Oliver's, Rochester

Facebook page of Oliver's - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Oliver's - www.facebook.com

Located in a grand townhouse with a double sided staircase up to the entrance, Oliver’s is a restaurant, bar and club, depending on what time of the day and week one visits. Off the central corridor to the left are front and rear rooms that were both being used for dining during a recent early midweek evening visit. The dimly lit bar area is to the front right, Cruzcampo, Birra Moretti, Beavertown’s Neck oil and Old Mount Cider were the four draught products. I’ve had better pints of Cruzcampo. In the right rear area some flimsy high tables are faced by a large DJ booth. The barmaid was very friendly, but this place isn’t my cup of tea so I’ll not be returning.

A spectacular townhouse as described below, previously the Enigma Winebar, now trying to be both a gastro and a cocktail bar and not doing either particularly well. I certainly didn't consider myself at home here, and the food wasn't that glorious. Prices were unnecessarily high, but I suppose you've got to pick a pocket or two in this business. As there is no real ale on I don't suppose I shall be back soon.

Bar / restaurant housed in a fine old townhouse, but set back from the road a bit so not really visible from any distance. This leaves space for a small front patio, and there is a larger split-level patio garden to the rear. Inside, you find a distinctly odd mixture of a fancy front dining room, an almost totally bare bar and connected 'Ballroom' with black paintwork and a cramped rear 'Library' with canteen-style tables. No real ale, unfortunately, so I foolishly went for what I guessed was likely to be an overpriced Peroni (at £5.20, so it was...).

Official site of Oliver's - www.oliversrochester.com

Official site of Oliver's - www.oliversrochester.com