Previously plagued by poor and inconsistent service, Babble has undergone a refurbishment. Capitalising on its location, it is billing itself as Mayfair’s new gem. But is it really the latest jewel in the crown for an area already weighed down by a wealth of shiny trinkets?

The Venue
Babble is situated on the edge of Berkeley Square, a five minute walk from Green Park tube. Entering the club, you’re greeted by a small black bar with black stools against it and a few tables off to the side. Oversized red lampshades hang over the bar and similarly shaped black and white patterned shades sit above the tables. Whilst the red ones fit in well with the bar’s aesthetic, the black and white lampshades look cheap in comparison.

Downstairs is the basement club complete with a DJ and dance floor. The bar in this space fills the back wall with Champagne bottles lining the top shelf. Black crystal chandeliers hang over the bar with silver pearls dangling from them. Again, sticking to the theme of black, there are padded booths with diamante studs and large square mirrors fixed to the walls. The rooms are connected by a small staircase, which can be difficult to manoeuvre when the crowd starts to increase in size.

The Atmosphere
During the week, the clientele comprises suits from the neighbouring offices out to enjoy cheap drinks in the Happy Hour, which runs from 5pm-8pm. Conversely, Saturday night pulls in young out-of-town-ers looking for a night of clubbing.

The doormen, wait staff and bar staff are, on the whole, friendly, although the service can still be slow with little or no apology. Babble charge an admission fee after 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, which can make this cheap option for the area suddenly appear a lot more pricey. If you’re going to spend the night here, it’s probably best to come early.

The Music
Thursday and Friday nights help tired office folk unwind with popular music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s alongside club classics. The crowd on these nights have usually been around since Happy Hour and as the evening winds on the DJ is there to deliver the necessary amount of cheesy tunes. On Saturday night funky house dictates the tone of the evening. Babble is dabbling in live music, which they run on a Wednesday night. Confirm the acts with the venue if you want to visit for these events.

The Food
A nibbles menu is offered with an emphasis on lunch where you can get sandwiches and light bites of Tapas-style dishes. The tiger prawns with tomato and garlic are particularly good with plump, succulent tiger prawns, whilst the artichoke and roast pepper on flat bread is on the juicy side so make sure tissues are on hand. Prices start at £2.50-£5.95 per dish, including platters at £14.95.

The Drink
Happy Hour is now called the 5-8 Collection. This collection comprises bottles of wine at half price, cocktails at £3.95, Champagne cocktails at £4.50, bottles of Champagne with £10 off and Staropramen beers at £2.95.

Sweet cocktails dominate the menu, made from juices and syrups with a spattering of fresh fruit added. Highlights include their signature cocktail The Black Diamond made with Eristoff black vodka, Chambord and apple juice. This is topped off with a black raspberry skewered through a straw and suspended over the Martini glass. You can expect a sweet flavour that tastes more like juice than alcohol. Served in a short tumbler, Bombay sapphire, Chambord, fresh lemon juice and sugar go to make up the pink, sweet tasting Bramble cocktail.

The wine selection covers red, white and rose options, ranging from European wines to South African, Chilean and Australian bottles. There are about fifteen options to choose from, available by the glass and by the bottle. Champagne is also on the menu, including Dom Perignon at £135 and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut at £45. Champagne cocktails are also available for just £6. There are six bottled beers including Becks, Sol, Tiger, Stella, Brahma and Staropramen, which also doubles as the only beer available on draught.

The Last Word
The new look Babble seems to be saying it’s a swish cocktail bar with a club, but with an emphasis on lunches, happy hours, cheap drinks and cheesy music, the venue seems unsure about the direction its identity is taking. The bar's approach of trying to offer everything under one roof may hold it back from making the necessary adjustments needed to attract a real Mayfair crowd.

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