1 Curtain Road,
London,
EC2A 3JX
0872 148 1766
The ViewLondon Review
Industry sits astride the boundary between The City and Shoreditch - and it shows as the cool, hard-edged City style comes face-to-face with the heart of one of the trendiest areas of London.The VenueIndustry sits in the shadows of office blocks, on the corner of a residential street and the very bottom of Curtain Road. The decor is dominated by concrete, some of it painted in dark hues, and reflects the modernist exterior of the building. A large staircase, surrounded by walls doubling as table tops, dominates the bar at ground level. Downstairs is a smaller room with comfy seating, red walls and is subtly lit.
The AtmosphereBoth the barstaff and doormen are chatty and laidback but it’s a bit of a gamble when it comes to clientele. You’ll get a mixture of suits, Shoreditch residents and weekend culture vultures who’ve wandered from the beaten track. The music is commercial and out to satisfy the masses – mainly house or older classics. Industry is also used as a venue for press or one-off events, and for this purpose it really is perfect.
The FoodThere’s a kitchen at Industry, which serves up a mix of traditional pub grub and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. For those out to line the stomach or feeling peckish but not wanting to roam the streets looking for dinner, this is a fine choice, with mains priced at a reasonable average of £10.
The DrinkIndustry has a good-sized cocktail list, covering all the bases. From mojitos to daiquiris and cosmopolitans, your favourite concoction will be found. And at below £7 a go, it’s reasonable for the area. A nice addition to the standard menu are the frozen cocktails at £6 a drink, and are more akin to a frozen dessert than an alcoholic beverage. There’s also a nice-sized wine list available, covering a good selection of white, reds, roses and even champagne. Hailing from all over the world, there’s bound to be something to tickle the tastebuds. If wine and cocktails aren’t your thing, there are beers on draught and in bottles and all the usual spirits and mixers.
The Last WordAs a venue for a special event Industry is a good choice, but as a regular watering hole it’s a gamble as to who you’re going to be rubbing shoulders with.