The Cocktail Club - Cocktail Bar in Fitzrovia — Restaurant in London

A very poor start to my friends birthday evening out. It was good at first, the gentleman who checked us in and took us to our table was lovely. We were sat in the telephone booth which was pretty and intimate, but felt like we had our own space. We were given time to peruse the menu and the drinks were nice. That is the sole reason they are getting one star.

Unfortunately, that was the only time we saw this member of staff as he was then looking after a hen do who we guessed had booked a cocktail making class. We finished our drinks, we waited and nobody came round to collect glasses or take orders - unsurprisingly as we originally thought the first guy was on his own. So eventually, after spotting another barman (who also never came to our table) and getting tired of waiting my partner went to the bar to order the next round. Not really a huge problem, but based on our collective experiences of other venues, it's usually table service. We had to wait a while for the drinks, but that's understandable given the other bartender had other orders to get out. But it was just as well we'd taken our own glasses back to the bar, as otherwise the barman wouldn't have had anywhere to put the drinks he brought over. When we finally got them, the drinks were again good, but we were left in the same situation when we wanted to order more upon finishing.

We suddenly heard one of the barmen shout that we had 30minutes left as they had a private party coming in. Which meant that our booked slot was cut short (would have been nice to have been informed of that after booking). We were debating whether to get another round or just get the bill and go, but based on the experience so far decided to just get the bill, which again we had to go up to the bar for. The cocktail club venues are pretty dark and with the feeling of being rushed out, I didn't check the receipt properly, besides taking off the service charge. Checked it this morning to find out that we've been overcharged for 2 drinks, so either they didn't put through 2-4-1 offer, or there are a few drinks that are an exempt from happy hour, which we were not informed of when ordering (have since checked the website which states that it's 2-4-1 on ALL cocktails). But also, all the drinks were even numbers, so why did the total end in an odd one?

There also happened to be very little atmosphere for a Saturday afternoon, and the music was awful. Started with a few good tunes, but when the cocktail class started for the hen do, the music changed to some low-level, background music, not far off elevator music.

Overall, terrible service (2 rounds in just under 3hrs), no atmosphere and overcharged by almost £30. Wouldn't recommend this particular Cocktail Club venue, I certainly won't be...

Hi there, I sent you an email back in September as I wanted to do so instead of posting a review but no answer so here we are. My friends and I had an awful experience in your Goodge Street Bar.

We arrived around 22:30pm on the 13th of September and did not feel welcome as soon as we stepped in, not hello or anything but that’s ok it’s late, I am guessing the team has had a long shift. I just checked online and the bar closes at 11:30pm.

We then sat down on a table, which was fully wet and dirty. The bar wasn’t busy at all and 2 bartenders were on so surely it could have been clean but one more time that’s okay. The bartender was preferring to chat to his friend at the bar and laughed then cared about customers.

We chose our cocktail and my partner came to the bar to make our order, we chose a cocktail that was on the front page and the bartender told him that he couldn’t do the one from the front page (it would have been easier to let us know as we arrived). So my partner asked for a recommendation and the bartender was just fed up and told him “you are the worst customers I’ve had all night” and all his friends started laughing at my partner which is very disrespectful and embarrassing. It would have been me at the bar I would have left but my partner decided to stay and the bartender made us 2 very not tasty cocktails.

My 2 other friends went to the bar and ordered their cocktails, the bartender told them he would bring the cocktails over. We all saw him finishing them but instead of bringing them to us he just started rolling his cigarette and not caring about us. So our friend went to the bar to pick them up and did not get acknowledged by him - one more time, rude behaviour.

We drank them quickly as we did not feel welcome at all and my friend went to pay for his 2 cocktails (my partner and I already paid) and he got handed over the card machine saying £83!!!

So he said “£83 for 2 cocktails?” And the bartender said “Ok for you I will give a discount” and handed over the card machine saying £49 which one more time wasn’t the correct amount.

My friend asked again and finally got charged the right amount.

I am not too sure what happened there but it looked like he was trying to scam us.

I honestly had one of the worst customer service in London in your bar and I am very disappointed about that.

I myself work in hospitality and unfortunately I will not recommend your venue or will be returning.

I am not waiting for an apology but just wanted to inform you how your team...

Came here for date night. Enjoyed better service than we usually get in the city, initially. Good drinks. The classic martinis, of course, were not included in happy hour. 🙄 The martini flutes were TINY. Like 3-4 oz. At 15 GPB per drink.

After 6 (compensation for what would have been twice the size at half the price in the States, same drink at any pub, just thinking out loud), my husband was suddenly given an explanation as to why I was being cut off- while I was still in the bathroom.

Firstly, I have never been cut off, anywhere in the world, my entire adult life. I did not stumble, fall, misbehave or make a scene. Because I wasn’t drunk, these things were not a challenge. I have a high tolerance, we were there a while, enjoying some rare quality time out.

Someone who hadn’t even been serving us up until that point informed me, when I returned to the booth, that he had ‘been told not to serve me’. I asked him several times if my behaviour had earned this nomination, and he said no, I was fine. So apparently, 6 martinis is just the magic number- for all people drinking here. Not 5, not 7.

What bothered us was the way they handled it. It was pretty awkward for us. Especially given the fact that we had spent £100 or so that night, and then were effectively asked to leave. For why would we stay, when I can’t drink, but my husband can?

Well, the fun did continue at another bar nearby, where they happily took our cash, as most anyone in a London will do. And since I’ve been here a while, I know no one does anything out of concern for my well being- London, it’s just not your style- and painfully accustomed to that local flare for double-speak.

Maybe want to explain your limits to patrons ahead of time to avoid embarrassment. I worked waiting tables and bartending for years; we only cut people off based on bad behaviour, not size ratios or intrigue. Many of our patrons had a high tolerance.

Meh, go someplace cheaper and less central, with the same great expectations for drinks and service. Discriminate where you spend your money, and force businesses to do better. It’s a luxury service, baby.

On the plus side, nice lady bartender, hipster tunes and tasty martinis. Wish they were not SUCH a luxury in...