The City Wall, Rochester

I took advantage of the daily 10am opening at the City Wall last week when I popped in early doors for a quick half. The staff were having a meeting, but the barman was quick to jump up from their table to serve me a lager from the range of usual suspects. The large windows that line the exterior walls of the L-shaped interior make this bar feel like a goldfish bowl and the drinks deals and other advertisements scrawled upon the windows do little to stop the passer-by from gawping in. I found the décor to be a cross between a late night bar and an American diner. Given the ambience it was not surprising to spot a menu that consisted mainly of burgers and other grilled meats. I noted the inclusion of a pool table and counted three plasma screens which were all off during my visit, but Sky Sports is advertised. Also advertised was the weekly Wednesday evening quiz, live DJ nights on Fridays and Saturdays as well as karaoke on Thursdays and following an open mic session on Sundays. There is an extended license until 2 am on Friday and Saturday and until midnight on the other days of the week. The toilet was clean, but I wasn’t that happy with the old Wild West pub saloon door on the cubicle. I think that the line between privacy and security has been misplaced. To the right of the pub is an outside seating area that houses some picnic tables with views of the high street. I didn’t warm to this bar so I will give it the swerve when next in the area.

The glitzy.shiny decor with its faux-snake skin chairs and faux-coral bar tiles is totally at odds with the historic location of this single large bar. The picture windows at the front look out onto the old City wall and the Corm Exchange, a view incongruous with the sound of the Devil breaking wind emitting from the loud speakers· There is an outside drinking/smoking area, gaming machines, multiple tv screens, a few drunks among the faux-human clientele. Karaoke and theme nights are offered to the under-cultured. No ales on draft, but there were a few decent bottled beers. If you are 18, drink, deaf and comfortable wearing a hoody, this is the place for you, but we are none of those things so we fauxed off to the Two Brewers just down the road.

Official site of The City Wall - www.citywallrochester.co.uk

Occupying a prime slot in the historic High Street where the old East Gate once stood (the outline is marked in the road outside), the City Wall should really be a lot better than it is. It isn’t that clear whether the place wants to be a pub, bar or café but it really doesn’t come over as anything more than a functional outlet on all 3 counts. The interior is wide but shallow so the pub/bar/whatever looks a lot bigger from the street than it actually is. The décor is plain and furnishings very fish and chip shop, certainly nothing cosy or intimate. The light colours and glass frontage keep the place bright and airy but you certainly wouldn’t come here to admire the aesthetics. 3 TV screens adorn the walls, 2 at one end next to each other and one opposite, primarily aimed at Sport fans. The only feature of interest is the remnant of the old City Wall itself just by the entrance but it is hardly overwhelming. Outside are some benches in a pleasant off the High Street where the views are more rewarding. The beers were reasonably priced but nothing beyond the bog standard High Street kegs and not even a token Real Ale. For a place that labels itself as a Wine Bar, I didn’t spot so much as a bottle or a menu. Admitedly my visit was during a lunch time and the place was geared for those looking for a bite to eat but even on that count, it is more egg and chips than sole meuniere. Unless someone waves a magic wand and the place does a magical costume change later in the day, it is hard to see this place being anything beyond mundane as far as a drinking experience is concerned.

Official site of The City Wall - www.citywallrochester.co.uk