The Bunch of Grapes — Restaurant in London

🚇 Bank 🍺 £6.95 Madri

A Traditional City Boozer.

The Bunch of Grapes sits on Lime Street which is located at the back of Leadenhall Market in the heart of the City of London. The nearest Tube is Bank, Monument station is also close by.

There has been a pub present on this site for nearly 500 years, the current building dates back to 1892.

This is a two bar pub that has the main bar on the ground floor and the second bar located upstairs. The pub had a sympathetic refurbishment back in October last year, thankfully the traditional decor and original features were retained. The main bar has the servery running down left hand-side with poser tables opposite. If you look up to the ceiling you will see the original frieze depicting foliage and bunches of grapes as well as an impressive scalloped ceiling. If you head upstairs you’ll find a smaller cosier bar with a comfy dining area located by the window.

The beer selection is solid and offers an excellent choice of cask, London craft and familiar mainstream brews. I decided on a Madri, my pint was on point but a bit pricey at just under £7. I also tried the Nicholson Gin, which I can thoroughly recommend. The food menu is classic pub grub with an emphasis on pies, Fish & Chips costs £16.50.

I visited with legendary pub connoisseur @booze_house_tales , we arrived just after 5pm for the relaunch event which was held in October last year. The pub was absolutely heaving both inside and out which is not uncommon when you visit a City Pub in the post work hours. There was an uplifting buzz and an air of excitement around the place, the evening was a very pleasant experience indeed.

It was great to see @the_bunchofgrapes get a tasteful spruce up and a new lease of life. This is exactly the type of pub you want to visit when in and around The City of London. I would 100% recommend a visit here but I was say the best time to visit is definitely during the day before the rush.

ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 11.10.23

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I'd been meaning to check this place out for a few weeks now, but I have to say my experience was nothing short of catastrophic.

The atmosphere initially looked rather welcoming, but things took a dramatic turn for the worse as soon as I ventured to place an order at the bar.

The impish fellow behind the bar – I never got his name but you'll know what I mean if you see him – met my request for a Negroni with a blank, dead-eyed gaze...as if challenging me to some some sort of bizarrely aggressive staring contest.

After what must have been about 8 seconds of frigid silence, I think I made a noise like "huh", which seemed to snap him out of this weird act. I started to ask what was going on but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face.

Luckily another barkeeper intervened before things escalated further. He also explained they are more of an ale house, and I was able to order a pint without much further fuss.

As I sat in the corner, however, I couldn't help but notice the imp kept making eye contact with a group of female patrons in the establishment, while poking his index finger out of the zipper on the front of his pants. He was loudly referring to it as some sort of "magic trick I learned in Montevideo". I don't think there was anything magical about it, and I'm pretty sure (although I could be wrong) that Montevideo isn't a real place.

Needless to say – I downed my drink and left,...

The Bunch of Grapes, tucked away in Knightsbridge's historic center, embodies classic British charm. The building, which is Grade II listed and dates back to the mid-19th century, has a lively downstairs bar and a light-filled upstairs lounge. For something a little more daring, try the quirky gin and tonic flights or the "Bunch Burger," which is a customer favorite. It's a great place to unwind, especially if you can find a seat in the garden, and the staff is friendly and the beer list is excellent. Most visitors agree that the friendly atmosphere and substantial food make up for any occasional slow service during busy hours. Fans of literature take note, Iain Sinclair's White Chappell, Scarlet Tracings even...