Rondo Lounge, Retford

Rondo Lounge has a very worn strip wood floor with seating up the right-hand wall and a green panelled serving counter mid-way up the left, premium keg was available. At the rear is open plan seating under a high vaulted ceiling with skylights, which is a more interesting feature than the usual floral wallpaper, big lights, framed portraits and granny lampshades in the front windows. The service was polite and the music was a little louder than normal, another Lounges venue added to my list, yawn.

CAMRA page of Rondo Lounge - camra.org.uk

CAMRA page of Rondo Lounge - camra.org.uk

Yes one of the Loungers chain so it has all the usual stuff although not many old lampshades, plenty of old paintings etc. though. The mostly female clientele weren’t over excited either. Much like many, its meet and seat, the counter is down one side, left hand side here, and hosts a normal selection of latin lagers, couple of ciders, Hofmeister and Brixton. I’ve only once just drunk in one of these and I suspect no one else has just gone in for a drink, except hardened pub tickers, ever in the history of the world. The rear section has an interesting roof, toilets upstairs via a staircase with rather nice bannisters but decorated with slightly spooky 1950/60/70s family photos.

Official site of Rondo Lounge - thelounges.co.uk

Official site of Rondo Lounge - thelounges.co.uk

The modern conversion of this lovely old building to create a bar in execrable taste left me struggling for anything nice to say about it. I suppose I have to applaud the fact that there are three hand pumps on the ghastly monstrosity of a bar counter, though I was not overwhelmed with a choice of Fullers London Pride, Kelham Island Pale Rider and Pheasantry Dragonfly. My drinking companion on the occasion of my visit is a big fan of London Pride, so I had to settle down for a half rather than obey my first instinct which was to turn around and walk out. The server had trouble getting the over-lively beer into the glasses, and the round came to just short of £6 (for a pint and a half) which is over the top for Retford, just two more reasons for not coming back. The decor, the atmosphere - more coffee and cake than beer being dispensed - and the shockingly tasteless chandeliers are among the other many reasons why I cannot see myself ever darkening the doors of Spencers again. Date of visit: 22nd March 2016