Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Bunch of Grapes, Leadenhall, EC3
EC3
EC3M 7AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Bunch of Grapes
This former Bass Charington City pub is now branded under the M&B Nicholson’s chain and is situated at the back of Leadenhall Market. Its primary function is to cater to the city workers in this part of town at lunchtime and primarily early evening when it becomes very busy with vertical drinkers. However, it tends to be more comfortable than the Lamb Tavern and the New Moon in the market at this time as, when the weather is good these vertical drinking city boys are usually outside either to the front of the pub on Lime Street or in the alley way to the side and the inside of the pub is usually quite empty.
The pub itself is not much to write home about and is still as described below and the most interesting feature is still that it is branded as “The Grapes” to the front and “The Bunch of Grapes to the side”. All three TV screens were showing the same European Cup footy game but with the sound extremely low.
There are six ale pumps on the bar and for our visit this week these included Adnams Ghost Ship, Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter and TT Landlord alongside the house St Austell Nicholson's Pale Ale with the Purity Mad Goose and St Austell Propper Job pumps initially having the dreaded coming soon labels hanging on them when we arrived at 5.30pm and then these changed to “Line being cleaned” a couple of hours later, which we took to mean that the staff had decided there wasn’t enough of the City Suits staying around to warrant changing the barrels and fair enough when there’s four others to choose. Ale quality was good and the staff were pretty efficient at serving the after-work crowd.
If I worked in Lloyds I would probably use it but there are better pub experiences nearby, but this one clearly serves a purpose.
On 20th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bunch of Grapes
There has been a pub on this site for 500 years,although the current building would date back to Victorian times,the corner site offers windows on two sides inlaid with obscured glass in a pleasing traditional way.The high ceiling and sparse internal decorations make this a noisy place when busy but at least the three flatscreens all airing different programmes were on mute.Muzak did add to the cacophony.The long bar was well staffed and the ale options from the 6 handpumps was Dark Star Hophead (fine),London Pride,Seafarers,TT Landlord and Doom Bar doubled up,a very mainstream selection.
What caught my eye was the very reasonable food pricing,soup and crust bread £4,Sandwiches £4-6,mains under £10 no doubt to compete for custom from the city folk who want a quick lunchtime meal and pint.You would be hard pressed to find cheaper pub grub anywhere else in the country.
Worth popping into if crawling the area ,but it will be full of city workers for that's it's purpose.Expect to drink vertically.
On 12th January 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Bunch of Grapes
The (Bunch of) Grapes is an attractive little pub in the shadow of the Foster & Rogers Gallery, so-called because of the collection of buildings by the eponymous architects: the Lloyd's Building, Leadenhall Building, Willis Building and 30 St. Mary Axe.
The interior is fully wood panelled and there's an ornate ceiling with painted bunches of grapes around the cornice. The floor is modern boarded and there are a few high tables and chairs along with three TVs showing news with the sound off; the windows have bull's-eye panes.
There were several ales, not noted and my half of Timothy Taylor's Landlord was fine and cost £2.00 which is very cheap for the area.
The pub featured a very friendly old-school landlady and we enjoyed our experience, however the place loses points for having an 11.00 pm closing time, yet last orders were called at just 9.20; the pub is closed at weekends.
On 19th July 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Bunch of Grapes
Long narrow bar with plenty of wood paneling. Not a very inspiring real ale selection with the Summer Lightning being undrinkable although it was changed for Doom Bar which was OK if you like that sort of beer.
On 8th August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grapes
Confusingly "The Grapes" from one side, but "The Bunch of Grapes" on the other (and also on the pub sign). Once inside, you find a very bare wood-panelled bar, clearly designed for lunch-time and after work 'vertical drinking' and thus very few bar stools (and no seats). Upstairs dining room. Six handpumps, but two lots were doubled-up so the choice was GK IPA, Adnams, Youngs Ordinary and Pride (well kept, and reasonable value for the area at £3.00). OK for a quick pint, but not a place to linger.
On 19th March 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Grapes
I liked it in here as it was nice to step away from the hordes of people in the pubs in Leadenhall Market and have some space to enjoy a nice pint. There were two Pride pumps, Youngs Ordinary, Adnams and an unused pump along with some standard lagers.
Like most London boozers it's not the biggest pub, but it does have a stand up and drink local feel which was nice to find in the centre of the financial district. The food seemed to be typical pub fare and I was reliably informed that there is an elegant function room located up the stairs with its own bar.
They have a small TV that was showing Eggheads which was muted with subtitles and they also have a small plasma screen that was showing Sky Sports feed that was also muted.
This is a no nonsense pub with polite staff and I would return if in the area.
On 7th April 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]