there besides two others we were not even given a reason why, after a long talk with the bouncer we finally got to talk to the manager and he said he don't have a problem with us and it's the first he had heared of this problem it was clear that the bouncer had told the officer to tell us to leave but he just saying there's nothing he could do now and to come back next time and he said it was because we were smoking weed which I had never done he also said this while people were smoking weed next to him but he said nothing to them. After a night like that I doubt me or my friends will...