The Institute of Directors is one of the Grand Dames of Pall Mall, yet inside is surprisingly low-key. Find someone who is a member to sign you in - but wear your pin-striped suit and shine your shoes as it’s very corporate.

The Venue
Inside the impressive facilities of The Institute of Directors there are two drinking spaces, the Wine Bar in the vaults below and the Cocktail Bar. They are as alike as chalk and cheese. The Wine Bar is all exposed brick and black metal work with quite a lot of seating. It literally is the old cellars and as such is quite atmospheric. The Cocktail Bar is pure class. It is all muted tones, plush fabrics and a grand piano with a pianist tinkling away and is adjoined to the main restaurant.

The Atmosphere
Despite the fact that this is a private members club, there isn’t the elitist attitude that seems to often go with this territory. There is a strict dress code in effect – no jeans or trainers. The wine bar is very relaxed, although it can get quite noisy since it is all hard surfaces – sound bounces around the brick vaulting. The patrons enjoy a drink at the end of the day and a pleasant, older buzz pervades the place and there is a lot of grey hair in attendance. It does empty out early as people rush to get trains back home to the Home Counties. The Cocktail Bar is where you go to impress someone. The surroundings are lush and it feels quite posh to be there. It is much quieter and conversations are in hushed tones. The Institute of Directors is a good venue for pre-dinner drinks and features live jazz on Friday nights and the service is very professional.

The Food
The Wine Bar has a reasonable selection of tapas as well as a light menu of sandwiches and soup available at reasonable prices.

The Drink
The Wine Bar at The Institute of Directors has an excellent wine and champagne menu with a large selection of wines by the glass. The Cocktail Bar has a good menu of champagne cocktails, and mixed cocktails. If you don’t find something you like on the menu, they will make you a bespoke cocktail. Prices are surprisingly realistic given you are on Pall Mall.

The Last Word
The Institute of Directors is not open to the public, and you must be suitably suited and booted to attend, but it is worth the effort to enjoy a drink or two, in their lovely surroundings.

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