Bonds, Mayfair, W1

Official site of Bonds - www.bondsmayfair.co.uk

Official site of Bonds - www.bondsmayfair.co.uk

More a modern bar than a pub,this sits on a street corner and has large picture windows giving lots of light internally.There are a whole series of dining type tables infront of the entrance and the bar,many will have reserved signs as food here is clearly popular.To the left is more of a drinking area with high tables and chairs.Towards the back to the left side of the bar there is an L shaped bench in green velour. There were three flatscreens showing the Six Nations,so there was a more lively atmosphere even though there were diners. At the bar three handpumps were dispencing Harvey's Sussex Best,Sharp's Doom Bar and a decent St Austell Tribute (NBSS 3).Not an exciting line up ,but sufficient.However I can't imagine a revisit,there are so many identikit places like this in the West End.

Although close to Oxford Street and New Bond Street, this Stonegate venue is in a quiet spot and doesn't really stand out as a pub (unlike the Duke of York opposite) until you get quite close due to the austere dark paintwork on the façade. The interior is quite conventional, apart from a seating area down a half-flight of stairs in the outer corner on the way down to a smaller basement bar to a part-time counter. The semi-modern furniture and decor is smart but certainly not upmarket as one might expect in this part of town. Three real ales on handpump: Doom Bar and Atlantic from Sharp's plus Wadworth 6X (£4.65, although a pound more expensive on a Friday night apparently).