Bunch of Grapes, Leadenhall, EC3

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 20^th June 2024 - rating: 6
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