Be At One, Soho, W1

When I discovered this website and quickly realised it was run by and contributed to by brilliant pub reviewers I adopted it as my go to source for venues that were authentically pub through to venues on the bar end of the spectrum. It is unquestionably the most fantastic resource for drinking establishments, unrivalled in my humble opinion. Initially I was a pub purist and began ticking off venues out of those presented that I regarded as being the true essence of the site. Over time I started ticking off venues on the site that esteemed Co-contributors deemed worthy of adding to the site. I started ticking off chain bars, hotel bars, wine bars that serve beer etc. For a little while this remained my only unvisited venue in Central London on the site. I tried to visit (for completeness sake rather than any otherwise burning desire to visit) on a number of occasions in passing but was always refused entry, on one occasion accused of being drunk when it was my first venue of the evening by over zealous bouncers on the door. I even requested the venue be removed from PG on the basis that it presented as a club with a discriminatory door policy (I was too old - no I am not, I was a single male - yes I was on my own on the attempt in question etc) to see that happen only for it to be reinstated at some point as an open venue. Tonight in passing, and being the combative sod that I am, I presented myself expecting to be rejected but other than a request to check my bag I was allowed through the pearly gates! After descending the illuminated staircase I was presented with a large venue. Central bar, masses of standing room around the bar, tables dotted around the perimeter. Nicely busy, decent music at not too loud a level, shit beer choices so in my floating above the clouds state opted for their “best”Red wine. Am sure I caught at a good time (hence I got in) but not the worse chain bar venue for sure. I can’t rate more than a 3 but I am going to go mental and call it a 4 as a special case. Was a break from getting further stuck into the SE postcodes this evening after a late work finish. If there are any venue on here in the Greater London area that are so difficult to tick off then I will be surprised.

Official site of Be At One - www.beatone.co.uk