The Loose Box, Westminster, SW1

Pub SignMan left this review about The Loose Box

This is a large, modern pub and pizza restaurant set amongst the offices of various government departments, making it very popular with the post-work crowd. The interior comprises quite a large, open-plan room, which has been cleverly split in two by some large, semi-circular, padded banquette booths through the centre, with obfuscated glass partitioning screens on their backs, which mean you can't see from one side of the room to the other.
The servery is along the left-hand wall in the left side of the pub, and has a pleasing dark wood counter with rounded ends and a basic mirrored bar back with various drink offers written in white pen across the mirrors, which I thought looked very scruffy in what is otherwise a smartly presented venue. High tables and chairs stand opposite the bar and regular tables and chairs run under the front windows. The right side of the room is more of a secluded dining space, although it seemed mostly populated by drinkers on a Monday evening, with tables and chairs arranged under walls decorated with floral wallpaper. The partitioning also screens a rear space with additional seating, plain painted walls and a TV screen, although I couldn't see if it was in use or not. Lots of potted plants, a few old paintings and some blackboards listing pizza options offer a bit of visual distraction and new wave tunes were playing quietly in the background.
Just the one cask ale option to go at on this visit, which was Siren Half Time Huddle, which is presumably brewed for the pub as it has the pub's name on the pump clip. A second handpull remained unused and annoyingly the Siren sounded its death rattle, leaving me to pick Camden Pale (£6.50 a pint) from a moderate keg selection, having initially picked another keg beer that was also no longer available. The barmaid didn't seem too impressed with me for having chosen two drinks that were off and the general ambiance wasn't all that great - it felt like a bit of a posers bar and I was grateful that it was pretty quiet throughout my stay.
I thought this was a decent enough modern bar with some nice interior design touches and three distinctly different seating areas that should cater to the target demographic. It's also encouraging to see cask ale on the bar, albeit I was a little too late to sample any. Whilst it's not exactly my kind of bar and certainly not one for the traditionalist, it serves a purpose and would make a good post-work option if you worked nearby

Date of visit - 12th February 2024

On 30^th June 2024 - rating: 5
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