17 Manette Street,
Soho,
London,
W1D 4AS
0871 971 7404
The ViewLondon Review
A dirty but authentic rock bar hidden off a side street in the centre of London.The VenueTucked away on Manette Street off Charing Cross Road, the Crobar provides pre- and post-gig drinks for revellers enjoying live acts at the Astoria, or a place for hard working rockers to knock back the bourbon on a Friday night.
The bar consists of a rib-crushingly narrow bar area and a slightly larger (but low-ceilinged) seating section behind it. The whole thing has been wallpapered with (slightly grimy) band posters and pages torn from comic books, giving the faint but lasting impression of being in an alcoholic teenager’s bedroom. The toilets are predictably horrific, but anyone expecting decent toilets in a rock bar is probably in the wrong place in the first place.
The AtmosphereDespite the sometimes inexplicably contrary bouncers, the Crobar is normally a friendly and relaxed place to drink. Black band t-shirts are pretty much uniform and, while the tattooed and pierced clientele may seem intimidating at first, after a few beers the jukebox makes friends of most people. On the weekends it can often be abuzz with suspected sightings of semi-famous rock stars, but there are far better places for star-spotting in London.
The MusicMany patrons claim that the Led Zep and Iron Maiden heavy jukebox is the main reason that they come here, and it’s definitely the rockingest jukebox in the capital. Try not to disparage anyone’s music choices too loudly (they’re normally standing right behind you), and be prepared to discuss any picks that you make yourself.
The DrinkA decent selection of beer is served in bottles and cans (no taps, sadly), but the pride of the Crobar is the Bourbon menu. A three-page laminated Bourbon menu sits on the bar, providing many late nights for the discerning whiskey drinker. Jugs of cocktails are cheap early in the evening, and the Crobar is now proud to sell alcoholic slush puppies.
The Last WordA safe haven for rockers amongst the glitz of the capital, the Crobar is one of the few places that provides the essential rock and metal that London needs.