Beaufoy Bar could be great – it’s certainly got the right ingredients for it. Unfortunately, it just borders on seedy.

The Venue
Beaufoy Bar looks like your typical pub from the outside. Corner-positioned and sprawling, the building is painted in a traditional maroon colour and the gold sign is what you’d expect of any pub in the capital. Inside, the decor is tatty at best with the rundown furnishings having seen better days, and even the bar looks a bit worse for wear. Despite it not being the smallest space, it feels claustrophobic and they’ve not made the most of what the venue has to offer. A lick of paint and a rejig of the furniture could work wonders.

The Atmosphere
This is a place that comes alive at the weekend and late in the evenings when they host salsa, African, soca and calypso events. And the Caribbean food brings in a lot of locals. Unfortunately, some of the regulars appear less than friendly so it can be quite intimidating for first-timers. That said, it’s worth making an effort with the staff, who are friendly enough and try to make you feel welcome.

The Food
There’s a small menu at Beaufoy Bar that includes a mix of sandwiches with Caribbean favourites. However, it’s not cheap with curries priced at the £12 mark and sandwiches edging £4. Given the surroundings, that’s pretty steep. They do offer a takeaway service if you’re desperate to try the food but are put off by the ambience of the bar itself.

The Drink
The drink selection is as uninspired as the rest of the place. The most exciting drink Beaufoy Bar offers is draught Guinness and the rest is a mix of high street spirits, a few alcopops and, well, that’s about your lot. Try not to get too excited, now.

The Last Word
If you enjoy rough-around-the-edges nights out then you’ll probably love Beaufoy Bar. For everyone else, steer well clear.

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