Mansion House is one of the Merchant City's most popular venues, thanks to numerous themed bars and areas which cater to all tastes and party sizes. There's always something going on at Mansion House and our visit was no different.
The main bar at the Mansion House is decked out with glamorous features, befitting of its name.
The Venue
Our first thought on arrival? "Oh my, this venue is huge!" And it is. But thankfully the venue is well laid out, so it wasn't too intimidating. There are three main doors to the venue; one which leads to Merchants, their smaller pub style casual bar; one taking you into the main cocktail lounge and a private entry to Lucky Voice, their karaoke bar with private singing booths. (The entrances are well signposted, so you shouldn't get lost - unless you feel like it, of course.) We went through the main bar entrance and were impressed with the overall decor of Jewel, the chic cocktail bar at Mansion House. Chandeliers, black leather style seating, red velvet drapes…well, they've certainly got the whole mansion look down to a tee. Although they have so many bars under one roof, the venue didn't feel cramped and there was ample space to walk around without being elbowed in the side - even on the weekend.
For something really different, pop into Kanaloa to don your lei and sample some pirate punch.
Clientele & Atmosphere
We visited Mansion House on a Saturday night so as you'd expect, it was buzzing. A comedy show at Jongleurs (the in-house comedy club, like I said, this place is huge!) was just kicking off downstairs, so the bar was bustling with people getting in some pre-show drinks. Up in the main bar, the music was mainly chart and pop tunes, with a DJ setting up at the decks around 9pm, playing more uptempo pop and dance music.
Mansion House is a great venue for groups and parties, thanks to their popular party packages. We spotted an 80s themed stag party up in the Groovy Wonderland club (they were all kitted out in retro Wham! t-shirts - good effort); a private birthday celebration in the treehouse of tiki-themed bar, Kanaloa; a large group dining in the formal brasserie; and another birthday celebration in the main bar. It wasn't all big groups and parties though, with couples ranging from their 20s to 40s enjoying a drink and small groups of girls catching up over Champagne cocktails. There was a real mix of people and with about six different themed bars, there's something to please everyone. Groovy Wonderland is ideal for dancing and retro tunes, but Merchant's Bar is the perfect place for a quiet and casual drink. You can't forget karaoke bar Lucky Voice either, which we hear is rather popular with the office Christmas do crowd…Dutch courage, perhaps?
The brasserie in Mansion House is a chic yet lively spot to dine, perfect for pre-night-out eats.
Food & Drink
Mansion House boast numerous bar areas and as previously mentioned, there's a tiki-themed bar and a 70s/80s themed club, both serving up their own signature creations - Kanaloa serves up some impressive tropical themed drinks in all manner of fancy drinking vessels - think treasure chests and jewelled skulls. The main bar and smaller Merchant's Bar serve the usual spirits, beers and wines, along with classic cocktails and pitchers. The cocktails are very reasonably priced, considering the location - about £5 for a basic cocktail and £15 for a pitcher to share. If you're feeling peckish, there's a choice of bar snacks and sharing platters, with chicken wings, crab cakes, onion rings and burgers all appearing on the menu. The brasserie upstairs is perfect for formal dining and is a great place for larger groups or work parties to start the night.
Merchant's Bar at Mansion House, is a casual pub style setting for laid back drinks with friends.
Summary
Mansion House is a brilliant venue, with each bar catering to a different type of customer. The service is top notch and the team work really hard to make sure everyone is having a great time, whether they're part of a large party or just with a couple of friends. If you're looking for a fun night out, head to Mansion House. Maybe we'll hear you before we see you, belting out a few tunes at Lucky Voice?
