The Refinery Regent's Place — Restaurant in London

Unfortunately we had a bad experience at The Refinery and will not be visiting again.

Myself and my husband arrived shortly before 2 large groups of guests. Straight away I noticed that their seemed to be only 1 waiter for the entire restaurant and therefore we waited prolonged periods of time for service.

Despite ordering our drinks before the large groups, we recieved ours after they were served which seemed odd.

Our starter of sourdough bread came with olive oil but no butter until we had to remind the waiter to bring it for us. Even simple things were forgotten, like my husband got a butter knife but I didn’t.

The wait for our main meal was even worse, despite being told by our waiter it would be “20-25 mins” we waited for over 1 hour and finally I had to ask one of the staff to check on what was happening. The large groups had recieved their meals and a table of 2 next to us who also ordered their food at a similar time, had already finished their meal.

What made it even worse was that when the food did finally arrive, I got my meal served first and my husband’s came nearly 10-15 mins later which shouldn’t have happened - they should have been served together.

On top of that the chicken burger had been soooo overcooked that he couldn’t even bite into or stick a fork in it as it was that hard. The outer coating was almost black and for a minute I even thought they had served a beef burger! The chef appeared to have hidden the error with melted cheese instead of re-firing the burger.

It also arrived with no chips which was half of the meal!

Although it was quickly rectified (which seemed odd since it had taken over 1 hour to serve a nearly burned hard burger to begin with and it was still missing the additional cheese my husband had ordered so instead he stuck a cold slice of cheese in the burger himself), our whole experience of what could have been a nice meal was ruined. We had come for an overnight visit to london and we had chosen the Refinery as our evening meal which we now thoroughly regret.

Although we received an apology and (partial) discount, this was not good enough. It was completely unacceptable, and we should have probably walked out.

The restaurant servers and chefs clearly cannot manage large groups with other small tables. It felt that the large groups became a priority over the smaller tables.

The Refinery need to look into their service issues as well as what’s going on in the kitchen because it is not up to standard. I will not visit again and definitely not recommend The Refinery to any family...

My review is based on my recent visit to the Refinery. It would have been my second visit to the venue if the staff hadn't disappointed us. Dressed in our ethnic Eid clothes, my son and I went into town to have a quick Eid lunch with my husband who works in that area. As I had eaten at the Refinery once before, and the food was okay, we opted to have our Eid lunch there. We walked up to the terrace glass door leading into the restaurant, which had a few patrons sitting inside. As it was cold and drizzly, we wanted to enter the establishment to get a table. What we saw were two members of staff chatting away at the register near the glass door, and someone who looked like a 3rd party contractor fixing something at the base of the glass door. Rather than acknowledging our intention to enter, or being receptive to guests, the staff members completely ignored us as we stood on the outside of the door waiting to be seen (bear in mind it's a glass door, they had seen us). Not knowing if there were alternative entrances, we opted to walk into the building and use their internal entrance. However, when we got to that glass door, a member of the kitchen staff just waved us off and told us it was locked and to use the entrance that was being worked on. From experience if anyone's working on fixing something at the threshold at the door, the patron either waits for a member of staff to ask the contractor to temporarily stop to allow the guest in, or provides an alternative entrance. Neither happened and the best part was that they just didn't seem to care. It's my first time experiencing complete disinterest by a bar and restaurant. We left without any further...

The Refinery Regent’s Place — Chic, Versatile, and Surprisingly Relaxing

The Refinery is one of those places that blends urban polish with laid-back charm. Just steps from Regent’s Park and Euston, it’s a weekday favourite for professionals and a stylish weekend spot for brunch, cocktails, or casual dinners. The interior is a mix of reclaimed brick, warm timber, and soft lighting — modern but inviting, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light.

The menu is British with contemporary twists — think roasted salmon, burgers, and seasonal salads. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s well-executed and satisfying. The bar is a highlight: a statement piece where you can perch with a cocktail and watch the world go by. The drinks list is broad, with classics and playful signatures. The outdoor terrace, dotted with potted plants, is perfect for al fresco dining — especially on warmer evenings.

Highlights

Stylish, spacious interior with varied seating zones Good cocktails and a relaxed bar vibe Solid menu with vegetarian and gluten-free options Friendly service and a crowd that’s lively but not loud

Final Thought The Refinery Regent’s Place is a versatile spot — ideal for after-work drinks, weekend brunches, or casual meetups. It’s not trying to be edgy, just...