It was a frightfully freezing Monday night in December, so I threw on my most thermal glad rags and ventured towards Piccadilly Circus as I needed to seek shelter in somewhere chic and sophisticated. In amongst the glamour and showbiz of the surrounding musicals I headed to Grace Bar to sample some pre-theatre tipples and treats.
The Venue:
Grace Bar offers a slice of what every sort of London partier craves. Upon entering the Main Bar you'll immediately notice the cool gastropub atmosphere, which leads into various classically chic and stylish semi-private dining rooms. Adorned with whiskey decanter lighting and vintage style lampshades I was seated in a plush leather booth in the first semi-private dining room. Grace also offers various club rooms and VIP areas for mingling and getting your freak on.
A treasure trove of spaces lend themselves to all manner of social outings at Grace.
Food and Drink:
First up I sipped on a Lavender Love - a tantalizing concoction of citron Absolut, pomegranate juice and lavendar syrup - which was just what I needed on a Monday to see me through the rest of the week. This complimented my pre-theatre starter of a light creamy goats cheese tart on a bed of rocket, garnished with a zesty dressing, asparagus and red peppers nicely, and the perfectly sized portion was neither too filling for a starter nor too stingy on flavour and satisfaction. For my main course I feasted on a gloriously hearty chargrilled beef burger with a side of fine cut fries. The beef was juicy, succulent in flavour and cooked to absolute perfection, and with both courses available for under a tenner it was the perfect pre-theatre package.
Pick from a neat selection of dishes on the pre-theatre menu, with two courses coming in at just £9.95.
Atmosphere and Clientele:
Grace welcomes its guests with a warm and relaxed atmosphere while retaining the upmarket, elegant surroundings that are so sought after in London's all-singing, all-dancing Piccadilly Circus. It may have been a Monday evening, yet Grace was alive with your out of town theatre-goers heading up their evening and corporates letting loose after work alike. Later on in the week you'll find a buoyant crowd of West End thrill-seekers, enticed inside by the promise of dancing and getting merry without breaking the bank.
A prized location and an inexpensive drinks tab lures in a fun-time party crowd at the weekend.
Summary:
Whether out in search of a pre-theatre bite to eat or a dazzling night of debauchery, Grace has everything you could need. With dedicated pre-theatre menus and a bustling atmosphere, this is a wallet-friendly West End spot set to satisfy all your nightlife needs.
