Rack and Tenter — Restaurant in London

Went for a couple of pints with a colleague with the idea of taking the company to some evening drinks. Well we won't be going back! We were greeted and served quickly enough by a pleasant barman without issue. While he fetched the card machine a female bar member appeared from nowhere telling my colleague to remove his drink from a bar tray that was directly in front of him as "she needed this area clear!" We told her that we just waiting for the card machine and we'd be away from the bar ( there was no signage to indicate you could not commit the heinous crime of placing your drink on a bar tray). This wasn't good enough and again she repeated she needed "the area clear at all times!" My colleague then moved his drink and we got a token thank you. Ok not the best of starts but we were willing to let it go. Then while stood at a table supping our drinks the same barmaid with zero customer service skills bolted up to me and said my pint was not allowed to rest upon the menu sheet that was already face down on the table! So much attitude and far better places in the City. We took her up on these points as we left but she just defended her actions and tried to say she was perfectly correct on both occasions....

A pub I have frequented as immediately next door to my current workplace. Always mediocre in quality, only thing on draft that is even vaguely looked after is the neck oil. Its location is the only reason I've bothered with it.

However last night (wednesday 25th may 2022) I had the wonderful experience of the bar staff literally ignoring myself and my colleague and serving everybody but us for 15 minutes. I have literally never had this happen at a pub in my life.

For a pub of such low quality it's quite astonishing for the staff to behave this way. I won't be visiting again! Far better options all around.

Also their toilets, never refurbished, are RIDICULOUSLY and I mean RIDICULOUSLY small.

They rest on their laurels due to their location. AVOID.

UPDATE: In response to the reply, it was on a Wednesday, it was not busy, and 5-6 people who came after us were served first. it was not a SENSE of being ignored. It was ACTUALLY BEING IGNORED. When was asked about this we were told we were behind yet another person, and still were not served! I have never in all my (MANY) years of going to pubs had this happen before.

As for the rest, it's subjective. The toilet issue remains a thing to...

Great for a quick meet-up after work- my friends and I only have time to see each other once every couple of months, and this place is central enough that we can all get to it fairly easily.

It's a 45 second walk from Mate tube station, so you can get there on the Northern, Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City underground lines. Of these, the Northern line operates a 24 hour service (so you can have a late drink) and there are several buses that run from stops surrounding the station.

Rack and Tenter serves beer, wine, and straight spirits as you would expect, and they also have some great cocktails. Prices are slightly cheaper than usual for central London (expect to pay about £5.50 for a pint). The food is also good, traditional pub fayre- burgers, steak, chicken, and some veggie options.

The atmosphere is lively (by which I mean loud)- office workers having a few too many after a tough day. For the most part it's a raucous (but friendly) crowd, although you occasionally get a bad apple or two.

A fun place to...